A vignette and fic request
Jul. 22nd, 2005 05:09 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
thrihyrneI'm exhausted and already sore, having spent several hours today with an industrial strength hot gun in my left hand and a putty knife in my right, scraping paint of my parents' wood banisters on their outside porch. :P A definite plus for today, though: two new CD compilations from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
llembas!! Thanks, dear- I'm listening to #1 now. Can't wait to hear The Decemberists after your comment ('I would like to crawl inside this guy's voice and live there.').
Well, I haven't stopped writing in the Ardaverse, and as proof, included in this post is an Éowyn-centric vignette set in the Houses of Healing I started a few weeks ago. On the whole today, however, I'm feeling listless and uninspired, and I need some fic recommendations. I'm readinggeoviki's sure-to-be extraordinary (as they all are) story, Delicate Sound of Thunder, but I don't want to rush it and I'd like something a little shorter, just for this evening. I also recently read DementorDelta's "Absolutely Anybody" and fell in love. She writes about the possibilities of parseltongue like none other. I can always reread that one, but here's what I'm looking for: something newish (or old enough that I probably haven't read it, LOL), 70 pages or under, can be angsty or not, Ardaverse or HP, and I'd like some well-written, hot smut, too. A tall order, perhaps, but not amongst you, my fellow well-read friends. So rec away!
Another quick aside: my closest buddy from rehab, a retired banker, sent me a cry-inspiring gift yesterday, a Mont Blanc pen, complete with turquoise ink. Everybody from rehab wanted me to write a book, and when I do, I can guarantee it'll be written with this pen.
Here's the ficlet- hope you enjoy, and I'll look forward to the recs.
The sky was grey, malevolently infused with smoke from the remnant fires burning below on the battlefield. Even the pale marble bench on which Éowyn sat seemed dull, despite the wretched distance from the clanging of swords and ferocious cries of the Rohirrim, now off fighting ever nearer to Mt. Doom. She angrily picked at a thread on the ragged edge of her sling.
Trapped.
Useless.
She was caged, yet again, a wounded bird that would prefer death than bound to earth. In frustration, she got up and paced over to the parapet to look down at the plain below. The height was near that of the Firienfeld, and no less daunting. Off in the distance, the demonic black mountain smouldered, its filthy ash adding to the haze, which clung mercilessly to the air.
She decided to test her wing. Easing her left arm from its cradle, she attempted to straighten it but could only reach a hand's span before gasping in pain. Chagrined, she rebound it, wishing that one of the healers from Meduseld were with her. As a way to occupy her mind, Éowyn listed herbs and their uses while she stalked the cobbled paths in the garden. By the time she'd reached Vervain- aids against feeling fire when relieving oneself, she was weary of the tedious exercise, and made her way back to her usual perch.
Back at the stone bench, Éowyn arranged her skirts and sat down. A flicker of movement caught her eye and she glanced over to the edge of the marble. A black ant meandered its way across the flat surface until it reached the fabric of her dress, when it backed away and marched to the corner. Captivated and compelled, she followed the insect's course, leaning backward to watch its progress down the carved leg and return path. Out of curiosity, she put her right hand down to see if it would crawl up, which it did. Bringing her fingers to her face, she rotated her wrist as the ant scuttled the surface of her skin.
"I am too much like you, little one," she said as it crept along her arm, passing a few freckles before she brushed it off and it dropped to the milky stone. "Insignificant. Wandering aimlessly and getting nowhere."
Still tracking the ant's journey, she thought of Meriadoc. In all likelihood he was to be found helping the cook - or helping himself - or assisting in tending the wounded, especially those of Rohan. How monstrous that battle must have been to him, and yet his bravery against the horrific minion of Sauron was beyond compare.
