Oh, the Tolkien-connection is wonderful! (And I have that recall thing too!) The end is the bit where I almost cried too (more so than the death) because there's so much hope and expectancy etc. And knowing how Fred's story will end up makes it heartbreaking. But then - she would never have been happy just to stay at home with her parents, safe and unchallenged. *sigh*

I'd love to write more, but my brain is refusing to co-operate at the moment.