Message-ID: <37645asstr$1028362203@assm.asstr-mirror.org> Return-Path: From: LadyCyrrh@aol.com X-Original-Message-ID: <139.12391d22.2a7c2fee@aol.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-ASSTR-Original-Date: Fri, 2 Aug 2002 14:56:46 EDT Subject: {ASSM} {REVIEW} The Annex Reviews, 8/2/02 - Whore to the Rings 1/2 X-Original-Subject: The Annex Reviesw, 8/2/02 - Whore to the Rings 1/2 Date: Sat, 3 Aug 2002 04:10:03 -0400 Path: assm.asstr-mirror.org!not-for-mail X-Is-Review: yes Approved: Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories.moderated,alt.sex.stories,alt.sex.stories.d Followup-To: alt.sex.stories.d X-Archived-At: X-Moderator-Contact: ASSTR ASSM moderation X-Story-Submission: X-Moderator-ID: gill-bates, dennyw The Annex Reviews, 8/2/02 by Lady Cyrrh (ladycyrrh@aol.com) Website: http://members.aol.com/ladycyrrh Special Annex Review, Part 1 of 2 Whore to the Rings: Tolkien Fanfic on the Net I'm devoting this posting of the Annex Reviews to Lord of the Rings slash. Why? While reviewing the Ansereg fanfic site (which I'll be posting later) I realized I needed a point of comparison, and since I've seen the movie, and loved the books, I figured why not. And since it's the only fandom I can relate to as both a critic and a true fan, I will bringing the perspectives of both to my critiques... unlike most fanfic, where, as a casual observer of the media in question, I act as critic only. But first, a bit of history. Lord of the Rings slash is a young addition to the net, having existed for only two years. Least Expected (http://www.femgeeks.net/tolkien) was the first archive, appearing in the early part of the 2000 with a small selection of slash. I predicted that when the Peter Jackson movie was released, it would grow a lot larger. Well, that has happened, and then some. There are at east ten major archives of LotR fanfic now, dozens of mailing lists and egroups, and hundreds of writer's sites -- and that's just counting the slashy stuff. All of it has been inspired in whole or in part by the movie, which has caused countless fans both old and new to dust off old copies of the books, reread them, and start reading between the lines. I don't have to tell you how excellent the movie was... you probably know, or have heard. But unlike, say, Harry Potter (another movie-based fandom based on a book series) LotR has a treasure trove of supporting material -- thirty years of continuing interest in Tolkien has resulted in dozens of books of Middle Earth history and notes as well as many non- Tolkien reference works (such as Karen Wynn Fonstad's excellent The Atlas of Middle Earth). Let's not forget, too, the countless visual depictions from fantasy illustrators (Greg Hildebrandt springs immediately to mind) and, in the past few years, fan-created Tolkien websites dealing with esoteric subjects like Dwarvish runes and elven languages. Add to that Tolkien's constant *cultural presence* since the mid-sixties, and you can see how all of this has combined to give new inspiration for fan-penned works. However, the chief attraction for most writers is the story itself, which fairly screams for slash. The main characters are male, sympathetic, and in the movie, good-looking. There are no interfering M/F relationships save for Aragorn's and Arwen's, which is not a driving plotline for either the movie or the book, and was portrayed comparatively chastely in both. There's also the classic hurt/comfort couple of Frodo are Sam, the nature of whose relationship was clear to me even at the tender age of fourteen. Add the action-packed storyline, full of noble emotion, sacrifice, and pathos, and you have tasty ingredients for a very rich, diverse, shared-universe stew, with all the rivalries, controversies, and factions fandoms develop. Or should be rich and diverse. One of the drawbacks with movie-based fandoms, as opposed to the TV-based ones which have dominated fanfic so far, is that they are static rather than dynamic. A TV series is episodic in nature, putting the characters into new situations every week... its the universe is larger and more diverse, if not so grand in scope, as a movie's. The Star Trek and Xena/Herc universes are prime examples, providing all sorts of story threads. A writer can easily put himself or herself into the position of screenwriter, dictating that week's "episode." A movie, however, is a static universe with a definite beginning and end; one may rewrite the ending, flesh in the beginning, or 'fill in the blanks' of unclear or undepicted scenes, but one can't really springboard off it in the same way. (Unless, of course, it's a movie series such as Star Wars that has accreted other media material, such