Stirrings of Shadow by Fiondil
Nikara · 11 November 2007 · Chapter 22: Ierre
Hee Hee Hee. This may be my favorite chapter thus far. I love the fact that they are already calling Aragorn, Elessar. Another hunt! Yay! You do such a great job of continuity. I wonder when Aragorn first met Namo...
Author's reply
Hi Nikara. This is probably my favorite chapter thus far, too. *grin* As for when Aragorn first met Námo.... hmmmm, good question. Maybe some day we'll find out. Thanks for reviewing.
Ainu Laire · 30 October 2007 · Chapter 29: Mysteries Abound
Oh, do continue soon, my friend! I just had a chance to catch up, and it is truly brilliant. I am eager to know what happened to the missing men, who was the man who tried to rescue Theoden, and what happened to Thrandir and Gilhael. And, of course, I want to see this whole conflict in Rohan be put to rest. Oh man, I am so, so very eager to see what will happen. Do continue soon.
Author's reply
I plan to, though my efforts at the moment are centered around Elf Interrupted. As soon as I finish that story up I plan to return to my other WIPs. Just be patient. I should have a new chapter of this story posted before month's end.
Larner · 15 October 2007 · Chapter 29: Mysteries Abound
An often uncomfortable gift, foresight. Now, we still face several mysteries that need resolution. Will one come to the aid of Thandir and his companions? At least Widfara is resourceful.
Author's reply
Hi Larner. Hopefully all these mysteries will be solved, yet, life is full of unsolved mysteries (hence the popular TV show). As for Thandir and his companions... we'll just have to wait and see. And yes, Wídfara is proving very resourceful, even with a broken leg. Thanks for reviewing.
Shoshana_Rose · 14 October 2007 · Chapter 29: Mysteries Abound
Another nice chapter that raises more questions than it answers! I keep rereading "confrontation" trying to get a bead on what exactly transpired between Thandir and Aragorn, but I can't seem to find anything that hints at these inexplicable (so far) episodes. I'm very intrigued. I think the forseeing at night is a nice touch. Poor Thorongil: it's so hard to have people give your visions credence when they happen when you're asleep! I wonder if what happened to the missing Rohirrim will tie into the goings-on elsewhere in Rohan in "Stirrings." Can't wait to read what happens next. Cheers, Shoshi
Author's reply
Hi Shoshi, Well, this was actually one mystery I could have done without, myself. LOL I really don't have any more clue what happened to the missing hunters than the rest of you. Hopefully my muse will clue me in as to how everything is tied in. Glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
eiluj · 14 October 2007 · Chapter 999999: Character List
Aw, I thought you were going to resolve the mystery of ch. 29! (Though I can't be too disappointed, as this character list will be helpful to have.) P.S. Arathorion or Arathornion?
Author's reply
Oops! My bad. Thanks for pointing out the misspelling. Sorry about that. You'll just have a little longer to wait before the mystery is solved (if it ever is). Meanwhile, you can always leave a review for Chapter 29 while you're waiting. *grin*
Linda Hoyland · 13 October 2007 · Chapter 29: Mysteries Abound
I loved Widfara in this chapter, so caring despite his own pain and Aragorn in turn is equally caring. You have me worried for Aragorn. I have experienced two mini earth tremors in the UK,no damage was done but pretty scary. Thank you for another wonderful chapter.
Author's reply
Yes, Wídfara shines in this chapter, doesn't he? Like you, I've only experienced minor earth tremors and they're indeed scary. I wouldn't want to experience the real thing if at all possible. Thanks for reviewing.
Stefania · 9 October 2007 · Chapter 14: Retreat to Helm's Deep
Hi Fiondil - Just wanted to leave you a short shout out on my journey through "Stirrings of Shadow." This chapter was particularly exciting, so much drama and a cliff hanger for an ending. I almost couldn't read the parts describing Aragorn's wound. Thanks to your fine descriptive prose, I vividly imagined the Rohirrim camped around their fires as they fled to Helm's Deep after the ambush. I'm looking forward to the next chapters. - Steff
Author's reply
Hi Steff - Thanks for your short shout. *grin* I appreciate you taking the time to tell me how much you are enjoying the story so far. I hope to see more comments from you in the future when the mood strikes you.
