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| The Siege Of Minas Tirith by Morwen Tindomerel | 24 Review(s) |
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| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 7/6/2004 |
| An excellent and riveting story. You've done a great job of investing Arwen with a strong character and credible history. I find myself both admiring Idril and being repelled by her; she reminds me quite a bit of Denethor as he must have been in his youth; strong, honorable, and intolerant of the failings of others. I wonder if she will reconcile with Faramir; she seems determined to blame him for their father's death. She had said that if Faramir got himself killed, his death would destroy Denethor - and she was right; but I don't think it is fair to blame Faramir for it. He could hardly have sat out the Siege hiding himself away from danger to save his fragile father's sanity; everyone in Minas Tirith faced death, the Captains (such as Faramir) had the greatest duty and the greatest risk of danger. It was not Faramir's idea to retake Osgiliath, and he did protest, but Denethor insisted; I doubt that Faramir could have dissuaded him, and he did not want to be thought a coward. Faramir was trying, despite his own considerable sorrow, to be the son that Denethor wanted, as well as a loyal Captain. He was not spineless, he had already broken Denethor's command to slay all intruders in Ithilien, and released the Ringbearer although he knew (in the movieverse) that his father wanted the Ring. Denethor himself, with some assistance from Sauron via the Palantir that Denethor chose to look into, was responsible for his own death and the attempt to kill his son. Idril does not seem particularly happy that Faramir is alive and well; in this chapter she seems determined to punish him. She should either have it out with Faramir, forgive him, or leave him alone. I liked Faramir's recognition of the harm that Denethor did, though I think it was not deliberate, to Pippin. Pippin has lost his innocence; and I think more so because of his experience with the late Steward than by Palantir-wrestling with Sauron. Though I have to wonder, is Faramir's pity for Pippin's ordeal and lost innocence totally for Pippin, or tinged with Faramir's own anger and sorrow over his own relationship with his father? I think that Faramir genuinely admires Pippin and regrets the harm done to him by his involvement with Denethor, but Faramir wouldn't be human if there weren't some emotional leakage from his own feelings towards Denethor...I would think that at this point, Faramir's own feelings are too raw for him to deal with them comfortably. And although he's introspective, he's not one to wallow in self-absorption or talk endlessly about those feelings. I wonder what will happen to Idril after Sauron's defeat...Please update soon! Author Reply: I find myself rather ambivalent about Idril myself, she does seem to be mostly sharp edges - but then living with Denethor these last years has *not* been fun, his sons could escape to the relative peace of the battlefield but she's been stuck in Minas Tirith running D's household and acting as his hostess. She is glad Faramir's alive, but that doesn't mean she's going to let him off the hook, she warned him and he didn't listen and she will get in her 'I told you so' if the heavens fall! :D All he has to do is admit she was right and she'll drop it. And you're right about Faramir's anger at his own treatment getting mixed up with his feelings about Pippin's ordeal. It's going to take both Faramir and Idril a while to forgive Denethor. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 6/14/2004 |
| Really good story! Please continue it.... | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 6/2/2004 |
| I'm glad to see that Gandalf recognizes Pippin's courage, even if he didn't himself. Gandalf has to be the most terrified, as more than anyone he knows the big picture, and the fullness of what is at stake. And I'm gald to see Merry up and about, and hopeful for the future, even if he cannot convince Eowyn. And now Aragorn gets show his courage by doing what he greatly fears. Beregond's tale of Denethor's fall is a flat warning against having too much pride in your own strength, which Aragorn would do well to heed. When the mighty fall, they fall far and take many with them. He must be careful now, so near the goal, not to falter. (Good thing I know how it ends.) I really missed this in the movies. Denethor's madness was much more random without the Palantir, and we missed a great chance for Aragorn in the scene I'm anticipating you'll show us next. Author Reply: And I'm whimpering at the challenge of writing it. Even the Professor shied away from showing Aragorn's confrontation with Sauron directly, who am I to run in where he feared to tread? But I've pretty much committed myself to do so - yikes!!! Thank you so much for all the lovely feedback - *very* encouraging. :D BTW Aragorn and Arwen's wedding is in 'I Have Made My Choice' along with how she comes to be in Gondor in the first place. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 6/2/2004 |
| Merry and Pippin's conversation is quite hobbity. They discuss great matters in a very lighthearted way, over a cup of tea. I do miss the wonderful teasing of Aragorn from the books, but I did enjoy the explanation of how Merry got from next to Eowyn to under a Southron. And their quiet confidence in Frodo is nice - he usually knows what he is doing, and that is enough for hope. The men of the city put their hope in Estel. There is a nice balance here of Aragorn's reluctance to press his case untimely, and the clear power that he posesses which is recognized by everyone. It seems right though, that he does declare himself here. After Denethor's death, what the people need is leadership, and he can give them that. Pippin's courage is welcome as well. He's not a child any more, and he steps up not by accident, but in full knowledge of the circumstances. Go Pip! I am going to have to look up your other story sometime. Seems I've missed a wedding too, and I do so love to cry at weddings. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/2/2004 |