as novelizations, over the years.) Thusly, I found LotR fanfic fell into a finite number of themes. Only a very few, such as "One Dark Night," and the "Bitter Chains" series had original plotlines. Most stories dealt with 'filling in the blanks' of the book or movie material, either as slight revisions of it or speculations on what's left unsaid. Whether this is true just of the NC-17 material, or is true of all Tolkien slash, I can't say. I have a feeling the less explicit material may have more original plotlines, but I haven't investigated enough to be sure. The writing quality was on the whole very good, not surprising because of the use of beta readers these days. Most of the writers tried to imitate Tolkien's prose style, with mixed results. Usually the style is handled competently, if not completely faithfully, and added to the reader's enjoyment of the work. A few writers, such as Tyellas, impressed the hell out of me with how well they imitated the tone. Others, like Amy Fortuna and Sandcat, tried for a hybrid style combining vintage Tolkien with the modern second person detached POV most slash writers use, and this, combined with the dialogue style of the film, worked well -- it's at once archaic and immediate. Other writers seemed to cop their prose style from high fantasy books or Victorian fiction, with results that were unintendedly humorous. Some things about these stories surprised me. First was the amount of blood, rape, and gore they contained, which seems to be growing trend in the fanfic world. I was also surprised at how much of the blood and gore was sexually related, and how much of it revolved around Legolas. Of course, these observations may be due to the fact I only read slash about the human and elven characters... there may have been gentler themes in the hobbit slash, which I chose not to read. Not that I don't like hobbits, or think hobbits don't have a sex life. But my image of them from the movie and books is childlike and innocent, and I just couldn't go there. It cuts too close to kiddy porn for me. For the same reason you'll never see me reviewing Harry Potter slash. (Yes, I know I reviewed the "Harriet Hotter" series in the June reviews, but that was an obvious spoof, and the lead character was well past junior high.) I also don't have a high opinion of Rowling as a fantasy writer, but, I'll let that go for the time being. But back to Legolas. OK, his character is fascinating for a certain female type (in which I count myself) -- mysterious, exotic, oh so pretty. But, as I remember from my first reading of the trilogy as a teen, not a lot was said about him, which was frustrating to me. In the movie, too, his character wasn't really delved into. I got a feel for Elrond and Galadriel as people, but not Legolas. So I can understand fanfic writers wanting to fill in the blanks, but as the most 'feminine' of the males, it also means it's become fanon (fan-created canon) for him to be continually captured, enslaved, raped, and assaulted, sometimes by the enemy, sometimes by friends, each step taking him further and further into wussification. Of all the writers, I thought only Tyellas' 'Ansereg' stories had a good grip on his character, taking it even beyond what's in the book... confidant, slightly feral, neither aggressive nor submissive. That Legolas wouldn't be whinging and crying into his sleeve, that's for sure. He'd be out kicking some major ass. But I digress. So what makes a good LotR slashy fanfic? As a critic, my yardstick has always been that if the fanfic is interesting and readable to someone who is not a fan, or has only a passing knowledge of the fandom, it succeeds. For a long time I held to this definition. But then some fanfic writers explained to me that fanfic gains most of its power, in a literary sense, precisely *because* the reader and writer are so familiar with the material, allowing storytelling conventions unavailable in a 'cold' read where the reader doesn't know anything about the author's world before the first sentence is read, and I've come to agree with them. But then the yardstick becomes the reader's familiarity with the basic media material, and whether the reader's interpretation of it correlates with the writer's... that is, if you think one character in a pair is the obvious bottom and another the obvious top, or think male pregnancy stories are a valid artistic statement, or what your squick limits for BDSM and domestic discipline are... all sources of dissent in the largely female- dominated fanfic world, which is what makes it so interesting to me. So, speaking as an invested fan and not a casual one, my definition of a good Tolkien slash story thus becomes one of plausibility. Can the reader really see the LotR characters they know and love doing these naughty things? Has the writer gone to the pains of creating a logical setup and background for it -- complete with a Tolkienesque prose style -- or are they just indulging in the fanfic equivalent of mindless porn? Are the characters true to themselves, or are they puppets in a series of sick- fucks? **Does the writer convince me that this could have happened in a lost scene from the movie or the books?