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At Hope's Edge by Cairistiona	21 Review(s)
Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 2/10/2026
Oops I accidentally submitted that last comment early XD well, it reminded me I had resolved to not comment as much on this reread, since I've already commented on most things the first time. However, with that last accidentally-skipped chapter I kinda got back in the comment on everything habit lol Gandalf leaned his head back to squint at Aragorn down the considerable length of his nose. "It is unusual, I must say, after all this time. Most men would long have died by now," he mused, seeming to be talking to himself more than Aragorn. He blinked, then fixed Aragorn with a bright gaze. "But your Númenórean blood gives you greater strength than lesser men, and you do know a bit about healing, and there is the fact that your line has a special touch with the athelas. Although I’ve not heard of a healer healing himself of this, I suppose to a certain degree, you managed. Yes, I do believe that’s all this is. Well then." He stood up, shaking himself and arranging his long grey cloak. SKADJFSGHK THAT'S ALL NOT THAT'S ALL, BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A RESIDUAL LINGERING AFTEREFFECT THIS IS A FESTERING INFECTION THAT WAS NOT FULLY BANISHED AND SET IN AND HAS BEEN GROWING IN STRENGTH CONSISTENTLY "That’s all what is? Surely you are not leaving without explaining yourself?" Aragorn asked, his voice a bit sharper than he intended, but his head was starting to throb harder than ever, and he had little patience for the wizard’s enigmatic ways. skadhksghdsjghs his pain disguised in but also betrayed in his impatience and if anyone KNOWS the clues and knows they should be looking...they can see the sharpness and severity of his pain and sickness "Of course not, my dear boy," Gandalf said, a kind smile on his face as he put both hands on Aragorn’s shoulders. He studied Aragorn’s eyes and then shook his head sadly. "Ever do you think you can carry burdens too big for you." KSAHGKDSH <:(((( THANK YOUUUUUUUU EXACTLY EXACTLYYYYYYY "Trust me, Aragorn, you are neither a dullard nor a fool. THANK YOU yes don't let him keep talking so degradingly about himself. It does no good and is clearly a result of his exhaustion and the Black Breath, that he uses such strong words to speak about himself so derisively and discount any of his strength or efforts or successes None of us have figured out the wiles of the enemy or he would have been defeated ages ago. But, since you seem so eager to avoid the topic of your own well being LOLLL <3 again thank you for seeing that clearly and pointing out that even if you are letting him avoid the topic you know full well that he's doing it the twinkle in his eye <33 and Aragorn being again in such pain that he is incredibly grumpy, as hard as he's trying not to show it shaky legs, pulse in arm, but not missing a beat in his restless measuring of the room's distance yesss Gandalf's pointed look and mild annoyance at his pacing :)) He hunched his shoulders, rubbing his arm. It felt like someone was jabbing it with a hot poker. ksadksgdhj yess a hot poker openly hunching his shoulders Gandalf memorize his movements so when he collapses you can tell Elrond how much he was rubbing his arm and to check there XD Aragorn stared at Gandalf without seeing him. Instead he saw burning buildings and the tormented faces of the dead. "Ever have I sought to protect my people," he said, his voice sounding thin and somehow distant, even to his own ears. "But now it seems as though my very existence has hastened their destruction." HIS INTENSE GUILT AND THIN HORRIFIED VOICE AS HE SO QUICKLY CATASTROPHIZES <:( Gandalf shook his head. "No, Aragorn. Do not look at it so. Your service to your people has not been undermined. You have led them better than any other chieftain before you, and none in the long line of Isildur’s heirs have given themselves so selflessly to such a seemingly hopeless task as you have. You have not brought them destruction, but hope, and hope ever will be embodied in who you are and what you will become." thank youuuuu <3 he's like that was not what I intended for you to do with those speculations "It is as the visions... the nightmares... showed, only it will not be by the hand of my friends that I find myself at Sauron’s feet, nor chained and helpless, but by the strength of my sword and Sauron will be the one–" he is so, like, out of his mind with panic and horror. Rushing through sudden drastic decisions, thinking and trying to act in such absolutes, and not even realizing that he's revealing his deepest nightmares but that even his intent was to reveal them, Gandalf has kind of no context or idea what he's talking