Reviews (219)

Author's reply

I take it you like the poem?;D Thanks bunches! hugs ~~~{~@

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Thank you and you're welcome, Dearie! I'm sure he'll feel it, and maybe as far as Sam is concerned, there is nothing to forgive. Guess our hero got a lesson in faith and listening to one's heart, and he knew deep down it would work for the best, even if he momentarily forgot that bread cast on the waters etc. could apply to light also. I think "Answers" is my favorite of the Frodo poems also--I still catch myself choking up over it! Thanks so much once more for reviewing. hugs Armariel ~~~{~@

Author's reply

I'm guessing Lyrien had a LOT to do with his healing! And of course he wanted the orphans to feel that they, too, were not orphans any more if only for one day. He's a lover in more ways than one! hugs Armariel~~~{~@

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Yeah, come to think of it, if all else fails, Findemaxa could get a job decorating chocolate boxes. They could become quite a designer item. I dare say Nessima is shrewd enough to know she must not let him win too easily. Theirs is likely to be a bumpy relationship, at any rate. Still, he has experienced such an unexpected outpouring of love and concern from her orphans, I think he'll be willing to do anything for them, and has grown up considerably even if he's still not above pulling a few tricks to get what he wants. The hormone fairy does seem to be snaring Perion a bit prematurely! He may be a young "Don Juan-a-be", but perhaps his sisters can provide a bit of protection if his would-be conquests start getting irate.

Author's reply

Oops, missed answering this one! Yes, indeed...and I believe she will get it!;) (Although yes, there is something to be said for chocolate boxes after all:)) ~~~{~@

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Thanks and the same to you! Good gracious, what ever made you think of Valentine's day??? heheh ~~~{~@

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Yes, she'd better face them, or they're bound to get REALLY nasty (all kinds of icky analogies coming to mind here!;)) Even if/when she does, there's no guarantee they won't pop out at her once in a while, but at least they won't dominate, and might even help her as an artist. Maybe our Iorhael can show her that if she will allow him. Thanks once more for reading and commenting! ~~~{~@

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I don't know if Findemaxa will overcome her fear of the dark and of life anytime soon enough to come into the light, but since she at least had the courage to come to the island alone without her parents, maybe there is hope for her, especially since Frodo seems to bring out the best in a good many people, and maybe Raven's gift will help also. And Frodo thought he'd never be a father! I just had to prove him wrong...and provide him with a couple of sweet children who would bring him joy and pride for all his days. Playing fairy godmother is such fun! I thought of ending the story soon but I just don't want to...perhaps it will just ramble on and on like a soap opera for as long as inspiration holds out, even if the installments come with less frequency.... Thanks once more for commenting! hugs Armariel~~~{~@

Author's reply

Now, how many men would do THAT for their wives? Although once at a baby shower I did hear a woman tell about how when she was pregnant she heard about a device called an "empathy belly" for men to wear so they can get an idea of what their wives are going through. So she ordered one for her husband, and after a few days of wearing it he told her he now completely understood why she was in such a bad mood all the time! LOL I also heard a man who recently became a father and was with his wife during his son's birth say that if it were up to men to have the babies there wouldn't be any. So maybe we give men too little credit for not understanding women's troubles.... As for Advil, someone on the Island needs to invent it, and save a lot of trouble of gathering ingredients--although plain ol' aspirin does it for me! Thanks for reviewing! ~~~{~@

Author's reply

I think they'll name it after her! In fact, I think they already did..."Lady Celebrian's Amazing Magical Starlight Hair Conditioning Formula" or something classy like that...it's sure to catch on! The more difficult the goal, the more worthy, perhaps! But I think he's going to enjoy himself a little in the pursuit, like any good hunter.... In a lot of the fics I've read of his time in the West, it seems Frodo's life was rather dull and monotonous over there. Well, I was having none of that! He may not be ducking ghosts and monsters any more, but neither is he going to be consigned to merely watching sunsets over the sea and growing daisies for 60-odd years...... Thanks once more for reviewing! ~~~{~@

Author's reply

Oh yes...Anemone's Rinse will be all the rage now--along with her line of designer fashions! I was watching some shampoo or creme rinse commercial on TV recently, and thought how the models' hair looked so full of light and I thought, Wouldn't it be nice if anything could REALLY make your hair look like that? Of course it's just a trick of lighting that does it, I'm sure...but what if...? Funny the things that will inspire a chapter! Anemone just may find herself a little busier than she wants to be if she isn't careful! heheh It occurred to me today that Frodo just might find it a bit tacky that they should be capitalizing on his star-glass, but I didn't think of it until long after writing the chapter.... Nessima may cave in eventually, but she won't make it easy...here's hoping Frodo's plan works! ~~~{~@

Author's reply

Thank you! Yes, Anemone has played a few tricks in her time; only fitting that she should have a trick or two played on her! All in good fun, of course. And Northlight has finally lightened up, and Raven knows she has a family and will do them proud. Now if her brother can just get himself straightened out....

