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| Neath Anor, Ithil, and Gil by Larner | 8 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 4/9/2009 |
| No, not that bunny but the one where he destroys the Umbarian fleet. Sorry if I am giving you troubles,should I build a bigger hutch for you? Lynda | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 4/8/2009 |
| One more bunny for the hutch! Pretty please? Lynda Author Reply: And what bunny would that be, Lynda? Looking at the relationship between Thorongil and Denethor? I want to write that one day, although I can and do recommend Anglachel's "The Hands of the King" which examines that in great detail--you can find it on Henneth Annun. But I have SO MANY longer works that are eking their way out so slowly lately! I'm not adding another longer work when I'm having such difficulty finishing "Stirring Rings" and "The Tenant from Staddle"! Give me time, though, and I may yet get to it! | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/23/2007 |
| I didn¡¦t realize I¡¦d missed this one till the other day when I was looking for what I hadn¡¦t caught up on. I love your characterization of Findulas, so gentle and perceptive, the kind of wife Denethor needed, I think. I wonder what he would have been like if she had lived. The end was stirring. Did Denethor give up that hope without ever letting it be fully realized, I wonder? Something tells me little Boromir won¡¦t come to dinner as clean as he was when he went to the garden. Little boy + dirt = mess. ƒº From your other review, I¡¦m not even sure what the name of the Eloquence voice I used is; I think it¡¦s Reed. Before my own computer died I had it set to a very much modified Sandy, I believe it was, though I¡¦d messed with the pitch and stuff until it sounded very much like another one of the voices; but I don¡¦t like the other one because it¡¦s too monotone. I¡¦m picky about such things, very picky. When I was just beginning to use JAWS everyone in my house wanted me to keep it set to Bobby (the little kid voice, and this was on our main computer which was why they concerned themselves), but I have never been able to stand that one. It makes me think of horror movies about dolls come to life, funny as it might sound. Have you ever heard the crazy things people have made DecTalk do? Sing and such? Whoever makes those files has *way* too much time on their hands, but the results are definitely interesting and entertaining. So, you¡¦ve been blindfolded? *grins* An interesting experience, I¡¦m sure. Last summer when my family surprised me by turning up at the CCB at the end of the program, I wheedled and begged Mom into letting me blindfold her and take her on a tour of the apartment complex, to meet ¡§the crew,¡¨ as the director called us. My counselor (also totally blind) was amused and impressed that I¡¦d won the debate and decided to join us, and how we laughed! Mom¡¦s seen me use a cane for years, but when I put one in her hand she didn¡¦t know what to do. We had to take the blindfold off and demonstrate. Wow. The stairs absolutely terrified her, but that was nothing when it came to crossing the empty, quiet, narrow street that divided the complex in half. ¡§You mean we have to cross a street?!¡¨ ¡§Yeah, sure. Come on, it¡¦s okay. It¡¦s really not wide, and it¡¦s quiet. See? Nothing coming. Come on, we do this every single day.¡¨ ¡§Oh no! No, absolutely not! Let me take this thing off!¡¨ ¡§Aw, you can do it. You¡¦ve been doing great!¡¨ ¡§No! It¡¦s hot anyway.¡¨ ¡§Will you if I guide you?¡¨ ¡§No!¡¨ It was so funny and so pathetic. She clung to me the entire time, and I let her off halfway through the way back¡Xout of pity. She still hates it when I remind her of that little walk. Hahaha! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: This was a birthday mathom from a challenge on the Henneth Annun site. Denethor must have had a difficult relationship with Thorongil as time went on, no matter how much he welcomed him at first. Dad listens to him; folk appear to idolize him; if he's Isildur's heir what might happen if he sets out to claim the Crown? He's a better swordsman than I am, and more empathic than I am. It says that Denethor and Faramir both could read the hearts of others; but Faramir was the one who was truly empathic where Denethor appears to have used his ability more to direct others and perhaps exploit them. Perhaps part of why he resented Faramir at the end was because he so reminded him of Thorongil? Now, there's a story for you! Oh, yes, I've done blindfold time. In high school we were going to do highlights from The Miracle Worker, so I blindfolded myself for several days at home in preparation for playing Helen, driving my stepdad crazy. I did very well indeed around the house and even out in our uneven yard. Then in my grad work we had to be blindfolded for twenty-four hours, and I've taken part in several sensitivity training sessions in helping people without definite disabilities understand what it's like living with disabilities. I did very well in my blindfold training for Orientation and Mobility, and think I do a good job assisting folk to learn skills to better travel independently. That your mother was frightened by her blindfold experience is rather humorous, but also touching. Hopefully it assists her to appreciate how capable you are. | |
| Grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 7/29/2007 |
