Reviews (92)

Author's reply

Gee, thank you. My dream is to write a story where Faramir, Eowyn, and other residents of Minas Tirith journey into Mordor five years after the big eruption. I've been fascinated with volcanoes, ever since my dad told me about Mt Vesuvius, which erupted while he was stationed in Italy during WWII. I have done easy hikes on Kilauea and Haleakala volcanoes in Hawaii, and Mount Shasta and Mount Lassen here in California. This January I finally got to see the three famous volcanoes of New Zealand. Yeah, these are the ones Peter Jackson used in LOTR and The Hobbit. Next fall I hope to finally see Mount St. Helens. So maybe I can finally show Faramir and Eowyn's reaction to the devastation of Mt. Doom close hand.

Author's reply

Hi Irene - I really appreciate your support as I moved along, and hope that "Avoidance" ended nicely for you. There were four major avoiders in "Avoidance." Three of them had to have a confrontation before the story could end. The fourth "avoider" was Aragorn, of course, and he needed his moment of realization. That is in "Hope Comes for Estel." Stay tuned for the "Avoidance" Epilogue. And yes, I do have some more ideas for stories. For me, as always, the stuff I have to write for my job comes first. Nevertheless, my LOTR fanfic writing and reading finds time in my life. Thanks to all for reading "Avoidance." - Steff

Author's reply

Hi Linda - You said: even though,as a Tolkien purist, I don't agree with everything,but it is a very good read and I've laughed the most over what I don't think Tolkien would like! Well that comment got me laughing. I'm sure my story must have Tolkien rolling in his grave. I hope it's with laughter. I must admit I got a kick writing all those canon infringements. If I go to heaven and meet Tolkien there, I'd be in deep and serious trouble. - Steff

Author's reply

Thanks Raksha, and I couldn't a done it without your help. I've been waiting over a year to finally write the show down between these three, and must say I had a lot of fun composing it. So many people have written the initial meeting between Faramir and Eomer as confrontational. But I thought these two might get along famously, after getting a few sensitive issues out of the way--such as will Faramir be a good husband and perfect match for Eowyn. They both are powerful war captains who appreciate a tasty tankard of ale :) (how "guy" like). The Epilogue, which is about one third written, contains the Coronation scene from Eowyn's POV, which a few people have asked me to write. The other scene, of course, is the finale of the big shower that Faramir and Arwen have held for Eowyn. Both have some surprises that I think give a nice closure to "Avoidance." Again, thanks for your support, hope you and all the quiet masses that I know have read "Avoidance" had lots of fun, a few shocks at my, uh, interpretation of book and movie canon, and LOLs in the appropriate scenes. - Steff

Author's reply

She was being rustic, wasn't she :) . I hope you didn't mind that I did, indeed "get a room" for her and Faramir. Thanks for keeping up with this. - Steff

Author's reply

That's right. The ethics that my Faramir and Eowyn adhere to are AU, as I have cautioned readers. Earlier chapters in "Avoidance" actually allude to the moral code in Rohan that Eowyn goes by. However, since it's taken me so long to write this story, I probably should give people references to the chapters where Eowyn discusses Rohan's common laws regarding marriage customs, pre-marital sex, and nude bathing. These laws have nothing to do with Tolkien and Jackson, totally my invention, though I hope people will find it less weird than the many "pairings" on other fanfiction sites. Re: Eowyn's mapping Faramir's body, heck, she's had a great deal of practice as a healer by now. She's seen a lot of bodies, male and female, by this time, and can't but help assess the state of her fiance's health. What a mother Eowyn is going to make! Thanks for reading, Linda and supporting this tale. - Steff

