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| Under My Wing by Edoraslass | 4 Review(s) |
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| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/1/2006 |
| Another gem. Poor Finduilas - I think she would have liked to spend a lot more time with her son, but the calls of duty got in the way. Denethor, too, perhaps - although I like the suggestion that he was admiring his wife more than his son. Imrahil is gorgeous! He would attract all eyes - I'm not surprised he's Nanny's pin-up. But he combines it with being kind and considerate and able to fix things in a crisis - which make him practically perfect! It's probably just as well that Nanny's mother dragged her to the opening of a paper bag - she is decidedly unimpressed by enduring the proximity of the great and glorious, not to mention refreshingly clear-sighted about their motives. (Must have been very useful in Boromir's growing years - she won't have let him wallow in flattery.) Mind you, I think she rather enjoyed a touch of pampering - and the wearing of a fine gown. But she's practical enough to enjoy it as a sometimes thing. I don't think she'd want to swap places with Finduilas. She knows what's important - and that's her little duckling. Author Reply: Thank you! It would be very odd to have children, and then give the raising of them to someone else. I never quite understand how anyone did that. Heee....yes, Imrahil's very easy to fangirl. Nanny's definitely not the only one at the banquet watching him dreamily. :) Oh yes, she did enjoy the pampering a bit - but you're right. She's very aware that most banquets are largely excuses for networking, and she's not interested in that kind of thing at all. Kids are far more interesting. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/31/2006 |
| What a lovely chapter !Poor baby Boromir having to be presented at Court at such an early age. I would imagine young Imrahil was quite dashing, though it is hard to imagine by the timewe meet him in LOTR.This was so vivid,I felt that i was there. Author Reply: Heee, yes, I've constantly imagined Imrahil as dashing, with a bit of swashbuckling to go along with it. :) Thank you! | |
| Tigger | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/31/2006 |
| What a lovely family scene to end this w/. I would think the Lord and Lady had little time w/their little one and Nanny would be there if needed. Somehow, I doubt that happened that night. The formal presentation/christening of a baby born of the Royal/Noble/Ruling House, especially a male baby, would be a very important event. As annoying as the presence of so many gaping Nobles would be, they would need to actually *see* the baby w/their own eyes and do some not so obvious checking of looks between the baby and the parents. I have an interest in British Royalty and well remember the tale of one of the Charles' Queen's being accused of smuggling in a baby boy in an attempt to secure the succession. This event taking place would not only take care of the need to show off the baby, but also that he was a son of Denethor and Finduilas, therefore the succession to the Stewardship was indeed secured. I do love Nanny's reaction to the dress she was lended and then for the maids to take the unfinished dress to the Seamstresses. I'm sure this was the first and last time she was left unawares her presence at a Formal Banquet along w/Boromir, and in time Faramir, was required. Have I mentioned how much I'm enjoying this series? :oD Author Reply: That visit's very very late indeed, after the party's over and everyone's gone home, and they're just about to sleep. And at a month old, Boromir's not sleeping through the night yet, so they didn't have to wake him up or anything. :) And Nanny just doesn't like strangers (no matter who they are) messing with the baby. Heh, yes, the poor girl was probably alerted in by every person in the seventh circle the next time she was expected to be at a banquet! Thanks so much! Author Reply: Dang, I just realized I read part of your comment wrong - you meant they didn't need Nanny that night,didn't you? I thought you were worried about them disturbing Nanny & the baby that late! D'oh! Apparently it's too late for me, too! Thanks again! :) | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/31/2006 |
| A fascinating look at Boromir's first official function. What struck me is the contrast between Finduilas and Nanny. Both are at ease in their appointed roles, but both are somewhat wistful and envious of each other's roles. Finduilas gets to wear beautiful clothes that are custom-made by experts, and preside over elegant banquets, entertaining the great lords of Gondor. But she misses her baby, and she only gets to see him and hold him for brief moments here and there. Nanny envies the beautiful clothes and handsome men of Finduilas' world, but has charge of Finduilas' son most of the time, gets to hold him, bathe him, love him, and spend time with him, time that Finduilas has to steal. Lovely bit with baby Boromir enjoying his name and making duck-like sounds; hence Nanny's future nickname of "Duckling". And that ending, with Boromir's true parents squeezing some time in with the baby after the presentation at court, while Nanny has his full-time care, is a bit sad, but very honest. Denethor and Finduilas are not private people, they are the lord and lady of Gondor, and their lives are not their own; they would not have the time to be full-time parents, or in any way care for Boromir themselves. The best they can do is find the right people to care for him and teach him, which they have in Nanny's case, and sometimes steal a few hours of time with their child. Author Reply: Dang, Raksha, that was quick! :) You're absolutely right, in that those are the things that Finduilas and Nanny envy in each other. The main difference, I think, is that Nanny would never really want to be high-born, where Finduilas would gladly forgo all the formalities to take care of her own children. [ and everyone envies after Imrahil. At least everyone in my house. :) ] Yay! You're the first person to comment on the quacking! I was afraid it got lost. I do try to keep a sense of realism about the parent-children interaction. It's unlikely that Finduilas or Denethor would be able to spend much time with their kids on a daily basis. I agree, it is sad, and not what I would want. Thank you so much! :) | |