Galadriel too, but I’m glad she’s not here – though I can’t even explain why I dislike her, and it might change after I re-read the book.

Sorry for dumping such a difficult prompt on your head, dear. But like I told you in private, I’m glad it fell into your capable hands :-) (Gah, what a mixture of metaphors!)

Tal—I’m glad you liked it, as it wasn’t really a story, more like a mood piece. I was very worried about it, mostly for that reason. I like having Eomer there, and both helpless and terribly dangerous.
I do think that Faramir and Aragorn would be the holdouts, partly because of their personalities and partly because of what they are to Gondor, especially with everyone else gone. Who were the only two to reject the Ring, even though tempted?

I finally allowed myself to read the stories (on account of finishing to write my own), and obviously I came to this one first.

Bell, wow! Just what I wanted. It’s stunning. The white/black robes really set the tone for the entire piece – it’s such a powerful concept, both visually and metaphorically. You crafted a truly dark and hopeless world, both through the daily details and the mention of off-screen past atrocities. The use you’ve made of Éomer’s character is brilliant.

Of all LOTR figures, I truly believe that Aragorn and Faramir would be the last to cling to sanity and hope in such darkness – and you got that across masterfully. Thank you!

I really liked this. It is very neatly but powerfully done!

A very powerful, tantalizing piece—the opening with the focus on the clothing and what that means serves as an image for the rest, and the shifting points of view are very well done. The image of hope even in the darkest period is beautifully conveyed.

Thank you, ebbingnight. I like my Faramir strong, even in adversity. Aragorn is Middle-earth’s only hope, but he still needs someone to get him in place. I really don’t know how it would end, if it came to that. I never intended for it to get that far. Am glad you don’t think it needs more.

Normally, I’d be hoping for a sequel, but this is quite perfect as it stands: right on the knife-edge between hope and despair. Your Faramir is strong and cunning, reminiscent of Denethor at his best, and we can only trust that Aragorn is equally unyielding under that “broken” facade in order to make this desperate venture against Sauron succeed. There is, truly, nothing left to lose now.