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A Brave New World  by Bodkin 27 Review(s)
RSReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
This is beautiful. Just Breathtaking!

The ending was perfect. The oblivious Eowyn urging her horse to the stall while her husband watches Aragorn and Arwen contemplate on "the Star of Hope".

Author Reply: Thank you! Aragorn and Arwen - well, she's the Evenstar and their shared history would make them look heavenwards, while Faramir is ... a wizard's pupil and a descendant of Mithrellas. All black and silver. While Eowyn - she's earthy - all the green of Rohan and golden sunlight.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
The noble lords and ladies are lucky to be looked after by such devoted soldiers. This one is brave and thoughtful, too, which is always a good combination. And observant. He's a good, standup guy, yes he is.

Author Reply: I can imagine that Faramir would have devoted soldiers who would be only too happy to serve him, while Aragorn has many of the same qualities, plus being a long-lost king and the saviour of Gondor. I suspect that any opposition is likely to come from somewhere other than the army. This was fun to write - and flowed, which is always a plus.

Maid of IthilienReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
Other reviewers have mentioned most of the lines I thought were so wonderful. This is so well-written with such evocative language. I will just mention I loved the respectful distance the guards keep from Eowyn's horse :) And her reaction to it. Such a good story -- and the other one was too!

Author Reply: Thank you! I can just see Eowyn's horse - I suspect he's none too happy to have retired from battle and would be only too happy to display his displeasure to the occasional unwary guard. And I see the Rangers spending a lot of time on foot - the White Lady of Rohan will definitely insist on improved horsemanship!!

I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
"... no wonder that we welcomed the days of the King."

"... this breath of wind from the north."

"But peace spawns fools and lets them have their say."

"Peace is a fragile flower that can be blackened by a single frost."

"I would not willingly cross either of them..." :D

"What kind of guard would we be if those in our care were not safe?" :)

"... the Star of Hope Brightens in the sky."

"... not what it once was. But that is as it should be."

A wonderfully expressed almost everyman's pov and a welcome augmentation to the previous tale. I liked Eowyn's exuberance to go forward into her future and Arwen's appreciating gaining hers.


Author Reply: I enjoyed writing this - one of those pieces that just flows! And it was interesting to see his view on the past - and his response to these four. I like Eowyn's earthiness - it makes a good contrast to the star-spelled nature of the other three!

And I think this would have been a time of change. Like the end of 1WW - too many things had been shaken up for the old regime to continue unaltered.

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
This is lovely, Bodkin. I love the musings of this unnamed guard, and his reflections of the differences between his service to the two rulers. I can quite see why Denethor was respected, but not loved.

After some of the horrors this warrior has seen, I think a stint guarding the King in the woodlands of Ithilien must be a rather pleasant change!

Author Reply: To a degree ... King John was left to raise taxes to pay the ransom of a selfish and rather unpleasant Richard Coeur de Lion who was captured on his way back from the Holy Land. Who ended up hated? The brother stuck with extorting cash from barons and running the country - while RCdL became the glorious hero. (As shown in many a Robin Hood movie ever since.) Denethor had years of trying to bolster up a failing nation and holding back the hordes, whilst constantly being pushed back and losing a little more each day. Not surprising he was worn down. Not surprising that the taxed, those bound to offer military levies, the widowed, the orphaned would find themselves increasing resenting the hard man who drove them. Not surprising that he resorted to whatever means he could. And Aragorn? Came out of nowhere at the last minute in a blaze of glory to bring rescue. Yes, he would be the one who was loved. But in twenty - thirty years? When he is the taxman and the war leader? Maybe. But maybe he would also be seen to have feet of clay.

Sitting in the woods in Ithilien ... a very pleasant way to do your duty.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
A hero, surrounded by creatures out of legend, crushing the forces of darkness – and then turning from death to preserve life. A judge, to whom justice was more important than the letter of the law. A grave man, wise, one who listened and did what he thought best without fear or favour. It is no wonder that those who were there would follow wherever he led … no wonder that we cheered him when Lord Faramir offered him the crown … no wonder that we welcomed the days of the King.

We, who lived through the end of one world, should build a new one, a better one. And a brave new world, it will be, that has such people in it.


This is absolutely beautiful.


Author Reply: Thank you, Shirebound. It must have been a blazing time of wonder - until reality set in and they had to get the fields ploughed and wondered how they would manage until the harvests were in.

But if ever a world's end should leave a desire to build better, this must have been it!

Lady BluejayReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
Beautiful, evocative writing. The thoughts of many so expertly summed up.LBJ

Author Reply: Thank you, LBJ. It's interesting thinking about the viewpoint of ordinary people. Those whose-is-but-to-do-or-die - on the say so of a deranged Steward or a foreign Ranger. There must have been a time of bemusement after it all ended - before the whirlwind began to spin again.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
Here I am, in Ithilien, wearing the Prince’s livery and watching over … Heroes are men, like any other

When I got to that, I laughed because I suddenly saw the connection to your last story and Meckinock's review. I love the way changing POVs give us new insights.

You probably know I'm not usually big on stories that consist of someone's musings, but I like this one. It's embodied in a particular place and gives nice insight into the way the common people's lives and views have changed with the coming of the king.

Author Reply: This just jumped into my head on reading Meckinock's review - I just love it when that happens.

And looking through the eyes of an ordinary person - well, I'd love to do more of it. They have such different insights from those who surf along the top of society.

Musings can be a bit ... prince-of-denmarkish. Best kept short, really!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
This is a beautiful companion to "Getting Away"! I don't know who this unknown guard is, but surely his feelings are equally echoed by his fellows, and he reflects the opinions of those who fought alongside the King and Steward against the Shadow. Something those pampered fools may fail to take into consideration.

But of course, now I'm more curious than ever about those *plots*! I'd love to see them trying to put one over on the wily foster son of Elrond and Galadriel's granddaughter, with Faramir and Eowyn at their side.

Whoever it is, I almost feel sorry for them.

Author Reply: There just would have been plots - it's human nature to dislike change and attempt to profit from confusion. Probably 2-3 years without trouble - then a decade or two with several plots before everyone accepts the new regime as the norm. Then probably about 50 years into Aragorn's reign there could have been a final big plot before it all settle down to occasional grouching and flare ups of ill-feeling.

And some of Gondor's Lords would have done their best to find somewhere safe - just as some would have tried to come to terms with Sauron if he had won. People come in all sorts - currently most would be sucking up to the new regime, but some would see greater profit elsewhere.

H'mm - I don't know if the plots will ever get written. But you never know!

But you're right - they wouldn't know what they had taken on. They look on Faramir as the Steward's weaker son and the others as hicks from Planet Nowhere. They have no idea!

utfrog98Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/15/2007
Beautiful follow-up to an equally wonderful story. Thank you.



Author Reply: Thank you, utfrog98! I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was fun to write - and interesting to look through the eyes of someone who had little influence on events.

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