Bodkin
· 9 December 2006
· Chapter 9: Théodred the Brave
I think Madenn is being rather too star-struck by these golden Rohirrim. Theodred won't marry an illegitimate daughter - even if she is beautiful. Rank has its obligations as well as its privileges. (And besides ...) It would be much better for her to find another Rohir. One who doesn't have to think about state matters.
The image of the eored singing as they ride up to the bridge is very impressive. I'm not surprised that Faramir thought it was worth the belly-ache! And he is making his first acquaintance with shield-maidens! It would seem that Aud left an impression on the youngster that made him happy to welcome another of Rohan's shield-maidens some years later.
Author's reply
Oh, Madenn is quite the realist as you will see later.
As for the shieldmaidens, it would be silly if there weren't any others than Éowyn alone, now wouldn't it? If you want to meet the shieldmaidens of the East, they do have an appearance in the most recent chapter of "Emissary of the Mark". :)
Bodkin
· 9 December 2006
· Chapter 8: Dreamscapes
That's a very powerful and disturbing version of the dream. Enough to make a thirteen-year-old who is very much on his dignity welcome his brother. I like the link between them - and that Boromir doesn't shrug off Faramir's reaction. He is a very kind and loving big brother.
And, by the way, fingers crossed for Morwen's father and Forlong's legitimate daughter, whose name I have forgotten.
Author's reply
Achren. She's called Achren. And as this is a much more light-hearted story than last year's Advent Calendar was, you actually can hope for a happy end. :)
Bodkin
· 9 December 2006
· Chapter 7: The Legend of Lady Khorsheed
Fair enough that Madenn is cross with Faramir, I suppose - but she had enough guards with her to keep track of a book-obsessed boy!
I like Herumor. And it is definitely a good thing to have someone around who knows the rules. Interesting legend. I wonder how much of it is 'true'. In the context of this world.
Author's reply
That's an interesting question. I'm not sure yet myself. But there could come a moment when Andrahar *does* remember an old legend - from a very different POV, I assume.
Bodkin
· 9 December 2006
· Chapter 6: Summer Fair With Hidden Treasures
Well - I can't blame Faramir for losing the others in his pursuit of books - and such books, too! Worth invoking his position and his kin's power and wealth to obtain. Good time for Boromir to turn up and finance their purchase.
I get the feeling that you could name every single person attending the fair - with their family history and foreknowledge of their futures. So complex and you are so in control of it all!
Author's reply
Hmmm...not in this fair, I cannot. But I do have extensive character lists for Halabor (up to 750 persons and still growing), with family trees, more or less detailed biographies, a map, descriptions of the most important places in town and so on. I'm not quite so far with Forlong's court yet - I wanted to finish Halabor's background before I started with Forlong's people - but I will get there eventually. At the very least when I get around to write "Forlong's Last Battle", a story I've been planning for quite some time.
Bodkin
· 9 December 2006
· Chapter 5: The Lord of Lossarnach
I love your Lord Forlong - and shudder at the thought of the genteel, knife-edged power game going on behind the scenes in the ladies' part of the castle! Lady Almaren has managed a trump card, though - she has produced a son and heir.
Madenn has a good life while her father lives - but I suspect she might find it much harder once he is no longer around to offer his support.
Author's reply
Well, we must understand poor Lady Almaren - she had to leave the Southern pomp of her father, the most important man In Pelargir, to marry a barbarian, who's not even of Dúnadan origins. What a messaliance, isn't it? *g*
Originally, she was concieved as a much nicer person. I don't know when she turned into such an unpleasant woman. These characters have their own life sometimes.
Sarasrati
· 7 December 2006
· Chapter 7: The Legend of Lady Khorsheed
Never mind, I just realized I missed the explanation at the beginning!
Sarasrati
· 7 December 2006
· Chapter 7: The Legend of Lady Khorsheed
I've heard a similar story to the Legend of the Lady Khorsheed... I wonder if you could tell us what the basis of the legend is? I cannot remember where I've read it elsewhere. As for the rest of the story, it's very interesting to get a look at other regions of Gondor and ordinary life, and fun to recognize elements from our own history in the writing. Good luck with the rest of the story!
phyloxena
· 6 December 2006
· Chapter 6: Summer Fair With Hidden Treasures
What will happen to Madenn, do you know? Will she sirvive tha war?
Author's reply
Yes, she will definitely survive; although she is not named in The Books. Nor is she Forlong's daughter there. We never learn much about her, actually.
phyloxena
· 5 December 2006
· Chapter 5: The Lord of Lossarnach
Great Lord of Lossarnah! You descripion is so rich and warm.
Bodkin
· 4 December 2006
· Chapter 4: The Walled Town of Carvossonn
Boromir and Faramir together are great. They share an understanding that even their cousins can't - and understanding of what it is to be the heirs of the de facto ruler of Gondor and the responsibility that goes with it. Not to mention the absence of their mother - although Morwen, it seems, is also motherless. (Mothers don't seem to have long life-expectancies. A fact of the period, true, but it also works as a literary device. However, becoming a mother seems to be worth avoiding if you are a literary character!)
I love the town of Carvossonn! You make it sound truly impressive - and a bastion of pre-Numenorean culture.
Excellent stuff.
