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Encounter in Ithilien  by Dreamflower 20 Review(s)
GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 4/21/2009
I enjoyed reading Mablung's POV of these events very much. It's clear that they became endeared to the hobbits very quickly, and not just for their seeming innocence. I doubt I would have been as successful as Mablung at hiding my smirk when Sam smart-mouthed Faramir! The ending was just perfect. I'm glad that Mablung was there to greet the heroes and praise them as they deserve. This was a delight to read from start to finish.

Author Reply: Yes, the hobbits definitely have their "hobbity charm" working for them! And Sam being such a smart-aleck to Faramir is one of my favorite parts of the journey-- Sam has a really wicked sense of humor!

I couldn't deny Mablung (and the others) the chance to see that their kindness to the little travellers had paid off in the end!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 2/28/2009
They had walked into Shadow and brought back the Light.

Praise them indeed! And the One Who created them (and the one who sub-created them).

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Thank you, dear! I am glad you enjoyed the story!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/28/2009
That's cute that the Rangers are all proud of themselves for figuring out the 'truth' of why Faramir is letting the hobbits go! I forgot to mention in my last review of my *sigh* of Frodo's hand being held by the Ranger, wish it could have been me, but I can imagine it well enough at least. Winning creatures indeed. I put your drabbles today on my website - thanks again! :)

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: It seemed like a logical conclusion for them to leap to: after all, they can't imagine their Captain disobeying orders, so it must have been that he had secret orders they did not know about--and why else would these tiny creatures be trying to slip in under Sauron's nose?

I read the canon account of that journey, and tried to imagine it from the men's POV--and that they would hold their hands to guide them over rough spots was only natural.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 2/28/2009
They had walked into Shadow and brought back the Light.

That's a great and poetic line; and a fine epilogue.

Author Reply: Thank you! It was, of course, a nod to the Challenge theme. I am glad that you liked the epilogue, which I was of two minds about. I am glad I decided to do one--Mablung deserved to see the end of the story.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/28/2009
I love Mablung's conclusion that the hobbits must be spies on a secret mission for the Steward. It makes sense, for why else would two such small and unwarlike fellows be heading towards Mordor? And a good nod to the strong loyalty that the Rangers have for their Captain.

Author Reply: Why else? That's just the question Faramir's men have to answer. They can't imagine their Captain disobeying orders, and so they automatically figure he must have "secret orders".

And of course, they'd never have guessed the truth in a million years!

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/28/2009
These were certainly strange days for the Ithilien Rangers; and even stranger things were being discussed by their Captain and the mysterious Halflings. A lovely look at one of Tolkien's most interesting (in my opinion, anyway) chapters.

Author Reply: It's interesting, I've not written very many Two Towers gapfillers, but of the handful I have written, three of them are set in this chapter. There's so much there to be explored! And of course, there's Faramir, who after hobbits and Fellowship members, is probably my favorite canon character.

Strange days, indeed!

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/28/2009
A nifty idea, to have the story of Faramir's fateful meeting with the hobbits be told from the viewpoint of one of his Rangers. Mablung is well-written here, intelligent, brave, curious; I like how observant he and Damrod are about the hobbits, it makes sense that Rangers, who would have to often live by their wits, know how to examine details that others might miss. And how odd the hobbits' delight in the terrible Mumakim must have seemed to them!

Author Reply: Thanks! I've often wondered what Faramir's men made of their strange encounter--they were not privy to much of the information their Captain had, and so they must have really been curious about what it all meant!

Thank you for your kind words about Mablung. I feel that Faramir's men must reflect their Captain: he's noble and honorable and brave and intelligent, and I think that his men would strive to live up to his example!

As I was writing this, and looking at the canon encounter, Sam's reaction seemed so delightful--he might have been meant by his creator to be a "typical" hobbit, and yet he has such a sense of wonder about all the things he encounters outside the Shire! Writing this little gap-filler gave me some new insights into Samwise Gamgee!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/27/2009
Another cute reaction from Sam - putting his head in the water and the remark made. I really should read the tale more often for I forget so much between readings. I've barely begun Two Towers for the 4th time and will be some weeks before I am here in this cave.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: I think in the Ithilien chapters, we get a really good look at Sam's sense of humor. He really was very cheeky and impertinant! And he had some very funny lines!

As many times as I've read LotR (and I lost count over 30 years ago at 56) I *always* find something *new* every time I re-read it!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/27/2009
I love Sam's reaction to the oliphaunt - excited but then well, back to sleep... :) Love also him putting out an arm so Frodo could lean against him.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: I know! That was just adorable in canon, and I am sure that it amused Mablung and Damrod no end!

And I could see him putting his arm out, an invitation to rest to his Master.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 2/27/2009
Ah--and I add my own Eglerio! to those offered by those who greeted them! What a joy!

Author Reply: Indeed! "Joy as sharp as swords".

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