(no subject)

[rabidsamfan]

Dilemma
I’ve always known my place, and kept to it as best I could. Hamfast’s son, and gardener lad, servant’s child to old Mr. Bilbo, and servant in my own right to the master whom I chose. Hobbit-of-all-work, I became because he needed me, and glad to follow his path. And if I guided him to the mountain as much as he guided me then it was because we were both in darkness.

Now Elves and Men bow to me, and my shirts are made of silk, and I can no longer tell where I should stand.

Behind him, or beside?



Timeline (fiction only, most recent version, includes AU) first previous next last

Comments

[tialys.livejournal.com]

That was perfect, and one of my favorites of yours. Beautiful job!

<3

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I was a little nervous when I posted it.

[danachan.livejournal.com]

This is just absolutely beautiful.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Glad you liked it.

[shirebound]

Such a practical and real dilemma for Sam! Between being so honored, and later becoming mayor, what an amazing change he had to undergo at the very heart of his worldview.

[cpsings4him.livejournal.com]

**in grumpy mom-ish/drill-sergent voice**

Shirebound! What are you doing out of bed? You're supposed to be resting! Are you on that 'internet' thingy again...playing with those smurfs? Right back to bed with you!

**hehe! hopes this means you're feeling better!**

[shirebound]

I *did* keep wandering out of bed yesterday to play on the internet, but it was hard to sleep for some reason. I finally got a good night's sleep though, and my temperature isn't as high as it was.

Thank you for being so stern! I need it.

:)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been thinking a lot about that lately. (Having changed everything but my phone number since spring.) And Sam didn't consciously choose the changes -- in one sense he rejected them entire.

I think an essay bunny just bit me.

I couldn't help it.

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

At Your Side

Gandalf's wisdom plucked you from my garden to come with me on my hopeless errand, and you set your face towards unimagined dangers and never once quailed. You've followed me, borne me up, stood between me and darkness, been my hope beyond all hope's failing. Now we stand on the other side of the end, at the turning of the age, and I would put you before but I know you'd never allow it. Stand beside me, my dear Sam, and let me watch as you recieve this smallest part of the praise and glory that is your due.

Re: I couldn't help it.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Oh, I laughed out loud when I saw this, from sheer delight! Don't resist temptation if it's going to provide us gems. I especially loved "the other side of the end" as a phrase.

[glimmerfic.livejournal.com]

Lovely. I've been thinking about how it must have been for Sam in Minas Tirith after the quest, too, and that drabble sums up a lot of it. Thank you!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

It would be like landing on a different planet, I should think.

You're welcome

[mariole.livejournal.com]

How about hugging him round his middle? *sorry! * runs off*

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

*snicker* Well, in some stories there are advantages to all sorts of positions, yes?

Thanks!

[cpsings4him.livejournal.com]

Oh, Sam! Stand beside him...*sniff!*

Beautiful as always!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *offers a hanky*

[mordelhin.livejournal.com]

What a lovely drabble!

I'm re-reading the books now for the first time since the summer before FotR came out - and one of the things that really stood out to me this time is the way Frodo (and Merry and Pip for that matter) treat Sam as a subordinate in the beginning. I'm thinking particularly about how snippy Frodo was with him when he found out the Gaffer had told Sam about a Black Rider coming to call just before they set off for Crickhollow. I'm looking forward to following the arc of the transition you describe here this time through the books.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Oh, re-reading is so much fun. I went on a binge and re-read with colored pencils marking the speaker/viewer along the edge of the page in different colors. Gave me an excuse to read forSam, and then Frodo, and then Aragorn, etc...

It's fascinating.

[teasel.livejournal.com]

Lovely. It's a very different Sam we see in the Epilogue that Tolkien scrapped; this sounds like the sort of stray thought that might wander through his head -- though I think he would suppress it. Very interesting take on the character, terrific last line.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

I think Sam saw glimmers of the hobbit he would become as early as Minas Tirith, but it took a long time for him to become comfortable with the idea. There may be an essay in the offing, or more drabbles, I'm not sure which.

[elendiari22.livejournal.com]

Lovely!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[rosiegardener.livejournal.com]

inside Sam's mind, awesome, truly awesome.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting place, but you have a tendency to stumble over the Gaffer's pronouncements...

Thanks!

[lily-the-hobbit.livejournal.com]

What an amazing insight into Sam's 'problem' after the quest.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Sam isn't used to being waited on, but there's something amazingly easy to get used to about having your bath drawn and ready when you want it.

Thanks

[pippinswolf.livejournal.com]

My vote has always been "in front of", but at the very least, "beside". (((Sam)))

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

*shhh!* Some folks still think it's all about Frodo -- which means more Sam for us!

Thanks!

[pippinswolf.livejournal.com]

(huge grin)
Yeah!

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! And of course he should stand beside him, and also of course he feels very unpleasant about it. I love this drabble, and I love your Sam (and rubynye's answer, too). Brava to you both!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Uncomfortable I think, or unsettled, more than unpleasant. I mean, it's nice having people doing their best to make you comfortable but still...

Isn't ruby's drabble great? She's posted it on her LJ now...

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

It is, indeed. She is one of the most interesting new authors I discovered in the last two months.

And of course uncomfortable is much better than unpleasant: First rule for german writers: Thou shalt not trust your online dictionary too much. *sigh*

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Ah, but dictionaries fail even native speakers when it comes to some of the subtleties of connotation... English has borrowed far too many words!

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I felt rather idiotic.

BTW - I'm just translating the last chapter of "Winter Fire", and after I have sent it to Jo, I'll start with "Before I go to sleep" (the prologue and first chapter will be finished in two weeks, I presume). Time for the community, I'd say...

[auntiemeesh.livejournal.com]

This is a very nice look at the dilemma Sam faces after the Quest. He wants to be proper but he is no longer sure what proper is. You do such a nice job with these drabbles :)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think "proper" has changed for Sam, but it's going to take a while for him to catch up to that!

[archerlass.livejournal.com]

I love your Sam and his question. Well voiced!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's not going to be easy for him to find an answer, either.

[frodobaggins-88.livejournal.com]

Aww...I love that drabble. It's so Sam-like.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[angharad001.livejournal.com]

I found you via Ruby's response post--no wonder she felt so strongly about your lovely work--I'm awed, I love it--it works beautifully :)

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Wasn't it so neat of her to write that? I'm glad you liked mine too!

[gentlehobbit.livejournal.com]

I like this very much. I liked it when I read it yesterday but for some reason didn't leave a message. And I like it just as much now reading it for a second time.

Oh, Sam. *hugs*

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Sometimes we comment and sometimes we don't. I don't mind, as long as you enjoyed.

[illyria-novia.livejournal.com]

servant in my own right to the master whom I chose. Hobbit-of-all-work, I became because he needed me, and glad to follow his path.

I don't know why but this part goes straight to my heart and made me shiver, the decisiveness under that seeming servility. And yes, great, great last line.

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think that Sam chose Frodo, in a very real sense, as much as Frodo ever "hired" Sam.

Thank you!

[periantari.livejournal.com]

wonderful, another jewel among your drabbles
very profound and creative take on things :)
very nice~ (one of my favorites =)