** On with the reviews. Trust (Sandcat): M/M slash, LotR semicons Reforging Ties (Brenda Antrim): M/M, slash, LotR, rape, abuse, h/c The Test (Alys): M/F, M/M slash, LotR, threeway Through Bitter Chains, Chapters 1 - 5 (Rhysenn): M/M slash, LotR, slave, semicons One Dark Night (Enros): M/M, slash, LotR, interspecial, cons In the Shadow of Tol Brandir (Sparky): M/M slash, LotR cons Untitled (Abbi): M/M slash, LotR, rape, viol, bloodplay Not Tonight (Janet Elizabeth): M/M slash, LotR cons Bondage and Discipline (Janet Elizabeth): M/M slash, LotR, spank, semicons More Than a Broken End (Amy Fortuna): M/M slash, LotR, cons, bloodplay Trust [A+] Author: Sandcat Author address: sandcat12@aol.com Where found: The Library of Moria URL: http://libraryofmoria.com/aragornboromir/trust.txt Type: M/M slash, LotR semicons The uneasy relationship between Boromir and Aragorn receives a workout in this story, which 'fills in the blanks' of what happened between them at Rivendell, before the Fellowship set forth. Aragorn wants Boromir's trust and support on the quest, and Boromir will not give it, so Aragorn makes himself vulnerable to the steward of Gondor... in effect, seducing him after a couple of drinks. The secret they share now ensures they must trust. This was an excellent story, keeping in character with both stubborn Boromir and self-sacrificing but calculating Aragorn, who is after higher ends. The sex wasn't quite seduction, or a display of vulnerability, or a semiconsensual drunken rape, but a masterfully handled combination of all three, and sufficiently complex and muddled to seem real. The prose had Tolkien's gravity but was not as distant, there was an immediacy and tension to it well suited for a bedroom scene. It *could* have happened this way, so it gets my high marks. And things are not resolved happily either, as Boromir chafes: __________________________________________________________________ They had a long and difficult journey ahead of them. [Boromir] was a warrior, and he knew how to fight an enemy he hated. But how to fight an enemy he loved? How to deal with a man he wanted to both caress and wound in the same moment? He sat wakeful until nearly dawn, pondering what to do. In the end he decided that he would keep his sentiments buried deep in his heart, alongside the pain and bitterness that dwelt there. He would only secretly acknowledge Aragorn as his brother, his lover, and his king. To speak of this was unthinkable, and he vowed he would never say the words Aragorn wanted to hear. __________________________________________________________________ A bit mooshy at the end, but I'll forgive that, as the preceding was so good. Reforging Ties [B+/B] Author: Brenda Antrim Where found: Brend Antrim's Fanfic Archive URL: http://www.bantrim.net/Reforging_Ties.htm Type: M/M slash, LotR, rape, abuse, h/c This story asks the same question several other fics I perused did: What if Legolas had been captured by the orcs at Parth Galen in addition to, or instead of, Merry and Pippin? Gripping stuff, especially in slashy hands, where rape and assault are sure to follow. Indeed it did. Lots of it... lots, described in various loving ways the Tolkienesque prose was ill-equipped to handle. The poor wood elf is tied up on the ground, beaten, whipped, and starved. He is also pissed upon by the boss orc, apparent to mark 'his' territory, an original if nauseating touch (orc piss is like acid in open wounds.) After being raped by the head orc, and having his ankles rubbed raw to the bone by ill-fitting chains, he's somehow able to rouse himself when rescue comes, fight back, and flee on those bloody exposed anklebones, to recover, dripping blood and orcish fluids from every orifice, in the arms of by Aragorn, his lover in the story. Hurt/comfort follows. Well, the intensity of this was a... wild ride, let's say, but ultimately worked against the story, as the squick factor was high even for me. Not to mention a lack of realism. Legolas should be recovering for at least a month in intensive care after all that, while in the story he's up and running after a day or two. This is put down to the extraordinary healing powers of the elves, but