Galathil · 17 May 2021 · Chapter 1: The Shieldmaiden and the Queen
Hi Morwen Tindomerel I really hope you get this review. I love your story and hope someday you will finish it. Galathil
The Steward and the Queen by Morwen Tindomerel
Reviews (17)
Bodkin · 16 December 2004 · Chapter 14: Afterthoughts and Farewells
I enjoyed this. Different - but interesting and appealing. I do need to go back and read the first one though, I think, to identify more with the OCs. (Poor Elrond. I do think he was dumped on over three ages. I hope he is happy in Valinor.)
Amy Earls · 14 December 2004 · Chapter 14: Afterthoughts and Farewells
*applauds* V. good fic, indeed! I like the details, such as Arwen planting orange trees, Eowyn wanting a wood house; Elrond, Gandalf, and Faramir going with Frodo and Sam to the archives. *delicious sigh* Thanks again! Amy
Raksha The Demon · 4 December 2004 · Chapter 12: Feast
I loved the pageantry and panoply of this feast - all the details were excellently and credibly written; it felt like I was there watching and participating in the celebration. The homage of the domains in the form of maidens was a lovely touch. Great ending, with Aragorn and Arwen sharing visions of their children and then setting about making them.
Raksha The Demon · 4 December 2004 · Chapter 13: The King Holds Court
I continue to be impressed by the skill with which you create the mood of Gondor during and after the war, and the details of lore, fashion and protocol in the depiction of Aragorn and Arwen. Not to mention bringing Arwen's considerable charm to the fore... But Faramir has been diminished. While you have written his romance of Eowyn beautifully, he is depicted here as a kind and honorable man, but not one of great ability or prospects. He is supposedly impoverished (spelling?), which leaves it open to question as to how he's going to pay for the building of that fair house he wants to erect over the river, much less sustain the priveliges of his new rank. Perhaps he'll become a gentleman farmer - or Eomer will come up with a whopping big dowry in horses for Eowyn...Faramir's book-canon skills as a scholar should have enabled him, not Idril, to at least figure out a good legal justification for Elessar's rule. And now the King is booting the new Steward out of Minas Tirith, which seems a very poor move, politically. A ruler coming into the charge of a large kingdom where he has not lived in forty years should not send his secretary of state, or chief administrator, away so the people will learn to trust him alone. Aragorn as King, rather than the heroic Captain Thorongil, is a totally unkown quantity to the people of Minas Tirith and Gondor; while Faramir is known and loved. It would have made far better sense for Aragorn to keep Faramir around, let the people see Faramir in a valued but lesser role as Aragorn becomes more and more used to the Kingship of Gondor. The sight of Faramir serving Aragorn with the loyalty that the new Steward has for the King would go a long way towards furthering Aragorn's acceptance by the people of Minas Tirith and Gondor. Faramir could also ease Aragorn into the practical and political minutiae of the Kingship of Gondor; but perhaps you intend Idril, who already is Arwen's informal protocol counselor, for that role. I would think that the people of Gondor, or at least Minas Tirith and the outland nobles, will view Faramir's exile with suspicion; and fear that the new Northern-born King plans to surround himself with other Men of Arnor... Aragorn's ordering Faramir to leave Minas Tirith (and it was an order, however nicely phrased and no matter how compliant Faramir is; one has the impression that Faramir will do anything Aragorn tells him) can also be seen as the new King's attempt to publicly distance himself from the Stewardship, of which Faramir is a very visible and beloved remnant. But if that is the case, why did Aragorn retain a Steward at all? How can Faramir be an effective Steward of Gondor at all if he doesn't spend at least a few months per year in Minas Tirith working with and for his King? Tolkien never said that Aragorn told Faramir to leave the City even temporarily, just that Faramir would have duties to do in Ithilien. Faramir should attend the Council that the King would presumably establish, which is hard to do when he's sowing the fields or slaughtering orcs in Ithilien. The same end, i.e. Faramir's leaving Minas Tirith and Aragorn temporarily, could have been accomplished by having both men agree that Faramir's duties in Ithilien would keep him busy for awhile and that Faramir should spend a certain number of months per year in Minas Tirith (maybe the summer, when the King and Arwen would probably want to go north anyway), so that Faramir would return in something like six months and report on the progress of Ithilien, unless he is needed earlier...
