Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Outtakes of a Fellowship and Beyond by Kara's Aunty	6 Review(s)
Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/26/2009
I loved this poignant story. I hope Arathorn's spirit will learn of what became of his son. Author Reply: Hello Linda, yes, I think both Arathorn and Gilraen were probably looking on with pride as Faramir cried 'Behold the King' and Gandalf set the crown on his head. A little thing like death couldn't stop them from missing that! I'm glad you enjoyed the story. It was a bit of a change for me writing a solely non-hobbit (and with characters I'm not familiar with either), but I suppose we all need challenges to keep us fresh. Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;)

Celeritas	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/2/2009
This is some of the best prose (from a stylistic standpoint) that I've seen out of you. Bravo! And as for the content itself--well, thank you for once again reminding me what strong women all of the wives of the Dunedain had to be. Author Reply: Hello Celeritas, What a lovely thing to say. I thank you for the beautiful compliment (and a much needed boost it was too after the dreary afternoon at work I've had). Indeed the women were strong - as all spouses are whose husbands/wives/partners are caught in conflict while they wait patiently at home, dreading the worst. I should have dedicated the story to these admirable people. Bad me! Thanks for R & R-ing, and for the truly lovely compliments you left, M ;)

Andrea	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/1/2009
That was very powerfully written! And I was impressed by Arathorn's words concerning the roles of men and women. He treats his wife like an equal, he even feels guilty for having left her so often to go to war. I know some men who haven't gone that far until now ;-) And I loved it that you called Gilraen "the mortal Queen of Imladris"! I hadn't thought of that so far. But you are absolutely right! Author Reply: Hello Andrea, Thanks very much for your lovely words! I think being married to Gilraen the Fair probably opened his eyes a bit as far as the roles of men and women go. Before his own marraige, he may certainly have realised that the wives of his rangers missed their husbands when they were away on scouting missions, etc - but he may not have understood the full scope of their suffering as they waited for them to return, never sure if it would be living or dead. Not until he witnessed the joy in Gilraen's face when he came home, or the fear she tried to hide whenever he told her he had to leave again, would he have comprehended this and it probably gave him a healthy respect for the strength of the fairer sex. It must have been hard for him too, though, leaving his young wife and never knowing if he'd live long enough to see her again. I'm so glad you enjoyed this glimpse into their world! Thanks for R & R-ing, M ;) Author Reply: Oo-er...looks like I'll have to work on my 'mastery' of the HTML language thingy... Sorry about that half-italicised reply! M x

Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/1/2009
Very well done, cousin dear! So nice to see another from you! Love it and the poetic descriptions throughout of pain, esp. Arathorn not being able to soothe the tears that kissed the cheeks he can no longer. Namarie, God bless, Your bloom :) Author Reply: Hello blossom! How I love to hear from you, it always makes me smile! I hope all is well with you ;) It makes me very happy that you enjoyed this wee Arathorn/Gilraen ficlet. And you think the descriptions poetic? I'm blushing! Arathorn may have been a big tough ranger, and probably not very emotionally expressive for the majority of his life (given his huge responsibilities), but I bet he always let his guard down when he was with his dearest beloved. To see her ache with pain at his final parting from their mortal union must have been worse than anything he'd ever experienced. And to know she'd spend the rest of her life mourning him could only have been torture. Poor sod! Thanks for R & R-ing, Tookish bloom that you are, Cousin Mo ;)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2009
To know he leaves her so grieving is a grief in its own right! Author Reply: Hello Larner. I know. Poor sod. I've always wondered how Gilraen coped without her husband. It must have been so difficult, especially given her youth, to have lost him and now that she must live the rest of her life without the love his presence afforded. A very difficult thing for anyone who has lost a partner, but moreso when the widow/widower is so young. Gosh, I'm coming over all maudlin now! Thank you for R & R-ing, m'dear, M ;)

Ainariel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/31/2009
Very powerful and moving! This just tugs at your heart-strings. Arathorn's grief is palpable, but not overwhelming. It almost feels a little detached - as I would expect from a spirit bereft of it's body...(perhaps I'm reading more into...) Love the sense of Arathorn seeing/understanding a bit more of the 'bigger picture' than he did in life. I have enjoyed the others in this series as well, but this is my favorite so far. Love it! Author Reply: Hello Ainariel, Glad you enjoyed it! Your favourite of the series? blushes This was a fic I wrote last night on the spur of the moment (plot bunnies - what can you do?), but even then it was supposed to portray Arathorn's spirit watching over his son as he grew from boy to man. However, after opening it with Gilraen, I found I really couldn't do her the disservice of dumping her halfway through the story to concentre on Aragorn when she was in so much pain. So it became the grieving widow's tale instead. She doesn't get that much attention in the world of fanfic, so it was only fair. According to canon, Arathorn was supposed to be a bit of a stern man, so it seemed like a good idea to show his softer side as he gazed on his wife. But, not being the romantic type myself (too sceptical of all the mushy stuff), I had to put a twist on it and set it after his death, 'cos I can't write romance to save my life! And no, you're not reading too much into it! Being a 'ghost', I imagine, would have lent him an air of detachment because he'd have realised that his earthly journey was over, that no amount of wishful thinking on his part would have made it possible to intercede on his wife's behalf to spare her grief. I also thought floating in the afterlife may give Arathorn a better understanding of what Gilraen sacrificed to be with him, and it seemed only natural that he would be torn between regret at marrying her and realisation that he could not have done any different - because he loved her. He must have wished that their life together could have been different, that they had been able to spend more of it with each other. But then, that would have been impossible. As Chieftain of the Dunedain, he had responsibilities and lived with a figurative target painted on his back. Any woman he married may have been exposed to the same grief as Gilraen. I don't think that she would have chose any different anyway, if she knew what lay before her. Young or not, she strikes me as having been a woman who couldn't ignore the call of her heart. Anyway, I'm waffling a right pile of mince here, so let me just say 'thank you' for R & R-ing and I'm delighted that you enjoyed this rather angsty fic. M ;)

Return to Chapter List