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| Destiny's Child by Mirkwoodmaiden | 2 Review(s) |
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| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/21/2025 |
| What a momentous and pivotl chapter. Beautifully done. “Oh, My Lady!” Merry looked fierce and happy all at once, “Thank you! Did Strider really say that?” “Aye, he did. He spoke of the stout heart of hobbits. What you lack in stature you make up for in heart and determination.” Merry’s heart warmed to hear such words of praise from one he admired so much. This echoes my favorite line in all of LoTR: "The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." Author Reply: Shirebound! Hello! Thank you for writing! I am really happy that you liked the chapter! These last few chapters have not been easy to write. Eowyn's path through this portion of the story is not an easy one and I have tried to stay true to it while wanting to cheer her up. I keep reminding myself that Faramir and happiness await her at the end of this story! "This echoes my favorite line in all of LoTR: "The praise of the praiseworthy is above all rewards." That is so true! And with this portion of the story tackled and I entering the homestretch of the narrative! Whew! But even after 32 chapters I am still fascinated by Eowyn! thanks! (((hugs))) MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 8/21/2025 |
| MM! I was just finishing for the evening writing replies to reviews when I saw the new chapter pop up. Hurrah! I couldn't leave it until morning but stayed up to read it. Definitely worth it! Such an ominous chapter title! (Gulp.) Théoden might have had a flash of foresight, rather like Halbarad's quiet acceptance that his death lay beyond that evil door. He sounded philosophical about it all when he told Éomer, "If the war is lost, what good will be my hiding in the hills? And if it is won, what grief will it be, even if I fall, spending my last strength?" as they rode to Dunharrow. Even before the red arrow arrived, he knew battle lay ahead because of the word Gandalf sent to hasten the gathering of the Riders. When Hirgon arrives with Denethor's request, the muster is already well underway. Éowyn recognizes all all-too-familiar feeling in Merry. I love the scene where she shows him the armor she has looked out for him. (I am very glad you did not include the scene from the film where Merry nearly gutted her with a swing of his sword; I'm sure he would have been much too familiar with swords to be so careless after all he'd been through to that point.) The scene between Éowyn and Théoden touched my heart. The slamming of the cage door resonated through the narrative. The end of the scene is heart-rending. Ever ready to protect another. But never herself. I should say that sums things up marvellously. My goodness! I never would have thought of such a conspiracy! It's amazing. (I'm so glad you already told me Háláf will survive. I'm not sure I could bear it if he didn't.) (((hugs))) Lin Author Reply: Lin! I am very happy you liked the chapter. It wasn't easy to write. Yeah the chapter title was a bit ominous I usually use something from the chapter as my title but as I was writing the chapter Horatio's line from the end of Hamlet stuck me as the most fitting for this chapter! I think that Theoden did foresee what would happen in the battle, that he would not return to Edoras. I think somewhere he says that Eomer was to succeed him should he fall. Only Holdlith knows he will fall and she wisely chooses to not say anything! Eowyn definitely recognises kindred pain in Merry. She fights his battle for him thinking that she will help a friend in talking to Theoden... So like Eowyn. In tracing Eowyn's story I generally choose the path of the book and only have smatterings of the film. The film tells a beautiful visual story but the book path has the straight forward path for another's writing. And also the films on occasion need a moment of levity (Merry swinging his sword wildly) to lighten the path of the film that a written work doesn't in the same way. The book mentions that the leaving taking between Theoden and Eowyn as grievous. So I tried to paint that picture. It needed to be that emotional. Poor Eowyn ...And Theoden. He knew he was crushing her dreams again and it slashed his soul to do it. Sometimes any decision made will lead to heartache, just a question of how much and what can you bear? The three, Holdlith, Gamhelm and Gamwyn had become Eowyn's safe harbor amid the pressures upon her. She needed someone. I love Holdlith's developing spiciness since leaving Edoras. She is taking no guff from anyone especially as it involves Eowyn! "Holdlith knelt Éowyn’s side, “Oh my lady!” She stroked Éowyn’s hair. “How can we make this right?” Holdlith fought to contain her shock and anger, “Clearly! Your uncle is being a pig-headed man!” Apparently she was unsuccessful." I had to think long and hard about what prompts Eowyn's action to leave Dunharrow. In that book you suggested, Untangling Tolkien, there is a wonderful article talking about the disobeying of orders and how the disobeying was the right path. (Éomer disobeying Theoden to ride after the Orcs that had Merry and Pippin, Beregond, your favorite, disobeying his oath as a Tower Guardsmen to save Faramir etc.) Some have criticized Eowyn leaving her post but in light of the "Duty to Disobey" that is prevalent throughout LOTR I simply found a way for her to do it. A conspiracy of friends seemed the right path to allow Eowyn to see her way forward to disobey. "Well this butters no parsnips!" That was my friend born in London would always say. I don't know how widespread the saying was...but at it was said by one English woman! :-) Thanks for reading and writing! You know how much it means. (((hugs))) MM Author Reply: Also, Yeah, There is no way I could kill off Halaf or any of the other boys. I have grown too fond of them. Before the pandemic I might have because it would have caused much angst and tragic growth of characters but now I have far more trouble with too much angst. (((hugs))) MM | |