Florrie · 23 May 2014 · Chapter 7: Embassy
I loved this! I mean Faramir is so imposing and cool!
Author's reply
He's the coolest character there is!
More Faramir drabbles by Nesta
Reviews (51)
Rian Steelsheen · 17 June 2010 · Chapter 8: Exile
Wow, now I feel sad for Arwen...You know I've never thought of her choice as her being in exile from home, just as her leaving her family forever (which is sad enough), if you understand what I mean... I've always thought Minas Tirith would always be first in Faramir's heart, look at how he speaks of it in TTT, like if it was a lady! Eowyn's home being where her loved ones are makes sense.
Author's reply
Il semble que pour les Elfes, cette terre est toujours un lieu d'exil ou ils font un sejour temporaire. Pour Arwen, l'amour fait de la terre un paradis, mais un paradis qui durera peu de temps et qu'elle va payer tres cher. Neanmoins il y a un revers a la medaille; pour les hommes aussi, la terre est une habitation temporaire car la mort les prend tres vite et les envoie a un "ailleurs" inconnu. A la longue, le sort des hommes est preferable car ils seront immortels aupres de Dieu, tandis que la vie des Elfes, pour longue qu'elle soit, aboutira a l'aneantissement. C'est pourquoi Arwen pourra rejoindre Aragorn dans la mort, mais elle ne verra jamais plus son pere ni ses autres parents elfiques. A-t-elle bien choisi? Vraiment je ne sais pas. Il est tres evident que Faramir aime sa ville d'un amour tres profond et personnel. Quelque chose me dit qu'Aragon l'envoie habiter en Emyn Arnen parce que la ville ne saurait contenir deux si grands hommes - et Faramir y est chez lui, connu et aime de tous, tandis qu'Aragon est le nouveau venu...
Rian Steelsheen · 17 June 2010 · Chapter 7: Embassy
This is so funny! Neither Aragorn nor Faramir (nor Denethor) need any ornamentation to look great... I loved the ambassador's arrogance, and the style, the rhythm (the questions/answers), it is very well done (it makes me think of a poem or a fable). But I don't think Aragorn is a far greater man, when Pip compares the two, the first time he sees Faramir, he doesn't seem to think him a lesser man, and I doubt he was at his best at the time... But then It's true I'm biased, Aragorn just get on my nerve sometimes in the book (I don't dislike him but I think there are times he is a bit arrogant, but then I seem to be the only one...). Anyway Faramir has an effect on people, just look at Gollum; he had just starred at him and the other react like if he had been stabbed. By the way, I'm sorry if I make mistakes, English isn't my first language (I'm French), and it's hard sometimes to express myself!
Author's reply
Tu n'as pas besoin de t'excuser, ton anglais est impeccable! Personnellement je ne crois pas que Faramir soit inferieur a Aragorn, dont l'arrogance m'irrite souvent. Mais pour JRRT, evidemment Aragorn etait le non-pareil. Les auteurs peuvent mal juger leurs propres personnages! Dans cette petite histoire, Elboron emploie une ruse psychologique pour deconcerter l'ambassadeur - je suis sure que dans son for interieur, Elboron met toujours son pere a la premiere place. (Pardon, cet ordinateur ne fait pas les accents.)
Rian Steelsheen · 11 June 2010 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
"And now comes the worst time of all, when for the first time I must send not only my lord into battle, but also my son" Poor Eowyn... I'm so glad you didn't make Eowyn a silly stubborn girl who would beg Faramir to let her go with him into battle (or who would go without his approval at all)! I wouldn't say women are more courageous than men, but there are many forms of courage, and I don't know how most men will cope if the places were exchanged... Somehow your story made me think of my history professor (a man), who said the birth of a child is just as hard for the father as for the mother, if not harder (of course all the girls protested vividly). It's interesting, since it's the only occasion the woman is the one who suffers physically whereas the man is the one who suffers mentally... Did Turin go to battle? And how did he and they all feel about it if he did?
Author's reply
I think there was a touch of the silly stubborn girl about Eowyn in the book - or perhaps it would be better to say 'frustrated'. Evidently JRRT didn't want her to seem 'mannish', just a woman rebelling against the sort of narrow life she saw herself condemned to. Her life with Faramir wouldn't be narrow, and I don't think she'd be discontented if she didn't go to war, because she would have other worthwhile things to do. And she wouldn't have to consider going without his approval, because I don't think he'd forbid her to do things - he'd leave her to work out what was sensible and worthwhile and what wasn't. On the other hand, if there were a dire military crisis and Ithilien got invaded or something, I'm sure Eowyn would take up the sword again and would be as skilful as ever. I can't speak to childbirth, but I can't imagine fathers suffering as much as women do! I read somewhere that women actually are far better at bearing physical pain than men are, because women have to be made that way to have children at all. You know the way many men act as if they're half killed if they suffer a slight injury or illness? I have a half-written story about Turin and his attitude to war - must get it finished some time soon. He saw it all very differently, of course.
