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The Ties of Family by Larner	9 Review(s)
Szepilona10	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 1/16/2011
“I have a mind to see him married. I hope that the Lady Lothiriel has brought with her some strongminded maids.” Aragorn is such a matchmaker! Do all the Northern Dunedain have that trait or is it just him and Halladan?(he's very enthusiastic about Alvric and Dendra? in "The Tenent") Every time I read that part I get Matchmaker stuck in my head! I agree with Aragorn though, Hardorn needs to get married! Who are the Dunedain women who came with them? When was Gilthor in Dol Amroth? Around when Aragorn was born? Anyway...don't ask me why I've started to read this story when I still have two exams to study for! I think I'm hoping that it will help me with my English exam...at least that's what I told my mom. :) Off to read more! ~Szepilona~ Author Reply: Get you through your English exam? Hehehehehe! Hope you did well with it! Will have to write Gilthor's visit to Dol Amroth one day. It's mentioned both here and in "The King's Commission," after all. And I think there's a good deal of the romantic in most good-meaning folk, don't you? Thanks so for a nice laugh to start the week. Have been fighting the after-effects of the flu I entertained over Christmas, and it was getting me quite down, considering how awful I was feeling over the weekend. Hopefully I'll be quite done with the persistent cought it left me with soon!

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 1/29/2006
All right, I'm going to finish this one before I go flitting between this and that story again, because if I don't, I'll lose my place and then I'll never get through. This is just one of those times when I have a terribly short attention span. I imagine that, though she has said nothing, Narcissa might already begin to see that Frodo and Aragorn are brothers of the spirit. I love this: As they walked back to the ramp preceded by Pippin and accompanied by the other four, Aragorn asked quietly, “You are missing him a good deal today?” Sam nodded. “Oh, yes, I am. He is the most dearest of all I ever knew, and I miss him terribly. You?” After a moment of thought, the King answered, still quietly, “Yes, I’m missing him terribly today, also. Although I did pray that as I must lose him, one way or the other, that he would choose to go via Tol Eressëa that he might know easing and a level of joy once again ere he finally goes through the Gates.” Sam nodded, and Hobbit and Man took one another’s hand, squeezing them in mutual assurance. Yes, they would all miss Frodo especially today. I've lost loved ones before, but none that I was especially close to, and quite a number of pets as well, but that grief fades after a couple of months or so. I can't even imagine how terrible this loss would be. And I don't want to try; for I have a friend as dear to me as Frodo was to Sam, so I can at least know the depth of such a friendship. Looking forward to reading more of this. God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: I'm middle aged now, and so have managed to lose a few along the way. It's never an easy matter, having lost my husband, a foster child (but not to death that we know of), both parents, all my beloved grandparents, aunts and uncles, and having a rift between my half-siblings and my full brother and myself. Even my stepfather is near death now. It's a part of growing older, unfortunately. And the dreams I have of them and the love we held for one another can be pretty intense at times, not to mention the days when something happens and I STILL turn to tell Tony or reach for the phone to call my mother.... There are just times when you still want to reach out, which is why I ended up writing "A Message and a Bottle," having read "A Message in a Bottle" and seeing the imagery there of wanting to reach for and communicate with the one who's been lost. I'm glad this moved you.

