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| A Maid Waiting by Larner | 12 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/16/2007 |
| Merry the accountant! I can see that working very well with his personality. He would be the one to know what's what when it comes to business. There are going to be some things to explain here when Merry gets finished. Then put Frodo on the trail and I think there will be some very big questions to answer. Author Reply: Yes, Merry is the meticulous one who thinks ahead and recognizes patterns when they unfold. So glad you approve! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/7/2007 |
| I loved the sparring. I was right that Aragorn and Faramir were not fooled in the slightest, I see.I'll be interested in what punishment Aragorn devises. Author Reply: No, not fooled at all. As for the punishment, I hope it doesn't disappoint, although it would have to be one of the worst imaginable to the likes of Canelmir. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/5/2007 |
| I don't have time to leave a proper review as I'm not feeling well, but I wanted to let you know I loved the chapter and I can't wait for the next one! Author Reply: Oh, I'm so sorry you're feeling badly--hope you recover well. Next chapter should be posted Friday, God willing and the ISP from Mordor cooperates. | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/4/2007 |
| I think everyone would be much nicer if they could spend more time with hobbits. Systerien has definitely been influenced for the better since she met our friends from the Shire. I feel rather sorry for poor Narthord, who can't be expected to bear all the blame for the iffy book-keeping. I'm sure Aragorn will make sure he knows that too. Our wise King and Steward know where to pin the blame. Looking forward to the next chapter. Author Reply: Between the King and the Hobbits and seeing their beloved Faramir made a Prince of the Realm, she has known some mellowing. Unfortunately, Narthord does appear to take the brunt of the punishment--but, then, you will see to what he and his cousin come. In the end the apparently harsher punishment may actually bring him the greater redemption in the end, although that's beyond the scope of this story. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/4/2007 |
| If Master Samwise was surprisingly graceful, Master Frodo was wondrously so, and all were now standing, barely breathing, to watch the beauty of the Hobbit’s movements Great description, Larner! It's like a dance! But while Aragorn had to fight many battles during his life and had to accept the necessity of fighting back, even killing, Frodo would never do so. He still believes that there is something good in everyone. Unfortunately he does not see that it was this belief of his that saved Middle Earth. I liked how Faramir revealed the truth about the accounts. Being part of the dower lands granted to the last Queen of Arnor, it passed in its turn to the line of the heirs of Isildur, the most recent of whom has been identified. Hah! That sentence hit me like it did Ivormil! And it's even better that this poperty is now part of Sam's premises. All three hobbits will thoroughly inspect the books, I'm sure. Author Reply: It is Frodo's ability to see that there is something worthy of saving in everyone that in the end makes him more worthy himself. Am so glad you enjoyed that one sentence! Thanks for letting me know. And now it has passed to Hobbits, who will, even from afar, most likely see to it that it is well administered. And it will add reason to examine the books indeed. | |
| Fiondil | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/4/2007 |
| Stupidity and arrogance... such a fatal combination. Too bad it's as true in our own world as it is here. And Canelmir doesn't strike me as someone who is capable of reforming, unlike Ivormil. I also feel sorry for Narthond, not for his wrong-doing, but for his possibly feeling that the brunt of the King's ire will fall upon him because of the mistaken belief that Canelmir, as the Lord of Bidwell, is untouchable, while he, while a kinsman, nevertheless has no title to hide behind. An obvious misconception but a likely reason for him going so grey as he did. Systerien is shaping up nicely. She seems somewhat calculating when we first meet her, but I think her true nature is slowly coming to the fore. Her interaction with the Hobbits and Ivormil are obviously helping. I can't wait to see how the relatioship between the two young people develop, if only to enjoy seeing Canelmir's discomfort when he realizes his son and heir has a thing for a "mere maid", and worse, the King approving the match. LOL Enjoying this story immensely, Larner. Author Reply: I fear you are right--Canelmir has lost too much of his potential, having given himself over to such envy. And there is a political aspect to Canelmir's position that appears to make him look untouchable, although that can and will be worked around. Yes, Systerien is maturing and mellowing, and much of it is due to the changed aspect of the world about her, including the presence of Lord Elessar, four Hobbits, and a certain young lord of the realm. And Canelmir would be totally appalled to realize where the mutual awareness of his son and a chambermaid might lead. I do seem to have a thing about chambermaids, don't I? Heh! Thanks so much, Fiondil. | |
| EpiscopalWitch | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/3/2007 |
| I dizzed out a bit during the explication of the accounts (of course, that might be because my company's "Nutcracker" opens the day after tomorrow and I've been working 12-hour days!), but on the whole I enjoyed the chapter. The conversation between Canelmir and Narthord in the beginning, discussing incriminating matters as though Systerien, Airen and the valet reminded me of James Armistead, a slave who volunteered to join the Continental Army during the Revolution. He ended up as a waiter in Cornwallis' camp and picked up an amazing amount of intelligence that he passed along to Lafayette. Nobody thought twice about discussing sensitive information in front of him, and it never occurred to anyone that he could be acting as a double agent. I'm looking forward to more Ivormil/Systerien interaction! Author Reply: Sorry about the complications of the accounts, but I an understand being tired. I don't get much sleep on weekends anyway with my work schedule; but with a swift snow in a region where folk aren't good at driving in it I ended up with working 38 hours straight after a fourteen-hour shift Friday night and Saturday morning with a total of about six to seven hours sleep in three days time. I'd not heard of Armistead, but I'm not surprised. So many will speak openly in front of servants and waiters and the like as if they weren't people at all--a most amazing situation, I've always thought. Glad you're continuing to read and enjoy it. Thanks so much for the feedback. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/3/2007 |