about or where this is coming from, "Aragorn!" Gandalf’s voice sliced through the room like lightning. YESSSS <3333 Aragorn froze, a boot dropping from his hand. He barely kept himself from cowering in fear at the sight of one of the Istari in full-blown wrath. He started to open his mouth to speak, but shut it with a snap as Gandalf seemed to loom larger than the room itself. YESSSS dropping a boot lol "He cannot possibly have, else you would not be standing before me, even in so bedraggled a condition that you seem barely able to stand. Aragorn, you look like the brush of a butterfly’s wing would knock you down." SKADHFSKFSGHKHFDS YESSSSS SO BEDRAGGLED BARELY ABLE TO STAND :) the brush of a butterfly's wing indeed lol like Halbarad and his gnat's eyelashes XD Aragorn pulled a face. "I am fine." He resumed pacing in front of the fireplace, albeit more slowly than before. SURE ERASE THE WORD FROM YOUR VOCABULARY ALREADY slowerrr hehe "Again, you try to fool a wizard at your peril. And I do wish you would sit down and stop pacing," Gandalf said sharply. He added under his breath, "Is it any wonder you call yourself Strider?" ksahgksh yesss hehe "at your peril" EXACTLY HE IS HURTING EXACTLY HIMSELF BY ALL OF THIS NOR IS HE HELPING ANYONE "I don’t call myself that. Usually." lol true poor guy <3 usually <:( Aragorn stopped his prowling but refused to sit down. hehehe further whump to him if he sits down now he won't be able to rise again "All in time, my dear friend, all in time," Gandalf replied cryptically. "But we must first deal with the matter at hand, for you can only play your part if you are healthy and strong. This broken-down shell of a man standing before me is not capable of dispatching a mosquito, let alone a Nazgûl. You must heal, and then we will talk of strategy, and of the plans I have for you." yessssss not capable of dispatching a mosquito lol hey but if it came down to that mosquito threatening his loved ones, you'd be surprised "What plans?" Aragorn asked warily. He was far too tired for the wizard’s riddles. yessss his exhaustion even in being wary of Gandalf having plans for him Aragorn glanced away. He rubbed his temples, which were pounding with an intensity that threatened to rob him of his sight. "Not yet. He has had his hands full with Halbarad. My own troubles can wait until morning. The dark of night is not the time I would have preferred to speak of it. To anyone," he added pointedly. YESS THREATENED TO ROB HIM OF SIGHT dang yes we know that however CAN IT REALLY WAIT? the dark of the night is probably when it's strongest anyways if anything "Then you should learn to keep your mouth shut while you sleep. I’m surprised your howls were not heard in the Shire." yesss :) poor guy was not trying to Aragorn felt his cheeks burn but he could not really say anything in his own defense. He had woken himself up, after all. And over the past week, Halbarad and the men certainly had let him know in no uncertain terms that their sleep had also suffered because of his nightmares. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am sure I was not heard in the Shire," he muttered. he's feeling so guiltily and grumpily defensive <:(( <3 Gandalf again put his hands on Aragorn’s shoulders, his eyes compassionate. "I should not tease, for I know how distressing this is. You have suffered much but rest assured, Aragorn, this affliction is near its end. Elrond knows how to treat the Black Breath and rid your mind fully of this menace, fear not. Shall I find him now?" AWWWW <:((((( I know how distressing this is DISTRESS INDEED ARAGORN IS PEAK EXAMPLE OF THE DEEPEST DISTRESS <333 he reassurance is very sweet <3 "there is hope and all will be well" (he has no idea how close he is actually to lying) "No. He worked long and hard today; there is no need to disturb him." mmm "If you are sure?" um Aragorn nodded, wincing a little as the motion sent a wave of pain rocking through his head. "I just need to sleep." ummmm buddy you can't even nod "I do not know whether to trust your judgment in this, but seeing as it appears you have gotten yourself this far, I will agree. And you are right in that Elrond worked long and hard on Halbarad and needs rest before dealing with you. Very well. Get some rest of your own, in the meantime. And have you any athelas?" hmmmmm good point though they probably should have been like, treating him with it each night in the meantime. I don't know whether Aragorn would've allowed it, but Halbarad's no fool, he knows Aragorn still suffers from the Black Breath. And he's no joke to argue with either, he might have even won. "I can find some, yes." SURE YOU CAN MR. I-CAN'T-STOP-PACING-UNLESS-A-BUTTERFLY-BRUSHES-ME-THEN-I'M-DEAD "Good, good. Use the athelas... I think perhaps in the rush