Linda Hoyland · 6 October 2007 · Chapter 28: Red Deer and Danger
Another gripping chapter.Poor Aragorn and Widfara. The atmosphere was very creepy and atmospheric.Thanks for answering my question last time.
Author's reply
No problem, Linda. Glad you liked this chapter.
Larner · 2 October 2007 · Chapter 28: Red Deer and Danger
Captured? By whom? And why leave the bow in the holly tree? Fascinating!
Author's reply
Thanks, Larner. Glad you are still enjoying the story. As for your questions... hopefully we'll all find out in time. *grin*
eiluj · 29 September 2007 · Chapter 28: Red Deer and Danger
Ah! The animals knew ahead of time. The Chinese are great believers in that idea (placing more credence in it than most American geologists). They must have been right on the fault, with that amount of cracking and fissuring. Have you read accounts of the 1811-12 New Madrid quakes? Three huge quakes in a few weeks that *scrambled* the local geography in ways that aren't normally seen (I don't think there was boiling water, but there were fountains of cold water and sand). It was felt as far away as Boston and Charleston SC. There's a theory that the N. American plate has a weakness along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to the St. Laurence Seaway. Have you felt any EQs while in China? My father (who lived half his life in California and attended prep school right on the San Andreas Fault) was in China on business in 1978 -- before Americans went there. He saw the destruction still remaining from the 1976 quake east of Beijing; apparently they thought there was little EQ risk, so the building codes had been totally inadequate. Just like the codes in the Middle West are now! I was glad to leave Illinois before anything major on the New Madrid. Sorry about all the EQ stuff, but I grew up in California -- luckily during a very quiet time. (There was a 5.3 when I was in kindergarten, and we were only about 20 miles from the epicenter -- but that's as exciting as it got.) So now apparently there are Bad Guys. That broken bow up in the tree.... Hm. Orcs or traitors? How about both, and they can kill each other? (Knowing you, more likely Aragorn and the Rohirrim will be hit by both, sequentially.)Wídfara may be glad to be out of this one.
Author's reply
No, I've not felt an EQ in China yet, although I was the victim of one you might say. Right around Christmas (06) there was a seaquake off the coast of Taiwan that destroyed the underwater cables from as far north as the Yellow Sea and as far south as Singapore. We lost all internet for 48 hours and it took 5 days to be able to get totally back online and even then not all websites were available or easily reached. Yahoo, for instance, was not up to speed for an entire month. Very frustrating and it brought home just how much we rely on the internet now to keep in touch with the rest of the world. I felt totally bereft not being able to contact family and friends. Anyway, while I don't recall reading about the New Madrid EQ, I have read about other accounts, or have seen the devestation caused by EQs on TV. I merely used my imagination in describing this particular EQ. As to what the broken bow up in the tree actually signifies.... we'll have to wait and see. Just keep in mind that not all mysteries (in real life, at least) are meant to be solved. *grin*
obsidianj · 29 September 2007 · Chapter 28: Red Deer and Danger
What did Aragorn do that it is always him to get injured? And poor Widfara, as Aragorn's friend does get his fair share of injuries also ;-). So, where are the missing men and why is this bow up the tree? I'm looking forward to the solution.
Author's reply
Do? He's done nothing... except be Aragorn... and don't you just love it? *LOL* As for the missing men and why the bow is up the tree... hopefully we'll all find out in the end, though I make no promises. After all, there were unsolved mysteries in Middle-earth just as there are in our own world.
Agape4Gondor · 29 September 2007 · Chapter 28: Red Deer and Danger
Hooray! Steelsheen is named!!! Eating offal - my goodness, I do very much like Thengel - a far cry from his father indeed! *giggle* I love the use of the 'enough noise to wake the dead' - perhaps Haldir heard of it from another Elf! LOL I loved the line 'straightening up was an act of courage' - well said!
