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Sundry Scrolls II  by Raksha The Demon 7 Review(s)
Little DwarfReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/29/2008
Beautiful little piece!! I loved the rebirth/regeneration/renewal motif, and the small flower as the symbol of it... And Faramir comparing his finding to Aragorn's is very in character and well-inserted! :)

All in all, another wonderful series of vignettes!!! You really have a great talent at placing so many and so deep ideas in so few words! :) Excellent job!!!!!

Author Reply: Vignettes can be fun to write; and I seem to have become addicted to writing them.

I thought of Faramir toiling away at the razing and reclamation of Minas Ithil for decades; and had to let him start seeing signs of new and uncorrupted life. Faramir would appreciate the flower, as a Ranger and Lord of the Garden of Gondor.

Thanx for reading and reviewing!

BranwynReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/18/2008
How lovely! Too bad that Sam is not there to rejoice with Faramir. The land around the Black Gate, lifeless and blasted, always seemed less hideous to me than the Morgul Vale with its deformed living creatures. I don't think Farmir should denigrate his own achievement--Aragorn found a miracle waiting for him on the mountainside, but Faramir's labors allowed this miracle to happen.
Thanks for sharing this lovely piece of writing!

Author Reply: I do hope that Sam will see the rebirth of Minas Morgul, or at least the transitional phase; I have the feeling it will still be several decades before the vale is deemed safe. And yes, credit for the slow transformation belongs to Faramir; though I'm sure he's smart enough to have accepted the aid of dwarves and elves in this slow but crucial endeavor.

Thanx for the review, Branwyn; I'm glad you liked the piece.

meckinockReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/11/2008
It's so in character that Faramir would notice the flower, and stop to wonder at it.

Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, Meckinock - yes, Faramir is very observant, and sees the small details as well as the big picture; and he would be quite knowledgeable about plants...

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/11/2008
Small it was, yet still a brave harbinger of change

Awwww. A lovely image, and I really like the possibility of a hobbit possibly bringing it there.

Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, shirebound!

The seeds could have been borne into the Morgul Vale, and taken awhile to germinate, or at first flowered in hidden places behind rocks and whatnot, until one flower peeked out on a path that Faramir revisited...If I had lots more time, or was a faster writer, I could do quite a story about Faramir and Minas Morgul...

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/11/2008
That was utterly gorgeous! I can see him cherishing this sign of life, finally returning to a place blasted by evil.

I hope that Faramir wrote to Samwise, and told him of this--I think it would have done the little gardener's heart good!

Author Reply:
I'm sure that they're going to plant some athelas as well, at some point.

When the various Minas Ithil plotbunnies were nipping at my ankles, one variation on this theme that percolated in my head did indeed have Faramir think of Samwise. I'm sure that Faramir made sure that Sam knew about the flower on the path to Cirith Ungol...

Thanx for the review, Dreamflower!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/11/2008
So perfect for our young Prince Steward! A smaller victory in ways than the finding of the White Tree, ut as necessary and desired an accomplishment in the end, to see normal plants return HERE.

Author Reply: I loved how Tolkien seemed to identify Faramir with greenery, spring, and forests; including Faramir's happy speculation about all things blooming with Eowyn's arrival in Ithilien. I think JRRT and Aragorn intended Faramir to be in charge of the reclamation of Minas Morgul, which would have been a titanic chore - every sign of normality, of some kind of life that had nothing to do with the corruption by Nazgul and Sauron, would have been a victory, another step on a long road.

Thanx for the review, Larner!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/10/2008
A lovely glimpse of rebirth in the shape of a single flower.

Author Reply: Now you've got me thinking of Legolas and Faramir dancing for joy around the flower. And if Sam had been there! Anyway, I had fun writing it Thanx for commenting, Linda!

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