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| Destiny's Child by Mirkwoodmaiden | 48 Review(s) |
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| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/10/2025 |
| My hubbie says like Tolkien I never met a word I didn't like! Hah. Kindred spirits. I'm awfully long-winded, I'm afraid, and when I'm tired I ramble dreadfully. (((hugs))) | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/9/2025 |
| I'm so glad to see this new addition! Hmmm. Perhaps Holdlith is Éowyn's canary in the coal mine? What a wonderful character she is, too! Alas, poor Gamhelm. Seriously outnumbered in this battle of wits. It didn't surprise me that Éowyn is known in this outlying village. I'd imagine she has an outstanding reputation and has won the trust of the people with her previous actions and generous spirit. Somehow Waehild sounds a bit like Princess Leia in my imagination. (Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper?) This word-picture reveals so much in so few words: Hidden behind a serious visage he saw in his eyes a loyalty and companionship that spoke to the need to crush a cup of good ale together. It can be quite satisfying to see someone on their high horse being taken down a peg. Éowyn's insight into Saelith's fear shows her growing maturity and understanding. I half-expected they were carrying word to the village to evacuate to Helm's Deep. Is the village not at risk from the attack expected to hit Edoras? (I still know too little about the Rohirrim, I admit.) Author Reply: Lindelea! Yep! I'm squeezing writing and reading time into the early morning hours, so I can move forward in my fanfiction along with everything else that I do. Retirement is on the far horizon and it can't get here fast enough! "Perhaps Holdlith is Éowyn's canary in the coal mine? What a wonderful character she is, too!" I Love this image! Hadn't thought of it like that yet, but yeah she kinda is! She has turned into a wonderful character! Gamhelm! Alas poor Gamhelm. What can I say, he loves strong women!! And wisely knows how to treat them. :-)) "Éowyn is known in this outlying village." I hadn't really thought about it until this chapter, but Upbourn isn't really far and it is something Eowyn would do though with less frequency! Like Gamhelm says people can see her title through to that that she genuinely cares. "Somehow Waehild sounds a bit like Princess Leia in my imagination. (Aren't you a little short to be a stormtrooper?)" LOL! Love it!! "This word-picture reveals so much in so few words: Hidden behind a serious visage he saw in his eyes a loyalty and companionship that spoke to the need to crush a cup of good ale together." It was an image that struck me when writing. It is how I write. I have only a notion how I want to start a chapter with usually no idea how it is going to end. I write a chapter to find out where it will end. That was definitely the case with this chapter I started writing about Saelith and that is what gave me my ending. It sometimes makes for long chapter! My hubbie says like Tolkien I never met a word I didn't like! With the change of circumstance and leaving Edoras and her life of quiet despair, Eowyn is seeing life from a new perspective which allows her to view Saelith from a new perspective. Only in the film does Eowyn and the citizenry of Edoras go to Helm's Deep. I think PJ changed it to for a cleaner forward storyline. Which I completely understand. in the book Eowyn and citizenry go to Dunharrow. PJ does change quite a bit in TT, but he keeps the spirit of the Rohirrim intact I think! Thanks for writing as ever. I shall endeavor in more reading before tackling the next chapter. (((hugs))) MM | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/9/2025 |
| Saelith had been raised to be an ornament, either to dangle from her father’s arm or to hang on her husband’s. She knew no other way and was lost when taken out of her world, out of her element. What an important -- and compassionate -- revelation. Author Reply: Shirebound! How lovely to hear from you!! And yes, with the change of circumstance Eowyn is seeing things differently and it has given her a new perspective. thanks for writing!! (((hugs))) MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/22/2025 |
| MM! "Ruffled feathers" – such a mild term considering the circumstances! Holdlith's vision is both troubling and hopeful. I have to say, it's certainly a good thing Éowyn trained as a shieldmaiden! I love the young warriors' recognition and acceptance of her skills. The apprentices fought well for their tender youth. I felt a pang when she remembered Théodred's advice. I also love that she makes a point of giving praise when it's due. This rang so true: There was not a Rider alive who would admit to not being able to ride. Athelred was injured, I think? He couldn't hold up his shield. Did his injury get overlooked? I hope he's going to be okay. And now I think I'm caught up with this story. I'll be so happy to see the next chapter posted when life gives you some breathing space! (((hugs))) Lin Author Reply: Lindelea! Yup! I thought about writing about Saelith as the other ruffled feather (no surprise there) but she had already too much airtime (so to speak :-D ) Holdlith's vision (basically she sees a good portion of what will happen to Eowyn) the good and the bad. She has already forseen that Eowyn will find happiness with Faramir but no longer mentions it because she knows that Eowyn is not ready to think of marriage as anything more than a duty and or cage. So she says as much as she can of the good and none of the bad. Éowyn as shieldmaiden. Yeah thinking about it she would have to have the training she received in order to kill the Witch King. And yes she does lead the apprentices in battle and yes they accept her. I loved writing that! <3 She is born to leadership and she knows that these boys need all the encouragement she can give because this is not the way they would see (In my mind) their first battle. In my extrapolating of Rohan society they would go out with the Muster a few at a time, always with experienced Riders there to guide and support. She praises and supports because she knows boys of 15 will need it though they would never have admitted it. "This rang so true: There was not a Rider alive who would admit to not being able to ride." Exactly! It really just felt like something no Rider would ever admit to. :-) I'm thinking that Athelred has a dislocated shoulder and Leoulf will know how to fix it. I tried to think of injuries that could tended on the trail without too much fuss. Athelred will be OK, just sore. Thanks so much for writing! (((hugs))) MM | |