of fighting off wraiths and hauling wounded friends to Imladris that you have neglected yourself too much." PERHAPS I think he has neglected himself beyond the barest minimum of looking to see if his wound is infected. Barest. Minimum. BECAUSE USUALLY WHEN YOU CHECK SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THE ANSWER IS YES THEN YOU TAKE FURTHER ACTION BUT HE'S TOO DEPRESSED TO CARE <:(((( Then I will see you in the morning and take you straightaway to your father." this makes me so happy <333 he's like I will be your personal escort and make sure you are cared for as you desperately need <3 his advocate wait his his advocate with the Father Gandalf as a Christ-figure again :) Somehow now it all looked very inviting. It would be good to come back to it and finally sleep. Smiling, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, THIS PART WHERE SUDDENLY NOW HE ACTUALLY WANTS THE BED HE COULDN'T EVEN LAY ON AND IT LOOKS INVITING AND HE SMILES AND IS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF BECAUSE GANDALF HAS GIVEN HIM SOME MEASURE OF HOPE FOR LIGHT BUT IT'S TOO LATE :) but stopped short as a knife of pain suddenly stabbed through his skull. He gasped as he grabbed his head with one hand and slapped a hand against the wall to steady himself with the other. :))) He stood that way for a long time, praying for the pain to ease but it did not, and shadows gathered in a filmy haze before his eyes. He took another step but his knee buckled and he slid down the wall, knocking into a potted fern on an iron stand. He tried to grab it but pain from his head and his arm made him clumsy, and he only succeeded in knocking it completely over. I LOVE HOW his head is not exactly one of the things injured but it is the pain there that finally brings him down, because that's where the real fight is (and also, because terrible fever and pushing your body past its physical limits will indeed bring a crippling headache :)) It crashed to the floor with the clamor of shattered pottery and clanging metal and he landed on top of it, its wrought iron edge digging excruciatingly into his wounded arm. Aragorn cried out and then felt more than saw a door open and footsteps rapidly approaching. yessss ouchhh "My dear boy!" Gandalf’s alarmed voice in his ear. "My dear boy. Let me help you." <333 AWW Strong arms slipped beneath Aragorn’s and he felt himself being pulled to his feet. "Gandalf..." "Shh, do not try to speak." skajhsgk <3 Aragorn tried to walk but his legs seemed incapable of supporting him. He sagged dizzily against Gandalf and started to fall again. He felt an arm sweep behind his knees and he knew he was being carried and hated it. YESSS and started to fall again and hated it :) "I am a fool of a wizard for believing you! :)))) a fool of a wizard It is as I feared. Worse even; you are burning up with fever. We cannot wait for morning. Elrond!" Gandalf bellowed and then hurried into Aragorn’s room. He laid Aragorn on his bed and Aragorn grabbed at the coverlet, hoping against hope that he might ride out the crazy spinning of a world gone wildly out of control. SAKDJHSK just grabbing on, trying to ground himself from the crazy spinning somehow is all he cares about or has the strength for He felt a hand on his forehead. "Yes, you are indeed ill beyond the remnants of Black Breath, young man," Gandalf said testily. "And no doubt have been all evening and yet all you could tell me is ‘fine’. Stubbornness, your name is Estel Elrondion!" yessssss THANK YOU :) His footsteps moved away and again Aragorn heard a bellow. "Elrond!" THE BELLOWS <333 Aragorn tried to sit up. yess "No, no. Lay down. Be still." yesssss But he had to get up. Had to keep moving. "No... have to move... the shadow..." SKASKHJSHFKJ he's really falling into half-memory-nightmare now, even if he doesn't quite realize "Shhh. Easy, my child." Against the footsteps faded and again a bellowing shout into the hall. "Elrond, cease your slumber and come immediately!" yesss <33 my child <:((( Aragorn looked toward the doorway, but the room seemed dim, full of shadow and flame. He groaned. It was getting hard to breathe. He dropped his head back to his pillow with a low cry. Fire-wreathed darkness enveloped him, and then it felt as though he fell into black waters. They closed over his head and he knew no more. THE SUDDEN QUICK SHADOWS AND FLAME DESCENDING UPON HIM AND WASTING NO TIME IN THICKENING THE AIR BEYOND BREATH groaning the room dim to him, dark, fire-wreathed darkness

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 2/5/2026
