Bodkin
· 18 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
Arwen should really have the lovely Sidhwen serving among the long-term wounded - preferably the 'shell-shocked' until she learns a few things. I can't blame Penny at all for flipping her lid here.
But Halladan! My, very forceful. I wonder if he is surprised at just how much Penny seems to understand about the effect of war on many combatants.
There could be some interesting fall-out from this ... I don't think it's done much for Penny's position among the ladies of Minas Tirith.
Author's reply
That's a very good suggestion of yours re. Sidhwen. I shall pass it on to Arwen and she can act on it as she sees fit. ;)
There will be some VERY interesting fall-out from this... Or at least, I hope people will find it interesting. And no, it's done absolutely nothing for Penny's position amongst the ladies of Minas Tirith. 'Gone down like a lead balloon' would probably be the most appropriate expression that comes to mind, to be honest.
Daynawayna
· 18 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
:O!!!!!!
You leave us hanging with You.. can let go of my wrist now, Halladan.!?!?!? ARE YOU MAD, WOMAN!?!? oh.my.gawd. That was brilliant! Beautiful! Outrageous! Intense! Cliff-hanging! I... I... I just ran out of words. I'm so wound up.. ohmygawd that was intensly insane! And here I thought the title of the chapter referred to Lindir! LOL. Wow. Penny's gonna win, I just know it. And she's right, Sidhwen is a bitch.
Author's reply
Eep! *hides* Sorry! ;P I don't intend to write cliff-hangers, it's just they make such good natural breaks for the end of chapters, that's all. Anyway, I am very glad you enjoyed the chapter, even if you now want to kill me. ;)
Even
· 17 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
Hi!
Another great chapter! Very emotional. I like the way Sidhwen and Penny fights and Halladan interfered. Sidhwen is a real bitch. :)
I´m curious to see what she will do ageinst Penny and how fare she is willing to go. (I must say, i would like to see her get into some trouble und Halladan rushing to her rescue.)
I have read some of the older reviews, and I want to say something:
In my humble opinion, it is not you, how should thank(or replaing) us for our reviews, but we are to thank you, for letting uns share your story.
*Smiles and bows deeply*
cu.
Even
Author's reply
Thank you, and thanks for taking time out to let me know your thoughts. The Sidhwen issue will be resolved (as much as it can be) in the next chapter. :)
Miss
· 17 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
A very mixed up chapter, very good!!
The talk between Penny and Legolas is very unique. This is were Penny hears the story from the nine walkers, apart from the hobbits you know.
Penny has changed very much. The way she deals with the gossips and all. I LUVED the one -on - one talk between Sidwe...what's -her-name and Penny. I felt like I was looking over Penny's shoulder and make 'yeah, take that!'comments. Very well written!!
One thing is for sure, it'll be a long road befor Penny has reached her decision......
:)
Author's reply
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, I think it only fair I let Penny hear the story from the Fellowship themselves - it's what we would all want to do in her position. And with Legolas he can tell it without perhaps the same emotional involvement as the others (which is why he could tell the hobbits about the Paths of the Dead when even Gimli balked at relating it), so he's ideal for the job.
Penny has indeed changed much. It was one of the main things I was hoping to achieve with this fic: show Penny's growth and change into a more mature and stable woman.
Kitty
· 17 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
Oh Valar, Boz, that was a chapter to remember! When I finished reading I was quite breathless. And then I had to run off to work instead of re-reading and enjoying it :(
Loved the visit with Mílven and her family. No matter what certain people think about it - from my POV it is perfectly fine! And I'm sure Arwen and Aragorn would approve, too, considering the way the elves are driving poor Durion to distraction with their absolute ignorance of class differences.
And I am glad Penny got to talk with Legolas and Mithrandir finally - I hope it helps her a bit.
As for the rest of the chapter, I have to announce that I will now call a certain woman "the bitch" only, as she doesn't deserve either her given name nor the title "Lady" any longer. How *dare* she to talk so contemptible and demeaning about the warriors whom she owes her easy life in Minas Tirith?? Now I wonder how she is treating her poor father. He's a cripple now, after all - can the bitch live with that, or is that beneath her?
