The rider in the gloaming by Nesta

Reviews (17)

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Rian Steelsheen · 18 November 2010 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Hello! Me again :) Wondrous story, as always! I liked all the small details you give us about Bergil’s life which makes it all very real: his worshipping the legendary Captain-General and playing at being him, his uncle Iorlas gossiping about the citizens or frightening his nephew with horror tales about wolves, his games with his cousin, his grandsire’s bark... (Have you ever been lost in a forest by the way? It all sounded very true!) “He felt like crying, but there was enough of the Captain-General’s pride still in his mind to keep him from that” lol at that ^^ Faramir singing in Elvish while riding is so true to him in the book. It’s always a delight to see him portrayed as a good rider (beside I like Thoron, don’t know why...). I also love the way he talks of his big bro, and he’s so modest...One can see how different an encounter with Boromir would be! (Not bad either though) And you’re so right about him having an effect on people: inspiring immediate trust, even love, and making them feel different about things. Only look at Pippin and Éowyn, or even Frodo and Sam. They fight against it but in the end both of them admit they really felt like trusting him: Frodo nearly told him all about the quest just after meeting him (after having had his trust in men shaken by Boromir’s attack, and after Faramir had taken him prisoner and interrogated him closely about Isildur’s bane!). In comparison, it took all the way from Bree to Rivendell to make Sam trust Aragorn! He still have the same wonderful voice as in the Book, you really captured it. (I know, it’s all ink and paper, but I still find that in some books -LotR and HP for example- characters have a ‘voice’, their way of speaking I suppose, and Faramir’s one is beautiful, different from Gandalf’s or Denethor’s or Legolas’... Well, I know, it’s getting late) “Then you are fortunate,’ said the stranger, with the faintest ghost of a sigh” Is it only me or does this imply something? Denethor again? :) Favorites lines: “If my blood could buy them one more day of peace under the Sun, I would spend it gladly” “He is not glorious because he kills, he is glorious because he loves the City and fights for it with all his strength and skill” “He took with him the heart of one small boy, for whom the world would never be quite the same again” He also touched the heart of one (small or not) girl very far from there (if only!)! *Rían, looking for consolation after having watched PJ’s creation again* There isn’t anything like a good old true Faramir! Think I’ll stop now, though, this is getting long!

Author's reply

Rian, I'm sorry to be so slow to reply - my silly e-mail put your message in the spam folder, curse it! Such an insightful review - I couldn't have put it all better myself. There's something about particular people that makes other people love and trust them on sight. They don't even have to be good people: it's clear that Hitler often had that effect, even on highly intelligent men like Goebbbels and Goering, who were prepared to follow him literally to the death. But it's so much better when the person with this attraction is also a good person, like Faramir. I like your comparison with Sam's suspicion of Aragorn. It seems that Aragorn can veil his majesty so completely that it becomes unnoticeable - making the effect all the more dramatic when he unveils, as he does before Eomer. It's a calculated effect. Faramir doesn't do that - he is majestic all the time, whether in the wildwoods or in Minas Tirith. Even Sam feels it, as soon as he gets the full blast of Faramir's authority. There's nobody else in the whole book that Sam addresses as 'Sir'. It's almost amusing how Eowyn, who rages against all authority and constraint including Aragorn's, finds herself unable to rage against Faramir's. With everybody else she feels strong and heroic when she rages and rebels, but Faramir makes her feel like a silly child. But not like a silly woman, and that's what eventually wins her over, I think: it's not the authority of a man over a woman, but that of a superior human being over another very worthy human being. In the future I can imagine her getting irritated with herself at times for being so completely under Faramir's spell - you can see her fighting against it to the last in the 'Steward and the King' - but she'd have to admit that she was a happy woman because of it. One thing I particularly love about Faramir is that he can lose his childhood illusions about Boromir without in the least ceasing to admire him and defer to him as elder brother and captain-general. I've a feeling that Faramir snatched Boromir's irons out of the fire more than once in battle, but without Boromir being aware of how much he owed to his more intelligent brother; nor would Faramir mind Boromir getting the credit. As for Denethor, all I can say is that he is evidently easy to admire and very difficult to love, especially for Faramir, who has a hard time of it - hence the ghost of a sigh. As for the movie Faramir, don't get me on to that one...

