daw the minstrel
· 20 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
I have to say I'm glad the dog is being rescued. I love the way the kid's so devoted to him.
But what a scary turn of events. I'm not sure I'd be able to move at all. Go Lothiriel!
Author's reply
Hello Daw,
children are that way with dogs, aren't they. I remember nearly being run over by a car, trying to rescue mine when I was about 11 (we both survived without a scratch).
Faced with orcs I would probably hide away somewhere, but Lothiriel knows of course that if she does that, the women and children in the caves will pay. Or Eomer and his riders coming down those stairs. Not easy!
Lia
Larner
· 20 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
I was expecting Wulf was an animal! Glad I was right! Now, to see what her diversion brings them.
Author's reply
Hello Larner,
my readers seem to know me pretty well by now, quite a few guessed as to Wulf's nature. Lothiriel's diversion will bring them a little time, but will it be enough?
Lia
galimeril
· 19 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
AHH! So terrible! U ended on a cliffie again! I wanna know what happens! *throws tantrum* two thumbs way, way up! u a goddess!
Author's reply
Hello Galimeril,
sorry about the cliffhanger! I don't know why I have so many of them, it's become a bit of a habit. But I really promise to try and update quickly.
Thanks for the compliments!
Lia
shadowfax
· 19 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
I hope you don't kill the dog! Can't bear innocence to be murdered....
Its weird since in this other story on Eomer/Lothiriel, Lothiriel is a huge animal lover and all!
Good story throughout!
Author's reply
Hello Shadowfax,
I like animals, so don't worry about the dog. Worry about Lothiriel... ;-) I don't know why, but somehow animals have crept into each of my stories so far.
Thanks for reviewing.
Lia
whitewave
· 19 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Hi Lia.
I find myself looking forward to your updates every two weeks. I appreciate it very much that it's consistent, otherwise I'd suffer from Eomer-Lothy "withdrawal"...
Thanks for another entertaining installment. I had my suspicions on Wulf and I'm sure you will turn this latest event into something that may help out our favorite couple somehow. Also, knowing that you are closely following canon actually makes reading this more exciting. :-)
Author's reply
Hello Whitewave,
I try to update regularly, especially with evil cliffhangers like this. Also if chapters are a long time coming, you tend to forget what happened before - I forget myself at times!
As for this event helping our couple, it will be a step in the right direction, but it will still take a while for the two to resolve matters.
And it's good to hear you're liking the fact that I'm following canon. It's fun for me to try and weave her story around the facts from the books.
Lia
Linda Hoyland
· 19 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
What an exciting chapter!This story goes from strength to strength! Lothiriel is a remarkably brave woman.I guessed about the dog.
Author's reply
Hello Linda,
it looks like I'm getting predictable, quite a few readers guessed about the dog! But somehow with this Lothiriel, she always jumps into a situation with the best of intentions (and quite a bit of courage), yet it doesn't always work out the way she had intended.
More soon!
Lia
Fantasia
· 18 September 2008
· Chapter 17: Chapter 17
Dear Lothiriel, sometimes your plans are very dangerous!
How can you stop the chapter right there! Please, send Eomer to the rescue...
Great chapter, love every detail, from the dog to Amrothos wish to be a corsair.
Author's reply
Hello Fantasia,
well, Lothiriel has a plan. But like you pointed out, her plans do not always work out the way she thinks! But I promise to update as quickly as possible, and who knows, Eomer might even put in an appearance ;-)
Lia
Linda Hoyland
· 16 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
An excellent chapter,though not a good idea to read it while eating as your portrayal of the aftermath the battle was so vivid!
A nice touch that Lothiriel bandaged Gimli's head,as we do Aragorn wants to treat it himself the next day!
I felt "taking a breather" sounded a bit modern for a story set in Tolkien's world,"took a breath of fresh air" might be better.
The ligher hearted moments near the end made a nice contrast. Poor Lothiriel to be so estranged from Eomer.
Author's reply
Hello Linda,
sorry to spoil your enjoyment of your food! At first I wasn't quite sure how realistically to depict the battle, for after all this is a romance, but I did want to hint at some of the horrors of war (although I'm sure in reality, it's much worse).
And it's funny how sometimes you either have to laugh or cry. Yes, poor Lothiriel is having a rough time, I'm afraid.
Also thanks for your correction. While I do not go for an archaic style, I do try to avoid modernisms.
Lia
P.S. And I hope Aragorn will be satisfied with Lothiriel's work ;-)
Elentarri
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Lovely chapter. Please update soon... very soon :-)
Author's reply
Hello Elentari,
thank you! I'm already busy writing the next chapter, so I'm hoping to be able to publish sometime next week.
Lia
galimeril
· 11 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
u are amazing! I just can't get enough of your work!
Author's reply
Hello Galimeril,
thank you very much! Writing takes up a lot of my spare time these days and it's really nice to hear that my efforts are appreciated.
