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Lesser Ring by Larner	7 Review(s)
Amy	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/15/2005
Wonderful chapter! Wow! Lovely meshing of the latter consequences of the tale of Earendil, the founding of Numenor, and the eventual reuniting of the two lines. The meaning of the stars, the stars made flesh and flesh made stars: truly magical! Author Reply: Yes, both the founding and the foundering of Numenor are referenced here. Glad you enjoy it, and love that you appreciate the star imagery that so permeates the history of those who became the Dunedain.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/15/2005
The audience with the two landholders was amusing. I'm not sure I'd had the patience to listen for three hours, but I liked the solution. And Éomer was right - they should pay something to the Farozi for boring all of them so ;-) So, now Arwen has an apprentice, too? smile How nice! And Ruvemir is probably glad it wasn't he for a change after all the apprentices he'd been given in "The King's commission". I am truly glad Hasturnerini is now with them, although I wonder if it was truly correct to sell her and all the belongings of her father only to pay the healer. It seems quite much. Benai's story was a surprise. A unknown tribe of the Numenoreans? I'd never thought of something like this, but the idea is intriguing! And it opens so many new possibilities - now I am curious how Aragorn will send Benai back to his home and protect them in the future! It was wonderful written how Benai and Aragorn discovered first Benai's native tongue and then their kinship through Elendil! Can't wait for more!! Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad someone else likes the audience, as it was fun to write. Reread Monk's Hood recently, and such a boundary dispute was part of the story. Had to find a way of working such a dispute into my tales as well, and this seemed a perfect place, with some hint as to how all three rulers saw basically the same resolution, but would possibly seek to discourage further repeats of the dispute in different ways. And it's a proper way to deal with the girl, I think, to place her under Arwen's teaching in weaving and embroidery. And I suspect Ruvemir is properly amused at the situation. As for Benai--well, lost tribes are always interesting, particularly as we see how they interact with others of their race as they are discovered.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/14/2005
Larner, I loved this chapter! It was such an interesting twist with Benai being from a lost ship and being distantly related to the Dunadain, etc. And how he immediately acknowledged Aragorn as his lord. It was very fun to read and see how it would all work out there, I truly enjoyed that whole section. Then Arwen having an apprentice, when she never even wanted to be a master embroider in the first place is funny too and the perfect place for the girl. I loved Aragorn's comment about the honesty of children... it's so very true! Wonderful chapter all the way around and I can't wait to see what happens next. :) Author Reply: I'm so glad you are enjoying it, Radbooks. Yes, Arwen is finding another place for herself within Gondor, not just as Aragorn's wife and the Queen and one who helps in the Houses of Healing and the gardens, but also as a woman of the business of the realm. In medieval times one of the most important functions of noblewomen was that they were expected to sew and embroider; that this would be seen as something beyond just the typical pursuit of a great lady but would be accepted as part of everyday Guild activities, and she would be drawn out of the isolation of the solar and into the activities of clothesmaking and embroidery for the sake and glory of the realm is my personal bit of indulgence, I suppose. As for Benai, he's been sitting in my mind ever since I realized that the deserts of Africa border jungle tribelands, and I watched a documentary on a particular tribe with surprising ties to Israel.

Wyvern	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/14/2005
I have been following this series as you publish and find the concept highly original as well as entertaining. The finding of the 'Lost Tribe' of Numenor is an elegant idea - Keep it up! Cheers Richard Author Reply: In Africa geneticists have been finding a black tribe with a wonderful tie to a Middle Eastern culture, and that led to the idea of the lost tribe of Numenoreans found in Africa. Am glad to hear from you, and that you are finding the story and the ideas behind it original and entertaining. You will find I find a number of Nuzguls springing from documentaries I've seen, including the one which sparked "The Choice of Healing." How modern discoveries might have played out in Arda is a fascinating source of ideas for exploration.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/14/2005
Oh my goodness! This is a surprise! You do come up with the most interesting concepts: a "lost tribe" of Numenoreans! That is going to be really interesting. And I adore the idea that the young girl will be made Arwen's apprentice! I love the way Benai almost instinctively recognizes that there is something special about Aragorn and Arwen, well before he finds out the truth. I'm beginning to wonder what kind of impact the sojourn of the Northerners will have on the institution of slavery in Harad... Author Reply: It's difficult to say how slavery in Harad will develop as yet; but I suspect that future experiences elsewhere will have an impact on the import of slaves in the future. Author Reply: (Hit return before I was quite done--sorry about that.) In Africa they found a tribe of blacks who swear they are descended from the lost tribes of Israel. They have synagogues and rabbis, read the Torah, follow the typical Jewish religious year, wear the prayer garments, cover their heads, and follow basic Kosher laws. Caucasian Jews, of course, doubted the familial ties--until modern genetics came along. Tests of the DNA of identified Levites and particularly Cohenim (the descendants of Moses's brother Aaron, who are considered the ones proper to serve as priests should the Great Temple ever be rebuilt and its ancient services be renewed) from within the tribe have shown these carry the same unique marker genes as seen in Cohenim found in Israel, Europe, the Americas, and so on. Even though the tribe lost during one of the disporia migrated into Africa and obviously intermarried with local tribesmen, the Jewish identity has remained and superseded the tribal identity of those who accepted them, and all are now accepted as Jews for all their obvious negroid heritage. I've found the entire subject fascinating, as my own story deals strongly with a genetic pattern and how it manifests itself.

lindahoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/14/2005
I have been eagerly awaiting this chapter as the rescued slaves caught my interest. Aragorn and Arwen are so kind and good and humble too.I was fasinated by Benai's story and felt as if I were Aragorn listening.You are a great storyteller !I hope you will further develop the relationship between Aragorn and BEnai as Benai is obviously a great man too. Author Reply: I hope I can develop the relationship as it deserves to be developed, and hopefully in this story, although it won't be the easiest thing to do. So glad you love the twists and turns. And thanks so for the compliments.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/14/2005
Wow...When you sald wait and see who this slave is, you weren't kidding Larner. What a plot twist and so in canon too!! My mouth is still gaping open at the shock. So, he would be a cousin of sorts to Aragorn, Arwen and Hardorn, right? If I understand things properly. I could be wrong of course, so if I am, just ignore my ramblings. :o) And Arwen gains an apprentice as well. As an embroider myself, I've got to admit I love how you've taken Tolkien having Arwen stitch Aragorn's standard and just expanded on that in so many wonderful ways. It's one of my favourite things that you've put in your stories. Very much interested in seeing how Arwen teaches her new apprentice to sew and weave. Looking forward as always to the next chapter. Author Reply: In making Arwen an embroiderer, Tolkien was simply accepting the typical pursuits of a medieval noblewoman, who was primarily expected to keep to her stillroom, her solar and her sewing or weaving, and to oversee the running of the household--when she had a break from bearing her lord's heirs, of course. Naturally, this ideal was always being breached in reality, particularly when the men of the manor were drawn off to war to fight for their overlords. I like to see Minas Anor as being a bit more modern, and Arwen accepted as part of the business dealings of the realms along with her other functions as Queen and the Lord Elessar's wife. That she would find the guilds seeking to draw her into their activities seemed logical and, I must admit, a bit perverse on my own part. I like the thought that those who made their living sewing and embroidering would seek to draw her into their activities, making her more accessible in many ways. After all, she's not now in the isolation of Imladris or Lorien any more. Gondor is the current emerging power once more; and its economics and business dealings are going to have an impact on everyone.

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