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That Which We Are by Avon	10 Review(s)
Nienna Elanesse	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/21/2004
My last review sounded "arch" I fear. I will try to do better with this one. Ah yes, 15-yr-old boys -- Especially those who are named "famous horseman"! -- They don't know whether they are fish or fowl. It sounds real. Characterisation is great. The merry banter between B & T is spot on. Theodred is not a rube. Nor is Eomer, 'though he has some sorry experiences in the future that will test his soul and his courage. Must break off and return to my responsibilities. ha ha Author Reply: Nienna, I'm so sorry these two reviews didn't get answered before. It wasn't intentional, I was just busy and disorganised. Sorry! The merry banter between B & T is spot on. Very pleased to hear it - I see conversation as one of my biggest weaknesses so this story is being a revelation (I think there's more talk in it than most of my stuff added together!) And oh yes - I'd totally agree poor Eomer doesn't know yet if he's fish or fowl. Growing isn't always much fun. ;-) Thanks, Avon

Muinthel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/10/2004
That was a beautiful start and I felt like somebody took my book away - so I can not read the rest - at the end of the chapter. I like the idea that Theodred and Boromir where "friends" and I just love the way you let Faramir open up to see someoneelse liking books as much as he does. It will be exciting to find out how much Eomer grows at this visit...and how many of his prejudices will be thrown over. And as ever - I just love a good story about Boromir and Faramir....so can't wait to read more! Author Reply: Hi Muinthel, Thank you for the feedback - sorry I am so long in replying to it but RL won ;-) At least I have finally now given you the next bit of the 'book' ;-) I like the idea that Theodred and Boromir where "friends" I can see this never finsishing because I'm falling for these characters so much - I don't think I'm going to like the ending at all, which will be set near the end of the Ring War so the older two will be dead.... Thanks again, Avon

LKK	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/4/2004
Oops!!! My sincerest apologies, Avon! I didn't realize that this was the first chapter in a multi-chapter story. Please, please try to ignore my comments about the ending line of the chapter. They weren't justified.

LKK	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/4/2004
This was a different type of story from what I've come to expect from you, Avon. Much more traditional fare. Still, your unique style comes through. You are possibly the first writer to depict a character who does not take an instant liking to Faramir. You sell Eomer's dislike for the "Gondorian Gentleman" very convincingly. I could easily see why the young Rohirrim would dislike Faramir. You asked for opinions on characterizations. I thought Theodred and Boromir were somewhat similar. However, I believe that was intentional, to explain their friendship and show kindred spirits. Other than that, I felt each character had a distinct personality. The way Faramir opened up once he realized he had met another scholar was especially nice. If I have any niggles with this work, it's the ending. It didn't feel as strong to me as some of your other pieces have felt. Ending midway through events with a sharp, smart tag line is viable way to end a story. But Eomer's joke about the nurse raising Theodred wasn't strong enough support the story end, I felt. I think it's the actual line she raised you, didn’t she? that doesn't work for me as opposed to the joke itself. It's like the punchline doesn't offer enough punch. However, let me reemphasize that I liked this story. It was a different look at Gondor's most famous brothers and at Eomer. I'm not usually a Gondor / Rohan reader, but this story kept me very interested. Author Reply: This was a different type of story from what I've come to expect from you, Avon. Much more traditional fare. Still, your unique style comes through. grins You know when I was writing this - and I didn't set out to write a more traditional story, just to try and write some sort of Eomer story for a friend's birthday - one of the many things that gave me cold feet was you! I thought 'LKK will be disappointed 'cause she's said she likes that my stories are different' ;-) Silly - you might not even have read it - but I was just apnicking about ti being more conventional. ;-) Anyway, I'm sure I'll be back to doing something odd shortly ;-) You are possibly the first writer to depict a character who does not take an instant liking to Faramir. You sell Eomer's dislike for the "Gondorian Gentleman" very convincingly. I could easily see why the young Rohirrim would dislike Faramir. grin I keep waiting for legions of Faramir fangirls to leap through my window and strangle me. Seriously, I love Faramir and I do worry about making him too unlikeable - but I think no matter how noble he is we can allow him a few weeks of grumpiness. He's only 23 and in that ghastly not still sick but not yet well state - and he's got a pretty major problem on his mind. I thought Theodred and Boromir were somewhat similar. However, I believe that was intentional, to explain their friendship and show kindred spirits. Yeah, it's tricky - I wnat them to be similar enough that their frienship seems feasible - but I also want Faramir to be more like Theodred and Eomer to be more like Boromir. If I have any niggles with this work, it's the ending. I know when you wrote that you didn't realise that it was a chapter ending, rather than a story ending - but I think it is still probably true-ish. Most often when I write a story I start by knowing my ened line and I write towards that. This sin't working that way - it's more me meandering along going 'Ending, ending.... here nice little ending...." ;-) Thank you very much for your feedback - as always it was wonderful and detailed. I much appreciate the support. My apaologies for the lateness of this reply - RL sigh Avon

Tathar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/2/2004
What a fantastic beginning! Though my greatest love is for hobbits, I have a special fondness for Eomer, Theodred and Boromir, too. I love your portrayal of them! Eomer is just how I would imagine him to be at 15, Theodred is perfect, the in-control older brother that I'm sure he would have been to Eomer, and Boromir is just right. His friendship with Theodred was an added treat! Faramir was well-done, too -- bookish and so different from his father and brother. I'm eagerly awaiting your portrayal of Denethor -- he should be interesting. Well done, I can't wait for more! Author Reply: Thank you very much, Tathar. This is a story I am very nervous about so it really helped to know that it was working for some people. My apologies for being so late in replying to this - RL keeps winning. ;-) I'm eagerly awaiting your portrayal of Denethor -- he should be interesting. Ooooh...goes and hides under the lounge Lots of people said that - and I don't know I've lived up to it... Anyway, thanks again, Avon