Author's reply
Oh dear! The very last thing I want to do is diminish Faramir in any way! Happily for Faramir he ceased to be responsible for the national debt of Gondor once he ceased to be ruling Steward and I imagine the income from his restored lands in Ithilien will help keep his personal finances in the black. And as Idril points out Faramir is slightly distracted by other concerns - Eowyn not least among them - which perhaps explains why he doesn't see the way out of their legal bind all by himself. Come on, can't Idril do one good thing? ;) History makes Faramir, quite unwillingly, something of a rival to Aragorn. The Stewards have ruled for nearly a thousand years and it must be made very clear that there has been a change of administration for everybody's sake. Besides '- Aragorn gave to Faramir Ithilien to be his princedom, and bade him dwell in the hills of Emyn Arnen in sight of the City.' So Faramir is easily accessible when really needed but not so accessible as to tempt people to go through him rather than Aragorn.
Larner · 3 December 2004 · Chapter 13: The King Holds Court
Still following the story. Good blending of book and film.
Larner · 27 November 2004 · Chapter 12: Feast
Fascinating AU with good attention to medieval usages.
Amy Earls · 27 November 2004 · Chapter 12: Feast
*happy sigh* The tableaux are a neat touch. Romantically speaking, I much prefer your version to Tolkien's, which would have been a logistical nightmare to plan and execute! Amy
BKB · 22 November 2004 · Chapter 10: Acclamation
A white banner for peace and black for war. Another nice touch for merging elements from the book and the movie.
BKB · 15 November 2004 · Chapter 9: Before the Coronation
You introduced a very point of psychology and circumstances when you show that Idril's desparation expressed itself as serious thoughts of suicide rather running away. Not only would she be influenced by Denethor, but her situation not offer an opportunity to run as Eowyn's did. Speaking of circumstances and psychology, you've introduced Morwen Steelsheen as still being alive during the events of LOTR, What effect would she have had on the domestic and political dymanics of Edoras during Grima's "reign"? Of course, this question is completely tangential to your current story, but it might be something to consider for a new one. As always, I'm looking forward to your next chapter.
Amy Earls · 10 November 2004 · Chapter 8: Eowyn and Faramir
I loved the solution to the succession problem!
Amy Earls · 5 November 2004 · Chapter 7: Messenger From The King
This is a pivotal chapter and no mistake! Arwen's "no" to join Aragorn on the Cormallen Fields is justified. And maybe a little "let him wait for me" for once! Loved it! Amy
BKB · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 5: The Days Of Waiting
You have riased an interesting and potentially troublesome point in comparing Eowyn who "fled" under pressure and Idril who managed to "stay on course". Do you have plans to develop it? I remember that two of Theoden's sisters made a "cameo appearance" in one or both of your two parallel set just prior to this one. Will they visit their niece in this story? Bye the bye, I have not mentioned how much I like the device of seeing almost the same set of events seen through two different points of view. I'm looking forward to the next chapter in this story and to the start "The Black Gates".
Nessa · 28 October 2004 · Chapter 4: Getting To Know Each Other
I love this story so far, please keep adding to it. it's interesting to see how Arwen adjusts to being Queen of Gondor.
Amy Earls · 21 October 2004 · Chapter 3: The New Queen Settles In
I just dote on these furnishing and cultural details, I really do!
RAKSHA THE DEMON · 18 October 2004 · Chapter 2: The Shieldmaiden and the Steward
Lovely chapter - I can just picture Idril and Arwen matchmaking on the brink of Doom. And Faramir and Eowyn are becoming adorably wrapped up in each other; and forgetting to be depressed - though possibly not for long, those two do have a lot to be depressed about! I liked the bit about Arwen's not realizing that she's now the #1 fashion trendsetter in Minas Tirith. Update soon!
RAKSHA_THE_DEMON · 9 October 2004 · Chapter 1: The Shieldmaiden and the Queen
I've been happily anticipating this story and it looks like my expectations are well-met. Loved the interaction between Arwen and Eowyn; Arwen's comforting Eowyn and the young woman accepting the comfort. But the instant attraction between Faramir and Eowyn was very well written; Faramir is intrigued, then fascinated by Eowyn. And she is already listening to him, impressed by him, and taking his words to heart to the point of starting to recover. I hope, when Faramir does take up his authority as Steward, you will show that he is more than a formerly suicidal and somewhat depressed man, but a talented and capable man born for the office he will hold temporarily as Ruling Steward, and presumably permanently as Steward under the King. Update soon!