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Dreamflower's Mathoms II  by Dreamflower 8 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 29 on 4/4/2013
Somehow I knew the mythical creature would be a unicorn. Your description of her is beautiful, and how original that she made the water safe for others!

Author Reply: Well, I don't know about original--purifying water was one of the mythical attributes of unicorns from ancient times, and I kind of based the story on a supposed "eye-witness" account of a Medieval traveler who claimed to have seen this happen. Whether it was true, or a dream or just a story he made up, it was a very lovely and poetical tale.

AltheaReviewed Chapter: 29 on 2/7/2007
What a lovely story. I love this line, "It is good to remember that there are creatures of light as well as of darkness." that sentiment brings such hope for those in the story and for those of us reading it as well. Sometimes, when we are surrounded by stories of doom and sadness, it is good to remember that there are indeed creatures of light in the world.

Author Reply: Thank you! I always thought that there *should* have been unicorns in Middle-earth, so this was the perfect Challenge for me.

They really did need that reminder, after encountering that horror in the water.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/10/2006
Dreamflower, that was a wonderful way to include an unicorn in the world of Middle-earth. I love the idea that it had enough magic to make the Enchanted River safe for the animals to drink the water and that it allowed Aragorn to do the same. And it is fitting to have something like it in one of the elven realms - somehow it belongs there.

Author Reply: I've just always thought there *ought* to be unicorns there, so I was delighted when Marigold gave me the chance to do that!

I recently read a 15th c. supposedly "eye-witness" account of a unicorn purifying a stream. I do suppose that is probably what inspired this.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/9/2006
Beautiful tale - and it's nice to think that all the magical creatures of Middle-earth weren't Morgoth's abominations. And Aragorn would be just the sort of person who might be gifted with seeing a creature that even the King of Mirkwood and his son had never encountered.

Not to mention a very cheering story to hear when you've just been imprisoned in the dark stone tomb of the Dwarves.

Author Reply: I like to think that perhaps there *were* some magical creatures of Light--the Great Eagles were, for one, so I don't see why there could not have been others. And it seemed to me appropriate that the future King and hope of the West would be allowed to see her.

And yes, that was the main thing--something to cheer them up in the darkness.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/8/2006
What a lovely use of a wonderful creature Dreamflower.

Author Reply: Thank you!

AmyReviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/8/2006
What a fascinating tale!

It made me think of Aragorn as virgin (don't remember a lot about unicorns, but I seem to remember that they favored virginal maidens) and other interesting topics. I love stories of Aragorn's adventures before the Fellowship.

A good tale to hearten the Fellowship in this dark place!

Author Reply: Thank you. I've always wanted unicorns in Middle-earth, so this Challenge gave me that chance!

You are right about the virginal maiden part, and as far as I am concerned you are right about Aragorn as well. I am quite sure that once he had met Arwen, he would have kept himself for her--after all, not to do so would have been fatal to his hopes, for as we have been told by JRRT, for Elves, physical intimacy=marriage, and he most certainly could not have come to her already married in the Elven sense!

And that was what I thought--they needed to remember the Light, even though at that point it was being denied them.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/7/2006
How wonderful to find that this legend also has a place in Middle Earth. Very lovely tale. Thank you.

Author Reply: I am glad you like the idea. It always seemed unicorns *ought* to be in Middle-earth, so I love the idea that Marigold's prompt gave me to do that.

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 29 on 12/7/2006
What a luminous little story! I felt as if I was right there with them. Such a nice touch, that Aragorn partakes of the grace of the creatures of the Light.
Lovely.

Author Reply: *blushes*

Thank you! That's lovely. I just thought it seemed appropriate for her to greet him--he is himself a creature of Light, so to speak, though he wouldn't think that of himself.

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