Reviews (322)

I cannot tell you what a treat it has been to read this fic over the past week. As I said, I have no idea how I missed it when it was first published, but I am glad that it came to me now. You craft tension so well and so vividly--just when I was sure things were on their way to rights with Aragorn this secret comes out from the dark and just wrecks him. You've got the stubborn idiot in him down as well--if he'd just TALKED to some people maybe he wouldn't have gotten them all in all that trouble :P. But it is good that it happened the way it did. I love all of your women so much, SO much. It's been kind of funny comparing/contrasting them to the women of the Dunedain in my own fic writing, whom I have come to know so well, but it's been incredibly cool to see someone else's take on them that lines up so much with my own vision (fittingly, since Hands of the Enemy had such a lasting impression on me!). You have nailed what I've always loved about this group: no matter the personalities of the individual women, they all have such inner strength, and loyalty, and their own bonds that they've formed in the absence of the men fighting on patrol. I adore the grannies playing dice together, and Eirien! Even Falathren; I've got quite a clear sense of and can see how much she is Halbarad's daughter (and, for that matter, how much his sons are his too!! I so appreciated that Hurin was so competent and collected even though he's an untested dreamer). This all wrapped up in such a bittersweet, heartfelt way, and I am very glad for the scene we got at Gilraen's grave. And this line: It will be good to have some company this time. You were right to say I spend too much time alone. I do not know how long I will be gone; but I suppose you are not surprised to hear that, either.” my BOY!!! Thank you for this story. I am so very grateful.

I will be leaving a longer review of the whole story later but please know that this epilogue absolutely WRECKED ME. Wrecked!!!! Me!!!!!!

This is a review of both this chapter and the last, which!!! oh my god!!! You write Elrond so WELL, and that conversation between him and Aragorn was just perfect. I didn't realize how much I wanted a story where Elrond truly comes to terms with Arwen's choice until I have read it here, and it's so bittersweet and lovely. Then this chapter, which had me CACKLING. MORE ELLADAN DRINKING SONGS PLS.

Hello! It's me again, lol. So, I have no way of remembering how my teenage self organized/searched for fic to read back in the day, but I SOMEHOW never actually read this story or knew it existed until I went back to your author page the other week??? I think it is fate, because I need this far more right now than I did when I was sixteen. It is SO GOOD, and experiencing it for the first time, not knowing what is going to happen, is an unmitigated delight. You craft the tension so beautifully that I spent chapters 2 and 3 quite convinced Aragorn was going to die (even though that obviously was not happening!!). All the interpersonal relationships in this chapter have me cackling with delight. Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, aaaaah. And I am SO happy you've delved into Elrond's POV about all of this--I feel like that's something I still so rarely see. It's perfect, so perfect, and I cannot wait to see where this goes. Thank you for being a bright spot in a really tough IRL month.

I have just re-found this story and have re-read it start to finish. I loved it and was thrilled to be able to read it once again! Thank you so much for the wonderful read.

I know I'm very late in reviewing, but I just had to say that this story, and In The Hands of the Enemy, are ones that I can read over and over again. It is so well written and the characters I think are just spot on. Fantastic story!

Wow...fascinating story! Leave it to the ever honorable Aragorn to do the right thing and try to find his supposed older brother...I'm just glad things worked out...I could never imagine him trying to become king if there was still a question of who fathered Bega's son and where he was. So did Aragorn confess what happened to Elrond? With their improved relationship, I would hope he's more open and honest with his adoptive father. And I hope A&A got some time to cuddle and coo! ;)

I love how you write Halbarad. You make him SUCH a true, strong, wonderful character. I also admire how you write the feelings between Elrond and Aragorn. He really does love him as a son, but you paint it a bit painfully and really realistically. They love each other, even though love usually has a tad of pain mixed in - fortunately the love is greater than the pain. Also - 'Aragorn would indeed take such a loss to heart. “Estel has yet to accept that all things cannot be saved.” “Maybe that is his gift,” said Gandalf.' That is utterly beautiful. Lord bless the idealists.

