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That Which We Are by Avon	33 Review(s)
SimplegirlfromLP	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/28/2019
I enjoyed the banter between Faramir and Boromir. I didn’t understandv belie doesn’t what the issue was a dinner that got Eomer yelled at and banished. How you have portrayed Theodred and Boromir as fun loving but still serious warriors, was great. I even liked a young Eomer , cocky and arrogant, temperamental with little self-control and lots of hero worship of Boromir and Theodred. The Faramir Character is not at all How I would have imagined Faramir. Yes, he is the sensitive, lover-of-lea seemrning kind of guy, but a warrior nonetheless. He is Boromir, just a 5 to 7 decibels version of him. It does not seem believable that a 23 yr old would allow a 15 yr old to goad Him. Please finish this story, I really enjoyed

Rugi	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/8/2006
It looks like you have stopped adding to this story but I think that it still works as a story and does feel too unfinished or anything. I love how you portray Eomer - he is at such a difficult age - not an adult yet but torn between wanting to be one and wanting to be a child. A nice a fair portrayal of a teenager who will grow up to be a great man. I really like all the Boromir hero-worship. He is the perfect older brother. I also like how you show him as a smoothing force between his difficult father and the rest of the world. Denethor has many admirable qualities but I don't think I would want him at a dinner party. And I like your Faramir. As wise, learned, noble, and wonderful as he is, he is still sick, mourning the loss of his horse, dealing with a difficult home-life and difficult life in general, and is 23 years old. I think a few flashes of temper show that he hasn't fully grown into himself yet and is a human young man. I love the scene where he shows Eomer the stars - a nice portrayal of his empathy that will only increase with time. I'd also like to (quietly) ask for the story to go on. It has been a while, but I would still read it with great pleasure.

Peredhel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/10/2005
This is a fascinating story . . . I found it several months ago, but it doesn't seem any longer! (Alas.) Just thought I'd leave a review. Théodred is excellent. I like the idea that he might have been a bit more bookish than Rohirrim are in general, although canonically, he probably wouldn't have known the "A Elbereth Gilthoniel" song. Is his impressive knowledge of Sindarin due to his grandmother Morwen? I love his easy friendship with Boromir. They were, after all, the same age (born the same year), and also killed by orcs in the same year (possibly by the same orcs). Both Faramir and Éomer agree that Boromir was more like a man of Rohan than of Gondor, although they disagree about whether this is a Good Thing or not. Éomer is also very well done. His voice is near-perfect -- the proud, prickly adolescent who is determined not to be a child but is not yet ready to take on the responsibilities of an adult. And he thinks he knows everything. He is perhaps too prickly -- he clearly feels the Rohirric way of life is superior, and I have trouble seeing him as quite so defensive as he is here. It's a minor issue though, and otherwise he is very consistent with his LotR adult self. Oh, a minor nitpicking detail on Éomer and Théodred. They would not have had brown hair. Éomer was very distinctly described as golden-haired in the books. Théodred would have either been fair, like the Rohirrim, or black-haired, like his grandmother (who ultimately came of the line of the Princes of Dol Amroth). Genetically speaking, I think his chances are about even either way. On to Faramir. To be perfectly honest, I found no difficulty in the first two chapters. He is, after all, a pureblooded Númenórean, and as Pippin observes in LotR, there is an aloofness inherent in that. The fact that he is likened to wizards and Elves rather than Men I think indicates that there is something otherworldly about him, which Éomer would doubtless find creepy and off-putting. Add some of his more unusual capabilities into the bargain and I wouldn't be surprised if Éomer started shrieking "Witch!" (Just kidding. Or mostly.) Poor kid. Now, he's clearly sick, has lost his horse (who he would have been very attached to), is having a bad time anyway, and here comes this snot-nosed Rohirric kid taking offence at everything he says -- well, I can see him as getting rather annoyed. However, by chapter three, he seems to be having serious issues. Faramir is proud, grave, and reserved; I can't seem him shouting out of the blue. In LotR, he is very resilient and even-tempered, although there is a core of steel behind his gentle, tractable exterior. He's very dangerous if you get on his wrong side. However, it takes quite a lot to put you there, so if there is, as you say, an explanation forthcoming for his erratic behaviour, it will need to be a very good one. I did like Boromir's relationship with Faramir and his concern for him. Very Boromir. Also the line about how Faramir would not only explain the mural, but the entire history of mural-painting since the fall of Númenor. Perfect. I hope this wasn't too long and pedantic . . . I think you've got a really great story in the works.

eokat	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/20/2005
So glad to another chapter of this story. Poor Eomer, he is such a believable 15 year old. Look forward to your next chapter, not so long this time please. Eokat. Author Reply: Thanks, eokat. I certainly want to try and keep going now I've got this story moving again so fingers crossed the next update will be relatively soon.

