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| A Light in Midwinter by Mirkwoodmaiden | 18 Review(s) |
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| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 6/13/2020 |
| You convey this wonderful couple, and their joy, so beautifully. Author Reply: Shirebound! Thanks! I do love to write about them. Have you seen the new story about Eowyn? If you wanted to read it I would love to know what you think. If you don't want to that's ok too! :-)) Stay Safe, mellon nin! MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/29/2020 |
| Lovely! I delight in all the thought that has evidently gone into the Naming Day customs, and how it looks forward to the promise of the next generation. All the “menfolk” taking refuge in the pub was quite amusing! And I’ve used “That (beverage) won’t drink itself” a few times myself, and it always makes me smile to hear/read it in real life or in stories. Author Reply: Lindelea! So glad you really enjoyed the story! About the Naming Day customs! I love to think up customs and practices for my stories and then write about them in my stories! With the Naming Day I thought back to when in the ROTK film Gandalf and Pippin just arrived and Gandalf talked about Gondor in the days of the last king. Building fine tombs greater than houses; looking back ancestors and ignoring their sons. I want to show that changed with society. I'm glad that came across! :-) I was writing and I noticed that the men were gathering in a pub again! LOL Quite natural really. I spent so much time in pubs when I lived in England. Those pubs scenes just write themselves! LOL! We may be kindred spirits...I've used that line "This [beverage] isn't going to drink itself!" on many an occassion usually in a pub! Anyway so happy you liked it! Thanks for the encouraging words! MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/26/2020 |
| Hops in a Barrel! Hahahahahaha! leave it to a hobbit, especially one that raised sitting in a pub to an art form, to suggest more drinking and in the form of a game. Exactly right. What fun! Author Reply: Lindelea! Yeah! That scene just kind of wrote itself. So Pippin!! That was written from the many,many nights I spent in English pubs! LOL!! Eomer had to distract Faramir. Pippin had the perfect idea!! Really glad you enjoyed it! MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/26/2020 |
| (I haven't read this chapter yet, and don't have time today, but just wanted to comment on the "Eboron/Elboron" comments... I have a terrible time with names, myself. You have no idea how many times I've called Peregrin "Paladin" or Ferdibrand "Ferdinand" or vice versa...! I am always grateful when someone points out something that was missed in beta reading, LOL!) Author Reply: So very true! When I was typing it I knew the name didn't look right but I didn't look it up! Alas! MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/26/2020 |
| Pardon me for quoting such a large swath... It was the eve of the Solstice, a time for looking back and reflecting in Minas Tirith and now a time for looking forward in Ithilien. At the informal family feasting that took place on the eve of the Solstice Éowyn looked around at those who formed her life around her now. She laughed as Merry and Pippin had their mugs in hand and were once again regaling the gathered friends and keep inhabitants with songs from the Shire, or more correctly songs from Shire pubs. She laughed with the dear little ones; they brought such life and such happiness wherever they went. Ah, yes, we've talked about the Solstice before. I love your take on it, especially the subtle message in "looking back" in Minas Tirith and "looking forward" in Ithilien, categorizing a shift to new life and hope from regrets over past events and endless watching and waiting for the next attack. And I love how you portray Merry and Pippin and their effects on the others around them! Ah, the horses. (In my youth, collecting and playing with Breyer horses was my delight.) And Arwen, joining the fray! Interestingly enough, my midwife told me alcohol is useful to put off early labor pains and prolong a pregnancy when the babe needs a bit more time before emerging into the world. Gimli! and Legolas! (and the children! including the latest, about to arrive!) ...and Faramir, and healing his battered heart, and brotherhood... Ah, my heart. Lovely. Author Reply: Lindelea! Be prepared for long winded me! Really glad that my distinction of how Minas Tirith and Ithilien view the Solstice has been noticed by you! Yeah! I thought it shows how Gondor is now thinking about life and hope since the return of the King. About Merry and Pippin they really strike me as hobbits are yes, mischievous but very loyal and very loving and full of joy. Their characters do read like that and I guess I am also influenced by the wonderful portrayals by Dom Monaghan and Billy Boyd. They are a joy to write. Ah the horses! Yes! I wanted to show Aragorn and Arwen's lighter side and showing that they are both very much engaged with their son. Both Aragorn and Arwen were raised in Elven ways. Arwen of course being an Elf and Aragorn being fostered there from before he was three and to the age of 20. In Morgoth Ring Tolkien talks of Elves raising their children and the parents are the primary care givers. Elves are very close to their children. I could very well be mistaken but I have used how highborn households in our world going to back to renaissance, Victorian, Edwardian English noble families have had their children raised (Nurses, Governesses, tutors, etc). Hence it is very usual for Aragorn and Arwen to play Horses with Eldarion. I thought taking more time to bring Legolas and Gimli into the story, but the idea didn't flow. Then I thought they live in Ithilien and would probably just drop by. And Eldarion would