Yahoo Forum Archive

Title: Dorwinion Wine · Author: Lindelea · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 663
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:05:35
It is always fun to see Bilbo being his hobbity self--and this unnamed
Elf of Rivendell, who has a bit of a hangover, is having to describe
their small guest to another visitor. I think it's just
delightful--and always fun to imagine Bilbo's life in Rivendell during
the intervening years between the Party and the Quest.

Title: The Making of a Ringbearer II: Anchored · Author: obelia medusa
· Races: Hobbits: Friendship · ID: 189
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:06:06
Nearly ever since I began reading fanfic, this had been one of my
favorite WIPs. Now it is finally finished, and I am able to review the
whole story!

This story is one of the many that cover the time of Frodo's adoption
by Bilbo and the years he lived at Bag End before Bilbo's departure.
Every author has her own idea of what the circumstances were like, and
how Frodo adjusted to his new life in Bag End, away from Brandy Hall.

I love this story for its slow pace and for the lovely Shire society
that Obelia has created. Frodo's life with Bilbo is not a vacuum. He
has a circle of friends; while young Samwise Gamgee soon makes friends
with him, Frodo also is friends with his older brothers, and we see
the appearances of Fredegar Bolger and Folco Boffin. We are also given
some absolutely riveting interactions with the Sackville-Bagginses,
who are, of course despicable.

There are some rather unique plot elements in this story, and neither
Bilbo nor Frodo are flawless--and a misunderstanding very nearly
overturns their life together.

Obelia uses a somewhat different approach to the ages of the hobbits
and their growth and maturity--not exactly the two-thirds ratio that
many hobbit writers use. She explains at the beginning of the first
chapter her formula--it's very important for a reader to keep that in
mind, as otherwise they will think that Frodo and the other young
hobbits are behaving very immaturely for their ages.


Title: Dispelling the Fog · Author: fantasyfan · Races: Other Beings ·
ID: 642
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:06:24
Well, this is a very fun and informative gapfiller. It is set in that
brief window of time right after Tom Bombadil rescues the hobbits from
the Barrow-wights, and it makes an attempt to answer some of the
questions we (and the hobbits) might have about him and his place in
the scheme of things.

Tom Bombadil is very seldom written of in fic, and when he is, he is
rarely portrayed with any sort of canonical accuracy. Fantasy Fan
manages to avoid that problem, as well as managing to capture his
unique personality. As well, we see that Frodo is a hobbit of
discernment, seeing more than he's let on previously.

The voices she gives the four hobbits are very much in character, and
their concerns are hobbity concerns (as well as true to canon) food
and clothing are uppermost on the minds of Sam, Merry and Pippin.
Frodo on the other hand has questions, and does not want to give their
rescuer the chance to evade them.

His answers are intriguing and give us something to chew on. Who *was*
Tom Bombadil? Did Tolkien himself even know who he was? And while
Fantasy Fan does give us some speculation to chew on she avoid pinning
herself--and Tom--down. I loved Merry's remark at the end--only too
true, only too true!

I like Tom Bombadil, and it's very nice to see him featured here.


Title: Keep Him Secret, Keep Him Safe · Author: shirebound · Races:
Hobbits: Incomplete · ID: 643
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:07:23
What if Aragorn fell ill while the Army of the West was still encamped
at Cormallen following the victory over Sauron? This is the premise
behind this wonderful, slightly AU hurt/comfort by Shirebound.

Usually the characters who are subject to blankets and coddling as
they recuperate from illness and injury in her stories are hobbits,
and most of the time, the hobbit in need of care is Frodo. However,
she does occasionally turn the tables, and in this case it is Aragorn
in need of medicine and care.

The really interesting twist on this story is that it is decided that
for the morale of the Army of the West, the illness of the
newly-returned King must be kept secret from all but a very few. The
solution Shirebound cleverly gives us is that the news is that Frodo
is the one who is sick, and the King is staying with him in order to
care for him.

I love the interplay of characterizations in this story. Shirebound
has a deft hand with the personalities of the four hobbits. When any
one of them is speaking, you can instantly tell which one it is,
whether she mentions it or not. And she also has found very clear
voices for the other members of the Fellowship as well as Eomer and
Aragorn's foster-brothers Elladan and Elrohir.

