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Life goes on apace by Mirkwoodmaiden	19 Review(s)
Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/31/2026
MM! As always, Holdlith displays wisdom, sense and understanding. She reminds me of that verse from Ecclesiastes, to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. She had come to like the lady with her brisk ways... I also joined the Saelith fan club at some point. Lovely example of character growth. Her thoughtfulness, in thinking to thank Thilda later, is just one of many illustrations pointing to her new and growing understanding. I absolutely adore her reunion with her husband. Perfectly done. And I'm so glad that Haere appreciates the new-and-tested-and-improved Saelith. I can easily imagine them sharing his saddle as they ride on. Gamhelm's greeting to Éowyn is pure gold. And Holdlith's vision of Éomer in the future is a nice touch. Would Gamhelm recognize the name "Faramir"? Maybe not, though I should think he might have met Boromir at one or more times in the past. By the way, Gamhelm's logic seems sound to me. I'm glad he was able to help Éowyn view her "desertion" in a different light. (((hugs))) Lin p.s. The standalone chapter you posted that corresponds to this one was also well-done. I left you a review there, as well. Author Reply: Lin! Yes! Holdlith has become a favorite of mine. Both Eowyn and Eomer have needed that wise older voice in their lives. They live lives that people will try to curry favor with and they need someone who will tell them truths. Gamhelm has also developed into that. I only brought Saelith along on the journey to Dunharrow to be a fly in the ointment,so to speak, and she surprised me in Chapter 24 of "Destiny's Child" and started to grow as a character. Well as I have said in many places. People change in war and sometimes for the better. What I liken it to in LOTR is when Lobelia Sackville-Baggins when she comes out of the Lockholes to cheers of the people. Lobelia was maybe a little too old and had lost too much to make any real changes in her life but Saelith is young. Of course I could not take Haere away after so much positive change in Saelith. And I felt that she deserved her own little happy ending with Haere. And Haere being a very pleasant sort will be all the more happier for it, too! "Gamhelm's greeting to Éowyn is pure gold. And Holdlith's vision of Éomer in the future is a nice touch." Thanks! Again as I write I discover what happens. The Reunion between Gamhelm and Eowyn just felt right. And Holdlith has a glimpse of why Eomer will be called Eomer Eadig (Eomer the Blessed) and is able to reassure Eomer just a little. "Would Gamhelm recognize the name "Faramir"? Maybe not, though I should think he might have met Boromir at one or more times in the past." Good point. I should think he would have, but it would most likely be in passing. I will think about whether I can work this idea in somewhere. Hmmmmm... "By the way, Gamhelm's logic seems sound to me. I'm glad he was able to help Éowyn view her "desertion" in a different light." I had to really about what Gamhelm would do to "fix" Eowyn's leaving Dunharrow with the Muster. This seemed right. Thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM P.S. Retirement is good!!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/20/2026
Éomer’s first impulse was to go to his sister, but Holdlith stayed him gently with a hand on his arm. “Nay, My King,” she whispered gently. “Let her have this time. She needs a father’s arms and Gamhelm can provide that office.” How lovely! This is a wonderful homecoming for all of them. Thank you so much for your reviews of "Quarantined", which I greatly appreciate. That story has always been very precious to me. ♥ Author Reply: Shirebound! Thank you! This is just a story I feel compelled to write. I want to see people reunited and happy. And yes I have really enjoyed reading "Quarantined" Very glad I found it! (((hugs))) MM

Fimbrethil	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/19/2026
He is wonderful and kind and brave.” Gamhelm clasped her hands which had been gesticulating wildly, “I hope to meet this paragon of male virtue to make sure that he is good enough for you.” “You will and he is! Éomer has already and he already approves!” “If your brother approves then this Faramir must be special indeed.” Nice! All these Reunions are wonderful, and remind me of how many others there must have been. And I am pretty sure those descriptive adjectives about Faramir I have written for Lothíriel to say about Éomer, or Éowyn to say to her about Éomer. Author Reply: Fimbrethil! Thanks it has done my heart good to write these reunions! (((hugs)))

Fimbrethil	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/19/2026
"She looked at Háláf who was to her immediate right". I also just noticed that both Éomer and Háláf are on her right? Unless they moved a bit during the ride. Or "on Éomer's left hand" means slightly behind? As good as the first time, possibly better!

Fimbrethil	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/19/2026
Oh yes, I also love the cooking byplay and the resulting chase and life is good. Also when Holdith asked Héohelm "what do your young eyes see?"

