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Lesser Ring by Larner	10 Review(s)
Szepilona10	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 6/12/2009
"Aragorn shrugged. “It’s a difficult art to develop at the first, for it is harsh on the lungs; and some I’ve had to advise to stop its practice. However, when I am under stress it appears to help me calm and think.”" Aragorn sounds just like my dad right there, he loves his pipe! Author Reply: I'm going by what those in my family have told me of how smoking affected them. My father and brother both smoked pipes, although my stepfather smoked only cigarettes. My dad died when I was a baby; my stepfather stopped smoking back in the mid-sixties, and died a couple years back in his eighties. I wish my mother had lived that long!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/20/2005
Poor Aragorn. That's a heavy burden you've given him, Larner, that King's Gift. I do hope they finally get an uninterupted hunt. Author Reply: Look at how Frodo's version of it was used to try to corrupt him, to make him claim It at the last! Of course it's a blessing--but the bigger the blessing the greater the bane it can be when twisted away from its intent. As for the hunt--you'll see in the morning! Heh!

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/17/2005
Wonderful chapter. It is nice to know that the ranger turned king, can still go camping when things get to much. I love how everyone looked after Aragorn in this chapter, including what was in the waterbottle. Author Reply: Yes, even after time the remnants of athelas tea which filled that waterbottle for Frodo for so long, still lingers and gives a healing essence; and everyone who comes to know the King of Gondor well tends to love him.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/15/2005
Poor Aragorn, this 'gift' is not always a good one! In moments as this one it must be very hard to bear it. I can understand he needed to go out and seek solace under the stars. Hardorn didn't argue he should be the one to go with Aragorn for a change? Well, he knows he can trust Legolas. And it was sweet Pippin gave Aragorn his own waterskin with the athelas water from Sam. It is a little reminder of Frodo and Sam. Exactly what Aragorn needed, maybe more than the soothing effect of the athelas itself. It is so heartening to see how all of them care for Aragorn, knowing how difficult this all is for him. Another very nice part was Aragorn's talk with the twins and his further healing of Ma'osiri. I'm very fond of Sohrabi, Ankhrabi and his sons now, so I enjoyed it so much. Author Reply: The King's Gift is a two-edged sword; and remember that the Ring used it to weaken Frodo and to tempt him (in my version of it, at least). It can be most uncomfortable in situations like this. And, the water tasting of the athelas the waterskin held for so long when Sam was keeping it prepared for Frodo would indeed bring him in tune with the two of them. When I started writing this, I was prepared not to like Sohrabi; but he has turned out to be a very decent sort after all, and I agree with you--I like him and his family as well.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/15/2005
Poor Aragorn. A double-edged sword, this gift of his. But at least he can bask in the love and care of those who surround him. Ma’osiri and Amon’osiri's concern for the twins who are about to be separated is touching - and probably edged with concern for their safety. They are bound to be as worried about Setra’amun as they are for him. Looking forward to more. Author Reply: You just used the description I wrote in the response to the review above this one--yes, a double-edged sword indeed. But he's forged a wonderful family for himself, for he, like Frodo, draws those worth knowing to himself. Thank you for appreciating the twins' concerns about Setra'amun being as double-sided as they are. Hope to have the next chapter posted tomorrow--took a client to the Fair today.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/15/2005
Another very thoughtful chapter. It is fascinating to think what sort of feeling might be provoked in Aragorn with those extra psychic abilitites. Opening oneself to others is a wonderful thing in many cases but must be very disturbing when those people are mad or bad. It must leave a nasty aftertaste, as it were. No wonder he needed to get away and enjoy some peace and the beauty of the stars. I think you write Aragorn beautifully. I never liked him much in the books but came to appreciate him more when the films came out, and I think you capture the best of our Ranger King. Lovely to know that Sam is still looking after the brother of his spirit. We all need a Sam! Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad I found this one tonight. How I miss reviews at times I'm not certain--only know I do, and it leaves me feeling embarrassed. I fell in love with Aragorn the first time I read the books when I was only thirteen-fourteen years old. He was so wise, so many-sided, so experienced in many things. The movies and Viggo's depiction of him just added to it all. That you think I write him well means a great deal to me. I've thought long about how psychic abilities might affect folks, and they could definitely be blessing and bane at the same time, particularly when you must deal with fanatics and madmen (or madwomen, for that matter). I've found myself halfway understanding folk who would do things I couldn't do myself, and empathizing with them more than others whose logic is harder for me to appreciate, and so I apparently projected that feeling onto Aragorn, I guess. Thanks so much for the feedback. And you are right--we all need a Sam.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/14/2005
It was interesting how sometimes Aragorn needed to be surrounded by those he knew loved him and sometimes he needed to be alone - or mostly alone. Also that he could see that part of himself in two of those who were sentenced... well, he could understand them and see how easily he could have chosen a different path maybe. It's a thin line he walks - we all walk between darkness and light. Loved how everyone took care of him before he left - Pippin, Ruvemir, Hardon, Benai, Legolas, etc. They didn't really fuss over him, just kind of gave him what he needed and let him go. They all read him so well - just as he reads them. Pippin and 'Sam' with the athelas water was wonderful too. Looking forward to more. Author Reply: As has been pointed out, they are an extended family now, and all learning to look after one another, and particularly the one who has the most responsibility and who's most likely to overextend himself for everyone else. I know sometimes when I'm upset I need to head for a hole, and other times I need just to talk to someone. Stands to reason Aragorn would find the same dilemma, one time wanting to surround himself with others as a distraction and the next heading out to somewhere quiet without too many distractions just to try to deal with it. And, yes, we all do walk that thin line, don't we? I've not seen the total turn away from God shown in the priest, but have seen the spirals away others have taken, getting wilder and wilder until you're certain this time the person is totally losing awareness of where the Light is. But there are some folks I find myself empathizing with whom I truly wish I could ignore, while others I can't find enough in common to make it worthwhile trying. Thanks so much for the feedback.

lindahoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/14/2005
A very moving chapter,poor Aragorn,he feels things so deeply.I believe that is one of thinks that makes him so special though.I often wonder too if he feels suffacated by walls at times.I loved the healing scene with the young prince. Author Reply: I know you love Aragorn healing anyone, and it's a blessing to be able to write such scenes, as you know. If Aragorn is the Sacred King, he represents those he stands for before the Valar and the Creator as well as the health of the land itself. The Elves feel the health of the land and all that grows on it; I just stretched that Elven ability to make the King's Gift in which he feels the well-being of its people as well. Yes, it would make him more special for he physically or psychically feels the needs of his people and thus will go out of his way to try to see to it things go as well as possible for most so as to enhance his own feelings of well-being. A person with such a gift would almost be forced to act in as responsible a manner as possible.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/14/2005
Just my favourite sort of chapter Larner - deep and meaningful discussion mixed with friendship and hobbit healing, Well done Pippin and Sam and, in way Frodo too through the good offices of the Valar. (As for my story - sorry to say its still being dreamed about while in the swimming pool)! (And here was I thinking that it was Marigold who had exclusive use of sticksies!) Author Reply: Well, Pippin recognized this water bottle must have been used by Sam for Frodo's tea as the water tasted of athelas; I think he recognized that Aragorn most likely might need it that night. And the King's smallest guard would have passed on Sam and Frodo's blessings in such a way. We do get a bit of a mix in this story, don't we? Author Reply: (ps--Sticksies??? Wassat?)

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 9/14/2005
Sigh...Poor Aragorn. One of the curses of being the King is also feeling the pain of those he has had to give judgement on. Even if only as a witness. I really liked how you wrote his explaination of it all to the two Haradi nobles. A very good balance of what could happen if Aragorn allowed it to take him over and how he combats that w/those he loves or just getting away from it all as he does this night. Bless Pippin and Sam indeed for the putting of the athelas in the water bottle. Nice interlude after a few very stressful chapters. I hope all that happens in the morning is some duck hunting. As always, looking forward to the next installment. :o) Author Reply: Well, before they can hunt those ducks they need to teach Aragorn how to use the bird bow and throwing sticks--and I imagine that he will find himself outshined by others, novice that he is. And now and then we need some philosophical discussion without more strife, I think. Sorry it's taking longer to do chapters--real life is catching up to me.

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