So far the story is just delightful, and I am treated to my fill of
hobbits taking care of a big person! I look forward to more.


Title: The North Delving Incident · Author: Dana · Genres: Drama · ID: 26
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:08:08
Spoilers!
This is actually three stories woven into one, and yet all three are
the same story. A year after the Battle of Bywater Pippin finds
himself passing through a small village in the North-farthing, and
makes the horrifying discovery that a handful of Ruffians have been
hiding out there the whole time, terrorizing the villagers. And he
soon finds himself their captive.

In "Overlooked" we are shown the incident through Pippin's eyes. I
love his attitude as he wakes to find himself once more in captivity.
He's not afraid, not in the least, but he immediately begins to
calculate how he can get away, and what his advantages and
disadvantages are. His characterization here is solidly book-Pippin, a
clever and curious hobbit, with a full allowance of Tookish stubbornness.

We are introduced to an OC who plays a pivotal role in what happens,
and as with all of Dana's OCs, Citrine comes vividly to life, as does
her family. It is her POV that we follow in the second part of the
cycle, "Left Undone", and we learn for the first time just *how* those
Ruffians came to be in North Delving. Citrine is an engaging
character, as are her family. Pippin's arrival is the catalyst that
will bring the story to a climax. The recounting of the horrors of
life in the village as the Men hold the town hostage is
heart-breaking, and we come to understand Citrine's desperation. I
know of no one who has such a sure grip on just what the Occupation of
the Shire must have meant to the hobbits who endured it. Dana does not
shrink from letting us know the things that JRRT drew a veil over. And
yet, her hobbits always manage to remain hobbits.

In "Following Through" we have Merry's POV, as he worries about a
Pippin who has missed meeting him, and we finally learn how Merry and
the others managed to arrive at the end.

One of the things I loved in this part was the hobbity banter at the
beginning, as the hobbits riding with Merry tease one another about
the prevalence of sheep in the North-farthing.

This is a really fine story-cycle, and shows that Dana is perfectly
capable of writing not only character studies and vignettes, but a
tight and well-constructed plot as well!






Title: A Moment in the Morning in Bree · Author: Budgielover · Races:
Cross-Cultural · ID: 731
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:08:38
Strider finds himself an object of immense curiousity to the four
hobbits--and begins to learn something about them as well.

I love the way Budgie nails the various personalities of the hobbits
in the sorts of questions they ask: Pippin's frank and open
curiousity, Merry's observant and practical questions, Frodo's
attempts to mask his own curiousity in politeness, and Sam's efforts
to connect what he sees to what he already knows.

And Strider's own observations as he tries to satisfy them without
seeming any more threatening than someone twice their size and
bristling with weapons would are very amusing as well.

A lovely "getting acquainted" fic!

Title: There and Back · Author: Dana · Races: Cross-Cultural:
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 89
Reviewer: Dreamflower · 2008-07-17 22:09:01
Spoilers!
Two-hundred-and-fifty absolutely perfect words, a
double-drabble-and-a-half, and for me to properly review it, I would
really need to quote almost the whole thing in square brackets. Still,
I will do my very best to do it justice without such extreme measures!

The first half of this fixed-length-ficlet is from Pippin's
point-of-view, during the long and terrible journey to the Black Gate.
He is naturally pondering the futility of their march, worrying about
the outcome, sure that he is going to his end, and thinking, of
course, of Merry. But it's more than just what Pippin is thinking and
more about how he's thinking it, as is usually true of any story by
Dana. She has a way of really getting deeply inside the characters'
heads. When you read a story of hers--of any length--you never doubt
that you are getting the visceral responses of the character to his or
her situation.

In the second part of this, we get Beregond's point-of-view after the
battle is over and the journey home begun. It's not just Pippin of
whom he thinks, but of the other hobbits as well. It is clear that
this man knows exactly who is responsible for his still being alive. I
love the concluding line--it really is just perfect for this.


