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The Ties of Family  by Larner 3 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 22 on 2/4/2006
“It is your Light, my Lord,” the Hobbit smiled. “It keeps me apprised of where you are, and when you are near to me, of what you are doing.”

That's very interesting. But is it like a light that is seen, or more of a presence? That might be impossible to answer, but I can't help wondering. :)



Author Reply: Having become blind as a result of injuries sustained during his imprisonment in the Lockholes, my Ferdi recognizes what he perceives as Light. You might perceive it instead in terms of an aura of warmth or as an echo of song or rhythm about the individual which marks him as special.

Vision is a difficult form of perception to explain to those who've not experienced it--we can only see what is within our field of vision, mostly what is before the plane of our face; and unless an object is transparent or at least translucent we cannot see what is behind it. Also, the more distant the object is from us, the smaller it appears to be and the more difficult it is to perceive details. And so Ferdi, who grew up with the concept of seeing, turning toward the west can "see" the Light of the White Tree but not similar Lights which might be beyond it, as the Tree's Light overwhelms the more distant Lights beyond it. Then, when he is distant from Aragorn he might perceive Aragorn as a point of Light; but when close to him may actually be seeing his outline as shown forth by his Light.

Those who say they see auras indicate they tend to outline the physical body of the one they see, and that each person tends to have a particular color usually associated with that aura, which may change colors as a result of shifts to strong moods sparked by emotional reactions to circumstances. Serious illness is said also to change the color of the aura, particularly in the area of the body associated most strongly with the illness.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 22 on 6/11/2005
Another touching piece - the way the others, even the Queen, describe the City to Ferdibrand. And the talk about the lights was nice. Truly, I love it how the Hobbits - and I don't mean Sam, Merry and Pippin - are so comfortable with Aragorn and Arwen. This visit in Gondor will do the relationship between Shire and the Reunited Kingdom a lot of good, I think, because some more Hobbits see for themselves how kind and trustworthy Aragorn is.

Author Reply: Each time there is meeting between Shire and officials of the Kingdoms there will continue to be a growth of trust between the Hobbits and their rulers, particularly when Aragorn himself is involved.

Am so glad you appreciate this, too.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 22 on 6/11/2005
What a lovely conversation, especially between Ferdibrand and Aragorn.

“Did you feel Its influence, my Lord King?” she asked.

He straightened and nodded, looked off Eastward at the former realm of Sauron. “Oh, yes, I did. I had to close my mind to Its call, for It would have delighted to catch such as me. Often I felt the demand as Frodo slept to come and take It from him, the assurance that It was destroying him, depriving him of his ability to know happiness."

I tried to bring "By Chance or Purpose" to that same conclusion -- that Aragorn's greatest weakness had become Frodo, and his regard and concern for him. It's wonderful to see someone else write about that. And what a lovely thing for Aragorn and Frodo to still be 'connected' through the Trees.


Author Reply: Great minds think alike? I must ask. Yes, I had felt that this would be seen as the weakness for both Aragorn and Gandalf. "I would use this thing out of a desire to do good, but through me...." And the connection between the two of them will grow stronger shortly.

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