Reviews of Freedom From Fear

Jen · 5 July 2004 · Chapter 25: Modor His Dohtor

I guess all good things must come to an end -- but there is "In the Forest" to look forward to -- Yeah! Really enjoyed this story. You have developed all the characters so well and the ending, though short, was really sweet. I guess Eowyn, with Morwen's sword, can start a tradition of shieldmaidens in Gondor. (Wondering if the "younger" characters think it really wierd when Aragon pipes in with comments about their ancestors who have been long gone. Gosh, it makes him look reeeally old.)

French Pony · 4 July 2004 · Chapter 25: Modor His Dohtor

What a nice ending. it had that long, rich feel of a good yarn winding up to its conclusion. Everyone is accounted for at long last, and Elfhelm has his happiness just as Éowyn has hers. And her grandmother's sword will be an heirloom that she will treasure for the rest of her life. I liked how you spent some time at the beginning describing some of the differences in the lands of Gondor and Rohan and mentioned the adjustments that Éowyn will have to make -- her story certainly does not end with her marriage to Faramir, and you really give a sense that it will continue on. I am curious about the pattern dances, though, being a fencer myself. Can you say a little about them? They strike me as an odd way to learn swordplay, but I'm sure they're nicely grounded in your superb research.

Author's reply

Pattern dances are something I've heard mentioned in various histories of the Crusades etc. I know very little about swordplay (beyond long swords for fencing, short swords from horseback that is) but as I understood it, the idea was to do a certain number of movements in a particular order, to build up muscle memory, speed and strength. Sometimes it would be done with targets, in order to improve accuracy - the truth is it sounds slightly silly, but in essence it would have meant going through the motions of a duel, at full strength, just without an opponent. It struck me that they would be right for someone like Éowyn who, given how big the men of Rohan seem to be, would have started out with a huge disparity of strength with whoever was supposed to teach her (i.e Théodred.)

BKB · 4 July 2004 · Chapter 25: Modor His Dohtor

Many, many thanks for a well written set of stories. I'm delighted that you are planning to revise "In the Forests of the Night". If my memory serves me correctly, I think that there are two or three places where the two stories contradict each other. I'm looking forward to haering from you soon.

Author's reply

You're quite right - they do contradict each other in a few places, which, as they're meant to be companion stories, I want to correct asap. Fortunately, since so much of "In The Forests of the Nigh" is already written, it won't taken nearly as long to get a completed version up - but it'll be a much better version! Thank you so much for all your reviews, by the way, and I'm glad you've enjoyed them.

maya_ar · 21 June 2004 · Chapter 22: Made Glorious Summer

*I* felt close to weeping when Eowyn first met Arwen.

Author's reply

I know - there is something painful about that moment. I was nearly crying when I wrote it - so it's good to hear it had the same effect on some one else. I'm glad you like the chapter titles - I thought it would be better to acknowledge my plagarism!

maya_ar · 21 June 2004 · Chapter 22: Made Glorious Summer

May I say how much I'm enjoying your chapter titles?

French Pony · 20 June 2004 · Chapter 23: Inheritance

Hi there! I know I've been really terrible about reviewing for the past few chapters, but I did want to drop a line and let you know I'm still reading this, and I'm still enjoying it. It's interesting to watch how things are shaping up after the War. Éowyn seems as if she hasn't forgotten all her friends from Edoras, arranging for Modwyn's care and worrying after Poldon and all. That just makes me like her even more. She really does seem like she's blossoming in her newfound sunlight, and that makes me happy for her.

Author's reply

I'm enjoying writing happy Éowyn so much - because, I just think that, given what I've put her through this last while, she really deserves it! She is playing her part in the reconstruction of Rohan (perhaps that's a rather charged term to use) and is getting to help her friends in the process. She's able to reconnect with all those people (well those of them that aren't dead) who she hasn't been able to communicate with in years, which is wonderful for her.

