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The Ties of Family by Larner	7 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 2/6/2006
LOL! Oh, Larner, Aragorns demand about how patches of pink got into that quilt reminds me so much of something my twelve-year-old brother would say that it made me laugh outright. Imagine that-being able to compare dignified, noble Aragorn to a young boy who shows neither of those qualities! LOL! Oh, but that was so sweet of the hobbits and Arwen to do. Such a quilt would, I think, be valued more than all the kingdoms and riches in the world. I do pity the Angmarians-to live in such misery, such fear... (And as a side note from another review, never worry about confusing me with punctuation--I will never, ever turn that off again. I tried once, and it led to a most...interesting and uncomfortable misunderstanding between a friend and myself. It's funny now, but it surely wasn't then!) Author Reply: Well, Aragorn was a twelve-year-old once, also, and would have been conscious of his dignity at the time as only such younglings are. Glad this got a laugh as well as aroused the feelings of love and satisfaction intended. As for those of Angmar--well, you've finished the story by now and so know what happened. It's satisfying to see would-be tyrants bested.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 8/26/2005
I love this chapter. How is Aragorn to be a man among men with a blanket roll, with squares of pink in it. I bet he would not give up that quilt, for all the gold in Gondor. It is great that it has something from all the people he loved, includinging his parents, ada, and Halbarad. Author Reply: Precious indeed are such tangible signs of love given; and for the one who grew up in what amounted to isolation within Imladris, these would be treasured indeed. Elves, Men, Hobbits, Dwarves--those living, those dead, those who'd fled the griefs of Middle Earth--he has a tangible tie to each, a symbol of all those who have supported him and encouraged him and added to the sum of his being. Am so glad this story is still getting readings and that you love this chapter. I even referenced it in my current story. This is one of the chapters that could stand alone, and I think it's one of my favorites, also.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 6/29/2005
Sweet little interlude! This quilt is a wonderful idea. So Aragorn has all his friends with him when he is away from home. I only missed something from his elven brothers. But to have patches even from Frodo, Bilbo, Elrond and Mithrandir is lovely. I look forward to the next chapter about Angmar! Can't wait for tomorrow! Author Reply: I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Elladan and Elrohir are represented as well, as well as others we have no names for now. After all, he's been around for close to a hundred years by now. But to have those from Gandalf, Bilbo, Elrond, and Frodo would be especially heartening. May even have a patch or two from Galadriel for all we know. Glad you like the quilt.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 6/29/2005
I just caught up with your story and I must say that the last few chapters have, of course, been excellent. I was glad to see that Hardon finally got married - Aragorn finally got his way on that one! :) I think he usually gets his way on things. But it was wonderful to have the double wedding there in Rivendell for Narcissa and Brendi and for Aragorn to do the wedding. Very nice - oh and to include the twins as part of the whole ceremony there. Nice touch, because it will be such a meshing of those lives and will be much different than how most marriages (at least at that time!) start out. It was interesting the whole concept of Aragorn having had brothers and then Frodo and Sam possibly being them and that whole connection there. It was all very well done and well written and I could just hear and feel Aragorn's loneliness as a child. I know that most fanfic writers show that Elladan and Elrohir were around a lot when he was growing up... and they may well have been... but still they were not children and he must have been so lonely. Well done! I love what Aragorn did with the men from Angmar and how Sestor now has more respect for Aragorn then his own leaders... and I am sure that is true of most of those men. Even though I know that Beasty deserved his punishment, I still feel bad for him. Don't ask me why! Just being totally alone as a hobbit there I guess, not even in a hobbit 'prison' But, hopefully he will grow up and learn from this experience. Finally, I love the quilt that Arwen made for Aragorn from all of the loved ones in his life. That was incredibly touching and that Pippin thought of it makes it even more so. And you just know that Aragorn is man enough to use it. Sorry for such a long review... I need to keep up better on your chapters! :) Great job and I look forward to more and more of this wonderful story. Radbooks Author Reply: No matter how much Elladan and Elrohir were there during Aragorn's childhood, yet they were elves while he was of mankind; they had long been adults while he was a child; they were still out hunting orcs much of the time while he was studying under their father and Erestor and Glorfindel and others about Imladris. No matter how well loved he might