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Aspects of Aragorn  by Inzilbeth 12 Review(s)
Silivren TinuReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/4/2009
Poor Gilraen! Losing Arathorn must have been a terrible blow for her, and having to leave her home and her people behind can't have made it easier. I think it shows how much she loved Aragorn, though, that she even agreed to change his name to keep him safe. I can't even imagine how hard that must have been for her, and how alone she must have felt in Rivendell at first. I really liked getting the chance to see the events following Arathorn's death through her eyes! :)

Author Reply: Thank you! It was fascinating trying to picture at this through Gilraen's eyes. I think it's often easy to forget how young and unworldly she was. Going to Rivendell so soon after losing her husband must have felt like the end of the world.

MirachReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/2/2009
The harsh contrast of the beginning of the chapter with the next scene in dark colors is really powerful. Very well done: when reading, I had the feeling that this is exactly how it could happen. And… „He could have a dozen different names, but he would still be Aragorn; he would still be her little boy.“ – do I see a pattern?

Author Reply: Lol! I couldn't resist that bit about the names! I'm very pleased that opening scene works for you. For a long time there wasn't a prologue so this was the beginning of the story. I fretted about the tone of it a great deal!

Many thanks for your review.

meckinockReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/25/2008
A glimpse of a life about to change forever - gone so fast. I really like your interpretation of Gilraen - even though she's devasted and shaken, she still maintains control of herself and her role as Aragorn's mother - she accepts counsel but she's making her own decisions about her life.

Author Reply: Gilraen is one of those characters who is crucial to the story and yet frustratingly we know far too little about. I feel sure she must have had many of the attributes of her son and was a strong, determined woman who nonetheless made many sacrifices for the sake of her child.

Thank you so much for reviewing.

VirtuellaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/4/2008
I enjoyed this gentle, sensitive tale. Gilraen's feelings and reactions seemed very convincing to me, and the whole story fits very naturally with what little Tolkien told us about this stage of Aragorn's life.

Author Reply: Thank you very much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it. As with so much of Aragorn's life, this is one of those stories I wish Tolkien had written. He gave us so little to go on.

Lady_RoisinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/4/2008
You've done a really great job. Your descriptions and dialogue were both very good. I could actually picture Aragorn as a child being so enthralled by a young foal. I could vry easily imagine it was very hard for Gilraen to leave her home. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to reading more chapters. :-)

Author Reply: Thank you very much for your review and your kind words. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. I wanted to include a brief glimpse of Aragorn's life before everything changed and I felt he would be completely fascinated by a new foal.
I hope you enjoy the next chapter!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/3/2008
The characterization of Gilraen is really well done here. We know so little about her, but you've extrapolated nicely from what we do know about the Dunedain. I can see her fitting into that culture as a young but fully adult woman who's grieving but acting wisely in her concern for her child. And Elrond's family treats her with the respect she deserves, not just for who she is but for the kind of person she is.

Author Reply: Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it. I think you have summarized Gilraen's situation perfectly here. It's such a shame we are told so little about the Dunedain as, by the end of the Third Age, they have become such a paradox. On the one hand, they are have all that sophisticated Numenorean culture behind them and yet, by the time we first meet Aragorn, they have become these despised nomads. Quite how Gilraen fits into all that is very difficult to say.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/2/2008
I'm delighted to see this excellent story being posted here. I love your Gilraen. I only hope young Aragorn gets horses at Rivendell too.

Author Reply: Well I'm absolutely delighted to have you as a reader and thank you so much for all your encouraging comments.

I'm sure there will be no shortage of horses for Aragorn to ride in Rivendell. At least I certainly hope not!

EstelcontarReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/2/2008
I'm so glad you've started posting these vignettes here.

As I told you once, I liked Hope very, very much. I think it's a very thoughful and poignant tale, in which you've managed to give us a very perceptive glimpse of what Gilraen must have felt when she was suddenly confronted by the loss of Arathorn, and by the need to protect Aragorn.

Her grief, and her strenght felt very real, as did her love for Aragorn.


Author Reply: Hi Estelcontar, I'm glad you enjoyed this. And I so appreciate all your support and encouragement.

I'm sure anyone who has ever lost someone can identify very easily with Gilraen and to have her life turned up side down as well, had to have been terribly difficult for her. I certainly see her as a strong woman who made huge sacrifices for her child.


ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/2/2008
That was very well written and I enjoyed it immensly(I know I didn't spell that right) I have never read your stories before, have you written anything else? I loved this and will wait for more! Hugs The Imp

Author Reply: Hello Imp! Hugs back!
I'm thrilled you enjoyed this chapter. This story is my only complete one to date. I've been sitting on most of it for years but now I'm finally posting here, I'll put up a chapter a week.

Thank you for the kind review.

CairistionaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/2/2008
I'm so glad to see you posting your stories here at last! It was fun to beta for you, but seeing the finished story posted is such a treat.

This chapter is lovely on so many levels, but I have to say the interactions between the twins and Aragorn are my favorite moments. When they take him between them to go look at the horses at Imladris, my heart just melted. "Little Rider" is such a fitting endearment from Elrohir. The picture of the two mighty Elven warriors carrying on so over a small child is sweet.

And Gilraen's sorrow and bravery come through very well. It is amazing the strength that can be found in motherhood, in knowing that the life of a little one lies solely (or nearly that) in your hands.

I've told you before, but very nicely done!

Author Reply: Well thanks to your pushing and prodding, I got here in the end!

I like to think that coming to Rivendell was a fairly easy transistion for Aragorn. He was only a toddler and can hardly have known his father so I don't think he would have found it too much of an ordeal. And yes, I love the idea that Elrond's sons took to him immediately.

Thank you so much for the beta and I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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