Mirkwoodmaiden · 17 June 2004 · Chapter 2: Metamorphosis

Again this was a deftly handled chapter. Eowyn has always been a fascinating character and reading how she could have possibly developed into the woman that she becomes in really enjoyable. What you said in your previous response to my other review was illuminating. Her complete fear of staying at home with the womenfolk come have been borne out of watching her mother waste away after her father's passing. MM

Mirkwoodmaiden · 17 June 2004 · Chapter 1: To Die, To Sleep

Hello! just finished the first chapter. I like the idea behind the story tracing Eowyn's life. It's a really good idea. I like the characterisations that you are portraying. I can see that young Eowyn could be so traumatised by her mother's death. It was a nice piece of character sketching and a good insight into a child's mind to write about the idea that Eowyn thinks that she will die early simply because she resembles her Mum. Nicely done. Also liked how you write about Eomer reason's for becoming the man that he becomes. Again good insight into how a young son might view the responsibilities shoved onto him at such an early age! Mirkwoodmaiden

Author's reply

Thank you. I always view the death of Théodwyn in particular as a kind of submerged motivation in Éowyn - part of the reason why she wants to die in battle, rather than wait at home. Like so many of us, she cannot stand the idea of becoming like her mother. In many ways one of the major points in FFF is how Éowyn's search for some kind of mother figure, and her later willingness to accept that role for herself. (In a weird way this explains her attraction to Aragorn - he smells like Théodwyn.)

Jen · 16 June 2004 · Chapter 22: Made Glorious Summer

You write all the characters so beautifully. Although "In the Forest" is my favorite because it has a lot of F/E moments, this does not disappoint.

Author's reply

Thank you. "In The Forest" is due to come up here fairly soon - but it has to be edited rather a lot (which include the addition of more Éowyn/Faramir moments, you'll be glad to hear.)

Amy Earls · 7 June 2004 · Chapter 20: Sound The Deep

Just a drive-by review to say that I am enjoying this v. much. I enjoy having Eomer's pov. And to thank you for what may be an unintentional pun?: "Elendil's heir was more matted . . ." Should that be "Elendil's heir's hair"? *snort* Looking fwd to more (fic, not necessarily puns, although puns are good!) Amy

French Pony · 30 May 2004 · Chapter 19: Be Not Far From Me

Goodbye, Théodred! You will be missed. But Éowyn gets to ride outside at last. You did a pretty good job blending in the movie scenes. If you must re-narrate those scenes, it is best to do them as a minimum of description only, as you did. In further chapters, I would urge you to look into comma placement; you have quite a few run-on clauses that want commas.

French Pony · 24 May 2004 · Chapter 18: The Children of Éomund

"Men have said many things Hala Grima, but the saying did not make them true." Yes indeedy, truer words have rarely been spoken. That one's right up there with "It won't get better if you pick at it." It's interesting -- Grima seems to be fairly active in his pursuit of Éowyn, far more active than I had previously imagined. He's an evil little bugger, and no mistake, but somehow I always saw him as skulking around and never saying anything directly. But this way is fun, too. He has a certain Dick Cheney-ness about him that's deliciously evil. At least, in stories. It isn't so much fun to have such a one leading us in real life.

Author's reply

LOL I suppose with Grima it's a case of all power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. His position has become so strong that he feels confident in doing anything he wishes - and he knows that Éowyn won't talk about it. Actually now that I think of it maybe that explains Cheney too - it's good to hear that I've captured a real sense of evil!

BKB · 20 May 2004 · Chapter 17: In The Breach

The winning point goes to Eowyn on the return. She makes a fine and proper distinction between herself and Grima in emphasizing the difference between two definitions of "love", the physical sense and affection.

Author's reply

That's exactly what I was aiming for. The problem of course is that while she wins the argument on points, Grima wins the war, because she begins to believe that all non-familial love is the kind of repulsive lust he feels. Which it isn't - at least not in the case of Elfhelm.

