Fragments of a love story by Nesta
Raksha The Demon · 23 March 2009 · Chapter 5: The flight
Loved the Faramir/Eldarion interaction; I can see here, that Faramir isn't at all intimidated by the kid's rank. Nice Eowyn/Firiel moments too.
Author's reply
Denethor may have intimidated Faramir - Tolkien says he was 'daunted', but as a subject rather than a son. (I'm not sure this is what comes out in the actual book, though.) I can't see Faramir being daunted by anyone else, even Aragorn.
Raksha The Demon · 23 March 2009 · Chapter 11: The wedding gift
This is a fascinating, and sad, look at Turin. He seems to occasionally regret his lack of feeling, and want to be able to be loved by his magical sister, and he has enough of an appreciation for her that he wants to give her something fine, but he's sadly hollow inside. At least he seems to be managing to live a functional life...
Author's reply
He is rather hollow inside, but it doesn't usually bother him. While I wouldn't say Túrin was autistic - some people have identified him as having a form of Aspergers syndrome - he certainly doesn't feel or express feelings in the usual way. But that doesn't mean he has no feelings at all.
Raksha The Demon · 23 March 2009 · Chapter 2: The moon-child
A fey and beautiful chapter to introduce a fey and beautiful child. Eowyn shows her nobility by not being jealous; which is typical, I don't see her being miserly of spirit.
Author's reply
Yes, I think Eowyn is noble and also wise enough to realise that there are many, many ways of loving a person. Tolkien in the famous Faramir letter said that Eowyn went on 'loving' Aragorn after marrying Faramir, but 'in a different mode and intensity'. Similarly, her relationship with Faramir is quite different from Fíriel's and there's plenty of room for both.
Raksha The Demon · 23 March 2009 · Chapter 1: Flesh of my flesh
A wonderful and believable chapter. I really like Faramir's relationship with Elboron here.
Author's reply
I don't see Elboron as being 'another Faramir', but the sort of son you can be friends with. The relationship has to be particularly poignant for Faramir because of his relationship with his own father, as you've examined so beautifully in some of your writings, Raksha.
Linda Hoyland · 23 March 2009 · Chapter 12: The rainbow
How very sad that poor Firiel should not marry for love,though no doubt common at the time.A haunting story.
Author's reply
So many dynastic brides must have married without love. In our own history it wasn't even expected of them; you could be required to marry someone you hadn't even seen. I always wondered what it was like for Finduilas being married to Denethor. It was obviously a very suitable marriage from the Númenorean-blood point of view and to cement the relationship with Dol Amroth, but Denethor must have been pretty terrifying even as a young(ish) man. Not to mention being dragged away from the sea and set down so close to Mordor!
Linda Hoyland · 23 March 2009 · Chapter 4: The wooing
I just loved the idea of the moon festival.
Author's reply
I think Ithilien would have to have one! And I suspect there were a lot of sore heads after it, as well.
Linda Hoyland · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 3: The flowering
I always think too that Eldarion ought to marry Faramir's daughter,it is so fitting that the Kings and Stewards should be united.You make Ithilien sound a beautiful place.
Author's reply
Ithilien has to be beautiful, hasn't it? I'd love to live there. In fact I would cheerfully scrub floors in Emyn Arnen if I knew Faramir walked on them occasionally. I'm a very bad case, I'm afraid!
Linda Hoyland · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 2: The moon-child
What a beautiful chapter!I have always loved the idea of Faramir having a special bond with a daughter and created one between him and his Elestelle in my stories.I think the Numenorean lineage makes it likely. It is lovely to see Faramir and Eowyn so happy again.
Author's reply
Well, what a lucky girl she is, however you name her!
Linda Hoyland · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 1: Flesh of my flesh
Poor Eowyn!This could so easily happen.I really felt for little Elboron here.
Author's reply
I think it often does happen that a woman who's had a stillborn child just switches off. Nowadays people would be buzzing around offering her 'therapy', but I think it's almost always better to let people find their own way out, while giving them all the support you can - and not getting frustrated and angry if, for a time, they can't give you anything in return.
daw the minstrel · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 11: The wedding gift
Turin is breaking my heart here.
Author's reply
Yes, he's a sad case in a way, but unlike similar people in our own world, he hasn't been labelled or considered 'disabled' - they let him find a place where his talents could do most good and his personality least harm, including to himself. I honestly think that's the best way.
daw the minstrel · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 3: The flowering
You're so brave to suggest that Lothiriel was unhappy! So brave to suggest that any of the canon romances ended in an unhappy marriage. And yet, that seems real.
Author's reply
A lot of Eomer fans would object to this, I know. I just get the feeling - on no strong evidence, I admit - that the poor girl was pressured into the marriage by her father, who was thick as thieves with Eomer. Eowyn and Faramir's marriage could be seen as equally suitable, but I can't see Eowyn being pressured into marrying him if she didn't want to. Nor would Faramir go along with it, of course.
daw the minstrel · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 4: The wooing
I love the idea of the moon festival and the dance. I've never seen anything like it. It's so fae.
Author's reply
Well, in a way it's just imitated from Lúthien's dance, which seems to have been vey near the core of Tolkien's relationship with his secondary world. (He had 'Lúthien' put on his wife's tombstone and 'Beren' on his own.) But it's very much part of how I see Fíriel, as well.
daw the minstrel · 22 March 2009 · Chapter 2: The moon-child
he never expected thanks for being what he was. That's an utterly fabulous line, and so apt for Faramir.
Author's reply
I always think of that when I read the bit where Denethor lays into Faramir for not bringing back the Ring. I wonder how many other times he did the best he could and then got a kick in the teeth from Dad. You have to be very strong-minded and self-reliant - and plain good - to put up with that kind of treatment. (That's why I hate the movie 'Faramir' - such a wimp. Ugh.)