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Lesser Ring by Larner	7 Review(s)
Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/29/2005
Elessar is a very open king. Which is helped by Minas Tirith being quite a small community, really. They whole delegate thing is just an inevitable part of large societies - and the kings and presidents become detached from the lives of those further from the centre of power. Lord Wasnior, now. A lot of hackles rose when he was speaking. Further investigation would seem wise! He seems to know more about rings than he should. Good to see a variety of people emerge, blinking in the sunlight, from the slave ship. And the buck passed to Gondor to deal with the matter. At least you know Elessar won't ignore the matter. Author Reply: Yes, Aragorn seeks to be as open as possible, I think, and wishes to make news known as efficiently as possible in a world where the quickest form of mass communication is a beacon fire. Wasnior isn't a pleasant fellow, but then he is from Umbar after all. He's probably hoping there aren't any more of the cursed rings floating about Middle Earth, possibly on fingers of those poised to do damage to Marcipor's own plans, whatever they might be. But I suspect he just has an attitude about him that sets hackles rising even when he himself means nothing sinister. And yes, I think we can be certain that our King isn't going to let this matter drop--he'll find ways to make the punishment fit the crime.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/28/2005
They found him, the father of the two sick girls, and some of Benia's people too. Happy dance. Hum, what is up with Wasnoir? Liked the part in the last chapter about the star and interest of the Dunnadan. Also forgot to say that I am happy to see the Lord Hardon is going to be a daddy. Author Reply: What can one say about the likes of Wasnior? He's from Umbar, is likely the one the Lord Captain Thorongil left with a wound on his behind during the assault on the fleet so long ago, and while he finds himself admiring the rule of the Lord King Aragorn Elessar is also wary of him as well. Being the chief envoy between Umbar and the Court of Gondor would not be an easy position, I suspect. And I, too, am happy to see that Hardorn is also going to be a daddy, with a child almost the same age as the King's son. And I, too, was glad to see the girls' daddy freed from slavery and a few more from Camaloa freed as well. It will add more proof to Benai's tale among the folk of Gondor and Arnor. Thanks for the double review!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/28/2005
That was the predecessor of our press conference, wasn’t it? Of course, it was nearly the only way to tell the common folk about what happened - to tell it to the bards. Hmm ... don’t know for sure what to think about Lord Wasnior. With the exception of Armanthol, I begin to distrust all these men from Umbar :( I hope he is one who proves to be honourable. Oh, by the way, what’s become of Armanthol? Otherwise this was a wonderful chapter. The Gondorians have taken the slave ship and freed the prisoners, Benai has found some of his people there, and we have the lost father of the nearly poisoned Haradri girls back! And I remember the new engineer from „The King’s commission“. Obviously his honourable behaviour was rewarded! So many things to enjoy! Author Reply: Well, you know that my stories tend to be tied together--I was wondering what had happened to the former laborer who defended Ruvemir and Pando and their party at the bridge to Casistir--and that he was encouraged to study to become an engineer is heartening. I'd indicated a similar audience followed the end of the war with the Wainriders also in the King's Commission--and you're right--this would be perhaps the best way to get news disseminated--tell the bards, minstrels and patterers and have those likely to do paintings and sculptures and histories told as well to make certain more people in the future have an idea of what happened back then. Wasnior, I suspect, isn't truly comfortable as Umbar's envoy to Gondor, and he probably has very mixed feelings about the King Elessar. As for Armanthol--he's likely to slip back into the story at any time, you must realize. You might be surprised.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/28/2005
The last two chapters have been full of thought-provoking and brilliant observations, as usual. I found it very interesting to think that many in Gondor might find Aragorn a bit of a mystery, even after ten years. He must have been a real 'new broom' after Denethor's rigid rule, and there must have been some who did not altogether approve, at least at first. I was so glad to see that the lost son-in-law has been found! Poor man, and how happy and relieved his wife and childen will be. Now that entire family will owe their happiness to Aragorn. Interesting to see how news would have been relayed in the days before newspapers. Minstrels, bards etc, who would have had their contacts among the gossip in the city. We all know people like that - tell them something and the whole world knows within a day! Now I'm wondering why the one from Umbar was so very interested in Merdirion......... Author Reply: Wasnior is there in Gondor at Lord Marcipor's appointment, and so his personal loyalties lie to him. Now comes news that an Umbari expatriate had planned to unseat Marcipor--I suspect he's getting ready to be fully grilled next time he finds himself in Marcipor's company. It must be tough for Marcipor--he owes his own continued rule now at least twice to Aragorn Elessar Telcontar, the epitome of the descendants of Elendil; and it must rankle. The dissemination of news in days before mass-communication was quite different than it is now; yes, this would be the equivalent of the press conference, probably with the invitations given to those who have usually shown themselves most accurate and properly biased in reporting what has happened previously. As for Aragorn's acceptance--I suspect most commoners love him dearly; but as he does not come from a known noble family in Gondor and routinely sets his own, even if very honorable, rules for conduct, he's still probably seen among much of the older lords and noble families as still a partly unknown quantity. Faralion is probably indicative of how many who had been part of the status quo under Denethor still feel toward their King, the one who'd been a "Ranger from the North, last of a ragged house long bereft of lordship." Ruvemir had never been in the capitol before and had preferred to take only those commissions that pleased him; Faralion is more likely to have been one who regularly visited the city under Denethor and had come to absorb the expectations of those he'd worked for before. He wants to develop a relationship, I suspect; but is still trying to revamp his frame of reference of rule to fit the King he admires and yet finds willing to do inexplicable things such as sweeping floors after small sculptors....

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/28/2005
Gosh you do know how to turn the mood of a chapter in just a short space. More King's Justice and company for Benai and the lost is found - Yeh! Author Reply: Yes, our King is a just one, and we love him for it. And indeed the lost has been found, and a few of them ones we hadn't as yet developed an emotional tie to as well. Hope I can continue to keep your attention engaged as we go on.

lindahoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/28/2005
An interesting chapter. I enjoyed reading the varied reactions,learning more about the rings and the discovery of the prisoners on the ships, Many thanks for your kind reviews of my story, I'm sorry you have been having a difficult few days and hope things will be better now. Author Reply: I like to think of how in those days and in such a world the word on what has happened would be given out, and had to find the missing father, you know. As for the last few days--a friend has put himself into a horrid situation, and we're waiting to see how he gets himself out of it. Thanks so much for the feedback. And I'm still hoping Faramir believes Arwen! Silly Steward--thought bonding don't lie! Heh!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/27/2005
This is really neat. We start out with the Gondorian equivalent of a press conference (how clever of you!) I'm wondering why the Umbari representative was so very curious about the disposal of Merdirion? And then the capture of the slavers!! So cool that not only were there some of Benai's people freed, but the lost son-in-law, as well. Perhaps this episode will bring home to the Haradrim and the Umbari just how serious slave traffic is, and the need to put an end to it. All in all, an excellent chapter!! Author Reply: Yes, there would be a need in those days to get the news out, and when there is no newspaper it is the patterers, the tale spinners, the bards, minstrels, and artisans who let the common people know what has occured. As for whether or not Umbar will truly crack down on slavers--I suspect they officially disapprove of it while officially turning blind eyes. As for Harad--that will be a tougher nut to crack, for slavery has become so entrenched in their economy.... Thanks for the feedback!

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