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The Heir Apparent  by Mirkwoodmaiden 6 Review(s)
LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/23/2025
MM!

It's so nice today, I'm taking the laptop out on the deck to read, even though it upsets the cats. (I'm not sure if it's because they want to be outside themselves, or if they want me to be inside with them and providing a lap for their convenience. But they seem to hate it when I go outside.)

I don't have internet access when I'm outside, so I cued up the chapter already (along with this review box) and will send this review once I go back inside again. ("There's more than one way to kiss a cat!" as we say around here, for our young ones always got upset at the idea of skinning a cat, even when talking about a certain move done on the monkey bars.)

Now that I've successfully made it to the deck without dropping the laptop and closed the screen door to preclude any feline escape attempts, the Empress of All She Surveys and the Stealth Cat are staring fixedly at me. I will try to concentrate on the chapter...

(How would you define "the First Watch"? How many Watches are there?)

(As they camp beside the Brandywine, are they on the Shire side of the River or the Bree side? No, wait, you said "the northern side", which should tell me where they are. I know the Brandywine's origin is Lake Evendim; so are you describing where the River emerges from the Lake? Sorry, I'm finding that reading while outside may not be the best option as far as distractions go. Birdsong. A murder of crows all taking turns diving on a hawk perched at the top of a tall tree. Barking. Distant traffic noise. I didn't realize until now how quiet it is inside the house these days!)

For all his youth, Erithain is a canny leader.

Glorfindel! O my! (And the Twins. An added bonus. And I am reminded of the prescient dream that included Elladan.)

Ah, Dirhael. You don't know it, but someday you will owe these Elves a great debt. Though perhaps from their perspective, the honour is just as much theirs to perform such a service. Thank goodness for the Man's perceptiveness and his unwillingness to shame his son!

Ivorwen's mistaking Elrohir for Elladan is perfectly natural and brings a smile, even in the midst of this portentous meeting between Gilraen's mother and Elrond's sons. And oh! Of course they are here in their capacity of protecting Arathorn as the Heir! I hadn't thought of that... And she may be about to inform them that their protection will fail (or something will happen that is beyond their control) rather sooner than later... "two guardian angels" would sum things up in a nutshell, I should think.

Wicked irony on the author's part... "she would soon be a widow" but for an unexpected (and even comical) reason. But I love Elladan's way of putting her at ease: I cannot take him anywhere really.

What better way for Gilraen to learn more about her intended than by speaking with some of his dearest friends? And mead sounds like an excellent accompaniment to such conversation. (That said, my one taste of mead confirmed that I am a wine and cider drinker. Though mead sounds attractive, I didn't care for it when I had the chance to try it. Of course, different meads might taste different. I don't know.)

"a ripping good yarn": So are the Elves on their best behavior, seeking to make a good impression, I wonder? I imagine they have known (and lost) a lot of Men, friends and acquaintances and relatives descended from Elrond's brother, over the centuries. "blessed or cursed" and unable to figure out which; that sounds quite real. And speaking of losses, with a few brief words of description, you have given Gilraen's brothers life and personalities and made them real. Poor Ivorwen. But like Elladan, I admire her. (And here is another instance of "gifted or cursed"! Common ground, it sounds like.)

"More than ever, my lady." Elladan's response to Ivorwen's information and the chapter's tender ending brought tears to my eyes. *sigh*

(((hugs)))
Lin

NurayyReviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/16/2021
Dear Mirkwoodmaiden,
Oh, the elves come in! I love them. Elladan and Elrohir, and Glorfindel too!
I loved the trust Ivorwen gives to Elladan speaking to him, and how Elladan takes it upon himself to fulfill that promise to a loving mother.
I also liked how you weaved in the twins and Arathorn's backstories of grief and vengeance.
Ivorwen's sorrow at the loss of her sons touched me. In these few lines you described them so well they became alive and I could feel the mother's pain.
Take care


Author Reply: Nurayy!

The Elves have arrived indeed...and will be present for the rest of the story. Sorry for not answering back sooner. I really happy you are enjoying the story.

Ivorwen is a mother desperate to carve out some measure of happiness for her daughter and doesn't give two figs what it might cost her dignity. She takes a chance talking to Elladan and she doesn't realise the bond that exists already between Arathorn and Elladan and Elrohir. They saw him grown up in Imladris as well though he was a little older when he started his fosterage in Imladris.

I remember reading somewhere that the twins almost lost their souls to vengeance after their mother sailed to the Undying Lands and its stands to reason Arathorn would be scarred in some way as well.

"In these few lines you described them so well they became alive and I could feel the mother's pain."

Thanks! That little passage turned out well I was very happy about that.

Thanks for reading!

Stay Safe! Mellon nin!

(((hugs)))

MM

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/7/2020
I am glad she unbent enough to let him know the basis of her sorrow. Gilraen will depend on his support when the time comes.

Author Reply: True! Gilraen was given a very hard road to travel, I wanted her to have as much support as possible.

MM

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/3/2005
Foreknowledge can indeed be painful, particularly when it shows such lossed. To know Aragorn must be born and held in safety in Rivendell to both protect him and to prepare him for his destiny must have been horrible for the mother of Gilraen.

I've written one story in which Gilraen is an active character, "Fostering." I'd like your feedback on how you see her portrayed there. I know I am thoroughly enjoying this one so far, although I realize I started a bit late.

Thanks for the feedback you've given me.

Author Reply: Larner!

I'm so gald that you are enjoying the story. I've really had a lot of fun creating it!

I can only imagine how hard it would to allow a child of yours to follow a path that will lead her into unhappiness, In fact, knowing all that you've been raised to believe in and hope for will not happen if you try to prevent your own child's unhappiness. That would be hard indeed!

Thanks for reading and responding. We write because we want to, but it is always lovely to know that my writing has touched somebody!

MM

Eruanneth_LuinReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/29/2005
Once again you bring insightful details about the lightly sketched outlines provided by Prof. Tolkien.

The wonder of meeting elves for the first time held me nearly breathless with the pleasure and your portrayal of the Sons of Elrond appealingly real. Yes, trepidation would have been felt by many upon encountering those living legends, and hesitance certainly, in trusting the unknown.

In particular I loved the lightening transitions from playful to intense, as I perceive elves would be, especially the Half-elven, displaying the depth of feeling that remained hidden from most mortals.

But underlying it all is the foreknowledge of ultimate dooms and losses even after the defeating of the great Evil of their day, which for cannot be escaped.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/28/2003
This meeting of Elves and Dunedain was interesting on both sides. The Elves, of course, have known the heirs of Isildur but these people still managed to surprise them, especially Gilraen's mother who is a striking figure here. And the men and women were predictably fascinated by the elves. Well, who wouldn't be? I liked the fact that Gilraen's father thought about the authority of his son when he decided to accept the Elven guard.

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