I finally got to read this story (and a prequel, too). Probably my favorite line was Halbarad's "Not again" , upon second well-timed arrival of Hurin. It has something Hemingway-ish to it, suddenly dropping the whole fantasy to the level of realistic uncertainty. It is good for us readers to know that the good will prevail, but also good to feel by means of the story that characters do not. Besides, it is terribly funny. I wonder what Aragorn would have done if Bega's son was indeed his half-brother, alive or dead. Numenorian customs are similar to elven, but psychophysiology (what a suitably misusable term!) is human; it is actually doesn't matter much if Aragorn even is Elros's descendant, as long as everybody acts as if he is. You see, I love Tolkien's Numenorians, but very much dislike blood- and birthrights under normal circumstances. My pet AU idea is Aragorn who is nobody, very talented abnormality whom Elrond first took in for protection, later honed to his purposes and even later had to rip what he saw. To everyone else's benefit. Sorry, I am not talking about your beautifully balanced story. Dudo was great. I am glad he didn't make into any impact on the book events -- only I felt some emphasis on the fact that Halbarad was dead by the time the Shire came to harm was missing. Dudo was so bitter he seemed to miss hints. Halbarad, loyal but not at all tame, was even greater. I loved his animated and totally heartless admiration of Aragorn's beheading stroke (in the first part), as well as his abused reluctance to kill people. I loved old witch's proverb about walking in darkness. Rangers' wives were just precious. Did I mention I read this for two nights in a row?

Hurin was a dreamer, a poet. Eru knew where he got it from. From Grandpa Halagarth, perhaps? Heehee. It's a testament to your writing skills that despite me meeting all these characters in one chapter, I can't help but love them. Even Hurin and his older brother, despite only being referred to in this story, are brought to such life. I'm not sure if it's wise for me to start a rambling discourse on why exactly all these characters are so awesome - I mean, you've got Elanor, whose cuteness is nicely balanced with her spunkiness ("The child was diplomatic, at least." - !!!), and man, I have so much love for our dice-playing grannies. Almost makes me wish I lived in this loving (if slightly coarse) Ranger camp. It figures that Nelaer would be as caustic and fiery as she is! And I can't help but admire Meneliel. Meanwhile, Halbarad's reunion with Eirien was just perfect. Nice to see that she isn't dainty and conventionally beautiful, and the depth of Halbarad's love and affection for her because/despite that. I just loved that entire scene with her, it's so just so subtle and tender and beautiful, despite the, ah, indelicateness of the setting, LOL. All in all, a very captivating look at Ranger life. It's absolutely understandable that the Dunedain themselves might not necessarily feel the Shire is as important as their Chieftain thinks it is, especially considering the general unfriendliness towards them in those parts... and also interestning to see how the Northern Dunedain view Aragorn, and I do wonder where these guys were (Halbarad excepting) when Aragorn claimed his inheritance.

