Radbooks
· 17 March 2007
· Chapter 14: The Tides of the World (Aragorn)
Oh, Rahska, this is wonderful... truly moving. I could just feel Aragorn's weariness and also the hope he was feeling. He grieved and yet he was not so overcome that he gave into despair because he could see that a new day was dawning. Very nicely done.
Author's reply
Yes, for now he could really, really see a light at the end of the tunnel and think there was a chance of getting there; but at a great price.
Thanx, Radbooks.
Larner
· 16 March 2007
· Chapter 14: The Tides of the World (Aragorn)
A perfect description of that fateful day.
Author's reply
Thanx, Larner; I think Aragorn was trying to process and put in perspective all that had happened during those most eventful 24 hours....
Linda Hoyland
· 15 March 2007
· Chapter 14: The Tides of the World (Aragorn)
This is a truly inspired piece, which gripped me immediately.I think you are spot on with poor Aragorn's weariness and turmoil of mixed emotions.
Moving and beautifully written.
Author's reply
Thanx much, Linda; I'm always pleased when an Aragorn fan appreciates something I write about the big fellow. And the 15th of March was such a significant day in his life, he had to have felt many conflicting emotions.
Radbooks
· 13 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
Ah, so hard to be a hostess when you are angry! But, of course, Arwen's true character comes through when it is necessary. I really liked the little glimmer of foresight there at the end... I'm thinking that would not be a good gift to have most of the time. Well done!
Author's reply
I don't think Aragorn could have fallen in love with a female who lacked compassion; and I think Arwen must be kind-hearted. And she's surely had lots of practice in being polite and gracious when she doesn't feel particularly welcoming towards a guest...
Radbooks
· 13 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
Oh, what a great ficlet and such an original way to meet the challenge. I really enjoyed it... my first thought was that it was Smeagol. :) Thanks for sharing it.
Author's reply
I pity Smeagol, but don't especially want to write about him. Writing Smaug was fun - he was so vain and full of himself in The Hobbit, he must have had a mother who impressed on him the importance of looking good. I'm glad you liked the double-drabble.
Hey, thanx for giving me the 100th review for this compilation!
Julia
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
I never read a Smaug drabble, but I liked this one!
Author's reply
Either have I, so I was very pleased to have a Smaug muse come and nip me.
I'm glad you enjoyed the piece!
Julia
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
Very well-written, and that's coming from a person who is not a huge Boromir fan.
Author's reply
Boromir has his moments in FOTR. I'm always pleased when the Boromir-muse gives me inspiration, since he's not a character with whom I have much affinity.
harrowcat
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
A less than perfect Arwen makes a refreshing change Raksha.
Author's reply
I much prefer Arwen as a flesh-and-blood creature who would occasionally, despite wisdom, experience annoyance and resentment. Thanx for the review!
harrowcat
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
*grin*
Author's reply
Thanx, harrowcat; glad to see cute widdle Smaug was to your liking.
Bodkin
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
Dragon-rearing is such hard work! I'm not surprised that Smaug's mother has to be firm with him - the last thing you want is a spoiled child!
Author's reply
Especially one that's going to grow up to be the size of a house and have a flame-thrower in his respitory system! Still, I'm sure Readfah was up to dealing with Smaug's growing pains.
Thanx for reading and reviewing!
Bodkin
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
Poor Boromir. It's hardly surprising he didn't fall over himself to express his joy at the appearance of an heir to a thousand-year empty throne. Although to Arwen, of course, a thousand years isn't much - and Aragorn's right to it is beyond question.
Nice point of view!
Author's reply
Arwen may not have expected the Steward's heir to fawn over the lost king, but I think Boromir's refusal to acknowledge Aragorn's right to the kingship must have bothered her. After all, she and the rest of the house of Elrond had been fostering Heirs of Isildur for millenia, a sort of cottage industry, and considered Aragorn's claim irrefutable.
And of course, poor Boromir might not have expected, after that exhausting journey, to have to deal with an upstart Northern Ranger claiming his patrimony.
Thanx for the review!
Bodkin
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 11: Measures of Time (Éowyn)
The different pace of their aging must have been difficult. And, of course, it is much more acceptable to be male and older - 'distinguished' - than female and older, even for the Witch King's nemesis. But Faramir is tenacious - and would never even notice the flirting of the younger women. He is devoted to Eowyn - and so her jealousy is eased.
Author's reply
How did I miss this review? Sorry, and thanx for leaving it.
Yes, the latter years of the marriage, as Eowyn aged faster, would have given the couple some problems. And you're right; Faramir is very tenacious, and would continue to show Eowyn how much he loves her.
Bodkin
· 12 March 2007
· Chapter 10: Girl Talk (Lothíriel and Éowyn)
I love the exchange of scars - and Lothiriel's discussion with Eowyn was probably very educational ... provided she could remember it beyond the headache she will have had in the morning. I like to think of Eowyn and Lothiriel being good friends - each, after all, had in her care someone who mattered a lot to the other.
Author's reply
Yikes, I missed replying to you, Bodkin! Sorry. Thanx for reading and reviewing. I think Lothiriel might have remembered at least part of the conversation, at least I hope so, LOL! I think she would have respected Eowyn enormously and been somewhat in awe of the Witch-King's slayer; and perhaps this conversation helped her see that her cousin's wife and sister-to-be was a real flesh-and-blood woman after all.