Author's reply
Hi Agape. Glad you liked this chapter. Yes, I figured Morwen had to have her Rohirric title given by the only one who could have done so safely, her husband. *grin* I'm sure Aragorn's elven brothers enjoyed using that phrase no matter *how* quiet Aragorn actually was. Must have annoyed the Man to know end, too. *LOL* While I've never suffered an injury such as Aragorn has in this chapter, I have had various kinds of surgeries that required similar acts of courage from me to get out of my bed and begin the slow process of recovering in spite of the excruciating pain I experienced simply in rising from my bed.
Linda Hoyland · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 27: Waiting Game
A very moving scene for for Widfara and Aragorn.These two have truly become brothers. Which chapter was the scene with Thandir in as I wanted to reread that part? I like Aragorn's gift of knowing the gender of the unborn child. A great use of Saxon tradition in making the King and Queen "givers of rings" as a gord lord was said to be. A lovely reunion for the tjhe King and Queen. In all,another treat of a chapter.
Author's reply
Hi Linda. Yes, Wídafara and Aragorn have become "gwedyr" as the elves would say. The chapter in question is chapter 17 "Confrontation". The elves know when a child has been conceived and know the child's gender, and as this is an elvish trait that's been passed down through the mortal descendants of Elros, it stands to reason that Aragorn would know the child's gender. "Giver of rings" is a term used to describe a king or queen in Anglo-Saxon poetry and prose. Generosity of the ruler was a sure sign that the land and the people flourished. That is why Fengel's greed and avarice was so repugnant to the Rohirrim, it went against the very grain of their philosophy and worldview. I'm glad you liked the chapter. Thanks for reviewing.
Shoshana_Rose · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 27: Waiting Game
Hi again. This was a nicely fulfilling chapter as we learned the outcome of the seige and saw husband and wife finally reunited. Can't wait to see what happens at Edoras and in the Westfold. I am concerned about Thorongil's episode in this chapter. It worries me that Thandir would have left such a potentially debilitating mark on his psyche. What if he had such a spell at a critical moment? Or is this another manefestation of Ranger PTSD/CSR? Keep up the fine work! Cheers, Shoshi
Author's reply
Hi Shoshi. Yes, it is good to see husband and wife (and children) reunited. It is unlikely that Thorongil's 'episode' is PTSD/CSR, but you never know. I think it's more likely that Thandir left a psychic mark on the Dúnadan that may actually prove important to the storyline in the near future. We'll just have to see how things work out. Thanks for the encouragement. I appreciate it very much.
Larner · 14 September 2007 · Chapter 27: Waiting Game
A wonderful chapter. So, King and future High King are reunited, and the King and Queen and family rejoices to know one another's company! Well and good. And now Widfara has earned his first physical sign of favor--having threatened physical harm to the Prince and Princesses of the land to keep them in line! Go, Widfara. Love it, Fiondil.
Author's reply
Thanks, Larner. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. Of course, not everyone has been reunited and the fates of Gilhael and Thandir remain to be seen, hopefully, not to far in the future. And Wídfara gets points for ingenuity, and knowing his chidren as he does, I'm sure Thengel would have made a similar threat under the same circumstances. *grin*
Raksha The Demon · 7 September 2007 · Chapter 26: Lifting the Siege
I'm getting nervous about what Thengel is going to do to his vicious mother. I enjoyed Aragorn's Quenya lesson to young Theoden. Will we ever learn the identity of the man who gave his life trying to protect Theoden? Update soon!
Author's reply
Whatever Thengel plans for his mother I'm sure will be well deserved. There are of course limits to what he actually can do to her, but hopefully he will be able to punish her in a suitable manner to satisfy justice. I do not know if we will ever learn the identity of Théoden's protector. Some times such knowledge is never given.
Mysterious Jedi · 7 September 2007 · Chapter 26: Lifting the Siege
Excellent story. I love the mix of drama and humor. I also enjoy seeing the languages that you integrate into your stories and their translations. I think the best part, however, is the characterization. I already liked Aragorn, but you've made me like obscure characters and OCs as well. Good job. I look forward to reading more.
