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| Destiny's Child by Mirkwoodmaiden | 5 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/28/2025 |
“She pondered what to tell Háláf, for the full truth on the eve of departure simply would not do. He could not know that she was going against the King’s wishes and command. She could hardly even admit this breach to herself and she certainly could not admit it to Háláf.” And now she has to not tell Háláf… “Háláf answered, eyeing her all the while, “About half, Héohelm is not because his arm is still healing and Aethelred is still only fifteen, though I don’t really see why that signifies. It is only a year.” Éowyn thought because Théoden is trying to limit the damage to youth but she did not say that. “But My Lady, why are you not going?” he repeated.” Oh. That is good, I guess. Isn’t Aethelred the son of Elfhelm? I don’t know if this separation will be good or bad. At least Elfhelm survives. But does Athelred? Rohan is attacked again… “You will do well, I know it! You are brave, you are strong. You have trained for this moment. Both Éomer and Théodred always had the highest praise for you. You wear Éomer’s badge. He would not have given his badge to a Rider he did not think was worthy of it! I know that you and all my boys will do me proud.“ [I decided to split this one up a little because it was so long.] | |
| Fimbrethil | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/28/2025 |
| “You won’t be. I will make sure of it. Aragorn meant you to be there. He asked me to find armor for you! You will ride with me and my boys. We will ride to battle together!” “Oh, My Lady!” Merry looked fierce and happy all at once, “Thank you! Did Strider really say that?” Oh! Well, Merry will certainly expect her to ride, even if he doesn’t recognize her as Dernhelm. I really liked/felt this whole next section of Éowyn’s and Théoden’s conversation: ::: “You were visiting with Merry you say? A most interesting personage is he not?" Éowyn assented, “Oh Aye, a most charming hobbit. Though,” She paused, deciding to fight Merry’s corner for him, “He fears that you mean to leave him behind. He would follow you wherever you go.” She felt rather than saw Théoden stiffen a little….“I know that he would. He is a stout-hearted little one! But he cannot.” Théoden ended, caring concern in his voice… A flare of recognition and warning lit in Éowyn's breast. “He can ride with me and my boys. He would be no trouble. I understand what is to be left behind.” She fervently stated. Théoden closed his eyes in pain as he seemed to age again in front of Éowyn’s eyes…With his back to her, he said with a voice strained with emotion, “You will not be heading your boys…” The flare within Éowyn’s breast exploded into a flame of nightmare. Still trying to deny what she knew her uncle to be saying, she said in a small controlled voice staring at her uncle’s back, “What do you mean, Uncle?” Théoden turned, eyes blazing with torment, “The older ones will go, but you will not.” [older ones of who?] The sound of a cage door slamming rang through Éowyn’s ears. She looked at her uncle and said in a voice raked with torment, “You cannot do this! Those are my boys!” The memory of them saluting her after the battle of the wargs seared through her mind. “I thought that when I was the leader questioned that meant I was to lead them into battle.” Her boys’ acceptance meant the world to her and now that was being taken from her. “I am ready!” “I know you are!” The look of betrayal on his beloved niece’s face shredded Théoden’s soul. “But I cannot lose you!” His fear laid bare. “So I will be shut here. Protected and cosseted. Useless!” she spat out. Théoden looked at his niece, “Not useless. You have never, you could never be useless. You have led the people marvelously. I could not be more proud of your leadership. There has been nothing but praise for you! You must continue here,” He said knowing full well that his words will have been leeched of their meaning in his beloved niece’s ears. In fact they sounded hollow in his own, but the fear of losing her gripped his heart, allowing for no other thought. With her soul splintering apart, Éowyn threw back, “To wait for all to come back? Or worse, none? What did you train me for?” she questioned, despair dripping from the words, “Why was I taught if only to shut me away.” She looked up with imploring eyes, “I forgave you.” The words forced their way through her tormented soul. She was dangerously close to tears; the woman’s response. She had been crying far too much in recent days. She would not shame herself and dissolve into tears though she was trying frantically to keep the pieces of her fracturing heart from sundering completely. She knew her words wounded her uncle. She had spent years trying never to open the old wounds but now she could not be in the same room with him lest she lash out further. She drained her cup and left with only the scantest of nods. Had she looked up she might have relented. The look of deep searing pain in her uncle’s eyes might have undid her. The single tear unbidden falling. He silently watched her go. He once again had taken her dreams and shattered them. Tearing them to shreds in his desperate bid to keep her safe. He collapsed on the bed and drained his cup. Her last words’ meaning slammed into his psyche. “I forgave you…” Past tense. His head in his hands he sobbed as those words bit into his heart, wounding and shredding with each bite.” [Oh! oh!] So that’s how she decides to go! Author Reply: Fimbrethil! Thanks!! It wasn't an easy chapter to write. Figuring out how and why Eowyn left has been on my mind since I started the story. Tolkien writes in ROTK that his parting with Eowyn was grievous and I have tried to fit that description in writing that scene. Thanks for writing!! (((hugs))) MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/25/2025 |
