Cuthalion
· 13 November 2007
· Chapter 4: The Lion Tamer
This is absolutely delightful. Lothiriel, coming to the neglected Meduseld like a gush of wind, sweeping dirt and sadness out and healing Éomer with her sheer presence. A completely different take on one of my favorite LOTR-heroes (at least since I frequently read your tales) and a wonderful one to boot. Thank you!
Cúthalion
Author's reply
I know this is a very different Eomer - I wanted to tackle the idea of him not so easily overcoming the many losses he has suffered in his life. If you think of it, he has lost his entire family except for Eowyn who has moved to Gondor.
But hopefully he will have a big and happy family with Lothiriel. After all Tolkien told us he was later known as Eomer Eadig.
Lia
Bodkin
· 10 November 2007
· Chapter 3: Stable Girl
Very clever! Identity kept right up to the last moment. (Although Eomer wouldn't really have been setting up a secret and beloved mistress. It's just not him - he's far too open to cope with a double life!)
Author's reply
You are right, Eomer is not the sort to set up a mistress beside his wife, but it was fun to toy with the idea!
Lia
Bodkin
· 10 November 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
Oh my! Lothiriel must have given her father and brothers more grey hairs than the armies of Sauron. She is very lucky that she fell into Eomer's hands here.
Author's reply
LOL! Yes, she probably did give Imrahil plenty of grey hairs and will keep Eomer on his toes as well!
Lia
Bodkin
· 10 November 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
Ah! What a nice way to develop their relationship! They were able to become friends before they ever met - the wedding will be much less of a shock.
Author's reply
Hello Bodkin,
how nice hearing from you again! They might even have fallen in love with each other without having met and yes, I'm sure the wedding will be a success.
Lia
P.S. I've been meaning to thank you for nominating Black Eyes for the MEFAs - thank you very much!
Cuthalion
· 9 November 2007
· Chapter 3: Stable Girl
Wonderful - and even more as you skillfully toy with the idea hat this might be a "simple" stable girl (or is she more)? The tension between them, her very believable struggle with convention, her own upbringing (and doubtlessly many lessons from books like that of pompous Belecthor) and his passion and warmth are a lovely, thrilling contrast... and that she finally overcomes traditions and courtesy to greet her fiancé properly is simply delightful. Bravo.
Cúthalion
You should check the horse's name. There are repeatedly missing spaces between Hlaefdige and the following words.
Author's reply
She's probably got a bookshelf full of comportment guides! And I did of course do my best to lead you astray as to her identity, which to me was a big part of the fun of writing this story. And in the end she overcame her doubts - but then who could resist Eomer ;-)
Lia
P.S. thanks for pointing out the problem with the horse name, I've fixed it.
Sorrel
· 7 November 2007
· Chapter 3: Stable Girl
I think that this is a great story! I love Lothiriel/Eomer, and would reccomend this one to anyone I met in the street!
Author's reply
Eomer was always my favourite character in the books and now I seem to be pretty much stuck writing about them! Glad to hear you enjoyed it.
Lia
Alison H
· 6 November 2007
· Chapter 3: Stable Girl
This was wonderful, Lia.Whenever I see one of your updates I know that I'm going to enjoy the banter between Eomer and Lothiriel....and you describe the feelings that they have for each other so well.
Lothiriel's response at the end of this story left me with a huge smile on my face.Never underestimate a girl in love, especially if her betrothed is Eomer :D
I'm looking forward to the next update.
Ali.
Author's reply
Somehow they always end up doing a lot of talking and teasing in my stories, don't they! It can even be difficult to shut them up and get on with the story.
And I get the feeling Eomer was also left with a huge smile on his face ;-)
Nice hearing from you again!
Lia
Alquawende
· 5 November 2007
· Chapter 3: Stable Girl
I read the first part at GoI, but the other half that was in the dining Hall was new. As you most likely already know, I really like your takes and will wait patiently for more, if I can... The ending was quite a suprise. The gasp from the sister-in-law and the whistles and cheers from the Rohirrim was funny. It's so easy to hear and see what's happening there.
Alquawende
Author's reply
Well, as you know I tried to muddy the waters and sow as much doubt possible, so the end would come as a surprise to the reader and the characters both. And somehow in my stories Lothiriel always ends up with straight-laced relatives shocked by their behaviour!
Lia
daw the minstrel
· 5 November 2007
· Chapter 3: Stable Girl
This is just wonderful. The sensory details throughout make it feel very real, and the voice is just terrific. Also, the sexual tension crackles. Just a great read.
Author's reply
Thank you for the compliments! This is my first attempt at first person viewpoint, maybe that makes the voice more intimate.
