Reviews of Encounter in Ithilien

GamgeeFest · 21 April 2009 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue

I enjoyed reading Mablung's POV of these events very much. It's clear that they became endeared to the hobbits very quickly, and not just for their seeming innocence. I doubt I would have been as successful as Mablung at hiding my smirk when Sam smart-mouthed Faramir! The ending was just perfect. I'm glad that Mablung was there to greet the heroes and praise them as they deserve. This was a delight to read from start to finish.

Author's reply

Yes, the hobbits definitely have their "hobbity charm" working for them! And Sam being such a smart-aleck to Faramir is one of my favorite parts of the journey-- Sam has a really wicked sense of humor! I couldn't deny Mablung (and the others) the chance to see that their kindness to the little travellers had paid off in the end!

Antane · 28 February 2009 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue

They had walked into Shadow and brought back the Light. Praise them indeed! And the One Who created them (and the one who sub-created them). Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author's reply

Thank you, dear! I am glad you enjoyed the story!

Antane · 28 February 2009 · Chapter 3

That's cute that the Rangers are all proud of themselves for figuring out the 'truth' of why Faramir is letting the hobbits go! I forgot to mention in my last review of my *sigh* of Frodo's hand being held by the Ranger, wish it could have been me, but I can imagine it well enough at least. Winning creatures indeed. I put your drabbles today on my website - thanks again! :) Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author's reply

It seemed like a logical conclusion for them to leap to: after all, they can't imagine their Captain disobeying orders, so it must have been that he had secret orders they did not know about--and why else would these tiny creatures be trying to slip in under Sauron's nose? I read the canon account of that journey, and tried to imagine it from the men's POV--and that they would hold their hands to guide them over rough spots was only natural.

Raksha The Demon · 28 February 2009 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue

They had walked into Shadow and brought back the Light. That's a great and poetic line; and a fine epilogue.

Author's reply

Thank you! It was, of course, a nod to the Challenge theme. I am glad that you liked the epilogue, which I was of two minds about. I am glad I decided to do one--Mablung deserved to see the end of the story.

Raksha The Demon · 28 February 2009 · Chapter 3

I love Mablung's conclusion that the hobbits must be spies on a secret mission for the Steward. It makes sense, for why else would two such small and unwarlike fellows be heading towards Mordor? And a good nod to the strong loyalty that the Rangers have for their Captain.

Author's reply

Why else? That's just the question Faramir's men have to answer. They can't imagine their Captain disobeying orders, and so they automatically figure he must have "secret orders". And of course, they'd never have guessed the truth in a million years!

Raksha The Demon · 28 February 2009 · Chapter 2

These were certainly strange days for the Ithilien Rangers; and even stranger things were being discussed by their Captain and the mysterious Halflings. A lovely look at one of Tolkien's most interesting (in my opinion, anyway) chapters.

Author's reply

It's interesting, I've not written very many Two Towers gapfillers, but of the handful I have written, three of them are set in this chapter. There's so much there to be explored! And of course, there's Faramir, who after hobbits and Fellowship members, is probably my favorite canon character. Strange days, indeed!

Raksha The Demon · 28 February 2009 · Chapter 1

A nifty idea, to have the story of Faramir's fateful meeting with the hobbits be told from the viewpoint of one of his Rangers. Mablung is well-written here, intelligent, brave, curious; I like how observant he and Damrod are about the hobbits, it makes sense that Rangers, who would have to often live by their wits, know how to examine details that others might miss. And how odd the hobbits' delight in the terrible Mumakim must have seemed to them!

Author's reply

Thanks! I've often wondered what Faramir's men made of their strange encounter--they were not privy to much of the information their Captain had, and so they must have really been curious about what it all meant! Thank you for your kind words about Mablung. I feel that Faramir's men must reflect their Captain: he's noble and honorable and brave and intelligent, and I think that his men would strive to live up to his example! As I was writing this, and looking at the canon encounter, Sam's reaction seemed so delightful--he might have been meant by his creator to be a "typical" hobbit, and yet he has such a sense of wonder about all the things he encounters outside the Shire! Writing this little gap-filler gave me some new insights into Samwise Gamgee!

Antane · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 2

Another cute reaction from Sam - putting his head in the water and the remark made. I really should read the tale more often for I forget so much between readings. I've barely begun Two Towers for the 4th time and will be some weeks before I am here in this cave. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author's reply

I think in the Ithilien chapters, we get a really good look at Sam's sense of humor. He really was very cheeky and impertinant! And he had some very funny lines! As many times as I've read LotR (and I lost count over 30 years ago at 56) I *always* find something *new* every time I re-read it!

Antane · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 1

I love Sam's reaction to the oliphaunt - excited but then well, back to sleep... :) Love also him putting out an arm so Frodo could lean against him. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author's reply

I know! That was just adorable in canon, and I am sure that it amused Mablung and Damrod no end! And I could see him putting his arm out, an invitation to rest to his Master.

Larner · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue

Ah--and I add my own Eglerio! to those offered by those who greeted them! What a joy!

Author's reply

Indeed! "Joy as sharp as swords".

Larner · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 3

I am glad that the men made up for themselves an acceptable reason for why Faramir let them go, although I know Denethor was angry about it. And that they feared they should not see them again and regretted it is touching.

Author's reply

It's a very normal reaction to try and think of logical explanations for things that seem illogical. Faramir's failure to obey his father's standing order seemed illogical to his men, and so they made up a reason that did seem logical--and to outside eyes, seemed very possible. I am sure they would regret seeing those "winning creatures" go off to what had to seem certain doom.

