Re: The Gift of Men -- The Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman Fan Exchange

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Date Posted: 01:49:50 02/27/03 Thu
Author: SB
Subject: Re: The Gift of Men
In reply to: Sue 's message, "The Gift of Men" on 19:25:18 02/26/03 Wed

Sue, I'm so glad you liked it. I had reservations too! I don't know if you're familiar with the Luke Skywalker/Mara Jade saga in Star Wars books and comics. It's the butt of lots of sarcasm because she begins by wanting to kill him to avenge the Emperor and ends up marrying him!!! �:D

Actually I had envisioned a slower development of the story, then I picked up the Chronology and realized I had only 7 days or so to fit it in. And I had to do you-know-what at the end, especially to make room for you-know-who, but also to prevent myself from writing anything more... this latest fictional crush is getting so absorbing that I forgot to eat yesterday while I was posting the story! �:D I'm sorry because poor Faramir after this is really an emotional wreck in TTT, which however, I think, could explain his coldness in the movie. I think this is what attracted me, trying to see the man behind that icy appearance and the reasons for it.

Exactly, Faramir feels no self-pity, he simply acknowledges a fact and in that moment he is pushed to say all the truth. You said it perfectly: Boromir was extroverted, Faramir wasn't. I can even imagine Boromir trying to push his beloved little brother in the limelight to share his success, but Faramir would have refused. I have read some stories (I'm not sure where but they were not memorable) in which Boromir too despises Faramir. Absolutely not, I made sure to explain in the story that Boromir adored him, which makes Faramir's loss so much more painful; and it's beautiful to imagine Boromir during FOTR worried and thinking about his little brother left at home, whom of course he keeps seeing as a boy even though he is a Captain of Gondor in his own right! I think it is fairly logical that there could be a woman between them (I won't dwell on the imagery that this words conjure to my mind...) It is probable that Boromir had a noble and beautiful fianc�e to carry on the Steward's line, and that Faramir, admiring him and all that he did, ended up loving her.

So you confirm that Tolkien calls the Dark Lord "He". I wasn't sure. I think he even calls sometimes Shelob "She", with a capital S. I have the book here but I found no instances on a quick search, but I did have this feeling. Sauron is indeed a higher being because he is a Maia, an angelic creature just below the Valar, but then again so is Gandalf.

I'm not 100% sure about the beliefs of Middle-Earth regarding the afterlife. I may have made a mistake referring to the "Halls of Waiting", and I should just call it "Halls of Mandos". For what I gathered from Aragorn and Arwen's story, Elves and Men all go to the Halls of Mandos, but in different places, and nobody knows where exactly Men go. Elves instead go to the Halls of Waiting because in theory they could be reincarnated. But I'm a bit muddy on this.

Yes, I made the men really shocked by the Nazgul because it's night and it's the first time they see one or even hear of one. I was a bit doubtful on this too, because I imagined a war-time situation in extreme conditions but Tolkien's character, even minor ones, never soil their pants! I was even in doubt about Faramir yawning and stretching. Hobbits do, but noble Men of Gondor usually don't. �:D

What happens during the last night? One thing is sure, Tolkien's characters never rush into bed. Regardless of my personal feelings towards Faramir, which could lead me to imagine a night of passion, I think it would be perfectly believable and Tolkien-like if they spent the night just resting together and reminiscing and making plans about the future (sniffle). That's why I left it unsaid. Imagining them taking some kind of private marriage vows so that their passion is legitimate is a bit corny, though I did partly intend it that way. It may be that Faramir has to be sure that her father wouldn't object to them mainly to assuage his mind and be free to feel love for her, not necessarily to feel authorized to be her lover. I don't know, it's open to interpretations!

Once again thanks, and it's wonderful you too want to write something more about LOTR! Your first story was great. I can't wait to see what you do with the Nazgul!

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