I don't buy it. And I don't buy it either than he'd want anal sex so soon after being torn up the rectum, or that he'd be such a passive captive of the orcs in the first place. Remember Tolkien liked resourceful characters, the best example being Bilbo Baggins' taunt of "Attercop! Attercop!" to the spiders of Mirkwood. To be fair, the story did get a lot of angsty mileage from Aragorn's reactions to Legola's capture (though he abandons the pursuit of Merry and Pippin too easily) as well as his and Gimli's witnessing of the rape they are powerless to prevent, where the voyeur/kink factor is very high. And the story did have one pearl of wisdom. When Aragorn is hesitant about having sex with Legolas so soon after he's been defiled, Legolas says, "You will only hurt me if you refuse to touch me. For then I will know I am truly despoiled." The Test [B+] Author: Alys Where found: Least Expected URL: http://www.femgeeks.net/tolkien/archive/2/thetest.html Type: M/M slash, LotR, threeway While reading these fanfics I came across several stories where some or all of the Fellowship members must undergo various trials at Rivendell to judge their suitability for the Quest. Naturally, the trials involve sex. In this case the testers are Arwen and Boromir, and the testee, Legolas. Arwen says, __________________________________________________________________ "You are proud, Prince. Ours has ever been a proud race, yet I sense pride runs deeper than usual in you. As my father has chosen you to be one of the Fellowship, I need to be sure that you will not let your pride rule your heart.... I require your complete submission to me, and your obedience to my command. This is a test, Legolas, and it will not be easy." He stared down at her, still not fully understanding. "But what would you have me do, lady?" She met his gaze. "You will see. There may be humiliation, and even a little pain. But there will also be pleasure the like of which you cannot imagine". She saw his dark eyes widen as he began to comprehend her meaning, and his fair skin flushed. Smiling slightly, Arwen took a step back. "Boromir, there is wine. Will you pour?" she asked sweetly. __________________________________________________________________ The explicit sex thus receives a plausible explanation, and I'll admit it's an original way to work D/s shenanigans into the asexual book and movie canon. The story did not have as refined a tone as the others I've read -- the prose was a sort of pseudo-Tolkien more Arthurian than Middle Earth -- but Legolas was not excessively wussified (he was self- possessed and charmingly shy) and the story was one of the rare ones in which Arwen was a major player, plus points in my book. Through Bitter Chains, Chapters 1 - 5 [A/A-] Author: Rhysenn Author address: rhysenn@singnet.com.sg Where found: Library of Moria URL: http://www.libraryofmoria.com/legolasaragorn/throughbitterchainspt 1.txt Type: M/M slash, LotR, slave, semicons This was one of the rare A/U (alternate universe) LotR fanfics I found. It takes place in a much-altered Middle Earth where the one ring remains lost and Gondor is the equivalent of the Roman Empire... decadent and declining. Boromir rules in Minas Tirith while Aragorn is but a steward keeping his true background hidden. Gandalf is around, but only as an advisor. And oh yeah, Boromir has a thing for pretty boy-elves: __________________________________________________________________ One of the hunters started to shove the elf forward, impatiently; but the other quickly hissed at him, and they both made a concerted effort to treat their prisoner less roughly. The elf's ankles were shackled with chains that chafed his smooth skin raw. He wore a tunic of dark green, the raiment of folk who dwell in forests; it hid but flattered the slim body that lay beneath, and was torn in places to reveal pale bare skin. The elf wrenched violently away from the touch of the hunters each time they tried to urge him along; he rebuked them in his own tongue, which sounded melancholic and melodious like a lament of nature. Boromir could not take his eyes away from the elf; he was entranced by his beauty, simple yet divine. He was suddenly overcome with the intense desire to have this prize for his own, whatever the cost. The sheer untamed appeal of the elf excited him, much like the thrill of embarking on war: a conquest that lay before him, which he had bent all his thought towards conquering and possessing. It was an instinctive emotion that arose within him: primal yet truthful, and singularly focused. __________________________________________________________________ What follows is a depiction of Legola's life as a slave to a rather despotic