Ah, there are so many tantalising possibilities you've hinted at in this chapter... Saerbellas being rather of Halbarad's great-great-great-grandfather, now there's something that I'd love to know more about! (And, also, what Elladan and Elrohir might wanted to have discussed about Halbarad's mother! *grapples*) Halbarad's discomfort at this reminder of the antiquity of the Elves of Imladris was certainly understandable, and it does make me wonder about how they see it - the distant descendants of the first Dunedain they must have befriended, how they must be so different and so similar from their ancestors... and each passing on quicker than they might like. I'm thinking you're primarily a Man-writer (as odd as that sounds), but you have such a gift for bringing all characters to life - from Halbarad to Aragorn to Gandalf to the Elves to Dudo. I'm not terribly interested in Hobbits, I'll admit, but Dudo's rather stolen my heart, I think. And, also, I don't think we'll see too much more of the Elves for the rest of the story (if I'm remembering correctly), I'd just like to say again that I adore your depiction of them. As seen in Elrohir's exchange with Halbarad re: Dudo, they're as wise and melancholy as Tolkien portrayed them, and kind, too. (This particular struck me in this line: Glorfindel appeared behind Dudo’s chair and pulled it back from the table. “Save your questions for the Hall of Fire, Master Dudo,” he said, extending a hand as the hobbit twisted around to peer up at him. “It is time for singing. Do you like to sing?” It's rather innocent as far as it's role in the entire scene goes, but it's just so *perfect* in its simplicity. Also perfect is drunk!Elladan, whose antics inspire me to write fanfiction of my own, LOL. Elrond's resignation and Glorfindel's disapproval are just the icing on the cake... for Elladan's drunken poetry ain't too bad, I'm thinking! "Halbarad, morose and dour" - ahahaha! :D! Halbarad's familiarity with Elladan's inebriated singing gives me an image of Elrond's sons and some Rangers around a campfire, all a bit heady from too much ale... as I said, you offer up some very tantalising possibilities in this chapter... Once again, you very deftly bring the story back to serious matters. Halbarad's conversation with Dudo about the dangers of being too infatuated with Rivendell - just, wow. It was nothing short of exquisite. And a poignant way of showing the "other side", a nice contrast to Elrond's perspective in the previous chapter. Such is Rivendell, Dudo – an image of what awaits us, maybe, after our toil here is done; and a refuge, from time to time, from the trials of mortal life. *sighs* Gorgeous. Apologies for all this incoherence, but this is just such a wonderful story, and despite repeated readings, I cannot get over how well-written it is. Action, drama, relationships, humour, flawed, loveable characters - it's what I look for in any good story, and I'm just so glad I found this story, which most definitely has all of the above, and more. Good stuff, Meckinock! Now to slowly tackle the remainder of this story... :D

I've read this story twice already, I think, havivng randomly discovered it somehwere in late December, I think... I never thought I could do justice to this wonderful story with a review, but I'm reading this again and I'll attempt to do this in stages. ;) I think this chapter and the next are one of my favourites of this story - the entire exchange with "Saddlebags" (LOL!) was utterly *priceless* In fact, Saddlebags looked like he probably hadn’t held a weapon since -- well, probably since the Last Alliance, Halbarad concluded despondently -- where spindly old Saddlebags had undoubtedly slain more orcs than Halbarad had seen in his lifetime. He was doomed. The Elf standing over him smiled dangerously. “Yes, you are.” *dies* One does wonder if Saerbellas wasn't responding so much to Halbarad's refusal of a bath as he was reading Halbarad's mind... you have such a flair for such casual humour, and this dry wit really brings Halbarad to life - I'm reminded suddenly of a line in chapter one: Halbarad reminded himself for the fiftieth time to strangle Aragorn for instigating the bestowal of Bree names. Apologies for all this rampant line-quoting, but, ack, there are just so many priceless lines that make me squee and bounce. “It pleases me to see you feeling better, Halbarad, but I must ask you to refrain from tormenting the staff.” *dies again* Brilliant, brilliant. That line made me love and respect Elrond so much more... It's just a sum of how your characters are all so believable and loveable, so dynamic in their emotions, words and actions. And the change in the atmosphere to grim seriousness with the revelation of Halbarad's vision was expertly executed. Rather sad that Halbarad will never really see Minas Tirith... sigh. Elrond's conversation with Aragorn was very touching - and interesting, also, especially Elrond said about Elros' legacy. It's an important recurring theme in Tolkien's Arda-verse, I think, that the legacy of Men lives on after them in their children... the image of the crumbled insides of the wooden box was a rather poignant depiction of Elrond's realisation of the bitter side of Elven immortality. Well - enough of my babbling for this chapter, I think. See you at chapter 6! :D