With a wistful smile, Éowyn remembered the incredulous expression of gratitude on the hobbit's face when she, or Dernhelm, rather, offered him his rightful place in the ranks of the Rohirrim. How far he was from his self-described lighthearted fellows. As she mulled that over, her brow furrowed. Merry did have his moments of joviality, but from the long days together astride Windfola, Éowyn knew in her bones that sombre responsibility flowed in his veins. He mourned the loss of King Théoden as dearly as though he were kin; not that Meriadoc had spoken such, but Éowyn had learned at a young age to intuit words unspoken. Merry's clear eyes bespoke worry and sadness, revealing far reaches of complexity in his nature, she decided.
A bee buzzed around her head and with her good arm she swatted it away. It landed in a small patch of nearby clover, quickly busying itself. How strange that despite the battles being fought and hopelessness that pervaded these stone walls, shrubs still stretched out verdant leaves. Flowers continued to bloom. Why? What was the point?
Preoccupied, she leaned down and picked a few of the clover stems and dropped them in her lap. One at a time, she twisted them together, a long-latent activity her mother had taught her early in her childhood. When the chain was completed, she held it up and looked scornfully at it.
"Some shieldmaiden you are now," she said. With a disgusted snort, Éowyn tossed her handiwork to the ground.
She was restless. Admittedly, patience had never been a trait for which she was known, but this endless waiting made her all the more irritable. Perhaps she would return to the stateroom that the young Steward had shown her the day before. Meduseld had many glorious hangings, but they paled in comparison to the procession of portraits that lined the walls in this massive hall. Faramir had taken his time, explaining the background of the men featured in each frame. Éowyn had been taken aback by his depth of description of his forebears, and felt no small amount of pride in revealing to him her knowledge of Eorl when they came to Cirion's portrait.
Faramir had paused to elaborate both on his namesake, but also that of his father. Denethor the First stood regally, his auburn hair lifted in a breeze and an elegant stone city behind him.
"That was Osgiliath before its end," Faramir had explained, his expression rueful. "He was the last Steward to rule there; it was overrun and destroyed by uruks sent to task from Mordor. At that time Minas Tirith became the primary stronghold of Gondor, though others went further and joined those in Dol Amroth. It was there, by the sea, where my mother and her kin lived."
Éowyn was struck by the softening of his tone, already aware that his mother had died when Faramir was young.
"I believe she missed her home, and the gulls' cries, very much."
Éowyn had nodded. "There can be much grief in life."
Faramir had paused, weighing his words.
"And yet there can be beauty amid despair."
Alone now in the garden, Éowyn reconsidered his phrase, looking about her at the unstoppable fecundity. Was this despair that she felt? No, surely that heart spearing rush had crashed on her only as she saw her uncle fall before her. This that she endured was more deadly, a futility that seeped ever more deeply into her marrow. Would that she had her sword, its fine craftsmanship mere detritus on the sea of carnage below. Any piece of arms could suffice now. She clenched and opened her fist in agitation, willing Béma himself to cast down a weapon from the steel skies, a sturdy sword hilt into her open palm.
Béma- immortal horseman and defender of her people. Where was the huntsman in these foul days? Show me you are not lost, she pleaded inwardly. Bring forth a sign of hope.
Éowyn cast her silent lament to flight, her attentions so focused on their journey that she started as the Steward's compassionate voice spoke behind her.
"Lady Éowyn."
llembas!! Thanks, dear- I'm listening to #1 now. Can't wait to hear The Decemberists after your comment ('I would like to crawl inside this guy's voice and live there.').Well, I haven't stopped writing in the Ardaverse, and as proof, included in this post is an Éowyn-centric vignette set in the Houses of Healing I started a few weeks ago. On the whole today, however, I'm feeling listless and uninspired, and I need some fic recommendations. I'm reading
geoviki's sure-to-be extraordinary (as they all are) story, Delicate Sound of Thunder, but I don't want to rush it and I'd like something a little shorter, just for this evening. I also recently read DementorDelta's "Absolutely Anybody" and fell in love. She writes about the possibilities of parseltongue like none other. I can always reread that one, but here's what I'm looking for: something newish (or old enough that I probably haven't read it, LOL), 70 pages or under, can be angsty or not, Ardaverse or HP, and I'd like some well-written, hot smut, too. A tall order, perhaps, but not amongst you, my fellow well-read friends. So rec away!Another quick aside: my closest buddy from rehab, a retired banker, sent me a cry-inspiring gift yesterday, a Mont Blanc pen, complete with turquoise ink. Everybody from rehab wanted me to write a book, and when I do, I can guarantee it'll be written with this pen.