"‘Fine,’ he says!" Gandalf glared at him from under those massive grey eyebrows of his, which were drawing toward each other like two warships bent on destroying each other. "Aragorn, did Lord Elrond not teach you that it is exceedingly unwise to prevaricate to a wizard?" SKAJDG YESSS THIS PART :D "Gandalf, truly... there is nothing you can do for me." hmmm let him be the judge of that "Do? That tells me that there must indeed be something you need, from me or from someone." His gaze softened. "Come. Tell me, old friend." YESSS <:((( well spotted Aragorn’s shoulders slumped. Maybe.... <:((( please Yes. He would tell him. Carrying the burden of hopelessness was too tiring, maintaining a facade that all was well too exhausting. Still, his words were faltering and slow. "Somehow... I feel I have lost the path. Or perhaps the path that I once saw so clearly in my youth is no longer open to me. I feel as though I stand at hope’s edge, and any step from here will only lead me farther away from all that I once thought possible." He looked far into an empty distance. "I-I feel like my destiny is so far out of reach that it is nothing more than the hopeless dream of a... of a fool." YAYYY GOOD HE WILL TELL HIM <3 the struggle of the words still <:( "Is that what your heart tells you?" Gandalf asked gently. Long minutes passed as he searched for an answer in the dancing flames. He finally turned to Gandalf. "My heart sees only shadow." yesssssss To his surprise, Gandalf smiled, gently and a touch sadly. "And you think that yours is the only heart blinded in these dark days?" <:( indeed although Aragorn's is no mere reflection of Sauron's darkness in the East "But I am to be the king! I cannot afford to be so blind!" Aragorn said angrily, turning from Gandalf’s infuriating calm to pace the distance to the window. He stared out but saw nothing of moonlit beauty of Rivendell. His voice fell to a whisper. "What good is it to Middle-earth if the heir to the throne of Gondor is so easily defeated?" mmmmmm "Defeated? I think you use too strong a word. YESSS now please continue to probe about why. For it is not like Aragorn to use such strong language unwarranted, to catastrophize so The inability to see the path before one’s feet does not always amount to defeat, else we would all fail before we left our doors, whether we be merchants or farmers, wizards or, yes, even kings. We are all feeling our way through an impenetrable fog, Aragorn, moving forward only one uncertain step at a time. But moving forward nonetheless. " Aragorn heard robes rustle, then a hand gently squeezed his shoulder. "Tell me, Aragorn, my friend. It is not like you to have such despair in your eyes. What is it that so haunts your dreams that you cry out in the night?" SKAJGSHKH <333 that he cries out yes the last chapter didn't really mention his scream askdkhsgkj yess not like him to have such despair in his eyes <:( Aragorn folded his arms around his chest and tried to hide his shiver with a shrug. "I have no dreams of late. Only nightmares. " YESSSS THIS LINE he won't even count them to be dreams, for they are too terrible to deserve such a word "We all have nightmares, but I must say I have never known you to suffer unduly from them, no matter how bleak the night." mmmmm yes no mattere how bleak but now Aragorn's soul is what holds the bleakness Aragorn gave no answer. That after all this time, the effects of the Black Breath would still be plaguing him only brought a wave of shame that he should be so weak. To speak it aloud... no, he could not bring himself to do it. To have admitted his despair had been hard enough. sadjhssgjhdjkfsh BUT THEY ARE SO CONNECTED also it's been like. A week and a half since that first fight, I think??? the shame <:((( misplaced but so strong, and he cannot see how misplaced it is Gandalf sat down on the bed and leaned his ever-present staff beside him. He folded his hands over his knee and studied Aragorn so intently that Aragorn felt as though he were being judged before Ilúvatar himself. "Gandalf," he protested, but fell silent at Gandalf’s raised hand. skadshskh yessssssssss judged by Iluvatar himself dang and Gandalf not letting him escape the scrutiny "You mentioned fighting off orcs. But what of the Nazgûl? Did you encounter him directly?" YESSSSS After a long moment, Aragorn gave Gandalf a terse nod. he's so reluctant <:( buddy you need not be Gandalf’s eyebrows shot upward. "Ah," he said, as if coming to full understanding. "And how long ago did you fight him?" YESSSSSS THE UNDERSTANDINGGGG <3 "Almost two weeks, then again, briefly, just yesterday." "And in this first encounter... how close were you yourself to him, Aragorn?" YESSSS ASKING THE RIGHT QUESTIONS especially as he said yesterday was "brief", implying the first encounter was not At Aragorn’s continued silence, Gandalf’s fierce scowl returned. "Aragorn, you must tell me everything. Do not leave out even one detail." YESSSS AWWWW HIS FIERCE WORRIED SCOWL <3333 So