Rian Steelsheen · 11 June 2010 · Chapter 5: Ithilien
Wow, you're good with twists, aren't you? Well, we know his dream will come true... Don't worry Fara, it's nearly over, I promise! It's sad that he really doesn't ask much, just peace, and that he can't have it.
Rian Steelsheen · 11 June 2010 · Chapter 4: Dreamslayer
So sad! I really feel sorry for Eowyn… I've always believed this can easily turn into a problem in their marriage, that Eowyn will grow old and die while Faramir will remain nearly unchanged... He would dread the day she would leave him, and she would fear his reaction to her physical changes. After all, she must know how he loves beautiful things, and he seemed quite taken with her beauty in RotK. So I think her concerns are somehow understandable, if not justified: Faramir will always be deeply in love with her no matter what. I can imagine it would be hard for her to speak to him about it, but I'm sure she eventually would and then they will speak about it at length, and he will find a way to reassure her, won't he? Or will it be difficult nonetheless, in spite of his love? I wonder how others will react to them. I mean, an old man with a young wife is more or less ok (that would be the case with Eomer and Lothíriel), but the contrary is rather….strange? But, thinking about it, maybe they can take it well and have fun about it. How do you view it all? Very good as always!
Author's reply
JRRT was writing a romance, and like all romancers he assumes that beauty in woman is a prerequisite! Faramir certainly is taken by Eowyn's beauty, but it's very significant that the first emotion he feels for her is pity for her mental anguish. He isn't somebody that would abandon a woman if she lost her looks. In any case I think Eowyn was probably worrying unnecessarily. There's a certain type of beauty - the clear-cut kind rather than the voluptuous kind - that doesn't vanish with age but simply changes. I rather think she would be like that. Several people have written movingly about this problem with Faramir and Eowyn - Raksha the Demon is one. As for general disparity in life-spans, it's a tragic theme that runs right through LoTR. It's obviously far more acute when it comes to elves being mated with humans, but long-lived humans versus short-lived humans is the same thing on a smaller scale. A critic, I forget his name, pointed out that when elves and humans form unions, it's always an elf-woman with a human man. No male elf ever abased himself to marry a mortal woman. Now is that sexist or what?
Rian Steelsheen · 11 June 2010 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
I feel like swooning a hundred times for wonderful Faramir, and I feel like crying bcs he doesn't exist. "You give it to me so that I can lock you out?" I liked it that she felt offended... Truly, which sane girl would even ever dream of locking him out, under any circumstance? =) "And now I must leave you for a while, and go and face the knowing looks of your brother and his followers" I already told you I love his humour... "Was there ever a gift-giver more generous?" No, of course not. Of course Faramir wouldn't be one of those overly possessive husband, he would take care to let Eowyn keep some intimacy... I liked this very much, thanks for sharing!
Rian Steelsheen · 11 June 2010 · Chapter 2: Pages from a schoolroom
"when he misses the gold he gets in a terrible temper and says the target is set up wrong" lol I liked this comment... Your depiction of Boromir is very accurate and true (and funny!), I can just see Faramir thinking that about his big brother!
Author's reply
Yes, Boromir is a likeable fellow really, but his ego does need to be massaged and I'm sure Faramir did a lot of that. Thanks for reading, Rian!
Larner · 24 March 2009 · Chapter 8: Exile
Yes, there is grief for what she cannot come to now; but her love is here, and there is another haven for them, beyond the circles of this world. Thought provoking.
Author's reply
Arwen may have made her choice, but I'm sure it went on troubling her. You can see it did, at Aragorn's death scene. Those two may meet again, but her elven kindred never. And the time she spent with Aragorn was only a small part of her whole life. I hope it was worth it!
Larner · 24 March 2009 · Chapter 7: Embassy
A greater man, not that a true King is that much greater than his greatest counselors! Thank you so!
Author's reply
Very true. Great kings usually have great counsellors - I think Elizabeth I is the perfect example. It's only tyrants and weak kings (or presidents, or prime ministers) who have to surround themselves with nonentities.
Larner · 24 March 2009 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
One I think I have read before, elsewhere. Oh, so true! Too true.
Author's reply
You can't help thinking about it that way, to my mind. A woman who cheerfully waves her man off to war, and really *is* cheerful, would not be a very loving one, would she?
