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Boromir in Rivendell  by esamen 6 Review(s)
HaiReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/21/2004
I liked Boromir talking to Elrond and that he seemed to think well of be praised by Elrond. I would hope so! Boromir teaching Merry and Pippin swordplay would probably be a difficult task ;) Thank you and I'm looking forward to more!

Author Reply: Yes, Elrond's praise means a lot to Boromir . . . he's had some awfully tough years lately, trying to be all things to all people and a father who is so distant and critical. The praise takes him by surprise and he can't quite believe it yet, huh? More on this in the next chapter . . . I am so glad to hear your comment about this moment. I hope you enjoy what's coming next.

Thanks again Hai!

ChiggerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/21/2004
Ah, I must confess that I'm not as shewed as all that. :) Actually I'm Coriel's little sister, so it was through her that I learned of your nationality. :) We moved from Waxahachie, just south of Dallas if you don't know. Gosh I miss Texas.

Are the chairs they're using big for the hobbits and dwarves, or is Boromir being squished down in tiny chairs? :)
I love his relationship with Pippin. It shows that Pip can steal his innocent way into even the most hardened of human hearts. :) Personally I like Merry better, but together those two can be quite a show. :P And Frodo's attentions to Pippin were cute. I can picture him trying to wash a wiggling little hobbit. I think that, had Tolkien given him a chance, Frodo would have made a great father. :)

Again the Boromir - Faramir relationship is wonderfully done. I've always admired Boromir for his care of Faramir, and thinking of the great Ranger as Pippin's size is amusing indeed. :)

I loved your description of Boromir's homesickness. I think everyone feels that at least once in their life. I know I did when we left Texas. You may have noticed that, next to LOTR, Texas is my favorite subject. :)

Ah, poor Frodo. I suppose even the Elves can't make medicine taste good. I'm glad Boromir and Frodo are on good terms so far. And Aragorn's and Bilbo's attentions to Frodo are touching and well written. :)

I loved the comment about the hobbits teaching Aragorn how to play their game. Those little beings are very forceful at times, aren't they? :)

Has Elrond forseen something of Boromir's troubles and death? Was that why he was so hesitant while speaking to him? It would seem to make some sense.

Writing reviews while still reading the chapter makes for some long and rather jumbled reviews. :) Sorry if I've rambled, but this was just so good! An' readin' a story by 'nother Texan's always fun. :)

Author Reply: Ah, another scholar from Coriel's amazing family! Nice to meet you! Thanks so much for reading the story, and I hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think of it, especially the end. You and your sister seem to be a remarkable couple of writers!

About the chairs . . . If you notice, in Chapter 3, I describe "a variety of chairs, benches and stools" pulled around the table where hobbits, Dwarves, and now Boromir are sitting. This allows each person at the table to be sitting on something that meets his own needs. Now, the reader can fill in the picture mentally, and everybody's comfortable. Boromir would probably sit in a larger chair, or maybe on a bench, and the hobbits might have found some higher stools or some such thing, so that they can all be together. Can you see it?

Also, in Chapter 5, Merry "dragged over a chair from the Dwarves' table" for Boromir to sit in. Just a little prompt for the reader to stay secure in the knowledge that even though Boromir's bigger, there's a way to seat him properly. The host of Rivendell would have made sure that he had a variety of chairs so that all his guests could be comfortable, don't you think?

Did Elrond know the future, or what was going on in Boromir's mind? You know what? I don't know! I think, from my reading of LOTR, that people such as Elrond, Gandalf, and Galadriel might have been able to read people's thoughts, at times anyway, but as they say, "even the wise cannot see the end of all things," and so I don't know for sure. So, again, that's a moment that I leave up to the reader to determine. I personally think that Elrond knew what Boromir had on his mind, but that Elrond also believed that Boromir was intended by fate to travel with Frodo, and that he had some important part to play before the end. And, of course, Boromir did.

And, my dear homesick Texan, I have a few funny items here just for you, living up there in Yankee-land. Here's some possibilities of how Texans might respond to Boromir if he suddenly showed up in the Lone Star State:

In Laredo: "Put up your hands and get in the back of the Border Patrol van."

In Houston: "Look, if you can't drive any faster than that, get over in the right-hand lane and GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

In San Antonio: "OK, that's a large draft with those steak fajitas. Say, what country are you visiting here from?"

In Dallas: "Looky here, boy, you need ta git yerself a truck. You cain't haul nothin' in that rucksack there."

In Austin: "Dude, that chain mail is totally ill."

And last but not least, in Abilene: "Brother, have you been to church here lately?"

God bless, and be good now, y'all hear?










shireboundReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/21/2004
"In dealing with the Enemy, a true heart is ever the best defense." I just love that line. How sweet to see the hobbits looking out for each other, even in subtle ways, and Boromir not missing a thing. He's truly out of his element amidst such informality and teasing, but he's learning fast, isn't he?

Such a wonderful story!

Author Reply: I am so honored . . . and relieved . . . that you like the story. I actually truly believe this line that you noted. It's one of my bedrock convictions in real life. A true heart really is the best defense in many situations. Thank you . . . and in chapter 7 you will have Boromir looking at a long walk home. Thanks for the idea, Frodo-Angst/Fluff-Master!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/20/2004
This a fantastic story from Boromir's point of view. You paint hobbit relations and cultures so well. I'll be back as soon as you update. Take care.

Pippinfan

Author Reply: And I'll work even harder now to make it worth your while! I have been enjoying LOTR since . . . let's see . . . 1968. So I had some long steeping time before I got serious about writing down these moments. I am so glad to have found so many people who enjoy this world. You all make my world much richer. Thanks for reading, and for posting a review.

Lily BagginsReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/20/2004
This is wonderful... I love seeing Boromir get acquainted with the hobbits and being won over by their charm, but at the same time... I can see the darkness already taking hold. And adored chapter five and Frodo downing his medicine! Can't wait to see more.

Author Reply: Lily Baggins! Wow! I am bowing with hand over heart! I love your work! Thanks for coming over and reading Boromir! Yes, I loved that Frodo/medicine scene too. . . . You can probably trace the work of many other fic writers in what you read in this story . . . I have canon to work from, and now I have some favorite fanon to draw from also, including yours. Thanks for all your contributions to the Middle Earth playground. I'm just kind of fooling around in the sandbox here.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/20/2004
I enjoyed every bit of this story. The prose is literate and the characterizations are very well done. Boromir comes across so clearly as the noble albeit flawed character he is and the other characters (especially the hobbits) come alive. Very nicely done.

Author Reply: Thanks daw. You do indeed sound like a minstrel yourself. Yes, there is always that thin line of tragedy present even during the fun times of this tale, because no matter how hard Boromir fights to stay true to his heritage of nobility and honor, we know what the end will be. That's part of my fascination with this particular story line. It has built-in depth. That is a compliment to Tolkien's vision and talent . . . I think most every good fan fic is to some degree good only because it is built on the rock of a wonderful original story. Aren't we glad we have the great Professor to read!

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