Aragorn told the entire sad tale, trying to skim over his own defeat by merely saying, "I fought with him, and he fled after Halbarad threatened him with fire. We contended with him again at Windydale, only I did not get quite so near, nor for very long – a matter of minutes only. Glorfindel finally drove him out of the area, as far as we were able to ascertain. Then Halbarad was shot, and I brought him here, for it was only the skill of Lord Elrond that could save him." BUDDY THAT IS NOT THE ENTIRE SAD TALE NOT THE HALF OF YOUR PART IN IT OR THE FRACTION OF YOUR SADNESS "Aragorn," Gandalf said, a warning flashing in his eyes. "Do not try to fool a wizard! Is that truly all that happened? Are you trying to tell me that you did not feel the effects of being so near a Nazgûl not once but twice?" YES THANK YOU HOW NEAR YOU STILL DO NOT KNOW, REALLY I mean "I fought with him" implies closeness, but it could have been a couple of swordstrokes, it certainly doesn't explain how he was heavily bruised to the chest by the Nazgul's blade "Yes... I mean, no. I did, but I am fine. I..." Aragorn started, but then the lie locked in his throat. YESSSSS <333 <:) the lie locking in his throat genuinely made me so happy. Gandalf's pressing is getting through, and he is in his heart an honest man and hurting, and he can't keep lying through his teeth about his wellbeing forever The blackness that seemed more and more to take all his energy to keep at bay surged once more. He forced it back, bleak in the knowledge that the next time it would return stronger than before, like an ever rising tide, and the way he felt at the moment, it would be highly unlikely that he could fight it off again. SKAUHGSKJHSKSFDJ "bleak" being applied to Aragorn always makes me happy cause whump the blackness surging ALMOST CERTAIN IT WILL OVERCOME HIM NEXT TIME well, he is right :) "It... I feel it... him... I don’t know what it is, if it’s simply the memory that still plagues me, or something... something worse. A blackness... like a cold shadow that the sun cannot penetrate... still lingers in my mind. And there is a chill in my bones that no fire seems able to thaw." YESSSS thank you for again confirming that the chill which he has not been mentioning much is indeed still there ALSO THE HALTING STUTTERING STRUGGLE FOR WORDS <3333

Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/27/2025
“‘Fine,’ he says!" Gandalf glared at him from under those massive grey eyebrows of his, which were drawing toward each other like two warships bent on destroying each other. "Aragorn, did Lord Elrond not teach you that it is exceedingly unwise to prevaricate to a wizard?" GANDALFFFFFFF lol like two warships :) Yessss exceedingly unwise "Gandalf, truly... there is nothing you can do for me." "Do? That tells me that there must indeed be something you need, from me or from someone." His gaze softened. "Come. Tell me, old friend." Yesss well spotted Aragorn’s shoulders slumped. Maybe.... Yes. He would tell him. Carrying the burden of hopelessness was too tiring, maintaining a facade that all was well too exhausting. Please. Please do <3 Still, his words were faltering and slow. "Somehow... I feel I have lost the path. Or perhaps the path that I once saw so clearly in my youth is no longer open to me. I feel as though I stand at hope’s edge, and any step from here will only lead me farther away from all that I once thought possible." He looked far into an empty distance. "I-I feel like my destiny is so far out of reach that it is nothing more than the hopeless dream of a... of a fool." Skajdjfjsksk trying to explain but still struggling "Is that what your heart tells you?" Gandalf asked gently. Great question <3 Long minutes passed as he searched for an answer in the dancing flames. He finally turned to Gandalf. "My heart sees only shadow." VERY ACCURATE ANSWER I didn’t know what he’d say but that sounds so right To his surprise, Gandalf smiled, gently and a touch sadly. "And you think that yours is the only heart blinded in these dark days?" "But I am to be the king! I cannot afford to be so blind!" Aragorn said angrily, turning from Gandalf’s infuriating calm to pace the distance to the window. He stared out but saw nothing of moonlit beauty of Rivendell. His voice fell to a whisper. "What good is it to Middle-earth if the heir to the throne of Gondor is so easily defeated?" Hmmm <:(( "Defeated? I think you use too strong a word. The inability to see the path before one’s feet does not always amount to defeat, else we would all fail before we left our doors, whether we be merchants or farmers, wizards or, yes, even kings. We are all feeling our way through an impenetrable fog, Aragorn, moving forward only one uncertain step at a time. But moving forward nonetheless. " Aragorn