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In the Bleak, Cold Winter by GamgeeFest	97 Review(s)
Periantari	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/7/2006
I really loved this chapter--with the Cottons and Furzy and Marigold coming and especially since Sam had such a relaxing bath with Willow washing his hair! THe Frodo and Sam dialogue in the beginning was pretty necessary too--i mean it does seem a bit awkward in Sam's position to have his master tend to him. And it was a nice scene in the end with the Cottons giving Sam a gift and providing him with some much-needed company among very good friends. :) Author Reply: Having your hair washed is always relaxing. It's one of the things I miss now that my mom no longer works in a salon - no hair washes unless I do it myself, and that's no fun. :P Sam will never be able to accept his master doing for him, even after Goldie and Rosie point out that it is Frodo's duty to do so. Sam understands that as well as they do, which is part of the reason he's kept quiet about how uncomfortable it makes him, but he's just so used to being the one doing the taking care of that he simply cannot get used to it now that the roles are reversed. Sam's friends really know how to make him feel better. Even more than that, they were able to help him laugh at his situation, something that was very much needed. The gift was their way of telling him that they knew he'd be all right without actually having to say it, and it meant more to him than the words alone ever would.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Aww...it's over. sigh I have just loved this story, and I'm sorry to see it end. But now, of course, you have teased us with hints about Sam's visit to his brother, and all about the Long Cleeve North-tooks, and Merry's rather difficult romance with Miss Willow... So, of course, maybe you will give us some new stories soon. makes puppy dog eyes Really, this has been a wonderful glimpse into the lives of our lads in the years leading up to the Quest, and into the developing of Sam's friendship with Merry and Pippin. Author Reply: Alas, it's over but I do have that sequel I'll be working on, as soon as my other two stories are finished. I don't know when I'll be coming back to Merry and Willow, but we'll at least get to see what Sam was up to while he was in Long Cleeve. They don't realize now how important their friendship will become. That they came together initially because of their love of Frodo is most appropriate considering what will be happening in just four more years. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story so much! There were times I was worried I was getting too long-winded and side-tracked - Miss Willow rather took me by surprise. But it all came full circle in the end. :)

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Good to see Sam back at work. And the difference between his and Furzy's feelings just go to show how comfortable he has got with M & P. Really enjoyed all of this GF! Author Reply: Sam's glad to be back at work, even if his duties are still restricted. He must have been itching to get his hands dirty when he was touring those gardens in Long Cleeve! Sam never had many issues with Pippin. He sees him more as a younger sibling, though he still treats him as a 'better'. Since Sam will always insist on being proper, it's nice to juxtapose his interaction with Merry, Frodo and Pippin against someone who is less familiar with them. It helps reminds us, and them, that Sam isn't as proper as he likes to think he is. ;) Thank you so much for reading!! I'm glad you've enjoyed the story!

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/7/2006
Very nice epilogue! Trust Pippin to come up with some ridiculous question! But Sam and Furzy didn't mind. They rather enjoyed it! I'm really glad that Sam and Merry have formed a solid friendship. Merry can now make jokes at Sam's expense and Sam will laugh with him. That's wonderful! Also Merry will tell Sam about his relationship to Willow and will accept Sam's advice. Of course, Pippin is jealous of Willow. That could have been expected, and it's quite natural. However, with Merry's and Willow's parents living so far apart and the "social gap" between them I can imagine the end of that story. Sigh They would have been the perfect couple. (Nothing against Estella, though!) Last but not least I found yet another new word :) That was: "chaperone"! I didn't have to look it up. It became quite clear from the context. In German such a lady is called "Anstandsdame". "Dame" is quite clear, I believe. And "Anstand" means decency, or as Sam would say, proper behavior! Thank you for this wonderful story, I'm looking forward to reading more! Author Reply: Pippin always knows just what to ask, doesn't he? Of course, the ankle can already move in all directions, so I'm not exactly sure what Pippin was getting at. Maybe he just wanted to make them laugh. He succeeded in that! Sam might have wished that he was never injured, but then he and Merry would not have grown so close. Or at least, it would have taken much, much longer for them to become as comfortable with each other as they are now. Sam knows a little more about relationships than Merry does so Merry will gladly listen to any advice he has to give. Things with Willow may not be going as smoothly as he would have liked but he's not about to give up just yet, social gaps and all. If the social gap didn't stop him from reacquainting with Sam, it certainly won't stop him from continuing to court Willow, or at least trying to court her. Healers are rather outside of the social constraints anyway, probably the only hobbits in the Shire who are. Pippin's jealousy is only natural. He's been the center of Merry's world for so long, he doesn't want to be displaced. He also doesn't want to see his friend sad, so he'll put up with being 'dumped' as long as Merry still spends plenty of time with him, which of course he will. :) Chaperones can be for both boys or girls, though it is usually girls that parents worry about the most. And now I've learned a word! Thanks for reading!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/7/2006
I don't know who is having a rougher time here, Sam or Merry. Seems Merry is working himself half to death and poor Sam is so worried about everything. This is a very entertaining story. I was glad to get a minute to read a couple more chapters today. Hope to stop back by later and read even more! Author Reply: It's a toss up. They're both grappling with their own issues. Sam's have more potential for long-term ramifications while Merry's will be resolved fairly quickly once he figures out his own mind about everything. At least this crisis is helping Merry and Sam to grow more close. Thanks for reading!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/7/2006
So Merry has a crush, does he? Interesting. Someone before Estella and a professional lass too! I like it. Author Reply: I thought it would be interesting to explore the possibilities of Merry in other relationships before Estella. With Ella being decidedly unavailable at the moment, Merry needs to have someone to have fun with. I also thought it would be fitting for Merry to like older lasses, just as his father clearly did. And who better to catch Merry's interest than a 'professional' - not to mention extremely lovely - lass? He's attracted to strong women and Willow certainly knows her capabilities and how to use them to her best advantage!

