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Encounter in Ithilien  by Dreamflower 4 Review(s)
Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/28/2009
These were certainly strange days for the Ithilien Rangers; and even stranger things were being discussed by their Captain and the mysterious Halflings. A lovely look at one of Tolkien's most interesting (in my opinion, anyway) chapters.

Author Reply: It's interesting, I've not written very many Two Towers gapfillers, but of the handful I have written, three of them are set in this chapter. There's so much there to be explored! And of course, there's Faramir, who after hobbits and Fellowship members, is probably my favorite canon character.

Strange days, indeed!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/27/2009
Another cute reaction from Sam - putting his head in the water and the remark made. I really should read the tale more often for I forget so much between readings. I've barely begun Two Towers for the 4th time and will be some weeks before I am here in this cave.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: I think in the Ithilien chapters, we get a really good look at Sam's sense of humor. He really was very cheeky and impertinant! And he had some very funny lines!

As many times as I've read LotR (and I lost count over 30 years ago at 56) I *always* find something *new* every time I re-read it!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/27/2009
Dear Mablung, he felt rather protective of the Hobbits, didn't he? I really liked how careful he and Damrod were to avoid Frodo and Sam slipping or stumbling while blindfolded.

Nice to see Eradan :) And it was interesting to see the men wondering if Faramir really would heed his father's order and slay the Hobbits.

Author Reply: You noticed that, did you? *grin* That old Hobbit charm at work...

I've read fics where the men were rough with them, pushing and shoving them along (influenced, I suppose, by movie-verse). But I could not imagine Faramir allowing his men to behave that way, or that the men who served under him would even want to behave that way!

Originally, I had thought to start this story in Eradan's POV, but I wanted to include that first encounter, and the oliphaunt, so it had to be either Mablung or Damrod.

I'm sure those orders were on everybody's mind!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/25/2009
No, they are not privy to the conversation between their Captain and the strange guests, guests who carry news to make their great-hearted Captain sad and even grim--before he laughs.

Strange guests, these. And what will he decide about them, they must be wondering?

Poor Frodo, with this tension within him.

Author Reply: Strange guests, indeed!

Yes, everyone must be wondering what Faramir will decide, not the least, Faramir himself.

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