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| At Hope's Edge by Cairistiona | 13 Review(s) |
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| LisaG | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/5/2010 |
| Well, I feel better now that Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel are with Aragorn and his rangers...Halbarad now has someone to back him up in his vigil watching over his Chieftain! But oh, Aragorn is still wallowing in guilt and fear which is probably heightened by his pain and lingering illness. He really needs to somehow snap out of these perpetual feelings of failure and inadequacy. Oh and neat tie in to future events...Aragorn saying that he'll remember to use fire against the Nazgul...he'll need it at Weathertop! :) Ok...on to more chapters! Author Reply: Thanks, Lisa! I have to say I was a little relieved when those three showed up, too! Somehow it always feels better when Glorfindel's around. He was so handy with Frodo, after all. ;) Enjoy the future chapters! Thanks for the review. :) | |
| Dreamdeer | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/7/2009 |
| First, one quibble. Neither Glorfindel nor anyone else would have mentioned Vilya out in an open space like that. In the books, when Frodo mentioned Galadriel's ring, Aragorn told him that he should never have mentioned it, "even to me." Nor would they have assumed that Sauron calculated Elrond's Ring into his strategies as a known factor--because they kept it so carefully guarded a secret. The verse, after all, misleadingly pointed to three elven Kings--not a loremaster (Tolkien never calls Elrond "Lord" but always "Master") a Lady, and a non-elvish wizard. For that matter, we aren't even certain if Sauron knew Rivendell's exact location until the War of the Ring itself--why else would Elrond make Rivendell so hard to find? Having said that, this chapter did a beautiful job of further tightening the tension of the inevitable coming confrontation, pitting the irresistable force of Aragorn's duties against the immoveable object of his injuries. Even as everyone abandons any pretense of believing him well, they also cannot resist the logic that the crisis in Windydale cannot wait for his recovery. Yet the tension works even more captivatingly on the emotional level, where love and anger, frustration and admiration merge under pressure. Friendship, brotherhood, and the relationships between leaders and subordinates, suffer blows that only forge the links tighter, in a beautiful play of contradictions true to the human (and elven?) spirit. Only the ones you truly love can inspire that special kind of rage that one feels when someone refuses to stay safe for infuriatingly noble reasons (I know--I'm feeling that right now for a certain daring friend in Iran! I want to shake her and tell her to stay home and stop getting beaten up at protests, stop breaking the law to post on the internet, stop defying the government to keep her classes open, etc. but if she comes through this alive I will be so proud of her! And really, I'd like to think I'd do the same in her position.) Again I find the writing beautiful, heart-rending, and true. And all too relevant in the real world. Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamdeer, both for the praise and the quibble. I'll take your thoughts on Glorfindel and do a bit of research but I feel I can't change the story at this point... it's a "complete" story as far as MEFA's are concerned and I wouldn't feel right editing it at this point--I've always sort of taken the "the story must stand or fall as it may" once it's finished. Maybe after MEFAs are over I'll come back to it and see what might need changing. Onto your other points... it is very true that only love can bring about that sort of frustrating, teeth-grinding anger when you see someone you care about rush into doing something noble, heedless of their own danger. That sort of "If you survive this, I'll kill you!!" sort of thing is definitely what all those around Aragorn are feeling right about now. I'm glad you found that rang true. I do hope your friend comes through Iran safely... that's definitely a perilous land to be in these days. | |
| Minerva Organa | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/28/2009 |
| Stubborn Aragorn...*shakes head.* At some point they're going to have to simply carry out Halbarad's threat of throwing him on the horse and dragging him to Rivendell. I really enjoyed this chapter! Especially the exchange between Aragorn and Denlad. I really love how you portray devotion of Aragorn's men in such different, though no less touching ways. =) Author Reply: Thank you, Minerva! I'm glad you liked this chapter... I do think the men that served closest to Aragorn had the same sense of love that the members of the Fellowship grew to have for Aragorn. Very much what you'd want in a future King of Men. I'm glad you like how I portray that in the different characters. Thanks again for the review! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/15/2009 |
| Well I'm very glad that the twins have arrived, but wish Aragorn would accept their help and tell them the truth about how he feels. He will snap if he goes not let go soon.His men's devotion is very touching.Another great chapter. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda! I'm glad you enjoyed the interaction between Aragorn and his brothers. Yes, he needs to come clean with everyone... but somehow I doubt he will just yet. Thanks again for the review! | |
| Casso | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/12/2009 |
