It's absolutely heartbreaking when Boromir and Andrahar say goodbye. Wonderful work. Thank you so much!

Your analysis of people didn't care what you did(who you slept with) as long as you had a marriage and an heir is dead on accurate on how older cultures viewed homosexuality. Only thing is the man probably wouldn't care if he was being fair to the woman. Infidelity was tolerated.

The idea that Faramir would be heavily into hookers doesn't quite ring true to me. He just doesn't seem the type. He doesn't have enough confidence, plus he would probably feel sorry for the hooker. Imrahil does seem the type, as you have written him(Tolkien doesn't say much about him.)bluster, confidence, just a little wild. Yep that's the type.

Thank you for this wonderful tale that I found by following a link from the Mithril awards. Take a bow, this deserves all the awards it can get.

Well done indeed

Rose

I loved this story and the one before that. This one's writing format is beautiful. cold, calculating and totally remorseless just like Denethor and then Boromir. Interesting how D's hitting B's mother translates on B treating his whores. And also how it make Boromir apathetic and ruthless as well. I was reading your reviews and some have said how Denethor is a loon and etc. Well, let's put it into context here shall we folks? The man finds out his nemesis is bonking his first born. You wouldn't be thrilled. Especially if you're extremely homophobic. As well, he isn't one dimensional. He states that he and finduilas were better than what Boromir remembers. I'm sure there were some tender moments, after all, they did love each other. I really enjoyed this story as well as your others.
liz

Congratulations. You effectively carry on from where Peter Jackson left off in assassinating Denethor's character. Why would Denethor abuse his wife? Is that your reasoning for her early death?
You seem to have read the books and that only makes it all the more saddening since you choose to use such a uni-dimensional portrayal of Denethor. It totally mars your otherwise superlative writing. Denethor may have acted as a jerk in the end, but there is no basis to show that he was always such a jerk.
You were recommended to me as one of the better authors in this fandom. I guess I'd be better off staying away from it altogether.

Your description of the causes of Faramir's tendency to blush hit the character exactly right. Made to feel inadequate and second-best by his father, praise would seem unwarranted and uncomfortable - something he has not heard enough to take casually. And his courting of Eowyn marks a gentleman, one uncomfortable with the ribald stories of an army. Moreover, I can imagine Boromir, much more a man of action and inclined toward the sensual rather than the intellectual, to be less reticent. It's rather ironic - but not strange - to find Faramir acting as the good son and Boromir - the favored son - secretly engaging in activities that would horrify their father.
“It wasn’t the wave dream, was it?” Andrahar asked, all too familiar with the vision of drowning Numenor that haunted both Imrahil and Faramir. “I did not think you had the dreams.” - this is an interesting concept, especially the idea that Imrahil and Faramir share the dreams but Boromir does not (I'm wondering if Finduilas had them, too). At its core, I can't help but connect this subconcious horror of Numenor lost with Faramir's resistance to the Ring (and Boromir's lack thereof).
The denouement is fascinating and all-too familiar for comfort, pouncing upon two prejudices the current administration has used to its benefit. I loved Imrahil's response, however, to Andrahar's second offer to give up his life, and the final revelation is the perfect ending.

Perfect! Except that I wish that Imrahil had unleashed HIS wrath upon Denethor. I assume Denethor found out about the affair through the use of the palantir. He must have been keeping tabs on Andra. What a surprise for him! The part about Boromir's mother taking her own life was a shock, but it played beautifully into the story. Good for Boromir, giving back some of what his father had dished out. And the best part, Andra's curse about the fire taking Denethor. Too bad his prayer for Boromir's safety didn't play out as well. I hope this is not the end of this story. I'd at least like a chapter written about how Andra takes the news of Boromir's death, and that Andra is in Minas Tirith when Denethor burns himself to death.

Faramir is taking his brother's "outing" rather better than I expected him to. And I would have expected him to react very outraged over his brother's affair with a man he thinks of as almost family. But then, Faramir has seen a lot of things during his career as a soldier. I hope Denethor doesn't find out that his heir is in love with Andra. But that would be quite a scene and I would enjoy reading it.

Wow yay the sequal, please slap Denethor in one of you Fic's he is a real B*D "I pay his brothel bills!" LOL you have to write more of this , oh dam Boromir dies!
Nargil

O.O It amazes me... you fit your writing style and your stories so well with those of Tolkien...that it is ... Amazing. I know Im being repetitive but I really love your writing and your plots and your stories. You took somthing that doesnt really interest me and sucked away my attention ( no pun intended).
Ali

Aww, poor Andra...he was probably soo upset when he found out Boromir died... ::Pouts::

See Denethor the wife beater
See Denethor the money grubbing pig
See Denethor with all the subtlety of a bull in a china shop.
See Denethor via Jacksonverse
I think you'll like the portrayal in ROTK from what I have seen and heard. Denethor feasts while Minas Tirith burns.
Tolkienverse Denethor, subtle, wise, farseeing, driven mad because of the Palantir, not a good man per se, but certainly not a mono-dimensional monomaniac. Tolkienverse Denethor begs pardon for his paltry table because the city is on rations.

Tolkienvers Denethor wondrously complex. Jacksonverse Denethor a loon.

O Elbereth above! I'm a huge fan of Captain, as well as Discretion and wow! That ending! I want to scream! That was great! I wished though that you went more into the Haradric side of him, or explained how Denethor found out, but oher than that it rocks! I personally adore how you write, in every way. And it has inspired me to write some of my own stuff as well. Keep writing! And more Blackbow, please!

I've just re-read my review and realized with a shock how it turned out. *cringles*
Of course it was *you* who has created Andrahar and his background - I only added his brother and the fire-worshipping thingy. My most sincere apologies! That's what I have from reviewing in a great hurry at work, between two classes. :(

That was hands down a fantastic gap filler. What a highly origional take on why Boromir went to Rivendell instead of Faramir. I barely know where to begin my praise, but here I go:
The relationships and interactions were so well written it was incredible. The way you write Denethor was amazing, cunning and calculating. You really showed his mastery of manipulation. Then to have him be undone by his son and student. What a great moment, you could really feel the tension shinning through.
Boromir and Andrahar's relationship was also incredibly well done. I admit I haven't read thestory that goes before this, but I don't feel that I missed anything. Your ideas were very clearly portrayed as it was. The way Boromir wast kept on charcter as a stong man, and loyal friend was really interesting in the termination of their relationship. I don't know if you intended this or not, but it lets a reader have a little bit more of a look into how the ring was able to take Boromir. He is noble at heart, but is willing to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. What a way to foreshodow the book, only to be enhanced by the ending. “May your Valar keep you safe, love. And may the Fire take your father.” It gave me chills.
Way to go Isabeau, please keep it up!
Kitty!