Larner · 11 November 2007 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Ah--so this is how he came to Lothlorien the first time, is it? Very well written. Between the orcs and the nazgul he's had a time of it; it's now time to find his promise here. Well done.
Fell Memories by Gwynnyd
Reviews (12)
Grumpy · 22 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Great story, very intense. Glad that Aragorn made it to the land of the elves. Where I hope he is in very kind loving hands.
Author's reply
Well, he does meet Arwen in Lorien... so :-D Thank you!
insignia · 20 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Really enjoyed these. Your graphic descriptions of Aragorn's treatment seemed very real, and I felt his torment and pain. I lked his distraction formula against the interrogation, and how you subtly showed that it was Arwen who was protecting him (was I right?)
Author's reply
He was certainly thinking about Arwen, but he feared if he visualized her, the Nazgul would wonder how he, a man supposedly from Gondor, knew elves and woudl ferret outhis own identity. Thinking about Luthien, especially in sucha well known song, would allow him to have Arwen and still be not 'Aragorn'. I'm glad you thought it was realistic. Gwynnyd
Linda Hoyland · 17 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Chilling and beautifully written. You are very gifted and the events in this story are almost too plausible.
Author's reply
Thank you! Something terrible had to have happened to have Aragorn turning pale at the thought of Nazgul. I didn't want to make him into an Aragorn-Sue, but he still had to be able to escape in some way that would work as a 'real world' solution.
Bodkin · 14 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Grippingly horrifying. Poor Aragorn.
Author's reply
Yeah. The Nazgul are Not Nice! Thank you. I tried to write it horrifying. Gwynnyd
demeter d · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
This brought back memories. I graduated from high school about two years before America pulled out of Viet Nam. All through junior high and high school, we heard tales from returning serviceman. After the war ended, there were even more tales, coming from those released fron the prison camps in Hanoi.Such treatment has been only too real, over many ages of this sad old world. The chief aim of most of the tortures i remember hearing about was to demoralize; to make the men forget about who and what they were, to make them feel worthless and forgotten. You have written a powerful description of how one copes with such treatment.
Author's reply
I was Class of '69 myself, and the things people have done to each other over the years appalls me! I'm sure the Nazgul were experts at making people feel worthless and forgotten. They were so empty that they had to bring everyone they touched to their level. I think if they had known they had Isildur's Heir and not some anonymous Gondorian, they might have been more careful not to damage him until they had him at Dol Guldur or brought him back to Mordor. I'm sure they were quite annoyed by his resistance, thereby pressing him harder and causing the havoc that allowed him to escape. I wanted his escape to be at least mostly believable, and not have him snap back instantly from his ordeal. After all, he was still blenching over it many years later. Thank you for your comments! Gwynnyd
Larner · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Wonderful--the Golden Wood is not hidden from Aragorn, then. Wonderful indeed.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm sure Galadriel cleaned him up and gave him some time to heal before she did anything else. And how *could* she refuse to succor someone Elrond considered a son? Gwynnyd
Peredhil lover · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
That was a very intense and wonderfuly written chapter. I appriciate how you honestly portray the horror of torture without shying away and I look forward to reading more. I have read some of your other stories and I enjoy your writing, particularly your portrayal of the relationship between Aragorn and the elves and half-elves of Imladris.
Author's reply
There won't be any more of this story. But I have some ideas on what happens next. ;-) Thank you! Hearing that you enjoy my writing has me doing happy dances. Gwynnyd
utfrog98 · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Powerful writing! Thank you.
Author's reply
You're welcome! It's not the kind of story one can 'enjoy' exactly, but I'm very glad you appreciated it. Gwynnyd
EllyBaggins · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
wow, i really like this, you have a very effective style of writing which really builds up atmosphere and links in with what the character is going through. i love it that everything is hostile in aragorn's world, like even though the water helps him it is described as frigid and not enough
Author's reply
After trailing Nazgul fairly closely for 11 days, he was proabably already afflicted by the Black Breath before they caught him. But even though everything looked very bad, he never gaveup hope or trying. Thank you! Gwynnyd
meckinock · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
Wow. This was unrelentingly brutal and powerfully visceral, Gwynnyd. The series of terse, connected scenes worked really well, and you captured Aragorn's dismay, resilience, and determination beautifully. This was one of the best short gapfillers I've read.
Author's reply
Thank you! I tried writing this in a more normal story format, and it was too hard! I needed the terseness just to get through it. What kind of memory *would* make Aragron blanch and grip the arms of his chair? It had to be more than usually horrible, but not imppossible to survive. Gwynnyd
viggomaniac · 13 October 2006 · Chapter 1: Fell Memories
That was probably one of THE most intense stories I've read and it fits very well with our perception of the foul nature of orcs. I think as authors and as readers we sometimes tend to shy away from the reality of what torture/degradation entails but you've pulled it off incredibly well. It's difficult for the mind to comprehend the beastly nature of real events, i.e., the Holocaust, the massacre in Rwanda a decade ago, etc. But writing about it does remind the reader that evil does exist in the world. Poor Aragorn. What an ordeal. You made it all seem realistic and compatible with the original work and I am totally impressed. No wonder he craved the protection of the elves. Great, great writing. Your stories are definitely among my favorites.
Author's reply
Thank you! Tolkien was careful to imply that orcs were far fouler than he told us; Pippin shies away from giving details of his captivity, for example. In this more forthcoming age, we can be a bit more explicit. and I didn't want him to be an AragornSue! It was a very hard story to write, as I am normally much more a 'happy ending' sort of writer. Thanks again!