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Steward and Thain by Agape4Gondor	8 Review(s)
Pipkin Sweetgrass	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/1/2010
I just loved this story! You were well within character and the story as well as the writing was well done. I loved Aragorn's take on things...I think perhaps he imagined young Boromir and was quite moved...all in all, a blessing of a story. Thank you!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2007
Ah, but yes, he knew your father, Boromir--knew him well, and saw you as a toddler, even. And he's right, although if his son ever did such a thing it's likely there would be a discipline intended to cause the child to think more clearly as to what the results of the action might be as well, although I doubt Aragorn would ever thrash his son. Author Reply: You are VERY right here, Larner. I'd hoped someone would notice that! Aragorn did know Denethor! And yes, I believe Denethor was correct in disciplining Boromir, but I think Aragorn would have wished for a gentler handling of that. Especially since he might possibly have held Boromir on his knee as a babe... possible. In all my tales, I have never had Denethor hit one of his boys, but as Pippin was telling about his own thrashing, I remembered that in older days, many parents believed corporal punishment was not only necessary, but imperative. So Denethor's thrashing of Boromir was not done in anger, nor as retribution, or revenge, but in a fatherly fashion - to help his son to grow up and learn from his mistakes. I have had such a thrashing from my own father, one time, and it was clearly needed and I have NEVER forgotten it nor the lesson learned. I shudder even now thinking of it.

Pearl Took	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2007
"...You could join…” He saw the look of horror in Pippin’s eyes. “I have to save my people,” Boromir moaned. “Is that what a Steward does, Boromir?” “I confess I am not sure what a Steward does, not since joining this Fellowship. Before, it was all cut and clear as glass. I would fight the evil as I do now, I would govern my people, and I would help Gondor grow strong again. As my father has tried to do. But now, the world is larger to me.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This chapter is wondrous! There is so much here to chew on, this confession not the least. So beautifully done, Agape! Author Reply: Pearl Took - thank you! I love the lines of Boromir about his changing attitude. He was wise and smart and had to have his eyes opened at the Council. Though he was VERY right in saying that Gondor bore the brunt of the battle, due to the fact that they lived on Mordor's front door! - but he could not have failed to note, and appreciate, the struggle of others! Thank you for reading and especially for responding!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2007
Another very lovely chapter. I am enjoying the way this friendship is growing with each new story. Author Reply: Very glad you're enjoying this. I am too!

Fiondil	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2007
I've been enjoying this story from the beginning. Pippin and Boromir are obviously becoming good friends, supporting one another and encouraging one another, something they both need and cannot get from other members of the Fellowship. I enjoyed the revelations of their childhood escapades and I liked that Aragorn's voice sounded like Gandalf's to Boromir when Aragorn joined the converation. Of course, I was hoping to hear him tell them about one of his escapades as a child and how he was punished for it. grin I look forward to reading more. Author Reply: Thanks so much, Fiondil. I truly enjoy your Elf Interrupted along with your other writings. I don't usually read Elves, but Finrod and Glorfindel are favorites. As for this story, most stories I've read have Merry and Pippin kind of 'stuck' to each other with nary a moment to learn anything about the rest of the members of the Fellowship. But when I thought of the similarities of these two 'dissimilar' people, I wanted to explore it further. Pippin's love is child-like, the best kind ever. And Boromir's love is 'mature' which is what Pip needed. Someone to accept her as what he was to become. For some reason, I felt that most folks of the Shire, because of Pip's proclivity for foolish actions and foot-in-the-mouth discourse, would wonder whether he would ever be 'fit' material for Thain of the Shire, Master of the Shire-moot, Captain of the Shire-muster and the Hobbitry-in-arms. Good grief - I missed a chapter - should have written about the copious titles these two shared! LOL Again - many thanks! Author Reply: Hmmm - mistake up there - Pippin needed someone to accept HIM - what were my fingers thinking as they typed this! Freudian slip?

Garnet Took	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2007
What wonderfully high praise Boromir give the hobbits. Pippin really is good for Boromir. He gives the man a whole new perspective on life and the world. They are both learning so much about the wider world, each other and themselves. I hae a feeling that when this story ends, I'm going to be as broken up about Boromir's fate as Pippin is. Keep up the good work. Author Reply: I truly think that Boromir respected the Hobbits - the 'little one' that PJ has him use in the movies was not in the book, though it was endearing. I think Boromir quickly assessed the Halflings and decided they were worthy of the Quest. And yes, they are both good for each other. The similarities help! Let's not discuss the ending quite yet - I do NOT want to write that chapter! Thank you for reviewing!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2007
. And now I see that others have fought the evil; others besides Gondor. It is a strange lesson to learn. What an amazing thing for Boromir to realize. He is so very "human" in your story, exactly as I like to imagine him. Author Reply: Thank you, shirebound. I think that Denethor probably 'drilled' the responsibility that weighed upon the Lords of Gondor. Boromir was not dense; he would have noted at the Council and while they were in Lorien, that others fought and died for the cause. I'm most grateful you think I'm doing well with Boromir - I do happen to love the man dearly!

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2007
Interesting chapter. I loved the account of tweenaged Pippin's engineering effort with the dam, and the chaos that followed. But this once, in the account of Boromir's 'adventure', my sympathy rests with Denethor. At thirteen, given the responsibility that his high rank entailed, Boromir should have known better than to run off, telling no one, and take his little brother with him. Of course, considering that much of Aragorn's life was taken up with journeys far from his own responsibilities, his viewpoint doesn't surprise me. (I've always liked Aragorn, but I do feel sorry for his people, who might have preferred their Chieftain home rather than spending decades in Rohan and Gondor) Author Reply: Boromir (and Pippin) both realized they had done wrong. Boromir, however, had been beating himself up about it for the rest of his life. As I think he did with any apparent failing of his. The only thing Tolkien said he had in common with Denethor was his pride. So he woulc chastice himself and not forgive himself, I think, for what he had done. Though I truly believe he was quick to forgive others! Perhaps Aragorn saw that need and decided it was time for Boromir to forgive himself. Also - Aragorn has never had children, he lives in the wild and adventure (if one would call it that) is his middle name. I think he could relate with a child going off - AND you are right about his relationship to his people. Must have been odd - to say the least. In my mind's eye - the main failing of both these adventures - another commonality - was the fact that they drew others into danger with them!

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