crack_van | Hands of the King (Adult)

Fandom: LORD OF THE RINGs
Pairing:Denethor/Finduilas, Thorongil/Finduilas
Length: War & Peace, but much more interesting
Author on LJ: N/A
Author Website: Henneth Annun

Why this must be read:

Ecthelion is favoring an unknown army captain - maybe for high political position. Denethor needs to marry and produce an heir, but can't find anyone suitable. Finduilas is finally in Minas Tirith, but her weak health strikes again. While families take sides in a silent, subtle political battle that will determine who wields the power in Gondor for the next hundred years, Orcs terrorize Ithilien, Corsairs plot a devastating blow against Gondor and the Shadow strikes terror into the hearts of men.

The way that Denethor and Thorongil interact is amazing and believable. Both sides are treated with compassion and sympathy. I love how Anglachel has portrayed Thorongil. He isn't the experienced, world-weary ranger we meet in Lord of the Rings. But he will be, and Anglachel shows one step on that road. I especially love Anglachel's Denethor. This is a man who could hold a land together while the world crumbles. This is a man who would turn to anything in order to save his people. This the man of determination and despair, of great capabilities and great faults, that we meet in the trilogy.

The detail in this story is amazing. They move the story along and pull it together, turning Tolkien's world into a land of people with a history. The tales of the Eldar and the Valar feel real in these stories, and are treated as we treat history today. The multiple plots are intense and well-crafted, even by professional standards. This is a Gondor that ruled the world. This is MiddleEarth in glory and despair.

Hands of the King