king and his growing friendship... well more than a friendship...with an equally exiled and out of place Aragorn. This was good, slashy stuff, by which I mean lots of angst, sexual tension, semi-consensual sex, and hierarchical relationships milked for all they're worth. The story was written well, the tone similar to, but not exactly, a copy of Tolkien's (one of the beta readers was Tyellas, creator of the Ansereg site I'll review later.) The story was a very good, but not outstanding, read. I enjoyed it, but, when I thought about it later, I realized it wasn't very consistent with Tolkien's characters. True, it is an A/U, but as one lively debate on a fanfic site asked, why bother writing an A/U when you could plug in your own original setting and rename the characters? Since the plot and setting of the story have changed so much (Minas Tirith's concentric defenses, such a strong point with Tolkien, aren't even mentioned) the only thing retained by the characters are their names and basic personalities, which are more than a little one-note: Boromir is a me- gimmee-mine baddy, Aragorn frets over duty and honor, Faramir is just... there, and Legolas plays the violated victim. Not that his plight wasn't well written or believable, but he wasn't Legolas. (I admit my problems with Legolas here may stem from Orlando Bloom's performance in the movie. I never took a shine to his inexpressive face, bug eyes and lantern jaw, and he was suspiciously well-fed for a willowy elf. Granted, so was Liv Tyler, but the oddness of her jaw structure made her alien nature more convincing to me.) It seemed to me the only reason for using these characters in such an altered plotline is for the reader to visualize them, a technique similar to some ASS writers suggesting certain actors for their story's characters. There's also a problem of transgression. In slash, there's a basic, unspoken transgression on the part of the reader (that he or she is reading gay fiction about well-loved media characters) and the writer (that he or she is writing it) that they are both fantasizing about subject matter this society regards as taboo. The hottest slash stories have transgression built into the plot as well... forbidden interspecial (human/elf), hierarchical (master/slave, commander/subordinate) or incestual (brother/brother) relationships that are intended to titillate as well as entertain. The same holds true for LotR slash. But none of these stories expressed the most obvious transgression of all... that of the homosexual relationship itself, odd considering that Middle Earth is pseudo-Medieval society written by a Catholic professor, with all the conservative attitudes that implies. So in the story the king's obsession with the elven slave is commented on disapprovingly, but not seen as the truly scandalous thing it could be... the king desires a *male* elf! Major scandal! I have no idea why this is so, except that, perhaps, putting real-life homosexual taboos into the plot may cut too close to the real world. In contrast, it's a major theme in much of the boy band fiction I've read, where 'coming out' or hiding one's gay affair with one's bandmate are major story conflicts. I have the feeling that LotR slash writers don't want to bother, or are buying into the liberal ideal so beloved by fantasy writers these days -- everyone fucks everyone else and no blinks an eye about it unless, again, hierarchical, incestual, or interspecial transgressions occur. Anyway, the writer wasted a rich opportunity for story development. In sum, I enjoyed reading this, but think the author should have developed it into an original story. But as some fanfic writers have said, even the most extreme A/U fanfic will always attract readers on the basis of its fandom, whereas original creations do not. One Dark Night [A/C] Author: Enros Author address: enros@magic-tortoise.co.uk Where found: Library of Moria URL: http://libraryofmoria.com/elrondugluk/onedarknight.txt Type: M/M slash, LotR, cons This was one of the few stories that had a completely original plot. Some time after the War of the Rings has been won Elrond, the Master of Rivendell, is caught out in a storm in the mountains. He takes shelter in a cave only to find it is already occupied... by an Uruk-hai of the losing side. This story had an excellent start. The prose was Tolkienesque without being as windy as the good professor could be, and the rather hokey setup was well handled. The dialogue and growing trust between the elf and the orc was believable and sensitive. Then, the two have sex. __________________________________________________________________ The Uruk lifted his great head towards the roof of the