Larner · 24 March 2009 · Chapter 5: Ithilien
At least THIS dream came true in the end. Marvelous foreshadowing.
Author's reply
Yes, it must have been wonderful to think that things like that could really happen. It reminds me a little of growing up before the fall of the Soviet bloc: we just never dreamed that it would cease to exist in our lifetimes, and we were brought up to think it was an ever-present menace, lilke Mordor. Alas, the joy and relief at its fall very soon turned sour. Apparently the same thing happened in Middle Earth as well (return of the Shadow), but not in Faramir's lifetime.
Larner · 24 March 2009 · Chapter 4: Dreamslayer
A dream we all face, I fear. And she calls for a champion? Not one she can best herself.
Author's reply
Faramir will be her champion, I think. She'd always be beautiful to him. There's a sad little footnote to Rider Haggard's 'She' - a novel about another beautiful woman who never grows old - to the effect that 'we' (meaning men)tend to love women for their beauty. 'If we lost them, and found them again dreadful to look upon, though otherwise they were the very same, would we still love them?' But in the sequel, when 'She' turns up again and *has* become old and hideous, the hero sticks by her - except that she immediately turns beautiful again. There ain't no denying it, men want female beauty and it sometimes seems that women spend half their lives (and incomes) trying to give them what they want. Sigh.
Raksha The Demon · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 8: Exile
A lovely, haunting piece. I think Eowyn would have the pragmatism to make anyplace where she was respected and loved and had a family her home; she would have known from childhood on that women often left their homes to go make a new home at their husbands' hearths. And I can easily see her being happy with Faramir wherever he is. The glimpse of Legolas' sea-longing is nicely written, it's often with him, he just hides it, and perhaps it ebbs and flows. Arwen's anguish is haunting; and perhaps this sorrow contributed to her despair after Aragorn's death.
Author's reply
Thanks, Racksha. I think this sense of exile and loss that hovers over Tolkien's world is one of the most profound and important things in it; there's even a touch of it in 'The Hobbit', at Thorin's death. From the 'Tale' it seems that Arwen, by Aragorn's death-bed, does come perilously close to regretting her choice: Aragorn's serenity contrasts very sharply with her bitterness. It seems that she never really faced the consequences of her choice until that moment, when her reason for becoming mortal was vanishing and yet she had to remain mortal herself. It's rather odd that Aragorn should suggest that she could 'repent' of her choice; surely he ought to have known that she couldn't? Perhaps he never really dared face the implications either. As a human being, if you believe in an after-life then no partings can be for ever. Tolkien clearly did believe this, which is why the parting of Elrond and Arwen is so very painful. I don't think anyone else in the whole saga has to face anything so utterly final.
daw the minstrel · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 8: Exile
This was both powerful and true. I love the varied descriptions of what each person longs for as home. The glimpses of Legolas's longing are heart-rending. But most painful of all is Arwen. Yes, she made her own choice, but all choices give loss as well as gain. Great job.
Author's reply
Many thanks, Minstrel! There's an awful lot about choice in LoTR and nobody's choices are easy. Think of Aragorn deciding whether or not to follow Frodo at Rauros, or, most of all, Sam deciding whether to leave Frodo's body and go on with the quest. And I always thought Faramir's choice not to seize the Ring was worth far more praise than it ever got. He probably expected a kick in the teeth from Denethor, but Gandalf might have said a kind word...
Rugi · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 8: Exile
I am so pleased to see you posting more fics! I love your stories (particularly your Steward stuff) so it's a treat to see more of them. I thought it was intriguing to read Eowyn's view of home, as she is someone who made a choice to leave her own home and old life. I liked that, for Eowyn, it became the people in her life who were home to her, rather than any one place - it makes sense for her character. And I liked the mention of Faramir and his love for the MT - for all that Ithilien was his princedom, I can't imagine it completely displacing the city of his family. And it was also interesting to see Arwen and her grief through Eowyn's eyes. I loved it.
Author's reply
I'm sure you're right about Eowyn, Rugi. She seems to have found Edoras intolerably confining, but she clearly loved Rohan, or at least took a fierce pride in it. Raksha the Demon has written a beautiful drabble about how Faramir might have delivered Eowyn from her 'cage' at Edoras. It's called 'The Bower' and I think it's on ff.net, but Raksha will tell you.
Rugi · 21 February 2009 · Chapter 7: Embassy
I LOVED this fic. The rhythm of the questions and answers between the ambassador and Elboron was perfect - almost like poetry. And I adored the end. It reminded me of Pippin's reaction to Faramir - if Faramir could inspire that kind of feeling, meeting Aragorn must have been a bit shattering. I like the image of the ambassador contemplating that. Lovely!
