Wow. That's pretty much all I can say is wow. But the messages are there in the story. I'm glad Frodo got the healing he needs. Well done. :) I'm going to put this story in my community, A Hobbit's Comeback, on this site. I hope this is all right with you? Keep writing. :)

/cries/ Absolutely beautiful.

I've finally finished rereading Lord of the Rings, and that puts me in the perfect position to reread your AWOL quartet.

There are elements of this story I had forgotten, and that surprised me, for they are some of the best. The exchange between Frodo and Sting, for example, was impressive. The idea of Frodo, a hero of the Third Age, casting himself in the role of Turin, a hero of the First Age, is unexpected but appropriate, both achieving great deeds but succumbing to despair. When Sting speaks with a voice of his own it is a startling and powerful moment.

Later, Radagast shows Frodo (and the reader) a quieter but equally impressive miracle in the little bird, Filit: a symbol of healing and new life.

I had also assumed somehow that Frodo wouldn't see Sam again before leaving with Radagast - how could I forget that? Sam finding Frodo, and defying Radgast, and finally advising Frodo to go? How could I forget the Epilogue, with Frodo coming back? Yes, I remembered that Frodo comes back, but I recalled that from the second story, "Following the Other Wizard." I did not remember we were also vouchsafed that reunion here, in "Another Way of Leaving." (Such a wonderful title, with such layers of meaning.)

It's remarkable and humbling to think how much I loved this story, and yet how much of it escaped me with time, to be rediscovered on rereading so much later. I look forward to more such rediscoveries as I reread "Following the Other Wizard," and then, of course, "The Queen's Orc."

Aww, OMG, I wanna cry now! That was so sweet! Even though it started out with Frodo heading out to kill himself, he ended up being healed! I liked the role Radagast had to play, as I like him more than I like Gandalf, I think. Anyways, great job! -wipes eyes-

Great story, that one. :)

This is very good. Animals are wondourus healers and listners.

Frodo should have visited Sam at least a few times. He was able to do that since he didnt leave for valinor.

Hello again! This is going to be a very long review. I can tell that in advance. So make sure you’re not doing anything important.

I came to this story as soon as I read that there were TWO others.

It was wonderful.

Amazing.

Awesome.

Brilliant.

You get the picture.

But honestly, I loved it! Frodo not sailing to Aman isn’t something a lot of people deal with, because it would be quite difficult to write. But you manage it perfectly. It’s very believable, and having read this story I find myself wondering whether I really agree with Tolkien sending Frodo off to Valinor. I’m actually doubting Tolkien! That has never happened before. It should give you some idea of how brilliant a writer you are.

Coming to the story itself, again, your characters are all in character (as usual). Very few people actually think of Radagast. And very, very few people think of him as having any importance. I’ve found that a lot of writers don’t portray him as wise. They go with the ‘Radagast the Fool’ image used by Saruman (even though they should know by now that you shouldn’t listen to what Saruman says). They forget that, as one of the Istari, Radagast was wise. He couldn’t have been a fool if he was picked by the Valar themselves to go to Middle-Earth. I’m glad you have portrayed Radagast the way he should be. And because he was picked by Yavanna, you'd expect him to be fond of nature.

Frodo’s depression is very believable, after all he has been through. He started to compare himself to Turin Turambar! No! Poor thing. It is a sad state of affairs indeed when you start comparing yourself to Turin. The ‘Narn i hin Hurin’ is, I feel, perhaps the saddest thing that Tolkien wrote. It’s downright depressing. It makes me cry each time I read it. I don’t own a copy of ‘Unfinished Tales’, so I’ve only read the complete, proper version twice (borrowed from library), but I do have the Sil, and so have read that version quite a few times. I feel so sorry for all of that family.

Enough of that. It’s too depressing. There’s enough upsetting stuff going on in the world today without me going on about Turin and family.

To the next topic – Sam. You portray him perfectly! Yay! Sam is my favourite character, because he is so sweet and so pure and innocent and good. There is a poem by Chinua Achebe, called ‘Vultures’. It says, basically, that everything good has some evil inside it, no matter how small, and everything evil or bad has at least some good in it, no matter how small. Sam is someone about whom you can confidently say that there is NO evil in him, whatsoever. I just don’t write anything featuring Sam because I don’t think I could ever do justice to him. But I cannot find anything at all to complain about as far as your Sam is concerned. Well done.

I should stop now, because this has already gotten too long. I knew it would. I hope you didn’t mind reading my ramblings on. I’m going to try to stop myself from reading ‘Following the Other Wizard...’ today because I have a French exam tomorrow and, having spent the best part of the day READING *Glares at Jo, but in a nice way* , I really must get some revision done. So that’s all for now.

Until next time :)

- Narwen ()

hello there jodancingtree! I'm Esamen, the author of Boromir in Rivendell, in case you don't remember my name.
This is an absolutely beautiful story. You are a fantastic writer.
I'm kind of working my way through all your stories. So far, I've only read a few - this one, and the one about Rose and Sam, and the one where Frodo drinks the brandy. Do you have any more?
I am learning a lot by reading what you write. This is great. Are you writing other things besides LOTR fan fic? Please let me know, and may you always be inspired to share such fabulous and healing visions. Your readers are fortunate to find such tender and encouraging stories.
Sincerely,
Esamen / Karen Roth

*sobs* Oh my God.. I've been in tears the whole time reading this! I've always wondered what would have happened had Frodo not gone into the West. This is just amazing, so well-written, and although it's AU it stays on canon perfectly! *wipes tears away* I've never cried this much reading a fanfic, honestly. Oh, write a sequel, you HAVE to write more! It can't be the end! *sniffsniff* You are really an amazing writer, I hope you realize that. *adds to FA, FS, and AA lists* Write a sequel!

"Now, Mr. Radagast, you don't want to be doing that, not that it's for me to tell a wizard what to do, but still! You won't find no birds there, not unless it's vultures cleaning up the dead!"
All I want to say is that it's brilliant how you've written it so that you know who's speaking even without a "Sam said". You're very good at that.

How beautiful. Thank you for letting me read this.

That's one of the best "what if?" stories I've read in a while. One of the most overworked ones is "what if Boromir had taken the Ring?" There are a FEW that are all right, but usually...megh. That would annoy the hell out of me. Wanting to die, yet nothing will work. But I can't see myself every hitting that kind of low, so it's all good. Cheers again to you. And again. And again!

A beautiful, moving story. Frodo's sword speaking was an excellent touch of Epic, which fanfic writers rarely bring in, but is such a lovely trope and so appropriate for LotR fanfic. I loved the way Radagast describes helping a bird with a damaged leg as an important task that he did whilst in the Shire. And having read your other fics I have a strong suspicion that there is a bucketload of symbolism in the choice of Donkey for Frodo - it reminded me of some very famous donkeys (I once read a children's Christmas story in which the donkey that bears Christ on Palm Sunday is a descendent of the one that bore Mary to Bethlehem). Superb interactions between Sam and Frodo too - a good story all around.

How could you ever be capable of creating such a story? When I put it down, finished, I simply had to cry over its sheer beauty and wisdom. What more can I do than to thank you for such a wonderful and heart-warming gift. I wish I could repay you for it…