have been, he was still the one youngling in a basically adult enclave. Even had they been in Rivendell 24/7, he would still have felt lonely, I'm certain. I know that even with one sister near my age, I still felt often isolated growing up miles from other children my age, and constantly had imaginary companions, including an imaginary twin sister who would understand me better than my younger one. There were so many parallels between Aragorn and Frodo--it was the concept that kept sneaking into my thoughts that perhaps there was a deeper connection between the two of them, so it came out in the story. Glad you like the wedding, and in a blended family such as this I simply see Aragorn wanting to make certain all become aware that they are taking on a new commitment that needs to be respected and actively worked at. Once Aragorn realized this group of infiltrators was made up of basically decent men who would be better allies than those in control in Angmar, it seemed reasonable he'd rethink the decision to have their sword hands cut off, but still want to make certain they wouldn't be seen as targets for similar actions from the warlords intent on getting possible decent competition disposed of. The former governor of my state was seen by one former President as a viable rival who made him feel uncomfortable, as our governor was both basically honest and competent, which the President was not. As a result, our state kept getting targeted for reviews on how federal tax-sharing monies were handled, hoping each time to find our governor had missed a trick; each time everything in our state was beyond federal regulations and he could never catch Governor Dan out of compliance. Then the President got caught one too many times, and finally left office, while our governor kept on for a few more years. Wish he had tried for President anyway, but he never showed the ruthlessness an effective President needs to survive. Most truly decent men avoid public office if they can avoid it, I find. Anyway, I envisioned a similar relationship between Mertirio and most of those sent on this mission, with Mertirio in Nixon's role. As for the quilt, I suspect it was a group effort, although Arwen would have had to complete it. I suspect Diamond, Esmeralda, Eglantine, Estella, Rosie, and Arwen and possibly Miriel also had it in their hands at one time or another. This is the kind of prank I see Pippin carrying out now, pranks more to delight folks while still catching them off guard. And I bet he purposely asked for pink patches for that quilt! Sort of like the mantle of threads of Light Ruvemir eventually gifts to Frodo, but more down to earth; and Harrowcat would love to see another made for Sam. Maybe down the road, but I hadn't actually envisioned it in this story. But--I don't have tomorrow's chapter fully revised yet--hmmmmmmmmmmm.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 6/28/2005
What a lovely fluffy break from all the seriousness of the previous chapter. I've contrbuted patches from special pieces of clothing over the years to quilts/blankets like this for family members over the years and they are beyond treasured gifts. Thank you for doing this for Aragorn. I do pity the first Ranger to snicker at the pink patches though. Aragorn's a good shot w/his bow after all. ;o) That sneaky, precious Pippin. I wish I could hug him. :o) Even though you told us there aren't many more chapters left, I'll take what are coming. :o) Author Reply: Who knows--Pippin might also have taught him some of the Hobbit's tricks with thrown stones as well? Yes, we needed just a bit of fluff right now, fluff grounded deeply in love. Although I didn't particularly speak of the source of the silver fabric, I think we can figure that one out.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 6/28/2005
AAaaaawwww... Pippin strikes again, and with a prank that he will never get in trouble for, because the motive behind it takes all the wind out Aragorn's sails. LOL! I do love our clever Took! And what a lovely gesture. I wonder who actually made the quilt? Perhaps a little quilting circle made up of Arwen and Rose and Narcissa and Esmeralda and Eglantine? And woe betide the unwary Ranger recruit who dares to snicker at the pink aquares... grinning ear to ear Author Reply: Yes, I've tried to imagine what response would come to any unwise enough to even raise and eyebrow at it. Does sound wonderful, doesn't it? And, yes, I suspect a number of individuals worked on this one before it was carefully added to Aragorn's pack.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 6/28/2005
Ah Larner - matching mantles. What a fabulous idea. Now what form is Sam's going to take? Or perhaps as Sam is the one to ground the other two he will simply take everyone's love with him just by his very presence. This is no prank - just pure love expressed the best way Pippin knows. I guess he had a bit of help from a certain Master Embroiderer (or even 2!) And thank you for your kind words. I might try my hand but it would be very much at apprentice level. However there are more than a few Masters of the written word on this website to learn from. Author Reply: Actually, quilts, but that's neither here nor there. Do try. Love to see how your plot bunny takes off.

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