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| A Matter of Honor by meckinock | 31 Review(s) |
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| EllyBaggins | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/27/2010 |
| I know I'm very late in reviewing, but I just had to say that this story, and In The Hands of the Enemy, are ones that I can read over and over again. It is so well written and the characters I think are just spot on. Fantastic story! Author Reply: Thanks for the very kind review, EllyBaggins. I'm sorry I haven't replied until now, but I appreciate you reading the story and I'm glad you enjoyed it. meckinock | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/16/2006 |
| I love the relationship, and the dialogue, between Halbarad and Aragorn here; their long friendship and familiarity comes through humorously and honestly. And that's a great story about the Bree-wife, the jealous husband, and the goat named Buttercup! Author Reply: Thanks, Raksha. I really enjoy writing these two guys. | |
| Thundera Tiger | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/16/2005 |
| *wanders in late as usual but VERY, VERY grateful that she found this story* Meckinock, I have missed you. Perhaps even worse, I've forgotten just how much I missed you before I started reading this story. Clearly I have been exposed to too much writing that is merely par. Excellent, much of it, but compared to yours, just par for the course. Thankfully, you have entered the writing scene yet again, which means I can now look forward to gems like this one. I say gem, but I mean Silmaril. Not in the sense of the doom-causing, panic-wielding, kin-slaying Silmaril, but in the sense of the gems that had managed to capture the beauty of the Two Trees and hold it. Because this is story is nothing short of brilliant. Let me count the ways... Your humor is back in force. It was the humor that first caught my attention on the previous story, but if possible, I think you've managed to improve on perfection this time around. The conversation between Halbarad and Tillfield is fantastic. Halbarad's inner monologue has a wonderfully wry tone to it, and it's offset perfectly by Tillfield's uncomfortableness and Halbarad's own mounting worry for Aragorn. The story of the farmer's wife and the goat was sheer brilliance, and I like the way Halbarad seemed to use this to get Aragorn's mind off his wound. I loved the insinuation that Aragorn sometimes couldn't find Rivendell, I love Gandalf's many raised brows, and I love Halbarad's sudden swell of pity for the underappreciated landscape. But most of all, I love this series of lines: “Aragorn,” he called, getting the attention of both riders and making a show of examining Star’s left front hoof. “My horse is coming up lame. His foot is bruised from a rock, I fear. What do you say we make camp? Up ahead a mile or so is the campsite by the stream. It will be shady there, and the horses can drink.” “But your horse isn’t –“Tillfield protested Halbarad silenced the hobbit with a glare. “Do you want to make camp or not?” “Yes.” “Then be still.” If that isn't brilliance, I don't know what is. Moving on, the humor in the first part is offset very nicely but the growing concern for Aragorn. And hear is some absolutely fantastic mood work on your part. You keep the humor running, and Halbarad's replies and thoughts are still tinged with that wry outlook I've come to love from him, but as the chapter progresses, the humor loses its strength. It's still there, certainly, but remarks become more weighty and meanings are given to things that didn't necessarily have meaning before. It's a gradual change that creeps up so softly it's hard to see it until it arrives. And once it does arrive, it's difficult to shake off. But the end of this chapter, the mood is dark and foreboding. Then of course there's your characterization, which remains a flawless as ever. I've come to the conclusion that you are THE Gandalf writer. I realize that this is primarily from Halbarad's perspective (and Halbarad is still brilliant), but every time Gandalf opens his mouth, his steals the spotlight. It's exactly the way he's portrayed in The Hobbit, only enhanced and magnified. I could go on and on about other things, but then I'd be here all day and I really do have to move forward. So I'll end this now and see if I can get out a review for the next chapter. Author Reply: Oh, Thundera. You wander in just as late as you want. As one of your biggest fans, I'd be thrilled if you just wandered in long enough to say, "hey, liked the chappie!" (Actually I'm thrilled when anyone pops in just long enough to say, "liked the chappie!") But this - Wow. I'm speechless. It doesn't take much to reduce me to incoherence but I'm deep in blather territory. Without being a quarter as articulate as you've just been, I have to say that you're someone whose work I have long not only enjoyed immensely but made a study of in order to improve my own writing - so I cherish every word of this. I'm glad you enjoyed it - I'm happy if I've been able to repay a tiny portion of the pleasure I've received from your stories. | |
| lindahoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/21/2005 |
| This is a truly gripping and well written story.It is refreshing to find one that features Halbarad and I am a great Aragorn fan.I shall read more as soon as I can Author Reply: I'm glad you're enjoying it; thanks for letting me know! | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/20/2005 |
