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| The Keys of the Realm by Larner | 13 Review(s) |
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| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/28/2008 |
| Again - your details delights me - the latrines. Brilliant but necessary.... the burial of the Orcs, the trolls being shipped down the Anduin, everything was great! Also, my heart lurched at the thought of those many warriors unidentifiable.. so very sad. Faramir's decisions this whole time leave me speechless. Wow - great job with him, Larner! I loved the reunion of Hurin and his family. Beautifully done. I loved the detail of the Standard. Hadn't thought of so much of what YOU have thought of. Brilliant orchestration of this event, but I suppose Hurin and Faramir should get some of the acclaim! I loved Faramir's thoughts on the crown and his hushing of Lord Galador! My heart stopped as I read the description of Sam - and finally Frodo - beautiful. Honestly, when Aragorn stood after being crowned, I found tears in my eyes.... Excellent chapter! Author Reply: I've always loved the coronation of Aragorn, and love to be able to look at it from such a viewpoint as Hurin's. And what would those of the city think of their first looks at the great heroes who managed to get the Ring to the Sammath Naur itself? And I do suspect that Frodo and Sam still felt somewhat apart from others at this point! And my mind absolutely niggles at the smallest details! Of course they'd need latrines; and what WOULD have become of those trolls who were exposed to sudden daylight when the south winds suddenly blew away the murk? Maybe not all trolls petrify under daylght, but if any who do were used by Sauron.... Heh! That was fun to think of, too. So much work must have been going on around Minas Tirith to make things ready for the return of the army--and the King! And Faramir would have had to orchestrate so much of it! And I'm always honored to hear I've managed to move another's emotions so. Thank you! | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/2/2008 |
| Lovely view of the Coronation, Larner, and how marvellous that Hurin's daughter was able to stay by her father at such a moment. I have often wondered how they managed to clean up Minas Tirith - dead orcs, trolls, oliphaunts etc. all over the place! Not to mention a dead fell beast on the Pelennor. One of those specialist cleaning firms perhaps............. Author Reply: You have me giggling! Plain old fashioned grunt work, I'd think! And then once Gandalf and the Elves got back to town, a fair amount of reconnaisance in search of dropped fell weapons. Imagine what Orc versions of land mines might do to an inquisitive youngster! And the U.S. is still reluctant to sign agreements foreswearing such things! So glad you like this look at Aragorn becoming King. And thanks for the feedback. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/1/2008 |
| “But it is by the hands of many that this day is come,” the King spoke, and all watched in growing respect as he gave the Crown back into Faramir’s hands and stepped backwards, composed himself, then knelt, humbly awaiting the Crown to be given him by others. Aragorn was ever a humble servant and one knows that would continue even as king, for he did not win his crown alone and he know Who and who he serves. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Aragorn had the proper balance of humility and pride, each for the proper reasons, that made him the good and faithful servant that he was throughout his life; and he knows whom to honor ever. Am so glad you appreciated this, Antane. Thanks so for the feedback! Hope the end of the school year is a proper relief for you. | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/31/2008 |
| Hmmm, what to do with a dead troll turned to stone, I guess you can not push it to the corner somewhere, and hope the grass covers it. I for one would not like to be on the clean up crew after the battle. Glad to see that the falcon's family has hatched and taking over the place. Author Reply: Thanks, Grumpy. Yes--what does one do with a petrified troll? Or, worse yet, a number of such oddities? I know that Dreamflower had one covered with ivy and basically ignored in the Shire (and I STILL love that one, suffering from digestive problems after dining on a rather bitter Hyacinth! Heh!), but there ought to have been several such critters left on the Pelennor! As for the peregrines--on Animal Rescue today they found themselves banding three female chicks found in a nest tucked up under a bridge in the midwest, commenting that most of the peregrines found are found nesting in urban settings, usually under bridges or on the sides of buildings, mentioning such nests have been found in a number of cities across the nation. The chicks were a few weeks old and still downy, but were much larger already than a large pigeon--about the size of a full grown grey gull, or possibly even larger. And the cleanup must have been terrible! Heh! | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/29/2008 |
| The young Steward of Gondor walked most erectly, his face also pale but set, patently ignoring Master Galador, who walked by him and was trying to voice objections of some sort or another. Haha! Master Galador again! I just like that man. Everything around him changed in such a short time! For the Master of Protocol it must have been a nightmare ;-) On the other hand I think that Faramir did exactly the right thing. And Aragorn rewarded him by giving back the rod of stewards into Faramir's possession. I very much liked Hurin's first impression of Frodo and his realisation that there was a strong bond between Aragorn and Frodo, and even more than that... P.S.: So, I really set a plot bunny free? I will keep my eyes open to find the result :) It's about Sam and the Gaffer, right? Author Reply: Yes, Galador is here once more! So glad you appreciate him! So MUCH is changing now! And I agree that Faramir did the only thing he could to satisfy everyone. Am glad you like the recognition of fraternity between Frodo and Aragorn; I think someone as perceptive as Hurin would see it swiftly. I managed to shove your bunny into another story. At first the original bunny started to protest, then recognized a litter brother and appeared excited to welcome him. It will be posted about the fourteenth, I think. I have the final three chapters of Stirring Rings finished now, but am still having difficulties getting Bucca and his fellows out onto the field of battle.... | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/29/2008 |
