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Lesser Ring by Larner	7 Review(s)
Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/23/2005
I forgot in the last reviews to mention how I liked it that Aragorn gave Benai his old sword! And it is somehow touching to see how much Benai is intent on protect Aragorn and his family. Even if he accepts him as his Lord, that not necessarily means he has to feel so deeply for him. The difference between how Aragorn trusts Benai, a complete stranger, nearly immediately and entrusts him with the life of his family and how he distrusts Sherfiramun is telling. He obviously can read their hearts quite well. I wonder if Sherfiramun ever will realize how much his ill-spoken words after the tale of the War of the Ring have cost him and his allies. Without this they probably wouldn’t have watched him with the same distrust and maybe not expected his treason. I loved it how Legolas got the spy who listened to them. The rebels obviously didn’t know about the uncommon good hearing of the elves eg Seeing how Lord Amonrabi caught him then, I have to admit Haradrim and Northerners worked very well together even without accords. But then, if they had talked about it together, Éomer wouldn’t have got this nice answer from Amonrabi why the Farozi isn’t available at the moment, it was so amusing! And I am glad to know An’Sohrabi can count on his half-brothers and nephews loyalty – it seems to have paid off that he tried to save them. In this chapter were so many parts I enjoyed: Pippin cooking for all, the way Rustovrid was involved in the alerting of the troops remaining true to the Farozi, how Legolas brought the swords for Aragorn and Hardorn ... and of course, the best was how they came in Sherfiramun’s house and captured Merdirion and his slave. Really, I love our Northern Rangers in action! (Although, thinking about it, if they set their minds to a career as criminals, they would probably be uncommonly successfull!) And I suppose, seeing this for himself, Lord Afram will come to admire this, too, and know very well it’s better to be the ally and not the enemy of Arnor and Gondor. Merdirion seems to have been busy admiring his future realm on the maps. Well, he has reckoned without the host, and will be bitterly disappointed. To think himself Lord over all of Middle earth in some days and then find himself captured and exposed is certainly not what he had expected!

lindahoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/22/2005
The plot thickens,it is even more far reaching than I thought.Poor arwen must be so worried. I must say I have a few reservations about the torture/near torture of the captives though Tolkien does give us the example of Gollum.I can see Aragorn as tough as nails but not so brutal outside of a battle but that is just my opinion. I love the way everyone is so taken aback that Aragorn is the man they knew from so long ago and trust Pippin to deal with the cooking. Many thanks for your kind review of my story. Author Reply: The threat of torture would be what would spark most of the speech, along with Aragorn's commanding presence, I think. He and Arwen would probably have inherited enough of Elven thought communication skills to cause many to speak when they would have intended to stay quiet. But Aragorn knows the psychological advantages of stripping his enemies, of binding them hand and foot, of having the one with the means to torture at hand, even if he is relatively gentle in his business and uses it far less than those who are being questioned would do in similar circumstances. He would be a product of his times and would know such things would be expected, even if he uses the threat of them more than the reality and insists on tortures being used as humanely as possible. However, I do not see him as one who would refuse to use torture if he felt it was necessary, but as one who would do no more than he felt was needed. And it was because he admitted to using food deprivation and binding to "tame" Gollum that I decided to allow Aragorn to have a willingness to use non-damaging forms of torture perhaps at times. Frodo, on the other hand, would have been horrified at the whole idea, I suspect. Glad you liked Pippin being called upon to fix meals--I thought the folk of Harad ought to realize that Hobbits had other things to do at home than just doing sword practice and all. Let them see first hand that Hobbits are multifaceted.