French Pony · 9 May 2004 · Chapter 16: The Fall

You write claustrophobia so well. The walls of Éowyn's world are closing in slowly but surely, and Grima is sitting untouchably at the center of it all. The one formatting suggestion I have is that you make sure that you begin a new paragraph every time you have a new speaker. Sometimes when you're in the middle of a conversation, you let two speakers run together into the same paragraph, and it gets a little confusing.

Kristy · 7 May 2004 · Chapter 15: Strangulation

Ahhh. I swear I can feel Eowyn's frustration and feelings of being trapped pouring out of the computer. And it gets worse (or better) every chapter. Please keep writing and put me out of my misery! You're doing a wonderful job with this!

Author's reply

I warm you it gets worse before it gets better! (But it will get better - eventually!) I hope I don't drive you to distraction before this is over! At present there are nine chapters to go - so I hope to have them all up within a month (exams are coming unfortunately) I hope you can wait that long.

Chibi-Kaz · 7 May 2004 · Chapter 15: Strangulation

Ever brilliant as usual. She is become less of an escapist, I see, and therefore more frustrated. Does the book of maps lie forgotten on her shelf? Does she still dream of moon lands? :D --Cheers, --Chibi-Kaz

Author's reply

Well not dream exactly, but, well you'll see! You're right though - Éowyn giving up her dreams is part of her gradual slip into despair - she has lost any belief that her life can change, and so she has lost the ability to hope for something better.

BKB · 6 May 2004 · Chapter 15: Strangulation

I think that your set of stories are just about the "Eowyn fiction" that I've read at the several sites that I visit periodically. Keep up the good work!

French Pony · 5 May 2004 · Chapter 14: Two Roads

Ooo, I do like this! I read it all at one go just now, and I was sorely disappointed when there was no more left. I love the way you have Grima slowly worming his way into Meduseld -- it's so subtle, you can see it but the characters can't. Éowyn is slowly growing more mature, and Edoras is slowly rotting from the inside out. Very nicely managed, and very real.

Author's reply

Well I can't say how flattered I am! I've read your stories, so I'm just really glad you've liked mine! (The Dragon of Rohan is a particular favourite of mine) Thank you so much, and I'll try to keep you satisfied as I continue!

Layangabi · 1 May 2004 · Chapter 13: Frostbite

Friend, so far this is a very well-written tale and I look foward to reading more...but I feel obliged to point out: Theodred had just addressed Theoden, his *father,* as his uncle. Théodred cleared his throat and said, “Uncle what is your mind?”

Chibi-Kaz · 29 April 2004 · Chapter 12: The Calm

ROTFLMAO! Diancecht of the DeDanaans as an APPRENTICE? The gaelic god of healing reduced to such ignomy! I'm still snickering imagining his expression. Diancecht also replaced the severed arm of Nuada-Righ with one of silver, perfectly articulated and responsive, thus earning Nuada the name Nuada Silver-Hand, and creating the first artificial limb known to Man. *wink* Please, no Lugh Lamfada - the original Gary-Stu! *wink* *grin* You want frustrating Chronicles, try the Russian Primary or the Novgorod. Oyvey! Though the Novgorod Chronicle apparantly details the flight of a dragon over the city one day! This story is excellent. I find that the develpment of Eowyn in your story leads inexorably to the person we meet in The Two Towers, and that is the sign of thorough character-analysis, which I respect greatly. The detail is excellent, and unlike most fanfic authors, you display a firm grasp of both descriptive prose and dialog. I'm attentively awaiting the next chapter! Cheers, Chibi-Kaz

Author's reply

The only chronicle I've got much experience with is a German one dealing with that describes various rebellions and inheritances and such like. At one point it stops for five years, and when the writing starts again an entirely different dynasty is in power! Yet the chronicler doesn't seem to see the change as even worthy of comment. There's also an English one I was told about where there is a gap of twenty years - and in the intervening time Old English apparently changed to Middle English; not that anyone noticed. Lugh Lamhfháda - now you're just giving me ideas! However, tempting though it is, I promise not to include him. I have some evidence that the Anglo-Saxons had heard of Diancecht (I didn't realise how irreverent I was being!), which I don't think I could really argue that for Lugh. (Though Éomer would make a great Cuchulainn!)

