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| Outtakes of a Fellowship and Beyond by Kara's Aunty | 58 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| cookiefleck | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/9/2009 |
| Sam + angst = good fic. I liked the way you had him attack the rosebush. So sad. Author Reply: Hello cookiefleck! Thanks for your encouraging words. It seemed to me at the time that Sam must've had an inkling that all was not well with his friend, despite Frodo's attempts to prove otherwise. He may not have known for definite that Frodo was leaving, but his friend's sufferings couldn't have been a mystery to him, living in such close proximity, and he must have thought about how the loss of Frodo would impact upon him (whether it was through death or not). That's why I had him expend his grief on the roses - and you're the first person to say that you liked it! So you've made me a happy woman, m'dear! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/9/2009 |
| Ah--well, well done. Author Reply: Hello Larner, thanks for R & R-ing, I'm glad you enjoyed the tale. It is a bit of a weepy, but I came over all funny yesterday and had to write it. Take care, m'dea, M ;) | |
| Ainariel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009 |
| Wow...this was wonderful...I had to go back and read it again. So clearly Boromir's voice; so much what must've been in his heart in those final moments! If only he had known what happened afterwards. In many ways Boromir's death seemed the catalyst that brought all the forces of the West to the place they needed to be for the final victory. He is no less a hero than the rest of them! Bravo! Author Reply: Hello Ainariel, I completely agree - if it wasn't for Boromir's Ring-induced pivotal attack, who knows what would've happened? The Quest could have been ruined. Little did the Ring know that picking on him would mean its downfall... He is a hero indeed! Thank you for the very kind words about the tale (blushes). I'm so very glad you enjoyed it. Thanks also for R & R-ing, M ;) | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009 |
| You did a really good job of getting into Boromir's head here! I particularly appreciated the diction--it sounded very much like his voice. (And for Shameless Pluggery time, if you'll scroll down the front page you might find something you'll like...) Author Reply: Hello Celeritas, I took your advice and dashed straight over to the front page (before I even replied to this!), and I'm thrilled to see it meant what I thought. Thanks for the heads up there, m'dear! Glad Boromir's last thoughts were up to scratch for you as well! It was strange to imagine myself as a dying man, but its not hard to imagine what was most important to him in those final seconds: his loved ones. I imagine it'll be the same for me too, when my time comes (hopefully not for fifty or sixty years yet though). Gosh! What a morbid thought. Still, it never hurts to plan ahead, I suppose (I'm joking). Though I'll have to see about getting myself some loved ones (other than immediate family) to miss when I depart to push up the daisies ;) But that means abandoning my writing and getting a social life... Forgive the wry Scots humour - we'll make a joke out of just about anything (except really grave stuff). Grave stuff - get it? More dark humour! Okay, i'll shut up now. Thanks for R & R-ing m'dear, M ;) | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009 |
| Cousin!! So nice to have another from you. I have missed you. This is wonderful of course and feels very real. My brother, my captain, my king. Aragorn is well done here too. Namarie, God bless, Your Tookish bloom who is hungry for more! :) Author Reply: Hello my wee blossom! It's lovely to hear from you, too. I was thinking of you when I wrote this and wondering if Boromir's regret at his behaviour to Frodo (not that he could help it; that wicked Ring!) would strike a chord with you, Frodo-lover that you are. I'm delighted to see it has. It was a bit odd, putting myself into the head of a dying soldier, because I've never faced the dangers he has and had to find some common ground between us before it would work. Fortunately he was as human as I am, and regardless of the wide gap in our respective social hierarchies (i.e: him being a Lord of Men and me...well, er, not), we still have the ability to love, show compassion and regret our folly (me more than him, probably, on that last one!). His love for his kin and his people, and the disappointment he must have felt at what he saw as his betrayal of them, must have made his final breaths an agony beyond pain - and Aragorn's words of comfort would have been priceless to him at that crucial moment, I think. So glad you enjoyed, m'dear. As for more, I'll do my best, but I'm still taking an almost Chosen One through the Strange New World that is ME, so I can't promise I'll be able to post every week. Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear. I've missed your Tookish cheek (I mean charm), Cousin Mo :o) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009 |
