I hope he wasn't a 7 or 8 year old child. It was sad that lads were made to fight. I hope that at least Theoden didn't force children under 10 to fight. I'm not for making women fight, but if I were Theoden I would rather have some of the women fight than small children lads or lasses. A full grown woman is definately much stronger and less scared than a little 7 or 8 year old. Even 10 is a bit young.

I feel bad for the woman who lost her husband and now she may loose her son too.

I quote:
"After a few miserable moments, the woman felt an arm cross her shoulders. She started at the unexpected show of human comfort and raised her head, blinking to free her vision from the tears that caused her eyes to swell. The Lady of Rohan knelt before her. Normally she stood aloof, fair yet cold as steel. But when the woman looked up, she saw pity and concern in Eowyn's eyes.

"I know you have given much for Rohan," she whispered softly to the woman, "so I will give you this. You will not have to sit alone in the Hornburg and think only of death. Come my friend, you and I will visit with the other broken women who remain behind and we will comfort each other. It will be a long night, but we will see it through." "


In the last two paragraphs of a very well done story you have managed to capture the idea that was flying wordlessly in my mind. THANK YOU for capturing it and putting words to it!

openmeadow

It was sad I felt sorry for the mother having her son taken away from her and for the boy too. I hope the boy is 11 and not 7. I would hate to see a small child being forced to fight even if he is big for his age especially those who are young enough to be afraid of thunder and lightening.

I really hope her son came back to her.

Ooh, that was nice...Very dark-with-a-ray-of-hope in it; beautiful insight into a very deep and emotion-fraught moment. I like the way you said a lot without going into great depth of exposition--everything was communicated very clearly without too much repetition. Nice job!

Good on Eowyn Im glad she came to comfort the boys mother :-) Very touching vignette, I wonder if he ever came back?
Cola xx

:wiping eyes and blowing nose:
I'm a mom and you hit me right *there* in the heart. Wonderful story!

Beautiful, I especially like the way Eowyn manages to give hope and strength without making false promises.
If you plan to do changes, maybe some shortening, to make it more concentrated and intense. (Easy said, that's precisely what I find difficult myself.)

I think I love the title of this story as much as the story itself. Well done! I really like stories that are set within Helm's Deep, and have considered writing one myself some time, but after reading this I don't think I'll bother - this is far too good! I'm not sure now if I'd be writing fan fiction based on LotR or fan fiction based on your story! :D

I really felt for the poor mother, the son, and for the soldier also. You really put me in the moment, as if I were watching the scene play out from across the room. I love this part:

But he held no expectations this time. No hope glimmered in his depths, no vigor or purpose controlled his motives. He knew there was no chance, and he knew he was taking innocent children to their deaths, lambs to the slaughter.

and also this:

The woman cried out at his words and he could hardly blame her. Even as he spoke of rewards he could hear the flatness in his voice, the empty promise. There would be no one left to fulfill such a promised reward. He was truly sorry, and he felt terribly for the young mother, but he had his orders. He needed the boy.

You did a terrific job of writing the soldier, and the appearence of Eowyn at the mother's side was another perfect touch. :)

Wow. Very well-wriiten and descriptive.

This is beautiful and heart-rending. I will read more of your writing later. Great job.

Sad, yet beautiful. You could imagine something like that happening in ANY war, not just LOtR. A moving short piece. Good bloody job to you, love.

i think i know which bit of a scene u wrote this from. just wonderful. i would like to know if the boy survives...

That's very nicely done. I like the confusion in the boy, as his mother first wants him not to go, and then tells him it's all right, as well as the way you describe the soldier, and his apparent thoughts. But most especially I like the interaction between the mother and Eowyn, who is so often portrayed as cold and aloof, but who has always seemed to me to be passionately devoted to her people. She seems very right in this fic. Good job.

Absolutely lovely. Every time I see the movie, I marvel at what the people of Rohan had to go through and all the sacrifices they've made. It's heartbreaking to see children sent into a war they barely understand. You've captured the moment perfectly, and the glimmer of hope at the end was very inspiring.