Lia
Larner
· 10 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Why do I have the idea that Wulf will turn out not to be a boy after all? And will they find themselves in a general cave-in? Why am I so suspicious? Heh!
She has--interesting--daydreams.
Author's reply
Hello Larner,
you're probably suspicious because you know me by now ;-) Not a cave-in, no, but she will emerge slightly battered at the other end of the battle. Nothing too bad though, I promise.
Lia
P.S: and I wonder what Eomer dreams about?
Fantasia
· 10 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
I really like the way that you show Eomer concern for her, even when he doesn't want to acknowledge her. He can't help it.
Certainly, that healer form the Deep is very arrogant.
I was thinking when she found Grima's guard, that he will be the solution of Eomer and Lothy misunderstanding, but nothing is that easy...I wonder if they will reconcile before Eomer parts to Gondor...probably not.
What Aragorn will say when he finds a Gondor’s princess in Rohan? he should be careful how to treat her, the daughter of the second most important man in Gondor, the Kingdom that he wants to claim.
I always wait for your updates and enjoy reading your story, even if I don't review often. Thanks and keep posting.
Author's reply
Hello Fantasia,
yes, Eomer can't help caring for Lothiriel. Even though he's probably annoyed with himself for doing so!
And Wulfstan's death has of course not made things any easier, for now she has no witnesses left to what happened in Edoras. So yes, it will take a while for them to reconcile.
As for Aragorn, Lothiriel will only meet him very briefly. I'm fitting this story around the canon and his time is pretty much accounted for. But she'll get a glimpse of him.
Thanks for reviewing! I always appreciate hearing from my readers.
Lia
whitewave
· 10 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Thanks for the update! I'm glad to read about Gimli and who nursed his wound, I've wondered who you'd assign that task to... I also enjoyed the tense scenes with Eomer and Lothy and it is still obvious that he cares very much for her.
What I'm curious now is who will prove Lothy's innocence to Eomer and what will happen to Lothy on her rescue mission.
Author's reply
Hello Whitewave,
I had actually planned the Gimli scene from the very beginning. At first I wasn't quite sure where to include it, but I just love that kind of detail to tie my story into the books. It's such fun!
And Eomer might still care for her, but with Wulfstan's death she has nobody at all who can prove what happened that night. So it won't be easy!
Lia
daw the minstrel
· 9 September 2008
· Chapter 16: Chapter 16
Something tells me it's not a little boy in there, but still it's someone precious to the little boy who led her to the crevice.
How maddening that she's done so much and isn't appreciated. The scenes with the orcs right outside the doors were really scary, and Lothiriel is right. She does pick the worst times!
Author's reply
Hello Daw,
you know me too well by now ;-) Or I'm getting predictable! And I think her work is appreciated by her patients, if not by Master Herewald. But she's having a bit of a rough time at the moment and it might not get better in the foreseeable future...
Lia
Radbooks
· 1 September 2008
· Chapter 15: Chapter 15
I was sort of waiting for this story to finish before reading it, but someone on my LJ friendlist mentioned how good it was so I decided I just had to read it now. She was right! It's an excellent story and I really enjoyed reading it yesterday afternoon... I couldn't put it down. :) I think Lothiriel is well written, she's strong and yet vulnerable at the same time - basically, she's a real person. I feel so bad for Eomer and Eowyn who have had so much happen to them and now they have this other person betray them too. I know you have a plan for this, but it still hurts! I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
Author's reply
Hello Radbooks,
oh dear, you're making me feel guilty. I know it's hard for Eomer and Eowyn to have to deal with this 'betrayal' on top of all their other problems: their uncle's illness, Wormtongue's machinations and now Theodred's death as well. And Lothiriel is suffering as well of course. But while I can't help all the other things happening to them, at least this will have a happy end. So hang on in there! I'm hoping to make it up to them.
And I'm delighted that you liked the story and my characterization of Lothiriel. I always try to balance her out with strengths and weaknesses, just as Eomer has them too.
Thanks for reviewing and I hope you'll enjoy the rest of the ride!
Lia
Isha
· 30 August 2008
· Chapter 15: Chapter 15
I didn't know you wrote on this site, too, I've read most of your stories on FF.net and enjoyed them very much. =)
I'm quite enjoying this particular story of yours, and I look forward to your next chapter.
Thanks for sharing this with us! =)
Author's reply
Hello Isha,
yes, I've been on this site for quite a while now and found it a very friendly place. Thank you for your kind words! I've made a start on the next chapter, but real life is keeping me rather busy, so it will be a little while longer.
Lia
Linda Hoyland
· 28 August 2008
· Chapter 15: Chapter 15
You capture the outer and inner turmoil in Lothiriel's life brilliantly.I love seeing famous events from a new perspective.
Author's reply
Hello Linda,
I have found it really interesting to try and imagine what would have happened behind the scenes during the battle. Tolkien tells us of the heroic deeds of the men, but I think the women must have been equally brave.