Author's reply
Thanks Jedi, I really appreciate your review. I try hard to make minor canon characters and OCs as real and three-dimensional as the major canon characters we all know and love. And since I love the languages of Middle-earth, especially the Elvish languages, I just can't help putting them in my stories when appropriate. I studied Old English at university (in England, no less), so being able to use that knowledge with this story has been a lot of fun, too.
Linda Hoyland · 6 September 2007 · Chapter 26: Lifting the Siege
Another gripping chapter. I loved the way Aragorn cared for young Theoden and shared his memories. This is a wonderful story, better than many published novels I have paid for. You deserve far more reviews as I know many people are enjoying it.
Author's reply
Thanks, Linda. I really appreciate your comments. I think it's important for older people to share their memories with younger people who sometimes (well, almost always) think their situations are unique and that no one can understand how they feel. Having an older person describe a similar situation and how they reacted to it helps to put things in perspective for the younger person who often has no other guidelines but their own subjective views. I'm just grateful that anyone bothers to read my stories. Getting a review is merely a bonus.
Agape4Gondor · 6 September 2007 · Chapter 26: Lifting the Siege
Great chapter, as always. I loved Theoden's protest of Thengel's inopportune kiss. The fact that Hildebrand was named First Marshal was neat - it's a shame Theoden did not remember his father's wisdom and give Theodred or Eomer or even Erkenbrand First Marshal duties. Instead, Rohan was weakened. It was a terrible blow to hear that Theoden's grandmother was so hideous to her own grandson. I can hardly take it in. Someone should skewer her!!! Thengel was right to put his trust in Thorongil, but hadn't the man proved that he could be trusted by the way he had taken care of the Queen... and yet, no one except Thorongil had told Thengel about the Queen... so perhaps it was instinct that had him put Theoden in Thorongil's care? It absolutely broke my heart that Theoden watched the bad men kill his protector... and that the child was distraught because he did not know his guardian's name... Very sad indeed. I hope they do find out who he was and give him (and his family) the accolade due him!) Thanks for another great chapter.
Author's reply
Hi Agape! Yes, it is tragic that Théoden was forced to watch his protector be killed and not know his name. It's unlikely, though not improbable, that anyone will learn who this man was and so a family will be left wondering what has happened to one of their members. But such is the way of things in this or any other world. Théoden, unfortunately, fell under the machinactions of Saruman early on, though he was unaware of them until Gandalf and Aragorn rescued him. Rohan's weakness did not occur overnight and we see the seed of that weakening here. I think Thengel put his trust in Thorongil because he wasn't Rohirric. He was unsure at this point whom he could safely entrust his son and heir. Thorongil, as an outsider, had no stake in what was going on, though he had pledged his support to Thengel in taking service with him. Plus, Thengel's instincts about such things is sound. Eólind's treatment of her own grandson, of course, points out the difference between mother and son: she sees everyone else as a "commodity" to be used or thrown away as the situation requires. Thengel sees everyone as an asset, something to be treasured for it's own sake.
Larner · 6 September 2007 · Chapter 26: Lifting the Siege
The loss of the unknown Dunedan would indeed be a matter of grief. Alas, that so young a boy as Theoden must already see treachery, murder, and battle, but such was the family in which they lived.
Author's reply
Most of our heroes, if we just think about it, are unknown and unsung. They do courageous things everyday and no one notices or even knows who they are. Whoever the man was, all we will ever know about him is that he tried to protect a young boy. That he failed is of no consequence, that he tried is. And unfortunately, given the times and circumstances, young children like Théoden are often forced to grow up sooner than we we would like. I have no dobut that the events of his childhood directly impacted his reactions as an adult.
Linda Hoyland · 31 August 2007 · Chapter 25: The Secret of Aldburg
Another exciting chapter.Thank Goodness Theoden is alright. I loved the idea of the way into the secret passage based on the lines about the stars and ships and stones. I think your mean "pored over the maps".I just checked in my dictionary, as I get the two confused. I'm loving this story.
