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| Duty Bound by Bodkin | 18 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| mirthor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| Nice job with Boromir's characterization so far. Thanks for sharing. Author Reply: Thank you. I like Boromir - who seems the sort of man who would be very gentle with women, children and animals. And not gentle at all with men. But fair. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| This is a very interesting story so far. I usually dont' read anything but elf tales, but since you are the author I took a gander and am enjoying it very much! I feel so sorry for both Boromir and his reluctant wife. The news does seem to be good though. I look forward to the next update. Author Reply: Thank you - I'm glad you've come along for the ride. An arranged marriage would probably be the norm among people like Denethor - but it must add to the difficulty of learning to live together. Emeldis isn't unwilling, really, but she is nervous about her marriage. Good news. At the moment. Can't last, though! | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| I feel so sorry for both Boromir and Emeldís here - their wedding was so cold and soulless! Particularly Emeldís - she seems so very young, and from a very manipulative family. Poor Boromir is trying his best to put her at her ease, but he seems young and uncertain himself. The only part that rings untrue is his hesitancy over her name - I feel that at the very least he'd have learned everything he could about her, even if they had never met before the wedding. I just know that this is going to end in tragedy - Emeldís's death in childbirth, I would guess :( A lovely, sad tale, Bodkin. Jay Author Reply: Emeldis is very young. Might be a good thing in some ways - Boromir is being much more careful and gentling her along. I don't know that he would so much if she was a court sophisticate - he might expect one of those to know the score more. Yes - it is doubtless an exaggeration to have him uncertain of her name. Although I think it was her sister who was on Denethor's list. And her father is seen in court circles, but her mother isn't. It can't end happily really, can it? Boromir doesn't leave heirs of his body. Probably for the best as far as the restored kingdom goes - but sad for him. | |
| Lady Bluejay | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| I am really enjoying this - can't wait to find out why he's not got a wife anymore. Loved this line - ‘Only Father,’ he said bitterly, ‘would be able to rob the act of all its pleasure.’ Great writing all round. LBJ Author Reply: Can you just imagine picturing Denethor and his intentions when - h'mm - entertaining yourself? Oh no - not good. I feel that Boromir is very gentle with women, children and animals, too. While he is being pushed by his father into being precipitate! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| You do such a nice job with these characters, Bodkin. Boromir is his confident self but this forced marriage and commanded fatherhood have left him on shaky ground. His trust in Faramir's cleverness is touching. Author Reply: Poor Boromir doesn't have much experience in this line! And I do see him as having loved his mother dearly - and learned to have a gentle hand with females and children. He always seems protective of those he sees needing his care - while he is able to be hard and suspicious when dealing with men. Except his little brother, whom he trusts implicitly. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| A nice discusion on the differences between marriage and a military campaign there! This flows so naturally, from Denethor's insistence (understandable in his place) to Faramir's helpful plotting, to the girl's shy yet well defined personality. But I loved most Boromir here. He's a man of action, who will not spend time opposing a circumstance that is beyond his control, but rather will employ his talents in performing in the best of manners, as he has been raised to do and as he also expects of himself. It seems to me that he truly cares for the girl, even if he has not yet had time to see her fully as his wife, but his conversation with his uncle shows a conscious, inquisitive mind, interested in mastering the secrets of this new role he has been thrown into. And, again, I love all discussions of marriage that you spread along the chapter, through different voices. This is a very calm, thought-provoking and intimist piece, Bodkin. I'm really liking it. Author Reply: Boromir is a natural soldier, I think. Other skills had to be acquired - with practice! I do think it astonishing that Denethor hadn't married his sons off to produce the next generation of heirs - especially considering how dangerous life was getting in Gondor. I can only suppose that his obsession with the Palantir distracted him. A lack of heirs would play into Sauron's hands, after all. Boromir would possible have been a bit more comfortable with a girl who was a bit older and more worldly-wise, but a young wife definitely arouses the protective instincts that he shows with the hobbits and Faramir. And that is a good beginning for someone like him - and he would want to do the job well. Thank you - I'm glad you're enjoying it. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| Oh dear. It looks as though Boromir could have had a chance at married happiness, if only what it is clear has to happen didn't happen... I love your Imrahil and his family. They are delightful--the prince, his wife and the children. It was so clever of Faramir to think of his brother taking his wife there for a belated honeymoon. They are the family that the brothers look to when they need comfort and affection. And something that Boromir said sparked a little plot bunny for me. If it bears fruit, I'll let you know. Author Reply: Poor Boromir. Imrahil and his family are among my favourites. (Like so many others, actually!) It definitely did Emeldis good to see her husband in the midst of his easy-going Dol Amroth kin. And a plot bunny! That sounds good! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/10/2006 |
| How very typical of Denethor to marry his son off, practically with the order to produce a heir as soon as possible. I wonder if he thinks the more heirs he and his sons produce the less he has to fear a certain Thorongil ... though that probably doesn't make much sense. Poor Boromir and Emeldís - they are in an awkward situation. And for Emeldís it is probably even more difficult, as she is the one who has to conceive and who has to stay back in Minas Tirith while Boromir is away with his warriors. How helpful of Faramir to think of this holiday in Dol Amroth to give his brother and his wife some time for themselves, to relax and simply talk. Even if it seems the heir is already on his way ... Emeldís is a nice girl, and now I am a bit worried what will happen to her. I truly hope you don't plan to kill her off in childbed or the like. Author Reply: I don't like heartless Denethor - but I do think he wasn't the same after Finduilas died, and he was getting more and more immersed in trying to keep Gondor safe. And one of the things that would do that would be to have heirs of the Stewards' line ready to serve the country. And it seems odd that he wouldn't have done something about that. He wouldn't, I think, have remarried - but he had two adult sons to do the job. Thorongil would have had a harder task - to come up against three or four entrenched generations of Denethor's line, all of them resistant to his arrival. Lots of potential for civil war. A good part of his easy accession was Faramir's gracious and instant acceptance of him. Arranged marriages are all very well when both sides accept them fully - and are mature enough to learn to live with each other. Emeldis, stuck in Minas Tirith, probably would have the harder job - especially as custom is fairly understanding of men who stray! Faramir is intelligent - I'm sure that's part of the reason Denethor found him difficult. And I do love Imrahil's family. As for Emeldis ... Well - the outcome is unlikely to be happy. Boromir didn't, after all, leave heirs of his body. | |