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| Stirrings of Shadow by Fiondil | 10 Review(s) |
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| Tari | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/12/2009 |
| I didn't know that was how a person was blinded. How hideous. I'm so glad Thengel found a way around this and spared the sight of an innocent child. I'm sure the time Thorongil spent with Thengel helped to strenghten their friendship and that of Thengel's household. The time would come when he would need help from Rohan during the final battle and they would willing give it. Author Reply: Well there are several methods for blinding people, but this one at least does not require plucking the eyes out. Thengel's solution was pretty brilliant, I would say. I'm sure Thorongil's time in Rohan did help strengthen the ties of friendship, so that years later Theoden would remember him and help him during the Ring War. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/6/2007 |
Fascinating story about Thengel and Freawine - thankfully Thengel was able to save the child - it does strengthen Thengel's reason for leaving the Mark until his evil father was dead. One does have the impression that Thengel, for all his kindness, is quite a formidable fellow and not one you'd want as an enemy. It must have been odd for Aragorn to come back, some sixty years later, and find those he remembered as children either grown old or dead. Author Reply: I decided to explore reasons why Thengel left Rohan as soon as he could and this tale just sort of told itself, and indeed, for all his kindness, Thengel is not someone you would want as an enemy as subsequent chapters will show. I'm sure that Aragorn became resigned, if not used to, the idea that non-Dúnedain friends would grow old and die long before he did, though he probably didn't like it. Sort of gives you an idea of how elves must feel towards any mortal friends they might have and why most elves don't have any. | |
| Ainu Laire | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/31/2007 |
| Oh, what a delight! I enjoyed your last tale so very much, and I did not know you were doing a sequel! I absolutely love reading tales about Aragorn's time as Thorongil. I love your use of languages, and how so obviously well you know your history. I find it interesting that Aragorn did not go alone, yet that certainly seems very plausible, despite the fact that no other author has tried it. I wonder if his cousin shall accompany him to Gondor, as well? I do like your characterization of how Thorongil gets along so well with the children, and I like Thengel as well: stern, but loving and with a sense of humor. I am very interested in seeing how their relationship builds. And such a complex, interesting family history! I do wonder how this trip will turn out, and it shall be interesting to see what Thorongil overhears. I have a feeling that you have something waiting up your sleeve. I wait eagerly for an update! Author Reply: I'm glad you found this story, Ainu Laire. It was, after all, your idea! *lol* I hope as the story progresses that you will find the various characterizations plausible. It's very hard to make even canon characters come alive when Tolkien wrote so little about them. I'm glad that you like Thengel. I like him too. This story will be updated every Thursday (Thursday is Throngil day!), so keep your eyes open. And I look forward to reading your reactions to later chapters. Thanks for reviewing. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/30/2007 |
So, Thengel already found some uses for Aragorn, although not what Aragorn expected. But it is another learning experience which will help him in his further endeavours. Author Reply: Yes, a rather chilling tale, but not uncommon in our own history, and obviously Jules Verne knew about it as well. Thengel was very brave to do what he did and young Fréawine was even braver to trust his older cousin to see him through the ordeal. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/30/2007 |
| A hostile mother. Difficult. Very difficult. Medieval kings tended to deal with the problem by sticking said mother into a nunnery - but Thengel doesn't have that option. The 'blinding' incident - more than enough to indicate the good guys and the bad and tell us all we need to know about the qualities of Thengel and his father. I'm sure Aragorn will make an excellent - and intelligent - 'uncomprehending' ear for the benefit of the King of the Mark. Interesting developments. Author Reply: Yes, hostile mothers are very difficult especially when they have just enough of their own power base to make things difficult. Thengel's only other option would be complete banishment, but he would need iron-clad proof that his mother is plotting against him, which he doesn't really have at this point. Unfortunately, such incidents as Fréawine's 'blinding' occurred too many times in our own sordid history that writing about it here was not a reality stretch for me. Fengel's character, and the supposed origin of his 'evil', is further explored in the next chapter, but you'll have to wait for it. *grin* | |
| Shoshana_Rose | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/29/2007 |
