More Faramir drabbles by Nesta
Armariel · 20 May 2007 · Chapter 6: Great deeds
A poignant and powerful observation. Any mother would get choked up at the last sentence, I should think! ~~~{~@
Author's reply
'Twas ever thus. Think of all the women whose sons (or husbands, or whatever) are in Iraq at the moment. They must never draw an easy breath.
Raksha The Demon · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 5: Ithilien
How it must have hurt Faramir to awaken and realize it was only a dream, and that Mordor still threatened all he loved. What's neat is that the dream foretells what Ithilien will become under his care after the nightmare of Sauron's threat is forever ended. Very well done.
Author's reply
Thanks, Raksha! I like happy endings - though this one didn't come without a fairly heavy price, of course.
daw the minstrel · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 5: Ithilien
This was nice and fooled me as to the time frame. I'm glad Faramir's dream was realized.
Author's reply
Yes, it's nice to know that things occasionally come out right. Funnily enough, I think that Faramir is rather like Sam Gamgee in his view of the world - liking peace and quiet, and gardens, etc. Perhaps that's why Sam and Faramir get on so well once Sam's been put in his place!
Armariel · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 5: Ithilien
Very lovely all of them. I especially like the one about the key. Now there's a smart bridegroom.....dang, why aren't I Eowyn? lol ~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thanks! Be warned though - the queue to be Eowyn is extremely long and I'm at the head of it - I hope.
Linda Hoyland · 29 April 2007 · Chapter 5: Ithilien
I loved the twist in this, but at least we know that one day Faramir's dream will come true.
Author's reply
Yes, and Ithilien must have been a perfect place to live once they'd got rid of the orcs and other nasties!
AspenJules · 8 February 2007 · Chapter 4: Dreamslayer
Poor Eowyn, though I'm not exactly sure I know where/when she's dreaming this. Is it in Minas Tirith? Or just later on in Ithilien, or when Faramir's not beside her? I firmly believe that Eowyn would have aged beautifully, and that Faramir would be able to help her believe it. Some of the most beautiful women I know are older, happy women, whose lives of love and happiness have aged their faces with grace and beauty. I feel strongly that Eowyn would also be one of those women. Hopefully Faramir will be able to slay that wraith for her.
Author's reply
She could be having the dream anywhere. I've a feeling she doesn't dare tell Faramir about it; he is rather keen on her beauty, after all. Once she does manage to tell him I'm sure he'll be able to reassure her. I quite agree that youth and beauty don't always have to go together, but you'd have a job convincing anybody young and beautiful of that.
Raksha The Demon · 7 February 2007 · Chapter 4: Dreamslayer
Sad and scary dream; poor Eowyn. Her possibly aging faster than Faramir is something that even the hands of a King can't heal. I choose to believe that she aged gracefully, and was not terribly decripit when she died; but we don't really know one way or another.
Author's reply
I'm sure Eowyn would age gracefully, and I'm also sure that Faramir would continue to love her in any case. Nonetheless all beautiful woman must be haunted by the fear of what will happen when they are no longer beautiful. It's a theme that runs powerfully through literature - from Villon's 'Regrets de la Belle Heaumière' to Rider Haggard's 'She' (and the sequel, where the hero does accept the heroine when she's old and hideous, and the narrator comments that this was 'one of the greatest, bravest acts ever done by man') to JRRT's depiction of immortal elven women - and of course it sustains an obscenely massive cosmetics industry nowadays. There's something to be said for being a plain Jane...
Linda Hoyland · 7 February 2007 · Chapter 4: Dreamslayer
Poor Eowyn,it must haunt her that she will age more quickly than Faramir.A chilling piece,very effective.
Author's reply
There's been a lot written on that theme - and it's a very haunting one. I suppose Arwen and Aragorn must have the same problem in reverse? Though the situation is very different, of course, when it's the man who ages. I don't thnk women generally do choose their partners for their looks - in particular, not their youthful looks. Or do they???
AspenJules · 10 January 2007 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
Ahhh, Nesta, that was delightful! I imagine that that is exactly what Eowyn needs, even if she doesn't exactly know it herself - assurance that she won't lose herself by giving herself to another. Yes, Faramir is very perceptive, that Numenorean blood in him, I suppose. But don't lose hope, while there aren't many *just* like Faramir out there, there are some that approximate him. Look for the Faramir qualities in each man, and nurture them, and they might surprise you! (I'm married to one!)
Author's reply
You're a very fortunate woman! It's nice to know they are out there...
Raksha The Demon · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
Squeeeeeeee! And sigh. Faramir is so perceptive; and that's just what Eowyn needs, as well as his love. Elegantly and beautifully written.
Author's reply
Ahhhh - I don't suppose there are any men like that in the real world. That's why I'm such an unrepentant escapist!
Linda Hoyland · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
What a beautiful idea and how thoughtful of Faramir to show Eowyn how much he respects her.I enjoyed this very much.
Author's reply
I wish there were men like Faramir in my life. Alas, it's a long time since the end of the Third Age, and things always go from bad to worse, don't they!
French Pony · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
Faramir is a wise man. Both halves of a married couple need a special alone space.
Author's reply
How true! (Deep sigh.)