Fimbrethil	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/19/2026
Wow this is great! Not that Théoden and Grimbold and others died, of course, but you know what I mean. I am glad Éomer and Éowyn have reason to be happy. However I did notice that a few sentences seemed to be missing words. Author Reply: Fimbrethil!! So glad you are liking it!! I will read through to see what sentences need fixing. Must dash! (((hugs))) MM

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/1/2026
MM! How nice to see a new chapter of this today! ...her balcony... I like that. Well, she did desert them, I guess. And yet how terrible the outcome might have been, had she not followed her heart! (And I'm not talking about her not meeting Faramir, though that would have been tragic, but the fate of Middle-earth!) Ah, but Faramir is right there. I'm so glad. And the nuances are so beautifully written. "Éowyn's boys". For some reason, my heart just melted. And I adored the little byplay over food and cooking. I would agree that a talking eagle would certainly be a unique and novel experience. But Holdlith rises to the occasion. Her "Bloody bird" is golden. All this time they've been waiting... and hoping... and dreading... My heart goes out to them. (And did Saelith's husband survive? I don't remember. I hope he did. Both of them deserve happiness, especially now. But then, so many who were deserving of happiness did not see their hopes fulfilled. Sigh. I hate even the thought of war.) The horn of welcome! Wonderful! The scene where Éomer knelt and the people shouted their acclaim brought tears to my eyes. Bright was his light. Great is his memory. A goodly summary of a life well-lived, except for the part that Saruman and Wormtongue stole from him. The light talk at the end of the chapter sets just the right tone. Well done! (((hugs))) Lin Author Reply: Lin! "Her balcony" Exactly. It holds so many good memories. In essence she did disobey orders but in "Untangling Tolkien" there is a discussion about how disobeying orders was the right decision. Eomer seeking the orcs holding Merry and Pippin; Beregond deserting his post to save Faramir when Denethor is making an ash of himself! Eowyn's decision is right up there with those decisions, but she doesn't yet see it that way. All the good that happened because of her decision will assuage her guilt eventually but she still does not know what her reception will be. Good people worry about these decisions. "Ah, but Faramir is right there. I'm so glad. And the nuances are so beautifully written." Thanks blush ""Éowyn's boys". For some reason, my heart just melted." yeah...I had to reunite Eowyn and her boys. It was wrong that they were separated!! "And I adored the little byplay over food and cooking." Exactly. It was high time for a little levity! I loved this sentence that followed, "Elfhelm smiled as he watched them ride. King of the Horse Lords and his sister riding with joyous abandon. Life indeed was good." It just gave me all the feels! "I would agree that a talking eagle would certainly be a unique and novel experience. But Holdlith rises to the occasion. Her "Bloody bird" is golden." I love Holdlith! She is unflappable!! :-))) "All this time they've been waiting... and hoping... and dreading... My heart goes out to them. (And did Saelith's husband survive? I don't remember. I hope he did. Both of them deserve happiness, especially now. " It is only now in Tolkien's ninth age (I read somewhere That now is the ninth Age) and really only in the last twenty years do we have "instant communication" Naval personnel can facetime with their loved ones. At the 2021 Tokyo Games athletes talked with their loved ones back home instantly after winning. I was on daily video calls with Mom though I didn't see her in person for an entire year. In the third age, they had to wait and hope and worry more like WW2. What must that have been like? And yes Haere does survive. I don't have the heart kill anyone off that I have grown to love in these stories. And Saelith does deserve happiness with Haere! "I hate even the thought of war." So do I. Unfortunately Some do not feel this way. :-(( "The horn of welcome! Wonderful!" YAY! It seemed a very Rohirrim thing to do! "The scene where Éomer knelt and the people shouted their acclaim brought tears to my eyes." Well Eomer is called Eomer Eadig. Eomer the Blessed. I really thought he would start as he means to go on. So much is put on him and he succeeds so marvelously! "Bright was his light. Great is his memory. A goodly summary of a life well-lived, except for the part that Saruman and Wormtongue stole from him." Yup that phrase just flowed onto the keyboard without thought. It was just right. Théoden was after known as Theoden Ednew, Theoden the Renewed. "The light talk at the end of the chapter sets just the right tone. Well done!" So happy I can write with a lighter tone in this story. The chapters that lead up to the Houses of Healing I had to suppress so many times I wanted to lighten Eowyn's load. But I couldn't. She had to reach the Pelennor Fields wanting to die in battle. It was hard at times. Thanks so much for writing! (((hugs))) MM

