Reviewer:Denise Date:05/11/08
First I get some Mother's Day time to myself to spend reading, and then I see that there's a new Isabeau story to indulge in! What a treat!
I'm repeating myself, but it's worth saying again: I love how cleanly and delightfully you can set these one-shots among all your other stories/drabbles. Even in something this short there are multitudes of references woven in.
The characterizations are marvelous, as always. Faramir would indeed feel every Ranger's death very heavily; even something so small as his refusal of the poppy fits him. Boromir and Faramir's conversation is perfect, up to and including Boromir's confession about his past thoughts on Amrothos, and Faramir's apt summation of 'Rothos' reaction to the commendation. Boromir keeps Faramir from sinking into melancholy, and Faramir reminds his brother to do what is right – such good complements. I'd love to see (among so many other things) Faramir delivering this message to Amrothos, and their discussion of his cousin's reactions to what he experienced at Osgiliath.
Boromir's care for his beloved brother, by inviting some of the core Rangers, is wonderful. It reminded me of his assistance to Imrahil in "Motherless": going directly for the practical method to help out, and explaining afterwards. And of course, it's so much fun to see Faramir with his Rangers. Nice touches about Heth remembering the book, and how the anonymous army captain quietly backed down. And perhaps my favorite line out of so many excellent candidates: "The Rangers are yours, my lord, and no other Captain would suit us half so well." *sniffle*
It's a bittersweet ending, for Boromir is hiding his own pain under that cheerful whistle - and so much additional heartache comes of his need for comfort, re: "Discovery".
I wish you a Happy Mother's Day, Isabeau! Thank you for the Hobbit-like present you've given to all of us.
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[2] Consolation by:Isabeau
Reviewer:Janet Date:05/12/08
A well written story, Isabeau. You told about the horrors of war without going into gory details. I felt Faramir's griefe for losing so many of his warriors he selected to accompany him. Loving brother Boromir know exactly what it would take to cheer his little brother. I loved the closeness of the rangers and I, of course, love the mir brothers.
Thank you for sharing this story.
Janet
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[3] Consolation by:Isabeau
Reviewer:Gwidhiel Date:05/12/08
Isabeau, I've always liked your depiction of the relationship between Boromir and Faramir, and this piece fits well into that context. I also always appreciate these views of the years Faramir spent protecting Gondor in the skirmishes that led up to the war -- they sometimes seem to get lost in the overall narrative of the war and its aftermath.
Plus I always appreciate the way you work Amrothos's clever forays into non-magic technologies into the story. I'm glad that Boromir, excelling in the traditional male Gondorian mold, comes to appreciate his cousin's unusual but very useful talents!
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[4] Consolation by:Isabeau
Reviewer:Elena Tiriel Date:05/17/08
Great story, Isabeau! And so perfect for Faramir Creation Day....
What a terrific idea, having Amrothos be the one to figure out (and implement under fire) how to drop the bridge... that kid's got a good head on his shoulders... but I hope he will eventually recover from his shock at the exposure to heated battle.
that masterwork of Númenórean engineering had not gone easily. I so like it when you so seamlessly weave little bits of canon into your stories!
Glad to see Boromir finally begin to value his cousin's contributions, and Faramir not letting Boromir off the hook about telling Amrothos, too. And I laughed at what Faramir said about how Amrothos would use his commendation!
But I think Boromir really shines in his actions to cheer up Faramir. It was a while before I caught on... so it had even more impact (as you no doubt planned....)
The comfortable interplay between Faramir and the three Rangers fits in so perfectly with your own canon, and the familiarity with them finally put Faramir at his ease, enough to be able to sleep. Good job!
Especially telling was Three heads snapped up from their bedrolls when [Boromir] entered the tent. Their protectiveness towards their beloved captain is touching... and we readers know how critical it will become in the retreat over the Pelennor.
Well done!
- Barbara
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[5] Consolation by:Isabeau
Reviewer:Nargil Date:05/21/08
I can't believe I missed this. These quiet moments are so wonderfull you really see the characters, Boromir came through so strongly in this, the different sides of his personality, how he clashes with the General role he his expected to play. I once read (can't think where) that everyone around Boromir suffers from terminal K.I.S.A.S. (knight in shining armour syndrome)they see the Captain General they don't see him.so it's great to see him try to interact with that part of himself.
I love your refernce to Amrothos, he has this wonderfull personality, I got a vision of him waving a piece of paper dripping with the obligatory wax seals at his brothers with Imrahil laughing in the background.
Hethlin and Faramir indeed all the rangers gell together so weel, they are all unique, no-one blends in with the others or the background. That's one of the best things about your fics, all the characters are so distinct from each other, the way you take Tolkiens names and facts and bring them to life working in OC's that are so real you don't realise that they are not.
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[6] Consolation by:Isabeau
Reviewer:Larner Date:09/23/08
Indeed his ploy worked marvelously. And I love the caring that is so evident amongst them all.
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