Made to Suffer by Clairon
annmarwalk · 8 March 2005 · Chapter 15: Restoration
This story has that special sparkle that distinguishes a great story from a merely good one. All the details are there, the descriptive bits that make things really come alive.Though it's not dialog-heavy, what is there is zinging and realistic. I was able to lose myself quite completely in the story. Bravo!
Branwyn · 26 September 2004 · Chapter 15: Restoration
Nice touch that Gimli moves faster than expected given his physique; it is probably rather like seeing a great, black bear suddenly decide to run instead of lumber along. Aragorn describes Leggy and Gimli as a pair of quarrelsome but "very strong and deadly children"--I laughed at that! Aragorn is too hard on Eldarion; the poor boy is only thirteen. I see that Aragorn is also a FuManchu fan--he is wisely sending men to look for Saruman's body. Just kidding there. :-D But you broke my heart when Faramir thought his son was Boromir. Too sad. Now Faramir is due for a good, long rest, which he probably won't get one since you two are in charge! Great story!
Branwyn · 25 September 2004 · Chapter 14: Falling
I may be onto something with the FuManchu connection--my husband points out that Christopher Lee played FuManchu in the 1960s Hammer films. And, of course, Lee portrayed him in "The Two Towers!" A coincidence, I don't think so...the end???
Branwyn · 25 September 2004 · Chapter 14: Falling
Go, Legolas! As for Saruman, maybe not the end...(A rather Fu Manchu-like denouement for him; perhaps he will rise again?) However, Grima is good and dead (finally). "Sam Gamgee's young daughter would make a better fighter than Wormtongue"--teehee! Liked Wormie's state of mania and his plan to smoke out Saruman. Poor Faramir--no, I suppose walking through a big fire would be especially disturbing for him.
Branwyn · 24 September 2004 · Chapter 13: Fortitude
Sneaky ranger to feign more weakness than he feels! Liked the orc following his order for water; use the right tone of voice and they will jump! Arrghh, the description of Saruman's hand is nasty. Faramir seems about to drift off at that point in time. Anborn saying he hates surprises (an understatement in that situation) is funny. Liked Elboron riding off into the battle--in general, young men believe they are somehow invincible and that death is something which happens to other people, so this rang true. And Anborn, who knows better, goes riding after him...
Branwyn · 23 September 2004 · Chapter 12: Descending
Nice fight on the stairs. Why did Grima leave? I don't think he went to get Saruman because he seems startled to see the wizard. I am surprised that Saruman didn't kill Grima after that episode; Grima is acting too unpredictable to be an effective evil minion. Liked Saruman referring to himself as a "conservative player," using a chess analogy. So Aragorn's pup has a bark if not much of a bite! Things don't look so good for Faramir....
Branwyn · 22 September 2004 · Chapter 11: Resisting
Thanks for explaining why Saruman has not been using the green light spell! That was bothering me; I couldn't understand why Saruman was having to use physical abuse and psychological manipulation to coerce Faramir. Loved the flashback with Boromir; I though you caught his speech and manner very well. (I have to admit that, in the previous chapter when the second prisoner appeared, I was hoping that Saruman had somehow resurrected Boromir; but that's been done, hasn't it, LOL!) Beggars can't be choosers, but they are rescued by Wormie! Grima is going to lose track of whom he is currently double-crossing. Of course, it is possible that this is being staged by Saruman--they were watched by only two poorly-armed and armored guards who didn't seem to know how to fight. The hammer to the skull would be effective, but Faramir's target went down rather too easily, methinks....
Branwyn · 21 September 2004 · Chapter 10: Plotting
Those orcs showed remarkable restraint, which makes you wonder what Saruman is saving for later! I liked Saruman's "good wizard, bad wizard" interrogation technique. He is starting to slip in words of praise for Faramir, and he respectfully mentions Boromir. Now you would have us believe that Aragorn's son is not only a slacker and a playboy but also a traitor! (Of course the poor boy is under a spell.)
