Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Okay, NOW Panic! by Boz4PM	7 Review(s)
AspenJules	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 5/31/2006
There are so many things I could mention that were wonderful in this chapter but as time is short I will limit myself (for once, lol) to just this one comment. I am so impressed with the depth of characterization you have put into even minor characters, such as Durion (poor soul, getting a migraine dealing with the 'class clueless' elves and their insistence on sitting where they will and washing their own leggings snorts) and Milves, who had me giggling so hard as I was driving to my son's school to pick him up that I'm sure some of the other drivers were concerned about my sanity. I mean, every time I thought about her snort 'raising five sons' and her comment about chuckle, choke, chortle keeping the Gondorian army in 'clean breeches' I was off again. I had pictured in my mind a washerwoman from Oliver Twist's London and even now, it's hard to type through my laughing. chokes back hysterical sniggering Anyway, I love that even such minor characters are full of personality. Bows with respect Author Reply: Thank you - I'm glad the characters have pleased you. In some ways, as I have probably said before, I have no choice - I am obsessed by detail and find I have to write that way in spite of myself at times. Thus minutiae abound. lol I do like Milves too - she made me laugh as I was writing her. She, like RHimlath, is another character that was meant to have a brief mention and then kind of took off without me realising it would happen. She literally exploded onto the page out of nowhere.

Elizabeth	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 4/20/2006
This has to be the only 'dropped in Middle-earth' story I have ever enjoyed. It's wonderful, and I admire how much research you put into it. Penny is hilariously funny, actually, and all the cross-cultural "issues" are fantastic. Poor Faramir! I loved him speech "went over very well with the elves" -- no kidding! I like Rhimlath and Erestor best, with their declined verbs and whatnot. Also, I like the integration of the hobbits' real names, and all the realities of Middle-earth life for a twentieth-/twenty-first-century girl like Penny. That said, I have a few nitpicky questions. I'm not sure if you're counting UT, but in there, we're told that the Rohirrim were noticably shorter than the Gondorians, because they had interbred with a shorter and stockier people at some point in their past. You used "Fíriel" for an Elf -- in Sindarin, that means "mortal maiden", so it seems rather bizarre (and in Quenya, it means "she who has died," which is not, um, what I think you're looking for). Also, you distinguish between "the Dúnedain" and "Gondorians," as if the Gondorians are not Dúnedain, which also struck me as odd, because Tolkien very clearly calls them "Dúnedain of the North" and "Dúnedain of the South" -- I should think at least the inbred upper classes would deserve the title. Also (sorry!), in LotR when Pippin arrives in Minas Tirith, he can't understand most of the people because they're speaking Sindarin (to each other), but here, very few seem to know it at all, and do not speak it among themselves. Author Reply: Thank you for your comments - I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far. :) And thank you so much for you 'nitpicky questions'. Someone else here did comment on 'Firiel', but did not explain why they were questioning it. I did ask them but never got a response. I took the name from a Tolkien poem, thinking at first it was of an elleth, and then (without realising the meaning) thought it would still serve once I realised she was mortal. Now you have pointed out the name's meaning I shall change it at once (once I've decided on an alternative, that is lol). Thank you. I don't believe I have compared Rohirric and Gondorian statures - I will check, though, because saying that perhaps I did when she first arrived. If I have I shall amend it so Gondorians are taller, as indeed they would be. 'Mea culpa' if I have them the same size. Looking back I realise I have Lindir saying the riders of Rohan they see in the distance are 'as tall as some Dunedain,' which perhaps should be corrected - they would be only be 'nearly as tall' as any Dunadan (if that), but not 'as tall.' I used Tolkien's description of the first encounter with the Rohirrim in The Two Towers as my guide on this, where they are described as tall (and indeed Eomer is described as tall, as is Eowyn). If something different is said in UT, then I will go with LOTR first. This is the problem with Tolkien - there are contradictions at times. My rule of thumb on stuff like this is LOTR first, then The Sil, then UT, then HOME in terms of contradictions or grey areas (of which there are many in Tolkienverse). It usually serves me relatively well. However, I will check all this, and if I've misread the stuff in LOTR, then I will amend it all accordingly. :) As for Gondorians/Dunedain of the South, the Gondorians are also referred to as Gondorians or people of Gondor. Frankly, if I used the same term for both peoples it would become desperately confusing for the reader. When the term 'The Dunedain' is used (and I will need to double-check this, but I am relatively certain this is the case) it is used as a shorthand to mean 'the Dunedain of the North'. So too in my fic. I am well aware of the genetic history of the two peoples - after all how else would Aragorn be their legitimate King? :) I have also made it clear that Faramir looks very like a Dunadan. I would have used more examples of Gondorians who share the characteristics, but there has been a LOT to cram in in the last few chapters and we're only one day in to her being in Minas Tirith. ;) I will have to check the Pippin/Sindarin thing. I re-read those chapters of his first arrival several times before writing the first Gondor/Minas Tirith chapters, and I have to say I do not remember that at all - if you could give the reference for it, that would be helpful. I also asked extensively amongst canon/book-bods (as well as my 'canon beta') about the extent to which it is generally thought Sindarin was spoken in Gondor before I broached the subject in my fic since I knew it would be an issue, and we all agreed: it would be spoken by the upper classes, in that they would be able to speak it, but perhaps not all the time. In my fic what I have is that the upper classes are able to speak it and do so, but the lower classes and those lacking education do not. It is not the case that 'few seem to know it all', and if that's the impression you've got, then my apologies. Indeed, the elves have no problem conversing and I've mentioned at least once that not all the elves know Westron - particularly not those from Lothlorien. Also Penny was able to converse happily with most of the Gondorians she met at the wedding. The only specific times it was mentioned that someone was talking in Westron was with the servant woman Milves, and the young Lady Sidhwen. As for the latter there is a very specific reason why she was not speaking Sindarin that will be explained in later chapters. Feel free to come back at me if you think my thinking is off-base with some of this - all con crit and corrections are gratefully recieved. I really do appreciate your input on this and getting me to consider these points. I will definitely look into them all and check that I have understood stuff correctly and/or can justify my authorial decisions. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. :)