It was maybe not wise of Penny to explode so publicly, and she may be quite embarassed as soon as she has calmed down a bit, but I don't mind in the least. At least it gave a lot of people the opportunity to see the bitch's true face and to hear for themselves how much Penny cares for them and understands the horrors of war their men had to endure - and just how little the bitch does the same and how much she offended the warriors of Gondor.
After the last chapters I was always a bit worried about Halladan, and now I think maybe Hiluin was a warning example for him not to continue to bottle up all his sorrow and emotions. Maybe this experience may help him to open up and to let go some of his grief and anger. At least he was rather furious, and I am sure he was not the only one warrior around who would have shut up the bitch in the end if Penny hadn't done it for them. Hopefully her vehement defense of the warriors will be seen in Penny's interest! May I hope the bitch gets her comeuppance very soon? She should at least been banished from the Citadel *growls*
Honestly, this chapter was too short! I could have read on forever, and then it ended just at the wrong moment. I so wanted to nudge Penny in Halladan's comforting arms! (I know, I am hopeless!)
Great chapter, Boz, and I can't wait for the next!
Author's reply
Thank you - and thanks for taking time out to review and let me know your thoughts.
You're right. I think Aragorn and Arwen would have no problems with Penny hobnobbing with Milves. I think Meresel and others of her ilk would not have a problem either even if they thought it a little unorthodox.
And, no, it was not at all wise for Penny to explode, but there will be benefits, as you suggest, since it is hardly an easy matter to broach with warriors so perhaps this is the only way they would have ever got to know how she truly felt about it all.
Next chapter will (hopefully) be coming soon, never fear. :)
AspenJules
· 17 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
What - a - COW!! Women like that make me so mad because they give *all* of us a bad name! GRRRR! Of course, Boz, this also means that you did an absolutely brilliant portrayal of her, and I hope it means that you don't have too close an acquaintance with someone *like* her. GRRRR!! *growls long and meaningfully*
And as others have said, hooray for Penny. Truly, in those days such reactions couldn't have been unheard of, though the nature of the society may have made it somewhat less likely, and certainly PTSD wouldn't have been understood as well as it is today, which *still* isn't as much as it needs. Hopefully the warrior nature of the society made the transition and acceptance of such things somewhat easier for the warriors, but still it had to have been terribly difficult for many. And am I terrible for hoping that her impassioned defence of the men, and the understanding she showed of what they went through may have reached Halladan in a way he needed? *Something* has to reach him. I'm really worried about him.
I join with Lindelea in hoping "the cow will get her comeuppence" *very* soon.
Author's reply
See, I went to an all-female boarding school (so there is NO escape) and I was surrounded by the full horror of 'women in bitch mode' for about seven years. Sidhwen is a combination of many people I have met in life, though thankfully not on the direct recieving end of their bitchiness.
There will be more on Halladan to come - never fear. I'm getting there! ;D
Inglor
· 17 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
I left a review over at OSA, but I know these go to your email and I wanted to be sure you got this:
I forget I'm reading fanfiction.
I forget I'm reading fanfiction.
I forget I'm reading fanfiction.
Sorry if I sound like a lunatic but I just can't come up with the words to describe how much joy this story brings me. (now I sound like a sad lunatic)
Sometimes I feel like I'm getting to watch Monet paint.
Author's reply
I just read your one on OSA. *lol* And thank you, comments like that, even if I would be the first to say 'oh there's tons better than my fic out there', are nice to hear. And I'm very glad that's the case for you - really thrilled. :)
Monet? Nuuuuuu. Don't say such things. I'm making it up as I go along. Honest! It took me three days to find the courage to post this chapter cos I was worried it wasn't working - I'm hugely self-critical.
Dreamflower
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
Oh wow! I finally caught up with this after days off-line!
Uh, Sidhwen, I think that you just lost--big time!
I really want to comment on some of the other chapters as well, and I hope I will have time to go back and do so! Meanwhile, I am loving it as much as ever!
