Really beautiful story

Loved it. From beginning to end. Just lovely. Although I feel a little tricked by the M-rating, I cannot find it in me to complain. It felt like a true writer flexing his muscles and it was marvelous. I wish there were more fanfictions like that out there.

Love,
Mag

Fabulous story! 3

This one has definitely been my favorite of yours so far. I ACTUALLY CRIED READING IT. Bravo.

Re-read this story when I came upon a post on your Tumblr blog. It is as delightful now as it was then.

Amazing story! It was a nice idea to see the attempts -successful or failed- in working their relationship after the marriage and the fears each one had about the other and their expectations. Lothiriel was trying to reach him, while Eomer didn't let anything out, until when things got so much worse, Gytha's obvious advice- to open up- changed everything, as husband and wife and as rulers. They have found love and trust and companionship and created a nice family.

Thank you for a very enjoyable story.

It's nice

Beautiful story. Love it.

Thank you. Don't stop writing!

Finally caught up! I am sorry for going dark for a while- life got crazy. Thank you for the story. I am glad that they finally were able to sort out their problems, and I like the ending of chapter 7, where Lothiriel decides to talk more later. Marriages take work- there is no silver bullet.

Excellent story. Well done.

Hey,

I haven't written a review about your fics in a while, but I followed them very seriously. I guess I'm posting one now because 1) I have two exams tomorrow and I'm procrastinating 2) Your Tumblr reblog kinda reminded me of it.

This is the first time in this pairing (or almost in any pairing really) that the notion of power is so central. I love it. And I think - let's be honest here - a want for power is a pretty common reason to marry a King you've just met, so it's surprising it does not come more often in arranged marriage scenarios.

I also loved that Eomer remained mysterious for so long. It gives him a kind of Darcy-vibe (I'm reading fics from the Pride and Prejudice fandom atm) : it's not contempt he's feeling, he's just socially inept, in a good way.

But, I guess I was missing some feels on Lothiriel's side. She never felt very much in love to me (but maybe that's because I'm comparing to ALWR). She's attracted to him, she wants his good opinion, but does she love him ? I think I expected, in connection to the want for more power, more conflict between her ambition and the devastating weakness of falling in love with someone who probably does not love you back. I got a hint of that conflict when she's considering giving up on herself in the end - to just stop trying to be recognized and live the rest of her days in Meduseld like some piece of furniture. But for me, she wasn't considering that out of love - more because she's understandably tired of trying. It's the same thing when she's mad and sad at the same time, I don't think this is a lover's sadness (but a very interesting sadness nonetheless, much more in fact, because it felt very real and it's difficult to write about such things - much more difficult than saying X is sad because Y does not love her or because Y is dead. I really loved to see her affected by something much more common - a feeling of failure).

What I liked about this part it that it seemed like some depression on her side to me ? Like you're hinting it in your writing, it's very subtle and I love it. Once again I find it very realistic. And when you think she's giving up, she's on that edge, she wakes up, she plans to leave, she takes action. Maybe I'm reading to much into this but once again, this feels exactly like someone goes out of a depression. You've been at the bottom for quite some time and suddenly you have this "it's now or I give up" feeling, and you make a decision.

In any case, I don't mind her not being madly in love with him. It's not unrealistic in such a short time, plus it is a nice change. But it came as quite a contrast to Eomer's feelings in the 7th chapter, who kinda took me by surprise. He seemed in love with her from the beginning (and for some reason I find love at first sight disappointing). But in the 8th chapter it is clear that this isn't the case, that he fell in love later with her (at the stream). In short I would have wanted them both not quite in love already but failing for each other or be a bit more reassured about Lothiriel's feelings. Because I'm a bit worried for both their sakes.

So, I really liked your story. I hope you're not offended by anything I've written in this review. English is not my first language, so it's hard for me to convey what I really want to say. I'm very glad you have a new story started already :)

I like this one very much

I know but this was so gorgeous and glad it ended on a happy note!