Branwyn · 20 September 2004 · Chapter 9: Interrogation
Grima and Saruman didn't hang around to see Faramir worked over by those two orcs? THAT is out of character. ;-) So, what could Saruman want from Faramir? Does he hope to kill Aragorn and set Faramir as a puppet ruler in his place? I hope Eowyn remembers, but I just recall that there were a bunch of orcs attacking them (I think Saruman came out when all danger was past,so she wouldn't have seen him.) Hurry, Aragorn!
Branwyn · 19 September 2004 · Chapter 8: Suffering
Please tell me that Wormtongue dies at the end of this story! They are keeping Faramir awake to soften him up for interrogation? Wormie is enjoying it far too much. Liked Eowyn assuming responsibility for Faramir's men and insisting that she be the one to tell Bergil of his father's death. At least Saruman didn't feed Beregond to his orcs, which is what I was afraid would happen. ("Saruman gives us manflesh to eat!") However, I have trouble believing that Aragorn's son is a playboy and a slacker, LOL!
Branwyn · 19 September 2004 · Chapter 7: Capture
Nice detail to have the tenants of Barad Dur send out a hunting party for food. The greengrocer has not made deliveries there in some years! Poor, old Beregond! At least you gave him a good death scene. "It is the manner not the place that is important" was a beautiful line. We don't want to know what Saruman's use for the corpse is, do we? It appears that the orcs have orders not to kill Faramir--not a good sign.
Branwyn · 17 September 2004 · Chapter 6: Revealed
Another great chapter! The middle-aged mother and the over-the-hill veteran make an unlikely pair of rescuers. Glad that Eowyn sent her oldest out of danger--I was hoping she would do that at some point. Shame on Anborn for letting them leave without at least one ranger to accompany them. Striking description of not-so-deserted Mordor. For once, Faramir should listen to Grima! I think the worm is right....
Branwyn · 16 September 2004 · Chapter 5: Uncertainty
The characters of the teen-aged sons are very believable--somewhere between being men and being children or maybe still a mixture of both. Horrible that the other students would say that their father is a traitor, even though the King has forgiven him. Wormie seems to have these occasional flashes of insight and rational behavior--as if he has multiple personalities. And at least one of those personalities seems to really hate being Wormtongue...
Branwyn · 15 September 2004 · Chapter 4: Decisions
Go, Eowyn! About time, too. Wish I could say I still fit into my clothes from 20 years ago...sigh. I liked her remark to the mirror; it sounds like Dernhelm was always there, lurking below the surface. Obviously, Grima's efforts to reintegrate himself into polite society have been less than successful. Faramir's exchange with the old veteran, now innkeeper, was well-done. I liked the wording of his oath to kill Grima, but I am not sure it was such a wise thing to say--now Grima has good incentive to go back to Saruman.
Branwyn · 14 September 2004 · Chapter 3: Together
That little midday interlude sounded like fun! [Teehee] Lucky Eowyn! However, deciding to murder Wormtongue, though a very appealing solution, does not seem in character for Faramir. Since Wormie didn't cast the spell and presumably can't annul it, nothing would be gained by killing him except revenge--which is a very un-Faramirlike motive. Actually, Faramir saying that he enjoyed hitting that miserable wretch seems out of character (to this reader, anyway). Hmmmmm....
Branwyn · 13 September 2004 · Chapter 2: Confrontation
I wonder if Saruman sent Wormie to visit Faramir? I can't imagine that Grima has any idea how to break the spell. And I can't imagine that Saruman didn't find Grima and rake him over the coals. Liked Faramir's disgust and rage at Grima's attempted extortion. Grima does have some good lines--like "I got them from an anonymous benefactor"!
Branwyn · 12 September 2004 · Chapter 1: Desperation
Interesting to see that Aragorn is not particularly happy being king. Sad after he spent his entire life working for that job! It does make sense that the routine and restrictions imposed by his new role would be difficult for him to bear after a life of travel and adventure. Stubborn, stubborn Faramir!
FiliKili · 15 June 2004 · Chapter 15: Restoration
I remember seeing this story at fanfiction.net. Good to see it here! Enjoyed it very much. Faramir is so heroic!