[pt2] SUNLIGHT AND HOLDING HANDS AND KNOWING THAT WHATEVER COMES NEXT ITS NOT GOING TO BREAK YOU BECAUSE YOUVE WEATHERED THUS FAR AND YOURE STRONGER FOR IT? GOLDEN CRACKS IN POTTERY, THATS WHAT THIS MAKES ME THINK OF; STARTING WITH SOMETHING HARSH, BROKEN, UNHAPPY, BUT TENDING TO IT WITH SUCH LOVING CARE, REALIZING WHERE SHARDS CAN’T, SHOULDN’T, BE SAVED, BUT RECOGNIZING THE WHOLE IS SALVAGEABLE, WORTH THE TIME IT WILL TAKE TO REPAIR IT AND IN THE END ITS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN EVER, ITS CRACKS AND

[pt3] DON’T DIMINISH IT THEY ENHANCE IT, THEY TELL ITS STORY AND THEY PROCLAIM TO ALL THAT IT WAS LOVED SO MUCH THAT IT WAS REFORMED, REFORGED, INTO SOMETHING REAL AND WHOLE OUT OF WORN AND BROKEN PIECES. FUCK NOW I’M HAVING FEELS ABOUT SANSÛKH AND THORIN AND EVERYONE. I’M GOING TO CRY WHEN THIS IS OVER, DETS, BECAUSE IT’S GOING TO BE SO DAMN BEAUTIFUL. YOU TOOK THE CRACKS AND BROKEN PIECES OF TOLKIEN’S WORK, THE FORGOTTEN OR DIMINISHED, THE UNTOLD STORIES THAT HE ONLY GAVE A FEW WORDS FOR,

[pt4] AND YOU’VE FILLED THEM IN WITH GOLD: LOVE AND PATIENCE, STEADFAST AND TRUE, BREATHING LIFE INTO THE CHARACTERS (HIS AND YOURS), AND YOU’VE TENDED TO THE FANS WITH THE SAME CARE AND I JUST… this song sounds like a loving goodbye, a promise of tomorrow and someday; something to celebrate all that has come before, both merry and sad, a gift of thanks and memory. It’s an ode, I think, of sorts, and your voice brings such a depth to the words that have carried me through so much in my life.

[pt5] “I will not say the day is done, nor bid the stars farewell” They’ve always been important to me, Dets, but I think they’ll mean so much more now. Sansûkh has been an experience for me on par with things like Harry Potter, watching something so simple touch and change and bolster so many people. I know it’s not done yet, that there’s still so much to come, but you need to know that it’s been an honor to be part of this, even just from the sidelines of lurking. Watching the enthusiasm

[pt6] that has churned out so much talent and creativity is amazing. I’ve loved seeing this experience evolve from just another fic (and doesn’t that sound blasphemous) into what it is now, with massive appendices of art, music, short stories, character biographies, cosplay … I’ve loved every minute of it. So thank you for making that all possible and nurturing it with such enthusiasm.

[pt7] I’m sorry this has been so over the map and so long; I meant to just leave a funny comment about how much I love ‘In Western Lands’ [still can’t believe I missed it for this long], and then I just … couldn’t stop and I didn’t know where else to put this without loosing my nerve. So to sum up: Thank-you so much.

So… I am crying a lot.

From the bottom of my heart… thank you. From everything that is me… thank you.

In Western Lands is the most complicated song I have ever composed, and I have been so… conflicted about it. Thanks to you, I have gone back and listened to my own work with new ears, and for that, I cannot ever thank you enough.

This fic has been an experience I would not give up for the world. I have learned so much. This story has brought me so many friends, and the sheer amount of creativity and beauty and enthusiasm and support is quite honestly breathtaking. 

I will never be able to thank anyone enough.