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The King's Commission by Larner	7 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 3/25/2006
Oh no, not another one! Yes, let Celebgil tell someone who can rescue him! shudders This Varondil...I can't believe I'm even thinking such a horrible thing, but a comment about comeliness makes me wonder if I won't find myself putting up with another Angrapain--only less rash and lacking in sense (I don't like to speak so of your OC--forgive me please--but I don't lie either), more subtle and crafty, and with a bit more control over his baseness. That another should see his apprentices as he did, indeed! Ugh! I'm half afraid to read on because villains of this sort can make me so angry and repulse me so much that I could do and say a great deal to them if they stood before me, and never regret it...but I can't not finish the story, of course. And my guesses at what this man is make his preference of work seem morbid. sigh But even while I say all this, I really have to hand it to you. You have the ability to create such true-to-life characters that they can inspire great love and respect (Ruvemir, Hardorn, Brendi, Narcissa, the Baggins twins, Miriel, Ririon, Elise, Master Iorhael, and others) or feelings of quite the opposite (Angrapain, Varondil, a few of those from Angmar whose names escape me just now, 'Beasty Bracegirdle), and that is a great, great gift and one of the things I admire most about your writing. I've never had the chance to get into the mind of my "bad guy," and I still don't understand how one can create such a character, realise how horrible he is, and still put up with him. But then I haven't been writing very long and am still very inexperienced. Very, very interesting about the stone! Can one really tell such things? I suppose many of the arts really are very alike in their ways. This block of stone isn't right for this statue; this tune isn't right for this song; this situation won't do for this character after all--she won't like being seen as weak. I couldn't help but be a little amused at the stone's being likely to become tempramental if not properly cared for, and touched by the care with which it was treated. Yes, like its subject, indeed! :) That compares so much to characters in stories--it's amazing. I don't know how many I've had/do have that I must treat with special care or they just don't seem to cooperate--or if one is left out, he/she will just push right in and announce his/her presence. "Hey! I'm here too, you know, and you're not paying any attention! I'm supposed to be a part of the story too!" :) Very thoughtful gifts from and to all, and I really liked the meeting with Treebeard. You have captured his voice perfectly! Well, the journey south should be an interesting one, and maybe Celebgil will open up a bit. It really brings home how accepting the Shire is when we return to the world of men and meet with stereotypes, both for Ruvemir and Ririon. Speaking of Ririon, I love Joy! What a fitting name and a brilliant idea! Animals just seem to know so often--my mom's cousin once had a large dog (I don't remember the breed now) who wouldn't let me out of his sight when I was there. I guess maybe he was a bit overprotective, actually, reacting to everything, everything, as if it might endanger, but I was too touched and delighted to mind. :) The plot deepens, and I'm going to have to stop for tonight or I won't go to bed at all. :) But I may get a chance to read more tomorrow. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: There are always baddies in this world. A couple of the future chapters are very disturbing, but are properly indicated at the beginning. I won't be graphic, but I do try to reflect reality in my stories just as Tolkien did when he described the rain of heads over the walls and the horrors of looking into the pools in the Dead Marshes. That you find both the good and the bad characters sufficiently real you'd love to know the good ones and to castigate the bad ones is very flattering. I think that for artists who are truly attuned to their media, they can tell what figures the stone will accept or will demand to show forth, just as I will occasionally when drawing or painting find a particular piece of paper insists on showing a particular image. Those familiar with how crystaline structure in stone runs and how flaws are likely to run through the material will realize that certain stones simply won't accept certain structures. And that each of the stones they face here will accept a particular subject is a pleasant daydream for me, I must admit. As for Joy--this is how dog guides started, after all, with a dog being particularly aware of its master's deficits and seeking to aid as they can, and with a growing awareness on both sides as to how they can work together. She's no product of any moder dog guide school, but she's a beginning place for such deliberate training in the future.

Armariel	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 7/3/2005
Uh oh!!! The plot thickens....and here I was just about to think there really wasn't enough conflict going on, then boom! along comes that Varondil (sp?) creature. He looks an interestingly slimy villain...now wanna see what comes next.......ggg Author Reply: You find Varondil interesting? Wait till you see Landrion of Umbar! Glad you are still reading this, Armariel. And thanks for the feedback.

annmarwalk	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 2/13/2005
Ohno! Trouble on the way! I knew things were progressing just too peacefully... Hopefully, Ruvemir's natural dignity and honesty will conquer any problems here. Author Reply: Yes, trouble does occur. How long it will take to resolve it is still up in the air.

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 1/28/2005
What a nasty piece of work that Varondil is! I almost came out of my chair there at the end...you know, there are a couple of thoughts he has there that sound almost abusive (and certainly suggestive...). Please, correct me if I'm wrong...I hope I am; he is already slimey enough with his plans to discredit Ruvemir and ruin his reputation. What a slime-ball! Yuck! As for the rest of this chapter, I loved the way the stone speaks to both Ruvemir and the dwarves. That seems so logical for a truly gifted artist to view his craft that way. I am very glad Celebgil made a big enough fuss that he is getting a chance to see another master at work (and other art forms too). I was also glad for the mention that Celebgil's parents are in the picture, too (I still think it sounds as if their son is in need of protection) :-/ A wonderful chapter, Larner...you had me just coasting along enjoying life, enjoying the hobbit-trip, enjoying Ruvemir and company, when WHAM! you throw that hint of darkness to come into the mix! Kind of like the old bean-ball in baseball, I ducked so hard I almost fell! :-) Very nice, very nice indeed! LOL More soon!! linda (I had promised myself I would go back and review every chapter of this great story...I've been reading with no time to review the way I want to...when this chapter came up. I had ten minutes before I had to get my class, so I threw this review down 'cos this was SO good! I'm still going to catch up sometime!) Author Reply: We are back in the world of Men, and Men tend to be more variable in nature, I think, than Hobbits. I'm not sure how Varondil crept so into the story, but he has been insisting on inclusion, I find. Thanks for the feedback.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 1/28/2005
Fascinating stuff about how the stone speaks to the Dwarves and Ruvemir. It's no wonder that Ruvemir can turn out such works of art. Vorondil, on the other hand - what a stinker. I'm not surprised he sticks to funerary art - those depicted can't complain about the lifelessness of his portrayal. I'm not sure that Celebgil will remain that loyal to him - Ruvemir has probably already given him more valuable training in a morning than Vorondil has in years. Not to mention he is much more likeable. And between them, Aragorn, Arwen, Legolas and Gimli are unlikely to be taken in by the profiteering, quarry-owning, untalented tomb-sculptor. I hope. Author Reply: Not completely untalented--he does appear to do the faces and hands of the dead fairly well; nor is the practice of using generic bodies all that unusual, if you've ever seen such effigies in European churches. Also, he's been a good salesman in the past; however, he's going to get, I fear, a reality check.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 1/28/2005
Uh-oh. Oh dear. But Vorondil has never had anyone quite so astute as the King to deal with before. Interesting development. Very interesting. And hobbits are pretty intuitive. They may not have known why they didn't care for Vorondil's renditions, but they would have definitely been made uncomfortable by him. A shame Ruvemir's got to deal with him. But Celebgil is better off. Looking forward to more. Author Reply: Yes, I, too, think Celebgil is better off with Ruvemir. Thanks for the feedback.

Eruviluieth	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 1/28/2005
Quite the dark turn. I am most interested how this will be worked out. Ruvemir has friends to help, but will they be enough against malice like this? I can't wait for more! Author Reply: We will see, won't we? Thanks for the feedback.

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