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

Runaway  by Lindelea 2 Review(s)
MirielReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/2/2003
Sorry that it took so long for me to review. I've been up to my ears in spanish homework...

I cringe reading about Ferdi's ailment. Don't you just hate the weather sometimes?

It must be getting hard for Farry, being around such cheerful people and not being able to talk.

Oh no! Is he making plans to go to Gondor afterall? (When you said that "such a story was in the works," was that from my comment? Just curious.:)
I believe that he is still worried that Ferdi's going to take him back to the Thain.

That is pretty selfish of Farry, caring more about himself then poor Ferdi. Ah, well. He is young; he will learn.




Author Reply: Poor thing! Welcome back!

I have a weather ache myself, in the hand I broke decades ago. As to Farry, yes, I'd imagine he's just itching to top one of Buckthorn's stories, or brag on something, but instead he has to listen, which can be very educational and character-building. The trip to Gondor... I'm not sure where that story originated. Your comment might have been one of the sparks, but I have the feeling that the kindling was already laid. I remember having a long conversation with Dana about how much fun it would be for Ferdi to escort Farry to Gondor, an official visit... but this would have to take place *after* "At the End of His Rope" since Ferdi had never been as far as the Brandywine before that story.

I have noticed that children can be quite selfish, isn't that astonishing?

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/30/2003
So Farry still wants to run to Gondor. I was hoping he'd be a little more content by experiencing life with the Bolgers, but a problem long in the making is not so easily solved. He doesn't seem to consider the approaching storm as he makes his plans to bolt. I hope he doesn't get caught in a real blow, and force Ferdi to try tracking him with a splitting head.

I'm not quite sure what to make of the dream imagry. Clearly Ferdi fears Farry slipping away. Is the water image a residual from Farry and Ferdi's previous close call in the River? Does it come up because water is an element Farry is comfortable with, but Ferdi is barely competent to handle? Is Ferdi worried that Farry is becoming transformed into an unmanagable creature? Is he afraid he will end up running with Farry, escaping wrath in Gondor? I need a lot of help with symbolic stuff like this - you probably intended something quite obvious that I'm not getting.

Well, I'll be eager for the tempest to break in the next chapter.

Author Reply: I'm afraid Farry is a realist. He knows if he doesn't make his escape soon, he'll be carried back to the Smials again. Staying with the Bolgers is not an option for the son of the Thain. He is too young to be weatherwise, and has probably never been out in a major storm, so the storm would not be a consideration in his planning, or if it were, he'd simply consider it an advantage, making it harder for someone to track him. As to the dream imagery? All of the above, probably. Ferdi might be in over his head this time. He doesn't have the clear head he needs to pull this off, and the situation is about to spin out of control (as you'll see in the current chapter).

Return to Chapter List