Oh. Ouch.

I wish there was more of this, but perhaps it works best as it is, a small, perfect moment.

I really liked that. I normally don’t like slash much as it seems to me it is usually out of character and the pairings ( I hate that word) are often inappropriate but this was very good. True to the characters of all involved. I felt sorry for poor little Merry having to be the bearer of so many secrets. And poor Frodo! I wonder what would’ve happened if Reg hadn’t married Primrose and had moved in with Frodo… would he have gone on the Quest too? It explains why Frodo was always single. One criticism though. It seemed a tad dis-jointed. The two chapters, I mean. Perhaps a third chapter would balance it out (hint hint)

Merry is right. This is too sad - but at the same time, very sweet as well.
I admire your gift to write hobbits. In my opinion, whatever it is worth, you write them better than anyone else whose work I have read in the last three years since I became aware of the fandom in the first place. And I *do* read a lot and am very picky. :)
Wonderful story.

NO NO NO! Arg. Can't anyone leave Frodo's love interests well enough alone? Can't one be a bachlor without being gay? (Frodo: Noone does this to Bruce Wayne...) Arg. >:[

Aw, that was sad! It would explain why Frodo neve married. It's good that Bilbo was supporting, but still sad. Anyway, good fic!

The ending is so beautiful. Sometimes, I think it will be better if Frodo is more selfish and keeps something for himself. He always gives and never receives. It's so sad, isn't it?

I read this a long time ago, but decided at the time not to review it because I wasn't sure what to say. Since you added the new chappie I've come up with something.
You know, if you read this and pretend that Reg is a girl, it's a great story! Your works are always beautiful and so well written, it's a shame to miss one, so I went ahead and read this despite the homosexuality warning. Actually, it's really funny because I wrote a Frodo love-fic some time ago that has something to do with a hobbit-lass named Regina, the feminine form of Reginald. How wierd is that?
Anyway, though I could see how in our modern world people can work things around to where Frodo is gay or Legolas and Gimli are gay or something like that, Tolkien would have never written one of his characters to be homosexual because he was in fact a devout Christian, and Christians believe that homosexuality of any kind is wrong and sinful. (whoa, THAT was a rambling sentence!) He would not have written his main character as a homosexual. Had it not been for that, I would have myself thought that perhaps Frodo's character was meant to be gay, but, knowing what I just told you, I know that he is not.
I choose rather to believe that Frodo did love a lass at one point and his heart was broken... in my take on it, the lass, Regina, dies, and of course Frodo never loves again and all that lot, so our takes are not so very different in essence. Perhaps you could find the time to read "The Promise" and then later the story I'm going to have to kill my beloved OC in. (sorry for the spoilers, all ye who have been following that storyline!)

Anyway, though I do not condemn your story, I thought it was very good, your characterizations are lovely, I don't agree with it. Oh goodness, after reading all the other reviews I feel as if I'm just a follower and your immune to them, but I hope something stands out and makes this one different. You have no idea how much I admire and respect you as an author.
-Cantora

God, this broke my heart. Just beautiful, as always. Thank you for posting this second chapter--I don't think I ever saw them on your journal and it would be a shame to have missed this.

Hm...I dunno if you'll ever read this, but it's worth a try. I'm not quite for the whole Frodo is a homosexual thing, but it's a really great story anyway. You write amazingly I think, and I'm sure you know that, but I just thought I should remind you.
Happy Writing!

Very good! Well written, of course, and certainly not slash. So please ignore all these 'Frodo can't be gay' comments. Nowhere in Tolkien's masterpiece does it specifically say: 'Frodo is heterosexual'.

And to the reviewer below who is anti-slash because they are Christian: the Bible may well appear to condem homosexuality but it also states that adulteress wives should be stoned to death. Pinch of salt, perhaps? Surely Jesus' message was 'love thy neighbour' regardless of their faults. I personally believe that true love transcends all boundaries, race, gender, age etc.

So why can't Frodo be gay?!

This story was well written, and I like the idea of Merry having to try to keep all of those secrets without lying - he's got his work cut out for him in that regard!

But as far as Frodo being homosexual? Don't think so! I have found nothing in the books to believe that the Hobbits are anything other than close friends, and I really don't believe that any of them would be homosexual... Frodo least of all. But at least you didn't pair him with Sam, Merry or Pippin, that would be ruining two characters at a time, instead of just one!

Please let me beg you to write your stories as you had been doing for so long... non-slash! Please, there are so few authors who do and I really liked the fact that you WERE one of them, and I wish you would go back to being so.

I only read this because, knowing the context of your previous stories, I thought that this would be one of those "anti-slash" stories, where it's mentioned, but not practiced (in any way) by the characters.

Just thought you'd like to know. You're a great writer, and please keep up the non-slash works!

Beautiful story. Your wording was very in keeping with the feel and language of Tolkien. This was bittersweet -- Frodo's broken heart balanced against his loving and devoted cousin's concern.

Very lovely indeed!! I shall look forward to reading more of your stories.

Thank you for your wonderful stories. You are the BEST. Why can't people be more like hobbits!

I think this is a wonderful story, especially in the characterization of Merry. Interesting take on Frodo's sexuality... (I haven't decided myself if I believe if he's gay or strait, I truly think it's of little importance to his character and ultimate fate)

Also, may I add, You always write hobbits so beautifully!

It looks like Merry finds out a lot of things in a short time. I can´t help feeling sad for Saradoc, to have to deal with gambling uncles must be a pain in the neck, but then someone has to do it. Thank you for writing the story.