Author's reply
Yups, I think that chapter has to be counted as Penny-1, Sidhwen-0. *lol* And I would be most interested in hearing your comments on the other chapters if you do find the time. :)
Thanks for taking time out to comment on this chapter - glad you enjoyed it. :)
harrowcat
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
Oh poor Penny. This is getting very messy. There is nothing worse than bitchy women!
Author's reply
It is indeed getting messy, and for Penny almost as much as for Sidhwen - she will have to live with Sidhwen and/her cronies for however long she stays in Middle-earth, after all, if she stays in Gondors. Not good.
Lindelea
· 16 June 2006
· Chapter 31: Of Course, You Realise This Means War
O, excellent! Very well done.
I haven't the time to read the previous chapters, but jumped right into this one, hoping to (and managing) to pick up the thread from context.
Very nice details about Halladan, sprinkled through a breath-holding scene, that I'm sure were representative of those in the crowd who knew what battle was about, who'd been in the thick of it, who'd been forever changed by what they saw and did and experienced.
Bless Penny for her defending of these, men who likely would say nothing in their own defence.
I do hope the cow will get her comeuppance.
Author's reply
"I haven't the time to read the previous chapters, but jumped right into this one, hoping to (and managing) to pick up the thread from context."
*lol* Well, as and when you find the time to double back and catch up on yourself (as it were), let me know what you think of the intervening chapters. I'm glad this one entertained. Sidhwen had to be dealt with - like a boil that had to be lanced (if you will forgive the analogy).
Bless Penny for her defending of these, men who likely would say nothing in their own defence.
I think that is very true, though the 'coward' comment would have possibly got one or two riled enough to explode if Penny wasn't already exploding for them.
Pearl Took
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
“I beg your pardon?” Lindir looked most affronted on his race’s behalf. “A sore trial?”
“Indeed,” Arvain said, grinning broadly. “Such are the hardships we mortals must bear when in such august company as yours. Elves are noble, tall, have lived many years and they never forget.” He paused. “Much like oliphaunts, now I think of it.”
“I beg your pardon!” Lindir looked furiously at Arvain as he and Penny collapsed into hysterics."
A delightfully fun chapter! I love your descriptions of the market, the entertainment and the contests.
A wonderful job as always, Boz!!
Author's reply
Thank you!
And, yes, Arvain is something of a cheeky so-and-so at the best of times. ;)
Fire
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
So Lindir finally got away did he? ;) Now he knows how Penny felt in Lothlorien.
I loved the scene with the hobbits and their tea. They must have really missed it after leaving Imladris.
Haladan's advice was a very sound one, she should indeed go talk to Legolas.
I would have loved to see that market for real, must have been a sight for sore eyes. Penny probebly has more money than she thinks she has, but looking around is fun to do.
It's great that Penny knows so much of the fruit on sale, it's always good to see something your familiar with.
The archery demonstration was a nice touch with Rhimlath making Glorfindel loose like that. Doesn't he know that it's not very wise to cross a Balrog slayer ;)
Your story has so much research behind it, it makes it al the more credible to it being a "real" world. Keep it up.
Author's reply
Thank you so much for your comments - it's lovely to hear the bits that stick out for people, which details they notice. :)
Pearl Took
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 29: A Cold Dish
I love this chapter! I'm so glad there are nice ladies for Penny to be with, and that they can easily work their way around Sidhwen and her cohorts. And what a delightful trick to play on Lindir!!!
You have created so many wonderful characters :)
Author's reply
Well, I could not have them all being bitches - it would have been a tad excessive and unrealistic. The nice ones are in the minority, though, sad to say. Arwen will have her work cut out whipping them into shape. *lol*
Ah, yes, 'a cast of thousands' it seems to be - and most of them have come out of nowhere!
Daynawayna
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
It just keeps getting better and better! You are amazing Boz! I love the marketplace and all.... it's just like going to Renaissance Faire here in the States! Especially the mummers... not entirely sure about the name, but from the description, I knew exactly who/what they were, and bawdy is tops on their list!
I swear, I'm beginning to believe that you are writing a first-hand account of this experience, and calling it Fiction to make it acceptable! I'm continually amazed at the depth of research and the vivid descriptions given. You are a wonderous writer, my dear, and I will cry when this story comes to an end.
