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Divers Drabbles II by Raksha The Demon	10 Review(s)
MusicDreamer7	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/31/2013
Another beautifully poignant piece. I've wondered countless times how bittersweet the exile from Minas Tirith must have been for Beregond. On the one hand, he became a great Captain and was given the chance to serve Faramir for the rest of his days, but there were some things his sacrifice caught him. I loved that you included the idea that Beregond likely never saw the White Tree he guarded for so long in bloom. I always imagined that to be the case in my head, but there's something lovely about reading the idea in a fic.

Little Dwarf	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/26/2008
Beautiful! To be very honest, I never looked too deeply at Beregond, I always assumed he would be more than happy to serve Faramir in his new princedom... But you're very right, his exile must have been equally painful for him... A very intelligent and complex study of a character often overlooked! ;) Author Reply: It has been debated whether Aragorn actually exiled Beregond, and looking at Aragorn's sentence, it is up to a certain interpretation; but I always thought that Aragorn did exile Beregond, while rewarding him for his initiative. But to someone who had been a man-at-arms in the Tower Guard, with all the pride that Beregond had in defending Minas Tirith, it must have been sad to leave it, and, occasionally, to remember that he could not return to it.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/26/2006
This brought tears to my eyes; Beregond's qiet longing is incredibly moving. His pride and love for his city come through very clearly. All of his experiences there, good and bad ones, made up the man he was, and not to have access to where those memories were made must have been very painful, even as he accepts the judgement and deems it was worth it. Loved Faramir's silent acknowledgement of his captain's feelings. While I personally don't interpret Aragorn's words as an actual banishment of Beregond from MT (of course, just this question is an important issue in my WiP), I think your premise is equally valid. What I wondered about was the beginning of the story - that he was born and raised in Minas Tirith - because of this quote: "We might have journeyed to Lossarnach, to my grandsire's house; it is good to be there in Spring, the woods and fields are full of flowers." (RotK, Minas Tirith) Do you propose that they moved to the city, or that they have several houses? They say the new White Tree is in flower, in the Citadel that I once guarded. This is sooo sad! And then, slowly, the Great Gates close. Oh, very good. I don't know why, but somehow I am glad that you chose not to use this sentence as the final line. Perhaps it would have felt too much, I don't know. Or perhaps it is more effective/affecting to close with a more personal thought by Beregond... Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, Imhiriel! I'm glad you liked the ficlet. It wasn't easy to write. To be exiled, yet to have to see your former home frequently, and never enter it; well, there are worse things, but it had to hurt. I do interpret Aragorn's words as a banishment from Minas Tirith; but I recognize that the sentence could be interpreted otherwise. I just don't think Aragorn could let Beregond get off scott-free after spilling blood in the Hallows, though he ameliorated the banishment by rewarding Beregond as well as punish him. There is evidence that Beregond's own ancestors did not live in Minas Tirith, he mentions their being from the mountains. But it could be that Beregond's father or grandfather settled in Minas Tirith. Bergil's mention of his grandfather's house in Lossarnach could refer to his mother's father; who could have been visiting Minas Tirith, or staying there for awhile with relatives, when Beregond met and courted her. Or it could be that Baranor (Beregond's father) was not an only son of a father in Lossarnach, and sought a career in the City Guard, and settled in the White City. I think Faramir would always value Beregond and honor his sacrifice, and be aware of what it had cost him. Not being able to see the new, living White Tree, after years of guarding the old dead one, must have been particularly painful for Beregond.

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/12/2006
It was a bitter pill to see Beregond being punished for saving Faramir - yet justice needed to be served. You write his sorrow well. Author Reply: Thanx for reading and commenting, Agape. I think there had to be some consequence for deserting one's post while the City was under siege, not to mention shedding blood in the Hallows, some of that blood being innocent. Aragorn would have been within his rights to kill Beregond; but of course was more merciful, and could reward Beregond with life and promotion, but I don't think he could release him scott-free. And I think Beregond was a strong and good enough man to understand.

Branwyn	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/7/2006
Not for a minute would Beregond ever regret his choice to save Faramir, yet still it must have grieved him to be exiled from the City of his birth. (Though Aragorn must have chosen this particular punishment partly to ensure Beregond's safety, fearing retribution from friends and family of the men he had killed.) In this fic, Beregond speaks of his love for the White City and his sorrow that he will never see it again. His voice is perfect--he does not indulge in self-pity, yet neither does he discount his losses. Not only has he lost his family home, but he will never see his City and people made whole by the miracle of the new White Tree. They say the new White Tree is in flower, in the Citadel that I once guarded. He can rejoice in the restoration but only as a distant onlooker. A well-written and very thoughtful fic! Author Reply: I'm not sure that Aragorn chose that punishment to spare Beregond from revenge; but it is a viable thought. Since Aragorn didn't see fit to discuss his reasons with us, we won't know; but the glory of Beregond's valor being recognized, his life being spared, and his being given a fantastic promotion did have its bittersweet side. I think that Beregond can live with the choice he made, and the consequences, but there is still the occasional pang, the thirst for home that he can never slake. Minas Tirith was saved, but not for him. He wouldn't be human if that didn't occasionally hurt. Glad you enjoyed it, and thanx again for the beta-help.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/6/2006
This was very moving as you vividly show the price Bergond had to pay to save Faramir.As someone who loves my own home town,exile is very painful to contemplate and i truly feel for Beregond here. Author Reply: Beregond's a soldier as well as a very strong man; he can handle the pain of exile. But that doesn't mean he wouldn't feel it, especially when he saw his home town so frequently but couldn't go through its gates. Thanx for the review, Linda!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/6/2006
No matter what the honor, still the banishment must ache in his heart. A wonderful moment indeed, and I can certainly see this moment happening often. Author Reply: A man of Beregond's courage would not be too damaged by the exile from the home of his youth, but it still had to hurt now and then, especially since others of the White Company, as well as his own son, and his Prince, could and no doubt did, ride on into the City he could not enter. Thanx for the review, Larner.

Nesta	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/6/2006
Weep weep! Was poor Beregond really exiled from the City forever? I thought Aragorn was just joking when he said he had to go forth, i.e. he had to go forth because he was taking up a job in Ithilien. Couldn't they grant him a special remission or something, poor chap? Author Reply: I always took Aragorn's words to mean that Beregond couldn't return to Minas Tirith; which made his heroism, and sacrifice, all the greater. I'm glad it affected you; that's what I was trying to do (cackles evilly).

Celebne	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/6/2006
Great story about Beregond. I can imagine, that he was sad to leave the White City forever. Author Reply: Thanx for reading and reviewing, Celebne, I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Tolkien and Aragorn gave Beregond a just fate, and a nice promotion, but there's something very sad about never being able to go home again, see the place where you grew up, especially when it's right there in front of you...

Khorazîr	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/6/2006
I like this a lot -- I have always wondered how Beregond would take being banished from MT. After all, the City was his home. Leaving it must have been difficult for him (despite his new office), and for his family as well. I think you described his troubled feelings excellently. Author Reply: We don't know that much about Beregond's antecedants; it's implied that they came from the mountains; but I assumed that he was born and raised in Minas Tirith, he has great pride in the White City and its lords. Thanx for reading and reviewing, Khorazir!

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