For caras_galadhon: Denethor/Thorongil, PG-13

[just_ann_now]

Title: If Ever
Author: Annmarwalk
A Gift for caras_galadhon. Happy holidays, Galadriel!
Characters: Denethor/ Thorongil
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Not mine, merely borrowed.

Comments

[caras_galadhon]

Oh, Ann. I knew without looking that I was in for some stellar storytelling, just by virtue of your name being on the story, and I absolutely was not disappointed. *hugs tight* I was actually quite surprised by the pairing, as it was the one I asked for that I assumed would be least likely to be chosen, so this is a fantastic double surprise!

Your description of Thorongil is amazing, and so spot on, right down to the sound of his voice--
His voice is tinged with a hint of the rough vowels of the North, interspersed with a softer, more gracious speech, the origin of which escapes me, yet echoes through my mind like a barely-remembered dream.
--The image/sound of it is so strong, I can almost hear it. I also love how Denethor has so obviously studied Thorongil; I like the fact that you could chalk it up to his soldiering skills coming into play, but that the story unfolds to make it very, very clear that no, Denethor has a deeper obsession with the interloper.

When it is my turn I stumble, cursing my previous distraction, for it was

[just_ann_now]

Thank you so much for the heartwarming words. For some reason, I found this very difficult to write - the temptation to write too much rambling detail (very unusual in me, as you well know) warred with Denethor's inborn reticence, his ability to hold himself cool and still. I'm really glad that side of him won out in the end.

I got this assignment right after I had posted your birthday story, and I continued to intrigued by something Boromir had said there: My desires follow the darker path. How much would he have learned from his father, disgust and contempt for those who follow that path, and how much did it pain him to eventually choose it for himself, risking his father's love?

[aprilkat]

What an elegantly written piece! There is something so compelling in Denethor's rejection of the "dark" in himself, especially as we know how far he falls into the darkness through his own pride and clinging to his own idea of honour.

And, of course, the irony of Thorongil being the one man who could demand his submission. (The way you write Thorongil's seeming surrender in attitude gives me a frisson, as I am sure that Denethor sees it somehow as a weakness, and it seems to inflame Denethor's wish to dominate.)

I have to say that I have never read this pairing, so I find it quite a fascinating idea; you present so many potential layers here.

[just_ann_now]

Thank you, aprilkat, for the kind words. I've never written this pairing before; it's interesting to see the various takes alex_quine, slashfairy, and I each came up with.

Alex's world-weary dilettante Denethor, who seems to have seduced Thorongil almost out of boredom, is almost as frightening as slashfairy's dark, ominous voice, taunting and haunting Thorongil with nightmares and dreamscapes of lust and degradation. My own poor, rigidly upstanding Denethor, seems quite mild mannered in comparison! But I feel for him,poor man, as he desperately fights against loss of control, which is his greatest fear.

[talullahred]

Lovely tale. I like your Denethor a lot and how we see Thorongil through his eyes. You have a wonderful way with words.

[just_ann_now]

*blushes* Thank you very much!

I'm a short-form writer: 500 words were quite a stretch for me. I've learned to be very particular in the words I choos. I'm very glad this worked for you.

[just_ann_now]

I'm usually particular about the way I spell the words, too. Sorry!

[mrkinch]

Beautiful. I especially like "I am the Steward’s Heir; no one less than the King Returned could deny me that title." *shivers*

[just_ann_now]

Thank you! It is quite chilling to imagine what a reunion between those two would have been like.

[half_elf_lost]

I really enjoy how you make Denethor the careful viewer of details, right down to the crafting of Thorongil's weaponry and gear, then his voice. You've written a thoughtful and intelligent man.

[just_ann_now]

As a commander, he would certainly need to study any new officer closely; as a strategist, he would need to study his enemy as well. As a poor lovesick fool, like the rest of us, of course he would want to study the object of his affection lust as much as possible! So he has many good reasons to stare. I suppose it's just his facial expression that he would need to control; he's certainly learned to do that.

Glad you enjoyed this! It was hell to write (but worth it all in the end.)