Happy birthday!

[altariel]

Happy birthday, Dwimordene! I hope you have a lovely day and a smashing year.

Your birthday drabble request: "I realize that it can be tough to write an AU in only 100 words, but for my birthday, I'd like to see you give it a shot."

So here you go, a little piece of birthday cheer!

The Power Behind the Throne

Taking it had been a kindness. The Ring-bearer had struggled at first but had soon become peaceful. That peace had settled upon all Gondor now, like frost.

With the bridge retaken, his father was ready to hear his counsel, and the new king too listened when he told him how he might win their war. The South and the East – and the North – paid homage to the West. Everyone listened, now.

But the White Tree did not blossom here, nor could the winter sun warm all of the new-laid marble and stone. This was not Minas Anor, as of old.

Comments

[toft-froggy.livejournal.com]

Woo, that gave me the chills. "The peace had settled, like frost" - that's a brilliant line.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Glad you like! :-D

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-)

[fallingtowers.livejournal.com]

*shivers*

I am wondering now, who it was that took the Ring from Frodo. Boromir or perhaps his brother...?

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I know who I was writing it to be, but it's open to interpretation.

[greylin.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! This is delicious. I've never known the word peaceful to be so sinister before!

I think it's probably Faramir, as he thinks of the taking of the Ring as a kindness which would be rather in line with his gentle nature - and it seems significant that his father is ready to listen to his counsel, which was perhaps always less of a problem for Boromir. And would there even BE a new king if Boromir had taken the Ring ...?

Minas Anor, as of old - oh, that's Faramir. :)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Minas Anor, as of old - oh, that's Faramir. :)

Bingo! :-)

[applegnat.livejournal.com]

Oooh, gorgeous.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :-)

[edge-of-ruin.livejournal.com]

*Brrrrr!* Absolutely chilling. Time to light the fire.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Denethor burns things, Faramir freezes.

[makamu]

This story gives me chills of both the good and the bad kind- because I read this as being Faramir and this makes the very twisted kind of Ringish sense :)

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Twisted and Ringish - yes, I like that! Glad you enjoyed :-)

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

I had at first assumed that it was Boromir, but have been convinced by the arguments advanced for it being Faramir.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked! I wrote it as Faramir, but I think Boromir works perfectly well.

[lame-pegasus.livejournal.com]

Oh dear. Thank God that this is an AU. It makes my heart freeze.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

*offers you blankets and hot water bottle!*

[(Anonymous)]

Ooh. I missed this whilst on vacation, otherwise, I would've responded sooner.

So, the second son finally gets his due as counselor and power behind the throne. Perfect! Chilling in style, theme, and substance, and what a last line! What a perversion of that wish in Two Towers, to see Minas Tirith revered for its ancientry and beauty, and to be Minas Anor once more.

Thank you, Una!

Dwim

[altariel.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I hope you had a good holiday and a lovely day yesterday xx

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I'm probably just repeating everyone else, but the peace/frost line is brilliantly chilling and very unsettling. You've truly conveyed the AU in the 100 words.

I also like the line 'Everyone listened, now.' How tempting that must have been! It sounds very much like the dark side of the INFJ? Do you read Faramir as INFJ?

The last paragraph also makes me think of Narnia - always winter and never Christmas.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I hadn't thought of Narnia, but that's quite right, isn't it? Frosted steel!

I do indeed read Faramir as INFJ (all that 'reading the hearts of men'), and this is definitely 'When INFJs Go Bad'. I'm glad you liked it :-)

[carin2222.livejournal.com]

Great drabble! I knew, it is Faramir!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And you're quite right!

MEFA awards 2009 winner!

[greylin.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on first place with this fabulous drabble! Richly deserved. :)

Re: MEFA awards 2009 winner!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you!