cave, snarling, "I should never have lived so long. I see the world, I look inside myself, and I am in despair. I am an unnatural creature, made only for war and destruction, and in all the lands under the sun there is no place for me." Unable to help himself Elrond leaned over to touch the Uruk's thick forearm. His fine fingers stood pale against the dark skin....it seemed to him that from the depths of those embittered eyes, amid the awful fatalism, there shone an unexpected nobility. Fixated, he felt himself powerless as never before. Slowly, almost without realizing, he lifted a hand and traced his fingers over the dreadful features. The broad, high forehead, the heavy brow, the hewn cheekbones, and the baleful mouth. Ugluk growled low in his throat, but the sound was one of pleasure. __________________________________________________________________ Sorry, you lost me. As a fan, I couldn't see Elrond extending an arm (well, a fuck) out of sympathy to anyone, let alone an orc; he's just not that kind of guy. The emotional resonance was easier to swallow, but, again, the author was straining mightily to make it all seem credible. Ultimately, a better plot device was needed here than an author's contrivance. So, first half, very good, second half, silly. In the Shadow of Tol Brandir [A+] Author: Sparky Where found: Fellowship URL: http://www.squidge.org/fellowship/fic/sparky_shadowoftolbrandir.htm Type: M/M slash, LotR This was one of the heavier fanfics I read, done by an author who, by the quality of his or her work, has surprisingly little output. It focuses on Boromir and was of the 'fill in the blanks' genre, in this case Boromir's dying thoughts after realizing he's let the orcs carry off Merry and Pippin by giving into the temptation of the ring. There's more than a little flavor of "An Occurrence on Owl Creek Bridge" here, as Boromir *thinks* he's been rescued by Aragorn: __________________________________________________________________ When next Boromir awoke the sky was dark. He was half wrapped in his cloak and another lay spread on the ground beside him. His outer clothes were gone. Faint firelight revealed the form of Aragorn at his side and made pale glimmers shine from the ranger's watching eyes. "Welcome back," he said. "I am glad you will live to fight again at my side," and he bent and kissed him gently on the cheek. Boromir smiled. He wrapped his arms around the other man and drew him down for a kiss that was less than gentle. Aragorn did not resist, but in a moment he pulled away, saying, "You are not well enough. You must rest." "I am already much recovered. Our lives are too uncertain to wait." He reached out again, feeling his strength return. Aragorn's lips met his, and this kiss was all hunger and heat. __________________________________________________________________ But the ending to the story is the same. A brief but powerfully written vignette, saying more than most vignettes do. Untitled [B] Author: Abbi Author address: abbichicken@tinyworld.co.uk Where found: ? URL: http://libraryofmoria.com/aragornboromir/trust.txt Type: M/M slash, LotR, rape, viol, bloodplay Legolas is feeling lonely one night, so he pulls a knife on a sleeping Boromir, kisses him passionately, and forces the steward of Gondor to follow him to a secluded place, saying, "You know what I brought you here for. And you wouldn't've come if you didn't think the same." Boromir responds to the invitation by chowing down on the elf's pretty lip. Legolas __________________________________________________________________ ... scowled at him, and sucking in a little of his own spilt blood, he waited until Boromir, who was standing close to him, running his finger along the blade of his knife, looked up at him, then spat the blood full in Boromir's face. Boromir, surprised at the elf's audacity, managed to keep his eye contact steady as, with the hand that did not carry the knife, he grabbed a length of the elf's hair, and used it to crack Legolas' head into the tree trunk, until his eyes rolled and blood streamed from his nose. __________________________________________________________________ That pretty much sets the tone for what follows. which involves beatings, belt-whippings, blood games, and bondage, as Legolas is tied to a tree and raped by Boromir, who flees in embarrassment when Aragorn comes to the elf's 'rescue' (it's subtly implied Legolas is enjoying all this) and is raped in return by the sex-mad elf. Embarrassment follows when they all have to face each other the next day, but that doesn't stop them from repeating the acts the following night. There's mindless porn, which concentrates on unfettered sex, and there's mindless