Faith	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/19/2005
I LOVE IT! LOVE IT! this whole site rocks! ive already read tons of stuff on here...i love it...update soon! sooner than soon! sooner than sooner than soon! youre fic rocks! NO MARY-SUE Leglomances woo hoo! does the happy dance yay! anyway i love your fic it totally rocks...keep up the good work....:) Faith Author Reply:* Thanks, Faith. I'm really pleased that you liked it. I am working on chapter 4 - but the muses aren't being cooperative. I've got another week of holidays so touchwood it'll get done. Avon

lmw	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/18/2005
I'm really enjoying this story. Very glad to see another chapter. I felt bad for Eomer earlier on - he's definitely my favourite, but here, I felt SO bad for him! All he wanted to do was ride and enjoy the wide-open spaces, and to have his 'hero' tell him off, deservedly, but still, and that the others knew...very well done. Sounds like Faramir's had a rough time, and everyone's entitled to be crabby sometime - can't wait to find out why. Keep writing. Author Reply: Hi lmw, Thanks! Yeah, poor Eomer - I felt sorry for him. Of course, and he wouldn't realise it, one of the reasons Theodred was so tough was that he just scared him half to death ;-)

Tathar	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/18/2005
Yaaaaaaaaaay, an update!!! I still love this story. sighs happily You just made my day! :D As to your questions... 1) leading reins - well, I'm American, and I used to ride quite a bit, but I honestly can't recall what term we used. I think that either will do. Certainly it doesn't detract from the story at all if you use them interchangeably, at least for me. 2) the endings - they're just fine, I think! You know, it's always disappointing to come to the end of a chapter in a fanfic you really enjoy, but you're handling them brilliantly. :) 3) regarding Faramir - I admit that at first I was a little startled to find a cross Faramir (it's not really a common occurance, at least not in most of the fanfic I've read)... but by now I'm more able to understand why he's cross. (And after all he IS human... I mean, if Frodo can be cross sometimes, Faramir certainly can! ;)) So it doesn't bother me at all, and in fact it's kind of refreshing to see such a great character portrayed in a slightly different way than usual! And we all know that Faramir isn't a normally crabby kind of guy, anyway... He's bound to snap out of it eventually. ;) I also just wanted to mention that I continue to LOVE your portrayals of Eomer, Boromir, and Theodred as well. Having a great fondness for all three of them, I'm just thrilled to find a fanfic that has all of them together! :D Oh yes, and you said that you will get around to explaining any Sindarin-based or Old English names/words you've used, but if you happen to have the information handy, I'd love to know the definition of just one - "deore". I think I can kind of guess at its meaning, but being the language buff that I am I'd love to know the specific definition. (The scene where Eomer uses "deore" was one of my favorites in this chapter, incidentally.) :D Whoops, sorry! I didn't mean to ramble quite so much. I guess I'll leave you alone now. But I hope the next chapter will be posted soon, because I can't wait to read it! :) Author Reply: grins Thank you! It's lovely to know that someone enjoys it that much. 3) regarding Faramir - I admit that at first I was a little startled to find a cross Faramir (it's not really a common occurance, at least not in most of the fanfic I've read)... but by now I'm more able to understand why he's cross. (And after all he IS human... I mean, if Frodo can be cross sometimes, Faramir certainly can! ;)) So it doesn't bother me at all, and in fact it's kind of refreshing to see such a great character portrayed in a slightly different way than usual! And we all know that Faramir isn't a normally crabby kind of guy, anyway... He's bound to snap out of it eventually. ;) Thank you for that. Much of the feedback I'm getting is that people aren't too keen on this Faramir and while I'm not complaining about that (I asked - I wnat to know) your feedback made my day. ;-) I think you summed up my feeling when you said if Frodo* can be cross sometimes, Faramir certainly can!* I also just wanted to mention that I continue to LOVE your portrayals of Eomer, Boromir, and Theodred as well. Having a great fondness for all three of them, I'm just thrilled to find a fanfic that has all of them together! :D I had no real interest in Theodred or Eomer when I started this - it was written for a friend's birthday and she wanted them. I had to invite F&B along, whom I am much more familiar with, before I could find any inspiration, but I'm very fond of them now. Oh yes, and you said that you will get around to explaining any Sindarin-based or Old English names/words you've used, but if you happen to have the information handy, I'd love to know the definition of just one - "deore". I think I can kind of guess at its meaning, but being the language buff that I am I'd love to know the specific definition. (The scene where Eomer uses "deore" was one of my favorites in this chapter, incidentally.) :D In my notes I've got that deore is beloved in OE, but I wrote that part of the chapter months ago and now I can't find the website I got it from so I can't guarentee its accuracy. Thanks again, Avon

