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| With Hope and Without Hope by docmon | 6 Review(s) |
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| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/9/2008 |
| I loved Pippin in this chapter. You bring home in this story just how carefuly Tolkien wove his plot threads.I do hope Eomer will grow to like Aragorn. I loved the Aragorn and Halbarad scene. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda! Yes, Pippin got to shine here, didn't he? I did like him taking a stand as he did. And Tolkien not only wove his plot threads carefully - he made it look easy! And easy it is not, I have to admit. Sometimes, the different threads threatened to run away on their own. It makes me have all the more respect for the Professor. :-D Glad you liked the Halbarad scene. Now _that_ was just fun to write! | |
| Thundera Tiger | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/8/2008 |
| Some of my favorite moments in various stories are those moments when people reunite, catch each other up to speed, and prepare for whatever comes next. It's a time to gather momentum, redirect, and allow for some much needed healing/venting. And I think you handle that perfectly here. Aragorn gets a chance to really talk about what's happened. He hasn't even shared much of this with Gandalf, so it's good to see him get it out in the open. I really do like the response from Elladan and Elrohir: equal parts exasperation and concern. The concern really comes out toward the end of Aragorn's tale as they realize just how serious Aragorn's predicament was, and you get a good balance going between the attitude of older brothers/mentors and the attitude of concern/vengeance/here-we-go-again. Halbarad was also a nice addition to the mix, and he plays exactly as I would expect another Ranger to play. He's a quiet presence, but you never quite forget that he's around. And Pippin definitely shined by the end of the chapter. It was good to see him stand up for what he knew and make an impact on the war council. Awesome chapter! Author Reply: Yes, I needed to write this reunion as much for myself as for the characters! And it is the first time Aragorn's said this much about their experience. It doesn't go smoothly for him, unfortunately ;-). If only the big brothers hadn't been there at that point! Glad you like my Halbarad. It's not like we have much to go on for his character, after all! Thanks for everything! | |
| Fantasia | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/8/2008 |
| You know, I was thinking Who else is coming to Rohan? Are they having a party over there? Seems that all Middle-Earth people have decided to visit Rohan, it is getting crowded there.. I wasn't expecting the twins and Halbarad, Oh well, you are always unpredictable. Love Pippn defending Strider. Worry about Legolas not being strong enough to go with them to Gondor, I supposed that the twins can help, they are healers too. Eomer reaction to Aragorn is different; I don't see how they will be as brother, if they don't fight together in Rohan. I guess that Pippin will go with Gandalf to Gondor because Denethor saw him. I'm not coherent, but I'm work pretend that I'm working and reviewing this chapter. Love your story, keep posting, Thanks, Author Reply: Oh, the gathering is over. ;-) But I had to add the twins and Halbarad! In canon, they find Aragorn on the plains. But in my story, they would miss them, as the Three Hunters were not in that convenient spot where they met. It was a logical guess, I thought, that the Grey Company might go to Edoras next. Just keeping close to canon! Yes, Pippin was fun to write there. And it's all about what I bring back to canon, and what I leave as AU at the close of this, isn't it? [beg] Thank you so much for your review! | |
| Naledi | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/8/2008 |
| I really liked the way Pippin stood up for himself and insisted that he be heard. Even Gandalf needs to remember not to underestimate the hobbits! I can't help worrying that Legolas either won't be well enough to go with Aragorn on the Paths of the Dead, or he won't have made his peace with Gimli by that time. That could have serious consequences. Author Reply: Ah, yes, you cannot keep a good hobbit down! Gandalf should have at least learned that. And the underestimating thing. That's bound to get him in trouble. As for the future of the elf or the dwarf, it's all a question of what aspects of the story I bring back to canon, and which I leave as AU, isn't it? | |
| Cairistiona | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/8/2008 |
| Wow, what you have done with canon astounds me--in a good way, of course. I never dreamed you would send Halbarad and the Grey Company, but hey, you've rearranged so much, why not! LOL And since Halbarad is one of my favorites, you can imagine I was smiling just as wide as Strider when he walked onto the scene. And Elladan and Elrohir as well ... I don't know if you'll go into the scene where they finally hear the full story from Aragorn, but I would love to see that. And Pippin's providing the intelligence they need ... but somehow the very fact that they don't know the size of the contingent from Mordor is very worrisome. I'm really looking forward to what happens next! Author Reply: Well, the Grey Company was already on its way! In canon, they met up with Aragorn on the plains. But with events as they happened in this story, they missed them, assuming I had not changed the actions of the Dunedain. So I surmised that if they had not found Aragorn, they might have gone on to Edoras to ask if it was known where he was. It was all my attempt to keep "riding alongside" to canon, given the events I had created. Glad you liked Pippin's role in intelligence gathering. He really insisted on being part of that scene ;-) Thanks for writing! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/7/2008 |
| The AU becomes even more fascinating as we face these new dynamics--Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli all much depleted and having lost some trust in their own integrities and strengths; a contingent from Mordor heading for Rohan while the main army prepares to strike Gondor; Pippin in the ascendant; orders of events turned about. Now, what does this awareness of Pippin that Denethor holds preface? Interesting indeed. Author Reply: Thanks for writing, Larner! You're right - Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli have lost some of their trust in themselves. Each of them will have their own way of regaining that trust. While the story approaches canon in these chapters, there will naturally be portions that remain different and that's one of them. Glad you've found this so interesting! | |