Shield-maiden of Rohan
· 29 March 2025
· Chapter 8: VIII. Between Shadow and Sun (Ioreth)
"What do you mean, is that all? Why, you silly lass, what more could there be? *grin* Ioreth can be discreet, too, if she wishes. I see no mention of kisses atop the battlements in view of the entire city..."
Well said, Dreamflower! I was waiting for Ioreth's reaction to that...and maybe even Faramir and Éowyn being embarrassed.
But of course, being discreet about that would be wise.
I also liked the mention of the flowing hair raven and golden.
Good story; I should read more Ioreth's!
Periantari
· 11 September 2015
· Chapter 4: IV. On the Edge (Faramir)
So beautifully written. So introspective and rings true to me. Positive change is on the horizon.
Periantari
· 7 September 2015
· Chapter 4: IV. On the Edge (Faramir)
oh i liked this very much. I always wondered what Faramir thought at the changing of the guard to have Aragorn become King and have a change of rule. This explains some of it. :)
Kitt Otter
· 25 August 2010
· Chapter 7: VII. Glitter (Elrond, Annatar)
*shivers* Wow. Your Annatar's so seductive. A scary, scary fellow. Good that Elrond was able graciously slip out and run.
Oo - gold-grey eyes. A little suspicious! ^^
“Not all that glitters is gold.” - That's what I was going to call my piece! It fits Annatar so well.
Very fun read, this.
Author's reply
Thanks much for reading and reviewing. Annatar certainly seems to have enjoyed nice outfits and comforts in his Second Age guises! I'm pleased that you caught the scary quality, beneath the seductiveness, with which I was trying to invest Sauron. I would not like to have met Sauron in any guise; he'd probably have seduced me fairly easily, LOL! (or killed me if I was in his way and not useful)
Scarlet10
· 29 December 2009
· Chapter 1: I. Employee Review (Nazgûl)
Poor #III :-(
I truly feel sorry for an employee so abused.
I think he needs to make a complaint at his union rep.
"No Ringwraiths were harmed in the making of this story."
Hick, hick, (sprays juice from nose).
Please add "drink warning next time.
Nice story. I liked the touch of "modern employee" style mixed with such an archaic theme.
Author's reply
Thanx much for reading and reviewing, Scarlet. I do enjoy occasionally stepping out of 'period', i.e. Middle-earth speech patterns, and cutting loose with irreverence and satire.
Unfortunately, I don't think Sauron would allow a Dark Lord's Minions Union; but maybe Third tried to start one after his experience in the Employee Review process.
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
Halbarad is another one of my favourites, and I agree that he would have a family. As few as the Northern Dúnedains were, they needed to breed, or else they'd have died out a long time ago.
Author's reply
Somebody had to help lead the Northern Dunedain and sire future warriors, what with Aragorn a-rangering across Middle-earth for years! I think Halbarad, on his way to the Pelennor, might have been extra glad that he had been a husband and father while Aragorn hadn't had experienced it..
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Soledad!
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 10: X. Forbidden Fruit (Anárion)
Loved it! Poor, forgotten Anárion gets so little screen time; it's nice to see him for a change.
Author's reply
I'm glad you liked it; Soledad. My MYTHIC muse woke up and went to town with this piece. I wish Tolkien had given us more info on him; but I figured that he had to have done more than siring Meneldil; his brother seems to have been fond of him, and he has a really big statue...
Thanx for the review!
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 9: IX. Filling the Breach
Nice to see such a good man being appreciated. I can't remember having seen a story focused on him yet, although he certainly deserves it.
Author's reply
It was a birthday prompt at HASA that inspired the story; the prompt asked for something about an obscure character. And as far as I know, this is the first Ingold-centric story in Tolkien fanfic - though I could be wrong. I'm glad that you liked it. I didn't realize that he had really done more than chat with Gandalf and Pippin until I did a bit more research on Ingold in ROTK..
Thanx for reviewing!
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 8: VIII. Between Shadow and Sun (Ioreth)
Yay, Ioreth! I do love her so much. It's a shame that she isn't involved in more stories.
Author's reply
Ioreth was indeed great fun to write! She probably isn't involved in more stories because it might be hard to get her to stop talking so that other characters could speak...I think she was a woman of great courage.
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 7: VII. Glitter (Elrond, Annatar)
Uh... that was chilling! Escaped in the late moment, but again, he wasn't one of the Wise for nothing, right?
It's interesting that he thinks of Maedhros as his uncle.
Author's reply
Oh good, I meant there to be some chills in the piece. I wouldn't want to deal with Sauron, either as Sauron or the more charming Annatar. Elrond is someone who looks at more than the surface of things, I think.
