Larner
· 16 June 2009
· Chapter 74: Friendship - Four Drabbles (Boromir and Theodred)
I don't tend to see Boromir and Theodred as lovers as many do, although they were certainly set to be friends. But this series that focuses on Faramir--it's both delightful and chilling, particularly that last one with its foreshadowing of what did indeed befall.
Nicely done!
Author's reply
I didn't set out to write slash.... I do love a good Boromir slash Theodred tale - Be that as it may, they were both only around nineteen at the time... great friends... with so many similarities that drew them closer than the average friendship...
I can't quite believe that Faramir and Denethor were the only ones in the family with foresight... I don't think Boromir acknowledged it - perhaps he was afraid to... bad dreams were more easily dismissed than foresight... :(
Raksha The Demon
· 16 June 2009
· Chapter 74: Friendship - Four Drabbles (Boromir and Theodred)
An interesting set of drabbles; with the last one very sad. Little do either Theodred or Boromir know how true it is...
I wasn't sure what Boromir meant when he said that Faramir wielded a sword "like your cousin", meaning, evidently, Eowyn rather than Eomer. Boromir thought that Faramir wielded a sword like a little girl? (if Faramir is an esquire, as I thought the story implied, than Eowyn, who is 12 years younger, would be a small child) It's sort of an odd comment to make.
The series reminds me how much Boromir was loved and respected by the Rohirrim.
Author's reply
I didn't have the 'word space' to be able to qualify ages and such. I was thinking Faramir was probably around fourteen or fifteen... old enough to wield a bow skilfully, at least in his brother's eye, but young enough to heighten Boromir's 'fears' for him -
As for Eowyn, I'm figuring she's about two-ish - headstrong already and running about the house wielding a wooden sword with the best of them *g* (My own 2-year old granddaughter loves her 'sword' - she's a Pirates of Penzance fan and has swung a toy sword (or anything that even approximates a sword) for about the last 1/2 year! The 'Pirate King' song is her favorite... We have mock battles singing it...)
Which makes Theodred's 'compliment' wield even more sting....
PS - I do so love Eomer and Theoden's grief at the news of Boromir's death. He was highly prized by the warrior Rohirrim.
Bless you and thank you for the review.
Tari
· 4 May 2009
· Chapter 73: Lament of an Istari - A Drabble (Gandalf)
I can relate to the not getting wiser part.
You managed captured Denethor's despair in a few short sentences. Good job.
The elven blood that flows thru Faramir shows itself in his love of trees and birds. The thought of an Ent comforting him is delightful. The distruction of the trees was horrible. Hopefully his tree survived.
Larner
· 3 May 2009
· Chapter 73: Lament of an Istari - A Drabble (Gandalf)
And in placing his hope in the Ringbearer he was wise indeed!
Nice, and hope RiverOtter likes it!
Author's reply
It was the only place left for any hope - everything hinged upon Frodo - and Gandalf was the one who 'pushed him out the door.'
I hope RO likes it too! Bless you!
Raksha The Demon
· 3 May 2009
· Chapter 72: Quickbeam (500 words) (Faramir/Quickbeam)
A very nice vignette - I've thought of doing a Faramir/Ents meeting, but this piece is better than what I imagined. Very Faramirish and Tolkienish. I hope you'll write a sequel where Faramir meets Quickbeam again after the Ring War; since I'm sure the Steward of Gondor would occasionally travel beyond Gondor...
Author's reply
*blushes* Many many thanks Raksha - I'm so glad you liked it!
It is amazing what one little sentence can do - send you off on adventures! If I do get a chance, I'd love to do the sequel - we'll see. Ents do have a long 'shelf life' - giggles!
Bless you for the review! Most appreciated!
Lindelea
· 3 May 2009
· Chapter 73: Lament of an Istari - A Drabble (Gandalf)
Very well done, indeed! I can see Gandalf pacing back and forth, trapped, fretting, hoping in Frodo and yet desperately worried...
Author's reply
I never thought that Gandalf would fret - I guess I was too caught up in Aragorn's difficulties after Gandalf died and before he finally made the decision to follow Merry and Pippin.
But Gandalf started a flame under a lot of people (least of all Frodo) and he had to have been desperately concerned, flumoxed, and bothered by it all. Even when it came to Denethor.....
Thanks for the review!
How unique! How wonderful an idea that Quickbeam might have come from Ithilien! Love it! And that Faramir, of all people, had a relationship with the Ent, all unwitting--that is the most wonderful of all.
Love it, Agape.
Author's reply
Thank you so very much! I just love 'finding' new stuff when re-reading the dear profs books! That quote just touched me and I knew someone i loved had to have encountered this 'hasty' Ent....
What a touching story. I like the idea of Faramir leaning against Quickbeam, talking to him and yes, enjoying him, all without knowing it was an Ent. But how sad that they became sundered... I hope someday Quickbeam returns to Ithilien and Faramir finds him again.
Author's reply
Ah ha! So you want a sequel.... Yikes!
But after reading the Treebeard chapter - this thought just kept me awake. Finally acquiesced to the Muse and wrote it down. Glad it worked!
Thanks you for the kind words!