Author's reply
I'm sure my knees would knock meeting either of them, but with Faramir it might be for a slightly different reason...
Linda Hoyland · 20 June 2007 · Chapter 7: Embassy
Very enjoyable.It is the essence of the man that counts.
Author's reply
Very true. Of course, diplomacy involves a lot of posturing, and magnificence is a powerful tool. However, I think Faramir would have eschewed it in the Stewards' tradition, remembering the unforgettable description in RoTK of Denethor - the proudest of men! - sitting in his humble chair in the shadow of that great empty throne. I don't think Faramir would need magnificence to impress. Just looking at people seems to do the job!
phyloxena · 15 June 2007 · Chapter 7: Embassy
I remember you had a piece somewhere about various characters testifying against PJ's distortion. Gandalf's testimony surely sounded like "the Elephant Child". Could you please link me to the piece? I meant Solomon(?) from "the Butterfly Who Stomped"; I'm better familiar with JSS in translation and wasn't sure what was original name.
Author's reply
That would be Gandalf talking about young Faramir's 'Statiable Curtiosity in a very old fanfic I posted at Council of Elrond. You'll find it on http://www.councilofelrond.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Fanfiction&file=index&options=SearchResults&searchterm=Fattybolger&pagenumber=1&searchkind=author&totalpages=-1 Nice of you to remember it!
phyloxena · 14 June 2007 · Chapter 7: Embassy
This is actually very funny. The kind of mounting-to-the-punchline fun of a historical anecdote. And it reminded me of Solomon in "Just So Stories" (or the Elephant child from the same book).
Author's reply
I always adored the JSS, especially the Elephant's child. Perhaps this one is more like 'The Butterfly that stamped': how to rig things so as to make somebody look important? I would certainly tremble if I met Faramir's eyes, but it might not be for the same reasons. So that was all right, Best Beloved: do you see?
Linda Hoyland · 23 May 2007 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
This is so true and very touching.
Author's reply
Awful being a woman, isn't it? Not much better being a fighting man really. Always the chance of getting skewered.
AspenJules · 21 May 2007 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
Yes, Eowyn grows and learns what true courage is in her role of wife and mother. I don't see this as bitter at the end, but as her recognizing the different kinds of bravery, and that as unrecognized as it may be, the strength of the women who send their men (husbands *and* sons) is the greater. Impatient she may remain, but I *do* like to think of her as finding a happiness and contentment in her new role.
Author's reply
I don't think Eowyn is bitter, just recognising what life is like, and what courage you need to face it. When she rode secretly with Theoden's army she felt she had nothing to lose: Ararogn had rejected her and the idea of staying in Rohan and doing nothing was unbearable. As a happily married woman with a child, she has everything to lose and realises that true courage lies in accepting this.
phyloxena · 21 May 2007 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
Eowyn is still above others here. Now she finely found greater courage of women. I love the way you put her love and gratitude in this rather bitter reflection. And thanks for the update.
Author's reply
I think Eowyn will always be above others. She's realised now what Aragorn rather clumsily tried to tell her in RoTK: that it can take more courage to stay behind and grit your teeth than to go out and do something heroic. Come to think of it, this is an interesting contrast with Denethor, who seems all too willing to stay behind in MT (despite being all dressed up in armour etc.) and send Faramir out into danger.
Raksha The Demon · 20 May 2007 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
A sad commentary on the duties of women. I would have hoped that Eowyn would be happier; but then again, I don't see her as the patient sort.
Author's reply
I don't think Eowyn is naturally the patient sort, but she had patience forced on her when she was looking after Theoden and she will need it again as a warrior's wife - because Faramir will have to do a fair bit of fighting in the FA, I'm sure. I've a feeling Faramir encountered quite a lot of 'impatience' from time to time on Eowyn's part, but he wouldn't mind. He wouldn't want her to be spiritless, otherwise he'd never have married her.
Larner · 20 May 2007 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
The courage and strength of women has seldom been properly fathomed by mere men. A wonderful look at Eowyn's heart and the first time she allows Elboron to follow his father and his king into the horrors and dangers of war.
Author's reply
It's very much the vogue just now to discover fighting women all over history. Somebody told me only yesterday that a lot of women joined the cavalry in the English civil war. I'm trying to verify this. However, they could never have been more than a tiny minority, and I doubt if they contributed much, whereas women who stay at home and keep that home safe and decent surely contribute a good deal. Eowyn would be the perfect compromise. If a raiding party attacked Emyn Arnen while Eowyn was in charge and Faramir was away fighting, boy! the raiders wouldn't know what had hit them.