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That Which We Are  by Avon 9 Review(s)
Nienna ElanesseReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/20/2004
How old was Eomer when he met a 41-year-old Faramir as his brother-in-law? 36? Chuckle :) He can't sense that Faramir asks about Rohan's legends and myths because he is curious and because he is trying to make his guest feel comforted, if not comfortable. At first I thought you were pushing the "scholarly" aspect of Faramir a bit far. But then you mentioned his age. Click! everything fell into place. Where else and in who else would he find comfort? In books and in Boromir.
Interesting portrayal of Theodred, btw.

LKKReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/19/2004
Poor Eomer. What a way to spend your first evening in Minas Tirith -- sitting between Denethor and Faramir, trying to understand why Denethor and your beloved cousin are having some verbal battle. You really made me feel for the young lad, Avon. Nicely done.

Your characters are starting to firm up; become more defined. Faramir is still something of a mystery though, at least when seen through Eomer's eyes. I am interested in seeing if the youngster eventually comes to understand the underlying tenses within the Steward's family.

A well-written chapter. The dialogue at dinner, filtered through Eomer's ears, was especially good.

LKK

Author Reply: Thanks, LKK. I feel very sorry for poor Eomer, I must admit. I think we've all been there - even if in not quite such an extreme fashion - when we were teenagers.

Your characters are starting to firm up; become more defined. Faramir is still something of a mystery though, at least when seen through Eomer's eyes. I am interested in seeing if the youngster eventually comes to understand the underlying tenses within the Steward's family.


Yeeees, this is the problem - *I* know all about poor Faramir, but getting that across to my readers is proving somewhat difficult. Some people have, reasonably enough, objected to my portrayal of him. All I can offer at the moment is that 23 is not really very old and he has been sick; just think how scratchy one feels when getting up from the flu.

Thanks again,

Avon

eokatReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/19/2004
Avon, this was so intense. I almost felt like I were dining in that ungodly room with them. Poor Eomer, he is at such an awkward age, feeling himself unworthy. I loved the desription of a Rhorriric dining hall with dozons of folk around, just as I had imagined it to be. Theodred is such a strong character, so underused in many fanfics. Loved it. Looking forward to the next one.

Author Reply: Thanks for the feedback, Eokat. I'm really pleased I apparently managed to convey the atmosphere to you - I got very interested in trying to work out *how* different Rohan and Gondor would be. I had never really considered Theodred until I started to write this - but now I've fallen for him and I'm tempted to go further back into his and Eomer's life.

Avon

LayangabiReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/17/2004
Avon---
Lack of plot is so not an issue. This is *wonderful.* :D I love your easy-going depiction of Boromir, the easy camaraderie between him and Theoden, and of course, Eomer's hero-worship of Boromir and his misunderstandings regarding Faramir. (sad...but understandable. And hopefully, this will change very soon...they're going to be brothers in law in the future, after all) And Faramir's a special favourite and you write him so wonderfully. ;) How my heart clenched just before they joined Denethor and later when he burst out at his older brother. ;-; Hopefully, this will be a very long story, yes? :D

Author Reply: Thanks for the feedback, Layangabi. I never know what to say when people say such nice things - but thank you.

his misunderstandings regarding Faramir. (sad...but understandable. And hopefully, this will change very soon...they're going to be brothers in law in the future, after all)

Weeeelll, maybe more eventually than soon but I don't think I'd be giving away too much plot if I said that Eomer will undoubtedly eventually realise what a lovely person Faramir is... I do think though that they will always remain very different kinds of people.

And Faramir's a special favourite and you write him so wonderfully. ;)

Thank you! I find that reassuring because while I love Faramir I'm not currently presenting him in his best light and some Faramir fans are not very keen on that. I figure he's little more than a kid and not well and he's allowed to be not perfect.