Violin Ghost · 1 January 2008 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

This was a beautiful, evocative story, and touched me in a way I can't even begin to describe. It's no wonder Faramir was so beloved by the city! Yes, Boromir was the icon, but Faramir... ah, Faramir. Perhaps I'm biased-- no, I AM biased, but his ideas seem to ring truer than Boromir's. This was a beautifully-written story, and the interaction between Bergil and Faramir was both realistic and enjoyable to read. Thank you for a wonderful story!

Author's reply

Well, I'm biased too, of course. I have a soft spot for Boromir and I think he'd be fun to be with (if he didn't lead you into some dangrous combat with nasty orcs), but Faramir is in a different league... Glad you liked the story!

PipMer · 10 October 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Lovely story! Wonderful depiction of Faramir, and a tender look at the young Bergil. Nice job!

Author's reply

Thanks,PipMer! If I'd ever had a son I hope he would have been like Bergil. I think Faramir probably felt the same.

harrowcat · 8 October 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

And so the heart of one small boy is won by the reality rather than just the story. Lovely writing Nesta.

Author's reply

Small boys do get crushes on their heroes, don't they! - but this hero is worth it.

MithLuin · 7 October 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Lovely! Such a nice piece. I figured out who the rider was before Bergil, but not right away, so it was interesting to me. He is a very believable young boy here, and it is true that such a meeting would change his life!

Author's reply

Yes, I see Bergil as spending his life in Faramir's service. It seems to run in Bergil's family. If I remember rightly, 'The return of the shadow', which the Prof. never finished, does mention Bergil, or was it a younger brother of his?

BM · 1 October 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

I loved this! It goes a long way to explaining why Bergil loved Faramir so much in Return of the King and why he stood crying as Faramir lay dying of the black breath. As usual, you have done an absolutely wonderful job in bringing your characters to life and woven a wonderful story. I'm thrilled to see a new story by you and hope for many more to come. Great job and thanks so much for sharing it!

Author's reply

Thanks so much! Bergil in the HoH was the start of it, of course - he clearly has very strong feelings for Faramir. ALthough he's only a minor character, I find Bergil is very much alive in the book, and such a nice child.

Agape4Gondor · 30 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Author Reply: So glad you picked out those particular sentences, Agape! They are the ones I would like to think are most Faramir-ish. If Bergil had met Boromir instead, I think he'd have had an equally kind reception but the experience would have been very different. No doubt he'd have got a long recital of Boromir's latest heroic exploits! Hmmmmm - not what I would consider at all. *shudders* At first reading, I thought this was about Boromir. Obviously, our views of the brothers are different.

Author's reply

Sorry! I'm actually quite fond of Boromir, but he is said in the book to be more 'self-regarding' than Faramir. He's certainly got plenty of self to regard!

Lamiel · 29 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

This is a very sweet tale, and you tell it beautifully. The pacing and details are wonderful -- I particularly like the story that Bergil's grandfather told him, complete with toe-bone. What a beautiful beginning of the bond between soldier and captain.

Author's reply

Thanks for reading! I can certainly see Bergil succeeding his father as Faramir's chief captain. These relationships tend to pass down the generations - just as the stewardship did.

Elena Tiriel · 29 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Hi Nesta, I really enjoyed reading this story! Your Faramir is so consistent with his honorable character in the books, and Bergil is convincingly young-boy-like. It is a perfectly natural progression that your Bergil would fall in love with this Faramir... very well done! Thank you for this lovely vignette! - Barbara

Author's reply

And thank you! I don't thinjk 'falling in love' is an exaggeration, without any pervy suggestion about it. Faramir has that effect on people - look at Pippin, in particular. And Eowyn - though she puts up a good fight against it!

