UTfrog
· 6 November 2010
· Chapter 10: X. Wings of Summer (Faramir, Aragorn)
A truly lovely little tale. I am so glad they had the good sense to take a break themselves.
The early days of Aragorn's reign had to be such a time of change, hard work, etc.
Thank you
Author's reply
I would think that Aragorn and Faramir would be tremendously busy during the first year of the King's reign - a thousand years of Stewards' rule couldn't be forgotten or completely set aside in terms of custom and law, and a new, Sauron-free Age was dawning. And I think that while King and Steward would have engaged competent clerical/legal help to gather the precedents of the past, they would have wanted to examine and peruse as much as they personally could. Our heroes would have to occasionally take some breaks....
Thanks for reading and reviewing, Utfrog!
Linda Hoyland
· 6 November 2010
· Chapter 10: X. Wings of Summer (Faramir, Aragorn)
I just love this glimpse of Aragorn and Faramir as their friendship begins. I love the gentle humour and the way you show how much these two have in common.
Thank you for this lovely birthday gift!
Author's reply
You're welcome; Linda; I'm so glad you enjoyed the piece. Yes, both the fellows were Numenoreans with much Ranger experience and had had more than their share of danger and near-death, followed by peace with a whole new burden of duties! Thanx for the review!
Linda Hoyland
· 6 November 2010
· Chapter 9: IX. Heart of the Storm (Faramir)
A lovely glimpse of Faramir's life ten years after the war. I can well believe he would still have the occasional nightmare.I like Eowyn's supportive understanding and Faramir's concern for his children and that he does not forget his old comrades. A beautifully written ficlet.
Author's reply
I imagine many veterans of the Ring War, the King included, occasionally had bad dreams or other kinds of psychological scarring from that time, what with Orcs and Nazgul making the battles possibly even more ghastly than modern warfare. I think that Faramir could have contained/controlled with such episodes, hence this story. Glad you like the piece; and thanx for reviewing, Linda!
Virtuella
· 1 November 2010
· Chapter 9: IX. Heart of the Storm (Faramir)
I like this sensitive take on the long-term effects Faramir's experience in the war had on him, especially Eowyn's immediate understanding and the way he felt soothed by the sight of his children.
Author's reply
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Virtuella. I do think that one of the strengths of Eowyn and Faramir's relationship is that they understand each other's war scars, emotional and physical.
Antane
· 31 October 2010
· Chapter 9: IX. Heart of the Storm (Faramir)
Very nice! I love Faramir. :) Happy All Hallows Eve to you and may the faithful dead rest in peace.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Author's reply
I love Faramir too! Thanks for reviewing, Antane; hope you had a good weekend as well.
Erulisse (one L)
· 31 October 2010
· Chapter 9: IX. Heart of the Storm (Faramir)
What a beautiful synopsis of "one dark and stormy night" and its' aftereffects. Nightmares happen to everyone, but some people have more right to them than others. Having the children sleep soundly is his best gift. Good Samhain and Happy Birthday.
- Erulisse (one L)
Author's reply
Thank you for reviewing, Erulisse! I think many soldiers of the Ring War must have experienced nightmares about it; the presence of orcs and Nazgul made it an especially terrifying combat. Not to mention the survivors of the Black Breath; such as Eowyn and Faramir. I think Faramir would derive great comfort from his children's health and well-being...
shirebound
· 31 October 2010
· Chapter 9: IX. Heart of the Storm (Faramir)
our children live unafraid
Surely the sweetest outcome of any war. I enjoyed this very much.
Author's reply
That's what many soldiers fight for; or at least hope for. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Shirebound.
Ellynn
· 31 October 2010
· Chapter 9: IX. Heart of the Storm (Faramir)
Wonderful ficlet. I especially like the last three paragraphs - they are so touching and beautiful.
Author's reply
Thanx for reading; Ellyn - the last three paragraphs were something of a surprise to me; I'd originally intended a different ending; but these just flowed out of what came before when I was actually writing the piece. Glad you liked the final result!
Mysterious Jedi
· 15 June 2010
· Chapter 7: VII. Fosterage (Elrond)
I liked this story...so I submitted a MEFAs nomination.
Author's reply
I'm pleased that you enjoyed the story; Jedi; and thanks indeed for the MEFA nomination!