Title: A Maid Waiting · Author: Larner · Genres: Romance: Gondor · ID: 691
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-17 22:50:16
Spoilers!
We see lots of stories about the great nobles of Gondor and the
adventures of Aragorn and his circle and rightly so, but we know very
little about the lives of the people in the background who make the
Royal Household run smoothly.
This delightful story answers any questions a reader might have about
what it is like to be a servant of Aragorn as well as the pitwalls the
new King faces from ladies of easy virtue.
The heroine of the story,Systerien,begins as a not very likeable
character who is eager to make her fortune.As the story develops,the
good influence of the new King rubs off on her and the reader warms to
her and is delighted when she finds happiness with another character
who has had a lot to learn from Aragorn's wisdom and compassion.
A most enjoyable and heart warming story.

Title: There shall be Mirth at our Meeting · Author: Imhiriel ·
Genres: Humor: Drabbles · ID: 377
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-18 00:12:45
Spoilers!
This was truly delightful drabble ,which left a vivid impression on
me.I feel that many an Aragorn fan will feel herself in the shoes of
Bronwen who enjoys the sight of Aragorn and dreaming about him,despite
having a nice husband at home! We can but dream of a man we will never
get to meet!
I am certain Aragorn turned many a head during his Ranger days and
this drabble gives a vivid glimpse into the effect the Ranger had on
those around him.

Title: An Ordinary Woman · Author: Dawn Felagund · Times: First Age
and Prior: House of Finwe · ID: 32
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-18 00:17:48
Are heroes and heroines truly as great as they are said to be?This is
an unique and somewhat controversial look at the fabled Luthien,which
made an enjoyable read and was thought provoking.

Title: Out, Damn'd Spot! Out, I Say! · Author: Alassante · Races:
Elves: Noldor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 260
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-18 00:21:13
A thought provoking look at how the kinslaying may have effected those
involved in it.Good people can sometimes do terrible deeds and this
ficlet movingly explores the consequences.

Title: Moonset over Gondor · Author: Raksha the Demon · Genres: Drama:
Gondor Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 652
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-18 01:05:48
Spoilers!
I love to think about what happened to my favourite characters after
Tolkien finished his great epic.We are given a few facts in some of
Tolkien's other writings such as Faramir lived to be 120,while it says
in LOTR that he had a grandson called Barahir, but such hints only
make us want to know more.

I also often wonder if the characters ever returned to the scenes of
their great adventures or thought much about each other when they went
their separate ways.

This delightful and very atmospheric ficlet gives a very satisfactory
glimpse of a scene I can well believe happened when Faramir decides to
take Eowyn to Henneth-Annûn six years after the end of the war. I
loved the idea of Faramir showing his wife his old Ranger haunts!

I loved the beautiful image that raksha creates of faramir and Eowyn
looking at the waterfall in the moonlight.I almost felt as if I were
there!

I felt it was typical of Faramir to think about Frodo and Sam and the
time that they spent at Henneth-Annûn. There is a hint of melancholy
when Faramir muses how Frodo had to leave Middle-earth,and wonders if
he can still enjoy the moon.

Maybe Faramir realises how fortunate he and Eowyn are not to have been
as damaged by their wartime experiences as poor Frodo?I am sure such a
thoughtful man would.

THe story ends with a tender kiss,just perfect for a moonlit night!

Title: Another Country · Author: Tanaqui · Races: Men: General
Fixed-Length Ficlets · ID: 438
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-18 01:10:23
Spoilers!
I loved the twist in the first of this pair of drabbles.The reader is
led to think that Boromir is at Rivendell when he is somewhere else
entirely.
The meeting between Denethor and his son in the second of these pieces
shows the tragic downfall of these two men all too clearly.They could
have been so great,but pride brought them both low.They have lost and
the future belongs to Faramir and the King.
A well wriiten pair of drabbles,highly reccomended.

Title: Labour Pains · Author: Aratlithiel · Genres: Humor: Shire · ID: 483
Reviewer: Linda hoyland · 2008-07-18 02:07:42
This story is just delightful.It tells of the trials and tribulations
of Frodo when left with a very pregneant Rosie.
The story gives a quite different and very plausible reason why
Frodo,accustomed to a quiet batchelor life,should accept the
invitation to sail to the Undying Lands.
Great fun and a most enjoyable read. I also loved the attractive
layout of the site it was posted on.

