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Fair, Strong and Cold  by adrinkcalled 3 Review(s)
AspenJulesReviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/24/2006
I have been reading this story so far all morning, in between my responsibilities and chores, and have only now decided to review because... well, because I felt badly that I hadn't before now, being so enthralled with the language and the story.

It's odd, because before I found your story this morning, I had just been thinking about how their respective pasts may have caused difficulties in the relationship between Eowyn and Faramir, even if they HAD married for love rather than for reasons of state. Many of your ideas match the ones I had, and some are different.

The language you write in reminds me somewhat of Jane Austen, formal but eloquent. Sometimes I'm a little unsure what you are driving at, especially in the dialogue between them when they make a subtle statement. Guess I'm just not that swift at picking up all the nuances, though I've gotten the gist of it. There have also been times in the past 5 chapters where it seems the timeline has jumped around a bit, that some weeks (plural) have passed, and then it's only been seven days, so that it gets a little confusing. Perhaps it's in the shift from one person's perspective to the other that I get mixed up, I'm not certain.

However, I have to tell you that I am loving this story. I LOVE both your characterization of Eowyn and of Faramir, as well as Aragorn's concerns (which I felt were very realistic and logical) as well as Eomer's mixed feelings. Eomer was wonderfully jumbled in his emotions, which I think was delightfully believable, and for him to have ended up chosing to respond with anger to the news that she had given her answer already was very realistic, as we so often choose the very worst response from those available to us when we are faced with internal emotional conflict (especially men, poor things.)

I also like the pace. You mentioned that you paced it this way deliberately, and I don't find it boring or slow at all, but am truly enjoying the slow development of feelings and the tentative approaches they are making towards one another. I can't wait to see how it plays out, and am so very glad you are not giving into the ploy of using some dramatic event to drive them together. Real life rarely works that way, and this shows a true path to love, getting to know someone through their actions and relations with others, coming to respect them and moving on to love. Of course, this poor couple had their share of extra obstacles but they're getting there. Great job, great writing, and keep up the wonderful work.

Julie

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/19/2006
Well! There seems to be a bit of a rapprochement going on here! And Faramir is definitely trustworthy - and strong in a very non-Rohirric way. I'm glad they seem to be noticing each other. The problem now will be getting them past admitting to each other that they are attracted! It's only too easy to let situations like this drift - and decide you'll do something about it tomorrow. And, if they leave it too long, they will just become too used to the way things are. But love growing from friendship and common purpose - such a grown up relationship!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/19/2006
Evocative and beautiful.THese two have so many problems and have endured so much.

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