Aiwen
· 24 April 2009
· Chapter 70: A Musing and a Lament (Theodred)
I have to agree with you that some people and situations in Middle-earth get far less attention than they deserve. Theodred is one, but I think the entire second age of Middle-earth is another. There is very little written about the war of the Elves and Sauron, for example, and the rescue of the elves by the Numenoreans, yet Sauron came closer to winning then than he did in the War of the Ring. Thank you for writing in the holes in the legendarium and fandom's choice of writing subjects. To my mind such stories are among the most valuable fan fiction.
Author's reply
I'd love to write something about Isildur on Numenor - the story of his 'glorious' stealing of the seedling is incredible. I want to 'know' more!
Also, I started a tale of a young Elf who fled from the flooding of Beleriand - but I'm not comfortable yet - with all that happened - especiaally with Orophin... but I might get back to it.
The seocnd age is the longest - you'd think there'd be something there!!!
Bless you for the review!
Larner
· 20 April 2009
· Chapter 71: The Master's Friends (a tribble?) (Beorn's beasts)
Love it! I always did like Beorn's relationship with his animals!
Author's reply
I did too - Beorn's a fascinating character. I'd love to spend time with him - but the Men of Gondor, as you well know, are needy! : )
Thanks for the review!
shirebound
· 19 April 2009
· Chapter 71: The Master's Friends (a tribble?) (Beorn's beasts)
What a completely unique point of view! Marvelous. :)
Author's reply
Many thanks. I love the 'odd' character that Tolkien throws out to us. This was fun!
*blushes*
Larner
· 16 April 2009
· Chapter 70: A Musing and a Lament (Theodred)
Certainly Theodred is one who deserves honor and remembrance. Yes, targets--destroy the heirs and take the land when the ruler fails--and the sooner for the grief of it, or so it is to be hoped by the likes of Sauron and Saruman.
Beautifully, painfully done.
Author's reply
I was appalled by the fiendishness of the plot - I don't know why!
And Saruman was absolutely despicable through it all.....
Many many thanks for your review!
Tari
· 15 April 2009
· Chapter 70: A Musing and a Lament (Theodred)
Oh, Agape, this is so heart wrenching. It brought me close to tears. You are right, very few people research like you do and then expand upon what might have been. Thank goodness you do. This is a beautiful tribute to Theodred who never had a chance to fulfill his destiny.
Author's reply
I do love Tolkien, as you well know, Tari, but sometimes it is just so difficult to read of another great character suffering so and in the end losing the battle.....
Many thanks for your kind words. Most appreciated!
Tari
· 30 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
This so like Sam. Getting right to the point without a lot of flowery words. which of the two Hobbits is having nightmare's she wonders? Based on the severity of the dreams, I would guess Frodo. If so, Aragorn will only be able to do so much for him. The undying lands hold the healing he needs.
Author's reply
Ah, Tari - both are - but Sam is the one who knows he'll survive - it's his worry about Frodo that prompts the letter...
I'm afraid Sam does not want to even think about Frodo going anywhere!!!
Bless you for the kind words!
Dreamflower
· 28 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
Oh how sad! Poor Sam, and poor Frodo! (((hugs them both)))
I love Sam's mix of both the heart-breaking and the homely. "Plain and Simple", as you said.
Author's reply
Sam is so easy to write (not linguistically - but his feelings) What you see is what you get... Bless him! Because what you see is absolute purity.
Thanks ever so much for your review!
Celeritas
· 27 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
*wibbles*
This was incredibly well done, and had a lot of punch for being only 200 words long. You write Sam's voice very well.
Author's reply
*blushes*
I have a difficult time with what some see as Sam's dialect - that's why I was a coward and put the P.S. in about Rosie helping.....
But writing Sam is exquisitely wondrous - he brings out the best in me when I write him... bless him!
And bless you for your review!
Antane
· 27 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
If that doesn't just break the heart to hear that pain, but what love also! Could I have the honor of putting this on my website? - http://www.knittedsouls.com
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
Please feel free to put it up. I'm blushing at the compliment.
Yes - true, unselfish love.... by all parties involved.
Blessings,
Agape
eiluj
· 27 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
Such heartbreak!
Author's reply
Yes - hard to bear - when a friend suffers so!
Thank you for reviewing!
Larner
· 26 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
What the Ring and the journey cost Frodo was almost more than any one person could bear, of course. The pain Sam finds himself sharing for his friend is almost more than he can bear as well. And I could imagine him in just this conspiracy!
Author's reply
Sadly, Sam's own experience with these nightmares is evident as he wonders about them. Being Sam, he doesn't mention that he too has suffered. His only concern, as always, is Frodo.
So it is more than pain, dear Larner, it is the shared experience that refuses to stop....
Many thanks for your reading and especially reviewing!
george
· 26 March 2009
· Chapter 69: Plain and Simple (Sam)
Oh, how Aragorn's heart must have broken to read this.
Author's reply
I never thought of that - Frodo and Sam's pain just obliterated me....
But you are truly correct!
Thanks so much for reviewing! And for the insight into my own stuff *grins*
Raksha The Demon
· 21 March 2009
· Chapter 68: A Horn of Special Magnificence (Vorondil)
A wonderfully credible and interesting look at the origin of the Horn of Gondor - I loved the mingling of animal strength, human effort and craft, and the hint of spiritual power. Well done!
Author's reply
Thank you! As a writer of Men, your opinion is most valued.
Celeritas
· 20 March 2009
· Chapter 68: A Horn of Special Magnificence (Vorondil)