heard robes rustle, then a hand gently squeezed his shoulder. "Tell me, Aragorn, my friend. It is not like you to have such despair in your eyes. What is it that so haunts your dreams that you cry out in the night?" SKASKGDSFHJ okay has he been here for multiple days now or does Gandalf just know that Anyways his perception makes me happy <3 And he just Sounds like Gandalf Aragorn folded his arms around his chest and tried to hide his shiver with a shrug. "I have no dreams of late. Only nightmares." Skajdjfks Nightmares Not even counting them as dreams THE SHIVER "We all have nightmares, but I must say I have never known you to suffer unduly from them, no matter how bleak the night." Mmmmm yessssssss <333 Aragorn gave no answer. That after all this time, the effects of the Black Breath would still be plaguing him only brought a wave of shame that he should be so weak. To speak it aloud... no, he could not bring himself to do it. To have admitted his despair had been hard enough. BUT ARAGORN YOU NEVER REALLY GOT THE PROPER CARE Gandalf sat down on the bed and leaned his ever-present staff beside him. He folded his hands over his knee and studied Aragorn so intently that Aragorn felt as though he were being judged before Ilúvatar himself. Yesss <33 STUDY HIM Also yay hes on a bed now I wonder what got him there "Gandalf," he protested, but fell silent at Gandalf’s raised hand. HEHE I love those sorts of cut-off protests "You mentioned fighting off orcs. But what of the Nazgûl? Did you encounter him directly?" After a long moment, Aragorn gave Gandalf a terse nod. Yesss Okay I love these probing questions and Aragorn’s pauses and this terse nod. Hes so reluctant but they need to know. Gandalf’s eyebrows shot upward. "Ah," he said, as if coming to full understanding. "And how long ago did you fight him?" YESSS SHOT UP full understanding indeed <3 he is asking the right questions "Almost two weeks, then again, briefly, just yesterday." Thank you for also mentioning yesterday because like. Maybe there was no hand to hand combat but he certainly had to fight off the darkness. And I honestly wouldn’t trust Aragorn to count that in to Gandalf when he’s being so reserved, so I’m glad he did Also Yayy it’s still the same day, I hoped it was. At the same time, it barely feels like that was only yesterday. "And in this first encounter... how close were you yourself to him, Aragorn?" Yesss still the right questions very good At Aragorn’s continued silence, Gandalf’s fierce scowl returned. "Aragorn, you must tell me everything. Do not leave out even one detail." YESSS THANK YOU THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART fierce scowl <3 at his silence, because HE NEEDS ARAGORN TO TELL HIM, SO HE CAN HELP, I love that sort of scowl So Aragorn told the entire sad tale, trying to skim over his own defeat by merely saying, "I fought with him, and he fled after Halbarad threatened him with fire. We contended with him again at Windydale, only I did not get quite so near, nor for very long – a matter of minutes only. Glorfindel finally drove him out of the area, as far as we were able to ascertain. Then Halbarad was shot, and I brought him here, for it was only the skill of Lord Elrond that could save him." ARAGORN YOU ARE LEAVING OUT SO SO MANY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DETAILS YOU…IDIOT I SAY THIS WITH ALL LOVE BUT "Aragorn," Gandalf said, a warning flashing in his eyes. "Do not try to fool a wizard! Is that truly all that happened? Are you trying to tell me that you did not feel the effects of being so near a Nazgûl not once but twice?" THANK YOU BE ANGRY UNTIL HE STOPS TRYING TO FOOL YOU "Yes... I mean, no. I did, but I am fine. I..." Aragorn started, but then the lie locked in his throat. Yess good The blackness that seemed more and more to take all his energy to keep at bay surged once more. He forced it back, bleak in the knowledge that the next time it would return stronger than before, like an ever rising tide, and the way he felt at the moment, it would be highly unlikely that he could fight it off again. Aksjfjfkskdk Also good :) I would like him to pass out or SOMETHING to give others the opportunity to actually do something for him "It... I feel it... him... I don’t know what it is, if it’s simply the memory that still plagues me, or something... something worse. A blackness... like a cold shadow that the sun cannot penetrate... still lingers in my mind. And there is a chill in my bones that no fire seems able to thaw." Yesssssss The barely masked horror in the “I feel it…him…” it feels reminiscent of Frodo THANK YOU FOR SAYING ALL THESE WORDS <3 a blackness lingers. A chill in my bones YES ITS STILL THERE these are very strong words, good job Aragorn Gandalf leaned his head