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Burden of Guilt  by Linda Hoyland 2 Review(s)
BodkinReviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/17/2005
Perhaps fate caused Eowyn to behave so precipitately. Perhaps some deep inner instinct told her she would need Aragorn's skills to bring her pregnancy to a good ending. Perhaps early contractions drew her to pursue his healing hands. Or perhaps she's as dippy as her brother! Really, Eowyn! Dashing off on horseback when eight months pregnant - not going to win you any prizes for intelligence!

I loved seeing the boys all squeamish and wriggly over the idea of being near childbirth. And Damrod kidnapping the local midwife. And her eye-rolling impatience with the delicate stomachs of imminent fathers.

Author Reply: You made me laugh out loud with your comments about Eowyn.She is showing herself as very foolish.I did do some research into riding when pregnant before reading the chapter.
Many of my readers wanted me to make Aragorn experienced in delivering babies but I felt that highly unlikely and it was fun to write both him and Faramir as paling at the thought !
Many thanks for your much appreciated review.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/15/2005
Considering the ineptitude of this midwife, it's astonishing that Gondor has any population at all outside of Minas Tirith. Any midwife worth her salt ought to be able to jump-start a baby's breathing as a matter of routine. Just their luck, I suppose, to get the one "wise woman" in all Gondor who has delivered dozens of babies and still has no clue what she's doing.

It is extremely Éowyn to hop right on a horse and ride out once she heard what had become of Faramir. Yes, that's her all right, know her anywhere. But at eight months, I can't quite see how that would have posed such a risk to the pregnancy. If she were at nine months, maybe, but at eight months, I don't think it's the riding that's causing the premature birth. More likely that Éowyn and Faramir have miscounted their months.

Whatever, it seemed like a very quick birth, which again seems like something that a half-Rohirric child might do. Screw mom's birth canal, I want out!

Author Reply: Poor Faramir and eowyn everything seems to happen to them ! I did ask an actual midwife to check over the chapter for me to see that the details were correct.

The baby was conceived during "Shadow and Thought".I have read of expert horsewomen riding until their delivery date without going into labour, so thought Eowyn would fit into that category but maybe she rode too hard ?

Many thanks for your much appreciated review.

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