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| Ten Thousand Years Will Not Suffice by Agape4Gondor | 4 Review(s) |
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| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 7/9/2010 |
| A wonderful chapter, in spite of Ecthelion's continued belittlements! Gads, the man is contrary! Author Reply: Couple of things... Ecthelion really is between a rock and a hard place. Gondor has been battling evil since before he became Steward. Honestly, I wonder how on earth he was able to sustain an army - the cost is mind-boggling... He could ill afford the least transaction. To think, in his mind's eye, that Denethor gave up more than he should have had to have strained the Steward. He was not sure of Denethor's skills... his own fault! Also, Adrahil definitely did NOT want his daughter marrying Denethor. Though the dowry was probably very good, Ecthelion felt he would receive continuous financial support from Amandil's father.... Contrary - yes. But in deep trouble. Bless you! | |
| SurgicalSteel | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/16/2006 |
| Interesting here to see the paternal disapproval still so strong - sadly, Ecthelion's suspicious of the wrong folks. Rather than being suspicious of Dol Amroth, he should be suspicious of the Easterlings he's recruited. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/30/2006 |
I found it a bit hard to believe that Ecthelion would not allow anyone lacking Numenorean blood to be made Captain, to follow a tradition, except for Thorongil (who Ecthelion might have guessed could out-Numenor everyone in Gondor!). I don't think that Tolkien ever mentioned such a tradition; and it goes against the grain at least of Faramir's belief that Gondor's strength came in part from the wise assimilation of non-Numenorean people such as hill-dwellers and fisher-folk. Appendix A in ROTK makes it clear that Ecthelion not only encouraged "all men of worth from near or far" to take service in Gondor, but he gave "rank and reward" to those who were "trustworthy". I loved your use of songs here; also the meeting of Denethor with Eowyn. And now we see the seed of discord planted unwittingly by Ecthelion between Denethor and Thorongil in the form of a family heirloom that Denethor had intended to give to Finduilas. I would suspect that the rift will grow steadily between the two 'Thor's now. Author Reply: Hi, Raksha, I had a hard time with this bringing in non-Westernesse folk. I agree that Faramir seems to accept them, but I really like the fact that Denethor is nervous about such people cluttering up the ranks! As for rank and reward - I thought it would be plausible if a non-Numenor could only reach a certain rank. I have nothing to base it on, but it works for the 'tension' between Denethor and Thorongil. As for the songs - thank you for the kind note. I am not used to writing poetry (a form of song) and therefore was quite nervous about doing it. I'm glad it worked for you! Agape | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 3/30/2006 |
| There's a nice sense of transition in this chapter. You can really see how things are changing for Denethor. Windows open even as doors close. Thorongil is perhaps ingratiating himself a little too much -- one can see why he'll up and vanish in a few more years. Meanwhile, Denethor's friendship with the Rohirrim is growing stronger, as does the alliance with Rohan. He really does seem to have the art of diplomacy under control. Ecthelion is as batshit as ever. He's starting to get a little monotonous, though. Perhaps it's the old age speaking. Author Reply: I'm sorry abut Ecthelion - but the seeds of Denethor's treatment of Faramir must have been sown somewhere! I truly like Thorongil and wish things had been different. Drat. Thanks for the response! Agape | |