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| Duty Bound by Bodkin | 22 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/18/2006 |
| A great ending to this Bodkin. Sorry, no time today to extol all it's virtures properly! *g* Author Reply: Thank you - I am glad you have enjoyed the tale. Have a good weekend! | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| That was a nice ending. It really gives a little depth to Boromir, who has a distinct tendency to turn out a little bit one-sided. Author Reply: I don't really know why I suddenly had the urge to write about Boromir - but I wanted to give him a past that made him more rounded emotionally - and perhaps gave him an added reason for his desperate need to protect Gondor and then sacrifice himself for a couple of young hobbits. I like Boromir! | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Oh, I like this little epilogue...I was sorta hoping there'd be one with that sweet young fool of a Took once more! Well, that child might have lived to see the overthrow of Sauron also...but it wasn't to be. Thanks for a most lovely story! ~~~{~@ Author Reply: The child, had he lived, might well have been in the situation of those young Rohirrim at Helm's Deep - forced by the situation into taking a man's role in battle. He would be about the age at which boys were on the verge of being sent to fight anyway. And I suppose that knowing his son wouldn't die on the plains before Mordor might be some consolation for having lost him. Thank you - I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| A hunger for knowledge as well as food, and a desire to care for others, to nurture the soul as they nurture the earth they farm. Yes, Hobbits are a wonderful people. And Frodo's understanding and compassion coupled with Boromir's appreciation of the fact Frodo does understand is wonderful to see. Author Reply: Hobbits are sensitive to mood, I think - and close to the earth. I think Boromir grew very fond of them. Particularly of Merry and Pippin - who are quite young. But I do think the other members of the Fellowship would come to see, if they didn't know from the first, that Frodo was their equal in experience if not in stature - and weighed down with an intolerable burden. | |
| SlightlyTookish | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| A very nice conclusion to this tale. I love that the hobbits did not press the issue - of course they wouldn't want to cause Boromir unneccessary pain - and I enjoyed this look at Boromir and a past he might have had. Author Reply: Frodo might take Boromir aside and encourage him to speak - but I think the others would know better than to pry. They would leave it to the senior hobbit - if he felt it necessary! Thank you. I'm glad you liked it. | |
| runnerbeast | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Thank you for this wonderful story. Boromir is a intriguing 'what might have been' character, and this was a sad, but oh so lovely look at what might have been for him. Super great! Author Reply: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Boromir is a heroic character - and the love Faramir has for him makes you realise that the Ring used some of his best characteristics against him. It's a shame he died when he did - but I think he would have thought it was worth it to save the hobbits and bring victory. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Hmmm ... it was probably sensible of Boromir not to tell them the details. Aside from being a sore point for him, I suspect the hobbits would have something to say about the way his father had married him off. I'm nor sure they would have approved of this. Of course, the need to produce heirs is not so usual in the Shire, if at all. Somehow this calls for a sequel in which Boromir is reunited with wife and son beyond the circles of the world. At least I want to see them happy for a change. Do you consider to write one? Anyway, it was a nice end to this story. You showed well how serious Boromir took his duty, no matter the costs for himself. He *was* honourable, and I am still glad the Ring wasn't able to twist him completely and he died at least defending Merry and Pippin, not fighting the other members of the Fellowship or something like this. Author Reply: Romantic love is quite a modern idea really. Compatability and a common aim - and social and financial considerations - have long been considered better grounds for successful marriage. But the hobbits might have been shocked - although I think Merry might realise that the heir's duty is to provide the next generation. But the elf would have been appalled, I expect, and so might the dwarf. I think I might leave the reunion to the imagination - although I certainly want to imagine Boromir being reunited with the wife he hadn't expected to love and the son he never knew. Boromir was desperate to protect those in his care - and the Ring used that against him - but it didn't, perhaps, expect him to consider the hobbits as part of his charge. And their need pushed Boromir into sacrificing himself selflessly - thus redeeming himself. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Boromir's feeling that serving is both his task and his honor speaks so well of him. No whining about unfair everything is, just a struggle to live up to what's best in him and for others. What a pity that he fell as he did. And the idea that duty done can bring a kind of reward is also impressive. Nice job, Bodkin. Author Reply: Boromir was a noble man - used by the Ring and, in the end, absolutely horrified by how it twisted his honour against him. I think Tolkien was a believer in the rewards of fulfilling a duty without expecting recompense or glory - but just doing it because it was your task. Aragorn's whole life is about that, really, until finally he does get his throne and bride - but then just has a still bigger task to work on. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| And a wonderful epilogue. No, the hobbits won't pry into the tragedy--it's enough for them to know it happened, and that their new friend needs comforting, whether he admits it or not. I liked the reaction of the other races to Aragorn's statement--among none of them is re-marriage common, is almost unheard of. Yet he does know of the difficulties of dynastic considerations--I wonder how much he was pestered by his Dunadain during his long and secret betrothal, to secure an heir? And I do like Boromir's reaction as well: he could not protect his wife and child, but he will do what he can to protect his charges now--including teaching them what they need to know to survive on their own. He was an honorable Man with a very generous and protective nature--it's a shame the Ring was able to use that against him... Author Reply: Well - elves don't remarry, hobbits rarely do. I cannot imagine that dwarves do, considering female dwarves seem fairly rare anyway. Men, on the other hand, must have done. Aragorn must have been pressurised to marry every time he saw anyone old enough or bold enough to broach the subject. Although I think he must have had cousins who could trace their line back nearly as well as he could. His ancestors can't all have had just one son - there are too many generations to have maintained a line so tenuous. They'll have wanted back up! Occasional second sons and a few daughters around to carry the blood. Boromir is a natural protector, I think. He wants to protect Gondor and he would take that down to protecting the individuals under his care. And failure would hurt him badly. And the Ring ate at him through some of his best qualities - wretched thing. But I reckon he would probably account his death worthwhile, if through it he had any part in saving Gondor. His words about the White City show how much he loves and prizes his home. | |
| Lady Bluejay | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Lovely story - thanks. LBJ Author Reply: Thank you. And I just realised how similar the title is to yours! Apologies. I thought I was being all clever and playing on words there, too! | |