Lia
Pryderi
· 5 November 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
As usual I enjoyed this tale with all its humour. But unlike Eomer I was very interested in the tale told by the storyteller. I had not come across it before so it sent me back to the similar tales from British tradition with which I am familiar. If you do not know them already you might be interested in Kemp Owyne (sometimes Kempion), The Laily Worm and the Machrel of the Sea, and Alison Gross. There may be more but those were the ones I consulted and the interest sidetracked me from posting the review I should have left at the time. Of course a main protagonist in a lot of these tales is the wicked stepmother. Can you find a wicked stepmother in Tolkien? I can't. I suppose you could make Indis responsible for all Feanor's faults but it does not ring true to me.
Well I thought you handled the parallels between the folk tale and the outer story very well. They were not too direct, few straight analogies, and I must confess that it took me a while to recognise that they were there. Having recognised the similarities (and differences) I was delighted. By my own insight of course! but really by your skill.
Pryderi.
Author's reply
Hello Pryderi,
no, I don't know Kemp Owyne, but it's the kind of thing I'm interested in and I'll have to look it up. You can read the Stork Tale in English on this site: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/mcdonnell/hauff/hauff.html#caliph. It has a very oriental feeling which fascinated me as a child, so I tried to infuse a little of that into my own story.
As for wicked stepmothers, I can't think of any either. But then since mothers seem to have a very short life expectancy in Middle Earth, that's hardly surprising. It is populated almost entirely by orphans, bachelors and widowers ;-)
Good to hear that you enjoyed the allusions to the fairy tale in the outer story, I just could not resist mixing them in (and also a little Frog Prince).
Lia
Cuthalion
· 1 November 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
“The others also gave me money,” Lothíriel went on, blissfully unaware of the undercurrent of menace between the two men.
Her brother’s eyes popped. “The others!”
Oh.My.God.
*collapses*
Absolutely perfect. And that you use one of my favorite fairy tales ever certainly adds to the beauty of this lovely tale. Wonderfully done.
Cúthalion
Author's reply
Well, Lothiriel might not be quite as worldly wise as she likes to think. And funny enough Kalif Storch is also one of my favourite fairy tales. Reading it to my children not long ago gave me the idea for this.
Lia
galimeril
· 1 November 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
That was so sweet! I like this one much better than the previous chapter. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. When I started laughing at Lotheriel's innocent comments on a room for the night, all the people in the library stared at me like I was crazy. Great story. I think you ought to continue this one! It really is a great opener.
Can't wait for more!
Author's reply
LOL at being stared at in the library! The stories in this series are all different, so might like some and not like others. As for continuing this, I don't really have any plans to do so. I think I'll just have to leave it up to your imagination. To stay with the fairy tale theme: they lived happily ever after ;-)
Lia
Elflingimp
· 30 October 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
Just wanted you to know I love your stories!!!!!
Author's reply
Thank you! I have a lot of fun writing them, so that probably comes through.
Lia
websterans
· 30 October 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
Brilliant!
Author's reply
Thank you!
Alquawende
· 29 October 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
Lia, I forgot but should you capitalize the 'k' in king Casim?
Author's reply
Yes I should. Thanks for pointing that out!
Alquawende
· 29 October 2007
· Chapter 2: Lady Owl
Lia, this is definitely a completely different scenario that I never would imagine for Eomer and Lothiriel. The story was quite enjoyable. I almost felt like one of the children there.
When you described Lothiriel's clothing I immediately thought of Arabian Nights and am wondering if that culture was where you recieved the garmant ideas? I think it's quite nice to imagine the people of Harad being like the Arabians and the Middle-Eastern culture in history.
I loved the bet idea! Amrothos losing was quite fun to see and how he was such a poor sport and tried to hide it by saying that their father would be worried. It's always nice to see a woman destroy a man's ego... Ahh...
This is a very original scenario that will standout from all the other European type ones that everyone else writes about.
Thanks for writing!
Author's reply
Yes, I did imagine the Haradrim as being a bit like Middle-Eastern people and for this one I thought that the Gondorians in the South might be influenced by them. The garment I had in mind is a 'salwar kameez', a traditional and very elegant dress of Muslim women in India and Pakistan. And the fairy tale is very well known amongst German speaker and takes place in Baghdad, probably influenced by 1001 Nights. I read it to my children not long ago and that's where I got the idea from.
And LOL on Lothiriel destroying her brother's ego. And he can't even get even by pillaging the countryside ;-)
Lia
mistry89
· 28 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
I'm so glad to see more of these two from you! This Lothiriel comes across as unaffected and great fun, which seems to be more than acceptable to Eomer :)
I liked the way the letters got progressively more "chatty" and then intimate.