be very familiar with the two. I wasn't going to bring Faramir through anymore doubt (because he has been through so much) but again this new pain and doubt seemed to make sense. When having had a traumatic upbringing and then entering into a loving and nurturing relationship you don't alway believe your good fortune. And that person who has provided that safe haven is somehow taken away for perhaps the first time it flowed in my story that Faramir would lapse into what had been the norm for him for so long. One that says that happiness is fleeting and doesn't last. He is brought out of it by Aragorn, but also Eomer, Legolas and Merry and Pippin. They show him they are not disappointed by "weakness" as Faramir thought his behaviour to be. They show him that the opposite is true that he is indeed loved and respected. It heals his heart. They are his brothers who will stick by him, It is a revelation to him. And Breathe. Sorry if I may have run onto too long. BTW Didn't have a chance to tell you. In your current story I truly love that you thought deeply enough in your story to understand the Court system that at least the Tooks have. Very impressive! Love it! MM | |
| Lindariel | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/26/2020 |
| I've enjoyed your story a great deal. Just one tiny little quibble. According to Christopher Tolkien's The History of Middle-earth Vol 9, Faramir and Eowyn's son was named Elboron, not Eboron. Author Reply: Darn it! This is what happens when I don't check my spelling of names before I hit the publish button!! Curses! I will change it now! :-) Author Reply: And thank you for pointing that out because you know no matter how many times you and even a beta can read something sometimes things can slip past. So thank you. I'm glad you caught that. I mean it isn't a perfect correlation but I'm deciding upon the combining of two things for the child's name as an story point. I can come up with no other reason as to why Faramir's child wouldn't be called Boromir, considering how much he loved his brother. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/26/2020 |
| “There you three are! You realize Arwen is looking for you. There is work to be done!” Merry chimed up, “Of course there is! This ale isn’t going to drink itself!” *grins* This has been a delightful story, and I've enjoyed it greatly. Author Reply: Shirebound! Yup! I figured it was a very Merry-like thing to say! LOL. Thank you! I am so glad that you have enjoyed it! Thanks for all the reviews. It is so encouraging and very well appreciated! My literary mission: To write about Faramir and Eowyn being happy! :-) MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/21/2020 |
| just growing up I know he merited having things thrown at him throughout our childhood! You know, having grown up as a little sister of brothers, I certainly can identify with this sentiment. Hah! Who knew wine could be so calming, when properly administered? Alas, poor Denethor! I don't wonder that Faramir doesn't want to say more to his wife about Denethor coming to appreciate his son at the last... Author Reply: Lindelea! Thanks for the Review! Yup! I think anybody who grew up with older brothers knows they definitely need to have things thrown at them. LOL Exactly when "properly" administered Wine can have enormous benefits! LOL And Yeah the relationship between Faramir and his father. So not good. I have another story about Faramir and Eowyn when they are first meeting in the Houses of Healing in that I try to show a little more about their relationship and a little snippet about Faramir and his mom as well. It is called "Bound by Duty; Bound by Joy." I read in one of your review replies in your current stories that you took a break from fanfic writing. So did I. And only recently have I started writing again as well. I just wanted to get back and start "living" in Middle Earth of late so I started writing again.Glad you did too! I was lucky I remembered my Stories of Arda password! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/19/2020 |
| According to them nothing surpassed the Green Dragon or the Golden Perch but the ale at the King’s Arms drank well enough. Sounds very true to life. Oh, the teasing! What fun! Rohan’s king turned a chair around and sat astride as he would a horse, I found this quite natural and delightful. A lifetime battling orcs never prepared us for the real battles to come. Ahahahaha! So true. I just love this bit, too, and can so clearly imagine it: The rest of the table, however, was still in thrall to the idea of the gentle spirited Lothiriel chucking live poultry at her warrior husband. Yet. Famous last word... Author Reply: Lindelea! So glad you enjoyed this chapter! I had so much fun writing it! I love showing Aragorn's more light-hearted side and the hobbits are irrepressible as usual!! In a casual setting I just thought that Eomer would sit a chair astride. He strikes me as a very down-to-earth character even though he is now King. A lifetime battling orcs... Yep! It is the smaller battles in life that really define our lives. The live chicken throwing came as crazy inspiration as I was writing and I just ran with it!! Yet....ah no truer words! Thanks again for the review!! MM. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/18/2020 |
| Faramir looked at Éomer, “Something’s happening!” Éomer sighed a compassionate sigh, “That’s right. And that something is going to continue to happen until it stops happening and we hear something. LOL! And those dear hobbits, what a wonderful distraction. Hooray, long live the much-loved baby Prince of Ithilien! Author Reply: Shirebound! Yup! Eomer had his hands full trying to distract Faramir! Thank goodness for Pippin's irrepressible self. It just flowed as I was typing! Too much fun!! Next: The child is named! Thanks for reviewing once again! MM. | |