Linda Hoyland
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 7: VII. Fosterage (Elrond)
Poor Elrond to have to witness so many deaths.Immortality must be a very mixed blessing.
Author's reply
Well, Valandil's death was one in a long line of mortal endings that Elrond witnessed, from his brother's death to the deaths of the men who fought beside his forces in the Last Alliance; but with Valandil and the later fosterlings, it had to have been a more personal loss.
Thanks for reading and reviewing, LInda!
Linda Hoyland
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 8: VIII. The Eye of the Beholder (Tuor)
An interesting glimpse of a character I hadly know which brought him more alive to me.
Estel
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 4: IV. In the King's Shadow (Ecthelion)
Hi,
Great story! I believe as well that Ecthelion would have suspected the truth, though, you know, when reading you little story, I couldn't help but wonder how it would have been if Thorongil had indeed claimed the throne at that time...There isn't any chance that you might write something like that, is there?
Author's reply
Oh gosh, there are so many what-ifs in my head; and no time to write them all, much less even one. But it's certainly an intriguing idea.
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Estel!
Virtuella
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 8: VIII. The Eye of the Beholder (Tuor)
"I hadn’t seen too many women before then. Seeing her, I didn’t care if I ever saw another one."
That's a great juxtaposition. Well done, lovely ficlet.
Virtuella
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 7: VII. Fosterage (Elrond)
Well done. Good structure, good pacing. I like it. :)
Author's reply
I'm glad you enjoyed this drabblet-series; Virtuella; and thanx for reviewing. I don't often do half-drabbles, but that's how the story came out of me this time.
Larner
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 8: VIII. The Eye of the Beholder (Tuor)
Ah, May sparked many lovely stories, and this is definitely one of them. Love this look through Tuor's eyes, and his explanation of his choices and experiences to his son.
Author's reply
I'm pleased that you liked this one, Larner; I'd never written Tuor before; and found his viewpoint more fun than I'd anticipated.
Larner
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 7: VII. Fosterage (Elrond)
Valandil as the first of Isildur's Heirs; a distancing of sorts I sense here, as I've said elsewhere, but so worthy. A beautiful tale told well if shortly, and fully worthy of its intended recipient.
Author's reply
Thanx for reading and reviewing (again); Larner; I've always been drawn to Elrond, and the notion of his fostering first Isildur's fatherless son was as interesting to me as his better-known fosterage of Aragorn.
Larner
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 6: VI. Pilgrimage (Faramir)
A most interesting vision of Faramir's experience during the time he lay at the point of death. I remember the description of one feeling as if he were falling into dark waters--Merry, I think. So it is that this proves an apt metaphor, although I see that since green things grow there this water isn't perhaps as dark and overwhelming--more a hiding place than a fate.
And the image of Faramir rising up like a phoenix--that is beautiful.
Author's reply
Thanx, Larner; Faramir is very phoenix-like in LOTR; and I wanted to incorporate the water-and-fire imagery in his recovery.
Actually, this experience was supposed to occur after Faramir's psychic captivity in the dark lands and saving/healing by Aragorn, between the time Faramir hailed Aragorn as king and went back to sleep and the scene we didn't see; when he would have awakened later in the Houses of Healing - in other words, a dream that was influenced by his earlier experiences. I'm hoping I made it clear enough, but maybe I didn't...
Larner
· 13 June 2010
· Chapter 5: V. Small Victories (Éowyn)
Absolutely lyrical. And so it ever is with children!
Virtuella
· 17 May 2010
· Chapter 6: VI. Pilgrimage (Faramir)
For all that you say it was hastily written, you have succeeded in creating a beautiful ficlet here! The imagery is very gripping.
Author's reply
Thanx much, Virtuella. I love working with fire-and-flight imagery. And I wanted to explore the dreams and thought processes of Faramir between his canonical awakening/recognition of the King and the scene we didn't see, where he would have awakened again after the miraculous healing - what would he have remembered and how?
I remember some vivid imagery in my own head after an operation, too; and the odd sequencing of my dream-thoughts and my actual awakenings in Post-Op, complete with a young doctor telling me that everything was alright.
Virtuella
· 17 May 2010
· Chapter 5: V. Small Victories (Éowyn)
Sleeping children are always a joy to behold (especially if they're one's own...) and you have captured them beautifully here. I can completely identify with Eowyn's motherly feelings, the wish to hold on and the willingness to let go.