Thank you!
Author's reply
Hello Mistry,
nice to see you around here as well. I thought Eomer would probably appreciate a little bit of 'frivolity' after all the hardship he's been through and he seems to realize how lucky he is.
Somehow I seem to be stuck with these two, so there will be more coming up!
Lia
Cuthalion
· 27 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
Goodness gracious, I had nearly missed this! How delightful - and when I actually discovered Belecthor, I giggled madly. Can't wait to see more!
Cúthalion
Author's reply
For some reason Belecthor seems to creep into a lot of my stories. There's another one coming up with more quotes ;-)
Lia
Celeste
· 25 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
This is so lovely! I like the idea of the letters very much...
I'm very intrigued by now, and it's seams an eternity since I leave a review to you...
Looking foward to more... Bye!
Author's reply
Hola Celeste,
how nice to hear from you again and to see you haven't given up reading fan fiction! I had a bit of a break over the summer, but then these came along and insisted on being written. More next week!
Saludos
Lia
Edlyn
· 24 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
This was such an absolutely charming series of letters! I'm smiling so much my face actually hurts. I look forward to reading the rest of this little series.
I think my favorite bits were the postscripts. Though the most fun is trying to figure out Eomer's side of the correspondence from Lothiriel's replies.
Absolutely lovely work.
Edlyn
Author's reply
Thank you! It was also fun thinking of Eomer's replies and then trying to have Lothiriel allude to them in her letters. And I tend to put a lot of postscripts in my own emails, so that's probably how they crept in!
galimeril
· 23 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
Awww, that was really cute. I alway love reading your stories, and I look forward to the rest of the series!
Author's reply
There should be 5 or 6 scenarios altogether - all quite different I hope. More next week!
Lia
SamanthaPaige
· 22 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
Great job as with all your stories! This was a unique and interesting approach. You did an excellent job of paying attention to the details, like the opening and closings of the letters, that make your works standout for their high quality. Can't wait to read more.
Author's reply
I have found that writing oneshots is a good way to play around with style and try out new things, like this series of letters. And the openings and closings of a letter are such telling details, aren't they.
I'm pleased to hear you liked it!
Lia
Alquawende
· 22 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
I read many of your stories already and have loved them all. I like that this story will include different scenarios on how Eomer and Lothiriel met. This is also very good. The letters seem so realistic, and it is so easy for me to understand Lothiriel. That's a good thing. She sounds so eager and yet nervous in the letters. You have shown her feelings so well, especially when she writes of what she enjoys doing. She is also very thoughful and unsure like any maiden would feel if they were betrothed to a stranger that you have only met through second hand accounts. Her uncle is a terror and it was quite funny on how he thinks women should act. Well, Lothiriel is definitely not that type of woman that he wants her to be and won't ever be! Thanks for writing such a great story! I can't wait for more scenarios!
Author's reply
Yes, I thought I'd go for a more conventional Lothiriel in this scenario, one who would accept her father's decision and trust him to have her welfare at heart. Like you wrote, it's a difficult situation, but she's determined to make the best of it.
However, not all the Lothiriels in this series will be so acquiescent - and Belecthor will make another appearance as well!
Thanks for leaving a review and another one will be up next week.
Lia
P.S. You're at GoI, aren't you? Sorry I haven't said hello yet, I've been infernally busy over the weekend.
eiluj
· 22 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
What fun!
Author's reply
Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Lia
Pryderi
· 22 October 2007
· Chapter 1: Letters to Edoras
I really enjoyed reading this and I'm glad to see you back. I thought you handled the development of her relationship very well. The letters getting longer, the changes in mode of address and signing off etc. I appreciate that you were more concerned with the developing tone of Lothiriel's writing and that is another thing that I relished. But Belecthor? He is her uncle? Oh No! He is an ancient Steward passing on his "wisdom" to future ages from the distant past. Or so I had imagined him (sighs). Well, as you are the only person to have a copy of his book I must accept what you say, without being happy about it.
I am looking forward to reading your alternative approaches to this romance(?). Please keep up the good work, Pryderi.
Author's reply
Well, like there will be different Eomer and Lothiriel pairings in this series, there will also be other Aunt Ivriniels and even another Belecthor. I've deciphered a few more pages of my ancient manuscript (very difficult work!) and have more quotations for you, real pearls of wisdom. But that won't be coming up for a while, I'm still working on it.
And I'm pleased to hear you liked this story. It was fun to try and get across what Eomer wrote in his replies without actually putting them in, and also how their tone changed over time. More next week!
Lia