| Hmm, the captain from the north, seems to have gave everyone the slip, and road off with one of the twins. Leaving the question of is he or isn't he. Author Reply: Oh, of course he left questions in his wake, our Thorongil did. And now Denethor appears to have the field open before him with little question as to what power he will be allowed to wield, for such time as he can hold it, of course. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 7/10/2007 |
| Ah, another story exploring something Tolkien had mentioned only fleetingly. Well, Denethor can’t have been happy about the way Thorongil took his leave, I suppose, though he was rather glad to have the suspected heir to the throne out of the way. It is difficult to imagine he would have hoped for the return of the King, considering how I know him, but it is possible so many years earlier he deep down truly thought so, and he completely changed to the other way of thinking only over the following years. But still, I think the side that was glad for Thorongil’s departure was always the stronger. The elder brother should have confused Denethor a bit, if he didn't think of the twins as Aragorn's brothers, as Thorongil could not be the heir if he is the younger one. You did draw a nice picture of Finduilas here, trying to support her husband, but realising what he wanted was maybe not what Gondor needed. Thanks for the clarification on the other story. Somehow I had misinterpreted it - looking it over again, now it is clear how it was meant. Seems I need a bit more sleep to get my brain to work properly. Author Reply: To bow out leaving folks begging for more indicates a marked degree of success, and I suspect this was precisely the situation Aragorn left behind as he shed at last the identity of Thorongil. The people of Gondor recognized his abilities, as did Ecthelion and probably Denethor as well. In my line of thought, I suspect that at first Denethor was pleased to meet Thorongil, finding in most ways a kindred spirit in the stranger; but as he realized many questioned the relationship between Ecthelion and Thorongil, saw his father's growing favor toward this mere mercenary, saw the growing list of military successes and successful arguments made before the Steward's Council, and began to know defeats on the practice field at the hands of Thorongil envy began to grow along with suspicions as to the Captain's final motivations and aims. And knowing he would not follow his father as ruling Steward should the stranger prove to be the King Returned would be an added stress, I'd think. The realization that there did indeed remain an heir to Isildur in the north must have raised a good deal of fear once he was seated with the Rod of the Stewards in his lap, for Aragorn's coming would spell the end of his entire way of life. There's the old saying "You can't teach an old dog new tricks"; after a half century as Ruling Steward the idea he'd have to take on a new role, different duties, must have been terrifying. But as a youngster he probably hoped for the return of the King as much as he later came to fear it. And the idea Thorongil had a professed older brother must have been a relief to him for the very reasons you cite here. And glad you saw Finduilas precisely as I tried to picture her. | |
| elanor winterflowers | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 7/9/2007 |
| Poor Denethor. I grew up with people like him, always with a gimlet eye out for enemies, and friends who might take advantage. Self-fulfilling prophecies, they are. Finduilas is lovely here, very gentle, and royal somehow. I enjoyed this little glimpse into their relationship. Author Reply: Yes, indeed--self-fulfilling prophecies indeed. Am so glad you like how I picture Finduilas, hoping to reassure her husband, but recognizing his weaknesses along with his strengths. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 7/9/2007 |
| I enjoyed this very much and like your version of how Thorongil left Gondor. I personally feel Denethor would have been furious if he had claimed the crown, but I do believe he suspected who Aragorn was.I also enjoyed your insight into Finduilas's thoughts on Thorongil. Author Reply: The idea that Thorongil might be the Heir of Isildur and yet was greeted by his "elder brother" might have been a bit of a poser to those who don't appreciate that Isildur's heirs have always spent some time in Elrond's house. And I do believe that Denethor did suspect the Captain of being that elusive heir. And am glad you liked Finduilas's concern for Thorongil's welfare and who he might be in reality. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 7/9/2007 |
| A beautifully described scene Larner. I would love to know whether Boromir managed to stay clean! *g* I find it so sad that Denethor lost his wife so soon and then loses his hope of the return of the King even if he has been his rival. Your great picturing of days like this just put me even more in awe of the Master story crafting of the Prof. And I will get caught up on other reviews I promise! Two more week and life winds down a bit! Went to the hospital for a diabetic consult today and spent over an hour waiting for the doc to turn up. He then turned out to be a locum who knew nothing about me! What a waste of everybody's time. Author Reply: Thank you, Harrowcat. Tolkien's ability to set the thoughts dancing in our head as to how specifically such scenes might be played out was indeed masterful--look at how he inspires our imaginations! I have sometimes wondered how Denethor might have been different had Finduilas survived. As for how clean Boromir might stay--well, small child and gardens don't tend to promote the child staying clean for long, do they? Heh! A wait for over an hour? My heavens--and to see a newcomer who has no idea as to your situation! Good grief! | |