Poor Nerdanel. I feel that she - and many of those left behind - are real and unnoted victims of the Kinslayers' actions. She spent such a long time alone.
Dreamflower
· 11 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
Oh, this is very nice, and actually it fits both the "A" prompt *and* the "B" prompt!
I do like the way Arwen's thoughts gradually change; she's not the sort to keep up a prejudice against someone simply for her own advantage. And her bit of prescience is so sad.
Thank you, by the way, for the nice plug!
Author's reply
I don't think I truly realized that it fit the A prompt until after the piece was first posted; Arwen's annoyance with Denethor's heir just came naturally into the polot.
I don't think Aragorn could fall in love with someone who lacked compassion; and Arwen knew enough of the dangers that beset travelers to soften towards wayworn, weary Boromir.
Besides, how could anyone remain cross towards a bathing Boromir?
Linda Hoyland
· 11 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
This is both cute and funny.You succeed in making these dragons lovable.
Author's reply
Glad you liked it, Linda. Even a dragon can love her future little man-killer, and want to teach him proper habits.
Linda Hoyland
· 11 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
I hope the progression of Arwen's emotions here.This is both funny and touching,Arwen's initial resentment is very true to life.
Author's reply
Arwen may be the Lady of Rivendell, but she is also in love with Aragorn, and Boromir, by his very existence as well as his pride, threatens their future happiness; so it's natural that she'd prickle a little, inside. Thanx for reading!
Dreamflower
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
Aww...a cute little Smaug as a dragonette! Who'da thunk it? *grin* Really, this is wonderful--even fierce and cunning dragons had to be little hatchlings at one time! That's one take on the prompt I would *never* have thought of!
Author's reply
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Dreamflower! Yes, even great evil firedrakes might have been somebody's widdle hatchling once. I couldn't resist trying out the concept.
Larner
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 13: A Mother's Touch (OFC & someone important)
To realize this was Smaug who came in dirty from playing was a surprise, but a delightful one. And even dragons had loving mothers, apparently. (Smiling.)
Author's reply
I think I saw, in a PBS documentary, mother alligators carefully carrying their hatchlings from the mud in which the eggs were laid to a new nest.
Smaug had a lot of self-esteem, and Morgoth was no longer around to supervise the breeding of dragons; so I thought he must have had a loving mother. Just think of the Tyrannosauros Rex in Jurassic Park II, only more intelligent and able to speak.
Larner
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Under the Eyes of the Evenstar (Arwen)
Very wonderful scene.
And that last perception would have been a sad enough one for Arwen to keep close to her heart. Yes, he questioned Aragorn's council and may well stand between Aragorn and the crown of Gondor; but that will end all too soon and too tragically.
Author's reply
We don't see enough stories about the sadly brief acquaintance of Arwen and Boromir. They must have exchanged more than a few words; and her opinion of him would be interesting to know. She's been observing various Dunedain for a long time, after all. And what would he make of her? A fast retreat, or would he be intrigued...Sigh. Tolkien needed to have written a few more trilogies and many short stories about Middle-earth and the West.
Larner
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 11: Measures of Time (Éowyn)
Ah--bless our beloved Steward, his continued love for his chosen lady, and his perception as to what is important.
And LOVE she's proud to continue to turn heads. That's our Eowyn!
Author's reply
Faramir is smart enough to see that Eowyn is nervous about keeping up with him, and he won't let her get away with not making a reasonable try.
And Eowyn is a proud woman, in her own right, as well as the Prince's Lady; it's just a little extra lift to her spirit to see that her beauty is still recognized when she is starting to feel older.
Larner
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 10: Girl Talk (Lothíriel and Éowyn)
Oh, and what a conversation to have! Poor Lothiriel has much to learn, obviously. Heh! Methinks she will learn it happily, though.
Author's reply
Well, Eomer would presumably know enough about nervous young fillies to make that learning process a treat!
Such grief she must have known--and then the final rending of that chain and its jewels.
I agree--opals are indeed good ones for that chain.
Author's reply
Nerdanel's fate was almost more tragic than that of her husband and children; it's obvious she loved them, and they left her with nothing but memories. Hopefully her work would have given her some solace, or at least occupation.
Thanx for the comments!
Larner
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 8: Better Days Ahead (Shagrat)
Unfortunately, we have too many with Uruk-blood and Uruk tastes in this world of ours to this day.
Poor Snaga--always felt sorry for him. As for the one whose fingerbone's being offered, well....
Author's reply
The survival of Uruk tendancies in this world is sadly too clear. But one can't say that orcs didn't know how to party - as long as you weren't on the menu, you'd have a good time!
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Larner!
Larner
· 10 March 2007
· Chapter 7: Sing All Ye People! (Faramir)
Oh, such powerful images and imaginings of whose voice each verse was sung in.
And Manwe must have sung indeed that day.
Author's reply
Thanx for reviewing, Larner. I was a bit nervous, daring to deal with Religion, or Gods, during what comes very close (IMO)to being a sacred moment in M-e history. And yes, I think Manwe sang the final verse through his messenger.