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| Rising to the Challenge by annmarwalk | 80 Review(s) |
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| Branwyn | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/25/2006 |
| Never having been seasick, I will take the word of others about how horrible it is. (Does it get better after a while?) It is refreshing to see a less-than-perfect Aragorn in this drabble. Why do I get the impression that Imrahil is snickering at the poor, queasy landsman? :-D Author Reply: It's never, ever gotten better for me; so I actually do have enormous empathy for Thorongil in his suffering. Quite the snickerer, that Imrahil, isn't he? :D | |
| Branwyn | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/25/2006 |
| Lobelia has so much personality! One of the few memorable female characters in the LOTR. I laughed at her pondering whether to give the old Gaffer the stuff that was too worn too sell, and her honest appraisal of her own son shows her shrewdness. Who to watch Otho? ROFL! How disappointed she must have been when it turned out that the rumors of Bilbo's death had been greatly exaggerated! Author Reply: I think the origins of this lie in my now-lost Second Drabble ever; I remember writing this type of thing early on but, because lists were allowed at HASA, I foolishly tossed it aside. Now, older and wiser (and with a perhaps-misplaced great confidence in my writing), I tried to recreate her unique combination of hypocrisy and charm. Author Reply: I think the origins of this lie in my now-lost Second Drabble ever; I remember writing this type of thing early on but, because lists were not allowed at HASA, I foolishly tossed it aside. Now, older and wiser (and with a perhaps-misplaced great confidence in my writing), I tried to recreate her unique combination of hypocrisy and charm. | |
| Branwyn | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/25/2006 |
| I love Theodred taking the children in his own care. And Theodred's nurse kept his old toys! It seems sexist that he gave the toy sword to Eomer; on the other hand, based on the children's relative ages (isn't Eomer several years older?), giving her the stuffed animal makes more sense. Besides, in no time at all, she will find a stick or a piece of scrap lumber to use as a sword. Nice drabble! Author Reply: I believe Eomer was 11 and Eowyn 7 when they came to live in Theoden's household. (If I had done my homework, I would not have put a strapping lad of eleven on the same horse with Theodred and Eowyn, no matter how powerful the steed!) Perhaps the concept of a baby shieldmaiden was unfamiliar to Theo's nurse - she maybe was expecting a more weepy kind of little girl. I'm sure she discovered her mistake soon enough, poor woman. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/25/2006 |
| Snork! Poor Thorongil, Heir of mariners, getting horribly seasick. Just too funny, without diminishing the talents and prowess of Aragorn-of-the-many-names. Did Aragorn's missing ear-chunk ever grow back? Author Reply: Oh, I just love the image of the earnest, stalwart Thorongil/Aragorn brought low as so many others (myself included, alas) have been. "Did Aragorn's missing ear-chunk ever grow back?" Not in any story I'll ever write! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/25/2006 |
| Very typical Lobelia! Who to watch Otho, indeed?! Author Reply: Poor lady. What energy, what cunning! If only those powers had been harnessed for good, rather than evil! I'm so glad she ended up a bit of a heroine; a salute to the innate good-heartedness of hobbitry. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/25/2006 |
| Awwwww. This is sweet and very poignant. A stuffed pony and wooden sword, just the thing for two sad little Eorling orphans. Maybe someone carved a practice sword for Eowyn later... Author Reply: Thank you! I can just imagine her sneaking into his stuff to borrow that sword... | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/29/2005 |
| Yes, appreciate the sentiment. Author Reply: Thank you! Quite different from my usual Denethor, who tends a bit warmer and fuzzier. I was afraid to write him for a long time after this, not knowing which Denethor was trying to get out. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 6/29/2005 |
| Wonderful picture, the younger imagination finding reasons for the older, prosaic brother to see a dragon by the Anduin. Lovely moment! Author Reply: I wonder, was Boromir being the unsufferable know-it-all? Or playing devil's advocate to encourage his brother's imagination? | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/29/2005 |
| Yes, we need traditions to keep us grounded. Lovely! Author Reply: I imagine Faramir holding story hour for family, staff members, and visitors each evening. What a marvelous household that must have been! I (aka Mag) would have loved to have been a part of it. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 6/29/2005 |
| Aha--I find I like how the sword and needle are both put to work. See why you suggested I read this one as well. Beautifully done! Author Reply: Thank you! She must have had a trememdously difficult girlhood, but we have the pleasure of imagining loving women surrounding her, teaching what was necessary (even if she didn't appreciate the teaching at the time.) | |