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In Empty Lands by Larner	12 Review(s)
grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 2/2/2009
Loved the dwarves as blacksmithes to put the sword back together, sort of like in their own element. Poor Boramir, being confused by the twins. Love this story. Author Reply: Yes, they should work well with their Elvish counterpart to see the sword redone! And may the Man destined to carry it to victory do so well and ever with the honor due it.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2009
No, no, Boromir; just put that thing out of your mind! You'll make so many adoring female fans happy if you just. stop. thinking. about. It. Sob. A lightly chilling end to a fine chapter; I loved the scene with the dwarves getting all geeky over Telchar's handiwork; and communing with the Elves in the discussions of how best to re-forge those famous shards. Author Reply: I know, Raksha. But we know just from the Council itself that It had already caught his imagination, poor man. To him it was merely a tool, and he could not look beyond that to admit that what he was told of Its nature was true. And I think that the Dwarves would be thrilled to see a product of Telchar's forge, after all. Somehow it makes sense they would want some kind of hand in seeing it reforged, and that in this case the Elves would cooperate with them. And I, too, grieve Boromir learned too late just how much the Ring was capable of betrayal.

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/22/2009
I can very well imagine that Gimli and his father helped reforging the "sword that was broken". And I like all the details you put in, the symbols and their meaning, the runes and Aragorn's blood and hair to bind the blade to his bloodline. Frodo offered the Ring three times to others, to Gandalf, Aragorn and Galadriel. Each time he did it freely. But how do Gandalf and Elrond know that it would be exactly three times? That's interesting! Boromir is impressed by the sword but he is fascinated by the Ring! It already lures him. And he has no idea how evil It is. Poor man, I always feel so sorry for him! Author Reply: Three is a number we tend to see as completing things as part of our Western culture; there tend to be three chances, three guesses, three offerings. Also, remember that Elrond was gifted with foreknowledge, and that prescience was known throughout Aragorn's family as well on both sides. The Ring had captured Boromir's imagination long before he saw It, I suspect. And right now the idea that It could be evil is as foreign to him as it was to Isildur when he first declared it the only fair thing made by Sauron. In the end, Boromir proved Isildur's heir as far as the belief one could possess the cursed thing or use it; Aragorn instead inherited the better part of his illustrious ancestor's sense, that of the one who realized he bought It with great pain. And such things as drops of blood and hair were often used in sympathetic magic for both good and bad purposes--we may as well see them used for good ones this time.

harrowcat	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/21/2009
Oh my! This is such a brilliant chapter on so many levels. I love that the Dwarves have a hand in the re-forging and I really want to see more of that. You did it again to me! Gave me that shiver of glee when you opened my eyes to the three offerings of the ring. I have often pondered on why Tolkien chose these three to be confronted by the offer and why not Elrond as another ringbearer or even Cirdan. I think that there might be something in history. After all, Elrond was present when the ring should have gone into the fire the first time. Perhaps his rejection of It happened at that time. And I like the developing relationship between Boromir and Aragorn. Poor Boromir, the ring is already at work on the Fellowship. Author Reply: It will take some time to get all ready to reforge Narsil into Anduril, of course. The idea that Elrond's presence when Isildur refused his advice and did not dispose of the Ring way back then was in its way his refusal of It is an excellent one; he does not need to be tried again. Frodo offered the Ring to the Grey Wizard, the Lady of Lothlorien, and the still-hidden King of Men; it was never offered to any among Dwarves, I've noted. Aragorn and Boromir appear to have done fairly well together, although they never came to rivalry in Gondor's wars, as Faramir was to note. I would hope in time Boromir did come to think in his heart, "My brother; my captain, my king" as happened in the films, even if we do not see it in the books. And there is no question that the idea of the Ring at least has caught Boromir, poor Man. Thanks so, Harrowcat!

