Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The King's Commission  by Larner 4 Review(s)
LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/14/2005
Random thoughts while reading:

Ah, I love the description of Frodo, and the details of how the cushions at the feast barely raised him to table height. For some reason that was a poignant moment for me.

Seed cake! Hurrah! (determined to spread Bilbo's secret recipe throughout the realm! Snort!) Skin the young scoundrel alive? Seems to me as if he'd just escaped that fate somehow... GMTA.

Decided to see if he could bring similar responses in the future... aww... Gimli, matchmaking?

Nice little summation of Shire affairs and Sam's part in the Quest.

Hmmm. Just when is Ruvemir going to figure out who Aragorn is? *g*

Ah, yes, I've read at least one story of Aragorn coming too late to bid Frodo goodbye. I don't remember who wrote it--was it you?

It is very realistic, that Ruvemir's picture is "like, but not unto" Frodo's face. I'm sure he'll refine it over time, if he came up with Captain Thorongil's likeness with only the words of memory to guide him.

What a gripping story, and only due to increase in complexity and depth, from the glimpses I've had of later chapters!

Author Reply: Yes, the late farewell was in "For Eyes to See as Can."

And I suspect for all he appeared better there would be some level of fragility to Frodo at that feast in Imladris.

Well, I can see Gimli doing matchmaking, although I suspect if he's interested Ruvemir will do well enough on his own. (Okay, I KNOW he can--just finished the last chapter to be written tonight, and wrote the wedding weeks ago--heh heh.)

It will take time to fully know Frodo's nature and appearance well enough Ruvemir will be able to make it at will, but that will come.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/9/2004
I can't begin to tell you how lovely this story is in its slow unfolding. I love the descriptions of the Shire and its Folk, the casual mentions in passing of who and what the hobbits were, and then finally, the mention of Frodo's name and Ruvemir's startlement at finally understanding.

And I just adore Pippin's endowment of tea and seedcakes for all the "hobbit rooms" that were added to the inns! Such a very "Pippish" thing to do! And I agree with Aragorn's assessment of Bilbo's reaction! LOL!

Author Reply: I agree--very much a Took decision and in keeping with Pippin's nature. Thanks for the feedback.

FantasyFanReviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/9/2004
I laughed out loud when Pippin sent tea and seedcakes. That was perfect. And now the easy half of the puzzle is unravelled, for Ruvemir knows who his commission is. I doubt it will take him long to figure out who his commission is for.

The idea that we show little parts of ourselves to everyone we know, and that together they make up the whole picture of our lives, is very interesting. I wonder if Ruvemir will get to talk to Sam, perhaps the one person that Frodo showed the most to?

Author Reply: Yes, we show different aspects of our personalities to different folk, so it is often important to talk to several different individuals to learn what a specific person was like.

I am rather sorry, myself, that Legolas and Gimli had no chance to see Frodo before his wounding with the Morgul knife.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/9/2004
Has Ruvemir still not cottoned on to Strider's identity despite the many clues?

The only problem I can see with Ruvemir's method is that - well, he's seen Men, so when he gets the feeling of what a certain man was like, he has a mental template. There are Elves around - so he could take a look at the generic elf. Gimli is there - so he can see a Dwarf. But he's never seen a Hobbit, so a huge amount of description would be necessary - including the sort of things you wouldn't need for a species with which you were familiar. The feet, for example - they'll take a bit of explaining!

It's a bit like the story of the elephant - felt by a series of blindfolded people, they all perceive something different.



Author Reply: You will appreciate the following chapter, then. Thanks for the feedback.

Return to Chapter List