Author's reply

Hi Linda - I think most people will agree with you about Tolkien's Faramir and Eowyn. That's why I said in my blurb on the Stories of Arda home page, "Tolkien didn't write this scene. Jackson didn't film it. It's my chapter alone and you may consider it AU." I realize that I took a big, big chance by implying that my characters consummated their love before marriage. I've read a great deal of Tolkien and have yet to find anything in his stories that defines a strict moral code for his human peoples. And then there was the story I recently read, set in Middle Earth, where a man unknowingly marries his sister. Sibcest Fanfic? Nah, Children of Hurin. If it's some consolation for anyone who might be disappointed that I put my couple in bed before the wedding night, trust me that I did not write this to give F and E a gratituous sex scene (discretely "off stage," to honor the PG-13 rating). There was considerably more at stake the end of this chapter than mutual lust and Eowyn's ticking biological clock. In the next chapter, you'll find out why Eowyn realized she could "no longer wait." But anyway, Linda, thanks for hanging in with me this far, even though what i write might be very atypical among Tolkien fanfic. - Steff Author Reply: Hi Linda - I think most people will agree with you about Tolkien's Faramir and Eowyn. That's why I said in my blurb on the Stories of Arda home page, "Tolkien didn't write this scene. Jackson didn't film it. It's my chapter alone and you may consider it AU." I realize that I took a big, big chance by implying that my characters consummated their love before marriage. I've read a great deal of Tolkien and have yet to find anything in his stories that defines a strict moral code for his human peoples. And then there was the story I recently read, set in Middle Earth, where a man unknowingly marries his sister. Sibcest Fanfic? Nah, Children of Hurin. If it's some consolation for anyone who might be disappointed that I put my couple in bed before the wedding night, trust me that I did not write this to give F and E a gratituous sex scene (discretely "off stage," to honor the PG-13 rating). There was considerably more at stake the end of this chapter than mutual lust and Eowyn's ticking biological clock. In the next chapter, you'll find out why Eowyn realized she could "no longer wait." But anyway, Linda, thanks for hanging in with me this far, even though what i write might be very atypical among Tolkien fanfic. - Steff

Author's reply

Thanks, utfrog98. I've been thinking long and hard about that song, but I'm not much of a poet. We'll see. I might just take the easy way out and give a line or two. Cross your fingers for me. - Steff

Author's reply

I'm so glad you are following "Avoidance," Irene. And, as you know, I love your reviews. You say that Aragorn flirted shamelessly with Eowyn in the film. I think that's a matter of interpretation. I'm a big fan of Aragorn, book and film. Someday I want to write a short tale starring him. I think film Aragorn flirted harmlessly (from his point of view), not shamelessly. Eowyn is the one who wore her foolish heart on her sleeve, in regard to Aragorn. When you say Aragorn isn't the brightest blade in the armory, I agree, but only in regard to his knowledge of females. Remember that he's been engaged and reasonably faithful to a "she-elf" for longer than Eowyn has been alive. In the Steff verse, Faramir would be far more woman savvy than Aragorn, which I realize is a violation of prevailing fanon, but so be it. At any rate, Faramir would have had more opportunities as a young'un for romance with human females than Aragorn, raised in Rivendell among the Eldar folk. As far as Aragorn being astonished at Eowyn's avoidance behavior two years after the Coronation, in the first few chapters of Avoidance (now two years on SoA!!) we find out that Aragorn hasn't really been in Gondor for a good part of his reign. He's left administration of Gondor to Faramir, Imrahil, and Hurin, the Keeper of the Keys. He's never really had a chance to just TALK with Eowyn about her crush. And the few times that he's tried to meet with her on a personal level, she's not only been too scared to confront him but also very afraid of how jealous Faramir would take it if she did. This is the crux of "Avoidance," which I've just laid out to you. BTW, I should have the next chapter up in the next week or two. - Steff

Author's reply

No kidding. He'd been avoiding the issue for several years and it was starting to affect his marriage. It's funny how I named this story "Avoidance" three years ago and have finally gotten to the the part where the protaganists face what they've been avoiding. Thanks for following along and supporting this story. The last few chapters will have much more Aragorn. I hope you enjoy how I portray him. (He's a big fave of mine, if that's not apparent already!) - Steff

Author's reply

Hi Raksha - Oh, how I agree about Faramir and Eowyn. Their interest in one another is very much the Steffverse, so I pray you all indulge me in this. Yes, Aragorn is very much the Movieverse Aragorn. Remember that Elrond made a surprise appearance at the Muster of Rohan to tell Aragorn that Arwen had not left, that her fate was tied to that of Middle Earth (whatever that means). Movie Aragorn knew his love hadn't gone West. What he didn't know was if the terrible war of the ring had claimed her life. Aw heck, you'll learn more in the next chapter. Thanks for being so encouraging to me. - Steff

Author's reply

I'm there in regard to Imrahil! I liked doing him so much in this chapter that I gave him a significant role in getting Faramir and Eowyn together, much later in "Avoidance." I hope to do lots more with Imrahil in future stories. - Steff

Author's reply

Hi Larner - Glad to see that you are continuing on. You're just about to get to some of my favorite chapters. Re: following Frodo in his dreams. Faramir's farsight became a theme I returned to again and again in Avoidance. In fact, the chapter I just finished, "What Faramir Was Avoiding" and the finale that I planned have interesting resolutions to Faramir's attempts to use farsight.