This is handy! Especially for those of us who are a bit challenged when it comes to keeping timelines straight. I really enjoy reading people's author's notes. Yes, I know I'm weird. But, um, I hope you aren't offended if I have absolutely no intention of e-mailing you to discuss the socio-economic structure of Dunedain society... ;-)

Ah. Now, while much of the last chapter made me smile, this one had me sniffling over my tea. It was painful and poignant and just perfect. It was just so fitting to bring it back to Dudo and Halbarad’s friendship. I really like how you give us little hints about Dudo’s life in the Shire. We get enough of a sense of his story to feel intrigued, and yet satisfied too – we feel we’re looking at a character who has seen and done so many things since we last saw him but what’s important is the person he is now. For a moment the opening scene seems an ordinary, hobbity one. Dudo appears to have settled in and found a place for himself. But there’s a feeling of hurt in him that’s there even before he knows who his visitors are. It’s as though – and I could be wrong – he’s making a life for himself but beyond existing has lost interest in most things because he feels hugely let down. I just love the description of Gandalf as a gleaming, bright Gandalf, like a silver candlestick with all the tarnish scrubbed off. What a wonderful way of describing his change. It must have been pretty amazing to Dudo so I nearly cried when he greeted him without affection and without a trace of his old spirited nature. I like the idea that Gandalf came and connected the threads for Dudo, showed Saruman’s role in events, the long and complicated web of treachery that Saruman wove. But then, does that matter now to Dudo? For the simple, honest and honourable person he is, what matters to him is that hobbits died, as it mattered that the boy Rolly died, and that people he thought were his friends seem to have betrayed him. I suppose too, that there was only a certain amount that the Shirefolk would have known and when you’re fighting your own battles, does it matter what its place is in the scheme of things? Actually, it must have made it harder for Dudo that most of the Shire were unaware of the Rangers’ guard and would not have been waiting for help that never came. Dudo knew and for all his courage and for all that he fought hard to save the Shire, he must have wondered and despaired when they didn’t come. And now that the battle is over, that despair becomes a more personal sense of betrayal. I really felt for him in his belief that Halbarad lied. That moment when Pippin gives Dudo the dagger is heartbreaking. I have a lump in my throat even now at the thought that Halbarad did as Dudo told him – used the dagger to protect Aragorn. Yes, there is irony in the fact that they thought Dudo was going to a safe place but really, he wanted Halbarad to have the dagger because he’d need it to play his part in securing the bright future that had Aragorn on the throne and working towards a world at peace. And that dagger is a symbol of the friendship between Dudo and Halbarad who each, I think, made a difference in the life of the other. I’m so glad for Dudo that he knows now that Halbarad fulfilled his dream and his duty, that he died making hope a reality. Perhaps one day he will travel to see where he lies (and you know, I think he and Hurin would like each other!) but for now it’s probably enough to know that he lies in peace and the open air, in sight of everything he strived for and watched over by Aragorn - and far off in the Shire Dudo can grieve for the loss of his friend. Ack, I’m gone all teary again. This was a very moving and appropriate ending to a wonderful, skilfully written story. The more I learn about writing, the more in awe I am of yours! I enjoyed every minute of this tale. As well as writing an engaging story and downright intriguing mystery, you’ve brought us closer to the Dunedain and given me new insight into the character of these noble, honourable people. You’ve made them colourful and believable and created a community full of different personalities, with their own share of hardships but who stand proud and steadfast in their heritage and their hope. More than that, you’ve taken Halbarad and made him real – a man with strengths and flaws, a man who laughs and loves and fights and dreams and believes and hopes, whose loyalty made him who he was and helped Aragorn become what he was born to be. And hey, the image of Halbarad as a sweaty, dirty Ranger who’s not adverse to a bit of rough-and-tumble in the mud was pretty attractive too ;-) Thanks for the journey, Meckinock.