Technically, Maedhros was his uncle, at least the half-brother of Elrond's great-great-grandfather Fingolfin (if I remember the geneology of that part of the ever-confusing House of Finwe correctly). And I think he might have taken the place of an 'uncle' in Elrond and Elros' early life, while they were being raised by Maglor.
Thanx for the review!
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 5: V. Expectations (Faramir)
Well, I can imagine that Faramir was doubly shocked by his newborn child. :)
At the beginning, I was beginning to melt into a puddle, bit I must admit that I was shocked a bit, too, how the child turned out. That would be one strong-willed maiden, if the looks aren't the only thing she's inherited.
Author's reply
Little Miriel will indeed be a strong-willed young lady, in my fanfictional Fourth Age. Here's the URL for the only other piece so far where she's got something to say, at least in the second half of it, A Pirate's Life for Me:
http://stories.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5053&cid=20720
I wanted to show that what one expects isn't exactly always what one get in terms of babies and family resemblances. But I think Faramir would love that child very much as she grew.
Thanx for reviewing, Soledad!
Soledad
· 23 June 2009
· Chapter 4: IV. On the Edge (Faramir)
It's always kind of sad when an Age comes to its end; even if a new Age follows, that promises to be glorious. The Stewards did good work indeed, keeping Gondor together for 26 generations... a shame that many people seem to forget that.
Sorry for the late review. I'm just getting back to reading. RL work can be a mite inconvenient.
Author's reply
Thanx for the review; I'm always glad to get them; and RL is occasionally more important than fandom, believe it or not!
I think Faramir was glad to welcome the new King; but it had to have been a bit of a wrench to bid farewell to the rule of Gondor, for the sake of all his ancestors who had worked hard to hold the land together; not to mention it being the order of things, and a relatively good order, in his life up until March 3019.
Estelcontar
· 22 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
That is a very touching, poignant and moving vignette. It feels so right too. It had me close to tears. I like to think of Halbarad surviving long enough to see victory, and to say goodbye to those he loves. Thanks for writing this.
Author's reply
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Estelcontar. I'm glad the piece seemed 'right' to you. Halbarad deserved to see Sauron defeated and Aragorn crowned, but I couldn't give him that; so this was the next best thing, and I thought it could well have happened in this way...
Larner
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
This rings true, and I doubt I can speak any praise greater than that! Oh, yes--this for Halbarad of the Grey Company, kinsman to Aragorn!
Author's reply
Thanks, Larner; that is high praise indeed. I did so wish for at least some peace of mind for Halbarad.
grumpy
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
Just how come do I have to cry every time I read about Halbarad's death. Your's was a very good acounting, I liked it that he got to see the white city, and talk to his son and friend.
Author's reply
Thanx for the review, Grumpy! I thought that Halbarad should see the city he died to save; and have a few moments to prepare himself for death, say some goodbye - he deserved at least that much.
Cairistiona
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
Ack, you gave me a huge lump in my throat with this one. You know my soft spot for Halbarad and this one was wrenchingly hard to read but very well done. I like the idea of him wanting to die outside, under the open sky. That he gets a clear view of the White City is so touching, as is Aragorn's tears and the way his voice shakes in a way that only Halbarad can tell. Really a well done vignette of what has to be one of the saddest untold moments in Tolkien.
(And I too see Halbarad as knowing his death will be at hand because of foresight. In my "universe", I see Halbarad actually knowing he will die well before that canon moment, and Aragorn as well. When Halbarad says what he does before the Dark Door, it could be taken as a general "we might all fall in battle" but I think it was more than a moment of fatalism. Aragorn would surely have said something if it was simply Halbarad being pessimistic, and he would have said something if he sensed Halbarad had indeed had a flash of foresight. That he did neither, and instead spoke only about the need for the horses to go in with them because they had leagues to go after they emerge seems to point to the fact that they must have already dealt with the vision/foresight of Halbarad's death. Of course, that's just me. Others' mileage will probably vary!)
Author's reply
I don't write death scenes too often because it's emotionally somehow more than just an exercise in fanfiction prose. I really appreciate your words, and how it affected you. I saw Halbarad as someone who wouldn't want to die in a tent; he would want to see the open sky and feel the breeze and just not be looking up at tentpoles.
I agree that it's likely that Aragorn and Halbarad would have discussed his foresight prior to that remark at the Dimholt; it's too much of a bombshell otherwise.
And I'm sure that Halbarad had spent enough time with Aragorn to know his voice very well.
Thanx for the review, Cairistiona.
Virtuella
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
That made me all tearful... Just enough pathos to convey the feeling, just enough restraint to keep it tasteful. Well done.