Title: A Sleep Over · Author: Phyncke · Times: First Age and Prior:
House of Finwe · ID: 160
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-18 02:44:25
Spoilers!
A quirky and rather original (for Tolkien fanfiction using canon
characters) story about two young elf-maidens and what should have
been a light-hearted evening of girlish confidences.

The story's fluff factor is skillfully offset by a shattering bit of
precognition that catapaults the reader into a certain section of the
Silmarillion, and the knowledge of the eventual fate of one of the two
youngsters.

Definitely a worthy plotline, and a novel way of dealing with it.

Title: The Houseless · Author: Jael · Genres: Horror · ID: 178
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-18 06:42:06
We all love ghost stories and there are some classic ones. Jael
presents us with a Middle-earth version of one such story and spins
her tale in a believable manner. She has a way of describing the
creepiness of the woods that puts you immediately in the mood. I loved
the way she presents a Legolas still young enough to be innocent and
unwary as he comes upon a young elleth who, in the parlance of our
times, "needs a ride home". Even though the reader knows the truth as
to the elleth's identity, though Legolas does not, it does not detract
from enjoying a good yarn, for how many times have we all shivered
with delight as we sat around campfires and listened to the same kind
of story being told once again?

Title: Spaces in the Heart · Author: Keiliss · Races: Elves: House of
Elrond · ID: 251
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-18 07:40:49
What must it be like for one who has died to be returned to life with
no memory of the time between death and re-embodiment? The confusion
Glorfindel feels as he struggles to adapt to a world he no longer
recognizes is understandable and we sense his frustration as he tries
to put all the pieces together. Cirdan, seeking to alleviate some of
his guest's confusion, requests from Gil-galad someone from Gondolin
who could perhaps help ease Glorfindel's transition to a new life. The
High King's solution is quite original and completely satisfactory. A
lovely story of the first meeting between two of the most beloved of
canon characters.

Title: Philosophia to Philomythus and Misomythus · Author:
pandemonium_213 · Genres: Poetry · ID: 50
Reviewer: Fiondil · 2008-07-18 08:40:38
The dichotomy between religion and science, between myth and quantum
mechanics has, in the last twenty or so years, proven false. At the
time Tolkien wrote his famous poem to his friend C.S. Lewis, there was
no common meeting ground between the two worlds and one must be in one
camp or the other and, naturally, there would be defections on both
sides. That state of affairs, however, is slowly fading as the gap
between these supposedly two worlds begins to narrow. In the Medieval
period, there was no division between religion and science, between
myth-makers and alchemists; they were often one and the same. In
recent years, with the rise of the New Cosmology, we are again seeing
a fusion between the poet and the scientist. People like Mathematical
Cosmologist Brian Swimme and Eco-theologian Thomas Berry working
together to present us with a mythic view of the Universe's own story
grounded in hard science is a prime example.

Pandemonium's short poetic response, I think, ignores the history of
thought in this regard. Clearly she feels that Tolkien's own dislike
and distrust of science (he had after all lived through the horrors
perpetrated by scientists during both World Wars) unwarranted or
perhaps misguided. Yet, I think this ignores certain truths about
Tolkien himself - that he was an avid amateur astronomer who prided
himself in creating a calendar that was more accurate than our own and
who was meticulous in getting the phases of the moon correct for his
stories. He was not, I think, against science per se, merely in its
misuse and, in his day, most scientists were self-proclaimed atheists
who relegated all that was outside science to myth, as if "myth" were
a bad word not to be spoken in polite society. For one who was a
devout Catholic, this would have been seen as an affront to Truth and
Reality.

This poem, however, is quite interesting in its own regard and the
poet handles the heroic couplet quite well for one unused to it. I
liked the imagery which echoes or mirrors that used by Tolkien, though
giving it an opposite meaning. This is especially true in the way she
reinterprets the image (and ultimate purpose) of the Iron Crown.
Science, as she states in her note to the poem, can indeed impart a
sense of wonder and the power of science to do so should not be
despised; neither should that of myth. They are both daughters of the
same Creator who delights in giving us both quasars and quests.

