News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Like Swords by PSW | 26 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Itarille | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/3/2025 |
| I liked how you described Haladan and Faramir offering each other condolences, and sincere appreciation for each other's father. I also liked the way you described Faramir :) Author Reply: It seemed to me that this is what they primarily know about each other, so it would be the most likely to come quickly to the surface. It's also something they have in common that they both wish had not come to pass, and something about which each can in some way unburden the other. And, I'm glad you liked my description of Faramir! :-) Thx so much for your lovely comments! | |
| Itarille | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/3/2025 |
| You added new chapters! Strangely (perhaps), this is my favourite part of this chapter: The wealth in this door would have fed a Northern village for a month. Oh, and Faramir made an appearance! Thank you for sharing this story. Author Reply: Any detail may jump out at someone! I was telling Lindalea that Haladan has not been nearly who I expected him to be - he is pragmatic in both noting the wealth around him and not allowing himself to feel jealous over it. (Much.) Yes, he just sort of showed up. (Apparently, according to Tolkien, he has a habit of doing that...) Thx so much for your comments! | |
| Robbie | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/3/2025 |
| I love this story. I have long waited for a Halladan-and-Faramir story, but never found one nor could produce one myself. Even though this is just a part of your story I treasure their meeting and am intrigued by their careful but generous approach to each other. I'm also looking forward to the next part and Halladan seeing Aragorn in the King. Thank you! Author Reply: Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying it - it's been fun to imagine these scenes and write them out. Thank you for your comments, I appreciate them! | |
| Sforba | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/1/2025 |
| Thank you for your gripping story, well-written, with a tolkienesque flavor and in character heroes, either canon or invented. I hope to read soon your next chapter. Author Reply: Thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying it, and thx for your lovely comments. :-) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/26/2025 |
| His father had loved Aragorn. He would have loved Elessar Telcontar also, but had not been given that opportunity. It really is a joy to imagine scenarios in which Halbarad lived to know his friend, captain, and king in a whole new way. Author Reply: Isn't fanfic lovely for that kind of thing? So many scenarios to ponder. :-) Thx as always for your comments! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/26/2025 |
| p.s. I forgot to ask: Is Haladan aware of the parallels between the Northern and Southern Rangers and the role Faramir and his Men played in Ithilien? They may have a lot more in common than he knows at this point. Author Reply: They probably do, as I suspect most of what he knows about Faramir is rumor and hearsay - and I would bet that most of the gossip doesn't center around the Rangers. It probably will give them something to talk about - Aragorn is about to make them close correspondents, so it will be good to know they have some common ground. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/26/2025 |
| The "something more than a light repast" sounds wonderful. I got hungry just reading the list of good things. And being hungry is an excellent reason to eat when invited to do so, even if you suspect it might be a breach of etiquette in this unfamiliar place, and while worried that the familiar leader is gone, so transformed as to be unrecognisable, dissolving the bonds forged between them. At least Haladan retains enough confidence in his kinsman to think, Still, if Haladan was certain of anything, it was that the man would not tell him to eat and then be offended when he complied. The repeated name trouble ("Arag—Elessar") made me laugh. My brain misfires much the same way, and always has, quite annoyingly. Mention of healers and scheduled meals and "obvious pallor and general air of fatigue" constitutes a nice bit of Faramir-angst. Well-balanced, not overdone, and enhancing the conversation ahead by providing an anchor of sorts in terms of Faramir's state of mind and health. What I mean to convey is that you deftly show Faramir's "quality", as Sam put it some time earlier, in his thoughtful approach to Haladan, especially in light of his current... would "infirmity" be too strong a term? Stage of recovery? That said, Haladan himself is no slouch despite his worries about making a fool of himself. Hmm. Methinks Faramir just almost let a cat out of a bag? (Alas, poor cat.) "Chosen..." Quite an interesting hint. Dare I ask if Beregond comes into the story at all? When he was relieved of his duty, he was assigned to guard Faramir in the Houses of Healing, and he marched to the Black Gate as the Captain of a Company of Men from the City (rather than regular guardsmen, if I'm remembering right). Has Faramir been declared the Prince of Ithilien yet? Is this happening before or after Beregond's trial? I ask because Beregond's conversation with Pippin when they meet makes me think he'd be just as eager to learn about the lives and endeavours of the Northern Rangers. Why, he seemed as thirsty for information and curious and inquisitive as Pippin, as full of questions, and as quick to laugh, "tall and proud and noble" but not full of himself. Also, as a Northerner, Haladan would probably know some hobbits, I should think? But of course, JRRT said that the Rangers held themselves aloof from the people of Bree. Still, Bilbo seemed to know Aragorn fairly well. Has Haladan interacted with Bilbo in the past? Will he meet the Travellers from the Shire in this story, do you think? Author Reply: It does sound yummy, doesn't it? I got hungry just typing it out ... :-D It's an interesting task to write Faramir - he's so very layered. And Haladan is turning out to be so too - in fact, I come to think that Aragorn had him in mind for this new charge (poor cat indeed ;-) even should Halbarad not have died (and Halbarad may very well have agreed). Not sure - not sure that piece will ever be a question. I had no intentions writing in Beregond, but your question just made some pieces I was struggling with neatly fall together - so I suspect we will indeed see him in a few chapters. Though it likely will not be Haladan - possibly Dorhaur, more likely Brendis. We'll see when I get there ... Thx for the suggestion! I don't believe Haladan has known any hobbits - though they would come into the story at some point I would think, considering that the Shire is within the bounds of the Northern Kingdom. Those bounds, I must admit, are something of a puzzle after Aragorn's ascension to the throne - I can't find any place indicating that the northeastern borders of Arnor are solidly delineated in the Fourth Age, so I am going to make them where I want them and hope I'm not making a rather large error ... :-P As always, thx so much for your lovely review! | |
| Lady Forlong | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/22/2025 |
| I get a kick out of how he keeps having to remind himself about the name "Ara-Elessar," especially since the new king probably wouldn't mind if he keeps calling him Aragorn. BTW, you've got this story marked complete over on fanfiction.net. Gotta have another chapter... Author Reply: Oh thx - it’s fixed now! Since I can’t make updates to FF from my iPad or phone, I often find things that got missed on that site… Yes - Ara-Elessar would indeed not mind ;-), and in fact makes that point soon enough. They’re all a little confused and trying to feel their way through the newness of things. Thx so much for your comments! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/22/2025 |
| Oooh, I eagerly await this meeting! once his ancestors, too, had known such prosperity and beauty. They had lost it for themselves—their fall into a fading people scratching a living from the rugged hills was none of Gondor’s doing or responsibility. It mattered not. They might not have gold and mithril in any quantity, but they had brought the line of the King safely through the centuries. He knew which he would choose, were he offered such an opportunity. This is so insightful. What a noble people. Author Reply: Yes, I must admit Haladan was a bit of a surprise to me. His reactions were … not at all what I expected, and I find that I really enjoyed writing him. He will be the perfect man for what Aragorn has in mind. ;-) Thx so much for your comments! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/21/2025 |
| Oh! I love Haladan's caution and discretion, along with his observational skills and his hard-won wisdom. And I find myself wondering, is this situation something of a setup, to give him and Faramir a chance to talk, or is it happenstance? Author Reply: Haladan was a bit of a mystery to me when I began writing this chapter, and he didn’t come out quite as I had envisioned but I suspect far better than anything i could have planned! I really enjoyed writing him. I honestly don’t know the answer to the second question - Aragorn hasn’t told me. Perhaps it’s a little of both… ;-) Thx so much for your comments! | |