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| My Birthday Mathoms by Mirkwoodmaiden | 2 Review(s) |
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| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/16/2024 |
| His eye lit up – What a lovely picture of Denethor's love for his wife. It's all too easy to picture him as he was near the end of his Stewardship, weighted down by the threat of Mordor, the influence of Sauron, the impending, inescapable doom that infected him from looking in the Seeing Stone. And yet, in his desperation to somehow save his people and his City, he couldn't not look, as it were. Finduílas was clearly the light of his life. I had this thought long before the words popped up in the chapter. Like her, I find the sea somehow soothing, strengthening, and healing. We don't visit so often as we used to, which is a pity. I could watch and listen to the waves for hours. Considering the roles played by Boromir and Faramir in the War of the Ring, I wonder if Denethor and Finduílas were somehow fated to meet and marry? (I remember reading JRRT's mention of "the author", yet not referring to himself but to a higher power.) I find myself glad for Denethor's choices here. It's too bad he could not always respond so wisely to Faramir in later years. Yet Boromir filled the gap somewhat, I think, as did Mithrandir – as far as he was able to without raising Denethor's ire at the wizard's attentions to his son. Lovely! One more chapter in this birthday series, at this time anyhow. I will save it to savor tomorrow. Author Reply: Lindelea! Sorry for the extreme lateness of this reply. Somehow I missed it earlier. Thank you for your review. I have already seen Denethor and Faramir's relationship as a love too painful for Denethor to act upon. When he says in ROTK "I sent my son unthanked, unblessed and into needless peril" he is remembering his love that has been buried under memories too painful and at the end it is uncovering finally. And also as it is mentioned somewhere in Tolkien's works that Faramir looks like his mother, Denethor could not bear to look at him so the love they shared must have been a great love and one Denethor never got over. It give depth to his character. Also we don't always handle grief as well as we could or should. I tend to hold grief at bay and distance myself and thought that perhaps Denethor had this reaction. I took a great deal of joy writing this story. P.S. In an interesting note my opinion of Denethor and my depiction of Eowyn differ greatly. I have sympathy for him. Eowyn simply does not. She cannot understand how Denethor could treat Faramir as he did. Though she never met him she could never forgive him. An interesting note I think. PPS. I love the sea as well. Finduilas and I share the same affinity for the sea. Once again thanks for reviewing! ((hugs)) Happy new year! MM | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/8/2021 |
| Happy Birthday! What a heartwarming and sweet story you've gifted to us. It's wonderful to be drawn back to the innocent, joyful times, and learn a bit more about this marriage. Author Reply: Shirebound! Hello! Thank you for the Birthday Wishes. I am glad you liked the story. I have always felt that Denethor and Finduilas were a love match that had a tragic and short end and that explains much of why Denethor is the way he is and why he could never forge a positive relationship with his son. It makes me laugh to think how radically different my opinion of Denethor and what my depiction of Eowyn in my many stories of Faramir thinks about Denethor. I think his is a tragic life full of misfortune and misunderstanding. My Eowyn hates him for how he treated Faramir growing up and that there is no reason for his actions. I guess it is all down to perspective. :-) Be well and safe! MM | |