| Ah, the thick is plottening quite nicely! You have done an excellent job of outlining the political situation without overcomplicating the issues either by excessive details or an excess of players. We can see that politics are nuanced and delicate, but you've avoided bogging the plot down with minutae or quadruple-layered intrigue. A fine balance! I cannot wait to see your characterization of Thengel's mother. A woman who is seemingly so loyal to her homeland that she would deny her own son's claim to the throne. Rohirric women are so strong; gotta love 'em. I'm on the edge of my proverbial seat with this one. Author Reply: I was never a poli-sci major, so I don't know how to complicate things too much *grin*. I'm glad that you think I've done an excellent job of outlining the political situation. More difficult was making the situation believeable given what little information we are actually given concerning Fengel and his times. We will be meeting Éolind fairly soon and you can tell me then what you think of her. | |
| Edlyn | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/29/2007 |
| Oh, most well-written and grabbing, mellon-nin! This chapter is much darker than the others but I enjoyed it as much as the others, if not more. I like it that you are letting us learn about the politics (familial and otherwise) and making us aware of the less savoury aspects of Rohirric history right along with Aragorn. The shadow is definitely stirring, or rather it has been slowly growing for years (as evidenced by the behaviour and acts of Fengel and others--yes, I'm reading this as I did "Beowulf" where the condition and aspect of the King is but a reflection of the physical and spiritual health of his realm--I really should take the time to do a paer on that aspect of LOTR sometime) but Aragorn is really only becoming aware of it's sway for the first time (at least in regards to the southern lands. Clever Thengel! His explanation of how he saved Fréawine and fooled his father was wonderful to read. And when Fréawine was the first to swear fealty to him upon his return to the Riddermearc I felt the same swelling in my heart as I did when I gave my fealty to the King of the Midrealm for the first time (I remember it like it was yesterday and it was more than 25 years ago!). I can see how it would be difficult for Aragorn to play the fool. No one wants to look foolish in front of others but it especially difficult for a young man who needs to prove himself. But his practice at dissembling will stand him in good stead in the future. I hope that you are well and look forward to the continuing of this story. May you live blessed, Edlyn Author Reply: We tend to think that nothing important happened in Rohan before the Ring War, but Théoden didn't get into the condition he found himself with Gríma overnight and some aspects of the malaise that Aragorn and the others found in Rohan had their beginnings early on. This story explains, or hopefully will explain, some of it. I know what you mean. I still remember how I felt when I swore fealty to the Baron and Baroness of Delftwood nearly 20 years ago and it was even more powerful as they were also my cousins (both in scadian terms and mundanely). Something like that is hard to forget. While many future chapters will be darker in tone than what one would expect from me, that is only a reflection of the Darkness spreading through Rohan that will only truly manifest itself sixty years later during the Ring War. Yet, there will still be light-hearted moments in the story for readers to enjoy. | |
| SurgicalSteel | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/29/2007 |
| Interesting situation you've thrown our hero into - nasty political situation which might end up leading to an attempted coup again. Very interesting. Author Reply: Well, I have to have him do something besides ride a horse all day, don't I? *lol* And the reference from Appendix A that I give at the beginning of the story is what leads me to suspect that Saruman was doing more than creating Uruk-hai during these years. The events of this story will definitely have long-term effects on the Rohirrim so that we see how it is played out when Gandalf comes to Edoras with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli and rescue Théoden from Gríma's machinations. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/29/2007 |
| I knew Thengel had spent years in Gondor, bringing back Morwen as his queen. Is Hildegard his niece, then? I have Aragorn asking various people to keep their own ears open, or at least to give them their own evaluations of some they meet, including Frodo, Sam, and Ruvemir the sculptor. Not truly spying or seeking to fool those they deal with--merely noting what might be important for Aragorn to know. Perhaps he learned to ask this from this experience with Thengel. Author Reply: Yes, Hildegard is the daughter of Hildebrand and Goldwyn. She is married to Elfhelm of Eastfold and is the momther of Elfgar and Elfhild. She is Hildebrand's firstborn. The twins, Hildered and Hilderic are a few years younger, though they are a couple of years older than Aragorn. You may be right about Aragorn possibly learning to ask people to keep their own ears open and reporting what they learn to Aragorn from Thengel. Interesting how these things come together, for I had completely forgotten about this from your own stories and I've read "The King's Commission" probably three times already. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/29/2007 |
| A chilling lesson in history. I like the way you depict your main characters and am enjoying this story. Author Reply: Hi Linda. It's a chilling lesson indeed and one that is too often played out even today in our world. I'm glad you like my characters and that you are enjoying the story. Thanks. | |