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Sundry Scrolls III  by Raksha The Demon 7 Review(s)
SoledadReviewed Chapter: 5 on 6/23/2009
Well, I can imagine that Faramir was doubly shocked by his newborn child. :)

At the beginning, I was beginning to melt into a puddle, bit I must admit that I was shocked a bit, too, how the child turned out. That would be one strong-willed maiden, if the looks aren't the only thing she's inherited.

Author Reply: Little Miriel will indeed be a strong-willed young lady, in my fanfictional Fourth Age. Here's the URL for the only other piece so far where she's got something to say, at least in the second half of it, A Pirate's Life for Me:

http://stories.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5053&cid=20720

I wanted to show that what one expects isn't exactly always what one get in terms of babies and family resemblances. But I think Faramir would love that child very much as she grew.

Thanx for reviewing, Soledad!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/23/2009
It's a good thing I live alone. My shout of 'appreciation' at this line would have woken the entire house! 'Oh, this was not going well.'

Oh! This was hard... 'Its stormy dark eyes and the wrathful twist of its sharp little features reminded Faramir uncomfortably of his last conversation with his father.' But to use 'it' instead of 'her' made me shiver.

THIS broke my heart - “No Shadow shall ever dim thy light, iell-nin, no fire shall touch thee.”


I was supposed to be a boy - in my mother's hopes - I think I turned out ok.

I do wonder though, if Faramir's love of his father would be able to ovrshadow all the pain, every time he looked at this precious bundle.

Beatifully written.... Now I think I'll go off and weep a bit.

Author Reply: Faramir has learned to read his wife's voice and expressions by now, I expect. And it wouldn't take a genius to figure out that Eowyn was Not Amused with her husband at this point.

At the time when Faramir is referring to his secondborn as an 'it', he is still not quite recognizing her as not only a baby needing protection and love, but his baby; he's still struggling how to mentally categorize this funny-looking thing that has defied all his expectations. Luckily, compassion is second-nature to him; as soon as she looks up at him, her cries slowing, he starts to see her; and it's all uphill from there.

I think there will be times when the baby reminds Faramir of his father. But as she grows older, and becomes more her own person, Faramir will be able to see his daughter as well as an echo of Denethor. Her likeness, I think, could be therapeutic for Faramir; because Miriel is, to some extent, a female version of Denethor as he should have and could have been, growing up in peacetime, not burdened with terrible fears and life-and-death decisions and a diminishing future. In fact, Faramir will have to subdue his impulses to spoil the kid. The fact that she's female will help separate Miriel from Denethor in Faramir's eyes.

Thanks for the review!

NestaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/21/2009
I'm sure she would be absolutely gorgeous to look on, but with a brain too. Suitors will have to keep their wits about them!

Author Reply: Oh, for sure. Frankly, Miriel (that's what she'll be called) will probably be a bit too intimidating for all but the most confident of men; very smart, rather imperious, but fair-minded, and able to out-ride most warriors...Miriel appears as a youngster in A Pirate's Life For Me, in my "Divers Drabbles II" compilation, elsewhere on this site.

Thanx for the review, Nesta!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/21/2009
He tightened his hold. Yes, one day men would seek her out, a Prince’s fair daughter. And they will reckon with me, and it shall be few indeed that I will find worthy of her!

How quickly hesitation turned to love! It's sweet to watch his thoughts and heart change to accept his new daughter.

Author Reply: Well, Faramir's never had a daughter, someone he could visualize in gowns and jewelry. Compassion is one of Faramir's strongest instincts, and once that started flowing, he stopped thinking of the child as an it and started accepting her as not only a baby, but his baby, his daughter.

Thanx for the review, Shirebound!

RugiReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/21/2009
I loved this! The idea of a tiny squalling Denethor just made me laugh. I felt for Faramir, new born babies are rarely all that attractive - we're lucky our parents love us so much. I was also amused by his assumption that it would be a boy because it happened to my parents (my father's family only ever had boys - lots and LOTS of boys - for like three generations so they didn't even have girl-names selected for me!) - for all we think we know that babies come as either boys or girls, parents still get their share of shocks. I love the moment between Faramir and the baby, when they "connect" - it was sweet and touching (it also lines up well with your other ficlet where Denethor thinks about baby-Faramir). Great stuff!

Author Reply: I see Elboron, Faramir and Eowyn's firstborn as having been handsome even as a newborn, so the appearance of this kid was a double-shock, first it's a girl, second, it's not just a female version of Elboron. I'm sure Faramir, and all fathers, are in for some surprises when their second child doesn't do the same things as the first, LOL. (anyone in the house who knew Faramir as an infant is probably laughing quite a bit at the moment, since the baby looks a lot like him and he hasn't yet realized it) According to my mother, I was supposed to be a boy (well, in her mind anyway), but they had two names picked out, boy and girl, and my father was thrilled (he had always wanted a daughter).

Yes, I've written a few birth-ficlets; they're fun to write, mainly for the different ways parents react. I don't see Denethor as a touchy-feely father to either of his sons, but he would have felt some kind of love and paternal protection instinct for baby Faramir.

Thanx for reading and reviewing, Rugi!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/21/2009
Ah--how wonderful! Yes, our Faramir has a daughter, and she takes after her father's people rather than her mother's! Perfect! And love how once he slips into formal language and caresses her cheek she calms and allows herself to sleep. The interplay with Eowyn is masterful!

Author Reply: I think this kid (who will be called Miriel) will take some from both parents; I see all of Faramir's children as excellent riders, but this one is physically very like Faramir and Denethor. Yes, as soon as Faramir relaxed and felt that compassion that is such a strong part of him, the baby responded. I'm glad you liked the interplay with Eowyn; no way was she going to allow Faramir, after the long labor, to disrespect their new baby!

Thanx for reviewing, Larner!!!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/21/2009
This is quite an unusual glimpse of Faramir as he does rather put his foot in things!Does he not know babies come in two genders? I loved Eowyn here. I'm so pleased the little girl quickly won her daddy's heart.

Author Reply:
Well, even my wonderful Faramir, noblest Gondorian of them all, is not 100% perfect, LOL. He just expected another boy and didn't think of a daughter.

This kid is definitely going to be Daddy's little Princess. She's going to grow up to be very striking, and look very like Claudia Black, only a bit taller I think.

Thanx for reviewing, Linda!

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