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The Keys of the Realm by Larner	10 Review(s)
Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/19/2008
Halbarad's death was a true tragedy which you convey well. I love Faramir's optmism. Author Reply: I'm so glad you feel I did well with this, Linda. He gets such short mention in the original, after all. And I do think Faramir would feel optimistic after waking to find himself recognizing the King Returned. Thanks so much!

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/18/2008
Totally enjoying your story, love seeing the behinds the scene sort of thing. Poor Halbarad, a sad thing for his brothers and Aragorn. Liked how Elrohir and Elladan can speak up for Aragorn, and just think they dandled on Valandil's knee. Author Reply: Halbarad obviously meant a good deal to Aragorn, even if we had so little detail in the original. There must have been a good deal of grief at his death, even if it must be controlled in order to focus on what needs doing next. Looking at the Tale of Years, it's likely that Valandil was able to see the twins as babes in arms--wouldn't you think he'd have enjoyed playing with them as infants? That they'd stand up for Aragorn and his interests and seek to give folks a historical perspective of their acceptance of their foster brother as THE Heir to Elendil and Isildur just seems so probable. Thanks so for the feedback.

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/18/2008
Loved the discussion of who the heck Aragorn was and whether he was worthy of fealty... Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad you do, Agape. Some must have been taken most aback by this turn of affairs.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/17/2008
I forget most of the time how much history the Elves have been witness to and personally - the twins almost from the time of Isildur and until now during the War of the Ring. It was interesting to be reminded of that. Nice to see Faramir too - I think he's a hobbit in a man's skin. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, the better part of three thousand years have these two known--a bit of a shock to those who think of a mere century as a LONG lifetime.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/15/2008
I very much enjoyed the council of captains and those suspicious lesser lords! That's real life! Just today I was attending a meeting, and there was one man who started all his sentences with "Yes, but ..." ;-) But even more I liked Imrahil's visit to Faramir. As someone pointed out before that is a rare scene, and therefore precious. Well, we all know that Aragorn will be victorious. But I can only admire men like Imrahil, Faramir and Hurin and their confidence in their leader. That's real bravery! Author Reply: Oh, I know the "Yes, but..." guy--or his brother and sister, at least. The total nay-sayers can be such fun to deal with! And I'm so glad folk love seeing Imrahil seeking out his nephew at this time. Tolkien COULD have written so much more than he did! (Which is what leads us to seek to fill in the gaps, of course! Heh!) And it does take a good deal of courage to accept such a major change in their world structure for those such as these three great lords of Gondor! Thanks so, Andrea.

Szepilona10	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/14/2008
Great chapter! God bless! ~Szepilona10~ Author Reply: Thanks so, Szepilona!

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/14/2008
I think i liked best the end, with Imrahil and Faramir, for that reunion is a scene we never saw in Tolkien, and one had to wonder what these two felt about this dramatic turn of events. Author Reply: I'm so glad you appreciate that so, Nilmandra. Yes, these two characters we've come to appreciate so over the years both accepted the claims of Aragorn right up front; it must have been reassuring to each to realize that the other had done this!

Soledad	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/14/2008
You knpw, if anyone can ever make me like Aragorn again (after the movies have ruined him for me), it would be you. You gave him back that semi-mythical quality that was so completely destroyed in the movies and that made me like him in The Books. Even though I see Denethor very differently, I find that I enjoy your Aragorn a lot. Author Reply: Oh, I fell in love with Aragorn when I first read the books at age thirteen, and the last forty-five years have only served to increase my regard for him. As for Denethor, I see him as eminently human in nature, although not the monster so many see him. I think he was one who, as he aged, found he had greater and greater difficulty accepting anyone who could best him at much of anything. I see him as very similar to King Saul, in fact, at first loving this newcomer but in time coming to see him as a rival and somewhat of a loose cannon. I'm just glad that you find you can truly appreciate my view of the King Returned.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/14/2008
Húrin was surely glad to finally get an explanation why and where Captain Thorongil vanished so many years ago. And to learn his own aide knew Aragorn all these years ... these had to be rather exciting days for the ones in charge for the realm, even without the war. Interesting to watch the reactions of the Lords of Gondor to this stranger who claims to be the heir to Isildur and Elendil. To have Imrahil openly support Aragorn had to make quite an impression on them, I think. And to learn that the twins came once with Arvedui, so many centuries ago ... it must be an odd feeling that they witnessed something so far back in the past of their own land. Nice to know more of what was going on in these days - the Professor rather skimmed over these details. I had sometimes wondered if anyone ever questioned Aragorns right to claim the throne at all, as in the book that was left out. But they had to ask if he was the true heir and to think if they wanted to accept his claim, IMO. Author Reply: Yes, exciting days and heady ones; but also filled with a level of anxiety as well. Yes, Faramir and Hurin and Imrahil will accept this Aragorn; but what about the rest of the realm? And how will this last gamble play out? Will the King Returned actually return to take the Crown for his own? And what of those who aren't eager to change governments again? And it's always interesting to speculate what happened when and under what circumstances in this so-briefly mentioned period.

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/14/2008
now we have to find the way to see to it that the Lord Aragorn is accepted as King when he returns to us. Faramir's declaration of "Behold the King!" at the coronation has always been one of the most stirring lines in the trilogy, for me. How I wish that scene could have been included in the film. Author Reply: I agree--the moment Faramir declared "Behold the King!" I have always been moved as well--I think all forty- to fifty-something times I've read the books! Heh! And there must have been so much relief in Imrahil to see Faramir recovering himself so quickly and so well; and the two must have agreed upon the need to see Aragorn accepted as King of Gondor at last.

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