Lia
Larner
· 28 August 2008
· Chapter 15: Chapter 15
Ooh, now she's found herself a pickle, hasn't she? Heh! It's up to him to believe her, after all.
Love the description of the caves--I think it's your most vivid one, and it's truly wonderful and has my mind's eye seeing it all.
Author's reply
Hello Larner,
yes, she's certainly in a right pickle! And the more I write about the time of the Ring War, the more I think how horrible it must have been for the women and children. Not just during the battle, but also afterwards when they had to wait for news from Gondor. Tolkien didn't tell us much about that side of the war, so that's what I'm trying to do in my story.
Lia
whitewave
· 27 August 2008
· Chapter 15: Chapter 15
It was heartbreaking to read the "reunion" of Eomer and Lothy. I feel so much for the situation she's now in with him, with nobody to voucher for her to Eomer and having to deal with (almost) front-line battle at Helm's Deep. I'm wondering how Lothy's innocence will be proved and what will they say to each other when they do speak again.
Author's reply
Hello Whitewave,
it's true that Lothiriel is in a very difficult situation. Although the look Eomer cast at her does of course show that he's not completely indifferent to her, even though Lothiriel might not realize that. But like you said, she has no way to prove the truth of what happened that night in Edoras. So as you can see, it might take a while to resolve the situation!
Lia
daw the minstrel
· 27 August 2008
· Chapter 15: Chapter 15
I loved this behind-the-scenes look at Helm's Deep. And you can really see why Lothiriel might have thought herself plunged into legend or perhaps someone's idea of a joke when she's told an elf, a dwarf, and the Heir of Isildur had come. But wow, what a problem she now has with Eomer. He is indeed likely to think she wants him for his rank. The fool.
Author's reply
Hello Daw,
I see Lothiriel as quite a practical, down-to-earth person, so it must have been a shock to suddenly find herself in something resembling an old tale. As Eomer says upon meeting Aragorn: These are indeed strange days. Dreams and legends spring to life out of the grass.
And yes, Lothiriel will have a bit of a problem to convince Eomer that she loves him and doesn't just want to become Queen of Rohan. But life would be boring with only a battle to keep you busy ;-)
Lia
Linda Hoyland
· 21 August 2008
· Chapter 14: Chapter 14
A great chapter.At least Lothiriel had not refused Theodred before he went to his death.At least we know the darkest hour is before the dawn which Lothiriel does not.I enjoyed the garbed description of the 3 travellers.It was fun to see them from another viewpoint.I just love this story.
Author's reply
Hello Linda,
yes, Lothiriel must be feeling pretty low at the moment. And of course they do not know that Gandalf healed the king and help is on the way. And Lothiriel might yet find out that there are more beings in Middle Earth than what Gondor's scholars believe!
Thanks for reviewing.
Lia
obsidianj
· 19 August 2008
· Chapter 14: Chapter 14
I love this look behind the scenes of the Hornburg through the eyes of Lothiriel in these most dangerous times. The constant waiting for news must grate on the nerves of everyone. You show the effect of then having news to the people beautifully. Lothiriel is really in a most precarious situation. Luckily some people could talk sense to her to stay where she is. She should have gone with her escort. Now she can only wait out the storm.
Author's reply
Hello Obsidianj,
I agree the waiting must have been horrible. And of course once King Théoden leaves for Gondor it will only get worse, because then they would probably have to wait for at least a week for a courier to get back to them. At times I'm not sure what is worse, the men having to fight or the women having to wait.
And like you say the sensible thing for Lothiriel would of course have been to go with her escort, but then that would have deprived me of all the fun of having her at Helm's Deep! Fortunately she's not all that sensible at times ...
Lia
Larner
· 17 August 2008
· Chapter 14: Chapter 14
So, she becomes part of the siege of Helm's Deep, does she? And she did her best to try to protect him, only for him to finally fall afoul of Wormtongue's machinations anyway. No wonder she's feeling distressed. Now, to see her reaction to Elf, Dwarf, and Aragorn! Heh!
Author's reply
Hello again,
yes, she'll get to experience one of the great battles at first hand. And while she'll get to meet the Three Hunters, she is a bit distracted at the time!
As for Eomer, what she cannot know is how vital those few weeks she's bought him turn out to be in the end. But at the moment it looks bleak indeed.
Lia
Larner
· 17 August 2008
· Chapter 13: Chapter 13
Friend Wormtongue does keep the pot stirred, seeking to further alienate Eomer and the King, not to mention Theodred--plus the continued wrong-footing of Lothiriel herself. She has good reason to distrust the man.
Author's reply
Hello Larner,
Grima has been busy, hasn't he! Like a chess master moving his pieces about the board. Fortunately a certain wizard will arrive in Edoras soon.
Lia
curiouswombat
· 17 August 2008
· Chapter 13: Chapter 13
Just a note to let you know how much I am enjoying this story.
Author's reply
Hello Curiouswombat,
thank you! I'm also enjoying writing it.
Lia