Title: Hope comes for Estel · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Drama:
Featuring Aragorn · ID: 622
Reviewer: Raksha the Demon · 2008-07-18 15:27:16
Spoilers!
Stefania writes entertaining stories that use a rather unique
framework -she incorporates the physical appearances of the actors in
the movies, and some of the movies' plot and characterisation, but
also includes much of the history and background from the books.

In this story, as his Coronation approaches, and Aragorn begins to
consider the gargantuan tasks awaiting him, Faramir comes to see his
new liege-lord at Cormallen. Stefania has a gift for dialogue and
introspection here; and quite credibly conveys the doubts of two
powerful and perceptive men struggling to come to terms with a new
world and new balance of power as well as the legacies of conflicts
created before one of them was born.

An intriguing portrait of the fledgling relationship between Steward
and King.

Title: The Haradric Whore and Her Son · Author: annmarwalk/EdorasLass
CoAuthors · Races: Cross-Cultural · ID: 124
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2008-07-18 16:30:11
Spoilers!
If Boromir can't be with my Andrahar, then I like him best with
Theodred. It's a true meeting of equals, as both men are Heirs to
their respective countries, and they're both warriors. They even die
on the same day.

That being said, given the distance between Gondor and Rohan, they
can't live in each others' pockets. So a vow of physical faithfulness
would be hypocritical-particularly since they both are expected to
eventually marry to continue their dynasties. Thus in this story
Boromir's rather deliberate forays into womanizing, to hide the true
nature of his desires, are cataloged very matter-of-factly by the
Steward's Heir, as is his desire for the Rohir boy whore rumor
describes as living in the first circle.

Gaersum and his Haradric mother, who did indeed serve her time in a
brothel, are survivors. And though they sell their bodies, they truly
can't be bought in any meaningful way. There is some very nice
exposition of Haradric culture in this story and I absolutely love
this Boromir. This passage, particularly, seems to sum up his
character [Sometimes I almost cursed my life: why had I not been born
as other men, able to take a wife in joy, raise children, live without
shame or fear? But I could not forswear my love for Théodred, or even
my affection for this golden-haired boy. I am what I am; whatever
Power it is that creates us, gives us form and being, had made me
thus, and so I must live as I can: true to my own understanding of
right and wrong, honor and duty.].

Boromir's treatment of the boy is considerate and in its way,
affectionate. It seems that at this point in his life, he needs more
than just physical release from a succession of random partners. And
he is careful to see that Gaersum's welfare and that of his mother are
seen to before he takes his final journey North.

Very nicely done, Annmarwalk and EdorasLass!



Title: Silenced · Author: Illwynd · Genres: Horror · ID: 31
Reviewer: Isabeau of Greenlea · 2008-07-18 16:39:26
(Shiver) An excellent ficlet depicting a chilling AU where once again
the weakness of Men creates a calamity. The mood builds slowly and
skillfully. I particularly liked this line [And the people he had
liked to speak with were gone—where? He couldn't remember, and this
made the shuffling in his thought grow louder.]. One knows perfectly
well what happened to them and that fact that Boromir cannot remember
is possibly the most chilling thing about this story.

Title: A Place for Gandalf · Author: Dreamflower · Times: Mid Third
Age: Eriador · ID: 391
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-18 19:15:51
A hightly entertaining story with two interesting plot threads: Bilbo
builds a room for Gandalf; and his reasons for making Frodo his heir.
The tone of the story is overall light, but its occasional "dips" into
more serious matters are managed without a hitch, and without jarring,
and there are a nice variety of little canon references strewn in.

Dreamflower manages to capture the characters extremely well; from
their behaviour to their speech patterns - you just "see" and "hear"
them as they appear in canon, or as can easily be inferred from canon.

The ensemble cast is handled expertly, the dialogues in particular are
very lively and make each character distinct. Occasionally, I thought
the narrative flow was a bit disturbed by abrupt breaks, but on the
whole, this kept the story at a brisk pace.

Bilbo is especially well-drawn, and his buoyant spirit, his love of
good things like food and friends and good living (and his dislike of
the S-B's *g*) are conveyed very vividly. I also love the way the
children are portrayed and the relationship between them and towards
the adults.