| (Here I was hoping for a new chapter. Thanks for leaving an explanation in the story summary! I will look forward to reading Chapter 33 once you've put the finishing touches on it. (((hugs)))) Author Reply: Yup! I use preview to look at my story as it will appear so I don't add to my reader count and my finger slipped! *sigh* I am going to read through the chapter as it stand and though it will be shorter I think it will be complete! then EDITING! (((hugs))) MM | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/21/2025 |
| What a momentous and pivotl chapter. Beautifully done. “Oh, My Lady!” Merry looked fierce and happy all at once, “Thank you! Did Strider really say that?” “Aye, he did. He spoke of the stout heart of hobbits. What you lack in stature you make up for in heart and determination.” Merry’s heart warmed to hear such words of praise from one he admired so much. This echoes my favorite line in all of LoTR: "The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." Author Reply: Shirebound! Hello! Thank you for writing! I am really happy that you liked the chapter! These last few chapters have not been easy to write. Eowyn's path through this portion of the story is not an easy one and I have tried to stay true to it while wanting to cheer her up. I keep reminding myself that Faramir and happiness await her at the end of this story! "This echoes my favorite line in all of LoTR: "The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." That is so true! And with this portion of the story tackled and I entering the homestretch of the narrative! Whew! But even after 32 chapters I am still fascinated by Eowyn! thanks! (((hugs))) MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/21/2025 |
| MM! I was just finishing for the evening writing replies to reviews when I saw the new chapter pop up. Hurrah! I couldn't leave it until morning but stayed up to read it. Definitely worth it! Such an ominous chapter title! (Gulp.) Théoden might have had a flash of foresight, rather like Halbarad's quiet acceptance that his death lay beyond that evil door. He sounded philosophical about it all when he told Éomer, "If the war is lost, what good will be my hiding in the hills? And if it is won, what grief will it be, even if I fall, spending my last strength?" as they rode to Dunharrow. Even before the red arrow arrived, he knew battle lay ahead because of the word Gandalf sent to hasten the gathering of the Riders. When Hirgon arrives with Denethor's request, the muster is already well underway. Éowyn recognizes all all-too-familiar feeling in Merry. I love the scene where she shows him the armor she has looked out for him. (I am very glad you did not include the scene from the film where Merry nearly gutted her with a swing of his sword; I'm sure he would have been much too familiar with swords to be so careless after all he'd been through to that point.) The scene between Éowyn and Théoden touched my heart. The slamming of the cage door resonated through the narrative. The end of the scene is heart-rending. Ever ready to protect another. But never herself. I should say that sums things up marvellously. My goodness! I never would have thought of such a conspiracy! It's amazing. (I'm so glad you already told me Háláf will survive. I'm not sure I could bear it if he didn't.) (((hugs))) Lin Author Reply: Lin! I am very happy you liked the chapter. It wasn't easy to write. Yeah the chapter title was a bit ominous I usually use something from the chapter as my title but as I was writing the chapter Horatio's line from the end of Hamlet stuck me as the most fitting for this chapter! I think that Theoden did foresee what would happen in the battle, that he would not return to Edoras. I think somewhere he says that Eomer was to succeed him should he fall. Only Holdlith knows he will fall and she wisely chooses to not say anything! Eowyn definitely recognises kindred pain in Merry. She fights his battle for him thinking that she will help a friend in talking to Theoden... So like Eowyn. In tracing Eowyn's story I generally choose the path of the book and only have smatterings of the film. The film tells a beautiful visual story but the book path has the straight forward path for another's writing. And also the films on occasion need a moment of levity (Merry swinging his sword wildly) to lighten the path of the film that a written work doesn't in the same way. The book mentions that the leaving taking between Theoden and Eowyn as grievous. So I tried to paint that picture. It needed to be that emotional. Poor Eowyn ...And Theoden. He knew he was crushing her dreams again and it slashed his soul to do it. Sometimes any decision made will lead to heartache, just a question of how much and what can you bear? The three, Holdlith, Gamhelm and Gamwyn had become Eowyn's safe harbor amid the pressures upon her. She needed someone. I love Holdlith's developing spiciness since leaving Edoras. She is taking no guff from anyone especially as it involves Eowyn! "Holdlith knelt Éowyn’s side, “Oh my lady!” She stroked Éowyn’s hair. “How can we make this right?” Holdlith fought to contain her shock and anger, “Clearly! Your uncle is being a pig-headed man!” Apparently she was unsuccessful." I had to think long and hard about what prompts Eowyn's action to leave Dunharrow. In that book you suggested, Untangling Tolkien, there is a wonderful article talking about the disobeying of orders and how the disobeying was the right path. (Éomer disobeying Theoden to ride after the Orcs that had Merry and Pippin, Beregond, your favorite, disobeying his oath as a Tower Guardsmen to save Faramir etc.) Some have criticized Eowyn leaving her post but in light of the "Duty to Disobey" that is prevalent throughout LOTR I simply found a way for her to do it. A conspiracy of friends seemed the right path to allow Eowyn to see her way forward to disobey. "Well this butters no parsnips!" That was my friend born in London would always say. I don't know how widespread the saying was...but at it was said by one English woman! :-) Thanks for reading and writing! You know how much it means. (((hugs))) MM Author Reply: Also, Yeah, There is no way I could kill off Halaf or any of the other boys. I have grown too fond of them. Before the pandemic I might have because it would have caused much angst and tragic growth of characters but now I have far more trouble with too much angst. (((hugs))) MM | |