| Erulissé | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/18/2025 |
| That was an awesome chapter! My heart breaks for Eowyn too... Knowing what is to come is hard. But it is good to know that it will be well in the end! I am glad she has that bit of experience to back her in the future. Slán go fóil! Author Reply: Erulisse! Hello! Thank you so much for writing! I am really glad that it came across well. I'm not always the best at writing battles so I had my husband read through it! And it is true, Eowyn still has a hard road to travel until she meets Faramir in the Houses of Healing. But this encounter will bolster her confidence and she has found acceptance in young eyes. It will help to sustain her in the coming days!! Thanks again for writing! Slán go fóil! (I looked it up!) :-) ((hugs)) MM | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/17/2025 |
| Evacuating the people sounds like an overwhelming task, but I believe she's capable. Her shield-maiden training may even be an asset since she's got to be assessing dangers and possibilities and consequences. When you think about it further, it becomes clear that the people under her care are the very reason for the warriors to fight. They'd have a hollow victory if all their loved ones were dead when they returned from battle. "She walked among her people..." the trust and acceptance in their response to her is built on a foundation she laid over time by walking among her people many times, always with their benefit in mind. So many details in this chapter attest to her diligence and knowledge and acknowledgment of each individual. Poor Holdlith, will everything still be there when she returns, or will everything be destroyed while they're gone? You do an excellent job of describing the urgent bustle of preparation. Bless Gamhelm. Lovely person. There was no one else and You are doing splendidly! and, especially, Whatever you need of me! I am here! Author Reply: Lindelea! I love it when I wake up to find a review! Thank you! I thought about it and that is why I said that the apprentice Riders were to remain in Edoras. She needed somebody to help organize the moving the citizenry. Quite an undertaking but she is up to it and the people already love her. They will follow her. As I don't recall anywhere in Tolkien's writing that Edoras was invaded, it will remain untouched! Yay! I couldn't do that to Holdlith or Deor and Saeryth! :-) I'm glad my portrayed the urgency and bustle was effective! Yay! Also Eowyn needed someone she could talk to. Both Waerith and Holdlith could have sufficed as well. But she didn't have time for a sit down talk. And Gamhelm has always been her confidant going back to when she was eight years old. And has always loved her as a daughter. And she needed someone in whom she had absolute truth who could hold some sway with people that he also had known for years. He realises that she is truly alone. Theodred having passed and both Theoden and Eomer off to do battle. He will always be there for her! Thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/16/2025 |
| Éowyn paused in her answer, pain of memory and experience buried beneath so much duty and regret. The secret that had shaped so much of her life no longer seemed necessary to keep. Reality leaching the secrecy of all importance. What a turning point in her life! Author Reply: Shirebound! Definitely! It sometimes takes upheaval to redefine what is important and what is no longer important. There will be more upheaval but Eowyn is seeing things from a different perspective now! (((hugs))) thanks for writing! MM | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/16/2025 |
| “Can’t have the place untidy. It wouldn’t do to come home to untidiness.” That's so wonderfully optimistic. :) Author Reply: Shirebound! True! True! Holdlith is engaging in positive projection, though she wouldn't call it that! Thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/16/2025 |
| Yikes - poor Heohelm, indeed! Her training and experience has finally come into play - and in a group who admire her for it rather than downplay her ability to contribute in such a way. Bless those young riders for their enthusiasm! Author Reply: PSW! Hello! And yes poor Heohelm! I originally had the arrow in his shoulder, but in reading how arrow wounds were tended in the Medieval or Renaissance time, that sort of wound had no really field dressing and the "Healing" practice for an arrow left in made it far more grisly and dangerous than I wanted for the story, so I switched to a through and through wound. Still a danger but field dressing is possible and better chance at survival. And yes! The apprentices were far more appreciative of her skills and didn't doubt, but accepted her. That healed Eowyn's somewhat tattered soul. So I agree! Bless those young riders for their enthusiasm!! :-D Thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/16/2025 |
| She is very good at this kind of organization and leadership. Even if she doesn’t enjoy it, she has gifts to make use of in these situations! I had never thought about how well she must have known so many of those packing up to make the journey - his story has done so well with giving them all faces and personalities… Author Reply: PSW! Exactly. She is. She has very practical experience and has a lot compassion for her people. When Hama says "the people love her. She is high hearted, I thought she must have been among the people. And as a result she would know them and the problems they would face! Thanks! I am having fun fleshing out some of the characters I have created. It has been fun! Thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM | |