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In Empty Lands by Larner	9 Review(s)
Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/20/2009
I think I can see the seeds of Boromir's downfall here.A great chapter. Author Reply: Unfortunately, we see those seeds right in the Council itself when he questions why the Ring must be destroyed. Thanks so!

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/11/2009
Huh, I can just see the elves of Rivendale, cleaning like crazy before all the guests get there, and wondering why Elrond invited so many. Sort of like me before Xmas, throwing all the odds and ends in a laundy basket and shoving it in a closet. Author Reply: Now you have me giggling! Heh! Yes, all these guests show up at the same time, and where will we put them all? Thanks for the laugh as well as the feedback.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
A riveting chapter; with excellent Aragorn/Boromir dialogue. Of course Boromir would welcome the Sword of Elendil's coming to Gondor more than its current bearer, but that may change. Author Reply: Thank you so, Raksha. I wish Tolkien had given us more detail on the interaction of these two on the quest.

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
"My brother, my captain, my king" - it's one of my favorite lines from the movie - so heartfelt, a loving tribute. Love also the talk between the hobbits - how Frodo needs some time to digest it all, to what he has committed himself to and what Sam has committed himself to by being committed to Frodo and Merry wanting to know before Pippin does so he can shield his cousin. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: We don't know Boromir didn't think this at the end; we do know he charged Aragorn to save his and and people. And I'd think a person such as Frodo would have wanted some privacy to consider what he'd just committed himself to before confronting his friends and companions, but that they would have denied him that luxury.

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
Oh I loved the beginning of this - the quick history of the Men of Dale - and Boromir having met one of her lords before. Very nice indeed. I do like Lord Blyn too - very skillful with words and his passion shines forth. He really is a stalwart man himself and open-minded, which is nice to see. I love the repartee between Sam and Frodo - the voices sound perfect. Sam's true understanding of what he would find if he went home now - and the total lack of support from the Hobbits of the Shire. Sadly. Merry and Pip coming was splendid - though I shivered myself when Frodo told them he was going to Mordor... Oh! I loved this line - 'Boromir obeyed as automatically as if it were his father who’d looked at him so.' Oh my! These are lovely little lines - one sure to break the heart of a lover of Men - 'The northern Chieftain gave him a particularly gentle smile, one that somehow reminded him not of his father but of his mother--and younger brother.' May I say a double Oh my! - You are killing me with this tale - beautiful. 'And Boromir realized just whose hand it had been that had eased the way of that unknown Man to death rather than eternal enslavement to the Lord of Evil. He shuddered, understanding a portion of the grief he saw in this Man’s eyes.' Phew! The discourse between Boromir and Aragorn was hard to read - so much said by The Dunadan.... Excellent chapter - as they all have been. You do not disappoint your readers, fair Larner! Thank you for sharing this with us. Author Reply: Dale must have reached out to other trading partners besides Esgaroth, and probably served as an intermediary for the folk of the Lonely Mountain as well. It's probable that they did seek some trade with Gondor, at least. Lord Blyn I've introduced before in "The Acceptable Sacrifice," where he becomes Bard the Second's seneschal as well as proving husband to Bard's cousin. It made sense to me that such a person would be sent by the court of Dale to Rivendell with Gloin; and I can't see the folk of Dale willingly giving up news to the Nazgul of Bilbo and the Shire without having such a consultation. It's been made clear to us that the Hobbits of the Shire distrust those who've gone outside it, and that they tend to choose to disbelieve "news from Bree" as being probably untrustworthy precisely because it's literally outlandish. And we know those west of the Brandywine tend to see those east of it as being strange and flighty. Even Paladin would be likely to think twice of such news, even if at this point it were to be delivered by his son. I've often pondered what that first conversation between Frodo on one side and Merry and Pippin on the other must have been like--it's unlikely they would have immediately welcomed the news Frodo had just pledged his life a second time when he'd nearly been lost just getting to Rivendell. And the news of his ultimate destination, spoken so baldly must have left them speechless. By now they know it's not just a fabled place, but a real one; and to think of one they love pledged to go there.... As for the conversation between Boromir and Aragorn--he now knows Aragorn's name, designation, lineage, and purpose. Now it is time to truly learn more of the Man--one who has been a warrior in several lands, one who is knowledgable and capable and who has long exercised command and to whom it is as native as it is to his father--if not moreso. I doubt that Aragorn would come right out and say, "I'm coming to Gondor and will see it freed of the Enemy's threats, and then intend to take the Winged Crown as my own, no matter whether your father and you agree or not"; I think he'd leave more of it to Boromir's own consideration and imagination at this point. Anyway, thanks so much for the long and detailed response, Agape! Now, to read your latest chapter! Hope the connection is open at work! Heh!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
An interesting chapter. I've often thought of writing a little gapfiller about Merry and Pippin finding out about Frodo's news--I think you showed their reactions very well! And I really enjoyed the conversation between Boromir and Aragorn here. Boromir is learning a good deal about the rest of the world--Gondor in some ways has been very nearly as isolated as the Shire, though in different ways. Author Reply: I'd love to see your take on this, myself. That Merry would be trying to protect Pippin even then while Pippin's sharp Hobbit ears would pick up on the knowledge that Frodo was NOT going home but on just seemed so likely, from what Tolkien tells us of them and from what we can deduce from their relationship. And considering that Frodo had just awakened the previous day from two and a half weeks of critical, sorcerous injury, I'd think that their original reactions would have been decidedly negative! Gondor appears to have had very little interaction with races other than Men since the loss of Amroth and Niphrodel; and what awareness most within the southern realm would have of Elves is questionable--other than some near the Elven Havens west of the mouths of the Anduin, how many Gondorians would have any interaction at all with Elves, do you think? Yes, isolated save in trade and war with most lands other than Rohan. And even in trade, they appear to have relied more on internal trade or trade in spite of war with those south and east besides what trade they indulged in with Rohan rather than trade with northern lands. The northern Dunedain, on the other hand, lived in the midst of a number of races and cultures, and had to develop diplomatic skills--and the art of stealth--to a remarkable degree just to survive! And I hope you appreciated my oblique references to your own story about Bilbo's encounter with the trolls--I so love that one!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
at times I feel myself neither Elf nor Man. At times I know not what I am. Indeed, at times he probably doesn't! I enjoyed all three conversations in this chapter. What a lot for the residents of Rivendell to absorb. Author Reply: Oh, the folk OF Rivendell have been dealing with so much of this for so long; but to the temporary residents and guests--indeed, this must be rather overwhelming! As for Aragorn--considering at that time he already had so many names and identities and roles he'd played and had been playing for some time--I suspect he did at times despair of knowing just who he was as the Man Aragorn. Thanks so, Shirebound.

Kara's Aunty	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
Hello Larner, Yippee! Another chapter - how I love this story! The telling of events from Blyn of Dale gives yet another new perspective to the tale of the Ring. And how lovely to hear parts of the story of 'The Hobbit' related from his pov. I was thrilled! I loved the scene between the hobbits: Boromir eavesdropping on their conversation as the other three more or less ganged up on Frodo and his snappish replies to Pippin because he was frustrated that he wasn't able to keep the truth from his cousins, at least. And how I pitied Aragorn his pseudo-existence! Such feelings of isolation despite his ties to many, knowing that those may ever shun him. So very movingly portrayed. Great work! M :) Author Reply: I introduced Blyn in "The Acceptable Sacrifice," and felt he deserved a little personal exposure. I remember reading that some of the Men shown at the Council in the movie were supposed to have possibly come from Dale, so why not Lord Blyn, right? And he would have to be aware of Bilbo's part in the history of his own land, right? And poor Frodo--he's just committed himself to what could possibly spell his own death, and he's already being pumped by Merry and Pippin as to what's happening now before he's had a chance to fully absorb it and its implications himself--but I can't imagine them responding any other way. As for Aragorn--if to wear a Ring of Power is to be alone, it's such a similar situation to know one is intended to rule such lands as Arnor and Gondor. Thank you so very much, Maureen!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/4/2009
Nice of you to include these who must have been at the Council, but were rather neglected by the Professor himself. And good to know the Men of Dale are still so sensible! Hm, I see Sam knew Paladin and Eglantine very well, even back then, before he could meet them as an equal. He was dead on about their reaction to all that happened outside the borders of the Shire even at this point in time when only a fraction of all these unbelievable things had happened. Pippin dropped his tray with food when he heard the news? Wow, that means something - a tween forgetting his food! grin Oh well, poor Frodo now has a lot of explaining to do. I can just imagine how Merry and Pippin reacted to his news what he is about to do! Poor Boromir. It is not easy to accept that Elrond is the twin to the first king of long-vanished Númenor, isn't it? With more than 60 generations of men in between, it is rather mind-boggling. It was interesting to watch Aragorn and Boromir trying to get to know each other a bit better. The first bit of respect is already there, I think. Author Reply: In the movie they showed Men at the Council, and even Tolkien indicated there were such folk there. If so, then who were they? And is it not likely Men from Dale accompanied Gloin's party? And I suspect they would be pretty eminently sensible, having returned to their historical role as living in a symbiotic relationship with the Dwarves of Erebor! I wished to set up the future reactions of Paladin and Eglantine; and suspect that Sam had them pretty well evaluated. To realize that Frodo has become committed to the destruction of the Ring must have been overwhelming at first for Pippin and Merry! And how they'd have wanted to find out just how and why he'd found himself in such a position. Meanwhile Frodo must have just wanted to get away from them all for a time just to think things out! As for Boromir--he's already committed, even if he's not said a thing or been consulted. The Ring has already caught at his imagination, and he's about to get involved in a LONG journey homewards, always with the thought at the back--or front--of his mind that the Ring could be used against Sauron somehow; but he needs some warning. And with the respect and cooperation he and Aragorn appear to have known through so much of their journey together, they had to have developed some kind of rapport. But had Aragorn openly declared to Boromir from the start he intended to seek to claim the throne of Gondor once he arrived in Minas Tirith, would that cooperation have been likely to develop? And I somehow cannot see Aragorn admitting to Boromir the fact he'd known the younger Man as an infant and toddler!

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