Even	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 3/22/2006
Hi! This is a very good story. I love it! I can hardly wait to see what's going to happen next. Please continue and PLEASE UPDATE SOON! Greetings from Germany ;) Even

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 3/19/2006
The problems they have with laundry! I hope all those male elves don't go getting the idea that laundry should be left to the females. It's a dangerous precedent. Love the conversations. Penny seemed inspired (not) at the thought of breakfast table Westron practice. And Aragorn should consider making it compulsory for Rangers to carry a comb. Penny should mention it to him. Her relationship with Halladan seems to be coming on. They are developing an understanding that is partly connected to their humanity among elves - and helped by Penny's weird knowledge of what they endured.

Mopsy	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 3/19/2006
Poor darling Halladan! cuddles him gives him to Penny to cuddle He seems so lonely. I loved their chat. And they're so kind to each other. Loved the washing problem too. And the reference to the River Incident. The ellyn are SO ADORABLE. I don't know if that's the appropriate reaction, but to think of Lindir and Glorfindel standing around with their washing in a little basket having all sorts of difficulties with strange humans makes for a very sweet image. I note Lindir referred to himself as a lord, too. Actually, that's interesting, like the mention in a recent chapter that he served Gil-galad. Lindir's an onion...many layers...how old IS he, anyway? Author Reply: Well, I have no specific figure in mind for him, but I have this idea he was a young (but adult) ellon when he fought on the Dagorlad. He and Rhimlath are of a similar age.

	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 3/18/2006
A wonderful chapter, Boz! A marvelous shifting from the humor of the first part to the tenderness of the ending. Most excellently well done :)

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 3/18/2006
Oh Boz, I’ve laughed myself silly about the question who has to wash the clothes of the elves! Poor Faramir! Dúrion and Mílves were priceless! And then all the Gondorian women who tried to sneak in the barracks to have a look at the clothes washing ellyn! That was absolutely hilarious! ROFL!! And then the question of Rangers and washing giggle The chapter title was very fitting, I must say! Well, Penny can be stubborn, and Halladan will probably have to give in eg I enjoyed all the banter so much! Thank you! Now I wonder if Erestor and Rhimlath are able to bear it when Frodo starts to give Penny Westron lessons! Honestly, I hope it will not end with three teachers squabbling about the right version, or poor Penny will never learn anything at all! It was nice that you gave Penny and Halladan this quiet time together, so they could talk in private. Even if Halladan is probably right that it is too early to tell Penny of Halbarad’s last wish, I think it will be a great comfort for her to know she has nothing to hide from him and Arvain. And somehow I think it could comfort Halladan as well that she knew his father and is mourning his death so much. His offer to wait for her was sweet – obviously he can sense how anxious she is about all that. Now I look forward to this conversation with Aragorn and the others! I hope so much Penny will feel better afterwards.

Return to Chapter List