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/1/2026
People were still stunned by the news of Théoden King’s death, but a rising tide of acclamation came rolling forth and Lord Erkenbrand placed a hand on Éomer’s head and said in a voice choked with emotion, “Rise, my king!” Éomer looked up. Erkenbrand saw tears in his eyes, together with determination and humility in the young man’s earnest blue eyes. He reached out a hand to the older man, “Will you help me?” Erkenbrand’s eyes widened, and his eyes felt wetter than before, “Aye, that I will… My King.” I just love that! Many years ago (20, wow!), I wrote "A Rohan Tapestry" that began with Éomer's acceptance from his people as their new king, and that moment was such a joy to imagine. This is such a happy chapter, especially with Éowyn and Faramir reminded of their strong love and bond. It will help Éowyn to remember that had she not "abandoned" her people, she and Faramir would never have met. Author Reply: Shirebound! So glad you liked it! It has been fun though I feel like it is an extension of "Destiny's Child" rather than a bridge between "Destiny's Child" and "Leaving Home; Coming Home." Alas I am having fun writing it! Also after you mentioned "A Rohan Tapestry" I searched your early work, looking for it and found "Quarantined" and have started reading that! Finished chapter one, loving it! My review in on Chapter one! thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM

Fimbrethil	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/22/2026
I know Aragorn has the armor in the book, but it is interesting to ponder where he got it from. In both the book and the film he is a Ranger who sailed up the Anduin, then a week later he is leading the host to the Black Gate, then five weeks later is his coronation as king of Gondor...where he is wearing the symbols (tree and stars) of Elendil, which only the guards have been wearing for the past 1000 years. Author Reply: Fimbrethil! I'm thinking he possibly got it from maybe the Armoury in Minas Tirith or may be in Rath Dinien, the silent street. They made have had this armour in wait for the King or maybe the Tower Guard has it in the Guards keeping. Interesting! (((hugs))) MM

Fimbrethel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/10/2026
I am glad Faramir still has old friends! Also Eirik...interesting to see other feelings besides exuberance. By which I mean good to see he is capable of other emotions. This part was nice: “You are right. Today is a wonderful day.” Faramir began assertively, placing a hand on the boy’s shoulder, “But you cry because you have a heart and you know what it has cost to bring this day foward.” he continued gently, holding his squire’s eye. “I have great respect for a man who sheds tears in remembrance. This means you honor the sacrifices made.” Oh! Éowyn's boys are here! nice! And they approve of Faramir and Éowyn, good. I like the entrance is book verse (i.e. Éowyn with Faramir and Éomer with Aragorn) especially since you have Éomer and Éowyn together before. Her other riders! And her friendship with Elfhelm, I had forgotten the details of that. ooh, a sword arch! cool. Did you say where Aragorn got that armor? Today is certainly Faramir's day to be proud! Oh, yes, Faramir getting the crown...and Beregond is there too. That would be emotional. Glad they have a friend with them. But Faramir is back to only going on because of his duty, I see. "Faramir nodded, receiving his friend’s acquiescence, for he knew that is what it was, not acceptance." good. Also happy to see that apparently the destruction of the House of the Stewards didn't affect Ecthelion's effigy (or anyone else's) too badly. Yes, I didn't think Faramir knew about Frodo and Gandalf being involved. And the banner is Arwen's, nice. Author Reply: Fimbrethel! Hello! Yeah! Eirik is very emotional, usually ebullient but war affects us all even Eirik. He saw how close to death Faramir came and I'm sure that shook him up. I had to go with bookverse rather than Filmverse for the Coronation. Films have to make changes and it works really well on film but many things get left out. Glad you liked it! Aragorn has the armor in the book I just changed the color of the maille from black to shining silver. Yeah! I don't think that Faramir would ever willing gone back to where his father set himself on fire. He had to and that was why he took Beregond with him. He needed somebody with him. Somebody living and not ghosts of the past. I had to bring Eowyn's boys back. It only made sense and we can see that there are plenty of physical, mental and emotional wounds but they are young and are persevering! I looked up what does the damage to metal and stone. It is by-and-large the elements, kept concealed as Rath Dinien the effigies and metal will keep. I assumed that it would be Arwen's banner to fly! Thanks for writing! (((hugs))) MM

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