harrowcat · 18 January 2016 · Chapter 1
Four years had not been enough to erase the pain that hung behind those once joyful blue eyes. Four years is not enough for one parent let alone two at the same time! Beautifully done Dreamflower.
Grief by Dreamflower
Reviews (12)
Periantari · 17 July 2007 · Chapter 1
For those who have ever lost a loved one, i can so feel this and therefore it's very, very poignant. :*( Last line just.. :*(.
Author's reply
Why, thank you Peri! How lovely to get a new review for this! It's among my very earliest drabbles, so it's nice to know it still has impact!
Frodo Baggins · 28 February 2006 · Chapter 1
Another great one! I love the way you write, mellon nin! Hannon le for all the stories written and all the ones to come...:) Namarie! God Bless, Frodo Baggins
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words, dear!
Queen Galadriel · 8 February 2006 · Chapter 1
Oh, poor Frodo! This is a companion to "The Apology," isn't it? Yes, sometimes Bilbo knew more than anyone what Frodo needed. "It was not the child that needed care. It was the pain." Too true. And--yes, it's weird communicating through reviews, but I'm going to anyway--just as a reply to your reply to my review of "A Place for Gandalf," I love Frodo h/c, writing and reading it, and if I could have been part of the fellowship, I'd have gone with him and Sam to Mordor, and carried him myself up the mountain. But you're right: it can be easy to get carried away, and some don't even try not too--which makes reading their "h/c" unbearable! But I *can* sympathise to a certain extent, though I don't enjoy such fics. God bless, Galadriel
Author's reply
Yes, this goes along with "The Apology"--actually was written first. Bilbo *did* understand Frodo a lot more than any of Frodo's female relatives gave him credit for. Oh, I love communicating through reviews! LOL! I do know it's tempting to coddle the characters and baby them. But to me, then make those fics when the characters *are* babies or children; otherwise you take away their personal dignity. And I know it may be strange to worry about a fictional character's personal dignity, but I do. And another thing that disturbs me is when poor Frodo's suffering and angst is just so much more unbearable than even in canon--and the comfort does not seem to be enough to make up for the suffering. I prefer plenty of "c" in my h/c. And it *does* seem odd to me that it's those who claim to love him most that do that to him.
Dana · 1 January 2006 · Chapter 1
This is still as lovely as it was when you first wrote it.
Author's reply
Thank you.
Gryffinjack · 11 October 2005 · Chapter 1
This is a good reminder of just how far back Frodo's melancholy goes. Although he later does learn to laugh and enjoy life again, there was always that bit of sadness laying hidden beneath those blue eyes, ready to lay claim to him. To have such close, personal tragedy in his life at such a young age, it is little wonder that he always seemed more mature than his cousins and friends. I ached for Frodo when I read about "those once joyful blue eyes." Also, nice bit about how understanding Bilbo is and how having children of your own is not necessarily the best measure of understanding of children or others. Hyacinth anyone?
Author's reply
I truly think that his parents' deaths was the defining event of his young life. Everything that happened to him afterwards was colored and shaped by that loss. Too many people have that conventional idea that "an old bachelor" can know nothing of raising children. But the truth is, that children do not come with a set of instructions as each one is unique, and loving understanding can make up for a good many things.
Lindelea · 25 October 2004 · Chapter 1
Haven't forgotten your meme, just haven't had time to get back to livejournal yet! Ran across this while refreshing my memory of your stories. I love the last line! Makes me want to take that line and *start* a story. (Didn't someone suggest a "last line" meme once the "first line meme" dies down?) It was not the child that needed care. It was the pain.
good_one_pip · 22 October 2004 · Chapter 1
oh, so sweet! You often forget that Frodo knew the feelings of pain and loss very early in his life. I liked your comment in one of the other reviews: "this side of the Sea."
Author's reply
I think that early experience was part of what made Frodo strong enough to bear his burden. And I do believe he found healing on the other side of the Sea.
GamgeeFest · 11 October 2004 · Chapter 1
That was lovely. But Frodo's a bit young to be walking to Bag End by himself, isn't he? ;) Poor thing, I just want to pick him up and hug him and make it all better. Nice POV of Bilbo's feelings regarding Frodo.
Author's reply
Absolutely! He would only be about the equivalent of a human 10 to 11 year old, which would probably mean he had run away, and would probably explain a lot of Bilbo's distress. I think that Bilbo would have been extremely frustrated by the idea that only the womenfolk could possibly know how to take care of a grief-stricken orphan. It would probably be the conventional hobbit-wisdom, but I don't think that it really held true in Frodo's case.
Nina the powerwriter · 11 October 2004 · Chapter 1
Tha was good. Makes me curious to want more.
Author's reply
Of course, that's the problem with drabbles--sometimes 100 words are just enough to whet the appetite.
Anso the Hobbit · 11 October 2004 · Chapter 1
Oh! So wonderful and so sad. I loved this.
Author's reply
Thank you. I've been a bit preoccupied with Bilbo lately, not sure why. But I could just feel his worry and concern, and his frustration over not being able to help more.
RogerGamgee · 10 October 2004 · Chapter 1
This was a great drabble...very pointed, very emotional. The last line is the one that really got my attention, though. Having lost a parent myself at an early age (19), I know well the feelings that sort of loss can produce. Well done, as always!
Author's reply
I know. I lost my father at 12. But to lose both parents at one time, in one foul swoop, to me is unimaginable. I don't think Frodo *ever* got over it, this side of the Sea.