I so loved the Dol Guldur chapter! "That fellow Khamûl" with a sharp eye for details and his flu! And orc fangirls! Great fun. Cheers, Gordis

Author's Response: Wow, thank you! I hope you like the other chapters as well.

I liked the whole story. You use the meager data in the Appendix A quite aptly - your rendition of the battle of Fornost is quite believable. I like how you depict relationship of the father and the son - no fluffiness at all, but their mutual love still shines through. And the homecoming is sweet!
How about moving on to the events of 2000-2002 and tell how Gondor lost Minas Ithil? *wink-wink*… Cheers, Gordis

Author's Response: Thanks! I tried to avoid clichées while handling the family relationships, but I fear the romance between Ereg and Riliel is still a little sugary. I may rewrite some of it later. In the homecoming scene I tried to close the circle started in Defenders, so to speak. As for Minas Ithil, why not? I actually originally thought about it, Ereg\'s grandson as the main hero, but I think it would be best to change that. I have free time until next Monday and already have started the story. After that, though, I may concentrate for some time on writing of something else than soldiers.

Another great story, Formegil. Loved your description of shining Minas Ithil and your account of the battle. I am sure more is to come.
No, we have no exact dates for the siege: only 2000-2002. The shorter it is, the more plausible, IMO - because how come Gondor didn't send an army to deliver the city in 2 full years?
I recommend this thread here:
http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=13459

Author's Response: Thank you for reviewing! There will be one more chapter to this story. I have assumed that the siege began in spring 2000 (the usual opening of \"warring season\" in Middle Ages) and ended at late autumn 2002. A possible reason for lack of delivering attempt is the size of the enemy army. Blocking all roads to Minas Ithil the Witch-King would have made the attempt very perilous, a possible major defeat to Eärnil would have opened the rest of Gondor for the enemy. But this is only assumption. I\'ll check the thread you mentioned.

Very well written drabble, Elfhild! I like it - Gordis.

Author's Response: Thank you for your kind words. :) Sorry for the delay in responding.

Wow - isn't that intriguing? Very captivating description of the main character and the fortune-telling. I can't wait to see what happens next - Gordis

Author's Response: Thank you for reviewing! I did a little research in the fortune-telling before writing this. It felt that it would be a suitable profession for an ex-thief and ex-fraud. Somehow felt I felt it would be a good idea to give the main character a somewhat unusual occupation.

Wow! what an unexpected turn of events!

Author's Response: Well, not to spoil anything, this not the last of that kind....

Great descriprion of the storm. Loved it.

As for the last chapter, it reminds me of John Silver and Jim in the apple-barrel... Mind you, it is no criticism; a good plot-twist is always great, even if it was done before. Post more, please!

Author's Response: Thanks for your review! I must admit that the resemblance of the scenes is intentional. Stevenson's Treasure Island was one of my favourite books when I was a boy. I had already decided that there would be a mutiny aboard the Sea-Eagle, and after reading Treasure Island after many years' pause I decided to adapt the apple-barrel scene to my story, as a sort of homage to Stevenson for hours of enjoyment with his book. I think I should have mentioned this in my story notes. But as I wrote all the dialogue etc. myself and took only the general setting, I think it can be counted as a literary influence, not plagiarism. Good to see you, too, see it so.

Ahh, so they have acquired a worthy new companion. Something tells me they won't be able to give her a slip anytime soon (he-he!) Seems a bit strange that a woman would travel alone, but then again in 1304 Cardolan was still a prosperous, safe land. Yet in the borderlands along the Great Road that may change. Is there war with Arthedain or Rhudaur at the time?
Your hobbits are delightful and very hobbit-y. Uninteresting objects for a fortune teller.
Cheers,Gordis

Author's Response: Well, Gutrune certainly won't be easy to get rid of. And we'll see soon if one of the brothers even wants that... As for the political situation, I'm going to write it so that there's much tension and bad blood, but not an open war. In general I've planned to present the situation so that Angmar's power is still relatively weak, but already felt and steadily growing at the time period of the story. Nice you liked Sigebert and his family. That sequence was actually quite a random idea out of the blue, but it fit into its place and it was mildly amusing to write, so I included it.

Uh, pretty horrible!

Author's Response: Hmm, I guess I should take it you mean the events, not the writing ;)

OWW- what a twist! Our robbers got robbed...funny.

Author's Response: Yeah, Gutrune wasn't so sweet and nice after all. Soon we'll see how our heroes react, and I promise they are not going to just accept the theft calmly.