cookiefleck	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2006
I really enjoyed this chapter, particularly the various ways you described the Gaffer's (and other family members') eagerness to have Sam come home. Sigh. On another note, I am not sure if you meant it to be humorous, but I took this line that way and had a great, little laugh: “Fascinating,” Frodo intoned... Author Reply: There's nothing worse for a parent than to know your child is hurt and in need of comfort and not being able to offer it. It's no surprise really that Gaffer insisted on visiting Sam even if he would be home in a couple more days. They'll all be happier and more at ease now that Sam can go home. hehehe I didn't mean for that to be funny, but I'm glad you found it so. I actually had to make Frodo hurry up and change the subject because Merry was on the verge of asking if he could expirement with Sam's leg. He wouldn't have been allowed to do so, of course, but it still would have been highly inappropriate for him to have asked. grins

Althea	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2006
It was wonderful to see Sam having so many loving visitors. It was a treat to see him interacting with Daisy's family, especially with his little niece, Bell. I also very much enjoyed reading about the Gaffer's visit. Hamfast's gruff love for his youngest son just melted my heart. I am very glad that Sam is now well enough to go home and that he will be able to travel with his family to see its newsest member; but I can't help but wish he could stay at Bag End a while longer and that maybe, by some miracle, those calss barriers could come crashing down. I am so much enjoying this story. Now that everyone is going separate ways, it will be interesting to see what you have in store for us next. I am looking forward to reading more. Author Reply: Sam won't be lacking company while he's healing. There will always be someone coming by to visit and see how he's doing. Now that he can start getting up and about, his days will hopefully start going faster for him. Little Bell was a delight to write. She's such a sweet lass, with no understanding of those class barriers that come as second nature to her elders. She melts the hearts of everyone and has them all wrapped around her little fingers. And I just can't say enough about the Gaffer. He's a wonderful father and though he may be gruff and hard on the outside, he's nothing but a big teddy bear on the inside. I always enjoy writing these little scenes with the Gaffer. The time at Bag End has ended. The class barriers might not have come down - indeed they were rather reinforced when Sam's friends started visiting. But at least Sam and Merry have gotten past that awkward part of their friendship and have learned to understand each other better. And, Merry got a girlfriend, which also wouldn't have happened had Sam never fallen. :D Thank you so much for reading! I'm glad you are enjoying this story so much. There might (and I stress might) be a follow up to this of Sam's visit to Halfred, but I haven't been able to figure anything out about that story yet and there are other stories I need to finish before I start on another one.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/1/2006
Well - Sam has made it back down the hill. I'm glad he's being offered alternative careers on the chance that his foot doesn't get better, but I'm still gladder that I know it will! And Merry and Willow seem to be enjoying their - er - opportunities. It might be as well that Merry and Frodo have to go off to visit Pippin as soon as Sam is settled. Or things might have gone rather further and history might have changed. A married Merry might never have insisted on escorting Frodo south - and what would have happened then? Similarly with a limping Sam. But disaster is avoided! Author Reply: Sam will always have options available to him, thanks to his friends and family. I love the way hobbits really look out for one another. Thankfully, he won't have to follow up on any of these offers for he will heal perfectly well and be better than new. :) Now, I'm sure Merry and Willow only talked. grins A little distance and time away will help to cool things down and whenever Merry does return to visit, well, Miss Camellia will be there to keep her eye on things, as well be Frodo and Pippin. History will stay on track, with no eminent scandals in sight. :D

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 9/30/2006
Sam shook his head again. “It’s for Rosie.” “She’s just going to read it to me anyway,” Goldie pointed out. “Then you can hear it then,” replied Sam. ROTFL!!! Brothers and sisters! That's the way they treat each other, exactly. I have a younger brother myself! And he would laugh as much as I did if he read this ;-) I enjoyed the Gaffer's visit very much. You pictured him perfectly. And Sam's little niece was so sweet! So, the time at Bag End is over now? Everyone is leaving to visit relatives - and Willow is left alone! That's a shame! How will she react, I wonder. To be concluded… Is there really only one chapter left??? There is a lot to be concluded... Author Reply: Siblings were meant to torment each other, but the Gamgees do so with love and adoration. :) I'm the youngest of my family and so I know how pesky us younger sisters can be to older brothers, and how infuriating older brothers can be also. lol Gaffer is a great dad. If it had been possible, he would have come much sooner and every day, as Goldie did. But he takes what he can get and just being able to make sure that Sam is well is a load of worry off his shoulders. Bell is just too cute for words. :) Willow will disappointed that she didn't have more time with Merry but she'll be kept busy with her work, have no fear for her. The epilogue should tie up all the loose threads. This was never meant to be a story that covered Sam's recovery to it's end - that would be a far longer story than I have time for right now. The purpose of this story was to see if Merry and Sam could get past that awkward stage in their friendship, and they have succeeded in doing that. I might have another story that will cover Sam's visit to his brother, but it's just a half-formed idea right now.

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