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| Truce by meckinock | 21 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/20/2008 |
| One can just see Denethor's mind taking in every little nuance of what is happening... The fact that Thorongil was always 'extraordinarily well-equipped.' I really loved Denethor's 'smarts' here - when he wondered what might have happened to Cirion. I loved the surprising levity between T & D when D reveals why he came after T. The 'much to politic' and the 'you disobeyed a direct order.' I wondered why on earth D was so short with himself. When on earth would he have had the time to find a splint! Give yourself some slack, Denethor! I liked the phrases - last shred of self-righteous indignation and the reluctantly resigned himself to a truce. Would that it had lasted longer! Denethor respected a man you knew his strengths and weaknesses... the price of loving me too high... outrageous rumors of marital indiscretions. I particularly liked D telling T that he is not free... I loved his oath and the night he took it! Loved the whole repartee between the two! REALLY upset that D did not own up to having T's ring. Tolkien specifically states that Gondorians do NOT lie... of course, he never said he took it...... Yikes!!! And poor T's reaction to the loss... Very very sad. I found the little sidebar about the puzzles very interesting... and also a welcome break from the night's horrors... all of them! Another great taut incredible chapter. Author Reply: The fact that Thorongil was always 'extraordinarily well-equipped.' LOL, I swear I didn't mean it that way. I'm glad you liked the line where Denethor says he isn't free. I think they shared a sense that their lives were not their own. I wondered why Denethor waited so long to marry, and thought maybe it was because he felt he was already married to Gondor, in a sense. I'm not suprised you were horrified by his lie. I hope the Professor forgives me for pushing Denethor to compromise his principles. I'm glad you enjoyed the humorous bits, too. It was fun to take a moment to explore the friendship that might have been. Thanks so much for reviewing and sharing your impressions with me. I'm so glad you're finding the story enjoyable. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/5/2008 |
| Good thing he looked about, then. Probing that Ring right then might have revealed too much, much too early. Author Reply: LOL. Suspense is good! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/15/2007 |
| OK. I reread. It's time. Author Reply: Tell my office to let me get home before 8:00 at night! Author Reply: There. Be sure to e-mail me with all the typos! | |
| Casso | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/8/2007 |
| What a treat, so beautifully written, 'the innate confidence and self-assurance that Thorongil, for all his overt humility, had never been able to conceal.' What more could an Aragorn fan ask for than an injured Thorongil in the care of Denethor and discussing love. As always looking forward to more. (nudge nudge) Author Reply: Thanks, Casso - for the lovely comments AND the nudge. | |
| Dwim | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/2/2007 |
| Meckinock has a deft hand at characterization, which is definitely needed when writing Denethor. Very few Denethors get my attention as having that combination of haughtiness, confidence, envy, and latent fragility, all wrapped up in a sharp intellect. Meckinock's does, and shows himself to have not simply intelligence but a genuine, ironic wit where appropriate. Denethor's general dislike of Thorongil, his recognition of an eerily kindred soul in his least favorite captain, is well portrayed, right down to the moment of weakness when dislike combines with insistent curiosity to provoke deception. Denethor is out to learn the truth of the man, who fascinates him as only a puzzle can, whether mechanical or living. At the same time, it's a disavowed fascination, but one that breaks through uneasily at times. No doubt this is why Denethor ends up on the path to discussion of love lives with Thorongil—well, that, and the fact that for the moment at least, Thorongil is at his mercy and so in a way, less threatening. I'm also quite intrigued by Denethor's characterization of Finduilas – I've seen many different presentations of her, but this one stands out. It's only a portrait, and given at one remove, but it is revealing and also tantalizing. Denethor clearly does know himself and also her, and knows in some sense that it would be a mistake, perhaps, to marry her—but as with his little white lie to Thorongil, it is a mistake he will be unable to avoid. All this, and there are only two chapters. Hurry up and post more of it, please! I am curious to know who will make it out alive, in what the conversation about love will issue, and how Denethor is going to resolve the fiction his curiosity has landed him in. Author Reply: Thanks, Dwim. I'm tickled that my Denethor appealed to you. It was a lot of fun writing a slightly darker character, and yet such a complex and intriguing one. You've described his conflicted views of and reactions to Thorongil better than I could have! It's been a really rough year for writing so far. I didn't intend to tackle a multi-chapter story again so soon at a time when my time and attention was so limited; and unfortunately that's what this decided to turn into. I'm doing my best to get back to it as quickly as I can. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/13/2007 | |
| More please!! Author Reply: Thank you for the nudge. I meant to update quicker, but this story turned into a multi-chapter monster at a very inopportune time in my personal life. Things are calming down now so I hope to finish editing Chapter 3 soon. Thanks for you patience and encouragement. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/1/2007 |
