I'm so glad you liked this fic. To be honest, who the OC looked like never came up for me as I was writing it. Being a dream, it had that specific-yet-vague quality to it, and her face was indistinct to me. So it's interesting to hear readers' speculation on that. My assumption was that she didn't look like anyone he'd ever met, but since I couldn't really see her face, she could look like anyone. I suppose the Ring knows better than I do who Frodo would want to see. :)

And yes, it is an incredibly vicious ploy, isn't it? I was quite horrified as the story unfolded, and as always awed and humbled by the depth of Sam's love for his master and his willingness to forgive. *sniff*