| I'm reviewing as I read Larner. Not done that for a bit! Three and a half weeks to turn up is cutting it fine. I just hope that they actually live far enough away for that to be a reasonable excuse. Trust Canelmir to blame his son for his situation. There is a fatherly protective streak but it certainly doesn't have anything of honour to it! Is it your mind that Pippin has been getting in more practice than Merry, or that, being the youngest he has most stamina? I just loved the sight of Sam and Frodo practising. But, yet another thing curtailed by illness! Canelmir's defence about why he did not fight holds echoes of Wormtongue's wish to avoid Helm's Deep. I suspect that Canelmir's servant would be in too much fear of reprisals to speak of what they hear. It is good to see that Ivormil has remembered the proper form of address for Frodo and Sam. Go, Steward, Go! Faramir is formidable when it comes o money it seems! Beware your sins will find you out Canelmir! Does Gondor have compound interest? Oh I am positively gurgling with glee over Strider's/Faramir's deviousness. Just happened to arrive just after you left indeed! *g* And King turns healer at the drop of a hat! And knows exactly who is in the Citidel and what for of course! Ooh a talent of Merry's that the King had yet to learn of? Well Hobbits are full of surprises! Oh Frodo! *Harrowcat also huffs in exasperation* And well-observed Master Balstador! Great Chapter Larner. Now it is well past my bed-time! Night all Author Reply: I suspect that, coming from west Lossarnach close to the mountains, Bidwell was probably about a five-day journey from Minas Tirith traveling at a steady pace and in easy stages; if Ivormil stayed one to two days after the disastrous audience, this might just be about the length of time one would expect to see pass, particularly if Canelmir and his cousin were having debates about what records should be shared and which withheld, and which doctored. Oh, I suspect that being the youngest Pippin had the most determination to prove himself, to find out just what he could do, as well as possibly more basic stamina than the others, now they have access once again to proper rest, food, and comfort. And I suspect that the results of Frodo's wounds would have shown themselves rather insidiously as slowly over time he realized he no longer had the stamina, the full strength, the basic physical well-being, to do what he used to do. He'd be about the equivalent of a Man at about thirty-six when he started out in the body of one about twenty-two; now he must be feeling positively ancient! There are tales told in my books on the Holocaust of dancers and actors and musicians and so on who were allowed to survive in the camps as long as they continued to provide shows for inmates and camp officials. Somehow, in spite of the starvation diet and heavy workload, in spite of it being less than what many other prisoners knew, and in spite of the rampant typhus and so on, they continued on, dancing or singing or acting or making jokes just one more day and then another; afterwards many of them could no longer do what they'd done during their imprisonment as their pushing themselves while at the ends of physical resources left its mark. That this was possibly true of Frodo as well is all too likely. I hadn't at all thought of Wormtongue's arguments with Theoden when considering the likes of Canelmir, but the comparison is so apt! Thanks! And I suspect Faramir, having been raised by his father as well as having the gift of reading hearts, once he realized his father had already planned to investigate affairs in Bidwell would suggest this ploy and Aragorn would have bowed to that wisdom. And Aragorn was, after all, raised in the house of the greatest healer in all of Middle Earth at the time--being the Healing King would, I'm certain, be important to him, particularly once he began fully appreciating the strength of the Elessar and it found release of its power through him. And what chance, do you think, has there been for Aragorn to truly appreciate all of the strengths the Hobbits have? And, I agree--Oh, Frodo! Balstador and Gilmoreth handle the household of the Citadel pretty well, don't they? And they'd surely appreciate seeing a formerly overly-ambitious girl settling down and finally beginning to mature, don't you think? Thanks so for the comments! I've gotten some sleep after a weekend when I might have known perhaps seven hours sleep in three nights of work, so I appreciate how you feel. About ready to go back to bed again. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/3/2007 |
| Oh dear! Poor Ivormil--he's going to be *so* disillusioned by his father! And Canelmir has managed to really muck things up "Royally" if you will pardon the pun! But I don't suppose it would have mattered to him if he'd *known* the property belonged to Isildur's heir, since he holds the Kings lineiage in such poor regard. I love that Merry, Frodo and Sam are going to go through the cooked books. *giggle* Since the property belongs to Sam now, I would imagine that Merry and Frodo, especially, will be *VERY* thorough, LOL! I enjoyed seeing Systerian's interactions with the hobbits in the garden. Poor Frodo. But I was glad to see Merry and Sam being firm with him and taking advantage to get him to eat and drink. Author Reply: I agree about Ivormil. As for realizing the property belonged to Isildur's heir--I suspect that, like the Hobbits, many within Gondor truly doubted the King COULD return, much less would. Why worry about an absent landlord as long as no one complains about all the money not being forwarded to the collection account? I certainly agree about the Hobbits helping in the auditing. And am so glad you appreciate what Systerien is observing about the Hobbits. Yes, let's get Frodo eating and drinking properly, and not accept him running himself down! Thanks so for the comments, Dreamflower. | |
| Theresa Greenfalcon | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/3/2007 |
| The more this story continues, the more I enjoy it... I was right about Lord Canelmir Author Reply: I'm so glad you appreciate it, Theresa. Canelmir is beginning to reap a bitter harvest, and will continue not to accept his own responsibility for what he's brought upon himself and his son. Next chapter hopefully to be posted Friday. | |