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| Sundry Scrolls III by Raksha The Demon | 108 Review(s) |
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| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/23/2009 |
| It's always kind of sad when an Age comes to its end; even if a new Age follows, that promises to be glorious. The Stewards did good work indeed, keeping Gondor together for 26 generations... a shame that many people seem to forget that. Sorry for the late review. I'm just getting back to reading. RL work can be a mite inconvenient. Author Reply: Thanx for the review; I'm always glad to get them; and RL is occasionally more important than fandom, believe it or not! I think Faramir was glad to welcome the new King; but it had to have been a bit of a wrench to bid farewell to the rule of Gondor, for the sake of all his ancestors who had worked hard to hold the land together; not to mention it being the order of things, and a relatively good order, in his life up until March 3019. | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/22/2009 |
| That is a very touching, poignant and moving vignette. It feels so right too. It had me close to tears. I like to think of Halbarad surviving long enough to see victory, and to say goodbye to those he loves. Thanks for writing this. Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, Estelcontar. I'm glad the piece seemed 'right' to you. Halbarad deserved to see Sauron defeated and Aragorn crowned, but I couldn't give him that; so this was the next best thing, and I thought it could well have happened in this way... | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/21/2009 |
| This rings true, and I doubt I can speak any praise greater than that! Oh, yes--this for Halbarad of the Grey Company, kinsman to Aragorn! Author Reply: Thanks, Larner; that is high praise indeed. I did so wish for at least some peace of mind for Halbarad. | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/21/2009 |
| Just how come do I have to cry every time I read about Halbarad's death. Your's was a very good acounting, I liked it that he got to see the white city, and talk to his son and friend. Author Reply: Thanx for the review, Grumpy! I thought that Halbarad should see the city he died to save; and have a few moments to prepare himself for death, say some goodbye - he deserved at least that much. | |
| Cairistiona | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/21/2009 |
| Ack, you gave me a huge lump in my throat with this one. You know my soft spot for Halbarad and this one was wrenchingly hard to read but very well done. I like the idea of him wanting to die outside, under the open sky. That he gets a clear view of the White City is so touching, as is Aragorn's tears and the way his voice shakes in a way that only Halbarad can tell. Really a well done vignette of what has to be one of the saddest untold moments in Tolkien. (And I too see Halbarad as knowing his death will be at hand because of foresight. In my "universe", I see Halbarad actually knowing he will die well before that canon moment, and Aragorn as well. When Halbarad says what he does before the Dark Door, it could be taken as a general "we might all fall in battle" but I think it was more than a moment of fatalism. Aragorn would surely have said something if it was simply Halbarad being pessimistic, and he would have said something if he sensed Halbarad had indeed had a flash of foresight. That he did neither, and instead spoke only about the need for the horses to go in with them because they had leagues to go after they emerge seems to point to the fact that they must have already dealt with the vision/foresight of Halbarad's death. Of course, that's just me. Others' mileage will probably vary!) Author Reply: I don't write death scenes too often because it's emotionally somehow more than just an exercise in fanfiction prose. I really appreciate your words, and how it affected you. I saw Halbarad as someone who wouldn't want to die in a tent; he would want to see the open sky and feel the breeze and just not be looking up at tentpoles. I agree that it's likely that Aragorn and Halbarad would have discussed his foresight prior to that remark at the Dimholt; it's too much of a bombshell otherwise. And I'm sure that Halbarad had spent enough time with Aragorn to know his voice very well. Thanx for the review, Cairistiona. | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/21/2009 |
| That made me all tearful... Just enough pathos to convey the feeling, just enough restraint to keep it tasteful. Well done. I don't think, though, that tears can well up *behind* the eyes. That seems a bit odd. Author Reply: Thanx for reviewing, Virtuella. I'm glad you found the ficlet an affecting one. I'll check out that line with the tears later and reconsider. | |
| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 6/21/2009 |
| Ah, I was led to believe that Faramir would write his greatest hero is his teacher - that would have been right down my lane! But his actual choice makes just as much sense. I always appreciate a positive portrayal of Denethor. Poor man, it's not his fault that he cracked under pressure. I've always seen him as tragic, not evil. Author Reply: Denethor is a great tragic figure, or antihero. I don't consider him evil, but I don't consider him a misunderstood hero either. He had a bit too much pride and ego than was good for him, and it got in the way. Bur he was a man of intelligence and nobility; and he certainly didn't deserve his fate. I think young Faramir had many heroes. It occurs to me that he chose his father for this essay because he knew him better than he knew the other choices, and even he could tell, at eleven, that his father was then under more pressure than his heroic brother. Thanx for reading and reviewing, Virtuella! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/21/2009 |
| So often the stories of Halbarad's death have him die on the battlefield, with no chance to know of the victory won, and no chance to say farewell to those who loved him. I'm glad that in this one, at least, he got to see the fruit of his sacrifice. Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, Dreamflower. Halbarad could have died on the field of battle; or taken a fatal wound and lived a few more hours. Tolkien never said. Yes, I wanted him to have a few minutes to really get to look at Minas Tirith and know he had helped to save the city. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 6/21/2009 |
| Aww... poor young Faramir, if he only knew how like all his father's good qualities he would be... Author Reply: Thanx for the review, Dreamflower. I do think father and son were probably more alike than was sometimes comfortable for Denethor. | |
| Inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/21/2009 |
| Oh *sobs*! I so wish Tolkien had allowed Halbarad to live a little longer! I too am certain he knew his death was coming but his duty and devotion to his chieftain and his men would not allow him to falter. This was most beautifully done, Raksha. Author Reply: I would think that the Northern Dunedain always lived very precariously, knowing they could be killed by the dangers they braved, and would have developed a very thick skin and a certain amount of stoicism. And that being said, it's a shame that Halbarad didn't live to see his kinsman crowned King and enter the city they had saved. Thanx for reviewing, Inzilbeth! | |