Amy	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/22/2005
No time except to say I've been looking forward to this chapter for the last 24 hrs, and I enjoyed ruthless!Hardorn and Legolas v. much. I think that Aragorn, who has lived for so long as a hunted man, would not have lost his edge, but it's good to have someone in the party thinking about security 24/7. And still I don't know what Arwen, Melian, and Benai are doing! Rollicking good fun! Author Reply: Oh, the queen has things in hand back in the Farozi's palace, along with everyone else there, of course.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/22/2005
Ah, where to start? It was another wonderful chapter. Having Pippin cooking duck was great and seeing the amusement of the guard while he gave him the list of things he would need was funny and Aragorn knowing he would have the money he had given him. It was great when Hardorn scolded Aragorn for holding something in one hand while he captured someone. I love their relationship, Hardorn is totally honorable and respectful to Aragorn at all times, though he is never afraid to tell his cousin what he thinks in regards to his personal safety and would willingly give his life for Aragorn. I just enjoy the two of them together. Legolas and the spy hole was great too - what a perfect way to catch someone. Then Eomer trying to hold in his laughter when he was told in a very roundabout why he couldn't see the Farozi. The Farozi is a wiley one and also very kind. It was his kindness years ago that led him to take in so many of his half brothers and sisters and now he is surrounded by his nieces and nephews who stand by him and help protect him. I'm sure he didn't do it for that reason of course, but you never know where kindness will lead you. You made a comment to my last review when I said that I was surprised that Aragorn didn't rush right back to the palace to protect Arwen and his children that he was trusting of the rohirrim and Gimli and the others there to protect them, while he and his men could go and track down the source of the problem. Yes, you are correct and strictly as a king that would be the thing to do, I was just thinking that as a husband and a father, there would be twinges to want to rush and protect them. But then Aragorn has always had to push those things aside for duty and the greater good. It must have been very difficult to do though - I don't mean just in this case. Anyway, that's what I was thinking when I wrote that in my last review. Anyway, another wonderful chapter and I can't wait for the next one! Oh, I loved Lord Afraim too! :) Author Reply: If the Kingdom of Heaven is like a measure of yeast hidden in bread dough to make the whole of the dough to rise, kindness is much the same. You never know where or how the kindness you do will come back to bless you. We reap the benefits of our kindness as well as the destructions of our pettiness doled out to others. I am so glad that you have put into words what I was envisioning in seeing the nature of Sohrabi, for I'd seen it but not truly described it as you have--just by describing the reactions of those who were saved by him and their children. A different kind of nobility than Aragorn's, perhaps, but nobility yet the same. Yes, the husband and father would want to be there to protect his own; but the King, who must also be a political animal and think outside the boundaries of his own desires, must at times to trust to others to see to their own safety and the safety of those he loves so that he can do what only the King can do, which must be, at times, to confound the plans of evildoers Thank you for responding.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/22/2005
Another fabulous chapter! I love all the detail and you're right, it does fire my imagination I could smell the market place in a previous chapter, with all the spices and the heat. I agree with your comments about those who follow the path of evil becoming very blinkered. Their minds seem to only work in one way. Aragorn certainly knows this, and it is his ability to think so freely that make him such a formidable opponent. First class interrogator too - don't think I'd like to face his questioning if I'd done something bad. Can't wait for the next chapter now. Author Reply: I would think that trying to face down Aragorn would be difficult. He has managed to obtain the equilibrium he must have to manage the King's Gift, and realizes he can then use the freedom and constraints it gives him for the good of all. For those dedicated only to power or self-advancement, the loss of the ability to empathise in the end becomes a degenerative condition leaving them increasingly impaired in their ability to conceive of how others will react. Tolkien has Gandalf say it best in his description of Sauron as they discuss the need to march on the Black Gate--malice weighs all in the scales of its own balance, and cannot perceive anyone else can intend differently than itself would do in a particular situation, which was how they were able to overcome Sauron in the end. Sauron would never willingly give up the Ring, and so cannot conceive of anyone else doing so. Those who have not given themselves to power are therefore able to think of, plan, and do, therefore, that which he cannot expect; and that they would rather spend themselves fighting him than simply bowing to what appears to be the inevitable disconcerts him in the end. Thank you so much for showing how the hints in my story become more manifest in your imagination as you read it.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/21/2005
Oooh....The plot thickens. Loved Legolas'interception of the spy and then the "explaination" to Eomer. I can so clearly see Eomer's face as he tried not to laugh as he figured out what had happened. I see another disappearance is about to take place. I'm guessing that he will not give up the Lesser Ring. A pity, as he's more of a slave than the one who told Aragorn, Hardorn and the Haradrim noble the plans of the attack about to take place on the Farozi's palace. You're weaving the various threads of a palace coup as excellently as Arwen would w/her loom and threads. This is so very well done mellon nin. Looking forward as always to seeing what happens next. Author Reply: Power is one of the most addictive agents in the world; but as with most addictions it destroys the ones who become addicted to it from the inside out, and enslaves them to it. Yes, Merdirion is more enslaved than his slave is. Thank you so much for the great compliment you have given me. It is what makes it worthwhile to write. And am so glad you enjoy the little moments as much as the taking of Merdirion.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 8/21/2005
Another brilliant chapter! I would like to say something about the way you write action and intrigue: chapters like this are almost like watching an episode of Mission:Impossible; each move is given in enough detail that the reader can follow the action, and not become lost. You never seem to lose track of who is where, or what they are/were doing. You account for everyone and every possiblity. Many writers skimp on these kinds of details, and the result is that the suspense is lost as the reader tries to play catch up. I noticed it first in "The King's Commission", and then in some of your other stories, but in this one, perhaps because it is so action oriented, you have really come into your own with this technique. Just thought I would say that. And as always, looking forward to more. Author Reply: Oh, thank you for noting that. I hate it when I read a book and realize a character has gotten lost along the way, as it were. It happens to me, too, at times, but I try to take care of that. And you are correct--in an action adventure such as this one one needs to feel everyone is working toward his assigned goal somehow. Thanks so much for the feedback--it is so appreciated.

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