| YOu write these outdoors scenes so wonderfully that I always swear I have been in the place you are describing. I really admire that talent of yours. ANd then Denethor is so believable in this younger version... Curt yet efficient, thouhtful and fair in his own way... and practical towards the higher good, in his case duty. I think all the drivers that lead him are so clearly pictured here, that the character study comes out as so deep, in an action packed story. I loved that Denethor succumbed to curiosity and then lied. I fervently expected that from him, it was the only thing that made sense, great! And I really loved the image of the changeling! I was half expecting the cuckoo, and then you go and put that mithological detail that, in my opinion, fits perfectly well. You are wondrously talented, meckinock. I am always awed by the many layers in your chapters. It is well worth and more the time and effort! Author Reply: YOu write these outdoors scenes so wonderfully that I always swear I have been in the place you are describing. LOL. I guess that means there was some benefit to spending way too much time outside freezing my tail off, then :-) I'm glad you thought the character study balances the action - I strive for that but it's a challenge for me. Thank you so much for your incredibly generous comments, Perelleth. | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/22/2007 |
| Oh! And yet my heart died when Denethor lied... phew... Author Reply: And yet my heart died when Denethor lied And now if he decides to give it back he'll have to lie some more :-) | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/15/2007 |
| Great chapter! You had me reeled straight back in. I like how Denethor just immediately sets about trying to get down to Thorongil. There’s no waiting for others or ordering anyone else to do it – he just jumps right in. And he manages to make Cirion focus on specific tasks too and not on the figure on the riverbank. Lucky that Thorongil is so well-equipped… *fans self* I actually quite admire the way Denethor swallows his impatience and takes time to give instructions and remind Cirion that he is able for the task. He’s a good leader, though we see the seed of intolerance there already. I love the fact that Thorongil carries his own healing kit! And that he’d know what to do with it even if the one rescuing him wouldn’t. I wonder if Denethor ever thought to ask him where he learned his healing skills? […] and as anticipated ran out of rope before he ran out of rock. I love that line. I was afraid that would happen but it doesn’t seem to stop Denethor. My heart was still in my mouth, though, as he all but threw himself off the cliff. Where in the name of Moses is Cirion gone with the rope?? I know Denethor waved his arm a bit earlier than he should have but surely Cirion could see he hadn’t reached Thorongil yet. I’m assuming he wasn’t really killed by orcs… :-/ I’m cringing here at Thorongil’s injuries. Bad author. Er, I mean orcs. But I do love your descriptions of the landscape. I’m so envious of people who can bring it alive like that. I found myself smiling at their first conversation. Thorongil obviously doesn’t have all his wits about him if he’s asking Denethor what he’s doing there. What I particularly like is that there’s this sense that the two of them just don’t really like each other. I can’t really put my finger on it but feels as though they normally go out of the way to avoid each other, when not being antagonistic, and they both know they do, and are now suddenly stuck with each other. I’m getting worried about these orcs that Denethor keeps imagining will kill them all. Not exactly an optimist, is he? That was nicely done, by the way. He’s practical, but you can see hints of darkness in his thoughts. I really loved how Denethor opens up to Thorongil so that we get a glimpse of how feels. I was grinning away at his assessment of Thorongil’s “breeding” and then he said “but I fear that in time she will find the price of loving me too high” and I felt suddenly quite sorry for him. I found Denethor’s thoughts on how alike he and Thorongil are very interesting. I suppose if they had been completely dissimilar then Thorongil’s popularity wouldn’t have mattered so much to him, but to see someone so like himself become so loved by everyone, including his father, must make Denethor question his own self-worth. Good thing for Denethor that Thorongil is just some foreigner without a drop of decent blood, eh? :-) It must be hard for Denethor to love someone and know that he’s loved in return and yet know that she might not always be so happy. He’s quite perceptive, really, to know that she might waste away in Minas Tirith. But I suppose that’s her choice. It’s easy for us to blame him, knowing some of what becomes of her but if she loves him would she not be less happy to have her freedom but a broken heart? Ok, getting soppy now so I’ll stop… What’s interesting too to me is that Thorongil (I keep wanting to put his name in inverted commas) might face similar questions many years in the future. One of the best parts, I thought, was this and the conversation that followed: “And when Gondor falls, who then will stand? What is Gondor to you, but a place to earn your fame and glory? You fought under Thengel’s banner, now Ecthelion’s. Soon, some other fortune will beckon you, and Gondor will become nothing to you but a fading memory. Where will you be when the army of Mordor comes marching forth from the Black Gate to knock at the gates of Minas Tirith? Whose banner will you fight under then?” Oh, Meckinock. That was excellent. Not only do we as readers want to knock Denenthor’s head against the wall but you can see his mind working. In some ways it’s almost a childish bitterness – I love Gondor more than you do – but you can also see how frustrating it is to him that he knows nothing of this man who captured everyone’s hearts and claims to want to do what’s best for Gondor and yet might disappear again any day. Right now he’s resented if he stays and he’ll be reviled if he goes. And then that simple answer that’s not so simple at all, especially for those who don’t have it – Hope. That brought tears to my eyes. Oh good lord, he lied about having the pouch! The prospect of acquiring some knowledge about Thorongil was apparently too great a temptation. The little story about the puzzle was very telling – Denethor’s is a mind that sees links and connections