Henneth Annûn Story Archive

That was beautiful, poignant, and... well... there was just something so penetrating about the way you told your story. It touched me in ways I can't even begin to explain. And the way you explored Faramir's character was indeed profound.

This story is a gem! Thank you for sharing it.

Violin Ghost / Alastiel

This is a very beautifully written story, and just as moving on the second reading as it was on the first. Your portrayal of Aragorn is particularly rich - how exhausted he is in the aftermath of a week of constant tension and battle, how he wants nothing so much as to just close his eyes and rest for a moment, and how unquestioningly he accepts his responsibilities when reminded of the adage, "The hands of the king are the hands of a healer."

The imagery of Faramir, wandering helpless in the desert of his feverish mind, beset with the demons of guilt and despair, is very powerful. I'm not generally one for religious allegory (and I'm not even sure of how much you meant, here) but the arrival of Aragorn, ready to absolve Faramir for his imagined sins, and take up his burden, is a tremendously moving moment in the story. The scent of athelas brings refreshment to the body and spirit, a breath of saving grace and peace for all in need, and the scent of hope for all the people of Minas Tirith.