Here's the ficlet- hope you enjoy, and I'll look forward to the recs.
The sky was grey, malevolently infused with smoke from the remnant fires burning below on the battlefield. Even the pale marble bench on which Éowyn sat seemed dull, despite the wretched distance from the clanging of swords and ferocious cries of the Rohirrim, now off fighting ever nearer to Mt. Doom. She angrily picked at a thread on the ragged edge of her sling.
Trapped.
Useless.
She was caged, yet again, a wounded bird that would prefer death than bound to earth. In frustration, she got up and paced over to the parapet to look down at the plain below. The height was near that of the Firienfeld, and no less daunting. Off in the distance, the demonic black mountain smouldered, its filthy ash adding to the haze, which clung mercilessly to the air.
She decided to test her wing. Easing her left arm from its cradle, she attempted to straighten it but could only reach a hand's span before gasping in pain. Chagrined, she rebound it, wishing that one of the healers from Meduseld were with her. As a way to occupy her mind, Éowyn listed herbs and their uses while she stalked the cobbled paths in the garden. By the time she'd reached Vervain- aids against feeling fire when relieving oneself, she was weary of the tedious exercise, and made her way back to her usual perch.
Back at the stone bench, Éowyn arranged her skirts and sat down. A flicker of movement caught her eye and she glanced over to the edge of the marble. A black ant meandered its way across the flat surface until it reached the fabric of her dress, when it backed away and marched to the corner. Captivated and compelled, she followed the insect's course, leaning backward to watch its progress down the carved leg and return path. Out of curiosity, she put her right hand down to see if it would crawl up, which it did. Bringing her fingers to her face, she rotated her wrist as the ant scuttled the surface of her skin.
"I am too much like you, little one," she said as it crept along her arm, passing a few freckles before she brushed it off and it dropped to the milky stone. "Insignificant. Wandering aimlessly and getting nowhere."
Still tracking the ant's journey, she thought of Meriadoc. In all likelihood he was to be found helping the cook - or helping himself - or assisting in tending the wounded, especially those of Rohan. How monstrous that battle must have been to him, and yet his bravery against the horrific minion of Sauron was beyond compare.
With a wistful smile, Éowyn remembered the incredulous expression of gratitude on the hobbit's face when she, or Dernhelm, rather, offered him his rightful place in the ranks of the Rohirrim. How far he was from his self-described lighthearted fellows. As she mulled that over, her brow furrowed. Merry did have his moments of joviality, but from the long days together astride Windfola, Éowyn knew in her bones that sombre responsibility flowed in his veins. He mourned the loss of King Théoden as dearly as though he were kin; not that Meriadoc had spoken such, but Éowyn had learned at a young age to intuit words unspoken. Merry's clear eyes bespoke worry and sadness, revealing far reaches of complexity in his nature, she decided.
A bee buzzed around her head and with her good arm she swatted it away. It landed in a small patch of nearby clover, quickly busying itself. How strange that despite the battles being fought and hopelessness that pervaded these stone walls, shrubs still stretched out verdant leaves. Flowers continued to bloom. Why? What was the point?
Preoccupied, she leaned down and picked a few of the clover stems and dropped them in her lap. One at a time, she twisted them together, a long-latent activity her mother had taught her early in her childhood. When the chain was completed, she held it up and looked scornfully at it.
