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| The Road to Edoras by Dreamflower | 13 Review(s) |
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| Imhiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 7/21/2013 |
| It seems you get a second review from me for this chapter *g*. So: All the complimentary things I said in the first one still stand *g*; in fact, I want to elaborate and say how much fun I had at the convoluted introductions. I could so clearly see the Rohirrim trying to follow and commit it to memory to be polite, but losing the thread halfway through. Although: they are a culture with an oral tradition; their memory is bound to be better than that of Gondorians. Éormangilda stepped down from the dais, and went to the remaining hobbits, to whom she spoke in heavily accented Westron I don't think this aligns with canon. Thengel lived in Gondor for many years and married there in 2943; when he returned home upon his father's death in 2953, he already had two daughters. And even if Éormangilda is the one daughter besides Théodwyn to born afterwards in Rohan, it says explicitly in Appendix A that "the speech of Gondor was used in his house". So she would have grown up with Westron and Sindarin, and even if she was otherwise surrounded by Rohirric, it's unlikely she would develop a "heavy accent" in her (literal) mother-tongue and first language. But apart from that, I really like her, from what I remember and what I'm reading again. I have a soft spot for those kinds of older matrons, who are maybe a bit stern and aloof, but still kind, and who have a lot of common sense and a no-nonsense attitude. She and Mistress Poppy should get along like a house on fire. As I'm in the process of niggling *g*, in this story, too, there are again repeated instances of "Mundberg" and "Odovocar", as well as extraneous spaces when there is a name beginning with an accent, instead of the correct spellings. I do hope you don't mind these reminders; it's just that your stories are so good, they deserve to be polished until they shine all the more, and not throw the reader out of the flow by distracting "blemishes". Éothain is completely justified in bringing the two Banks brothers to Edoras instead of Minas Tirith, IMO. For one thing, they are not guilty of collaboration and treason, like their father and Bracedgirdle - being minors, they didn't do any deals with Lotho and the Ruffians and Saruman (although I can't at the moment recall if they did anything during the Troubles). The crime they are guilty of is assault on a member of the embassy. But seeing as they attacked a Rider, it's nothing to do with Gondor, really. Author Reply: I had not really thought about them speaking Westron much in Thengel's court, but you most certainly have a point. OTOH, many writers have posited that the "court language" of Gondor was not Westron but Sindarin. I've never actually taken a stand on that, though--I suspect you are right. But perhaps Eormangilda spent much of her growing up years "away" from her family...now you've got me wondering about her backstory... You and I share a weakness for that sort of older female. I have several characters of that type, LOL! I do hope I can get the time to fix these little things--usually I'm in the middle of other work, and then I have to remember to get after them. But I'll certainly give it a try. Those spaces with accents were something I was plagued with for a while--I am still not quite certain what caused them or how I got rid of them. I think it's an SoA thing--your review as I look at it on this page has little black diamonds with question marks in them instead of accented letters, though they do not appear on the actual review page that way! You are quite right, and that was one of the reasonings that the two ambassadors used to justify taking the younger ones to Rohan rather than Gondor! The only thing to do with Gondor was their motivation for the attacks: to derail the High King's investigation into Saruman's dealings in the Shire. But it was the actions trumped the motive in their case. | |
| Mîdhaer | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/1/2009 |
| “Éothain, I should like to speak with you privily.” My spelling error alert is going off. I didn't notice it the first time, but I see it now. Please correct when you have the time. ~Mîdhaer Author Reply: Spelling error? I'm afraid I don't know what you mean...I don't see any misspelled words in that particular sentence. Unless maybe you meant "privily"? That's an archaic term for "privately". Adv. 1. privily - confidentially or in secret; "told her friend privily that she was planning to be married" archaicism, archaism - the use of an archaic expression http://www.thefreedictionary.com/privily Anyway, I am glad you are enjoying the story. | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/27/2007 |
| Poppy made a great showing in this chapter. I liked her no-nonsense way of dealing with everything and the fact that she didn't go weak in the knees before the king. I loved the introductions too! All of the first or second cousin once removed bit that Hobbits love. I got this mental picture of all of these little hobbits in this big hall among the big folk during that part which I enjoyed very much. Sounds like Eomer has things well in hand as far as the prisoners go. Author Reply: Poppy has a brisk, no-nonsense way about her that speaks to her competence as a healer, I think. And while she might have been just a bit nervous of the king in normal circumstances, any emergency calling for her skills, and she is going to go straight into professional mode. To Hobbits that tie of kinship is very important, and it comes almost as second nature to include those things in an introduction. After all, Miss Dora says that should be one of the first things they learn when they get out of faunthood, LOL! I too, love the idea of the small hobbits standing there next to all the Big Folk--it's all reversed now from "A New Reckoning", where the Men were the odd ones out, a handful of Big Folk among all the little ones. You'll soon find out what Eomer has in mind. I hope everyone is surprised at his verdict. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/24/2007 |
