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By the Light of Earendil's Star  by Branwyn 5 Review(s)
IsilmeReviewed Chapter: 12 on 12/7/2004
Hey, Branwyn
I came over here to check out chapter 12; as they haven't posted it yet on war of the ring - grr! I really love the way you've been keeping this story alive - enough plot twists and yet not too many as to be incoherent or anything - and also great grammar and continuity! kudos! some of the fan-fiction i've glanced over on some sites... well...i dare not speak of it... But anyway, i also love how you've portrayed all your characters...especially the Steward's family. They seem to have so much life! Well, thank you so much for providing all of us with this amazing story! ~Isilme


Author Reply: Isilme--

Thanks for your kind review! [Branwyn does happy dance around her office; the cats watch in amazement.]

You might want to check out some stories by other writers on this site. War of the Ring was the first fanfiction site I discovered so it still feels like "home," but Stories of Arda has a much larger archive of stories.

Chapter 13, in which there is a pleasant surprise, will be posted in a day or two. Thanks again for writing!

Branwyn

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/28/2004
I missed this chapter completely yesterday! I'm so glad to see it now.

How absolutely perfect that the orcs fear there are more rangers across the stream and then, just by serendipity, they show up! I also like the fact that you have them able to speak Sindarin, which so far as I can figure out, is right. At least Frodo thinks that they can.

Poor Boromir. All he can do for Faramir now is hope.

Author Reply: Yes, that one orc is thinking, "I told you so!" as he runs as fast he can back toward Mordor, LOL. Those sneaking rangers!

Regarding Sindarin, I recall Frodo recognizing that Faramir and the rangers speak some form of Elvish. In the Appendices (I think), Tolkien says that, although not everyone in Gondor speaks Sindarin, the people in Minas Tirith and its environs and in Dol Amroth still do.

Thank you for writing!
Branwyn


Author Reply: Hullo, Daw-

Someon over at ff.net had the exact same question about the human characters speaking Sindarin, so I am posting this as a public service announcement. :-D

Here is what Tolkien says in Appendix F of ROTK--

"...at the time of the War of the Ring, the Elven-tongue was known to only a small part of the peoples of Gondor, and spoken daily by fewer. These dwelt mostly in Minas Tirith and the townloands adjacent [Ed.--out in the 'burbs, LOL], and in the land of the tributary princes of Dol Amroth."

Also, in "The Two Towers," when Frodo and Sam stumble into Faramir and his rangers, the hobbits recognize that the rangers are speaking some form of elvish among themselves.

So, that is why I have the men speaking Sindarin to each other. However, if anyone can cite something contradicting this, please let me know. Wouldn't be the first time I have been wrong (or the last).

Thanks again for writing!
Branwyn

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/28/2004
Very well written indeed, and am looking forward to more updates.

Author Reply: Thanks for your kind reviews!
Feeling much happier now. :-D
Branwyn

mirthorReviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/27/2004
Wonderful chapter. I especially liked Boromir's retreat into the woods, his vigil on the bank, and his rescue by the rangers. Very sorry to see Eldahil didn't make it, but it'd be unrealistic if all the main characters lived.

Looking forward to the next chapter.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/27/2004
Excellent chapter! Very satisfying to finally have our heroes get a break from the threat of imminent death. Loved Boromir's fight, and then his reunion with poor dazed Faramir and his gentle attempt to comfort his brother. Hirluin's desperate need to hold the dagger is very poignant; so glad he survived!

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