| And my bells go jingle jangle jingle As I go riding merrily along And they sing oh ain't you glad your single And that song aint so very far from wrong. Dear Cairistonia, Whenever I think of Glorfindel and the bells on his horses bridle I can't help but sing the above chorus of a song I have long forgotten the rest of. I have been tempted to put just one silver bell on my horses bridle in honour of the balrog slayer but have lacked the courage. Judges in the show ring may not be obsessed with Tolkien like I am. Mayhap Aragorn could put bells on his bridle and then he too could lament being unmarried. Great chapter and story, I feel ,like others who have commented, that the black breath is exerting its power over Aragorn still. Beware Nazgul, you now have the mighty Glorfindel and the legendery Sons of Elrond on your case. Thanks again for this story, am of now to read the next chapter. Author Reply: LOL!! Oh my, we may have discovered the true reason behind Glorfindel's bells--like Tex Ritter, he's glad to be single! Thank you for such a fun start to a review. I have to say that this is the first "singing review" I've received. *grin* I think it would be fun to put one bell on your horse, but yes, best not upset the judges and miss out on the blue ribbon. I'm glad, too, on a more serious note, that you're continuing to enjoy the story. Aragorn is definitely laboring under a slew of problems and yes, not least of which is the black breath. Thanks again for the review! | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/9/2009 |
| Yay! More mother hens have arrived! Aragorn and Nazgul beware. *bg* It's really good to see the twins and Glorfindel! I enjoyed Halbarad's comment about the bells on Glorfindel's horse and Aragorn's answer. ;-) Poor Halbarad, btw - trying to protect Aragorn is really not an easy job, to say the least. :P At least he seems to have found some reinforcements in Denlad. Now that the twins and Glorfindel have arrived and 'summoned' him to Rivendell I really hoped Aragorn would finally choose to be reasonable, give in, and allow himself to be dragged to Rivendell, or at least allow them to treat him. *shakes head* While I do understand his need to help the people in Windydale, I'm not convinced he's in a state to help anyone right now. Well, in any case having Glorfindel and the twins around is quite comforting, especially if a certain Nazgul still happens to be on the western side of the Mountains. This was another great chapter, and I enjoyed it very much! :) Almut Author Reply: Thank you, Almut! Yes, there's a regular flock of mother hens surrounding our Aragorn, but I bet, somehow, they'll end up frustrated mother hens. They'll have to form their own support group. ;) And yes, you have to wonder just how much help Aragorn can lend... but Aragorn being the leader he is, he'll have to go there. We'll see how he fares. And yes, he and the Nazgul both better beware now that Glorfindel's arrived. LOL Thanks for the review! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/7/2009 |
| And he still will not take care for himself, eh? I have a feeling Elrohir and Elladan will be taking exception to that attitude--and soon. Love Halbarad's worry and how it is expressed. Author Reply: Thanks, Larner! Glad you like Halbarad... he has a unique way of putting things, doesn't he? As for the twins... well, I'm sure they want to gang up on him and cart him off to Rivendell despite his protests. Fifty years back, they might have been able to, but now... it'd be a challenge! Thanks for your review! | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/5/2009 |
| I am getting the idea that Aragorn is not quite himself because of the black breath, I think his brothers and Glorfindel are gonna let him have it and soon for his own good. I love this story! Hugs The Imp Author Reply: Thank you, Elflingimp! I'm glad you're still enjoying the story and yes, it's very evident now that Aragorn's got a lot of issues, not least of which is the Black Breath still exerting its influence. Thanks for the review and for hanging in there with this wild tale! | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/5/2009 |
| Another fascinating chapter. Aragorn is indeed stubborn, isn't he? One cannot help but admire his courage and hardiness, but I'm sure the effects of the black breath acting on his previous despondent state of mind are clouding his judgement a bit. I'm glad Halbarad, and now Denlad are there to let him have a piece of their minds. LOL I'm sooooooooooooooooo glad Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel arrived. Aragorn & Co could do with such reinforcements when they face the Nazgūl again as I'm sure they're going to. Besides, Halbarad could do with some reinforcement too when facing his Chieftain. LOL I just loved to bits Halbarad description of Aragorn's battle with the Nazgūl, and the following final paragraphs. Author Reply: Thank you, Estelcontar! Yes, it's good that the cavalry, in the form of three Elves (or an Elf and two Half-elves) showed up at last. I think they'll need Glorfindel's assistance since Aragorn obviously isn't at his best. And yes, it's a fine line between foolhardy stubbornness and courage and hardiness, and Aragorn's definitely treading that knife edge right now. Of course, Halbarad considers that he's fallen off the edge completely! Glad you're enjoying the story and thanks for the review! | |
| inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 3/5/2009 |
| Great bickering between Halbarad and Aragorn; looks like the 'mother hen' won that round! Another absorbing chapter, but the bit I liked best was your explanation of why Asfaloth has bells on his harness. Spot on, I think! Author Reply: Thanks, inzilbeth! I'm glad you liked the bickering... and yes, round one to Halbarad. Or round two or however many rounds it's been now. I've lost count! And I'm glad you liked that bit about the bells... there was a discussion on some list, can't remember which one it was, about Asfaloth and it got me thinking about those bells and one reason Glorfindel might have felt cheeky enough to use them. My take on Glorfindel is that he possibly has a bit of a wicked sense of humor and I think that shows in him putting bells on his horse. Thanks again for the review! | |