| Eomer coped with that very well! I can't help but feel sorry for the prisoners - who are caught between very different legal systems! So they could have paid off their crime in Rohan - except they can't because the Shire legal system has confiscated their property. And they've been banished and become non-persons. OK they deserve it ... well Dago and Clovis definitely do. Clodio is mainly guilty of stupidity and Cado of being easily led. But Eomer is listening to those who know them, so - hopefully - his decision will be sound! Author Reply: Yes, the prisoners really are in a bind. But the Rohirrim are perfectly equipped to handle this sort of problem--much more flexible in their ways than the Gondorians, and less bound by insularity than the Shirefolk. Eomer will be handing down his decision very soon. I'm hoping my readers will be pleasantly surprised at his ingenuity. | |
| PIppinfan1988 | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/16/2007 |
| That was an excellent chapter! Éomer, as I figured he'd be, is a very perceptive, yet merciful king. The deliberation in the back room is a good example of just how fair he is in his judgements. I'm glad to see them finally in Rohan; and I'm looking forward to more! PF Author Reply: Well, Eomer may have been a bit unprepared to be king at first--he always thought that job would fall to his cousin. But we know how perceptive he was anyway, just from how he responded to three strangers on the plains of Rohan. And he's got the example before him of the High King and the Steward on rendering a fair judgement... There will be a few more chapters here in Rohan. | |
| elanor winterflowers | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/16/2007 |
| Fascinated to see more of Rohan, and also to get a Rohirrim's-eye-view of the hobbits. Éomer wears his new kingship with considerable dignity and Freddy will make everyone at home very proud! Author Reply: Yes, they've finally arrived. Eomer makes a good king, doesn't he? And Freddy may be uncertain of his own ability, but Frodo and the others have confidence in him, and yes, I think they will be very proud of him when he returns home. | |
| AspenJules | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/16/2007 |
| Ahhh, so they finally get there! And you give us just enough to tease, but nowhere near enough to satisfy! LOL I am a greedy!AspenJules... LOL I think, among everything else, I am looking forward to seeing the hobbits' reaction to Edoras, and the King. Not that I'm not also looking forward to the feast, and learning the boys' fates, and more time between Beri and Violet, and hearing more from Poppy, and maybe some good, less-formal, dialogue between Eomer and hobbits.... LOLOL Author Reply: Not that I'm not also looking forward to the feast, and learning the boys' fates, and more time between Beri and Violet, and hearing more from Poppy, and maybe some good, less-formal, dialogue between Eomer and hobbits.... LOLOL I think you will be pleased with the next few chapters then... | |
| Imhiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/16/2007 |
| Loved the careful, formal introductions. I have to admit I was forgetting some of the Hobbits and their relationships after the last update, and it was a good to be reminded again, and that in a way that felt natural to the narrative. Killing two birds with one stone. (I have to say that I'm always reluctant to use this specific proverb in English: The German equivalent of this is far less cruel: it's "to slap two flies with one stroke". Who misses some annoying flies, in contrast to two poor, nice birdies *g*?) I always like it if authors include one or more of Thengel's daughters in their stories about Rohan. To make one of them chateleine of Meduseld is a very good move on your side, Dreamflower. Isn't this set at a time when Éomer was already married to Lothíriel? Will we see her in future chapters? Author Reply: While the Rohirric court is not so formal as the Gondorian one, I think the introduction of an embassy calls for a certain amount of that--and as you say, it's also a reminder of who's who. (And I like that German saying--it would make a lot more sense to a modern person!) I have used Eormangilda once before, in "Chance Encounter". Most people seem to forget that Theodwyn was only Theoden's *youngest* sister. Eormangilda came to Meduseld to be Theoden's chatelaine for a while, after Eomer and Eowyn were orphaned. She left after Eowyn "grew up", and before Grima's influence became pronounced--we will learn a little more of her story in upcoming chapters. This is before Eomer marries Lothiriel. (It's still SR 1420, set in the summer immediately after Sam and Rose marry.) But we may see a bit about that before everything is over--if not in this story, then in another one I have a bunny for. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/16/2007 |
| A wise young king Eomer has proven to be, and I'm proud of him. Wonderful thought is shown to seeing to it all is done correctly and properly. Now, looking forward to the judgement to be given. Author Reply: He is a wise young king--he'll make sure to make an appropriate decision, rest assured! | |
| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/15/2007 |
| Eomer is very perceptive, and I liked his initial chagrin of having to deal with the younger hobbits. I'm glad they're both only getting servitude, but I'm interested to see what that service will be. Can't wait for the feast! Author Reply: I think and hope that you will be pleased and surprised at their fates! *grin* I think they are eager for the feast as well... | |