Author's reply

Ahh, the term "comparative literature" did occur to me too! lol Well, there is more than one fanfic writer who refuses to see ellyth as being unrelentingly prim and proper every minute of the day;);) There must have been a little spice of naughtiness somewhere in there...fortunately for Frodo and his friends! And yes, friendship is greatly underestimated, it seems. But our hero for one has learned the true value of it and will do his best to impart it to others. ~~~{~@

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I was thinking there was still a palantir in the Tower of Ecthelion, and figured, yes, maybe it could light also, and what was once evil could be cast out of it to be replaced by the light of truth, just as one who is redeemed from wickedness is filled with the Divine. And so the Tower of Ecthelion could be the antithesis of Sauron's. Frodo's dream of the lights being joined probably stemmed from movie Saruman's remark about the "union of the Two Towers." Call 'em the Two Other Towers.... I thought the glimpse of life from the other side of the sea might provide a welcome interlude, since the story of the wedding is recounted in "Anemone" I saw no need to repeat it all and was wondering how to smoothly achieve the transition from before the wedding to after. This chapter provided the solution. Thanks for commenting! ~~~{~@

Author's reply

Yes, on the one hand, Nessima is exactly what Guilin needs. But they are polar opposites--she the no-nonsense, conservative, straitlaced workaholic who holds things together, whereas he hates to stick with anything and goes aimlessly from one pursuit to another with no idea what will come next and perhaps no wish to know. An odd couple they would make, certainly. Then again, ya never know....I dare say he is the sort who likes a challenge, and sees a daunting one in her. And maybe the little romantic streak she tries to suppress might be attracted to the exotic wildness in him, and see him as an interesting bad boy who needs to be taken in hand.... I think Northlight just wants to learn, period, ambition being a totally foreign and "landish" notion to him. He may well be an inspiration to his classmates. ~~~{~@

Author's reply

Aren't they just...little lovebirds in paradise! I've a feeling Guilin's recovery will not happen overnight--he has been through even more and is less intelligent than Frodo and has less inner strength--but, recover he will, I'm sure. After that, we'll just see what happens! Northlight's talents will continue to come in handy, I'm sure, now that his mother has given up her own. Yet I don't think she's one bit sorry!

Author's reply

Someone sent me that bit in an email and I thought, well, why not work it into the story? The Muse made us do it!;) Thought you might like to know, I got the idea of using the horn to blow out one's pent-up feelings from you. You mentioned something about a book called "Failure to Scream" or something like that. Well, I thought perhaps instead of screaming, blowing a horn might be an effective outlet without frightening those around you. Bottling a smile? Hmmmmm......yeah. Guess that would be rather...difficult...about like carrying moonbeams home in a jar lol ~~~{~@

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Well but I hope his elvish side doesn't take over completely...I'd like him to keep a good bit of hobbit in him as well and gonna make sure he does! In spite of being surrounded by almost everything else BUT hobbits! Really badly wanted A & A to know about Frodo's joy and the coming baby, didn't want them to have to just wonder all their lives. I thought at first of having some sea-person pass on the news but then thought, well, why not have Sam do it? Sure, why not? Makes a lot more sense. Thanks for commenting! ~~~{~@

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Yes, I was getting concerned about Aragorn and Arwen, wishing to reassure them and their relations and friends that their parents and Frodo had indeed found joy in the West. And perhaps Frodo was allowed his communication with Sam not only for Sam's comfort but to send him the message that the truth must be made known to all and not distorted. A savior's work is never done, it seems! Thought it might be premature of me to strongly hint that the coming child would be a girl etc....but this author got a little impatient, I suppose! haha The glow at the top of the, er, two towers is, I should say, the answer to Sauron's eye. I'm sure all readers have figured that out by now! lol ~~~{~@

Author's reply

Well, who was it that said, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" (Robert Browning, I think!) Book characters tend to be a bit larger than life, especially in epics, although that doesn't mean we shouldn't bother striving to emulate them, if indeed they are worth emulating. And even Sam wasn't so patient with everyone as he was with his master! So, I wouldn't be too discouraged if you don't always hit the mark. Maybe the citizens of the BR will be wearing "what would Sam do" bracelets before long? heheh blessings & cheer Armariel~~~{~@

Author's reply

Rather! The time will seem interminable to him, I'm sure! Guilin is in good hands, I'm sure--the wisdom and sweetness of his new-found family will be the complement to Elrond's healing skill, now that he has acknowledged and accepted his place among them by setting his doll with the others. His path won't be easy, but at least he has a light! ~~~{~@

Author's reply

I think he already has. I figure a way of dealing with fractious components of one's personality might be to embrace them, as if they were difficult members of one's own family. It's a start, at least. All the more so with a little help from one's friends. Three more days, what's he going to do with himself all that interminable time? Eek! ~~~{~@

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Well, the lady who filled it in the first place is right there in the Palace;) but I suppose the main point was that those who share their light with others will surely experience an increase in their own. And I'd say Elrond has his work cut out for him. It's well that he has his newly impending fatherhood to keep him buoyed up or he might get a trifle dragged down with Guilin's case! But yes, Guilin is recognizing his problems and finally airing them which is the first step, and he's certainly in the right hands. And Frodo has done his part so now he can go off and enjoy his wedded bliss for a while. Small kids can be amazingly perceptive, I've found! ~~~{~@

Author's reply

Happens to the best of us:D I might have said before that human love is the staircase for Divine love, and Frodo has chosen to be a step in that staircase. Not an easy thing to be! But very rewarding, for he is finding true happiness in it. Are you a student of psychology, or considering it? Sounds like you would do well in it. hugs Armariel~~~{~@

Author's reply

Five more days...I'm betting our hero feels like a little kid close to Christmas now! No doubt Guilin was expecting fear and revulsion when he revealed his secret, and it came as a surprise to see compassion and tenderness instead. Oops...btw...THANKS for nominating my poem!! I suspected it was you all along, and now I know!! hugs Armariel~~~{~@