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| Ashes, East Winds, Hope That Rises by ErinRua | 7 Review(s) |
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| Chigger | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/8/2004 |
| Again, here I sit, my mind a total and complete blank, as your story has left it four times now. You cannot imagine how I have enjoyed this story. The relationship between Eomer and Eowyn is better felt here than anywhere else that I have found. I enjoyed most heartily Eomer's "back-and-forthing", if you will, with Gimli. Coriel and I giggled for some time after I read this line aloud to her: "He will bear you as gently as if you were my own grandmother, friend Gimli!" Again you have painted a very vivid picture. :) And Legolas, for all his ethereality and untouchability was captured extremely well in my eyes. He is a character that I have struggled with in vain, and yet you have here protrayed him as wonderfully as anyone I know. He is, perhaps, not as tangible as Coriel and authors like her have been able to make him, but he IS presented in the same light as Tolkien himself used: in the background for the most part, and yet his place has great importance. Also, Eowyn's conversation with Eomer was wonderful. Coriel and I have considered the "Eowyn- heroin or deserter?" question and to our minds she was a deserter. It was her task to remain and care for those who remain with her, and yet she ran off to seek death in all its "glory" despite her King's orders. In their conversation, her willfullness, despair, love, strength and weakness were all brought forth in wonderful rhythm and with a very noticable power. But you showed also the fact that to her mind it was the only choice left to her. She, as a Shieldmaiden of Rohan, could not abide the thought of remaining in uncertainty while her life, as it were, rode away to war, perhaps never to return. The force behind your writing continues to amaze me, and I can only thank God that He has given such a wonderful gift to another Eomer fan. :) My friendly jealousy of you remains in tact after the reading of this chapter, and I can only regret having reached the end. As an avid Eomer follower (NOT a fangirl in the strictest sense of the word; there's no drooling, except over his horse :) ) I enjoy reading such wonderful pieces about him, telling his thoughts and feelings in such a wonderfully beautiful manner. But I think I've harped on this all long enough. Don't be surprised if you hear from me again. :) <>< Author Reply: Oh, Chigger, you are SUCH a dear! I hardly know where to begin, after such wonderful and thoughtful reviews - for each chapter, no less! I am ever so humbled. :-) Thank you, kind reader, for taking the time to share your thoughts and reactions with me. It is helpful and encouraging to me, as a writer, to know when I do something *right*, as much as when I'm shown a mistake, so thank you so much for all your observations. Truly, your reviews are an encouragement and a kindness. Thank you!!!! | |
| Chigger | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/7/2004 |
| I am in awe right now. Again . . . I have nothing to say as you have taken all words from my mind. And I can only sit here, grasping on the praise that slips through the fingers of my mind. I felt tears, I will admit, stinging my eyes during this and the last chapter, for Eomer's grief was so well felt through your words that it seemed as though it was my own. And when Hama came to release him, I felt the shivers and butterflies of excitement that come over me in times of great happiness. They lasted through the rest of the chapter. I felt pity for Grima as well, even while feeling Eomer's hate and loathing for him. I felt his joy upon seeing Theoden once more awake, and his pure, unadulterated exaltation upon knowing he was once more as a son to him, and not a traitor. Also, loved the line, "One does not pound a future king upon the shoulders, but Aragorn never knew how close he came, in that moment." THAT is a very vivid image. :) Thank you again, for this wonderful tale. | |
| Chigger | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/7/2004 |
| Oh my gosh! I'm back, I'm not feeling blah anymore, and I LOVED this chapter! I was alone for the first half, but when Coriel came upstairs I started reading parts aloud, just so she could be as envious as I. You have such an amazing way with words and with every sentence I become more and more jealous, even if amiably so. :) It is truly amazing how you can bring forth so many wonderful descriptions; not only of appearences, but of feelings, thoughts, sounds, actions; it's all amazing (I can think of no better word because you have left me speechless). It was very, very good. Also, in your review answer, you said that you might have hung too closely to what Tolkien wrote in certain opinions, but I think that there is no other way to go. I enjoy book-verse more than movie-verse, and I believe that if it *is* book-verse, that you must cling as tightly as you can to canon. But that's just my opinion. :) I remove my cap and bow to you, ErinRua, and step aside to do the dishes while Coriel uses the computer. To our next meeting; and soon. :) | |
| Chigger | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/30/2004 |
| Please believe me when I say that I absolutely loved this story, but I am feeling distinctly blah today, for some reason unknown even to me. I hope that when I can return to read the rest of this, I will have brightened up somewhat. But your descriptions and your dialogue, all of it was very, very enjoyable and flowed very smoothly, so that it sounded very much like Tolkien's writing. I WILL return! | |
| eokat | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/28/2004 |
| I have read this before on another archive site but have not reviewed. This is one of the first stories I read when I first started to get involved in reading Fan-fic and it has stayed in my mind and heart for ever. I love it as much now as I did when I first read it.You have written Eomer so well and with so much passion for Rohan. Author Reply: Thank you, Eokat! :-) Passion is indeed the word that recurred in my mind when writing this, for I think passion is Eomer's defining trait, whether in war, in friendship or probably even love. He does nothing in small measures or half-steps. :-) It was both a joy and a terror to write this, playing so close to Tolkien's original works, but Eomer captivated me entirely. I'm so glad you have enjoyed the results so well. Thank you!! | |
| Unheard Chime | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/24/2004 |
| Wow, I love this. It has a very human depth to it, and I admire that. Eomer is often overlooked, but this really brings his struggles to light. Good work! Author Reply: Thank you, Unheard Chime! Yes, when I began writing this it also seemed to me that Eomer had been oft overlooked, and there seemed so much more to his tale than we hear. I am very pleased that his humanity came through in this, for it was that very thing I wanted to touch upon, when writing: to explore what happened and what he felt/saw/did behind the scenes Tolkien showed us. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me! :-) | |
| Hiro-tyre | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/24/2004 |
| Wow. You are a very, very good writer, ErinRua. This is a brilliant reinterpretation of Eomer. Excuse me, I must go read more. Author Reply: Hello to Chigger, eokat, Unheard Chime and Hiro-tyre ~ Thank you so much for saying such kind things about this story! It was quite a lot of work and research to write, and perhaps I played too close to the Master's work for some people's comfort. However, I could not get out of my head the fact there was much going on behind-the-scenes at Meduseld that Tolkien only touched upon, much that was in fact rather dramatic. So ... I took a chance, followed my muses and this was the result. Eomer has been a favorite of mine of mine for simply forever, his passion, his courage, his strength of character, so it was both with joy and with mortal anxiety that I tried to tell his tale. Anywho ... thanks, dear readers. I am ever so pleased to hear from you and to you enjoyed this story! :-) Cheers ~ Erin | |