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/21/2009
When Gandalf said his heart almost stopped when Frodo embraced his vocation at the council, I think of the scene in the movie when Gandalf closes his eyes for a moment in pain and grief but then realizes it is all meant to be. I think one of the most appealing things about Aragorn is that he has all for all his adult life been a servant: Ranger, helping Gandalf track Gollum, guiding four frightened hobbits to Rivendell and on the Quest, helping at Helm's Deep, entering Minas Tirith first as healer. One does not doubt he would remain a servant as king for he knows Whose servant he is. I love that he pledges himself to Frodo. Interesting that it is seen that the Ring will be offered to a third and that Boromir overheard that and think it could be him. Namarie, God bless, Antane :)- Author Reply: I think learning Aragorn had bound himself to Frodo was in its way as heart-stopping as Frodo accepting his role as the Ringbearer. Each is doing something that both is perfectly in character for the individual, and yet totally out of key with their usual roles in the world, Frodo as a quiet-loving Hobbit of the Shire, devoted to living life and eating, Aragorn as the future High King of Men. But as you note, Aragorn knows well that truth taught us by Jesus--that he who would be the greatest must be as the servant of all. And Boromir being Boromir, does tend at this point to think it's all about him.... Sorry to be so delayed--this past week has been very busy, I've found. Thanks so for your patience, and to all those who were patient this past week.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/21/2009
Elladan and Elrohir have to be rather confusing for someone who doesn’t know that there are twins grin Not to mention Aragorn’s many names. Glad to see how much Gandalf worried about Frodo and Bilbo. Ah, that’s an idea, to have Glóin and Gimli involved in the reforging of Narsil! It seems somehow right that Dwarves had a hand in the reforging. And it was interesting to follow that discussion. Would never have thought of using blood in that; I can understand why Aragorn was uncomfortable with that. And of course, now I wonder if Gimli recalled that bit with the three hairs when he asked the same of Galadriel! The end made me sighing; it’s so obvious that the Ring had started to work his way to Boromir even back then. Oh Boromir, you have no real idea what a dangerous weapon you covet! Author Reply: Oh Kitty, I do agree that the identical twin sons of Elrond and Celebrian must have confused several over the years! And Aragorn's many names and titles could be the subject of a thesis, I think! Heh! The thought that Bilbo might have insisted on taking the Ring back and the strife that could cause between Bilbo and Frodo, not to mention the rest of Middle Earth, must have frightened far more than just Gandalf. The whole subject of the reforging of Narsil must have fascinated the Dwarves as much as it did the smiths of Imladris and the folk of the Northern Dunedain. The Elves' day is over, and even the Dwarves face their final diminishing, as is true also of the Hobbits. And so each in people in its own way contributes to the reforging of this blade intended to be wielded by the greatest of Men. Gimli asked but a single hair of Galadriel, and she gave him the three hairs she'd refused her cousin Feanor way back in the days before the Noldor left Aman. And so three hairs and three drops of blood are used to counter the dark blood magic of the Enemy's folks. And whether due to the active influence of the Ring or the imaginations of his own heart we don't yet know; but there's no question that from his introduction into the story Boromir was already seeing the Ring as something that could be used for the defeat of the Enemy. You are so correct as to him not appreciating the nature of that which he covets! Thanks so! I know it's taken time again, but this week has been a long and complicated one.

Celeritas	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/21/2009
The discussion of the weapon (runes and blood magic and technicalities were geektastic) laced with Mithrandir's and Elrond's more serious discussion was really well handled. That line there at the end, though... can't help but worry about Boromir! Another great chapter; thanks! Author Reply: Am so glad you liked the discussion of the magic used to empower Narsil and needed to reempower the blade to be born of its reforging as well. I would think that in this case some form of blood magic, but for good intent rather than evil, would be invoked. Meanwhile Gandalf and Elrond have their own concerns, and Boromir is allowed to be aware of them. We know from the Council itself that Boromir was already drawn by the Ring, although it's impossible to know for certain whether it's more due to the Ring's influence or Boromir's imaginations, insecurities, and ambitions. Probably a combination of both. Thanks so very much. Now to finish the other stories I've been working on!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/20/2009
I loved the idea of Dwarves helping to reforge Narsil and the magic.I love this compelling story! Author Reply: As Narsil was originally forged by a Dwarf, I think the Dwarves have a vested interest in seeing it renewed, don't you? We know that runes of protection were commonly put on swords, and the sheath that was made for Anduril was supposed to protect it from breaking again. That there would have been some kind of magic in the process seems likely, although I suspect Aragorn wasn't hot on the idea of blood magic being used. Thanks so, Linda!

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/20/2009
'an accent that struck Boromir as being somehow more pure than that of his own people' OAs always - some of your phrases just strike me - this one made me smile almost sadly. Oh my! I loved this - 'Aragorn paused uncertainly, sharing a long look first with the Elf Elladan and then with Lord Elrond, and finally with Lord Glorfindel. At last he said to the room at large, “I do not usually hold with blood magic.' OK - all I can say is - YIKES - - 'If the third offer foreseen by Lord Elrond should be to Boromir himself--what could he do with such a weapon? He found he did not covet the sword destined to be reforged for Aragorn son of Arathorn. It was a far different weapon he imagined himself--perhaps--wielding.' Author Reply: To hear Sindarin in Imladris itself must have been quite an experience for one who's lived in a land that's had little if anything to do with Elves for the last how many years. We can strongly suspect that the magic Sauron had used for the last thousand years had a heavy blood and death component to it for him to earn the title the Necromancer, and I suspect most of those who felt themselves aligned with the Light would find almost any form of blood magic, no matter what the purpose, to be repulsive. This must have been difficult for Aragorn. Whether or not Boromir was himself hearing the Ring's call in Rivendell we don't know; but we do know he was thinking about using it during the Council itself. So, whether it's the Ring or just his imagination, he's already primed for the Ring's blandishments, I'd think. Thanks so for the feedback, Agape!

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/20/2009
Oh mercy, poor Boromir. He is gaining much knowledge, but his real ignorance of the Ring's power is what is leaving him vulnerable. I like the look at a possible way that Narsil was reforged to form Anduril--very likely. Author Reply: I agree about Boromir. In this case ignorance is not bliss! All too vulnerable! As Narsil was first forged by the greatest Dwarf smith of all, I'd think that those in Gloin's party would want a good look at it, don't you? And they ought to have been at least consulted on how it ought to be done! Thanks so much, Dreamflower.

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