and likes the pieces to fall into place. And he’ll twist and turn them until they do. I’m so afraid of what he’s going to do now. But how interesting that he blames Mithrandir. He’s obviously never had much love for the wizard… If he had not done so, he would have missed the unmistakable glint of firelight reflecting off the surface of the river, just around the downstream bend. Wha…? Meckinock! Tell us what’s around the bend! I really enjoyed this chapter. It’s full of things to think about. Sorry the review is a bit rushed and all over the place – I’m pretending to work and keep having to go away from this when people want me to help them. Very frustrating! So what did you say was around the bend? Author Reply: Hi, Dot, Sorry this reply is a little late; it seems like I've spent all my time working or shoveling snow this week. I really did want to showcase Denethor's bravery and decency in the beginning of the chapter to balance the part later where his less admirable qualities get the better of him. I love the fact that Thorongil carries his own healing kit! And that he’d know what to do with it even if the one rescuing him wouldn’t. I wonder if Denethor ever thought to ask him where he learned his healing skills? I actually cringed a bit at dragging out the dreaded "healing supplies" - I don't think Aragorn would identify himself (or be recognized) primarily as a healer, but it seemed sensible for him to carry a few things, at least. I imagine Denethor is somewhat surprised at this, but probably just thinks it's a peculiar avocation. That's an interesting difference between them, I think - Aragorn collects competencies, while Denethor doesn't permit himself to be distracted from his core mission. He probably doesn't take up anything unless he plans to absolutely master it. I’m cringing here at Thorongil’s injuries. Bad author. LOL Sorry ;-) I had to make them to stay put for a while! And to isolate Denethor enough that he would open up to somebody he ordinarily would have avoided like bad fish. I do imagine they generally avoid each other as much as possible, so it was cool that you thought that came across. Good thing for Denethor that Thorongil is just some foreigner without a drop of decent blood, eh? :-) You know, with Denethor's renowned perception and insight into others, he could probably sense even better than most people the deep nobility and kingliness radiating from Thorongil (partly because it mirrored his own), but he would have convinced himself that it wasn't real, because he loved Gondor and its people, and deemed himself appointed by destiny to lead them in this desperate time (UT). Reason insisted that Thorongil couldn't be anything but a talented nobody (and the thousand-year silence from the North presented no evidence to the contrary). But on the other hand, Denethor isn't used to questioning his own perceptions or having conflict between reason and instinct, so the mental energy pouring into trying to resolve the issue of Thorongil would have been impressive, I think. So yeah, he lied about the pouch. Because, like you said, it's the key piece of a puzzle that's been driving him crazy. Thanks, Dot! I love it when you give me things to think of back. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2007 |
| I think my favorite part is at the end of this chapter when Denethor reasons out why Thorongil is educated and moves easily among his 'betters': a pet project of Mithrandir, sent to infiltrate the steward's inner circle with an eye on influencing policy. Boy, Denethor never did like that wizard guy, did he? The seeds of Denethor's insatiable curiosity that took him to the Palantir were planted nicely in his overwhelming need to solve the puzzle of Thorongil's little lock box. His motives are understandable in both cases. However, one, we know, led to his downfall. The results of this new exploration remains to be seen. I can see Denethor as a man who was so duty bound he thought that any and all secrets were his to explore if it meant the safety of Gondor, a trait we see later in Boromir. Where Thorongil is concerned, he has the added worry of spying and the possibility of Thorongil having his father's ear over his. Ecthelion may never be willing to ignore Thorongil's base lineage, but such matters wouldn't stop Denethor's father from being influenced by Thorongil. Yep, Denethor has something to worry about, only it's not what he thinks. Denethor's confessions about his love for Findulas were actually kind of sweet. He's aware enough to know she may only think she'll be happy as his wife, but reality will be bitter. But then, Tolkien said Denethor had keen insight and in this case, though we don't know the reason for Findulas's death, Denethor was right. Something went wrong, even if it was disease or childbirth that took her. I can't recall if Tolkien said she was despondent or something else that alluded to her being unhappy, but I don't think he told us the cause of death either. At any rate, your take fits nicely with this mystery and with Denethor's foresight. A nice chewy chapter, Ranger. Lots to think about. Now, I'm waiting to see what light reflects on the water. Really, really good. Author Reply: Boy, Denethor never did like that wizard guy, did he? LOL. Well, the professor said it - there was little love between Denethor and Gandalf. It must have driven Denethor crazy trying to figure out Thorongil, but even though he walked like a duck and talked like a duck, it'd been a thousand years since the northern kin fell completely off the map. A much simpler explanation (for Denethor) might be some kind of Pygmalion plot by Gandalf :-) Regarding Finduilas, I believe there is no cause of death listed, but Tolkien says this: But it seemed to men that she withered in the guarded city, as a flower of the seaward vales set upon a barren rock. The shadow in the east filled her with horror, and she turned her eyes ever south to the sea that she missed. I took the liberty of supposing that Denethor's uncanny insight, wisdom, and perception might lend him some forewarning of that adverse reaction. Just my take, for what it's worth :-) Glad you found it chewy - Chewy is good. | |