I also like the details of Gandalf's room being built and furnished
and the fun everyone has with it, and later Gandalf's joy, expressed
in what is one of my favourite passages: ["But this--this was a place
for *him*, made for him with love and care and a deal of
thoughtfulness. This was as close to a home as he could know until his
task was done and he returned across the Sea. Tears stood in his eyes."]

Title: One Equal Temper of Heroic Hearts · Author: Gwynnyd · Genres:
Romance: Gondor · ID: 334
Reviewer: Imhiriel · 2008-07-18 19:17:08
Spoilers!
Gwynnyd has a knack of zooming in on the nitty-gritty details of the
lives of her characters: the sweat, the sound of body movements, tiny
gestures, making the characters relatable; while OTOH, never losing
sight of just *who* these people are, their position, background,
history etc.

The scene depicted is wonderful: this night-time conversation in bed,
intimate, half-sleepy, closely tuned to each other, serious and then
playful.

The balance is held here skilfully between showing the sometimes
discommoding, disabling or plain annoying realities of age, poking
gentle fun at having to deal with them, and still preserving the
dignity of the characters.

The sensual content of this story is relatively frank, but never
graphic, and is interwoven comfortably into the narrative. It
illustrates nicely the subject matter Aragorn raises, which in itself
provides an interesting meta-commentary on a passage in Tolkien's
writing about the diminishing of sexual desire in Elves after a time
of procreation (referenced in the author's notes), which must be of
special interest to Aragorn, raised as he was in an Elven household.

I also like the way Aragorn's relationships with other people are
briefly but memorably interwoven into the story (in particular Faramir).

Title: The Dwarves Treasure · Author: eiranae · Races: Dwarves · ID: 312
Reviewer: viv · 2008-07-18 21:04:30
You know what I love about this story? It isn't just that it's about
dwarves, or even that it portrayed dwarves as something other than (a)
annoying comic relief or (b) the metaphorical spitoon of a bunch of
hoity first-age elves. It's that this story extends and embellishes a
theme that Tolkien touched on but sadly (at least in my mind) failed
to expand on: celebrating racial diversity, even in Middle-earth. At
the fore in this story is Duron, who starts out as big-hearted and
able to accept an elf child into his life and, ultimately, into his
soul. But as the story continues, other dwarves, and even a few elves,
learn that folks of other races aren't precisely as they'd believed. I
love the conversation between Gimli and Mireth at the beginning of
Chapter 6. This is where Gimli's journey, the one that ultimately
leads him to both Fangorn *and* the Aglarond, begins, I think. Other
themes also wind in and out of the piece: parenthood, patience,
identity. For such a seemingly straightforward story, this one
highlights a lot of Tolkien subtext as well as breaking new ground in
its own right. I am looking forward to wherever eiranae takes me next.

Title: Dead Steward's Gift · Author: stefaniab · Genres: Mystery · ID: 572
Reviewer: viv · 2008-07-18 21:05:48
Spoilers!
You've incorporated a lot of horror-story tropes -- moaning sounds,
secret letters, antique keys, ominous clouds -- but this story is very
fresh. I didn't expect to get sucked in the way I did. It kept my
attention even though I had lots of offline things I should have been
doing. :) It's just so rare in fic to see a well-constructed
thriller/mystery. I think it's easerr for folks to write angsty
character pieces, and even romances, but we as a group aren't all that
great at plot and ambiance. You've done such an excellent job with
both in this story. And then at the end, once the mysteries are all
solved, there's that mini-arc (who is talking back to him, etc) that
keeps the reveal and ending from being sort of a let-down. I liked the
idea that Aragorn and Faramir could continue to communicate over
distances, and I agree that it makes complete sense that the palantiri
would continue to work even after the end of the Rings (weren't they
completely independent of the Rings and all that mess? or did
Annatar/Sauron have a hand in both? For some reason, I seem to recall
that the palantiri were wholly separate, which would make sense in the
context of this story). At any rate, I enjoyed this story thoroughly
and am so glad for the MEFAs, which urged me toward a gem like this of
which I might normally have been unaware. Oh, one last thought: is
Cirri uinhabited by the noble spirit of Denethor? Whether she is or
not, I liked her inclusion in the story: she helped with the mood and
mystery, as well as being, well, a kitty. :)