Larner · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
Now, it takes a truly sensitive man to realize that he needs to give his wife space to be herself; and only Faramir could make the gift of an iron door key such a romantic gesture. How we do love him!
Author's reply
And with such good reason!
Larner · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 2: Pages from a schoolroom
Now, this is wonderful. The brothers love one another, that's plain! And rightly so.
Author's reply
Yes indeed! But without being sentimental about it. I don't think either brother was ever sentimental; look at the wonderfully restrained - even quite sharply critical - and yet loving way that Faramir talks about B. in TT.
Larner · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 1: Peril by water
Oh, how funny! Boromir the bold was working hard at earning his title even as a teenager, then? Hah!
Author's reply
I think Boromir was probably like that from the cradle, brandishing a club instead of a rattle...
shirebound · 9 January 2007 · Chapter 3: The morrowgift
Even as I give myself to him, he gives me back myself That is absolutely lovely.
Author's reply
Thanks, shirebound! I think Faramir is absolutely lovely, period. (Sigh, drool.)
Linda Hoyland · 29 October 2006 · Chapter 2: Pages from a schoolroom
You capture the brother's personalities brilliantly.I enjoyed this.
Author's reply
Thanks, Linda! Children's writing can be devastatingly revealing about their personalities and attitudes. I hope the schoolmaster had the sense not to show these compositions to Denethor...
Raksha The Demon · 28 October 2006 · Chapter 2: Pages from a schoolroom
He’s good at remembering words and dates and things like that, which can be quite useful at times. - Heeeee! Loved this line of 12-year-old Boromir's with its grudging approval of his bookish little brother. It's funny, and rather telling, as FrenchPony has observed, that Boromir, though older by five years, spells no better than his little brother. Faramir's anecdote about Boromir's reaction to missing the gold in archery contests is also quite telling, and funny. I imagine that Boromir learned to mask his thwarted pride, at least publiclly, as he aged. The brothers' mutual love and admiration comes through well, filtered through the lens of a bit of light, and realistic, sibling tension. I love the way that both brothers already have a sense of purpose and destiny and know what their future roles will be - both to fight the Enemy, Boromir to be a Captain and then Steward ever, Faramir to be Boromir's lieutenant, then the lord of Gondor's good counselor...
Author's reply
I've always been intrigued by the situation of people who are born ineluctably into a destiny (or job): heir to the throne, for instance, or to a dukedom, or an industrial empire; or, at the other end of the scale, into a low Hindu caste, for example. Even for the apparently privileged, it can be a heavy burden. As this applies to our favourite brothers, I've a feeling that Boromir would always tend to see the advantages of his position, and Faramir the obligations of his. Not that Boromir lacks a sense of duty, of course; but he's less stern about it. Bright six-year-olds can certainly write well - I've seen plenty of evidence of this. I've also seen a superabundance of work by sixteen-year-olds who express themselves far worse than Boromir does here!
French Pony · 28 October 2006 · Chapter 2: Pages from a schoolroom
Those are so cute. Interesting, and very in character, that twelve-year-old Boromir's spelling is worse than his little brother's, and that he writes less. You can definitely tell which one is the warrior and which one is the scholar!
Author's reply
Boromir is certainly no scholar, but he's not stupid either; he writes about as well as the average twelve-year-old, I think. But Faramir grows up to be a master of words, and that sort of thing tends to develop early!
Armariel · 28 October 2006 · Chapter 2: Pages from a schoolroom
How cuuuuuuteeeeee!! LOL (love them both)
Author's reply
I love them both, too!
Linda Hoyland · 23 August 2006 · Chapter 1: Peril by water
What an unexpexted twist at the end !
Author's reply
Thanks, Linda! I rather like the twist, but I've a feeling one can play that game too often...So I'll be trying not overdo it!
AspenJules · 23 August 2006 · Chapter 1: Peril by water
Delightful view of the two young brothers. Nice foreshadowing as well as a good glimpse of the disparate personalities of the two. I really enjoyed this - great job!
Author's reply
I did intend it as a foreshadowing, but not a heavy one. I did want to show that Faramir doesn't always let Boromir push him around without a protest!
EllyBaggins · 23 August 2006 · Chapter 1: Peril by water
i love it!! i can't wait to read more!
Author's reply
Thanks, EllyB!
Raksha The Demon · 22 August 2006 · Chapter 1: Peril by water
Clever buildup of the Osgiliath scenario, only to find that the defenders are much younger and that Boromir is leading the defense of a sandcastle, not the Citadel of the Stars, against a tide of water, not orcs. Boromir is definitely serious about saving 'his' fortifications, though!
Author's reply
Thanks, Raksha! I was on my seaside hols when I thought of this one. It has a warrant, though, in Imrahil's comparison of Gondor's last march to children sitting on a sandcastle. So very suitable for someone who lives by the sea!
Armariel · 22 August 2006 · Chapter 1: Peril by water
Whoooooaaaaaaa Faramire!!! Yessssssss!!! And Boromir too! A delightful small piece, love the little "surprise"! Look forward to seeing more. ~~~{~@
Author's reply
Thanks, Armariel! Plenty more where that came from - I hope.