| This is very well constucted,and a very intersting story..I like the humor between Aragorn and the Ranger...I wonder why is Aragorn so distant to his Elrond,who raised him. Poor Aragorn,hope he gets to Elrond befor he gets worse...Nice job... Author Reply: Thanks, Pipinheart. Aragorn loves Elrond like a father, but like any father and son, there is sometimes some friction between them. In their case, I think that Aragorn feels a lot of guilt, knowing that by marrying Arwen he will hurt Elrond terribly. And Elrond has placed some conditions on the betrothal that Aragorn is finding difficult to endure. He wants to achieve everything Elrond expects of him, but Aragorn at the moment doesn't know that he will do so in only ten more years. As far as he knows, it might be 100 years before all that he dreams of will come to pass. And that's a long time to wait! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/29/2005 |
| Ah, an excellently written tale that has me certain these are the Halbarad and Aragorn I've imagined. And a Hobbit with the same name as Frodo's uncle--interesting. Author Reply: Thanks so much, Larner. I feel privileged to play with the Professor's GI Joes and I try to put them back the way I found them. Well, maybe a little muddier. And I should have known you'd catch me stealing names from the appendices! | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/27/2005 |
| I really fell in love with In The Hands of the Enemy. It's such a good read, and so plausible, book wise. Your Aragorn sounds like the character I've learned to love since I first read The Lord of The Rings ages, and ages ago, and with which I've been in love for such a long time. As a bonus, it's so great to read a lot more about Halbarad, one of my favourite secondary characters in LOTR. So, I was really excited when I saw you were posting the sequel! The first chapter made me even more excited because it's shaping so well. So now I'm on tenterhooks waiting for chapter II. Hopefully, I won't have to wait long. Congratulations. Author Reply: Hopefully, Chapter 2 will be up by the time you read this! Thanks for such a nice review. | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/18/2005 |
| I remember! I remember the prequel to this story (and that's saying alot!)! Ohhhh, this is going to be so good! I never reviewed the other story (I know...badbadbad) but I'll try to pop in regularly for this one! The beginning is great and Aragorn sounds a right mess! Halbarad obviously has a few issues about his worth and place in the grand scheme of things, Dudo is a typical hobbit and I felt very sorry for him when he finally lost it, poor lad! And Gandalf is....Gandalf! This is great, meckinock (and if it wasn't 2:45 a.m., I would write a more coherent review! LOL - BTW, the humidity today here in TX made it feel like 110 degrees! Are you sure you don't feel like returning to a snowy setting?) :-/ linda Author Reply: Hi, Linda! I was a little worried everyone would read the summary and think, "sequel to what?" I'm so happy that you do remember "Hands" and decided to drop in. Aragorn is a mess, all right, but the Dunedain Rescue Squad needs a better ambulance. I think Halbarad would argue that he knows exactly where is place is in the grand scheme of things! He's heard about what happens to people who don't. Dudo's deciding that rising to the infrequent heroic occasion and roughing it on a permanent basis are two different propositions. He's going to be very happy to see Rivendell. Snow...hmm. It's around May 1 now in the story, so I think snow might be a stretch. They could see some rain, maybe. A heat index of 110, ick. Ours was in the high 90s last week and that was enough for me! | |
| cagey | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/17/2005 |
| Wonderful! I'm sooooo glad you've found time to get writing again. I've been waiting for this since I stumbled across your first story last year and couldn't put it down (sorry I didn't leave any reviews but I promise to do better this time). I do love a writer who can beat up a Ranger properly and make him live with the consequences - none of this, "his leg was broken but he gritted his teeth and carried on walking.." rubbish! Real life ain't like that and good fiction shouldn't be either! Great characters, wonderful descriptions... I'm loving every moment. Please don't patch Aragorn up to quickly (or at least give him some more trouble to trip over if you do) - Halbarad needs someone to worry over to keep his mind off Dudo. Author Reply: Yeah, well, I finally figured I didn't have anything better to do with my fifteen minutes of free time a day! I have to agree; I want to cringe every time I read about someone actually WALKING on a broken leg. I'm not trying to torture Aragorn - really! I just needed a way to force the issue of going back to Rivendell. Unfortunately, Rivendell is 400 miles of unpaved road away, and the midwife in Bree forgot to give him a prescription for penicillin. Don't you think Halbarad has worried enough? Poor guy. I'll give him something to take his mind off it. | |
| Deblers | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/16/2005 |
| I'm another de-lurking to tell you how much I enjoyed your previous story and am looking forward to this one. I just came upon your first story the other day and am now hooked. I seem to have a new fascination for Halbarad. Your writing style and descriptions are fantastic and a pleasure to read. Cant' wait for more! Author Reply: I went through serious Halbarad-withdrawal after I finished the other story. For an extremely minor character in canon, he sure got a good grip on me and wouldn't let go. Being back with him is really fun, and I'm glad he tickles your fancy, too. Thanks for de-lurking, Deblers. | |