Author's reply

Thanks, Larner. I'm glad that you found my portrayal of Eowyn true to her movieverse character. That's proof I'm doing the job I set out to do with this story. - Steff

Author's reply

Hi Larner - Welcome to the world of Avoidance. I went movieverse for this story, originally to fill my own desire to see more of Faramir and Eowyn than we were given in the films. I started Avoidance almost three years ago, so it's been a long, unveiling process, almost at an end. Thanks for reading. I hope Avoidance continues to hold your interest. - Steff

Author's reply

Thanks, SMOR and xiaoweisan. NIECE is a horrible boo boo on my part, which i will fix as soon as I am finished with this response. I was in an extreme rush to get Avoidance out the door because I had procrastinated for so long in getting it out. I didn't have it Beta'd. SMOR, it's really good to hear from you. I'm glad to see you are still reading Avoidance. I look forward to seeing your tales on SOA. Don't be a stranger. It was really difficult for me to write Frodo and Faramir. That's where I got hung up for two months :) I'd love to see your take on Frodo and Faramir, BTW. - Steff

Author's reply

Hey xiaoweisan - Lothiriel has returned to being Faramir's young cousin. Thanks for finding this error and for reading Avoidance. - Steff

Author's reply

When I did my annual viewing of the LOTR trilogy films last week, I thought about where in the films Arwen would experience her first period on the human, rather than elven cycle. It would make a good story, wouldn't it, Arwen having mild or non-existent elven cramps, and then suddenly have full-blown menstral agonies every month. Poor thing quickly learns the agony of being human and female. I have to get me a real life !! Thanks for your kind words, Linda. - Stef

Author's reply

Hi Chibi - Welcome back. My company is closed this week, which should mean no computers, but I've been spending some of my time reading the lovely fanfics on this site. As far as Eowyn's realization of when she first loved Faramir, well, I do have to have a finale, don't I? And sorry but that realization and the finale is coming up shortly. I knew the story's conclusion would begin with Eowyn and Arwen having their first private conversation. But it took 20 evolving chapters for me to decide the content of that private conversation: Arwen asking Eowyn for medical assistance. The next chapter has Faramir coming to terms with issues with his wife and especially his, ahem, boss. Do F & E live happily ever after? Tolkien doesn't tell us. And since I am intentionally making my characters more realistic (film verse) than heroic, in the style of Tolkien, Faramir and Eowyn have their ups and downs, just like real life couples. Thanks for your support! - Steff

Author's reply

Why thank you, RS. I'm glad that "Avoidance" has held your interest for so long. Regarding Arwen becoming mortal, I've never written anything on that subject other than the little paragraph near the conclusion of "What Eowyn Was Avoiding." I've wanted to do a brief Arwen fic on that subject for awhile. But first, I need to bite the bullet and conclude "Avoidance." I'm glad that you and many other people are still hanging in with me. - Steff

Author's reply

Hi Raksha - Happy holidays to you! Whew. I'm relieved that you find my "take" on F/E reasonably believable. You say: "One wonders if Faramir and Eowyn will, now betrothed, go off and play "doctor" in some quiet corner." All I can say is, the next chapter will wrap matters up and show what Faramir was avoiding. He and Eowyn's increasing urges to go off in a corner and, uh, cuddle, will certainly drive the poor boy crazy, I suspect. How Arwen realized that she had become mortal has long been a plot bunny biting at my feet. Maybe some day I'll devote a short take to the elleth and her transition. - Steff

Author's reply

Hi SMOR - Sorry for being so slow to respond. I've been sidetracked by work writing and holiday issues, like everyone else. Stay tuned for more of the wall scene and some matters that probably never occured to Tolkien, as "Avoidance" draws ever closer to its conclusion. Thanks for your support. - Steff

Author's reply

I'm glad you're happy, Chibi. You might be surprised to know that I think of you sometimes when writing these chapters and hope that you like them. You've covered the same story differently but so well. Unlike the last few chapters, "Putting Two Together" wrote itself. I've had the idea for it for at least a year. Plus I wanted to get it done before I went to New Jersey to visit my family for Thanksgiving. I've given myself a deadline of December 31st to finish "Avoidance." Don't know if I can, but I'm sure gonna try. Stay tuned, and thanks for the review. - Steff