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| Duty Bound by Bodkin | 78 Review(s) |
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| runnerbeast | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Thank you for this wonderful story. Boromir is a intriguing 'what might have been' character, and this was a sad, but oh so lovely look at what might have been for him. Super great! Author Reply: Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Boromir is a heroic character - and the love Faramir has for him makes you realise that the Ring used some of his best characteristics against him. It's a shame he died when he did - but I think he would have thought it was worth it to save the hobbits and bring victory. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Hmmm ... it was probably sensible of Boromir not to tell them the details. Aside from being a sore point for him, I suspect the hobbits would have something to say about the way his father had married him off. I'm nor sure they would have approved of this. Of course, the need to produce heirs is not so usual in the Shire, if at all. Somehow this calls for a sequel in which Boromir is reunited with wife and son beyond the circles of the world. At least I want to see them happy for a change. Do you consider to write one? Anyway, it was a nice end to this story. You showed well how serious Boromir took his duty, no matter the costs for himself. He *was* honourable, and I am still glad the Ring wasn't able to twist him completely and he died at least defending Merry and Pippin, not fighting the other members of the Fellowship or something like this. Author Reply: Romantic love is quite a modern idea really. Compatability and a common aim - and social and financial considerations - have long been considered better grounds for successful marriage. But the hobbits might have been shocked - although I think Merry might realise that the heir's duty is to provide the next generation. But the elf would have been appalled, I expect, and so might the dwarf. I think I might leave the reunion to the imagination - although I certainly want to imagine Boromir being reunited with the wife he hadn't expected to love and the son he never knew. Boromir was desperate to protect those in his care - and the Ring used that against him - but it didn't, perhaps, expect him to consider the hobbits as part of his charge. And their need pushed Boromir into sacrificing himself selflessly - thus redeeming himself. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Boromir's feeling that serving is both his task and his honor speaks so well of him. No whining about unfair everything is, just a struggle to live up to what's best in him and for others. What a pity that he fell as he did. And the idea that duty done can bring a kind of reward is also impressive. Nice job, Bodkin. Author Reply: Boromir was a noble man - used by the Ring and, in the end, absolutely horrified by how it twisted his honour against him. I think Tolkien was a believer in the rewards of fulfilling a duty without expecting recompense or glory - but just doing it because it was your task. Aragorn's whole life is about that, really, until finally he does get his throne and bride - but then just has a still bigger task to work on. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| And a wonderful epilogue. No, the hobbits won't pry into the tragedy--it's enough for them to know it happened, and that their new friend needs comforting, whether he admits it or not. I liked the reaction of the other races to Aragorn's statement--among none of them is re-marriage common, is almost unheard of. Yet he does know of the difficulties of dynastic considerations--I wonder how much he was pestered by his Dunadain during his long and secret betrothal, to secure an heir? And I do like Boromir's reaction as well: he could not protect his wife and child, but he will do what he can to protect his charges now--including teaching them what they need to know to survive on their own. He was an honorable Man with a very generous and protective nature--it's a shame the Ring was able to use that against him... Author Reply: Well - elves don't remarry, hobbits rarely do. I cannot imagine that dwarves do, considering female dwarves seem fairly rare anyway. Men, on the other hand, must have done. Aragorn must have been pressurised to marry every time he saw anyone old enough or bold enough to broach the subject. Although I think he must have had cousins who could trace their line back nearly as well as he could. His ancestors can't all have had just one son - there are too many generations to have maintained a line so tenuous. They'll have wanted back up! Occasional second sons and a few daughters around to carry the blood. Boromir is a natural protector, I think. He wants to protect Gondor and he would take that down to protecting the individuals under his care. And failure would hurt him badly. And the Ring ate at him through some of his best qualities - wretched thing. But I reckon he would probably account his death worthwhile, if through it he had any part in saving Gondor. His words about the White City show how much he loves and prizes his home. | |
| Lady Bluejay | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Lovely story - thanks. LBJ Author Reply: Thank you. And I just realised how similar the title is to yours! Apologies. I thought I was being all clever and playing on words there, too! | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| Ahhhhhh Excellent tale. Thank you so much for sharing it. *wipes tears from her eyes* Poor Aragorn - the scornful looks... And Merry - wise Merry and understanding Frodo and little Pip Gandalf should have hope - a wonderful group Author Reply: Most races in Middle-earth seem to have been resolutely monogamous - but I can't see men refusing to remarry. Especially when the future of their houses required them to have sons. And the security of their children required widows to find providers. But the hobbits are naturally sympathetic, I think. And sensitive to mood. Boromir always seems rather an outsider in the group - and an increase in understanding would certainly help them all to bond. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| A deep scar indeed, from beginning to end, and to all those involved. How sad. "The eyes of hobbits, dwarf and elf fixed on him with varying degrees of disbelief." This made me laugh. Good point, poor Aragorn! Cross-cultural fellowships can be very tricksy at times! Author Reply: Most other species seem to have been determinedly monogamous - I daresay they found Men to be more than a little morally loose at times! And poor Boromir! It will have left him badly hurt - and probably even more determine to protect Gondor, if anything, than he was before. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/17/2006 |
| This is so heartrending,I guessed something like this would happen but it was still a shock.Emeldis' foreshadows Faramir's near death by burning. I alwaysimagine that Finduilis did die of some sadly common tragic disease, YOu capture the fever ridden city brilliantly. Author Reply: So sad. But inevitable, I'm afraid. Boromir was never going to be allowed to have a happy marriage and a quiverful of children. I'm glad you found the fever-ridden city effective. Minas Tirith must have been vulnerable to epidemics - and disease is a silent enemy. While Finduilas's death, I reckon, was something that Denethor would want to suppress - whatever his faults, I think he loved her dearly and put her on a pedestal. She couldn't die of any mundane illness, not as far as he was concerned. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/16/2006 |
| His son should have lived to run free in the gardens of the Citadel, to ride over the Pelennor, to play in the sands of Dol Amroth – grown to be a true heir of his house, a son of the line of Mardil, holding Gondor staunchly against the shadow of Mordor. But it was not to be. There's nothing sadder than a future lost. Wow, Bodkin, this is just devastating. I can't imagine it was easy for Boromir to get past this, but I'd sure like to see it. Author Reply: Poor Boromir. Poor child - and his mother. I think Boromir would have felt very bad about his failure to protect them against an enemy he couldn't fight. Might even have made him more vulnerable to the Ring's seduction, in a way. There's just a short epilogue - I'm afraid Boromir has to recover with just the help of his kin. And his duty, of course. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/16/2006 |
| This is so sad! But very plausable! Do we get to hear Pippin's reaction? Great Bodkin. Author Reply: It is sad. Glad you enjoyed it. I thought that Denethor was very likely to have wanted to secure the succession - until matters grew too distracting. And poor Boromir grew to love a wife and child he was bound to lose. There is a short epilogue! | |