Reviews (16)

Author's reply

Thanx for reading and reviewing, Lady R! I'm glad you enjoyed this story, which was something of a departure for me, not having ever written completely angst-free (not to mention drunk) Faramir before. I think Aragorn and Faramir would have become good friends as well as King and Steward.

Author's reply

It took awhile to write thish one, but I did have fun with it, though I've rarely been drunk, I do remember the tendancy to get a bit less shpecific with one'sh wordsh. I think history is never too far from Faramir's mind; and the sight of the One Tree would still fill him with joy and trigger all those historic allusions. And for a man who had good reason to believe he wouldn't live long enough to marry, being able to find love, marriage, and have a son born who would not be forced to be a soldier for his entire life, would have been thrilling to Faramir. I think Aragorn thought it best, as a healer, that Eowyn get as much undisturbed rest as possible, since it was late at night. Eowyn just had a baby, after all, and that baby would have to be fed. I'm sure that Faramir would see them both several times the next day. I'm glad you liked the story, and thanx for reviewing it.

Author's reply

Thanx for reading and reviewing, Barbara. I tend to think that Faramir would normally not get drunk unless it was under circumstances where he felt it allowable to relax; and where he was not immediately needed as Captain or Steward or Prince; and I see him as a usually happy drunk. The new White Tree must have seemed a living miracle to him; and I think when drunk, he would have waxed even more lyrical...

Author's reply

Thanx for reading and reviewing, Nesta. For some reason, I find it easier to write cranky/anxious Eowyn rather than happy Eowyn, unless she's appreciating her husband's manly charms (well, who wouldn't!). I felt like including a big neon sign - ANGST-FREE FARAMIR! - in the summary. I usually write him a bit more melancholy.

Author's reply

I can imagine there was a lot of revelry among the Rohirrim who had accompanied Eomer; not only was this the birth of their White Lady's first child, but the newborn was possibly the heir to the Mark at this time; unless Lothiriel had produced Elfwine first. Oh, there would be a lot of sore heads the next morning - White Company, Rohirrim, Tower Guards; but much happiness as well. Thanx much for reading and commenting, Branwyn!

Author's reply

Thanx much for your cogent review, Khorazir! I do think that Faramir would, on a few select occasions, and usually in the privacy of his own house, get drunk. It would have to be when someone else was holding the reins of governance, and not when he was actively Captaining men. Here, I see his inebriation as a result of good-naturedly accepting various drinks and making toasts while waiting for his child's birth and afterwards; and feeling comfortable enough that he could drop his guard and participate in the drinking... What will Aragorn be like at the birth of his first child? Tired! Probably won't be able to stop smiling; so people will hardly recognize him. I'm glad you liked the story.

Author's reply

I think Faramir would always remember his history, the difficulty would be, if he became any more inebriated, in being able to successfully articulate it! Thanx for reading and reviewing, MithLuin; I'm delighted you liked the story. Somewhat Drunk Faramir was great fun; he became quite insistent as well as earnest...

Author's reply

Thanx for reading and reviewing, Istarnie! I wanted a bittersweet story where the sweet outweighed the bitter (i.e. grief for Boromir); and to write a more relaxed and happy Faramir. And Aragorn has a lot to do with that, almost as much as Eowyn does; since if Aragorn had been as constantly stern and fault-finding as Denethor, Faramir would have still accepted him as liege-lord and done his duty as Steward, but with less joy. Faramir probably thought that the legendary kings were capable of compassion, but in a more general sense, not in the way of helping one's gleefully inebriated Steward home... I'm glad you liked the tale.

Author's reply

As far as I understand it, not everything with JRRT's august name on it is considered true Canon. LOTR and THE HOBBIT, both of which were written solely by JRRT and published within his lifetime, are universally considered Canon. Some people (like me) consider THE SILMARILLION to be Canon, others do not, since parts of it were filled in by the industrious Christopher rather than the book being written in its entirety by JRRT. The HoME volumes and UNFINISHED TALES are not regarded as Canon, at least not totally. They can be used in conjunction with Canon. My own solution is to take bits from them that do not contradict and are not refuted by LOTR and THE HOBBIT; and use those bits to enhance, etc. Therefore, as far as I and many fanfiction writers are concerned, Imrahil had three sons as well as a daughter, Denethor had two older sisters, Faramir and Eowyn's firstborn son is named Elboron, and Aragorn had a strong resemblance to Isildur's slain son Elendur. Just don't ask me when exactly Galadriel met Celeborn or what the latter's ancestry is... Other fanfiction writers and readers might feel differently. Thanx for reading and reviewing, Tracy.

Author's reply

I can see by your screenname which LOTR character is your special favorite! I'm pleased that you liked the story, and thanx for reviewing.

Author's reply

Thanx for reading and commenting, Radbooks. I see Aragorn as compassionate as well, and I think he would be fond of Faramir as a friend, as well as respect him; so it made sense that he wouldn't leave his Steward alone in such a state. And even though Aragorn wasn't yet a father (in my scenario), he had probably seen enough newborns and happy drunken fathers to make those remarks. There is something ludicrous as well as awfully sweet about the gushing declarations of new parents... Mostly, my Muse was cooperative, and Faramir and Aragorn wrote themselves...I'm glad the result was to your liking.

Author's reply

Thanx for your very thorough review, Ann! Yes, poor Faramir does come into fatherhood with more baggage than most, doesn't he?! I would think it took him awhile to come to terms with Denethor's treatment of him; and he possibly couldn't really make peace with Denethor's memory until he was a father himself. The people of Minas Tirith and Gondor would have revered Aragorn, but not known him well enough yet to love him (with the exception of Legolas and his Elves, who would also have come to know Eowyn and Faramir by now) as they loved Faramir at the time Elboron would have been born, hence I visualized a huge outpouring of joy and celebration in Minas Tirith and Ithilien. I'm not sure that Faramir would think of Boromir all the time; by this night, enough months and years would have passed that Faramir wouldn't have thought of his brother every day, especially with all Faramir's responsibilities. I meant to convey that Faramir was moving on from grieving for Boromir at this point; never forgetting his brother but seeing in his own life how life goes on even after such a terrible loss. I had fun writing Aragorn and Faramir together; I could almost hear their voices.. Glad you liked the tale!

Author's reply

I'm pleased that you liked the piece, harrowcat! Aragorn and Faramir were fun to write here. I think at some point, Faramir might be equally supportive to Aragorn... Thanx for reading and reviewing.

Author's reply

Faramir may pass out, or pass peacefully into a sound sleep, but he'll probably be hung over in the morning! He's a man, albeit a very noble one, not a saint. Yes, I can just see him passing out cigars to all of the Ithilien Rangers if they had cigars in Gondor... Thanx for reading and reviewing, Armariel.

Author's reply

Right now, Faramir is such a merry man that he could join Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. It was rather refreshing to write almost totally angst-free Faramir. Thanx for reading and reviewing, Larner!

Author's reply

Intoxicating's the word alright; the new father is definitely high on life as well as various alcoholic beverages. Glad you liked it!