Seasons of the Ring - Linda Hoyland

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Title: Seasons of the Ring

Author Name: Linda Hoyland

Prompt: Four Seasons


The Seasons by George Hodan
http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=26731&picture=the-four-seasons


Summary: Faramir lives though a fateful year

Rating: PG

Warnings: none

Beta: Raksha

Author's Notes: A set of four drabbles. This was my second choice of prompt to sign up for, so I thought I'd write it anyway.

Disclaimer: The characters are the property of the Tolkien Estate. No profit has been, nor will be made from this story.

Autumn came early that fateful year, without its habitual blaze of colour. The leaves turned brown and withered ere October was out, blighted by Mordor’s  foul poisons. With every day that passed, Faramir’s heart grew heavier, while his father’s mood grew ever darker. The weeks passed, and with them, their hope, for no news of Boromir reached Minas Tirith.

“It was a fool’s errand,” Denethor said darkly.

“It should have been mine,” Faramir replied.

“I would not have your head turned further with riddles,” said the Steward.

A cold wind blew through the Citadel as the year approached its ending.

0000

It was a hard winter. The sun rarely broke through the leaden skies while the east wind chilled the bones of the Ithilien Rangers.

Mettarë passed without mirth. Boromir’s absence was keenly felt by all.

One February night, Faramir beheld his brother once more. He hardly knew whether he were in the world of dreaming or waking when the funeral boat glided past his eyes ‘neath the silver moon and twinkling stars.

Real though, without doubt, was the cloven horn yielded up by the river. Darkest dreams became reality. Faramir wept, as did his father. They did not weep together.

0000

Spring brought no relief. The very earth seemed blighted by the Shadow’s tightening grip. Denethor sat silent, the shattered horn held in his hands. The Enemy struck hard and fast. An arrow felled Faramir. His father fell by fire. All hope seemed forsaken.

Then Hope returned, Elendil’s heir borne of the wind from the sea. A star shone upon his brow and healing was in his hands.

Faramir awoke from deathly slumber and recognised his King. Reborn, with strength renewed, he dared again to dream.

Eagles sang the yearned for tidings. The Ring was destroyed and with it, Sauron’s might.

0000

Summer rushed in, riotous in green and gold array. Sunlight bathed Gondor in a golden glow of endless days. Life sprung up abundantly, birds sang in every blossom- laden tree. Faramir too found abundance, the fairest maiden’s hand, a princely diadem and Gondor’s rod of rule.

The King had returned, the summer king, the Renewer. The White Tree bloomed again and Faramir walked beneath it, inhaling the scent of sweet blossoms carried on the western breeze.

Boromir would not return, but the land he loved would flourish. Faramir was well content to walk beneath the unshadowed sun with his lady.

Comments

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

I'm in awe of anyone who can say so much in so few words. And using Faramir as your *voice* was inspired. There was such fall and winter in his life before he found spring again - he's the perfect setting for these little gems, making them shine all the brighter!

Wonderful!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm delighted you enjoyed these drabbles.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Such beautiful turns of phrase, and carrying so much meaning at that. This is a gorgeous drabble-set, and I love that you made the progression of the seasons end on a high note.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.

[jenn-calaelen.livejournal.com]

Lovely view of Faramir. The imagery seems really true to his character.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

These were very nicely written! Thank you for sharing :)

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[elliska.livejournal.com]

Faramir's POV of the seasons and the events they brought that particular year is an outstanding idea for a response to this prompt and you wrote it well. Very simple, but very powerful moments.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much.I'm delighted you enjoyed these drabbles so much!

[independence1776]

I like this!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

[hhimring]

The "summer king" seems very fitting for Aragorn. The seasonal imagery was already in Tolkien, to some extent, but you have made good use of it!

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I'm pleased you liked these drabbles.

[kittotter.livejournal.com]

I like how you've woven the mood of that fateful year into each of the seasons! It gives me a fresh way to look at the story.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

You summed up Faramir's thread in LotR in a series of drabbles ... I'm in awe. These are so beautiful with so many gorgeous turns of phrase and they tie perfectly to their seasons as we're carried from the fading of the year through to the joy of summer. Thank you, this was lovely.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm delighted these worked so well for you. I almost chose this picture for my compilation prompt and the idea I had lingered in my mind.

[astris-eldalie.livejournal.com]

I love the way you convey the feeling of all four seasons so well, and the voice you've given Faramir is excellent. I especially liked the hopefulness of the last line!

[ysilme]

This works so very well, juxtaposing the seasons with the story of the Ring War. Your characterisations of diminishing hope and rising gloom until the seeming end, to be reborn in new hope and growth, by the examples of these characters work wonderfully.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm pleased this worked for you.

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

Very nice use of the seasonal motifs through Faramir's POV, and the photos work quite well with the drabbles.

...the summer king, the Renewer.

Good description there! There's something timeless about "the summer king," and it connects neatly with similar expressions in our primary world.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I'm pleased you liked these.

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, a year told so well. Along with the losses known have come findings that cannot replace brother and father, but can still tie one in joy to Middle Earth and to bring rejoicing and thankfulness in their wake.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. That is very true.