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Misunderstanding  by Clairon 6 Review(s)
FarawynReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/1/2005
That is so sad! I always thought that Eowyn would never be happy, no matter what Tolkein and the books said, and what he made Eowyn say. It was almost as if Tolkein just needed another happy ending, so he pushed Eowyn in to married Faramir.

I love his realization at the end that he had loved her..... and the gaping hole she left in his heart.

MaidenofValinorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/28/2004
I like it. A different outlook. Beautiful writing!

ClaironReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/20/2004
Yo Branwyn!

First off thanks for all your stunning reviews and input. I really do appreciate the time you are taking. And sorry if it made you depressed!

Faramir and Eowyn's relationship is so interesting. I would love for it to be sweetness and light but life isn't like that. Call me a cynic but I don't believe they had enough of a foundation to survive the differences between them. Hopefully they worked at it and found happiness but I just can't see it.

I agree with you; I think JRR copped out a little with them but then I guess they aren't the real focus of the story anyway. At least he gave us a little romance unlike Peter Jackson (I await the ROTK EE with baited breath).

Anyway call me a killjoy but I am writing a further, darker story now involving Faramir and Eowyn's ultimate failure to make it work!

BranwynReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/20/2004
Now I reread my own review and am depressed by what I wrote. This is a dead depressing story! I do believe that the two of them worked things out, but I liked this story because it did point out that there would have been some serious differences and obstacles.

Regarding their marriage, I think that Tolkien was more a Victorian writer than a 20th century writer, and as such, he felt a need to marry off the female characters at the end of the story. If Faramir hadn't been in the story, JRRT would have invented someone else for Eowyn to marry. So, in that respect, their romance seems contrived to me.

When they meet, she is adrift in the world, lost and trying to find a place and a role for herself. I do like them together as a couple, but she seems so young and unformed that you hope she grows up into somene who will still be happy with her chosen life.

BranwynReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/19/2004
Interesting exploration of the problems their marriage would have faced. I will admit that I, too, have not always been convinced that these two were a good match. Somewhere, I read that Tolkien had originally intended her to marry Aragorn but decided he was too old and grim for her! I think she would have understood and responded to Boromir almost instinctively; he was enough like the men of Rohan and enough like her. At times, Faramir would have been a closed book to her (to use an appropriate simile, LOL).

You would hope that Faramir would not have turned away from her, as he does in this story, but I agree that he would be hindered by lack of experience with women. As a young man, he looked forward to a match arranged by Denethor; how could he honorably have had relations with women when he was not free to wed as he pleased? He could not pay serious attention to any woman because he would be misleading her--or worse. And it does not sound like Eowyn had any suitors before Faramir (unless you count Wormtongue, but let's not...), so she too lacks experience with the opposite sex. It always rang false to me that she so suddenly decided that she wanted to be with Faramir and not Aragorn. The change is too abrupt, and I think Tolkien fumbles to explain it. [Branwyn hides under her oak computer desk to avoid flying objects.]

Your story is very sad, but not implausible.

RAKSHA THE DEMONReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/19/2004
What a sad story! You make a good case for Eowyn and Faramir to grow distant and end their marriage in sorrow. In this AU, they couldn't reach far enough to find each other.

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