Author's reply
Thank you. I'm so very glad you feel I am managing to express some depth and breadth into it all - that has been exactly my intention of these last three or so chapters: to bring Minas Tirith to life as best I could. :)
Paladin1420
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
Again I want to say how impressed I am with your vivid depiction of places and characters. I not only can picture them in my mind, but feel like I could go there. I especially like the tea with the hobbits. The room feels like a real place – more than a place that I could recognize if I saw it; rather a place that I’ve already been and can confirm your description. And the conversations have the feel of a behind-the-scenes look at what hobbits are really like when Tolkien isn’t watching - if you take my meaning.
Thanks - Paladin1420
Author's reply
Thank you so much - that means a lot. I often have a very clear image in my head and don't always feel I've done it justice or expressed myself well, so to hear that you feel that way about my descriptions is wonderful to hear. Thanks. :)
Mopsy
· 13 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
Heh heh. I love Lindir.
I'm so glad Rhimlath bested Glory at archery...and that the latter took it so well. Not that Glorfindel has much to be insecure about, of course.
And Celeborn appeared! What a show-off.
The way you can weave melancholy through a happy, funny chapter is beautiful - Penny thinking of her little brother (which she's doing increasingly, I note! Makes me wonder if she's not destined to go home, after all) and Halladan glooming about.
Author's reply
Well, it was about time Rhimlath came out on top with something - he's been getting it pretty heavily in the neck for a while now.
Thanks for noticing the little hints of darker themes. It's a tangled web I'm attempting to weave but there are things that are strong themes throughout the entire fic and will become more significant still in upcoming chapters. :)
Lindelea
· 12 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
I have not had time to read the last few chapters posted, not even time to read this one now. (It kills me to click into the chapter and scroll down to "Leave Review" without a glance.) But I wanted to nominate this for the MEFA Awards. They need an email address for you, though. If you don't mind this being in the MEFAs, would you contact me? My email ought to appear in the email you receive with this review.
Hope to be back with a proper review (looking forward to reading!) later.
Author's reply
Thank you for this. I am most touched and honoured you think this fic is good enough for a nomination. :)
miss
· 12 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
"Why? What did you think the other possibilities would be?”
Thát line was priceless!!!! The reaction of Penny made me laugh really hard.
About time that Penny catches up with the hobbits and who would have thought that the tea caused this. Good thinking!!
Love the discription of the marketplace and Penny's wooping. The detail you put in there is great, exspecially the things that Penny recognized.
The little touch of Penny's homesickness, made me off - guard. I didn't see that coming which is ofcourse always a good thing.
Loved the match between the elves!
Author's reply
Thanks for reviewing and I'm glad so many bits of this chapter struck you or entertained you. You are right it was about time she caught up with the hobbits and it's a nice idea that they've fallen back into a similar routine to that which they had back in Imladris.
harrowcat
· 12 June 2006
· Chapter 30: The Madding Crowd
Still reading and loving every chapter but, unhappily, RL is eating into my reviewing time quite seriously! Loved the description of the market and the mummers sound just about right *g*
Author's reply
Well, thank you for finding the time to make this comment! Glad you're still enjoying it all and yes I felt the mummers just had to be done, really. ;)
Pearl Took
· 11 June 2006
· Chapter 28: Life Goes On
Once again, wonderful!
"Men don’t grow up until around the age of seventy and then they die of boredom a week later." Your friend knows those of his own gender well, LOL
Thank you for the note about your respoonding to our responses. Don't sweat it too much, leaving us all wee notes like that is fine.
You are weaving a marvelous tale and it is a joy to read and respoond to it :)
Author's reply
Thank you so much for your comments. :) I'm glad the story is still entertaining and interesting for you - it's fun to write and it will be a shame in some ways when I come to the end of it all.
Pearl Took
· 11 June 2006
· Chapter 27: Echoes
This is a sad but excellent chapter. It is the burden of the Elves to bear the losses that come with living so long. It is part of why dear is a gift to Men.
Wonderfully done!
Author's reply
Thank you. I am probably biting off more than I can chew at times, but this chapter is one of several where I have tried to include things that are perhaps sidelines from the main story but I felt needed expressing nonetheless.
