UTfrog · 1 January 2025 · Chapter 5: Stewarding the Steward
Thank you for this wonderful tale. I am really enjoying it.
Author's reply
Thank you for letting me know that you enjoy the story. I plan to post another chapter this Saturday/ Sunday.
Of Hearth and Home by Itarille
Reviews (41)
shirebound · 30 December 2024 · Chapter 5: Stewarding the Steward
He had come to terms with his thoughts, like one who lives by the sea accepts that every now and then the waves will crash upon the shore. That's a healing revelation indeed. I'm enjoying your story very much! Happy New Year, my friend, and may 2025 be good to all of us.
Author's reply
Happy New Year, Shirebound! I'm happy you enjoyed my stories.
Lindelea · 25 December 2024 · Chapter 3: The Lord Steward
(Sorry, I was adding a chapter to the new story I posted today and accidentally hit a combination of keys that resulted in "Your review has been uploaded and emailed to the author". What review? How did I post a review to a story in the middle of posting a chapter of my own? I have no idea. I think it explains the duplicate review that appears on this chapter two days after I posted the original review. I might be wrong, of course, but it's the only explanation I can think of.)
Lindelea · 25 December 2024 · Chapter 3: The Lord Steward
Lovely chapter! I found the ceremony moving. The little details add so much, like Faramir's reluctance to interrupt the healing process for the wounded and battle-weary captains, again showing his wisdom, consideration and quality. Éowyn's admiration and protective impulse are well done and believable. (Somehow I find myself wishing to catch one or more glimpses of Merry, as well as Beregond, while the City is waiting for the army to return from Cormallen, but I do not know if that would fit into your plans for this story.) I hope to read on further tomorrow. At the moment, a jealous cat has already bitten me once to get my attention (love bites may not draw blood, but they still pinch unpleasantly!), and I dare not sit much longer at the laptop, at least until she decides it's time for another cat nap, when I can hopefully steal away for a little more reading.
Lindelea · 23 December 2024 · Chapter 3: The Lord Steward
Lovely chapter! I found the ceremony moving. The little details add so much, like Faramir's reluctance to interrupt the healing process for the wounded and battle-weary captains, again showing his wisdom, consideration and quality. Éowyn's admiration and protective impulse are well done and believable. (Somehow I find myself wishing to catch one or more glimpses of Merry, as well as Beregond, while the City is waiting for the army to return from Cormallen, but I do not know if that would fit into your plans for this story.) I hope to read on further tomorrow. At the moment, a jealous cat has already bitten me once to get my attention (love bites may not draw blood, but they still pinch unpleasantly!), and I dare not sit much longer at the laptop, at least until she decides it's time for another cat nap, when I can hopefully steal away for a little more reading.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm happy you found the ceremony moving. I did not plan to include the perspective of those at Cormallen in this story, maybe in another story :) thank ylu for the ideas.
shirebound · 21 December 2024 · Chapter 4: Duty
I love this frank and intimate conversation. Happy Holidays to you, my friend, may it be as peaceful and joyous as these two hearts of which you write!
Author's reply
Happy Holidays, Shirebound. Getting to know you through this site is one of the highlights of this year for me :)
shirebound · 21 December 2024 · Chapter 3: The Lord Steward
To her surprise she felt fiercely protective of this man whom she had known for only a few days. Aragorn had better treat him with the honour he deserved. LOL, she's already bonded to Faramir, although she doesn't quite realize it.
Author's reply
You are right, she does not realize it yet. That budding part of a romance is (usually) very sweet, isn't it? Thank you for reading and leaving a review.
shirebound · 21 December 2024 · Chapter 2: Letters
What thoughtful and compassionate letters. The Professor doesn't share much about Imrahil, but you bring us insight about him.
Author's reply
Thank you!
periantari · 20 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
It is so interesting and awesome there is another story from you about post-Quest Faramir and how he copes with the changes that have happened. Altariel is a great fanfic author and glad her stories have inspired you! I enjoy reading your gap-fillers for your dialogue is very good and your scenes very realistic of what may have happened. I look forward to more.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad you found my scenes and dialogue realistic.
Lindelea · 20 December 2024 · Chapter 2: Letters
Hurrah! I have been eagerly hoping for more of this story, and here are several chapters at once! (I shall try to savour them slowly, one chapter a day, if I can manage to restrain myself...) JRRT described Imrahil in one passage as "Imrahil the fair"; I looked just now for mentions of him in my Kindle copy of the book, and in his every appearance, he sounds like a fine and noble Man. I think you've done him justice in these letters. His wisdom, love and concern shine forth. He must have been a good influence on Faramir and Boromir after the death of their mother, as well as someone Faramir could turn to when distressed or perplexed. He also sounds a bit like a "belt-and-suspenders" type, what with his letter to Húrin to back up and supplement the letter he sent to Faramir... And that unconditional "no matter what you decide" brought tears to my eyes. We could all use such champions in our lives! Until tomorrow (if all goes well). And thanks so much for updating! p.s. I loved this: Yet a greater power than the might of arms was at work, and the greatest deed was achieved by the smallest hands.
Author's reply
Thank you for your encouragement! I like Imrahil, he does come across as a noble and wise man in the book. He had me at "Amroth to Faramir!" and "Your son has returned, lord, after great deeds." Belt-and-suspenders -- in my imagination, Imrahil is a master tactician (though perhaps slightly less crafty than Denethor--no offense to all Imrahil fans out there, this is just my personal take). In this story, however, Imrahil exceeded even his usual standard by writing to Hurin. Faramir is a special case to Imrahil- not only is he dear to Imrahil, but also because Faramir is stubbornly unsparing of himself.