Hopefully, this will be a very long story, yes?
I'm begiing to think it will! I write short, short LOTR fic, generally - but these guys just won't shut up. ;-)

Avon




CarolReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/16/2004
This was fun... I would like to write more. There aren't many stories about Eomer, and I think this is the first one I've ever seen to portray him when he was younger. The cameraderie between Boromir and Theodred comes to life quite vividly. So does Eomer's adolescent tendency for everything to be a crisis.

Author Reply: Thanks, Carol. I have no idea how many more chapters there will be - but given I can't get Boromir and Theodred to shush up I reckon it could be a few. (It is beginning to occur to me that perhaps I should get some planning done - but I'm not very good at that ;-)) I have seen a couple of younger Eomer stories - but they were younger again, back when he came to live with Theoden.

The cameraderie between Boromir and Theodred comes to life quite vividly.

I'm very pleased to hear that - somewhere in the story I'm going to need to explain it but certainly I see it as being definitely there.

So does Eomer's adolescent tendency for everything to be a crisis.

*grin* Poor kid - still at least being 15 is something you do tend to grow out of.

Cheers,

Avon


daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/16/2004
You do details so wonderfully, Avon. I can see the silent dining room and the good food. And the way you show us things through Eomer's eyes is so well done. He can't understand the conversation between Theodred and Denethor but we can. I feel rather bad that he misjudges Faramir so, but I can see why it would happen. Just a great chapter.

Author Reply: Gee, thank you! I', really pleased that you noticed the food as it was a big drama for me when I had to write it - I often try to avoid those sort of details for fear of getting it wrong. It's hard (IMO) to come up with things that sound appropriately M-e. I'm also really pleased to hear that the point of the Denethor-Theodred conversation was obvious - I should have more faith in my readers but I was concerned that no-one would get it.

Thanks for the feedback,

Avon

MuinthelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/16/2004
well well...finally an update!!
I just love the way you characterize Faramir. He is one of my fav. characters and I like it that we get to know him more and more through the eyes of Eomer. It will be fun to experience more of the city and the gondorian way with Eomer...!
I'll stay with your story!!! And do not be nervous...just stay true to your style!!

Author Reply: I'd like to say the next update will happen more quickly... but I was brought up to not lie ;-) I hope it will but the next three weeks are quite packed already - plus I'm not terribly sure what happens next ;-) There's a possibility it will be a short chapter so it might be faster. I am enjoying it - I like the characters and I'm finding discovering Minas Tirith to be fun - but I still find it scary, knowing people are waiting to see what happens next. Ah the pressure! How so the big authors cope? ;-)

Avon

Chibi_kazReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/16/2004
Hmm.
I certainly hope there's more to this story. I can see where Eomer would admire Boromir, and not understand Faramir. Perhaps you can jump ahead in time, so we can see Eomer's reaction to the news of Boromir's death, and even more so, his reaction to his beloved sister marrying the silent and stern Gondorian.....

Author Reply: I certainly hope there's more to this story.

Lack of plot is one fo the defining features of my stories, I'm afraid (I write PWP without the porn ;-)) so there won't be much more in terms of action or anything. In terms of emotional development and relationship development I certainly hope to have a fair bit happen though I think it will continue to happen slowly.

Perhaps you can jump ahead in time, so we can see Eomer's reaction to the news of Boromir's death, and even more so, his reaction to his beloved sister marrying the silent and stern Gondorian.....

We're getting there - eventually ;-) The last chapter, on current planning will be set near the end of the Ring War.

Thanks for the feedback,

Avon


ElvenesseReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/16/2004
I really like this story. It doesn't seem very beta to me, the characterisations are good and I like having it from Eomer’s point of view and experiencing his feelings of insecurity (it reminded me of having meals with my headmaster, luckily we didn’t have alcohol). I wasn’t reading it to be critical, but then again I don’t manage that very well anyway.

Author Reply: Thank you! :-) I'm even more nervous than usual with this story because it is unusual for me so I really appreciate the reassurance. If it wasn't for trying to find an Eomer story I could write for Nessime's birthday I would never have thought of writing from his POV but I am enjoying finding him through it.

Avon

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