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Outtakes of a Fellowship and Beyond by Kara's Aunty	58 Review(s)
Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/5/2009
“Now, now, lass. You don’t think the Valar let all the different races of Middle Earth mix with each other, be friends - and sometimes family - just to tear us apart forever at the end of all things?” Sam asked. Beautifully said! Sam is a wise one, indeed and the best father one could wish for! ... before the minstrels of Gondor start singing a lay about Samwise of the One Ear and the Infant of Doom. LOL!!! Now that would be an interesting song to listen to :) Author Reply: Hello Andrea, he is a wise wee soul, isn't he hugs Sam ferociously. I didn't realise people would be so tickled by the idea of a lay to one-eared Sam! Looks like I may have to write it at some point... Thanks (as always) for R & R-ing, M ;)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
Now, that would be one song I'd PAY to hear! Hilarious! And the hope he offers her is so right! Lovely! My memorial is out front, and yours is an ivory statue in the gardens. Either way, it's only right Frodo's image be close at hand for those who live in the King's abode. Author Reply: Hello Larner, Sam would probably pay not to hear it (which is just as well, 'cos I'm too busy to write it)! The statue is a smaller version of the no doubt laeger memorial to Frodo and the hobbits on the top level. I just imagined Aragorn would have another one in a more secluded area he and immediate friends could visit for personal reflection. It's also a nice spot for visiting hobbits to go and chat to 'Uncle' Frodo! I also liked the idea of Sam offering Arwen hope at seeing her parents again by it, because it always struck me as a pity that she thought she'd never see them again. I'm glad you enjoyed! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;)

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
Another story! Had to pounce right on it when I saw the word 'Sam' and your's too, of course! :) I have no idea where Sam learned all this theology, but good for him to be there to comfort Arwen and to even call her 'lass' :) I think one of the great tragedies is that when Aragorn at his death is trying to comfort her with his hope, trust and faith that they would meet again after death, that she would not be able to take any solace from such words since her Elven upbringing would give her no reference that she could hold onto. I love that Sam was able to give her some hope here for it would be sad indeed to have no hope of ever seeing one's beloveds again. I had a friend in high school whose father died suddenly and she had no hope of seeing him again and that would have made the pain all the more worse for her. The world is not going to last forever and when it finally passes away, then one would hope the Elves would pass onto Heaven and there would Arwen and Aragorn be to welcome them home at last. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Hello Antane, Sam the theologist does seem a bit odd doesn't it? But I like to think that, admirer of all things elvish that he is, even our dear Sam can still offer the learned immortals a nugget of wisdom. For him (I imagined) Eru Iluvatar would not bless the various races of M.E. with each others' presence if he did not intend to unite them after death, for to do so would be nothing less than cruelty. It seems like plain Hobbit sense to him and he's happy to share it with her, especially as it will offer his friend comfort. It's always sad to hear about the passing of a loved one and I hope your high school friend has come to terms with her father's death. I like to think that I'll see my grandmother again one day. The human spirit (IMHO) possesses too much energy to simply vanish out of existence when the body fails, and I know that God has bigger plans for us than mere death. Hopefully, we'll all be reunited (on the right side of the pearly gates). Gosh, that sounds flippant doesn't it? It's not meant to be, though. It seems I express myself better in the midst of a story than I am able to in real life. Oh, well... Thanks for R & R-ing m'dear, M ;)

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
This is absolutely lovely. Scenes between Sam and Arwen are rare treasures. You don’t think the Valar let all the different races of Middle Earth mix with each other, be friends - and sometimes family - just to tear us apart forever at the end of all things? Long live plain hobbit sense. And Sam calling her 'lass', and her feelings 'wobbly'... just wonderful. What a delightful story. Author Reply: Hello shirebound, what lovely words you left in your review! You're right about the lack of Sam and Arwen scenes, though. A shame somehow, isn't it? Which was what moved me to write this fic, as a sort of sequel to the Rosie/Aragorn one I did a while ago. All the Elves always seem to be comforting miserable mortals at some point in their lives, so it seemed only fair to let one of the Firstborn be comforted by them for a change. And Sam is so full of plain hobbit sense that he seemed the ideal choice to give the woeful elleth something new to think about - or a new perspective on an old belief. I love hobbit/elf stories. Come to that, I love hobbit/Men stories too. Actually, I love hobbit/anyone stories! You can't really go far wrong with a bit of hobbit sense, or a dash of cheeky hobbit humour! Thank you so very much for R & R-ing and saying such lovely things, you have made me a very happy lass! (That's Scots lass, not hobbit. Sam stole that word from me...) M ;)

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2009
Oh this is so very lovely and insightful! Sam is such a font of wisdom--and this pairs so nicely with the story you did with Rose comforting Elessar about his mother. You painted such a wonderful picture of the garden, I could just see it. And even at so young an age, Tolman is full of personaltiy! Very well done! Author Reply: Hello Dreamflower, wow, that was a fast review! I only posted half an hour ago beams with delight. I had thought about whether or not I should post this as an individual fic, as sort of sequel to the Rosie/Aragorn tale, but somehow decided against it. I couldn't resist the opportunity to make use of baby-Tolman-in-Gondor again though. A Hobbit infant in a city of Big Folk is such an irresistible idea! Arwen always comes across as such a strong, confident woman. Even after she parted from her father, there is no canon reference (that I've found) to her suffering at his loss between that time and Aragorn's death, But the time thereafter, when she wandered the decaying land of her grandmother before dying, must have been filled with thoughts of her parents too as she realised the true cost of her choice, and it seemed only fair to open her eyes to the possibility of reunion. I completely believe what Sam said about the Valar uniting all the Children of Iluvatar after death; how could they not? So this tale lets her believe in it too, and my dear Sam was the right one to give her that hope. Thanks for the lovely comments on the garden. Spring is in the air all over just now and it reminded of the resident magpies outside my place of work - they're always hopping between the bushes looking for sticks and grubs! Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear, M ;)