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/18/2005
Avon, I hope you don't mind but I've been thinking about this some more while I was supposed to be working and I thought of a specific example of what I meant. Right now, when Faramir snaps at Eomer for crowding him when they first start their ride, he just seems crabby. But earlier he was reading. Maybe he's not just being scholarly Faramir but is seeking a certain amount of solitude, of isolation from others. So maybe he rides a little apart and then Eomer's horse crowds him. Then his snapping would seem more motivated by what he's been doing before then and not just crankiness. Author Reply: That's an interesting idea and I will think about it. I want to try and keep a fair bit of consistency in the specific things that annoy Faramir. I would like someone to be able to look back when 'all is revealed' and go 'Oh so that's why he...' Apart from the specifics he is just plain grumpy - which has a lot to do with the aftereffects of illness and the amount of fretting he's doing.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/18/2005
I read a draft of this chapter on LJ and was very intrigued by it. I wandered around for quite a while wondering what had happened to Faramir that has put him in his current state. And the characterizations of the other three are well done. Eomer and Theodred are very Rohirric, and Eomer is a believable 15 year old. So all this is a good sign. You have me caught. But I did have some trouble with Faramir. I can accept him grouchy and troubled. The trick is not to also make him seem childish. I thought "What would you know?" sounded childish. I could more easily accept it if he'd said something like "Hold your ignorant tongue." The other thing is that he seems to be grouchy and then sympathetic and then snappish again. I can see you're trying to motivate the sympathy with the scolding from Theodred, but then I thought he took offense too easily at the remark that Boromir was not of Rohan. His reply was insulting. Perhaps something more like a sarcastic "we cannot all be so fortunate." I don't know. I think his mood shifts need to be smoothed out or motivated a little more clearly. The other thing was I was surprised that Boromir made the "you're supposed to be a captain" remark. I just didn't think he'd do that given that Faramir is having some sort of problem, especially if Boromir knows what it is and also especially in front of people. Author Reply: Hi Daw, thanks for the feedback. I thought "What would you know?" sounded childish. I could more easily accept it if he'd said something like "Hold your ignorant tongue." I'm not sure off-hand where that exchange is, but your suggestion sounds good so I'll have a look at it and may well use your suggestion, thanks. The other thing is that he seems to be grouchy and then sympathetic and then snappish again. I can see you're trying to motivate the sympathy with the scolding from Theodred, but then I thought he took offense too easily at the remark that Boromir was not of Rohan. His reply was insulting. Perhaps something more like a sarcastic "we cannot all be so fortunate." I don't know. I think his mood shifts need to be smoothed out or motivated a little more clearly. I guess I'm trying to show that there is still 'usual' Faramir under there, which is why he'll make an effort to be nicer until Eomer sticks his foot in it again (Eomer has an uncanny knack of hitting all of Faramir's sorest spots atm). Clearly this isn't coming across, though, so I'll look at it. He probably did take offence too easily at the Rohirrim remark - that was partly me rushing, though I do feel that he felt he'd just had his olive branch thrown back in his face. The other thing was I was surprised that Boromir made the "you're supposed to be a captain" remark. I just didn't think he'd do that given that Faramir is having some sort of problem, especially if Boromir knows what it is and also especially in front of people. My theory behind that remark, and a similar one in the earlier chapter, is that Boromir is no saint and right at the moment Faramir would try the patience of one and then some. Faramir can probably say whatver he likes to Boromir and he will put up with it because he loves Faramir and is desperately worried about him - but Eomer is younger and more vulnerable and I think it is very much a part of Boromir to protect those people. Anyway, that's how I see it. Thanks again for the feedback - it's been very helpful. Avon

robnrun	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/18/2005
Hi, really enjoying this story; I like the interaction and the tension between Eomer and Faramir at this point. I can definitely put up with Faramir's current state of mind, as long as you explain it at some point, please. On leading reins vs lead lines: the former is a more typically British expression (I believe); but the other way they are used is that if one is leading a horse (with or without a rider) from the Back of another horse one should use a leading rein, whereas a horse led on foot is usually handled with a lead line. The other difference is that of course a leading rein is used on a bridle, a lead line should only be attached to a halter. But in my experience the fundamental difference is the mounted/unmounted one. Leading a horse from another horse is typically called ponying, by the way. Author Reply: Thanks, Robnrun - that explanation is very clear. I thought it had to be a British expression when both my horse betas didn't know it. As I both want to use the British expression and use the one where you would lead from horseback I'll stcik with leading rein then. Thanks.

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