Amy Earls	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
At first I wasn't reading this story because I thought: "hobbits in the Shire," and I'm only interested in hobbits outside the Shire. I checked anyway a half dozen chapters ago and discovered all kinds of comings and goings, so I had to go back and catch up. This is one of my favorite chapters. I love singing!Aragorn and hobbits in Minas Tirith, and sewing!Arwen (she's-so-canon). But mostly the conversations. And I wanted to present this Reader's Appreciation Award for speedy and regular updates, which relieve the strain on my short-term memory! Thanks! Amy Author Reply: I thank you, thank you deeply, and would like to share my thanks to......... Yes, I, too, love the thought of singing Aragorn. And certainly embroidering Arwen is definitely canon, which is why I saw her admitted to the Guild of Seamstresses and Tailors as a Master Embroiderer on the basis of the King's banner. I find I love trying to imagine the conversations, and rejoice they give you so much enjoyment. There are a few more comings and goings still to happen, so be forewarned.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
What a sweet and peaceful chapter. I love that Narcissa is getting a good chance to get to know and appreciate the King. And I love the interaction between Aragorn and Sam. Pippin acting as guard is wonderful, as well. I do love your universe. Author Reply: Yes, Narcissa is learning Frodo had the right of it--the King is well worth the loving, and is loving in return. I am glad the he and Sam were able to comfort one another, and that Pippin was fulfilling his duties as one of the guards of the King's person. As I enjoy your Middle Earth as well, the feeling is mutual.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
Wow!! I take off to attend two LOTR Symphony performances and look what I come back to. I'm all caught up and they were all so delightful. I love this universe and I love how you have Aragorn treating the hobbits. They really did become family out there during the Fellowship and they treat each other as such. So lovely to read. Looking forward, as always, to the next chapters. :o) Author Reply: Oh, I am SO jealous! So jealous! I missed my own concert date--was not feeling well and forgot it was Saturday! Am so glad you are back and enjoying the ongoing tale. Yes, Aragorn and the Hobbits would feel a good deal like family, or so I've always felt.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
Oh this just keeps on getting better Larner. I love the way that Narcissa turns the tables on Aragorn by telling him how her father recognised him as Strider. I enjoyed Strider's on-going joke in the King's Commission too. I wonder that she didn't feel a little shy approaching him by herself but I treasure their conversation. And the intimate moment between Sam and the King - hand in hand, offering each other comfort, well, I just melted! Everyone needs a soul-friend to confide in. Away from the current story-line, I was also thinking about Aragorn's ride to the Shire to try and say good-bye to Frodo. It is a ride I dread having to do. But to have to go that far and then to miss him must have been totally heart-breaking. (I do have a life away from the computer and LOTR, honestly!) By the way, thank you for the speed with which you answer reviews. Author Reply: When Mom was ill for the last time, I flew down to be with her for a week, then flew back. Hubby and I loaded my brother and his children into the motorhome and headed back as quickly as we could, intending to take guardianship of her that Grandmother not totally impoverish her once she was released into long-term care. Only while we were on the way Mom caught pneumonia and died anyway. We arrived just in time for the funeral. It was, indeed, heartbreaking. I think that was why I wrote it the way I did in For Eyes to See as Can, although certainly there was no indication that Aragorn was able to meet with the riding on the way to the Havens. Aragorn and Sam had come to treasure one another for each other and also for the relationships each had known with Frodo. At that moment, I think they would turn to one another, needing that knowing that each was just as bereft, each equally praying the release to Elvenhome was allowing the needed healing, each needing to both give and receive that comfort. Thanks for the feedback.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
Another two-chapter-day :-) - although this probably means no update waiting tomorrow morning, because I've read it already. Two lovely chapters. I love it how familiar Aragorn and his Hobbit friends treat each other and I think it is a good way for Narcissa, Freddy and the others to see the true nature of the King. The bit about Narcissas father was nice. And of course Aragorn knew at once his grandfather and great grandfather. Sometimes I wonder how many hours the Hobbits on the Quest have spent explaining all the thousand relatives up to the umpteenth degree to their companions. The others must have suffered quite a bit from too much cousins and aunts and uncles. It is nice to see how even Lord Hardorn delivered his duty to protect Aragorn to Pippin with no doubts because of his size. It truly says a lot about the high esteem they all have for him. And I loved it how Aragorn has sent his cousin to bed and how Hardorn took it. Sometimes Hardorn is way too conscientious. And to want to marry him off ... grins I fear Aragorn is quite right about "civilized men". It is sad, but true - a lot of people thinks so. Now I look forward to the unveiling! Author Reply: I left the Unveiling itself to The King's Commission, although we do have a good deal of time spent with the memorial, and a few revelations regarding it. Yes, I've seen myself just how vicious "civilized" people can get when given the chance. And, yes, I'm certain Merry and Pippin regaled the entire Fellowship with reams of information about their family ties, although Aragorn, having spent time with Bilbo in Rivendell, probably already had a good idea. I love to think of the old Hobbit waylaying the Dunedan, just returned from some long patrol or another, perhaps before he can even get a bath, to share a talk for a change with the one other mortal then with full freedom to come and go from Imladris.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
Finally! After reading at least five chapters in a row I've caught up with you again :) Your update speed is amazing, you know? And I love your OC's, especially Narcissa and Ruvemir. The sculptor is a fascinating person and he seems to have the gift to listen and with that, to ease pain. There are a lot of people present who are in need of such a person. And I think, he can help, maybe with the unveiling of the monument... I have not read "The King's Commission" yet, but I will, I promise! I'm just fascinated with Ruvemir! Thank you! Author Reply: The actual unveiling is there in The King's Commission, so I don't repeat it here. But there is a need always for those who can listen and help cut through to the heart of pain and grief--there has always been such and always will be such. And there is more that comes from the memorial to the four Hobbits, as they further come to terms with their grief and their own place in the outer world.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 6/9/2005
There you go again: “There is no one so capable of refined viciousness,” he said bitterly, “as someone who believes himself to be fully civilized and who has convinced himself--or herself--that the one to be dealt with is not." I fear there are far too many in our own world who have not yet learned that lesson. Maybe someday... Author Reply: This is as true in our world as in Arda. Thanks so much for appreciating it.

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