"Some shieldmaiden you are now," she said. With a disgusted snort, Éowyn tossed her handiwork to the ground.
She was restless. Admittedly, patience had never been a trait for which she was known, but this endless waiting made her all the more irritable. Perhaps she would return to the stateroom that the young Steward had shown her the day before. Meduseld had many glorious hangings, but they paled in comparison to the procession of portraits that lined the walls in this massive hall. Faramir had taken his time, explaining the background of the men featured in each frame. Éowyn had been taken aback by his depth of description of his forebears, and felt no small amount of pride in revealing to him her knowledge of Eorl when they came to Cirion's portrait.
Faramir had paused to elaborate both on his namesake, but also that of his father. Denethor the First stood regally, his auburn hair lifted in a breeze and an elegant stone city behind him.
"That was Osgiliath before its end," Faramir had explained, his expression rueful. "He was the last Steward to rule there; it was overrun and destroyed by uruks sent to task from Mordor. At that time Minas Tirith became the primary stronghold of Gondor, though others went further and joined those in Dol Amroth. It was there, by the sea, where my mother and her kin lived."
Éowyn was struck by the softening of his tone, already aware that his mother had died when Faramir was young.
"I believe she missed her home, and the gulls' cries, very much."
Éowyn had nodded. "There can be much grief in life."
Faramir had paused, weighing his words.
"And yet there can be beauty amid despair."
Alone now in the garden, Éowyn reconsidered his phrase, looking about her at the unstoppable fecundity. Was this despair that she felt? No, surely that heart spearing rush had crashed on her only as she saw her uncle fall before her. This that she endured was more deadly, a futility that seeped ever more deeply into her marrow. Would that she had her sword, its fine craftsmanship mere detritus on the sea of carnage below. Any piece of arms could suffice now. She clenched and opened her fist in agitation, willing Béma himself to cast down a weapon from the steel skies, a sturdy sword hilt into her open palm.
Béma- immortal horseman and defender of her people. Where was the huntsman in these foul days? Show me you are not lost, she pleaded inwardly. Bring forth a sign of hope.
Éowyn cast her silent lament to flight, her attentions so focused on their journey that she started as the Steward's compassionate voice spoke behind her.
"Lady Éowyn."
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-22 10:35 pm (UTC)I have a question though -- I have always been confused by the Uruks. I thought that they were created by Sarumann, not Sauron? *longs to be home to go look up LOTR canon*
Am almost done with the beta -- hope to be done tonight or tomorrow! *hugs*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-22 11:06 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 02:39 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 02:50 am (UTC)'bout those uruks...
Date: 2005-07-23 02:38 am (UTC)In the last days of Denethor I the race of uruks, black orcs of great strength, first appeared out of Mordor, and in 2475 they swept across Ithilien and took Osgiliath.
If Saruman made some, apparently there were already some further south. Okay, have now found on page 436 that the Uruk-hai (different from your generic uruk™) are the ones that Saruman made/tinkered with:
"We are the fighting Uruk-hai! […] We are the servants of Saruman the Wise…
Yes, I'm anal- just glad that you checked me as others (like
Thanks so much for the beta- I can't believe you're doing that for me if you're away from home!! ::is grateful::
(and thank you for the nice comment about the ficlet. I'm afraid it's a one-shot.)
Re: 'bout those uruks...
Date: 2005-07-23 02:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-22 11:01 pm (UTC)Honestly, I can't remember what I've suggested to you before, what you've recc'ed to me, etc., but here are some lovelies that fit your bill, IMHO:
* "Mercy, Pity, Peace" by JulieFortune. (If you don't have time for the whole thing, though I do recommend it, skip to Part 5 and read the present-day sections for some amazing scenes. R/S, great Snape, and great Seamus Finnegan.
* "Faded Laughter Against Her Ear" by Mary Borsellino. Super short. A must must must read. Trust me. R/S.
