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| Sundry Scrolls II by Raksha The Demon | 84 Review(s) |
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| phyloxena | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/11/2008 |
| Horrors. I marvel at your choice of words and precision of pace, but even more so at your courage at logically developing this AU through all immediate consequences. I think I saw happier "Denethor Lives" stories, but they took more tweaks to the original plot to work, and yours is singularly intense and effective. Author Reply: I do actually have a happier Denethor Lives AU tale in my head, but it is much longer and more complex, and it takes Denethor a long and lonely time to reach for what happiness he can still have. But I think that the odds are against that; and here, Denethor's suspicion of Aragorn, and the desire, flowing from that suspicion, to protect Faramir from him, backfired in the worst possible way. Other AU writers, I think, have assumed that with the separation of Denethor from the palantir, followed by the loss of Sauron's fell influence, Denethor would become the great man he had once had the potential to be. I supposed it is not impossible. But I personally believe that much of Denethor's paranoia and anger and self-involvement came from his own mind, though exacerbated by palantir usage; and that he would not have suddenly deviated from years of habit and a resentment lasting half his life. Thanx much for reading and reviewing, Phyloxena! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/10/2008 |
| A lovely glimpse of rebirth in the shape of a single flower. Author Reply: Now you've got me thinking of Legolas and Faramir dancing for joy around the flower. And if Sam had been there! Anyway, I had fun writing it Thanx for commenting, Linda! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/10/2008 |
| I can just imagine Gandalf having thoughts like these.It is good to be reminded of his kinship with Sauron and how different they were. Author Reply: I'm glad you thought I portrayed Gandalf's thoughts with some accuracy; I'm always nervous when writing him, since he's a favorite of mine, and such an ancient, wise and long-living individual. Thanx for the review! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/10/2008 |
| A brilliant look at "what if?". I fear it would have turned out just like this, hand Denethor lived. A chilling,haunting tale that makes me very glad the book turns out as it does. Author Reply: This is one possible scenario - I can actually envision another one in which Denethor does not end up so isolated (but that would take much longer to write and I'm not sure I could do it justice), but Faramir would have to live in that version. I don't really see Denethor serving Aragorn as his Steward in any AU scenario. This was rather grueling to write; I felt quite sorry for Denethor in this tale, but it is how I felt things might well procede, especially given his jealousy of Aragorn and conviction that Aragorn was not a valid claimant of the throne. Thanx for reading and reviewing, Linda! | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/28/2008 |
| Big dreams. I'm happy for the young lad that he doesn't yet know how long it will be or how many trials he'll endure before he realizes them. This is a sweet moment. Author Reply: ah, the serene confidence of youth - for young Aragorn, the future is far away; and he is not thinking of how wearying it will be to survive on dreams, hope and faith for seventy more years. It's a good thing he's such a strong man in all ways... Thanx for reading and reviewing, Meckinock! | |
| Branwyn | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/27/2008 |
| A well-written look into Aragorn's motivations during his long watch over Eriador, when his deeds were unknown and unthanked. He dreams of the simple, domestic joys that his solitary watch is allowing others to enjoy. She had looked upon him as if he were a clever child Well, in fairness to Arwen, she must have seen many generations of chieftains come and go. By the way, it had never occured to me that Aragorn had to deal with more than one generation of Butterbur! As if one were not enough! Once again, well done! Author Reply: In The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, Elrond says: But as for Arwen the Fair, Lady of Imladris and of Lórien, Evenstar of her people, she is of lineage greater than yours, and she has lived in the world already so long that to her you are but as a yearling shoot beside a young birch of many summers. She is too far above you. And so, I think, it may well seem to her. I would think that Aragorn probably was far from the first of Elrond's Dunedain fosterlings to become enamored of Arwen. She probably thought of such things as sweet and boyish fancies. And Aragorn was acting like a very young man, wandering through the birch trees, singing for joy, (having just found out that he was the Heir of Isildur) when he comes upon his very own Luthien. There's a lightness to his speech at the time that shows him to be still somewhat callow. However, Aragorn has tremendous confidence, and no intention of letting go of his love for Arwen, however sudden it is. I think the Butterburs were an old family in Bree, and had had the Prancing Pony for awhile; hence I came up with a B-named father or grandfather for Barliman. Thanx for the review, Branwyn! | |
| Branwyn | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/27/2008 |
| I very much liked the pensive quality of this piece, the sense of turmoil recalled from a great distance. The night is so still and calm as Faramir reflects on the uncertainty that they lived with during War and also on the price that was paid for the peace. But (as Eowyn wisely reminds him in this piece) his consolation for the loss has to be the knowledge that he did what was right--he helped Frodo and Samwise, knowing (I think) that this would be against the wishes of his father the Steward. Very well done! (And Happy Birthday to H-A!) Author Reply: Were I as hasty as you, I might have slain you long ago. For I am commanded to slay all whom I find in this land without the leave of the Lord of Gondor. But I do not slay man or beast needlessly, and not gladly even when it is needed. - Faramir, WINDOW ON THE WEST, The Two Towers I definitely think Faramir knew that sparing, much less helping, the halflings, would be against the Steward's orders, at the very least. Faramir gives the impression here that he has, or has taken, a certain autonomy in Ithilien. But he did take a risk, and the consequences were painful for him... I believe that Faramir was destined to be in Ithilien, and have that choice before him, so that the weary Sam and Frodo could take refuge, however fleeting, in Henneth Annun and in Faramir's friendship. Faramir's farewell to Frodo in TTT, is heart-breaking; the salutation from one soldier who expects to die to a comrade who is also doomed. That was in my mind when I wrote this; and also that Faramir would think of the irony, later, that Frodo was unable to take joy in the fruits of the victory he brought the Men of the West... Thanx for the thoughtful review, Branwyn! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/25/2008 |
| Aye, our Frodo must also rejoice at the sight of the Moon, and remember that moment of friendship unlooked for he knew in the sight of it six years previously. He gave up much to accomplish more, but in the end he found his peace and perhaps a different happiness than what he'd originally wished for, but a great happiness anyway. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/25/2008 |
| Yes, the ancestor of Hope shines his own Hope down on the recently made Man, and there IS Hope for Middle Earth as Hope daydreams in the early evening. Heh! Lovely, Raksha--lovely! Author Reply: Yes, it's a circle of hope indeed - Bless JRRT for giving him that nickname! Thanx for the review, Larner - I'm glad you liked the tale. | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/24/2008 |
| That is a lovely and poignant vignette. I think you captured very well, the loneliness, the selflessness, the wistfulness and the hopefulness of Aragorn, the Chieftain of The Dúnedain Of Arnor. Author Reply: Thanx much for the review! I was aiming for a combination of wistfulness, loneliness and physical discomfort, as a backdrop for Aragorn's personal self-confidence and hope. (and there is a poignancy about any young man in his twenties dreaming of a love that is, on the surface, impossible) I think all the Dunedain of Arnor must rely a great deal on hope, faith and duty; and pride - they don't seem to have much in the way of material goods or a large population, or even a certain future. I think Aragorn would exemplify those virtues. | |