slash, which concentrates on unfettered assault. This was not a subtle story. It was more literate than porn, but still porn, because it goes after visceral thrills with such gusto. The characters weren't true to themselves at all, but I don't the writer was concerned about that. He or she actually thought they writing a humor piece not intended to be taken seriously. Well, that's as may be, but the author was enjoying the action a bit too much for it to be parody, which requires love of the material, but not necessarily personal involvement. It was actually more of a pastiche using the formula of that little known gay subgenre, the sexfight. Though I don't think the author knew it. I really wonder about the fascination with gore in these mostly female- written stories. If I was a man I'd make some snide joke about menstrual blood, but since I'm female, I won't. Not Tonight [B-] Bondage and Discipline [B-] Author: Janet Elizabeth Where found: Least Expected URL: http://www.femgeeks.net/tolkien/archive/8/nottonight.html URL: http://www.femgeeks.net/tolkien/archive/8/bondagediscipline.html Type: M/M slash, LotR This story was as mindless as the preceding one, and it's also something of an extended soap opera. Noble but oversexed Aragorn is having simultaneous affairs with both Legolas and Boromir. Things come to a head the final night in Rivendell when Legolas spies on Aragorn and Boromir having sex. Tears and heartbreak follow. The next day, Boromir spies on Aragorn and Legolas having sex... more tears, and Boromir plots revenge. He sends a message to Legolas summoning him to a secluded part of the garden, signing it with Aragorn's name. Legolas falls for this oldest of tricks and Boromir has his revenge: __________________________________________________________________ He stroked his hand down over Legolas' ripe, round rump and wondered at the softness of the skin beneath his fingers. His cock twitched again inside his leathers and he felt it begin to grow. His hand ran lower over the mounds of the Prince's buttocks and caressed between the thighs to stroke the balls and shaft below. He tickled softly to make his victim squirm slightly and then he raised his hand high. He brought it down with a resounding smack on the firm, smooth flesh, enjoying the twitch it brought from the Princeling. __________________________________________________________________ Plausible? Nope. Aragorn is depicted as daydreaming of sexual conquests during Very Important Tactical discussions at Elrond's table, Legolas whinges yaoi-style and cries buckets, and Boromir acts like a hellion scorned. Add to this a neo-Victorian prose style, and you have what could be an amusing parody, but I don't think the author intended it that way. More Than a Broken End [A+] Author: Amy Fortuna Where found: Least Expected URL: http://www.starbrow.net/archive/lotr/brokenend.html Type: M/M slash, LotR, D/s, bloodplay I thought this vignette was going to be about spanking. Instead, it concerns the scorn Boromir has for Aragorn's sword, Narsil, spinning off the memorable scene in the movie where Boromir fumbles the precious blade, causing it to fall and ring loudly on the floor. Aragorn, offended, asks that he have words with him in private. He orders Boromir to strip and lay on the bed, saying, __________________________________________________________________ "This shard still cuts, and cuts deep. Would you wish it to dance along your skin, and prove to you what, even broken, it may do?" Boromir paled. "I do not need that test!" he cried. Aragorn smiled grimly. "I think you do." __________________________________________________________________ Delicate cutting follows, and the lapping of blood. But you knew that already, didn't you? This was a more successful handling of a bloodfic, the tone more weighty and historical, yet pithy and to the point. There's also a good rationale for the bloodletting... Boromir must be taught a lesson by his superior, which, in a quasifeudal society like Middle Earth, must not be argued. A short vignette, but better done than the more overwrought gorefics, and both Aragorn and Boromir were true to character. Recommended. _____________________________________________________________ Comments to: ladycyrrh@aol.com Website---> http://members.aol.com/ladycyrrh -- Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated. +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | alt.sex.stories.moderated ----- send stories to: | | FAQ: Moderator: | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Discuss this story and others in alt.sex.stories.d, look for subject {ASSD}| |Archive at Hosted by | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+