| Shorter reviews for the rest of the chapters I have to catch up on, I think. The people of Gondor have to accept or reject Aragorn as he is - dusty and foreign, and not splendid as they imagine he should be. But once they decide to over look that, they get the good along with the ugly, and he is allowed to prove himself and heal the city. Trust goes both ways - a good sign for the times to come. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 6/2/2004 |
| Sorry that it's taken me a while to get to reviewing these chapters. Ioreth is an annoying character in the books, but you've managed to make her the funniest thing in this chapter. Amid all the angst and high drama, there's Ioreth trying to worm out of Beregond why Faramir is covered with oil, and Ioreth's wagging tongue going to spread the news of the king as fast as she can talk. *giggle* And speaking of drama, I loved it how Beregond's blood recognizes Aragorn as king, and how he (and maybe Imrahil) can hear Aragorn mentally calling for Faramir, and recognizes his power. And I continue to be delighted by the way you are weaving together key points from the books with images and lines from the movies and your own imagination. This is really well done. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 4/16/2004 |
| "We did win didn't we?" "Oh yes." the Man looked grimly around, added quietly. "The only thing worse than a battle won is a battle lost. And sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference." This is a heartbreaking comment on the horrors of war. So much death - so much lost. Even in this war, which was necessary, it is still tragic. It's an interesting movie choice to have Pippin find Merry on the field of battle, and for you to have Aragorn carry him into the city, right after arguing six ways to Sunday that he won't go in. I'm glad you changed the line back to "Are you going to bury me?" because it's so heartbreaking, although I lament the loss of Merry's comments about being small and how it isn't always a bad thing to be overlooked. I do like Eomer's reaction to being named king, here in its different setting. In the heat of battle on the field of Pelennor, wrath and a cry of Death was appropriate. Here, after the battle is finished, it seems better for him to express sorrow and a little bitterness at the unfairness of Theoden's death, after so many other deaths, so soon after he had fought off the poison of Saruman and Wormtongue. I'm glad you gave fitting honor to Halbarad, but you mention 'Aragorn's Elvish lady'. Is Arwen there? How did she get there, or when? And how do the people in the room know who she is? Author Reply: The 'only thing worse than a battle won is a battle lost' quote is not original but a paraphrase of a comment by the Duke of Wellington after the Battle of Waterloo. He was certainly in a position to to know. I like 'are you going to bury me' better myself which of course is why I put it back. I'd forgotten about Merry's lines on being overlooked, maybe I'll manage to squeeze them in later. All indications are Eomer loved his uncle and probably rather hero-worshipped his cousin in a younger-brother sort of way, (rather like Faramir and Boromir). It seemed to me he'd be bound to feel their loss bitterly when he finally had a chance for some quiet reflection. And it must be a little intimidating, not to mention disorienting, to suddenly be king when he'd been perfectly happy serving his uncle as lord of Eastfold and Third Marshal, and expected to do the same for Theodred. As for Arwen...Ouch! Shortly after publishing the story it dawned on me that those who haven't read 'I've Made My Choice' aren't going to have the faintest idea how she got there! The two stories are converging you see - somehow I'm going to have to work in that Arwen accompanied the Grey Company to Dunharrow. Eomer also meets her on the battlefield after the host of the Dead sweeps over him and his men. | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 4/16/2004 |
| Oh, I love it that Aragorn's coming brings hope to all the people in the city, whether they know who is is or not. He is certainly well named, isn't he? And Imrahil's reaction to the name of Thronogil is perfect. Idril isn't terrified of the shades of men - good for her! | |
| FantasyFan | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 4/10/2004 |
| There is quite a masterful blending of book and movie canon and a bit of au in your story. I very much like the way you've included scenes we hope to see (when the witch king confronts Gandalf) in the EE and some of the book story to make the madness of Denethor realistic, understandable, and to a degree, pitiable. He almost comes back, several times, but his end is inevitable, and strong emotions are invoked by your writing. I am eagerly looking forward to see what you do with the scenes of Merry and Pippin's reunion. Do you have future plans for the palantir, as Beregond has rescued it so it remains usable? Author Reply: Well, yes, maybe. Frankly it depends. | |
| Envinyatar | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 3/9/2004 |
| Well-written and vivid, as always. You bridge the gap between book- and movie-Pippin very well, providing more convincing explanations for some of the action than PJ did. Looking forward to reading more. | |