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Lesser Ring by Larner	6 Review(s)
Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/18/2007
Ohhh! This is so good. I do have a question though. What does Farozi mean? Author Reply: So glad you like it. In coming chapters you will see more familiar characters, and hope that you will appreciate their coming. Farozi is a term that is a twist on "pharoah." Considering that I have made the folk of Harad proto-Egyptians, I decided their ruler would be much as a pharoah of ancient Egypt was. In a similar way, the ruler of Rhun I named the Shkatha, again a twist on Shah. I have always loved archaeology, and loved figuring ways to make Harad resemble Egypt with a bit of a Middle Earth twist.

Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/5/2006
Well...I said I was going to read one chapter tonight. Just one. Mmm-hmmm. Since when have I held to my word on that? :) But then, how can I when there is so much intrigue? I am just amazed. I don't recall Tolkien mentioning the cultures of Harad and Rhun, unless it's in one of his works which I haven't yet read. The Rhunam put me a little in mind of the Arabian culture, and Harad and its people as portrayed here are remarkably similar to ancient Egypt. The names of the "gods," the emblems and creatures that represent certain deities, the people and culture themselves. Even the title "Farozi" bears a slight resemblance to "Phaaro." But it's different enough to still be interesting in its own right. I know this is a question that has no real answer, but... Wow! How do you do it? I've often thought building a fantasy world is an experience, and so it is, getting all the details just right and so on; but to take an already-created world, more detailed than any other in any fantasy that I know of, and add so much more depth and richness...I just can't imagine, and am still awed by such an ability. Loved Aragorn just stepping in and dealing with Maruset, and I'm so glad it never came out, or he might have been in trouble. Good for the crocodile! That sounds terrible, but I can't say I regret it. That Virubat is a nasty villain, if ever there was one. His perpetual forced evil smile certainly suits him, and though I'm never one to judge by looks I have to say that made me suspect him from the first. Ugh! Poor Aragorn to have to deal with killing him! And not exactly the most painless end, either. It struck me as sad that even maids should be spies, so I'm happy for Pe'elisiri, that she was uncomfortable with what she had to do and at last got her wish. Ah, Ma'annubi is a good servant. :) I don't usually trust omens and such things in life, our society being what it is, but it's amazing how the priest interpreted all he did, and I loved his mention of Aragorn's brothers. The entire affair of the star was amazingly done. It's a good thing he didn't have that brooch when he was being examined! The idea of Aragorn being part of such a vile cult as the guards thought he was is so ridiculous that it's amusing. "Your mother must have mated with a camel." LOL! I'm not siding with the guard, but that was a very clever strategy! In Aragorn's place I'm afraid I would have laughed and given myself away. Certainly it was an insult, but it's one that sounds so funny that I find it hard to believe anyone would take it seriously. I love your Dunedain, and Hardorn has to be my favourite. So loyal, with such a great heart, and with such imperfections as a little rashness and impatience...He's wonderful! smiling dreamily :) Only when I stop to breathe do I realise that I've read through the entire first section of this, but I can't wait to read more! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: When you get to the author's notes you'll find out more of why I chose to deliberately model Harad on Egypt. And it was fun taking Egyptian religious and cultural models and make them fit into Arda. Typically speaking, courts were hotbeds of spying and counterspying and counter-counterspying throughout history. That this poor maid wished to be relieved of the onus of spying I felt to be desirable. And am glad you felt that Maruset and Virubat both got what they deserved. Am so glad you enjoyed this first section; the return by Aragorn and his party once he is King of Gondor and Arnor is quite interesting, I think you'll find. And am SO glad people like Hardorn! I find I truly like him myself, although Ruvemir and Brendi are two of my favorite OCs.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/4/2005
Great ending to the first part of your story. Hardorn has his wayward cousin back under his watchful eye. Liked all that snake stuff Aragorn had on him, when he was searched. This whole chapter was great. Author Reply: He chose the snake carving for Elrond's sake, serpents having so long been considered part of healing in our world to the point the serpents about the scroll has become the sign of physicians from the days of ancient Greece; then he chose the long knife, I think, primarily for its good balance and fine blade; that it was decorated with a serpent was probably incidental. That knives and swords from Far Harad where I've indicated Ghansaret the snake goddess who is a symbol of rebirth is popular would be decorated with her associated animal would be to be expected, of course; all of which would draw attention away from the true meaning of the serpents on the Ring of Barahir, of course. So glad you appreciate it! And Hardorn must have been driven frequently crazy by his cousin's independent streak. However, two of them together in Harad might have been more suspicious in the eyes of Mordor's agents. Glad to see you reading this here.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/3/2005
That was a narrow escape for Aragorn at the haven. How lucky they found the snake-tokens first and drew the wrong conclusions. I loved it how he asked the boss for a confirmation he was already searched. A pity not all are able to do so - these guards are quite nasty. Virubat got what he deserved for so many murders. After the familiar argument between Aragorn and Hardorn of course - sometimes I wonder how often they went through this over the years. And the end was somehow fitting. It was good to know Aragorn has send them all the letters to help them a bit to defeat the Dark Lord and his spies. Author Reply: Oh, I agree. And one gets working for one the type of person one deserves, I think. Corrupt ones such as Sauron will draw to his service those with orcish tempraments at the lowest levels, and that's the attitude shown by the lower guards, who have found easy profits in stealing from those they are supposed to be guarding. Nasty indeed, and yet I've always pictured Aragorn canny enough to figure out how to circumvent them. I'm certain Aragorn and Hardorn must have repeated that argument many times, and suspect Hardorn would have won usually only when Aragorn was exceptionally ill, wounded, or exhausted. And I'm certain Aragorn felt forewarned is forearmed, and that this consideration led him to send those dispatches which would be useful to the Farozi and his sons to their hands by the one best able to recognize their value.