SilverMist4 · 23 April 2004 · Chapter 10: Descent

that was so wonderful- i just read the entire story in one sitting, and am sitting here thining... "what? there's no more to read???" and not processing this info very well. i love the glossaries at the end of the chapters- they're quite useful. also, this story really makes me see eowyn in a new light, and raises questions that probably you'll answer in later chapters... there will be more, won't there? please update soon! this is a wonderful piece of writing. one thing now that i'm thinking is, "what would have happened is eowyn didn't want to be a warrior at all- kinda like faramir..." and i love that they haven't been introduced yet... and how the narrator isn't all-knowing; how we see the story from eowyn's pov, but not really. great job! keep it up!!

Author's reply

Thank you for your review! I'm glad I've made you reconsider Éowyn (though from your post I can't entirely tell whether you liked her or not before this). There's a lot of questions you pose that are rather pertinent so I'll answer them quickly now. 1) Yes there's going to be lots more. This is a very long story that is going to continue until after the War of the Ring. I know exactly where it's going, and what's going to happen. I warn you though - if you think it's dark now, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. 2) Faramir. Unfortunately Faramir is not a major character in this story (I know, it cuts me to the heart to have to cut him out). However, before you decide you want to lynch me, there is a reason for it. "Freedom From Fear" (FFF) is a companion story to another fic I've written called "In The Forests of The Night". Now "In The Forests of the Night" (IFN) deals very specifically with Éowyn's relationships with Aragorn, Arwen and Faramir. The two stories intersect at various points (for instance you may have noticed that the man mentioned in Chapter One is Thorongil i.e. Aragorn - that moment is described in detail in IFN though it is only mentioned in FFF). IFN is complete but I won't post it till I've finished FFF because, being rather dissatisfied with various parts of it, I want to edit it a little. It will go up here fairly soon after FFF is finished, but I hope you can bear with me if some things go unexplained in this story - because they will be dealt with in IFN. I bet you're thinking - well that was an unnesscecarily long answer - but I'm hoping to forestall any complaints! I will attempt to update regularly, but the perennial weight that is exams may force me to cut down a bit!

BKB · 21 April 2004 · Chapter 4: Middwinter

No, one doesn't wish to use the word plagaism. Do you think "creative reuse" would work? I completely agree about Heaney's translation of Boewulf. Keep up the good work! I had to force myself to go to bed at a decent hour last night instead of reading your trying to read your whole cycle of stories all at once.

Author's reply

Thank you! At the risk of sounding snobbish it's very important to me that this be something more than a bog-standard, "Éowyn is cool" fanfic. My hope is that by referencing one of the texts that inspired Tolkien himself, I might convince some people to have a look. The entire character of Éowynafter all seems to have been inspired from Beowulf (as you probably noticed). I'm so glad you're enjoying this - there's nothing better than hearing that people are getting something out of it!

Falastinnen · 28 March 2004 · Chapter 6: Break Point

OhHHH! I love it! It's so well written, it's got an equal balance of characters.... Your so good at writing! Where did you pick up your Rohirric (probably not what it's called, but in lack of a better name...)? I have been looking for a dictionary of sorts but haven't been able to find one. Please, please write more! I love it lots!

Author's reply

I got a Rohirric dictionary off the internet at http://www.freelang.net/dictionary - its useful for individual words or expressions but not much else (which is why I haven't written any conversations in Rohirric). As for the rest, I've read Seamus Heaney's Beowulf, which gave me something of a starting point for certain aspects of the culture that hadn't been filled in. Don't worry there's lots more to come - the story continues until after the War of the Ring - so there's quite a bit to do!

Reviews (23)