| Wow! That was wonderfully done, and very moving! No-one can imagine what dark thoughts Boromir must have had when he was lying there. But he was granted enough time to speak with Aragorn. And after that he could leave the world with the knowledge that Minas Tirith and Middle-Earth would be saved. I hope he can forgive me as easily as my King does. Of course, he can! For it was Frodo's pity that saved all of them! Author Reply: Hello Andrea, how lovely to hear from you, m'dear! Thank you for your kind words. I usually try to avoid the emotional depths of death scenes, but I took a sudden fancy to this one and had to write it or I was going to burst. Poor Boromir. If only he could have lived to see his City victorious, his people flourish under the rule of their long-awaited King. But at least he had the comfort of dying in a friend's arms, one whom he knew would not stop until he had fulfilled his dying wish. And little did he know that Frodo had forgiven him not long after his foolish (but necessary) act. Still, he died as he lived - a noble, honourable Son of Gondor and he will always be remembered for his strengths, not one moment of Ring-induced weakness. Thanks very much for R & R-ing, M ;) | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009 |
| This is very touching, dear! I often think of Boromir's remorse at his lapse of honor, and the way in which Aragorn reassured him! I too, think he must have realized his redemption at the end. Author Reply: Hello Bond Girl! It is indeed a topic to ponder: Boromir's final thoughts. Such a noble Man, such strength of character - he must have loathed himself for his moment of weakness. But then, great Lord or not, he (like the rest of us) is/was only human and as such was prone to the same fallibilities we all are. I think he must have been under great duress for the siren call of the Ring to have enticed him so, and no wonder. Years spent on the front line of the battlefield that was his land, fighting to prevent the resurgence of Sauron and to preserve his own City. The Ring must have seemed like a gift to him, before he fully understood the evil of it. Poor sod. I will always admire him, though, for although he succumbed to it briefly, he realised the error of his ways soon afterwards (and before he died, I like to think). That was his salvation, IMHO - his deep regret, his sincere penitence. I'm very glad you enjoyed this, m'dear. Thank you so much for R & R-ing, M ;) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/15/2009 |
| I'm not certain just how much Sam knew of Frodo's anniversary illnesses, as apparently Frodo did his best to hide them from him. I'm certain he was aware Frodo wasn't at his best then, and probably suspected they were worse than Frodo admitted. I know I write him as aware they happened, but uncertain just what was going on, and whether they were physical or emotional or what; but then that's just how I write Sam. He could not have totally hidden from himself that Frodo was withdrawing from society and life, however; and probably did worry in this manner for Frodo's health and possibly for his life as well, although he did his best to put his best face forward and play along with Frodo's own game of "Nothing really wrong here." But I suspect he did, as he indicated on the road to meet the Elves, believe that Frodo was retiring to Rivendell to live the rest of his life. That he was leaving Middle Earth altogether must have been a great shock for him. Very poignantly written, and thoughtful. Sam's own take on the themes, perhaps, of "Thinning" and transplanting. I'm so sorry he took out his secret fears on the poor ivory rose bush--certainly I have loved such bushes myself. But now and then the conscious awareness that Frodo was slipping away, physically or spiritually or both, must have bubbled to the surface in just such a manner. Thank you. A gentle pathos moment. Author Reply: Hello Larner! Lovely to hear from you, as always. Thank you for your lovely review :) You are too kind! I knew the rose-ripping incident would raise a few eyebrows - I actually debated pulling that before posting, but decided not to, because grief can affect us in strange ways and make us do the most irrational things. Poor Sam is not immune to that - but he did tend the remnant blooms with much more care afterwards and won't be doing such a thing again :) I think he missed the first illness because he was away planting in the Shire after the Scouring, but having lived in close quarters with him for the remainder of Frodo's stay (and knowing his friend so well), I think he would have known of some of the other incidences - certainly seen their effect on his friend. My interpretation is that he was always in denial of the severity of Frodo's post-quest condition: so eager was he to see his master well and back home again. But, deep down, I think he would have realised that all was not well in Bag End, no matter how desperately he wished otherwise. Poor sod. I did take a bit of (ahem) artistic licence with his guess about the 'far green land' though. Couldn't remember if he knew the option was open to Frodo (although he probably didn't: if he knew Frodo could leave him for Elven Lands at the drop of a hat, he would never have been as content as he was for that first 18 months or so after the quest...ooh, a plot bunny! You are my inspiration). Thanks (always) for R & R-ing, m'dear. M ;) | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2009 |
| Okay, I am going to try this italics stuff myself because I have wondered the same thing! Why? Why? The single word rebounded through his head and he fell to his knees; great, fat tears of despair leaking from his eyes. It wasn’t fair! Hadn’t he tended them well? Didn’t he nurture the delicate blooms, cherish their purity, guard their innocence fiercely as he would guard his own child? He fought desperately to control his sobs as the ivory blossoms seemed to glow at him with a brilliant, white light. Just like Frodo. Wow, that just broke my heart for Sam! Wonderful stuff, cousin. I love the comparison made. Frodo was ever Sam's master but also friend and brother and child, as the Quest progessed. Have I quoted you yet the words of the Little Flower, St. Terese of Liseiux, who said there is no greater suffering than to watch someone you love suffer and be helpless to stop it? What joy though for Sam to hear and see Frodo's love for Elanor. He was a very proud and loving uncle! :) I just recently finished Sean Astin's autobio and he is of the firm belief that the power of Frodo and Sam's friendship is the purity and innocence of their love. Rock on, Sean! And you have shown that beautifully here. I don't agree with the violence of Sam's reaction, doesn't seem to be him at all, but I love the way you have spoken of this grief and love in comparison of the rose and that he loves it more I think because it reminds him of his beloved master. Namarie, God bless, your Tookish bloom :) Author Reply: Hello Tookish bloom, Yep, I read your quote of St Terese and had it in mind. I also knew you might like the gardening similarities to his care of Frodo and though I didn't deliver it in a poam as you requested a while ago, I thought it was nigh on time that I gave you at least a ficlet about it. Glad you enjoyed ;) I knew the destruction of his cherished blossoms might raise a few eyebrows - it is very uncharacteristic of him, after all. But grief makes puppets of us all sometimes, and leaves us no room to ponder our actions carefully before we take them. Still, at least he didn't rip the head off a fellow hobbit! ;o) It's great to know that I'm not the only one who pondered The Great Italics Mystery! What a thrill to have it solved - and I mean that. It's been frustrating me for several months now, so my gratitude to Shirebound and Celeritas is boundless!! Thanks for R & R-ing, m'dear. I'm doing an HP/LOTR crossover on ff.net just now and have subsequently put 'An Evar-Present Danger' on hold until I can do it proper justice, so these little out-takes give me the chance to stay updated with my one true love of Middle Earth when I need a break from the marathon task that 'Not Quite A Maia' is turning out to be ( Two complex worlds and their histories - crikey! Cousin Mo ;) | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2009 |
| As long as he had breath in his body, Samwise Gamgee would offer his ivory rose warmth and light. He would prune it, mulch it and watch it flourish and grow. That's our Samwise! I loved the comparison of Frodo to the rose. It's perfect! And I just used the method described by Shirebound to generate Italics. It always works for me. BTW, I have never seen a French hobbit, either. But it would be nice to meet one, wouldn't it? He might greet you by saying "A votre service" or something like that ;-) Author Reply: Bonjour Andrea! A votre service et votre famille! Ahem, okay, so my French is rubbish. But it would ne a laugh eh? Or a German Hobbit: Ich stehe zur Ihren Dienst und das von Ihrer Familie. Okay, my German's a bit rusty too... But I'm loving this HTML business and will use it at every opportunity when replying to reviewers, or posting my own. This is even better than instant messaging! But your BTW made me laugh, so I had to try it. I was going to compare Frodo with an orchid, but was unsure if they would grew in the climate of the Shire. Perhaps further south, but not in Bag End. Very unfortunate for me! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;) | |