AW...snif. Great story (as usual). Thank you again, Ms. Stonebreaker.

Nice, nice, nice little chapter to "tidy up" the story-within-a-story.

GREAT Story, Rachael. But I'm a wee bit bothered by All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day in M.E. - seeings as the events in M.E. occur pre-Christian era (and consequently, pre-saints). But that's a niggling point to which I am sure you have a perfectly good answer. I can't think of a comparable non-Christian harvest festival which equals the creepiness of All Hallows Eve. Great story, or have I said that already? Great story.

He he...I'm discovering another Rachael gem long, long after it's first publication. Like a wee Christmas present you find in April.

Ripping good yarn, what?

I never knew the story of how jack-o-lanterns came to be, though I knew they were originally turnips.

I like the bittersweetness of the scenes in Mordor that you bookended onto the legend.

HEHEHE ^^ Cute!!!
DOes ur friend torture Pip more!!?!?
I read the chapters backwards for some odd reason..and I'm feeling stupid for doing that.
Heheh
Well
Cya
Robin Girl

aawwwww! I'm almost sorry this is over, because now I don't have more to look forward to. Oh well, I'll just have to read it again.

Congrats on a story well told!

thankyou for your e-mail it meant a lot to me reading this. i shall remember the story and read it on halloween.

loved the ending. frodo wanting comfort and sam feeling lost knowing there is little he can do.

i am going to read your stories and catch up on what i have missed. if they are half as good as thisone which i think they are i'll be so happy.

take care. tiggivon.x

And here we are back in Mordor. What a nice story, I can just see Sam telling that tale to Frodo to keep him "grounded". How heartbreaking, "...the Ring was a burden burning away Frodo's essence and dragging him into perpetual darkness." I hope the movies show how wonderful Sam was and how Frodo would never have made it without him. Thanks for sharing this with us!

Hi,

I really enjoyed this story (and all your other ones too). You write really well, and I just love seeing Merry get a decent share of a storyline!

Do you have Scottish family? (please excuse me from being curious, and you don't have to answer if you don't want to) Or some other connection? I loved reading about the kind of lanterns my mum used to make me, although I wonder how Jack managed to make his so quickly, as they always took us at least a couple of hours!

I've been watching for you. Knew you would come up with another story. This is a fun one. The Hobbits were actually pretty good and didn't interupt too much. I hope more is coming.

See, now I know how to do a signed review.

"Don't underestimate yourself, Sam. You're made of strong material. I'd trust you to rescue the whole of Middle Earth if it were needed."

Very nice foreshadowing. And yes, you satisfied my craving for a ghost story very well. Thanks!

I live for reviews as well, don't go feeling guilty about that! Feedback is a wonderful way to feel "connected" and part of the LOTR "family".

What a sweet story. A great line, "I'd trust you to rescue the whole of Middle Earth if it were needed." As would we all.

i loved the teasing of sam and frodo at the end of the chapter. little did sam know what was ahead.

loved the scene where they are all ready for bed.

last chapter will be sad but then i hear you have other stories i should read so off to read those as soon as i can.

tiggivon.x

thatis such a lovelly story and i love the version you have written here.

i can now understand the reason for the lantern and i shall think of this as i do one for halloween.

loved the neeps reference. in pippins accent that sound really good.

tiggivon.x