Author's reply
Thanks Linda. I'm glad you liked this chapter and the story. I'll go and make the correction. I get those two words confused too. When I thought about having a secret passage and how it might be opened, the door just sort of appeared, more or less full-blown in my mind, so I knew the Rhyme of Lore would play an integral part of its secret. I though it was interesting that a Gondorian (read: Númenorëan) rhyme would be the key to opening a Rohirric door.
Aurendil · 30 August 2007 · Chapter 25: The Secret of Aldburg
The idea of the secret passage is nice, but if this is not wide enough to let pass a small army (with horses maybe), it won't be very useful, is it? I mean, it is always possible to sneak out two scouts anyway, over the walls, just like Erkenbard probably did. Therefore, I don't think that a besieging army would let the surroundings entirely unwatched. I think they would keep one or two pairs of scouts on the other side of the city, just to guard against such small sized sorties. Also, if the siege would become very hard, the defenders always have the option of opening additional doors on the wall (if we suppose that this is numenorian-quality masonry). Anyway, I like your stories very much. This one is full of cliffhangers and intrigues -but I still worry more about the orcs in the west. Keep up the good work!
Author's reply
The whole point of Eorl's subte3rfuge was to prevent anyone from bothering to post scouts. Only the king, his heir and sister-son would ever know about the secret passage. Not even Eólind is aware of it. Also, the warriors sent out would not be taking their horses, but would end up fighting on foot, something they are quite capable of doing. And even though Eorl asked Cirion for help in constructing the secret passage, the rest of the city is entirely Rohirric in design and construction, so your scenario would not work here. At any rate, I'm glad you enjoy my stories. We will be turning our attention to the orcs eventually. They and the elves haven't been forgotten.
Larner · 30 August 2007 · Chapter 25: The Secret of Aldburg
That the rhymes of lore concerning Elendil's return should conceal the means of escape...wonderful! And Aragorn ought to have known better than to ask that question. A secret may easily be held by two or three if all but one of them is dead, as the old saying goes. Heh! And the Queen Dowager seeks to displace her son. Now, to deal with the harridan!
Author's reply
I thought it would be fun to postulate that Eorl, wanting a secret way out of the city would seek Cirion's aid in desigining it and Cirion deciding to use the Rhyme of Lore as the key, thereby making it doubly hard, since the key wouldn't be in Rohirric. Of course, none of the kings of Rohan would necessarily know Sindarin or Quenya, so they would merely be taught to memorize the key, but perhaps Cirion had a flash of foresight and carved the words in the Elvish language knowing that sometime in the future a king of Rohan would need it because the secret had been lost otherwise. At any rate, it was fun "designing" the door. As to how the harridan is dealt with... future chapters will reveal all, so stay tuned.
Shoshana_Rose · 29 August 2007 · Chapter 25: The Secret of Aldburg
Another nice chapter. I like the mystery of the door. I also like the line that Thengel gave his messengers to convey to Freawine. The importance of oaths in LoTr is something that always strikes me. Those between Gondor and Arnor, between Gondor and Rohan. And, of course, the exceptionally binding oath of the Army of the Dead. For some reason, Thengel's message made me start thinking of that all over again. Nice update! Cheers, Shoshi
Author's reply
Hi Shoshi, I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. The giving and keeping (or not keeping) of oaths is a major theme in LOTR and elsewhere in Tolkien's writings (and mine). In a society where there isn't the concept of written contract as we know them today, oaths are very binding and the consequences of breaking them dire. Even PJ picked up on that when Théoden asks why he should fulfill his oaths to Gondor when Gondor did not come to Rohan's aid and you can see the shocked looks on everyone's faces.
Linda Hoyland · 23 August 2007 · Chapter 24: In Search of a Lost Prince
What an exciting chapter, Aragorn is so brave !It is so true that when we look at the stars it puts our own troubles in perspective. You havve a small typo you might wish to fix "Théoden is going to be very frighten," I'm always doing similiar. I hope you have a safe trip to China.
Author's reply
Thanks Linda for pointing out the typo. I will fix it immediately. Yes, when we contemplate the enormity of the universe, our own troubles seem rather petty and banal in comparison. Glad you liked this chapter. I will have new chapters to post when I finish my tour.