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| A Maid Waiting by Larner | 15 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/16/2007 |
| I am very glad that Ivormil is not to be bannished as well. I have hopes for him. I dearly loved Pippin's list of what he was responsible for at home growing up and I liked the fact that Aragorn had to stop him from going on and on about what the Thain does. hehehe But this line, (and now my da is Thain, I’ll be Thain next, if my father doesn’t kill me when I return home for leaving the Shire without permission.”) Now that was perfect Pippin! Author Reply: Pippin IS Pippin, after all! He knows what's up in spite of his innocent and blithe nature. He will blather on a bit until he's stopped or he runs out of steam; but he still sees far more truly than others realize, and does so ever with the eyes of love. And am so glad you do have hopes for Ivormil! He was not yet totally ruined by his father's influence, at least! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/15/2007 |
| Good to see that nasty spoiled lord punished as he deserved, though I thought the punishment for the clerk should have been no harsher than for his master Author Reply: Yes, Canelmir is finding his just desserts; he probably also deserves to be branded as well, but the rest of the lesser lords would undoubtedly feel that threatened them as well, and would react badly to it, I fear. So glad you could catch up! | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/9/2007 |
| Young Ivormil is learning - his concern is for Bidwell and its people. I hope and suspect that eventually he will become their lord. He's developing nicely and has been willing to learn from his mistakes. Well, Narthord may be branded but he'll have an easier time in Bree than his lord, who will be reduced to serving another, and carrying out his own tasks. Author Reply: I agree--Ivormil is learning indeed. As for the difference between Narthord and Canelmir--I do believe you are right! Thanks so for the feedback. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/9/2007 |
| Once again, great chapter! I will never fully understand (or appreciate) the custom of branding in Gondor. But I read your comment and I agree with you that Narthord might be better off in the future than his lord. Ivormil's reaction impressed me! He would have gone with his father to serve him. But I'm quite sure that Canelmir would never have done, or considered such a thing. Last but not least I loved Pippin's description of his life as the Thain's heir. That's how life should be, but even in the Shire it was not always like that. Just think of the S.-B.s! Author Reply: The custom was very common within England, and so it was that the person was to raise their hand when swearing an oath to prove he or she had not been branded. There was a special staple in the dock where an individual stood while being tried in Lancaster Castle through which the hand was thrust once guilt was determined that the branding would take place then and there before the court. I tend to side with Frodo--the custom was barbaric, but did give common folk warning of those who were worst offenders that they might be on their guard. | |
| EpiscopalWitch | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/9/2007 |
| Hold it - Canelmir is sent off to do his own laundry in a little house, but his accomplice is physically branded and sent off to be a slave (basically) for life? I find this disturbing and not the kind of justice I would expect from Aragorn, because I see Canelmir's crimes as worse than his cousin's. As he had the greater responsibility as lord of the land, so much the worse was his guilt. Author Reply: I would agree with you, BUT--there are political considerations. And in the end Narthord is likely to end up happier with his lot than Canelmir in his own. Canelmir must serve as a servant in the home of one of the Princes of the realm--is he any less a slave in the end than Narthord, who will probably know kindness from Bob, Nob, and Butterbur? Remember, Aragorn is a new King, and the lesser lords don't know him and his full capabilities as yet. If he were to do what he'd really like to do with Canelmir, short of the crime of murder it wouldn't be tolerated by the rest of similar rank, I fear. | |
| Fiondil | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/7/2007 |
| When I was in the SCA oh so long ago we had a saying: "Treat your inferiors as if they were your peers, your peers as if they were your superiors, and their Majesties with the respect due to God." I'm sure the sentiment could easily be translated into Middle-earth terms. A nice summary of what it means to be a 'servant-king' in whatever circumstance one finds oneself. I hope Ivormil is given a good mentor. I wonder if it's anyone we know? *grin* Author Reply: The admonitions given Canelmir and his son are, after all, almost straight out of the Old and New Testaments, as well as being common to almost all other religions and philosophies, even if couched in other terms. "There's so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us that it ill behooves a one of us to speak aught ill of the rest of us" goes the old Celtic wisdom, translated to more modern English. "Do what thou wilt, an it does no harm." the Wiccan Rede "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." the Golden Rule I once knew the admonitions from the Koran, but have forgotten it. It did state that those who do Allah's will who do not know Him as Allah are in the end perhaps more blessed than those who consider them selves good Moslems but trust in their own conceits--something about the justified Jew, IIRC. Yes, the good servant-king indeed. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/7/2007 |
| I almost feel sorry for Canelmir, the old goat! He's learned the hard way that the new King will not tolerate the misuse of power. I appreciate the mention that Denethor wasn't going to tolerate it either. (poor Denethor was not an easy man, or a faultless one, but none could say he failed to make sacrifices for his office and for Gondor) Author Reply: Such abuse of power and position would capture the attention of almost any competent ruler, and no one has EVER said Denethor was less than competent. And Aragorn wouldn't stand for it at all once he was King, I'd think. Am glad you agree. | |
| Tigger | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/7/2007 |
| It was a good place to be, here in the presence of the King Returned, Systerien realized. I don't think Canelmir shares that sentiment. ;o) Nicely done and it was a foregone conclusion he would lose his title and lands. To be sent into service of Imrahil though, is something I'm sure he didn't even think of and he will have to work. Since he has no servants, he either works or he will in even deeper trouble than he's in now. Now...For young Ivormil, what is to happen to him? Why do I have a feeling he will succeed whomever Aragorn sends to Bidwell? Provided the young lord continues down the path he's undertaken ever since his first trip to Minas Tirith that is. From what we've seen, there's hope indeed for the boy. Looking forward to the next installment of this. :o) Author Reply: I suspect you're right about Canelmir, Tigger. Losing his prestige, power, position, and wealth as well as (effectively) his freedom is going to probably prove worse for him than what Narthord will most likely find in Bree. As for Ivormil--perhaps you're right? As you've pointed out, he does show promise. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/7/2007 |
| A very good place indeed to be. And Ivormil will prove to be as good a guide to the needs of his people as he will a learner from from whoever is set as to look after his land and city. Author Reply: Yes, methinks that Ivormil has a good deal of responsibility to him already. So glad you agree! Love to the parents and Jet. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/7/2007 |
| *grin* This was So. Much. Fun! I have a feeling Canelmir is going to find himself in a pickle having to do for himself. As to Narthond--he's in Bree, huh? I wonder if he actually learns his lesson or not--if he does, all the better, but if he doesn't, I'll bet he finds even shorter shrift from the Breelanders than he got from the King. But my favorite part had to be Pippin's recitation of his place in the Shire, complete with hobbit genealogies all the way back to the Old Took, and boasts about hobbit-cooking, LOL! And, as the saying goes, "no brag, just fact". I'll bet Frodo, Merry and Sam were beaming in pride over him, though I'm sure Sam probably blushed to here himself proclaimed the "best cook in Middle-earth"! | |