I’m so sorry for being appallingly late. Please know that I adore your writing and read each chapter with great excitement as soon as you post, even if it takes me a ridiculous length of time to get around to reviewing. So… Poor Halbarad must have been frantic. But oh, I love dear, practical, logical Halbarad. In the midst of all this smoke and mumbo jumbo, he just wants to know what the old biddy has done to his friend. Me, I’m not a bit logical and was more than a little freaked out. What really made me feel for the denigha was her awareness of the lack of purpose of the Dunlendings’ existence in comparison to the Dunedain. The Dunlendings do what they do because they always have – there is no reason to question it, no reason to change and nothing to suggest a different future. Which is one thing if that’s all you’ve known, but if you’ve encountered these Dunedain, with their deep sense of honour and duty, their quiet heroism, their kindness, their belief and faith and steadfast hope… then you’ve been touched by something different and how can you ever be fully content in your own life again? You know, I’m glad for her that she got this chance to meet Dunedain again, to recognise the person who is the focus of that hope and know that the future they so strongly believed in will soon become a reality. And, of course, her own people are part of that future. I really liked the scene near Bega’s cabin. There was a great sense of atmosphere – to me, it seemed very peaceful. Too peaceful even for memories, really, if that makes sense. Perhaps that helped Aragorn to step away, to stop searching and make the decision to face the story in the present and future, not the past. Even if that’s not the decision that Halbarad would make. I think Aragorn has a lot of humility – it gives him that nobility, but sometimes it makes him brood and turn inwards and question himself instead of talking to people, sometimes it just adds to the already heavy burden of duty. Neither he nor Halbarad has less honour than the other but Halbarad – I think – is a man of action, who lives in the present and can look forward, not back. Aragorn… well, he wears history and heritage like a cloak. It was a very moving moment when he realises that even if he cannot have Arwen, he will go on and do his duty as he was born to do. He believes in it, and his people believe in it. But his longing for Arwen brought tears to my eyes – I admit that I was very glad at that moment that I know what his future holds! (I’ll also admit that for a second I thought that was it and we were never going to find out what happened. I was planning evil e-mails to you.) “I think we need to have another talk about the Ranger code of loyalty.” LOL!! Hilarious. Oh, and this: "I cannot wait to hear what grave perils have taken you away from honest work about the house this time.” I love these people. Don’t tell Halbarad I said so, but Nelaer has really grown on me. And Eirien and Halbarad together always make me smile. Though I think my favourite image is of the two tough Rangers wrapped in blankets and being alternately fussed over and chastised. I’m still chuckling at the image of Eirien looking after Halbarad while Aragorn gets the same, though “somewhat less tenderly administered, treatment from Brandol.” *snort* Of course, then I was torn between cringing along with Halbarad when Aragorn decided to speak to them all, and bouncing with excitement at the prospect of the mystery being solved. And Aragorn clearly didn’t get whatever reaction he was expecting. “Halbarad, has he been struck in the head?” Scurrying forward, Fimenel waved a hand in front of Aragorn’s eyes. “Aragorn, how many fingers am I holding up?” ROTFL!! Poor guy. I can’t help grinning at the thought that the women knew all along. I knew he should have just asked Meneliel. I could feel the silent, desperate communication between the women as they decide what to say to him. Let it never be said that the Dunedain cannot keep a secret, eh?! And oh my gosh, Meleniel and Brandol!!! Meckinock, you’re amazing. What a story. It really shows Meneliel’s strength and kindness – in fact it’s setting aside personal griefs or any prejudices and making a difference to even one person that’s so much a part of who the Dunedain are. I feel sorry for Gilraen finding those letters but hey, at least she had sense to talk to someone! I just loved the scene between Aragorn, Brandol and Halbarad. There’s such closeness there. And Aragorn and Halbarad immediately reassure Brandol of their acceptance and friendship when he must have had a moment of doubt. I was glad to see that Aragorn got his chance to visit Gilraen’s grave. His regret for her brought tears to my eyes but I thought the way he talks to her was very easy, admitting his mistakes and doubts and talking about his next steps as he’s probably done with her before. It actually made me smile, when I would have thought it would be a scene that would make me cry. I also really liked the parting between Halbarad and Aragorn – Aragorn moves on as he must as Halbarad waits in patient support until he’s needed as he always does. Did Aragorn really think Elrond wouldn’t know he was home? Sleep in the stable my foot. Elrond must have been so worried – I thought the way he “moved toward him slowly, as if approaching a skittish horse” really shows how troubled Aragorn must have seemed to him. Reluctant to speak her name lest Elrond explain he’d meant the cook *howls with laughter* There was I, all sombre and serious and then you throw in a line like that. Hysterical. And oh, what a lovely scene between Aragorn and Arwen. There is no question as to the depth of her love for him. He deserved to end this adventure in her arms. But what really made me smile was the thank you to Elrond who, like the Dunedain, will sacrifice everything for hope. I’ve rambled too much again… Well, I’ll stop for now. And hopefully get to the epilogue tomorrow. This was a great chapter, with so many beautiful moments and dotted with that wonderful humour that it so uniquely yours.