aragorn_reader	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/3/2005
Read this last night: absolutely delicious! shivers with excitement Wonderful how the snake imagery worked in Aragorn's favor, and having sacrificed his star brooch. Am still contemplating his warrior/healer roles and how difficult it must have been to reconcile those in one person, with the violence undercutting the healing. Author Reply: It has long been said there are no true accidents, and I see this working for the safety of Aragorn. The watchers in the South are told to look for spies from among the Dunedain bearing star tokens, but not for the descendant of Barahir bearing a ring picturing two serpents; and so when they find two incidental items depicting serpents they assume in accordance with the cultures of Harad they and the ring are all depictions of Ghanset chosen out of honor for that one. Aragorn was asked to sacrifice his star brooch, the sign he is a Ranger of Arnor and a physical tie to his unknown father and grandfather and who knows how many of the Chieftains of the Northern Dunedain before him, and so is saved from discovery. The Valar know what they are doing. As for reconciling healer and warrior, I think he would come to see the warrior side of his heritage much in light of surgery--the removal of evil growths that the whole organism might live to fulfillment. But it wouldn't make it any the easier to order executions when he himself and those he personally guards are not in immediate danger; yet he knows such things from time to time must come and so he bears what he must. Thanks for the thought-provoking observations.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/2/2005
This was marvelous! I love the way that Aragorn dealt with the searching guards, and with the captain as well. Again, he told no real lies, but the truth cunningly concealed. And how fortuitous that the priest had seen to it that he did not carry the Star of the Dunedain with him! I also enjoyed Hardorn's greeting of his cousin, and I appreciated the way in which they dealt with Virubat. I am sure Aragorn did wear that dagger to tempt him--much easier to kill in self-defense, than cold-bloodedly. And the ending was great: now the Farozi is well aware of the Enemy's strategies, and for a good long time, at least, deal with them. And now the stage is set for the next visit... I look forward to his seeing once more the friends he has made during this journey. Author Reply: Yes, Aragorn doesn't lie, yet doesn't let all the truth be known; and realizes what needs doing to protect himself. Am not myself certain he wore the dagger so to tempt Virubat, but he certainly used the reaction properly. I'm still certain that he would not easily take to killing in cold blood, even when it is necessary and so well deserved. And now we await the second visit....

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