Kitty · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 9999: Epilogue

Oh yes, it was very good that Mablung had been wrong. Particularly about seing them alive again :) Lovely gapfiller, Dreamflower!

Author's reply

Yes, it was! Thank you, dear! I'm glad you enjoyed it!

Kitty · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 3

Oh, poor Beren. I really hope the bite doesn't become infected. Findegil was right, who knows what Gollum had been eating before! Well, Mablung was not completely off the mark - save that it was not Denethor who had sent the Hobbits, and that they weren't exactly going to only spy. But I doubt anyone of the Rangers save Faramir himself could have guessed the whole truth.

Author's reply

Yes, poor Beren! But that bite incident is one I'd had Eradan mention in R2E, so I wanted to include it. Urgh! It makes me feel all shuddery to imagine being bitten by the nasty Gollum! No, only Faramir had any real clue as to what they were really doing! But I think that's the sort of guess the men might have made under the circumstances.

Kitty · 27 February 2009 · Chapter 2

Dear Mablung, he felt rather protective of the Hobbits, didn't he? I really liked how careful he and Damrod were to avoid Frodo and Sam slipping or stumbling while blindfolded. Nice to see Eradan :) And it was interesting to see the men wondering if Faramir really would heed his father's order and slay the Hobbits.

Author's reply

You noticed that, did you? *grin* That old Hobbit charm at work... I've read fics where the men were rough with them, pushing and shoving them along (influenced, I suppose, by movie-verse). But I could not imagine Faramir allowing his men to behave that way, or that the men who served under him would even want to behave that way! Originally, I had thought to start this story in Eradan's POV, but I wanted to include that first encounter, and the oliphaunt, so it had to be either Mablung or Damrod. I'm sure those orders were on everybody's mind!

Lindelea · 26 February 2009 · Chapter 1

I love this! I find it fascinating to view a scene from different viewpoints, and this certainly rings true to the original, yet gives us fresh eyes for the viewing. Wonderful use of detail.

Author's reply

I love POV gapfillers for that same reason--it's interesting to explore what was going on in a different head. Thank you, dear!

Fantasia · 26 February 2009 · Chapter 3

I haven't review your job before, but I have read almost all your stories (I'm those lazy readers that don't review, and I have been reading fanfics since 2003, I'm sorry) so let me tell you first that I like your job and you are a good writer. I like this story and this chapter in particular, I like Faramir's farewell to the hobbits, Faramir has been always my favorite character from the books, he represents for me all the powerful men that rule with compassion and wisdom, that will take the best decision for his people even if is against his own welfare. He is a powerful man with a great will, because he turn down the ring, in a moment that was regaining its power, being so close to his master, he helps the hobbits the best that he could and kept his word. He also represents to me the anonymous heroes that sometimes don't get the right recognition for their labors, he kept the city safe for Aragon to free, he help the hobbits in his final trip, he fought the black breath for days and because he wasn't in the final battle, people forget all these, and the movies didn't help his character either. So, I love to see read fics that show him as Tolkien described him, also to see the Rangers and the story from their POV is a treat, so thanks for your story. This review doesn't make any sense, but I want you to know that I read the story and like it. Fantasia

Author's reply

Well, it is always nice to hear from a reader, and I am glad you liked this one enough to comment. Faramir was such a wise and noble character; I think he would have also been an excellent example for his men of compassion and wisdom. And your review made sense just fine; I'm so happy you are liking the story!

ecrm · 25 February 2009 · Chapter 1

I always lap up stories about Gondor and its people, this meeting is among the most pivotal in the books, I like being able to see it from the rangers perspective. I'm a little disappointed that you didn't include the rangers reaction to the mention of a living heir of Elendil. Otherwise looking forward to more, I've always been curious as to what the Rangers were thinking as they saw the darkness and retreated back to Cair Andros.

Author's reply

You are probably right--it might have been good to mention that bit of astonishment from the men. But Faramir downplayed it a little at that point, and I was trying to avoid quoting too many long chunks of dialogue from canon. I am quite sure those words were thought of by the men afterwards. But also, of course, I was trying to emphasize the reaction to halflings, creatures of myth! And so I tended to concentrate more on that. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing!

Larner · 25 February 2009 · Chapter 2

No, they are not privy to the conversation between their Captain and the strange guests, guests who carry news to make their great-hearted Captain sad and even grim--before he laughs. Strange guests, these. And what will he decide about them, they must be wondering? Poor Frodo, with this tension within him.

Author's reply

Strange guests, indeed! Yes, everyone must be wondering what Faramir will decide, not the least, Faramir himself.

Larner · 24 February 2009 · Chapter 1

A most momentous meeting, as the Rangers of Ithilien first encounter Hobbits of the Shire--and these TWO Hobbits at that!

Author's reply

Indeed. I was glad for a chance to explore how Faramir's men felt about that meeting.

Kitty · 24 February 2009 · Chapter 1

Love Sam's reaction to the Rangers discussing their race *grin* Interesting to see this meeting in Ithilien from the POV of the Rangers. Oh yes, I can imagine that they couldn't really see these two small people as a threat, and particularly Frodo must have had something that made them seem trustworthy. Mablung and Damrod told them more than was prudent for an enemy, but I'm glad they told Frodo and Sam what was going on. Oh, dear Sam - the way he talked to these Men was quite amusing, you know :)

Author's reply

That's canon, and I love it, too! Sam's got a lot more confidence now, and it's clear he's not really afraid of anybody! We learn in detail how Faramir felt. But I really thought it would be fun to see how the men felt. Sam's a droll fellow, isn't he? *grin*

Reviews (20)