News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Sundry Scrolls by Raksha The Demon | 8 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Little Dwarf | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/29/2008 |
| Very dramatic! Loved the "Stars ans Stones and Tree" reference! Author Reply: It's not easy to come up with Middle-earth equivalencies for swear-words or even strong language. Anyway, this is one of the few times I've been able to keep a piece down to 100 words; a sad moment in the history of the Fellowship and Gondor. Thanx for reading and commenting! | |
| Nesta | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/27/2008 |
| What would he have said to Denethor, if they'd met? Thereby hangs an AU story, I think. Considering JRR originally intended to have Denethor and Aragorn meet, it would be a very interesting moment. Author Reply: Aragorn's meeting Denethor again after all those years and with Boromir's death between them would have been much more awkward and acrimonious than the graceful interaction between Aragorn and Faramir after the healing. I am not sure that there would have been war or a battle of other than words over the issue of Aragorn's claim to the throne, but I think Aragorn's role in Boromir's death would have embittered Denethor even more. It is probably for the best that JRRT took the road less traveled by... | |
| Khorazīr | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/7/2008 |
| It would have been interesting indeed had there be a direct confrontation between Aragorn and Denethor in LotR, not just because of the latter bringing news of Boromir's death. Also, I wonder how much Aragorn would have told the other of what truly befell Boromir. I can't see Aragorn trying to lie to Denethor, but even withholding part of the events would have been difficult. Anyway, excellent stuff, Raksha. :) Author Reply: An earlier version of ROTK, outlined by JRRT, had no pyre; and Denethor being less than gracious about handing over the throne of Gondor to Aragorn, and Aragorn being less than gracious about how he assumed it. There was also the plotline of Boromir not getting a hero's death; rather deserting the Fellowship and running off to ally with Saruman, and ending up dueling with Aragorn on the Pelennor - guess who won. I'm so glad that Tolkien wisely forsook that direction in his epic! Aragorn is a master at evasion; but I can't see him sparing himself here if he had ended up giving the account of Boromir's death to Denethor; it would have been torturous for both men. Aragorn might have tried to avoid discussing Boromir's fall to Ring-allure; but I think Denethor could have wrung that info out of him. Or could he? It could have been a fabulous scene. I have a plotbunny for a Denethor!Lives! AU story; I'm trying to resist the beast's gnawing at my heels; since it would be long and involved and angsty, and Tolkien did the true narrative so much better... Thanx for reading and reviewing, Khorazir! | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/31/2007 |
| Great stuff Raksha. We see so little of his reactions to Boromir's death. Just as well that it didn't fall to him to tell Denethor Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, harrowcat! I'm glad you liked the piece. Aragorn's sorrow after Boromir's death is almost the last time we see the human in the Returning King; and I always thought it a great scene. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/28/2007 |
| You captured Aragorn's emotions beautifully here in this moving drabble. I can well imagine that Aragorn would dread telling Denethor the sad news. Author Reply: I personally think poor Aragorn would rather face a Balrog than bring the news of Boromir's death to Denethor, especially under these circumstances - it had to hurt. Aragorn certainly had a bad day; it's the only time that Tolkien paints him as confused and self-doubting; though thankfully his emotional crisis didn't last very long. | |
| Branwyn | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/27/2007 |
| The thought of having to bring news of Boromir's death to Denethor must have been especially horrible. I like that Aragorn realizes that he will have to explain how he survived unharmed when Boromir was slain, because that is exactly what Denethor asks Peregrin. Very nicely done! Author Reply: It's a sad thing in any case to have to report to someone that their son is dead, but when he was under one's own command and one's own performance that day was less than stellar, it makes it so much harder. And Aragorn had known Denethor, and been treated like a son by Boromir's grandfather. Brrr! Lucky for Aragorn that Denethor was dead when Isildur's Heir came to Minas Tirith. Thanx for the review, Branwyn! | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/27/2007 |
| Oh, I like this very much! I do think Aragorn would have blamed himself in some ways. I also like his feeling of loss. Very powerful. Author Reply: Aragorn showed a lot of emotion in that chapter; he did seem to blame himself, and that blame is not totally unjustified - I really liked the expression of emotion, it showed Aragorn's human side, that he wasn't just a Dunedain Superman. Thanx for the review, Wonderer! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/26/2007 |
| It would have been a terrible thing to have to come to Minas Tirith, hat in hand: "I've come to claim the Winged Crown and Throne--and, by the way, your son is dead, Denethor." After the resentment Denethor had known before Thorongil left Gondor before it would have been too much. Even in what Denethor says to Gandalf, insisting he won't bow to this ragged stranger from the north of a lineage long bereft of lordship we can see the resentment is still there. He could have given Pelendur a run for his money, I think! Author Reply: I could see Aragorn being horrified at the prospect of coming to Gondor and confronting the father of the comrade who died under his leadership; especially since Aragorn had known the younger Denethor and had been Ecthelion's protege at the time when Boromir was born. Denethor certainly wouldn't bow to Thorongil or Aragorn; part of the resentment is surely personal. We don't really know whether Pelendur's decision was the best for Gondor as he saw it, or motivated by less noble concerns. Thanx for reading and reviewing, Larner! | |