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Masquerade by Elendiari22	9 Review(s)
Klose	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/9/2007
This was such a brilliant chapter that I absolutely had to stop reading and leave a review. I don't read much as far as horror or Gothic novels go, but man, I was holding my breath in anticipation as Lothiriel told her story - very evocative writing, and very scary. And I mean that in a good way! All in all, I'm really enjoying this story. The plot is unusual, but there really is so much potential for a horror story like this post-Ring War in Minas Tirith, where there are so many shadows of the past still lingering in stone walls. And you've done an excellent job in spinning a gripping tale with interweaving threads (that's still easy to follow!), trying up historical facts with refreshing creativity. This is very much a story I've always wished I could write (and read, in fanfiction), so I'm going to savour the remaining chapters! Even though the language gets slightly colloquial and jarring on occasion, the characterisations of our main players are still spot-on. (I also want to say, I adore the way you slowly brought Lothiriel into the story!) I'm probably repeating myself here, but, well, this is such a great story, and I'm pretty damn glad I found it (searching for Faramir fics on this archive, and the title/summary caught my eye :)). Good stuff!! :D!

Aewyn	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/15/2005
Ah! The story of Bluebeard, isn't it? I'm so happy to see that you've turned that one chapter you had in the beginning into something so complex and enjoyable as this! Wonderful! Author Reply: Yes! You're the first one to get it. I'm glad you like this. I'm having lots of fun with it. ^_^

Hai Took	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/14/2005
Yikes! You've gone and done it again and I even heeded your warning and waited for day time to read this chapter! You have me all a-quiver and jumpy! Lothiriel's story was very intriguing and now has be wondering more about Belecthor and how he may have really felt/thought about his daughter. I'm guessing both stories are mixed somehow. I look forward to finding out how and hope it's soon! Poor Bergil, I'm sure he has gotten into more than he meant to by associating with the hobbits and Eowyn! I hope he doesn't have nightmares, although I'm sure I would! Looking forward to more and please, please, please let it be soon! Author Reply: This story has officially run away with me! I had never meant it to be so scary, lol. Yes, both stories are woven together. Belecthor is interesting, as I had never really planned for him to be anything but evil. I'm working out the intracacies of all this, so it may take time to explain. Bergil probably will have some bad dreams, but he was an errand boy during the seige of Minas Tirith, so I think he's used to horrors. He'll be sticking around, playing page to Eowyn. He probably thinks he must take care of her. :) I'm currently planning the next chapter, so look for it in about two weeks (I hope!). School and life are keeping me busy right now, but I'm constantly thinking about this fic!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/13/2005
I've been wanting to misquote Oscar Wilde on this: 'To lose one wife, my lord Seregon, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose five looks like foul play.' But perhaps Belecthor had never seen The Importance of Being Earnest! (And did none of the five have loving families to chase up exactly what had happened to their daughters / sisters? Author Reply: Yay for Oscar Wilde! I love the paraphrase; it really works for the scenario, doesn't it. ^_^ I haven't actually thought of the families. Maybe they took Seregon's tales for the truth, or perhaps they were too frightened of him to act on their suspicions. He was pretty horrible.

Mysterious Jedi	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/12/2005
Wow, this just keeps getting darker :) Author Reply: It does, so much so that even I am surprised by it!

Shieldmaiden of Rohan	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/12/2005
What a tragic story! It sounds so familiar, though I can't place it... but I do know that the title was from the last line of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. Actually, her story reminds me of this English assignment I had a long time ago to write a Gothic story. So if that's what you were going for, it definitely worked. I love the idea of Lothiriel having wanted to be a wandering bard! And it's really cute how Merry and Pippin look after Bergil. I think I'm going to have to reread the beginning now though- I thought I remembered that Belecthor was the one who locked Alatariel in the tower, but after what happened to Amroth and Illyria, I'm beginning to wonder. Author Reply: The story of Seregon murdering his wives was a variation of the Bluebeard story, which can be found in any search engine. I really must blame my elder brother for the Gothic trend; he's a professor of that genre, and he periodically sends me scary books. :) Belecthor's role is changing, but both Alatarial's note and Lothiriel's story have a lot of truth to them. Not all of the truth, but a lot. Bergil will continue to pop up, as he's rather firmly entrenched in the whole affair by now.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/12/2005
I can definitely see how a tale like that would horrify the listeners, and especially the hobbits, who come from a land, where we are told "one hobbit has never deliberately killed another". And Arwen, who must vividly recall the horrible consequences attendant on kin-slaying. shudder I find this very interesting. Belecthor is not coming out as quite the horrible father we thought him, but I am wondering more than ever at Alatariel's fate. Something's very fishy... Author Reply: The hobbits, Arwen, and Bergil were probably the ones most affected by Lothiriel's story. I'm assuming that Rohirric lore was just as bloody as the Anglo-Saxon stuff Tolkien based them on, so Eowyn would be a little more desensitized. Belecthor is weird. He was bad until this chapter, and now I'm beginning to wonder at this, too. Fishy, indeed.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/12/2005
Interesting variation on the theme - and it doesn't match with Alatariel's version. I'm longing to know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I think death would be preferable to marrying the creepy Seregon. In fact, death and marrying Seregon are actually synonyms. (This 'I promised my cousin one of my children would marry one of his' business - yes, arranged marriages would have been common, but no caring father would consent to a marriage with a suspicious scumbag like Seregon. So, either Belecthor was not a caring parent - fits with some of the other evidence, or this Dol Amroth perspective is not the whole tale. And where does the ghost in the courtyard fit in? That's neither Alatariel nor Illyria. I WANT TO KNOW MORE!!! SOON!!!!! BERGIL AND I WILL NEVER LAST UNLESS YOU HURRY WITH THE NEXT INSTALMENT!!!!!!!! Author Reply: The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth will come out slowly but surely. I'm assuming that whatever oath Belecthor took was pretty powerful, as he doesn't appear to have wanted Alatarial to marry Seregon, either. We'll find out later, methinks. The ghost in the courtyard will tie in eventually. Remember, there are three generations of women who were affected by this, and the one has yet to be fully revealed. :) I think you need hobbits to give you warm milk to calm you down. That's what Merry and Pippin plan to do for poor dear Bergil. I'm writing the next chapter as fast as I can, but it's gone a little hazy on me right now. Hopefully, it'll sort itself out soon.

Hriviel	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/12/2005
Hmm...I can't think of where the story comes from, but the title is Romeo & Juliet. "For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo." Anyway, still a great read; as I love dark, gothic stories. Bravi bravi bravassimi! Author Reply: Yep, you got the quote right. :) The tale of Seregon's murdering his wives is anadaptation of Bluebeard. I'm glad you like it! Thanks!

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