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From Wilderness to Cities White  by Larner 7 Review(s)
AntaneReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/18/2011
An intriguing story. I was amused by the refusal of Faramir to tell even his king the truth but let them all discover it on their own.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Often lessons are learned best if they are learned independently! Thanks so, Antane.

Lady BluejayReviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/29/2010
Very nice - I love owls. Although I am not so sure I would like them nesting above my bed.LBJ

Author Reply: Having them nesting overhead could get decidedly messy, I'd think. But it was fun to write this! Heh!

TariReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/30/2010
I figured it must be an owl. Who else would fly in and out of a window at night. At least the boys learned how to be vigilant.


Author Reply: I thought that Eldarion and Elboron needed a reason to learn just that skill, and how better than by seeking the answer to this small mystery? Even though the answer was there, staring them in the face the whole time! Heh! Thanks for the feedback, Tari.

TeresaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/29/2010
A most excellent ghost story! I loved seeing how Faramir gave not only the boys but Aragorn their chance to solve the mystery! I enjoyed seeing the friendship between the boys and their fathers! It was also nice to hear about the bond between Faramir and Boromir when they were children! Many thanks for this story! :)

Author Reply: It was fun to write this one, and to imagine how the boys might have learned much about the history of the Citadel, and particularly from Faramir, who of course had grown up there himself. I once found a snowy owl in the basement of a house, undoubtedly having entered through a window, perhaps in search of a place to hide from a storm or perhaps in pursuit of prey. One ghosts over my property on summer nights, depleting the population of mice and rats in the taller grass. A friend tells me of the family that nests in his barn, and I'd be proud if one did so here as well.

That owls might have at times nested inside the window of empty rooms just seems so possible, and the idea of that led to the rest of the story.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/28/2010
Great story! I enjoyed it a great deal.

I liked your description of Denethor here, who allowed his sons to investigate on their own.
I'm quite sure that on other occasions the two boys were faced with many restrictions due to their state as sons of the Steward.

Author Reply: And I am certain that you are correct as to the restrictions they often face. Being the child of a national leader is always fraught with restrictions.

Thank you so much!

ArmarielReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/28/2010
Awww now that was sweet! Ghosty owls! That's a hoot! (sorry, couldn't resist;);))

~~~~~{~@

^oo^


Author Reply: Am glad you enjoy it. We had a family of pygmy owls that nested one year in our locust tree out front, and we took a number of photos as the babies grew up. The next year they returned, but nested in the woods out back where they wouldn't fall prey to our curiosity as much. And there is a great white owl here that hunts near the barn when the moon is full--I love watching him swoop soundlessly through the night. It was delightful to write this.

EllynnReviewed Chapter: 4 on 11/28/2010
Oh, this is so wonderful! I love this little mystery tale, especially the way Faramir acts, letting the boys discover the secret by themselves. The end is so lovely; it is a touch of wild nature in the Citadel. Yes, it would be nice to have a family of birds so near. :)

Author Reply: I've already had peregrine falcons nesting on the window ledges, much as they do in many cities on the ledges of tall buildings. It was fun to add in a family of owls returning irregularly to nest on the ledge of the dormer beneath the clerestory window. And I imagine boys of each generation realizing that there were these spectral inhabitants of the Citadel and enjoying the knowledge of what really went BUMP in the night!

Thanks so, Ellynn.

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