Kathy_SFF
· 2 June 2006
· Chapter 29: A Cold Dish
Sorry I haven't left a review for awhile. I have been reading every chapter. Can't wait to see what Gondorians consider "wrestling", and if any of the elves or Dunadine (sp) will wrestle too(yummy) and give those Gondorian women something to drool over (me too for that matter). I loved how Penny got back at Lindar by "introducing" him to tha librarian. Too bad you didn't go into more detail of how Rhimlath "slipped" while sparring with Glorfindel. Maybe you can give some more detail on the rematch with bows . Just kidding. I'm loving your story, and can't wait for the next chapter.
Author's reply
Thanks for taking time out to review - I'm glad you're still enjoying it. :) Ah, the wrestling - there's been a few questions about that (such as will there be mud involved and can I get Arvain bare-chested at any point? *lol*). I'm glad you enjoyed the Penny revenge moment, and never fear we will hear more of the Glorfindel/Rhimlath rematch in the next chapter. :)
Bodkin
· 1 June 2006
· Chapter 29: A Cold Dish
Love the librarian. A man obsessed. He has found his natural companion with Rhimlath. A man who is in the (enviable?) position of having King Alfred and Charlemagne turn up to correct the errors that have crept into accounts of their adventures.
I'm sure Penny enjoyed the torturing of Lindir - but she should watch out! He's been practising a whole lot longer than she has and I'm sure he'll turn the tables.
Author's reply
Love the librarian. A man obsessed. He has found his natural companion with Rhimlath.
Thank you and yes he has indeed. I like to think Rhimlath would have found Minas Tirith quite tedious otherwise, but now he will thoroughly enjoy himself.
I see LIndir and Penny much like siblings - the bickering and japes just go back and forth endlessly.
AspenJules
· 31 May 2006
· Chapter 25: Like Father Like Son?
There are so many things I could mention that were wonderful in this chapter but as time is short I will limit myself (for once, lol) to just this one comment.
I am so impressed with the depth of characterization you have put into even minor characters, such as Durion (poor soul, getting a migraine dealing with the 'class clueless' elves and their insistence on sitting where they will and washing their own leggings *snorts*) and Milves, who had me giggling so hard as I was driving to my son's school to pick him up that I'm sure some of the other drivers were concerned about my sanity. I mean, every time I thought about her *snort* 'raising five sons' and her comment about *chuckle, choke, chortle* keeping the Gondorian army in 'clean breeches' I was off again. I had pictured in my mind a washerwoman from Oliver Twist's London and even now, it's hard to type through my laughing. *chokes back hysterical sniggering* Anyway, I love that even such minor characters are full of personality. *Bows with respect*
Author's reply
Thank you - I'm glad the characters have pleased you. In some ways, as I have probably said before, I have no choice - I am obsessed by detail and find I have to write that way in spite of myself at times. Thus minutiae abound. *lol* I do like Milves too - she made me laugh as I was writing her. She, like RHimlath, is another character that was meant to have a brief mention and then kind of took off without me realising it would happen. She literally exploded onto the page out of nowhere.
AspenJules
· 31 May 2006
· Chapter 24: Wine, Women and Song
Oh, I'm just loving this! I love that Penny is finally dancing and enjoying herself, and I love the combination of Lindir, Celebdor and Arvain ganging up on her. *Laughs*
It's interesting to think that this must have been not an atypical thing, drowning the country's sorrows in a general celebration that allowed people to blow off some of their energy after the war and give them a chance to forget about their sorrows and troubles, though for some it had to be harder to do than others. Poor Halladan... I'm sure there's something going on there, and Arvain was about to hint at it at least. *Sighs heavily*
Just glad I don't have to wait to read the next chapter! *grins and moves on to the next one*
Author's reply
Well, she did need a moment when she could finally 'let go' and forget herself for a moment and this is the perfect opportunity.
There will be more to come re. Halladan and Arvain - it will all come out. Alas I cannot confirm or deny any speculation you have had thus far, but you will learn soon enough if you are right or wrong. ;)