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Under My Wing  by Edoraslass 69 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 41 on 10/6/2008
How wonderful to overhear this conversation between Faramir and Gandalf. One wonders how much the wizard foresees of what awaits Denethor's sons, particularly this one.

Very nicely done.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/17/2007
Ah, how typical a day Rangering they've had! Love it!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 47 on 12/17/2007
Ah, how typical a day Rangering they've had! Love it!

DeniseReviewed Chapter: 50 on 5/31/2007
Oh, Edoraslass, this series was such a delightful read! I admit that I began paging through these casually, because I know you write a wonderful Imrahil (Fruition notwithstanding...) and I hoped to find a bit of him in here. But I was almost immediately drawn in by your stories of Nanny and Boromir, and soon found myself intensely reading and enjoying each one.

You write children very well. Boromir and Faramir are both excellently portrayed here, and the influence of their down-to-earth Nanny is easy to see in the men they will become. I love your Nanny's character - practical, intelligent, sensible, honest, and sensitive to the relationship between her charge(s) and parents. I also loved the glimpses of Denethor and Finduilas's adoration of their children; I especially liked the tenderness that you showed in Denethor when Faramir was young. These and other sweet moments were just perfectly done - touching my heart, never saccharine. I lost count, too, of the many, many times I laughed aloud ("tavern witches", "not sea-oysters" and Faramir-the-cat jump immediately to mind *chortle*).

I noted in one place where Nanny comments that Denethor is much more accommodating of Boromir's boyish whims (like not wanting to learn sewing) than he is of Faramir's. Why do you think that is?

And the final ficlet, when Nanny learns of Boromir's death - oh, my. It brought home with a vengeance just how much these two were like her own sons. Does she end by marrying Dúrvain? How many children does she have (after her beloved charges)?

Of course, since I came here looking for him, I would be terribly remiss if I didn't mention that I adored your Imrahil, as usual, and particularly loved this description (and the entire paragraph it started):
"...truth be told, Lord Imrahil made me uncomfortably aware that I was female."

Oh, my, yes!

Thanks for such a wonderful series, and I'm looking forward to any new additions!

Author Reply: Hiya, Denise!

I've ignored Imrahil shamefully lately, but I'm glad the little ones were a satisfying diversion!

Boromir and Faramir are both excellently portrayed here, and the influence of their down-to-earth Nanny is easy to see in the men they will become.
Thank you! I think it's fun to look at the men they became, and try to somehow try to figure out how those characteristics would have manifested when they were children. It's interesting, sometimes, and for me, it often gives me insight into them as adults.

I also loved the glimpses of Denethor and Finduilas's adoration of their children; I especially liked the tenderness that you showed in Denethor when Faramir was young.
I have to admit that I have my issues with Denethor; he and I get on a LOT better before Finduilas dies. He's just much more accessible.

When Nanny learns of Boromir's death - oh, my. It brought home with a vengeance just how much these two were like her own sons.
And she was so young when she started taking care of them, they were something like little brothers, as well.

Does she end by marrying Dúrvain? How many children does she have (after her beloved charges)?
I actually have a co-written story addressing those questions, I just haven't managed to post it yet. Perhaps I'll do that very thing tonight.

There should be some Imrahil in the post with all my almost-drabbles, and I'd thought I put up another thingie here which is exclusively bits about Imrahil or Theodred, but I don't seem to have ever gotten to it. Hmmm.


Thank you so much for all your kind words!


A. MerilReviewed Chapter: 50 on 3/18/2007
This is what I get for posting here, and deciding to browse through the Nannystory after uploading First Meetings, and, and...

*copious sniffles*

I don't know how I missed this one, EL! It's beautiful and tragic and... Great "distancing" on Nanny after she's been told, as if it's not happening to her, as if she can't feel anything physical because she's so trapped in her thoughts.

Author Reply: You're right, it is a bit like it's happening to someone else - she's tried to mentally prepare for this exact moment since she was 18 years old, and it still doesn't feel real to her at all.

Thanks, Allie!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 48 on 1/18/2007
I hope Boromir is made to do his own mending when on campaign. I can just see him handing the task over to his Gondorian equivalent of a batman - and feeling smug that Nanny had been wrong. Or there would always be someone willing to boot-lick the Steward's heir by darning his socks!

Good move on Nanny's part to send Boromir to speak to Denethor - and I'm not happy to see her picking up on his father's lower tolerance level of Faramir's wishes. Or, come to that, that Faramir will lose Nanny's support when he hits twelve. Twelve is too young to become a man. True, he won't need a Nanny then - but he will continue to need the love and support of a mother-figure.

Faramir is a clever boy - and he will benefit (in the end) from his love of learning whatever there is to learn. While Boromir ... Nanny knows him better than anyone. Poor little duckling.



Author Reply: *giggle* "Batman." I do know it's a proper term, I'm just a dork. :)

I think I'll have a follow-up to this, though who knows when, because Boromir at least does learn to sew a straight line.

I'm not happy to see her picking up on his father's lower tolerance level of Faramir's wishes.
Honestly, I don't think she could avoid it. Of course she's very protective of the boys and gets annoyed if they're treated in a way she doesn't approve of by anyone, but she also doesn't get along with Denethor well. I think she's a bit hyper-aware of things he does with regards to his sons, and so probably couldn't miss Denethor cutting Boromir a bit more slack, in any measure.

Thanks, Bodkin!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 49 on 1/16/2007
Faramir is such a caring boy.I loved this glimpse into his character.

Author Reply: Thank you! I can easily see him as one of those kids who honestly enjoys listening to older people. It's not as if he had grandparents who were around, after all.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 48 on 1/16/2007
I can just imagine Boromir not wanting to sew !A pity Denethor is already starting to favour his eldest.

Author Reply: Hee, yes, it is hard to imagine Boromir sitting still long enough to sew!

Thanks!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 47 on 1/16/2007
THis must have been a difficult day for nanny as the boys are growing up. I enjoyed reading about their adventures.

Author Reply: Yes, she wasn't too happy about giving the care of them over to someone else, even for just the day. They might do it wrong! :)

Thanks!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 48 on 1/15/2007
Almost as thankless a task as trying to teach me plain sewing! Fancy stuff I do but darn my socks? *Shudder*

Author Reply: Well, I can sew a straight line and put on buttons, but I can't imagine doing anything more complicated!
Thanks!

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