* "The Past is Mine" by Cenori. R/S. Lovely.
* "Forever" by Josan. S/D. More poignant than ever.
I'll shut up now. :)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 02:42 am (UTC)I'm so excited about the package, too. ♥
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 02:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-22 11:08 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 02:42 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 12:38 am (UTC)I'm so crushing on your Faramir.
not able to rec stuff for you cos I haven't read any fic (besides canon!) for a long time.
re the mont blanc pen - ooooooh-ah. that's been one of my 'things' for years, the notion of a mont blanc pen. mmmmm. hope it proves to be an inspiring companion as you create.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 02:45 am (UTC)Aw, thank you. I'm afraid I'll get too sappy if it goes any further. I mean, I realize that things do work out for them, but part of what I love about all of the Houses of Healing stuff is that she's still pining for Aragorn the whole time, and I like playing up her frustration. But I'm so glad that you like it. And thanks for the Faramir comment- I'm afraid I don't have him doing all that much, but perhaps so much the better.
I felt almost guilty that I had a mont blanc before you, knowing how fond you are of them. I, too, hope that it brings inspiration for years to come. If you see anything from me in turquoise ink, you'll know which pen it was! ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-25 04:12 am (UTC)don't you dare feel guilty about that! *wags admonishing finger at you* am v pleased that you've got one to play with and can't wait to see the turquoise-inked products of The Pen. :)
beta partway done. sorry for delay - got caught up on weekend. I'm doing a copyediting-type beta as well as story arc/character stuff. hope that's ok. well, you know how
incredibly analattentive I am about this kind of thing. :P(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-25 09:17 pm (UTC)incredibly analattentive I am about this kind of thing. :POh yes. Thank you so much for taking the time to do so! I've already gotten some really helpful comments from
And I did write you a letter, but I had heaps to say, so it's computer-done. But there will be turquoise ink coming to you! :D
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-23 03:21 am (UTC)i'm too late to rec anything for tonight, but if you are looking for more, let me know, i've got a few shorter pieces i adore.
hope my beta was of some use.
((hugs))
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-24 08:43 pm (UTC)Thank you so much- and yes, your beta is definitely of some use. I can't believe the Fred & George mistake! ACK! And I'll think about the alliterative names… I don't mean for them to be annoying. But yes, your beta was most helpful, even if not line by line.
And I'd love some other recs; I'm determined not to stay up too late tonight, but I wouldn't mind some more reading.
(((hugs)))
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-24 11:59 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-25 09:18 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-25 07:34 am (UTC)have i ever rec'ed lettered to you? i know i did in general, but don't know if you read it. entire fic is a series of letters. beautiful h/d (http://archive.skyehawke.com/story.php?no=4661&PHPSESSID=91caae8c0e820f6b5d66466ba08e0072)
i guess that is the only thing i have to recommend past the stuff i mentioned earlier. most of what i read isn't really your style.
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-25 09:31 pm (UTC)We do read a lot of stuff in common... but perhaps not a whole lot, since I'm still not the major H/D person you are. Though I'll always read anything you recommend. :)
:::loves:::
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-24 03:20 am (UTC)Is it weird that I have never heard of a Mont Blanc pen? But given my habit of chewing every pen that I hold, having an expensive pen would be the most annoying thing EVER. I *must* be able to chew as I write! I need a sugar quill.
Can't wait to hear The Decemberists after your comment ('I would like to crawl inside this guy's voice and live there.').
It's very sexy and comfortable and soothing to me for some reason. And his songs all tell these weird stories. I really should find out what his name is. *laughs*
(no subject)
Date: 2005-07-24 08:47 pm (UTC)Thank you so much! I'd missed writing about her, too. And this morning, in church of all places, things began falling into place about a second Tolkien/HP crossover (though I definitely need to finish
You wouldn't want to chew on a Mont Blanc. Too expensive. But if I could buy you sugar quills, I sure would. :D