Author's reply
It's great to see this review, Virtuella. I'm not a mother and am always a bit nervous writing about maternal/paternal bonds; since I have to work on observation and good guesses. Thanx for reading and commenting!
Nesta
· 17 May 2010
· Chapter 1: I. The Tower (Sauron)
Fascinating! 'Maison' makes a good Lucifer figure.
Nothing is evil in the beginning, but isn't there a step which takes you beyod redemption, and didn't Sauron take it? After that you just have to keep gnawing yourself in the darkness, presumably for ever.
Great reading, anyway.
Author's reply
I'm not sure that Sauron was totally beyond redemption - I think Iluvatar might not have wanted to waste all that was in Sauron, not without giving him a chance. But first Sauron had to be taken down - drastically. Any actual redemption would have taken probably tens of thousands of our years; his sins were great. I deliberately left the ending in the eye of the beholder, because it was rather too big a choice for me to make, and I couldn't quite second-guess the supreme being of Tolkien's universe.
Thanks for reading and reviewing, Nesta.
No hope but no despair
· 17 May 2010
· Chapter 3: III. Ranger's Dawn (Faramir)
I was always intrigued by this space that JRRT seems to find between not having hope and not despairing. It may depend on how you define hope, i.e. hope of ultimate victory in the War (which is the context in which F. answers Frodo's question about what hope he has), or hope that something will survive. We know how JRRT defines despair - seeing the end beyond all doubt. Denethor despaired because he thought he saw the end beyond all doubt. Sam kept hope because he saw the stars, which Sauron can never reach.
Even if you do see the end beyond all doubt, you obviously aren't supposed to commit suicide, or just sit on your hands. It's worth going on fighting even if you are certain to be annihilated.
Behind this I think there must be (a) an echo of the darkest hours of World War II and (b)a profoundly religious impulse. Anyway, whatever it is you've caught it very vividly here.
Author's reply
Faramir's ability to perservere even in the darkest hour is one of his most profoundly attractive qualities, at least to me. I found his admission that he's been fighting a war that he knows to be without hope very moving. Faramir is one of those who will keep on fighting even in the face of annhiliation; a quality shared by many of Tolkien's greatest heroes. I think Tolkien's own memories of WWI, as well as the great rising horror of WWII, could well have influenced his writing of Faramir.
Plus, I think Faramir's imagination helped him see and remember beauty even in dark hours.
Thanx for the review!
Nesta
· 17 May 2010
· Chapter 4: IV. In the King's Shadow (Ecthelion)
Aw, that's so sad!
But Boromir wouldn't have been a bit happy if he had lived to see the day, would he?
Author's reply
We'll never know if, had Boromir lived, he would have gained enough wisdom to recognize Aragorn as king and be at peace with the regime change. Certainly many fanfic writers believe so. I think that there's a chance that Boromir might have accepted Aragorn's rule; but I don't think he'd have been happy as a Steward serving under Aragorn in peacetime; Boromir is a soldier and I don't see him having the patience to be a statesman/administrator as well as a military captain.
But at the time of this story, Boromir is a small child, his character still unformed; and I think Ecthelion might have hoped that the return of the true King would make Boromir's life better, at least alleviate the pressure of being the leader of a fading people who are the greatest bulwark against the rising power of Sauron.
Thanks for the review, Nesta!
Nesta
· 17 May 2010
· Chapter 5: V. Small Victories (Éowyn)
Eowyn's grown up a bit, hasn't she! She was pretty self-obsessed when we first met her. Obviously living with Faramir is good for the brain. As well as the rest of one.
Author's reply
I definitely agree that Eowyn was more self-centered than Faramir. And living with Faramir would do anyone good! I think she is capable of deep love, but not very good at verbally expressing it; though in this more peaceful Age, I think she has mellowed a bit.
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Nesta!
curiouswombat
· 15 May 2010
· Chapter 6: VI. Pilgrimage (Faramir)
I was not surprised to see, at the bottom, that it was inspired by the challenge 'Flight of the Phoenix' as it brought it to mind as I read - a lovely piece.
Author's reply
I just could not resist putting through Faramir through these half-dreamt, half-remembered changes and then the waking into a rather new and different world. Of course Faramir is a candidate for near-literal phoenixhood as well as the metaphoric incarnation.
Thanx for the review, Wombat - glad you liked it!