Agape4Gondor · 28 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

'...if my blood could buy them one more day of peace under the Sun, I would spend it gladly.’ EXQUISITE wording! 'But he is not glorious because he kills, he is glorious because he loves the City and fights for it with all his strength and skill.’ A lovely story - just lovely.

Author's reply

So glad you picked out those particular sentences, Agape! They are the ones I would like to think are most Faramir-ish. If Bergil had met Boromir instead, I think he'd have had an equally kind reception but the experience would have been very different. No doubt he'd have got a long recital of Boromir's latest heroic exploits!

Nessa · 28 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Oh, Nesta, I love this story so very much. I don't know what else to say, except that I need tissues *sniffle* Love, Nessa

Author's reply

I often feel a bit sniffly myself when Faramir is around. In fact, what between sniffling and swooning, I'd have been rather in the way around Emyn Arnen...

Linda Hoyland · 28 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

I loved this beautiful atmospheric story.You capture Faramir perfectly and the beauty of the country he fights to save.

Author's reply

Somehow, although I know Ithilien is really as far south as Italy, it keeps on turning into Wales in my imagination, no doubt because I like to put the character I love best in the place I love best. The Shire, on the other hand, is always western England, and the Wilderland is Northumberland. How many other authors can conjure up landscapes as vividly as Tolkien does?

Lady Bluejay · 28 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Lovely. I do so love to see Faramir portrayed as Tolkien intended -- strong and true. Well done. LBJ

Author's reply

Many thanks! I certainly wouldn't portray him as in the movie - what a wimp!

phyloxena · 28 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Fabulous. I don't know how you write children so well, so much more like they would like to see themselves than like grownups in charge tend to see them. Visually, it reminded me more of Ursula K. LeGuin. The pace, the color, the gloomy forest and the brilliant sunset valley are so convincing. The rider... I don't even know there to begin. He is fantastic. And, not least, kind but not at all syrupy. You found a point of view that allows us readers to notice every small smile with good reason and to admire every bit of him without getting too close. The last line sounds a little bit like stating the obvious :) Would you consider writing Houses of Healing from Bergil's POV? Did he ever meet Faramir again before the siege?

Author's reply

Thanks, Phyloxena! I don't know if Bergil met Faramir again before the seige, but he'd certainly have seen him about Minas Tirith. The nearest I ever got to HoH with Bergil involved was in 'Black Hour', which I think you've read. Something else may come up some time, I suppose. I'm glad the child angle was convincing. Getting lost in the forest and coming to the valley side are both from my own experience, though suitably adapted of course! I once got quite alarmingly lost in a tiny patch of pinewood just above the Grand Canyon, and I'd really hate to be alone in a really big forest.

Vanadesse · 27 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Hi! This is beautiful. We all have someday life-altering experiences.

Author's reply

Thank you, Vanadesse! We do indeed all have life-altering experiences, and they don't have to be particularly important from anybody else's point of view.

Raksha The Demon · 27 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Oh, yum! And Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! In a totally respectful way, of course. And a blissful, contented sigh, as well. Raksha is a happy reader today! This is why I love Faramir - you've captured him almost perfectly here; the horsemanship, the singing in Sindarin, his troubling to give gentle lessons about the true nature of courage to a small boy...Faramir's unforced, natural charisma just spills out of the page. I can just see him riding that big young galoot of a warhorse through the woods. I think Bergil will be a very happy kid growing up in Ithilien in Faramir's service...

Larner · 27 September 2007 · Chapter 0: The rider in the gloaming

Ah! Such a wonderful first meeting for them! And Faramir is the lord I, too, would follow, for indeed he has ever held the guarding of men and land more important than his own life! Yes, Bergil, a Captain well worth the giving of ones heart to! Wonderful, Nesta.