Very interesting. And logical!

Sigh! I know Halbarad's fate and yet it doesn't get any easier when I read about it. You know that feeling when you get when you feel something is wrong and you start sweating, the adrenaline is surging through your body, and you get that cold, tingling feeling crawling up your spine all the way to the back of your neck? Well, I got that feeling when Gandalf pulled out the dagger (and I'm sure so did Dudo). "He dreamt of seeing the King's banners flying over the city." "He saw them Dudo. He saw them long ago." BEAUTIFUL! I don't have any tissues left! I'll just use my sleaves! Thanks for a lovely story!

What a great idea! Thank you very much, Meckinock, for sharing this detailed job! I love doing that kind of pondering, and also love following other people's efforts. I'm terribly weird, I know! The history of the south eastern lands is very entertaining (to me) maybe because so little is said. I found your Dunledings very convincing. I think I once read somewhere that the Dunedain "capital" at the Angle and the more or less permanent settlement at Tharbad had become fanon canon, and both are only too plausible to me. Now, I have been wondering. Since Halbarad meets Aragorn in Rohan with such a very small force of thirty other Rangers (plus E2, I think) I am now wondering where the rest of the Dunedain were at that time, since they seem not to have been involved in protecting the Shire...Is there anything in the Appendices about that? I do not seem to remember... Maybe the rest of the Dunedain had to repel Dunleding attacks? Or joined Glorfindel to prepare the last defence of Imaldris, should the worst come to happen? Or rather joined the fray in Minas Tirith on their own? But there would surely be some mention of it in the books? See? Dudo made me wonder. I had never before thought about this. Thank you again. I am sure you will come back to us with more tales of the angle. Take your deserved rest!

Poor Dudo, to find out the reason Halbarad did not come, was because he was dead. Ok, I cryed during this chapter, I alway cry at Halbarad's death, wish I could talk Pr. Tolkien into changing a few lines in his book. " like a silver candlestick, with all the tarnish scrubbed off" one of the lines I like reading so well. Great story, and I do hope someday to read more from you about my favorite rangers.

What a good idea, I must try to sometime create a timrlinfe for my own stories

No words. Again. These two stories are my absolute favorite of the LOTR fandom, and among the best I've read for any fandom. You have the uncanny ability to write descriptively, yet not all goopy and cheesily. Usually people try too hard at that and it ends up making me laugh... not really a good thing. But you can also write in-character dialogue like no one else... it's a double-dip in writing talent that is rare in these here parts. So with mechanics and style that are *that* good, you could write a story about what grows along the side of the greenway and I'd probably still love it. But Halbarad! And Gandalf! And Elrond! And My Husband.. uh, Aragorn! All of my favorite characters -- guys who usually don't end up in the same fanfic, let alone go on such adventures as these. Plus amazing OCs like Dudo. I can't thank you enough for taking the time to pound these out. Yeah, it's taken years, but completely worth every minute. I hope you continue to write LOTR. Oh, screw hope. I beg of you :)

A very moving ending to a great story.I always thought Sauraman was behind it all !Thanks for a great read.I hope you will write more LOTR stories.