| As I have said before you do pomp and ceremony as well as the Brits Larner, even if Galador would find it hard to adjust. I love the human touches and really enjoy your explanations in reviews. Sorry to read about your client. Prayers going up for all of you. Author Reply: Thank you so, Harrowcat. I do try to make things in keeping with the culture, at least; in this case where there'd been no king for a thousand years, do you really send the new applicant up into the Hallows to bring it out himself? Indeed, in his explanation, Faramir states he purposely brought it out against tradition. There doesn't appear to have been a true public coronation ceremony in Numenorian and Gondorian tradition, if the son usually accepted the crown from his father's hands either just before or just after he died; there was probably some sort of official recognition of the new ruler, so in "Light On the Way" I have the "local" recognition with the Eldarion walking out onto the promontory over the city so all can see he does indeed wear the Winged Crown; and probably there would be an official final internment and a day or period appointed for the lords of the realm to come to the capital to renew their vows of loyalty and allegiance to the new ruler, and during which time officials from other lands might come to pay their respects to the deceased ruler and then eyeball the new one. We get to play with so many ideas, as Tolkien left them so sketchy. As for Galador--he's way out of his element, I fear. Heh! I so appreciate the prayers. I'll be spending tomorrow with her--we're already finding the personnel at the nursing home where she's being evaluated have failed to take into account some of our client's current limitations. So I will be there to make certain she gets some lunch and dinner, at least. It's going to be a touchy process, I fear. Hope your mother's enjoyed her holiday, and the same for your father. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| I enjoyed seeing the coronation through hurin's eyes.You have brought him to life.In my sub universere, Ioreth's kinswoman is Tasariel,so she is here too! Author Reply: Thank you, Linda. It's nice to give some substance to what are merely heroic names in the book. And I'm glad that Tasariel has made it into this story, although I hadn't given her a name as yet. I suppose now I know that name! (Grinning!) | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| I love your version of Húrin's family! The girls seem to have strong personalities already, and his mother-in-law haunting the kitchens is just too funny to behold. *g* The Protocol Master is a very lovable character, despite his personal quirks. I'm sure he wasn't happy with all the changes, but he gave in gracefully enough. Good for him! Oh, and I appreciate your respect for Denethor. Without him and his forefathers, the King wouldn't have had a realm to return to. Author Reply: I so agree, Soledad. The daughters are partly based on my younger sister and myself. I was such a bossy thing as a child in many ways. and such changes as they would have found would be very worrisome, I suspect, to the two of them. Endore, the insecure mother who is certain she's supposed to do everything and boss everything but who keeps finding that life has its own surprises--the self-willed yet proper daughter who's chosen a proper lord for a husband--but he has but one arm? Am so glad she tickles you, as I'm entertaining another plotbunny who wears rather garish, rhinestone glasses. Galador has appeared in several stories, although he didn't take a truly definable shape until I wrote "The Acceptable Sacrifice." He knows the changes are necessary; but this new time is such a shock to his personal sensibilities as to what one OUGHT to do and how things OUGHT to be done! And when someone actually thanks him for what he has done and does well he's always a bit taken aback, I find. As for Denethor--he was, from what we can tell, an excellent Steward for the most part--just envious of the one who, I believe, would have delighted to think of him as another adopted brother. And between his envy and his final insecurities Sauron was able to trick him into exposing himself. Thanks so much, and am working on the next chapter today. Have been distracted by my work, and it appears we may be losing one of my clients. It hurts when that happens. | |
| Lúmë | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| What joy it is to visit the White City once more in your wonderful tales, Larner! This review is for all the chapters up to now. What I've always loved most of your work is the sense of familiarity and everyday life that you bring to what normally would be fantasy. And the way I as reader can watch through the eyes of those present. It has been a long time since I visited your story archive, I see I have much to catch up on. I'm sure it will be a wonderful experience! Thank you! Author Reply: Oh, I love to explore Minas Tirith as much as I do the Shire, I find. And it's wonderful to explore through a particular point of view, I find. The children in this case are somewhat based on my sister and me when we were little and close. I miss those days a good deal. And I'm always pleased when someone explores after an absence! Thanks for the comments--I do appreciate them! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| there was to him much the same feeling of isolated dignity and reserve he saw in the figure of the one who would shortly be King. This is lovely. What an event to remember, and be told and re-told, for all the glad days to come. Author Reply: Thank you so, Shirebound! Yes, an event to remember, and an odd kinship to explore. Both Aragorn and Frodo have been set apart, and thus have that isolated dignity in common--which must have been a bit of a relief for Frodo as he sought to rebuild himself. And Hurin and his family have this to share. | |