Author's reply
Thank you. The choice was made because I've been wanting to go and see Carcassonne so badly for years by now but haven't succeeded so far. So I spend lost of virtual time there. ;)
Yes, women in medieval-like times often died in childbirth and infections related to childbirth. Plust the lack of hygiene destroyed their lungs. Sad, but true.
Bodkin
· 4 December 2006
· Chapter 3: Father and Sons
I do like Boromir and Denethor together! There is an ease to their relationship that you don't often see with Denethor and - well - anybody! An understanding. It's a shame that Faramir and his father can't develop the same sort of connection, but perhaps they are too alike in some ways. And perhaps Faramir grows to be slightly less accepting of the restrictions laid on him.
And now Boromir gets to go and party, too!
phyloxena
· 3 December 2006
· Chapter 2: The Old Prince
By the way, Denethor was no teenager when Thorongil turned up in Minath Tirith. I don't see how Ecthelion's preference predicated Denethor's dislike of Faramir; at least I don't see it in terms of family dynamics, rather like a religios conflict. Since Gandald didn't do any spectacular magic before his reincarnation in TT, I think he was rather seen as a wondering scholar, or saint or prophet. To Denethor, who clearly believes in "Gondor uber alles", he was dangerous because he called for further goals -- like some crusade; and Thorongil tried to channel Gandalf's influence in his time and Faramir gave his heart to wizard. I'm not sure I'm clear enough. And I love this story, and other stories of yours. Thank you!
Author's reply
I never stated that Denethor was a teenager when Thorongil turned up in MT. I know he and Aragorn were about the same age (1 year apart). I'm glad you like the story, even though we disageree about Denethor in just about everything. But that's okay. Everyone has the good right to interpret the same events as they will.
For my part, I'm all for the Stewards of Gondor and don't believe that mere pedigree would go before centuries of faithful service to the realm and its people. And it *was* Denethor's duty to defend Gondor by all means necessary - it was the only realm of Westernesse left and has been for quite some time.
phyloxena
· 3 December 2006
· Chapter 3: Father and Sons
Boromir here sound more mature that at forty in Rivendell. Poor thing.
phyloxena
· 3 December 2006
· Chapter 4: The Walled Town of Carvossonn
"Not having Dunedan blood at all made people happier" -- I certainly believe that. Boromir is a sad, doomed character, and his little brother as well. They know all their life they are fighting somebody's else's war. Actually, Men of the Third Age have every right to distrust Elves for starting it all with Morgoth and not finishing on their own... Not that I don't like Dunedain or Elves, I do, but they should be sad, guilty and weighed down by old sorrows to be likable.
Author's reply
Why should they? The mistakes their forefathers made (at least where the Dúnedain were concerned) lay millennia in the past. I don't think one should blame the late descendants for the mistakes of their ancestors. It wouldn't be just.
And why would Boromir and Faramir be fighting somebody else's war? Gondor was their realm, their responsibility, and the return of the King just a mythical possibility for them. The Stewards have done well enough for 26 generations - better than the Kings ever had, IMO - they deserved all the credit they could get.
Raksha The Demon
· 3 December 2006
· Chapter 4: The Walled Town of Carvossonn
I've been to Carcasonne, so I loved your description of Forlong's walled town.
Faramir's determination to try the very difficult shot at the wooden falcon on the tower in the archery contest, despite his youth, seems very typical of the character; he is self-confident and would not shrink from competition.
I can't wait to see the festivities through the eyes of Faramir and Boromir; this is shaping up to be an excellent tale.
Author's reply
Thank you. I'll try to match your expectations. :))
Bodkin
· 2 December 2006
· Chapter 2: The Old Prince
I love young Faramir. He has charm and modesty - and a deep love for his family. Even if it is hard for him to see such clear favouritism for his brother - which he seems to bear far better than most teenaged boys would! It's good to see him being offered a last burst of childhood - and some uncomplicated family affection.
Mind you, Adrahil is right really. Ecthelion did establish some difficulties in his favour of a certain northerner, regardless of how talented he was - although it wouldn't have mattered so much if Denethor wasn't inclined to feeling slighted. I imagine he would have been a difficult teenager to deal with!
More interesting new characters, too. And a trip to Forlong's town for a splendid occasion. Faramir will certainly relish that opportunity to see the world in his grandfather's company.
Author's reply
Well, I don't know how difficult Denethor might have been as a youth. I only know that I was always outraged when I read about Ecthelion's favoritism of a stranger against his own only son. Difficult or not, I don't doubt that Denethor was loyal to his father and to his country all his life - he didn't deserve that from Ecthelion.
I have another unfinished story, "The Exercise of Vital Powers", where I'm trying to deal with exactly that problem - and Finduilas' possible role in it - if you're interested.
Bodkin
· 2 December 2006
· Chapter 1: Coming to Council
I should think Faramir is really relishing the chance of spending a year in Dol Amroth, slightly detached from the hotbed of Minas Tirith. I liked finding that he has additional family - which, of course, he would. Gondor must be littered with cousins in some degree. With a relatively small Numenorean gene pool, there must have been a lot of inter-breeding.
I like Morwen - although I would have thought she was a first cousin once removed rather than a niece - and her competitiveness with Faramir over the shield game is most entertaining as well as a great way to introduce some of the cast and background to the story!
I am looking forward to seeing how this develops.
Author's reply
Thanks. :))
To the mistaken degree of their relation see the A/N before Chapter 2. I might bring in various other relatives later - not sure yet, as the story is pretty much changing as I write every new chapter.