The foppish floor flapper continued to flog the floor when Lily Leap-Frog leapt onto the foul floor flowered with filings. "Hey," she called. "Break the broom and bustle on over to your burrow. You got boarders bucking to buzz." The dinky dirt dabber sighed. "I got to tidy the trap, peg the pin, and dump the dust." He directed the dirt around her Dr. Scholl's and whipped it to the wind. Lilly clamped her club on a chubby cheek. "Don't keep this company on cool," she said. "I'll bump the bristles for you." She shooed him off the porch. "Traipse your tootsies toward your tumbledown." Dudo, the dodgy dust dumper, dotesy-doed down to the drab door of his domicile. When he got a load of the visitors' rides, he two-wheeled a retreat, but his flatulent familial folk, Fredagar, flagged him down. "Come in, Doodoo." "It's Dudo," the wee williker said waspishly. The mini mite of a midget recognized the Fool of a Took immediately, but he was more than shook to see Olorin, the science guy, had turn into Mr. Clean. The earring, in the tiny-trouser tyke's opinion, was just inviting the aim of amorous amoebas. The science guy motioned to the itsy-bitsy bumpkin. "Come give me a hug, you runty wreck of a whelp." Dudo felt like a doo-doo, but he did as the dumb dork desired. "I brought you something," the scintillating science shifter said. From his pasty pocket he produced a package. It was the same sheath, the same sawed-off Saturday Night Special the sickly shrimp slurper had slid between the ribs of a salivating wolf to save Strider's hide. "Ain't mine," the bonsaied barnacle brusher boasted. "It belongs to the PI." A sad look slapped the science slupper. "He ain't gonna need it in The Field of Dreams." "Well," the short sallow sprig said, "it you build it, they will come." The wizened wizard whizzed his head in a complete whirl. "He ain't coming back." Tears welled in the microscopic miniature mutt's eyes. "You mean the PI is pushing up pansies in pastoral pastures past the plowed provinces of the princely procurement?" "Yeah," the wily wizard said. "He got gonged in Gondor." The white wizard whapped his whaz with a withered finger. "But you gotta admit, the Lilliputians lit into the lightweights like lightning and licked them good." The pee-wee pantry punk nodded. "True. But tell me, ole winsome wizard, did the PI get to see Six Flags?" The white wizard, formerly know as the Gray Geezer, nodded. Tears brimmed on his lower lids. "He got to ride the Tilt-a-Whirl one last time." He patted the knee-high knave on the noggin'. "There was never no better ranger, no better PI, no better dandy of danger than the man known as Johnny Halbarad. He will be missed." Human reviewer: I can't say much because I'm crying too hard. I'll miss the adventures of Halbarad and Aragorn. This story has been worth the wait. You took a minor character and turned him into flesh and blood. I loved Halbarad's personality, his wit, and his devotion to Aragorn and his people. I loved Eirien, Hurin, Alagos, Brandol, and I especially loved the dice-throwing old ladies. The world of the Dúnedain came alive. Aragorn's struggles were real. He was real. Everything about the story was great. Just great. Thanks for hanging in there when things were tough and finishing it.

Great touch at the end there with the dagger. Nicely ended and nicely done.

There is something very right about you stepping far away from events, to Dudo some years later, and tying up this final thread. Saruman was a big player in both stories, though he renamed mostly nameless, and you just buttoned all this up. On the other hand, I wanted an epilogue showing the characters you had drawn close to at the end. Back in the angle..... But maybe we can pull those out of you at a later time. :D I reread most of the story last night. It's fantastic, Meckinock.