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| The Keys of the Realm by Larner | 12 Review(s) |
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| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/28/2008 |
| Hi, I know I already reviewed this chapter but I realized I hadn't finished reading the whole tale - so I started anew and felt I should make just a couple more comments to the 'Darkness' chapter. If you don't mind... :-) I smiled at Pip's lineage - it is always confusing to me - I'm glad Boromir had a bit of trouble with it too. But the lad is so thoroughly engrossed it is hard not to smile! My heart hurt for Denethor, but was so incredibly pleased with his cousin's accepting the 'weakness' of Denethor after Boromir's death. Very nicely put. Another giggle at the mention of Merry's great deed, as it took me a moment to realize that he was speaking to the very one who did the deed... and Merry's disbelife. Very nice indeed. I almost croaked when I heard about the lawyers gathered.... Yikes! That they would even consider opposing the claim was a surprise, but well thought out! I loved Hurin's 'scurrying' away from Ioreth... blessed woman, but a little difficult to take when one has a list the size of a mumak's arm to take care of. My first instinct as Merry chattered on about Aragorn and Eowyn was chagrin. Dearest Merry, I'm sure he was quite happy to find someone who listeneed to him, but I wish he would have let Eowyn have her privacy in this matter at least. Your description of Minas Tirith as the wind changed was excellent. Author Reply: Of course I don't mind more comments, Agape! Hobbits love genealogy, so it's always fun to find ways to weave it in. Merry needed to realize that if he could do the unthinkable--along with Eowyn, that it was always possible Frodo could possibly accomplish something equally unthinkable--and I'm so glad that with Gollum's help it was done. I doubt these lawyers would themselves oppose Aragorn's claim, but they would want to be certain they were properly prepared to discuss things with those who might be more resistant to the return of the monarchy. I chose to focus more on Ioreth as the inveterate chatterer, and she could indeed force bottlenecks if folks remained polite enough to seek to hear all she'd say--unless they knew that in order to get things done they'd need to break away early on. Maybe Eowyn deserves some privacy; but having already spoken with Faramir, I doubt Merry would have said less to Faramir's cousin! And I'm so glad you like that moment! It must have been beyond belief for those experiencing it as Mordor finally fell and Sauron was lost to Manwe's winds! | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/22/2008 |
| Wow! i really felt as though I was standing on the walls of Minas Tirith, heart in mouth, waiting for the end of all things. Fantastic writing, Larner! I always think it is very fitting that Manwe's winds disperse the darkness. Even at such a time Faramir and Eowyn find time for each other, and our understanding Merry sees it and is glad. Lovely to see Merry singing with the Rohirrim, and his wonderful description of Sam, the big brother to all of them. Author Reply: And I thank you so, Baggins Babe. Yes, Manwe's winds bring the end to the darkness at the last. And am so glad you like Merry's depiction in this chapter. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/20/2008 |
| We have victory! :) Sam as big brother. :) And everything else he was too. Bless the dear one. No wonder he was born a gardener for he is so nurturing and no wonder he was such a wonderful father to take all of the flowers in his garden and home, including the one he called master. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, victory indeed, and Sam is everyone's nurturing brother in the end! Thanks so for the feedback, Antane. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/19/2008 |
| I loved the image of Merry leading the Rohirrim in song and your description of the great moment when the Ring is destroyed. Author Reply: Oh, I'm so glad you like it--and it was fun to find a way of melding movie-verse into this one, at least a bit! Heh! And that moment when the Ring was destroyed must have been widely felt. What could it have meant to those who had no idea of what was going on in the wider world? | |
| Grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2008 |
| I too think that Aragorn would like some falcons for company. I can see that one must be very careful in the house of healing, if one does not want to spend a few hours listening to Mistress Ioreth. Author Reply: Oh, I rather think he would. Peregrine falcons have been known to nest on ledges of buildings in Seattle and New York, and probably other cities as well; I was to include a birds nest, a lantern, and a misunderstanding into this story--well, you can see where I put the birds nest! Heh! As for Ioreth, I decided to put her at her chattiest in this story! She's a bit steadier if still talkative in "The King's Commission"! | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2008 |
| Very nice chapter all the way around... this is a good tale! Author Reply: Thank you so very much, Agape. I'm honored. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2008 |
| Good to see Húrin and Merry becoming friends and seeking comfort or at least distraction with each other. I truly like your Húrin. Do you realise that I now want more about him in your other fics? ;-) That was a great description of the way the people in Minas Tirith felt this dramatic moment just before the Ring went into the fire and the minutes after. Author Reply: Glad you like seeing the relationship growing. I would think that Faramir and Hurin and some others forced to stay in the city would seek a deeper understanding of this new King-elect from the one who was available who'd traveled with him and who might best describe what Aragorn had been like during the travels southward; that they'd also come to respect Merry in his own right seemed to follow. I love that moment when the Ring goes into the fire; that others also were watching from the walls, wondering what was going on "over there" seemed so likely; they, too, must have wondered what it meant at first when Frodo claimed the Ring, and felt such relief when it was destroyed. And I suspect Hurin will now appear more regularly as more than just a name in the background. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2008 |
| Wow! I can only agree with shirebound. I felt as if I was there. First the tension and the darkness, then "that terrible moment of balance when it all could have gone one way or another" and at last - the wind! I also liked Merry's description of Sam: "he’s the most practical and steady of all of us, you see, but still hides a romantic nature behind his Gaffer’s sayings and his attention for comfort." And now I'm waiting for the Eagle to announce that the battle was won: "And he's victorious!" (I like this song very much.) Author Reply: I've always felt that there was a good deal to Sam Gamgee beyond the loyal batman to Frodo (referring to the characterization of him noted in the National Geographic look at the relationship between them in the Making Of documentaries as well as hinted at in Lindelea's notes above in which she introduces her new story). He's practical, very capable, and in his way as stubborn as Frodo, particularly when his loyalties are called upon. Yet he's caught by stories of Elves even when his father is emphasizing his proper place. That Merry and Pippin already had a level of respect for him before he left the Shire is obvious; that this respect would grow as they saw all of which he was capable seems to follow. There is a tension expressed in the description Tolkien himself gives of that moment--I'm so glad so many feel I, also, have managed to convey the enormity of it. And once Sauron is felled, then he describes the wind blowing; Manwe must have let his winds free in joy and triumph when that moment came. Sorry--I won't be writing in the Eagle directly into this story, although he's there about the edges, as it were. Thanks so, Andrea. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2008 |
| That would have been a wondrous moment, the instant when they looked to the East and saw victory. Author Reply: Indeed it was! Thanks, Meckinock. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/18/2008 |
| Love it, love it, love it - wonderful view of the happenings in the city while the battle raged in Mordor. Thanks Author Reply: Thank so, UTfrog! Not just Eowyn and Faramir must have felt the tension of that moment, after all! | |