Celeritas	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/2/2009
This is some of the best prose (from a stylistic standpoint) that I've seen out of you. Bravo! And as for the content itself--well, thank you for once again reminding me what strong women all of the wives of the Dunedain had to be. Author Reply: Hello Celeritas, What a lovely thing to say. I thank you for the beautiful compliment (and a much needed boost it was too after the dreary afternoon at work I've had). Indeed the women were strong - as all spouses are whose husbands/wives/partners are caught in conflict while they wait patiently at home, dreading the worst. I should have dedicated the story to these admirable people. Bad me! Thanks for R & R-ing, and for the truly lovely compliments you left, M ;)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/1/2009
That was very powerfully written! And I was impressed by Arathorn's words concerning the roles of men and women. He treats his wife like an equal, he even feels guilty for having left her so often to go to war. I know some men who haven't gone that far until now ;-) And I loved it that you called Gilraen "the mortal Queen of Imladris"! I hadn't thought of that so far. But you are absolutely right! Author Reply: Hello Andrea, Thanks very much for your lovely words! I think being married to Gilraen the Fair probably opened his eyes a bit as far as the roles of men and women go. Before his own marraige, he may certainly have realised that the wives of his rangers missed their husbands when they were away on scouting missions, etc - but he may not have understood the full scope of their suffering as they waited for them to return, never sure if it would be living or dead. Not until he witnessed the joy in Gilraen's face when he came home, or the fear she tried to hide whenever he told her he had to leave again, would he have comprehended this and it probably gave him a healthy respect for the strength of the fairer sex. It must have been hard for him too, though, leaving his young wife and never knowing if he'd live long enough to see her again. I'm so glad you enjoyed this glimpse into their world! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;) Author Reply: Oo-er...looks like I'll have to work on my 'mastery' of the HTML language thingy... Sorry about that half-italicised reply! M x

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/1/2009
Very well done, cousin dear! So nice to see another from you! Love it and the poetic descriptions throughout of pain, esp. Arathorn not being able to soothe the tears that kissed the cheeks he can no longer. Namarie, God bless, Your bloom :) Author Reply: Hello blossom! How I love to hear from you, it always makes me smile! I hope all is well with you ;) It makes me very happy that you enjoyed this wee Arathorn/Gilraen ficlet. And you think the descriptions poetic? I'm blushing! Arathorn may have been a big tough ranger, and probably not very emotionally expressive for the majority of his life (given his huge responsibilities), but I bet he always let his guard down when he was with his dearest beloved. To see her ache with pain at his final parting from their mortal union must have been worse than anything he'd ever experienced. And to know she'd spend the rest of her life mourning him could only have been torture. Poor sod! Thanks for R & R-ing, Tookish bloom that you are, Cousin Mo ;)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2009
To know he leaves her so grieving is a grief in its own right! Author Reply: Hello Larner. I know. Poor sod. I've always wondered how Gilraen coped without her husband. It must have been so difficult, especially given her youth, to have lost him and now that she must live the rest of her life without the love his presence afforded. A very difficult thing for anyone who has lost a partner, but moreso when the widow/widower is so young. Gosh, I'm coming over all maudlin now! Thank you for R & R-ing, m'dear, M ;)

Ainariel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2009
Very powerful and moving! This just tugs at your heart-strings. Arathorn's grief is palpable, but not overwhelming. It almost feels a little detached - as I would expect from a spirit bereft of it's body...(perhaps I'm reading more into...) Love the sense of Arathorn seeing/understanding a bit more of the 'bigger picture' than he did in life. I have enjoyed the others in this series as well, but this is my favorite so far. Love it! Author Reply: Hello Ainariel, Glad you enjoyed it! Your favourite of the series? blushes This was a fic I wrote last night on the spur of the moment (plot bunnies - what can you do?), but even then it was supposed to portray Arathorn's spirit watching over his son as he grew from boy to man. However, after opening it with Gilraen, I found I really couldn't do her the disservice of dumping her halfway through the story to concentre on Aragorn when she was in so much pain. So it became the grieving widow's tale instead. She doesn't get that much attention in the world of fanfic, so it was only fair. According to canon, Arathorn was supposed to be a bit of a stern man, so it seemed like a good idea to show his softer side as he gazed on his wife. But, not being the romantic type myself (too sceptical of all the mushy stuff), I had to put a twist on it and set it after his death, 'cos I can't write romance to save my life! And no, you're not reading too much into it! Being a 'ghost', I imagine, would have lent him an air of detachment because he'd have realised that his earthly journey was over, that no amount of wishful thinking on his part would have made it possible to intercede on his wife's behalf to spare her grief. I also thought floating in the afterlife may give Arathorn a better understanding of what Gilraen sacrificed to be with him, and it seemed only natural that he would be torn between regret at marrying her and realisation that he could not have done any different - because he loved her. He must have wished that their life together could have been different, that they had been able to spend more of it with each other. But then, that would have been impossible. As Chieftain of the Dunedain, he had responsibilities and lived with a figurative target painted on his back. Any woman he married may have been exposed to the same grief as Gilraen. I don't think that she would have chose any different anyway, if she knew what lay before her. Young or not, she strikes me as having been a woman who couldn't ignore the call of her heart. Anyway, I'm waffling a right pile of mince here, so let me just say 'thank you' for R & R-ing and I'm delighted that you enjoyed this rather angsty fic. M ;)

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