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Neath Anor, Ithil, and Gil by Larner	7 Review(s)
Queen Galadriel	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
Hurin is a braver one than I would be in his place. But it's not really for that that I find I admire him. He definitely defies scorn--in a decent, peaceable way (oh, that that lesson came more quickly to those of us who are hot-tempered and need it! myself included), and he doesn't seem as if he would take pity lying down either. My first inclination, on reading that he'd lost an arm, was to think, "Poor man!" as a shudder ran up my own arm; I can't imagine what I'd do without one, as I feel inhibited and vulnerable even when one or both of mine are temporarily unusable. But having read the whole story, that thought fades as quickly as it came. Excellent and thought-provoking, and a good reminder even for one who ought to know this stuff better than anything and never forget, tired and out of spirits and nearly out of patience or not. (Why does more and more slip through the cracks the nearer to the end of the school year it gets? That's all I can say at this point...except, "Oh, please let nothing else go horribly wrong or escape my notice and explode in my face before the end of the year.") God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: You say this in the face of your own disability? Really, my Lady! But I understand what you mean. Hurin's going to do his best to be defined not by his disability but by what he can do, and he's going to test it to find out what that is, all along the way. And as his society needs those who can assist in the defense of its lands and people, he will do what he can to help meet that need. As for being tired and discouraged and impatient--OH, but I understand, all too well! Happy end of the school year!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
Your Húrin is becoming more and more interesting. While Denethor didn't exactly shine in this chapter ;-) Luckily they didn't listen to Denethor; I know only too well that a lot is possible, even when one is disabled, if one truly wants to overcome handicaps. To me as a rider the idea of the horses trained for Rohirrim archers seems plausible. They need both hands to shot a bow, after all. And I know it is possible to lead a horse mainly with legs, weight shifts and voice, so an apt trained horse would allow Húrin or others in the same situation still to fight. Now I wonder if Imrahil thought of this when he said later on that he would have accepted Gilfileg's service, contrary to Denethor ... after seeing Húrin fight on the Pelennor, I think he realises how much more these men can do than some people give them credit for! Gilfileg only had lost fingers, after all, and I never understood why his left-handedness was a problem at all. Author Reply: No, Denethor's rather hide-bound even here, I fear. And Hurin's determined not to sit back and be helpless. And so much of adaptation for the needs of folks with particular disabilities is merely applying not-uncommon processes in a slightly different way to assure that the needs of the disabled one are met, as you well know. As for Imrahil thinking of this when he met Gilfileg--well, it's very possible! As for left-handedness--even today I meet colleagues who speak of trying to train left-handedness out of their students, as if it were solely a choice! It's maddening how many still wish to see all uniformly doing things just as everybody else does them.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
Well sorted Larner. Love the title! Ways round and through for you too. I am lovig Hurin. You always make us feel with and for the characters you choose to highlight! Author Reply: Thanks, Harrowcat! Yes, ways round and through. And Sutcliff's books have been a staple of my own library since the early sixties--since not long before I discovered Tolkien, in fact. I know that her characterizations have affected how I do characterization.

Soledad	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
It's strange how one's own work can influence one's perceptions. After having written Húrin as Denethor's nephew, I find it difficult to imagine him as the older cousin. He must have some pretty pure Dúnadan blood to be able to fight on the Pelennor at such an age, then. I like the idea that Rohirric horses could be well-suited for a one-armed man because they are trained to carry mounted archers. A vey neat idea. Leonid is becoming another interesting OC. How did you come up with the name? Author Reply: Soledad, have I told you today that I so appreciate you? Well, if not I do now! When I wrote "The Keys to the Realm" I saw Hurin just as you describe him--the son of Denethor's older sister, and about twenty years older than Faramir--as you'll find when you read the next chapter of that story that I'll probably post tonight or in the morning. For some reason as I started writing this I attributed the relationships in age and kinship to Denethor rather than Faramir. I've corrected it now, and if you'll reread the story you'll see this one, too, has now been changed somewhat. I was having one of my sleepless nights the evening I wrote and posted this.... Intermittent insomnia has become my constant companion in the last few years, and it drives me crazy. As for Leonid's name--well, it's taken from our world, as you can guess. "Lion-like," if I'm translating it properly. Some names I have taken from our world, and I hope that they'd translate similarly in Middle Earth to how they do in our world. Horse-mounted archers must train their horses to respond to shifts in weight and signals from the knees and feet, as both hands tend to be busy with their shooting. And for a one-armed warrior, the adaptation would be very suitable, I'd think. I've dealt with disabilities issues for years--taking a practical solution from other situations and adapting it to the needs of folks with a particular disability has been the standard practice to allow disabled folks a decent level of independence for years.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
Very well done! I see that Hurin is another "minor" character who is going to gain a new and more extensive life through fanfic! I certainly like your version of him; he comes across as determined and brave, here, and you've given him an excellent backstory as well. Author Reply: So many have looked into the life--and loves--of Theodred son of Theoden; I felt it was time to explore Hurin a bit! And wouldn't he have been likely to have known Thorongil? It's likely that within the remnants of Arnor all willing to fight would have been given a role of some sort to play in defense of their villages if not in defense of such places as Tharbad, Bree, or the Shire; and I think Aragorn would have been likely to respect that.

Rhyselle	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
Oh this is so well done! I really like your interpretation of Hurin, and look forward to seeing anything you come up with about him. The flashback at the beginning about how Hurin trained and who taught him to fight one handed was wonderful! FYI, not all of those who have lost limbs are mustered out today. There are several Marine Corps enlisted men who have lost limbs in the current conflict and have fought and won the right to return to the Middle East to continue to assist their brother and sister soldiers in their units that are still deployed over there. They might not be out on the streets patroling, but their work in the offices and such is still a huge support to their units, and they are not a detriment to their units' missions. Author Reply: My late husband became an immediate medical retiree from the Navy when he lost his vision one night in a freak accident, and many of those who went through VA rehabilitation programs have grieved that they were not given the chance to work in communications or some other role where their continued expertise could have benefitted the services. That today amputees are allowed to continue to serve when they show they can continue to keep up with their fellows with properly fitted prosthetics, while others are allowed to take the "desk" jobs that they can fill, is a big step forward in disabilities rights. So many individuals born with disabilities have benefitted so from steps forward made by disabled veterans!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 5/16/2008
Indeed, it's often the creativity and determination of those who have seemingly 'lost' something vital that teach us that the disability lies not with them, but with our perception of them. This is very inspiring. Author Reply: Yes, and so it is, Shirebound! Certainly my friends who are blind know this to be true! Thanks so!

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