Antigone_Q	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/2/2004
Very nice! I like the way you've written Eomer, and his reactions to Gondor. Yes, I think all the characterizations were done well, and are sufficiently different from one another. And I thought the dialogue was very real, and flowed well. I can't wait to see more of this! Author Reply: Thanks a bunch, Antigone. I am sorry to be so late in replying - RL job commitments. That's also mostly why the update is so late but at least it fianlly got there. Avon

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2004
Oops - obviously should have read the story before commenting, but yes, I think it's believable that the grandson of Thengel could read Sindarin, too. I love your Boromir! so boisterous and testosterony... "and you can entertain this heathen warrior who thinks books are only good for archery practise.” “I was eight!” Éomer said indignantly as Boromir laughed. I really did laugh out loud there! Grass was for horses to eat and around a house was simply a waste of good growing space. Such a Rohirric POV. I never thought of it quite like that... “[Freawaru] is probably accustomed to dealing with nurselings that squeal and wiggle!” “Yes,” said Éomer, rubbing his smarting scalp as Théodred began work on his own brown hair, ‘she raised you, didn’t she?” This is brilliant! I think your dialog is very well-written, sounds realistic, and really shows the similarities and differences between the characters. This is a terrific story, Avon! I really enjoyed reading it, and hope to see more very soon. - Barbara Author Reply: Oops - obviously should have read the story before commenting, but yes, I think it's believable that the grandson of Thengel could read Sindarin, too. Your comments were pretty much exactly how I saw the situation. I'd expect both Eomer and Theodred to speak at least a little Sindarin - because Grandmother (who in this version helped bring Theodred up) definitely would have. Theodred, in this version, is pretty much another Faramir-as-he-is-often-portrayed - a natural scholar who loves learning. If Grandmother could teach him how to read Sindarin then he would have wanted to learn it. Eomer on the other hand wouldn't have really had the interest. I love your Boromir! so boisterous and testosterony... Thank you - I am conscious that there is a reasonable amount of Sean Bean/Peter Jackson's Boromir slipping in there - but I must admit I am becoming rather fond of him. The way you;ve described him is just how I wnt him to be seen so thank you for that. Grass was for horses to eat and around a house was simply a waste of good growing space. Such a Rohirric POV. I never thought of it quite like that... Oddly enough this idea actually came from stories about English villages in the 1950s and Italian migrants to Australia also in the 1950s, but it seemed logical for my Rohirrim. This is brilliant! I think your dialog is very well-written, sounds realistic, and really shows the similarities and differences between the characters. Crumbs! Thank you - I am very paranoid about my dialogue. Cheers, Avon

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2004
Hi Avon, Haven't started your story yet, but I have an answer to Daw's canon question. I think there is no doubt that Kings of the Mark and their heirs would read and write, just to be able to fulfill their duties (sending and receiving dispatches from the Marshals in the field, for example -- though it's possible they had secretaries to do that). But even if the early kings might not have been literate in Westron, I'm sure the ones after Thengel (Theoden's father) did. Thengel spent all of his early adulthood in Gondor, until taking up the kingship. He brought Gondorian ways to his household, including speaking Sindarin as well as Westron (which was already known to the high-born in Rohan). I am sure that his son and grandson (and Eomer & maybe Eowyn, since they were adopted young by Theoden) received a "proper" education by Gondorian standards, meaning that they could read and write in Westron. Hope this helps! - Barbara

eokat	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2004
Good story, nice to see the reaction of a young Eomer to visiting Minas Tirith for the first time. Look forward to reading more. Author Reply: Thanks, Eokat. It will be updated fairly soon - honest! I foolishly started this the week school started back! Baaaaaad move! It's been a particularly frantic term so far but I'm slowly getting there. Cheers, Avon

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2004
This was lovely. Eomer's perspective is so well done, it's hard to believe you think of yourself as confused about POV! I sympathize completely with his dislike of an environment so foreign to the one he's used to. And his admiration of Theodred and Boromir come through nicely. I wonder what he will make of Faramir eventually? And now a timid canon question. I don't want to sound like a "Gondorian dandy," but could the Rohirrim read? Somehow I thought they couldn't. I suppose the son of the king would be an exception. Author Reply: Sorry this is so late - I should have more sense than to start a story the day before I go back to work! Thank you for the feedback. Oh yes, I'm definitely still struggling to stay in people's POVs - still can't figure out if I've always done it wrong and only just noticed it or if it is only because I'm panicking about it that I think I can't do it ;-) Daft, me! I wonder what he will make of Faramir eventually? A nice rug? ;-) Nah,I'm sure such a lovely person will eventually get through to him (even if he's not in a lovely mood at the moment.) could the Rohirrim read? Somehow I thought they couldn't. I suppose the son of the king would be an exception. I think Barbara has actually answered this better than I can up this thread but I'll try. My feeling is that (a) Theoden's father spent a large chunk of his life in Gondor - and seems to have brought many of their ways back so I feel from then on probably the royal family at least would have been able to read (and I bet some of the other higher up families would have scurried to do so.) (b) Early education is usually a mother's field - and Morwen was herself Gondorian and in this fic stepped in to help bring up Theodred after his mum's death (c) ditto previous comments about early education - Eomer's mother was the daughter of Morwen. Mind you, I don't think the education that even Eomer has received is anything like as indepth or as classcial as what I'm assuming Boromir and Faramir would have received. In this particular version of M-e I'm assuming that B&F were still being educated several years after Eomer's emancipation from the schoolroom. I also see Theodred as being very unusually educated for a Rohirim - because he is a natural scholar. There's no way IMO that Eomer would be reading poetry in Sindarin. Cheers, Avon

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