Lindelea · 17 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
Thank you for letting me know you'd left reviews! They are so heartening to read. I went back and read and responded and even found another review I'd missed seeing. So thank you again. I check older stories periodically in order to answer reviews in appreciation for people taking the time to share their thoughts. A decade ago, before the demands of life pulled me away, I used to have long conversations with some readers, going back and forth in the reviews and review replies, and found the discussions thought-provoking and satisfying. I attribute a lot of improvement and development of my writing skills to reader feedback and the food for thought various thoughtful people have provided. But I also appreciate brief responses, for they encourage me that I'm not merely talking to myself. ...though at this point, since Middle-earth is a refuge of sorts in the turmoil of the current times, I will probably keep posting stories and chapters and exploring various ideas and pursuing character growth even if nobody reads the stories. Ah well. As someone of my acquaintance used to say, "Anything worth doing is... worth doing."
Author's reply
I agree that anything worth doing is worth doing, even if no one noticed it. But it is nice when someone noticed and let us know :) I sent you an email.
UTfrog · 15 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
Love this beginning. Post regularly please!
Author's reply
Thank you UTfrog! I will try to post every Saturday, except the Christmas week perhaps. Do let me know what you think of the next chapters.
PSW · 15 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
This is lovely! I very much enjoyed the care of all the members of the Steward’s household as they prepared for Faramir’s return. It is good to remember that so many must have known him since he was small - they will know best how to help him through. Thx for sharing this story!
Author's reply
Hi PSW, Yes, most of the staff must have known and cared for Faramir and Boromir since they were young. Two little boys from Gondor's noblest family, well-mannered, handsome, dutiful, brave, motherless, with a stern father? If I were a servant in the Citadel I would have loved and served them as my own children. Thank you for leaving a review! It encouraged me to write more.
Lindelea · 15 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
Just a heads-up: I was cleaning up my story summaries and noticed some odd text had been added to a couple, which caused the bottom line (Ratings/Status/Chapters/Published Date) to be offset to the right. The "odd" added text was invisible when viewing the story summary on the SoA home page but became visible in the editing screen for the story summary. At a glance, when I edited the first odd-looking story summary, added to the end of the summary in the edit box was a block of text that looked like some sort of malevolent hidden link or code. After I removed the "added", "extra" text and saved the edited summary, the bottom line moved back into its proper place. The same was true of the second story summary I edited. All this to say: I wonder if your story summary for "The Shadow in the Past" has been hacked in the same way?
Author's reply
Lindelea, Thank you for highlighting this. Yes, I found that odd extra text in some of my stories. I have removed it. On a separate note, I left some review for Let Sleeping Dogs Lie. I read that story perhaps two weeks ago and I enjoyed it a lot. You created an interesting plot, and I like the parts you assigned to Faramir :)
Lindelea · 15 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
There's so much love in the discussion that begins the chapter! you know how Lord Faramir is when there are deeds to do Ah yes. Can't keep a good man down for long. O tactless healer! Orendil ought to have known better than to mention being fit to ride. But of course, Faramir probably knows he can trust Orendil because he knows the healer and his honesty. "the burnt place" The difficulty of even naming the place speaks of great distress and lingering trauma, and not just for Faramir. It also sounds as if it's very handy, sometimes, to hold the office of Warden of the Keys. And she wore the mantle. The speakers would know the significance of that, I should think. That tender, private moment of mourning was heart-wrenching. As to the scene the next morning: I must agree, I prefer the aroma of fresh-baked bread over medicinal smells. And I love how those who serve Faramir also manage him quite beautifully. I write a lot of servant-gentry interactions in the Shire the same way, probably influenced by Sam's care of Frodo, as well as Bunter's care of Lord Peter as described in some of Sayers' mysteries. And I love Éowyn's reaction. I will have to look for Altariel's story, I think. In the meantime, let me conclude by saying how much I enjoyed this chapter, and I'm looking forward to reading more of the story when it's posted.
Author's reply
Lindelea, Thank you for leaving a review! It made me very happy. I'm glad you can sense the love in the discussion between Hurin and Meldis. "The burnt place" -- I imagine Denethor was much respected (and loved, though in a quiet way) by the staff of the Citadel. The private mourning, you mean his quiet moment with Denethor's ring? I do hope that will move some people. It is handy being the Warden of the Keys. As I write about Hurin, somehow his image in my mind shows some resemblance to that incomparable gentleman's gentleman, Jeeves--even though Hurin's master was definitely more astute than dear Bertie. I have wanted to read Lord Peter Wimpsey stories, but have not managed to. Thank you again, and I hope you will enjoy the next chapters too! Author Reply: Lindelea, Thank you for leaving a review! It made me very happy. I'm glad you can sense the love in the discussion between Hurin and Meldis. "The burnt place" -- I imagine Denethor was much respected (and loved, though in a quiet way) by the staff of the Citadel. The private mourning, you mean his quiet moment with Denethor's ring? I do hope that will move some people. It is handy being the Warden of the Keys. As I write about Hurin, somehow his image in my mind shows some resemblance to that incomparable gentleman's gentleman, Jeeves--even though Hurin's master was definitely more astute than dear Bertie. I have wanted to read Lord Peter Wimpsey stories, but have not managed to. Thank you again, and I hope you will enjoy the next chapters too!
shirebound · 15 December 2024 · Chapter 1: Returning Home
It's wonderful to read about the love and concern that surrounds Faramir from all sides. "The sweet scent of cinnamon and apples filled the air, mingling with the comforting aroma of bread" Those fragrances are indeed comforting! What a lovely and gentle chapter.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm glad the scent description works for you. I love imagining how the people around Faramir loved and cared for him.