Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Measure Of A Man  by Virtuella 8 Review(s)
CeleritasReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/31/2008
Yes! As soon as I saw Eomer grooming himself (though really, the swan should have clued me in) I thought I smelt some canon shipping on the horizon. (And thank you for not making Lothiriel drop dead gorgeous!)

All of the book-making parts, of course, made me extremely happy, and Deoric becoming a tutor, and his getting the week off (seriously, man! Spend it with Fana! Now!), and his finally seeing Sigrun again. That drawing was marvelous.

And finally, I have to congratulate you on the chapter title, fraught with so many relevant meanings!

Author Reply: I had struggled a bit with the chapter title and had several ones that I rejected, so I'm glad you like this one.

Poor Deoric, all those readers bossing him around about Fana... ;-)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/30/2008
The book sounds beautiful.Deoric can be very proud of his handiwork!I think Eomer could have shown more enthusiasm,but I guess he is preoccupied.
I guess Aragorn will want an illustrated book now!
The scene where Deoric thought of his dead friend was very moving.

Author Reply: I would imagine that there are plenty of illustrated books in Gondor, even if this particular one had no pictures. I don't have the presumption to claim that Deoric has made the first illustrated book in ME, only the first in Rohan. Still, it would be interesting what Aragorn might think of it.

"The scene where Deoric thought of his dead friend was very moving."
I'm glad it worked well for you. Lia thought it was too, how shall I put it, aesthetically enhanced, not gritty enough. Truth be told, I was worried that it could turn out too soppy, so I deliberately kept it rather detached.


ElentarriReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/30/2008
Lovely!

Author Reply: Thanks. ;-)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/29/2008
I WANT that book! Oh, I so want it! A worthy addition to the treasures of the Rohirrim, and one, I think, that will add to the acceptance by Lothiriel that this is the man she will gladly marry!

So beautiful!

Thank you for this lovely chapter. And I am so glad the coming of the Prince and princess of Dol Amroth was accompanied by the arrival of a swan! A good open!

Author Reply: I was a bit concerned that I had overdone it with the swan, but since nobody has complained yet, I assume it has worked out okay. Actually, it would have been a bit stupid to have a different species of bird in this chapter. The other ones, however, are really just birds in general without any emblematic significance.

Interesting that quite a few people seem to be coveting that book, including yours truly. I wouldn't have believed before that I could make a book seem so very attractive. Lia wants me to draw the illustrations, but that is well beyond my skill!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/28/2008
I know I've already commented upon this chapter - but during the day, I was busy writing and reading and suddenly realized.....

Deoric is one of my favorite OC's - You have made him a 'real' person for me....

Author Reply: You, that makes me really happy! I don't tend to look on fictional characters as on real people, but I do have a big soft spot for Deoric and I pride myself on having crafted him quite well. I could never wish for him to become real, though, because then he'd come to me and complain about his leg. ;-)

Author Reply: Typo strikes: I meant, "you know..."

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/28/2008
This chapter is wonderful! I am so glad for the pride that Deoric was able to take in presenting the book to his King, and the way he signed it at the end was very appropriate to the way such books often were signed.

He deserves his vacation, and I hope that he will *FINALLY* figure things out with Fana. *shakes head*silly boy*

I also like your take on the Eomer/Lothiriel romance: very nice!

I hate to see this drawing to an end.

Author Reply: LOL, I can't win, can I? Once the situation between Deoric and Fana resolves - and I agree that it's high time for that - the story MUST draw to an end, I'm afraid.

The moment when Deoric signs the book is one of my favourites in the story. I'm glad you liked it, too.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/28/2008
This was a truly beautiful chapter.... I wept for Sigrun and cheered Deoric for his courage - what a beautiful gift for the mourning mother!

But I was about ready to slap Eomer - seems he is not 'couth' enough to realize a treasure when he holds it in his hands... I hope he doesn't treat Lothiriel in the same manner as he did THE BOOK.

Well written and delightful.

Author Reply: Don't be too strict with Eomer - he recognizes the value of the book fine well, but he has other things on his mind right now. ;-)

curiouswombatReviewed Chapter: 11 on 12/28/2008
I, too, am grateful to your brother Axel for his expert knowledge, and to you for being able to describe it all so well - the description of the book is fascinating. As is the description of Eomer and his thoughts on becoming betrothed to Lothiriel. I really am enjoying this story.

Author Reply: Oh, I'm glad you liked the passages about the bookbinding. After the conversation with my brother I had so many details I wanted to put in that I was getting worried the whole thing would turn out too technical.

Return to Chapter List