I don't think, though, that tears can well up *behind* the eyes. That seems a bit odd.
Author's reply
Thanx for reviewing, Virtuella. I'm glad you found the ficlet an affecting one. I'll check out that line with the tears later and reconsider.
Virtuella
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 11: XI. Aspiration (Faramir)
Ah, I was led to believe that Faramir would write his greatest hero is his teacher - that would have been right down my lane! But his actual choice makes just as much sense. I always appreciate a positive portrayal of Denethor. Poor man, it's not his fault that he cracked under pressure. I've always seen him as tragic, not evil.
Author's reply
Denethor is a great tragic figure, or antihero. I don't consider him evil, but I don't consider him a misunderstood hero either. He had a bit too much pride and ego than was good for him, and it got in the way. Bur he was a man of intelligence and nobility; and he certainly didn't deserve his fate.
I think young Faramir had many heroes. It occurs to me that he chose his father for this essay because he knew him better than he knew the other choices, and even he could tell, at eleven, that his father was then under more pressure than his heroic brother.
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Virtuella!
Dreamflower
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
So often the stories of Halbarad's death have him die on the battlefield, with no chance to know of the victory won, and no chance to say farewell to those who loved him.
I'm glad that in this one, at least, he got to see the fruit of his sacrifice.
Author's reply
Thanx for reading and reviewing, Dreamflower.
Halbarad could have died on the field of battle; or taken a fatal wound and lived a few more hours. Tolkien never said. Yes, I wanted him to have a few minutes to really get to look at Minas Tirith and know he had helped to save the city.
Dreamflower
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 11: XI. Aspiration (Faramir)
Aww... poor young Faramir, if he only knew how like all his father's good qualities he would be...
Author's reply
Thanx for the review, Dreamflower. I do think father and son were probably more alike than was sometimes comfortable for Denethor.
Inzilbeth
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
Oh *sobs*! I so wish Tolkien had allowed Halbarad to live a little longer! I too am certain he knew his death was coming but his duty and devotion to his chieftain and his men would not allow him to falter.
This was most beautifully done, Raksha.
Author's reply
I would think that the Northern Dunedain always lived very precariously, knowing they could be killed by the dangers they braved, and would have developed a very thick skin and a certain amount of stoicism. And that being said, it's a shame that Halbarad didn't live to see his kinsman crowned King and enter the city they had saved.
Thanx for reviewing, Inzilbeth!
harrowcat
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 11: XI. Aspiration (Faramir)
Perhaps part of Denethor's difficulty was in being able to live up to his son's hero worship.
Author's reply
Interesing idea. I'm not sure how much Denethor would have concerned himself with conforming to his younger son's opinion, though. At this point, to a boy, especially a son of his, Denethor would have appeared to be (and was) very smart; and he had a lot of good qualities.
Thanx much for reviewing, Harrowcat!
harrowcat
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
Ah, *sniffle*.
Perfect ending Raksha.
Author's reply
Thanx, harrowcat; and sorry about the sniffle. I don't do death scenes often for that reason...
Nesta
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 12: XII. Day's Ending (Halbarad)
I always felt very sorry for Halbarad. He had a rotten deal and very little recognition.
I think his last thoughts might have strayed back northwards, though...
Author's reply
We don't know enough about Halbarad, do we. Some things can be inferred from the few words Tolkien spends on him, and some things must be imagined. It's a little surprising that Tolkien doesn't mention any of the other 29 Dunedain who accompanied Halbarad from the North, not even any names; but perhaps he wanted to preserve their mystery.
I thought that to most of the Northern Dunedain of the late Third Age, Minas Tirith would have an almost mythical significance and attraction; but I don't think too many of them got to see the place. And the idea that Halbarad saw this fabulous city built by Elendil's sons, only on the day he came to fight and die for it, intrigued me. I think he made his peace with his memories of home before the scene I wrote; because I believe he definitely knew he was not going home.
Thanx for reviewing, Nesta!
Nesta
· 21 June 2009
· Chapter 11: XI. Aspiration (Faramir)
That really makes one think. If it was anyone but Faramir I'd say he was sucking up, but not Faramir. Perhaps he's not old enough yet to realise the many ways in which he would not be well advised to imitate Dad.
Author's reply
I would think that many kids, even very bright ones, would greatly admire their parents at the age of eleven. And Faramir may not have been taught to pick apart traditional heroes. I think that his and Denethor's relationship would have been pretty good at this point, at least compared to what we saw in LOTR. There was love between them, and that had to start somewhere; also, Faramir's not quite old enough to be a pain-in-the-butt teenager here.
Thanx for a noteworthy review, Nesta!