back to squint at Aragorn down the considerable length of his nose. "It is unusual, I must say, after all this time. Most men would long have died by now," he mused, seeming to be talking to himself more than Aragorn. He blinked, then fixed Aragorn with a bright gaze. "But your Númenórean blood gives you greater strength than lesser men, and you do know a bit about healing, and there is the fact that your line has a special touch with the athelas. Although I’ve not heard of a healer healing himself of this, I suppose to a certain degree, you managed. Yes, I do believe that’s all this is. Well then." He stood up, shaking himself and arranging his long grey cloak. Okay “that’s all this is” feels rather dismissive of the depth of his suffering to me but I don’t think it’s actually meant to be. It’s just. He doesn’t know about the sword and arm and all those things "That’s all what is? Surely you are not leaving without explaining yourself?" Aragorn asked, his voice a bit sharper than he intended, but his head was starting to throb harder than ever, and he had little patience for the wizard’s enigmatic ways. Lol too exhausted for his riddles <3 "Of course not, my dear boy," Gandalf said, a kind smile on his face as he put both hands on Aragorn’s shoulders. He studied Aragorn’s eyes and then shook his head sadly. "Ever do you think you can carry burdens too big for you." THANK YOUUUU and he DOES NOT NEED TO CARRY THEM ALONE NO ONE BUT HIMSELF EXPECTS HIM TO Aragorn shook off Gandalf’s hands. He had to change the subject–this was getting them nowhere. …uh-huh. Sure. Perhaps, only because he is being so RESISTANT to give away any information He angrily stepped away and started pacing before the fireplace. "It is not so great a burden. SURE I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR MY SARCASM Also wait WAS he sitting on the bed or was that only Gandalf?? I would not be surprised if he’s been standing this whole time I lived, and I will get better in time. You said it yourself; the healer can heal himself, and I have. THAT IS NOT WHAT HE SAID the words were “I’ve not heard of a healer healing himself of this” Or am still doing so, however you want to say it." He made an impatient gesture and went on, "What really concerns me is what to do about the fact that a wraith lingers yet in my lands, terrorizing and murdering my people for reasons I am apparently too much the dullard to figure out, save that it is evil and, like its foul master, full of hate for all men." <:( he just cares about his people WHICH I LOVE ABOUT HIM I don’t love, however, that he tries to use it to avoid and get angry over any care for himself Also…this is strong language also "Trust me, Aragorn, you are neither a dullard nor a fool. THANK YOU I do not like Aragorn calling himself that None of us have figured out the wiles of the enemy or he would have been defeated ages ago. But, since you seem so eager to avoid the topic of your own well being, let us for a moment speculate together and maybe we will come up with something that assures us that neither of us are as thickheaded as we might fear," Gandalf said with a mischievous wink. <333 I love him He sees exactly what he’s doing but will use it to his own purposes Any other time, the twinkle in Gandalf’s eye would have lightened his mood, but Aragorn merely scowled, not missing a step in his restless measuring of the distance across the room and back. His legs were feeling shaky but he used his anger to goad them to keep moving. A pulse started to beat deep within the wound on his arm, so he again surreptitiously grasped his left elbow. "I would be glad of your insight, for mine has been of precious little use." Lolll hes so grumpy poor guy. Also SIT DOWN or collapse. Actually, do that. That sounds great. Hmm surreptitiously Again this typical to Aragorn feeling in dark moments like he only makes bad choices Also, lucky for him he has a tunic that is not ripped, and no one has seen the bandage like his brothers immediately could with the ripped one. I mean not lucky for his health but he’s probably happy "Right, then. Let us consider. He may be searching for the One Ring. That is, after all, their sole purpose in whatever it is that passes for their lives," Gandalf mused. "Saruman claims it washed down the Anduin to the sea, and may it be so. But if the servants of the Ring... of Sauron... are stirring, then I fear that Saruman may be wrong in his assertion that the Ring is no more. It may have awakened and is calling to its servants, and this one is searching for it." Gandalf paused and looked pointedly at him. Yesss indeed Aragorn slowed but did not stop his troubled prowling. "Go on. I am listening." lol troubled prowling <3 "Like talking to the pendulum on Bilbo’s clock," Gandalf huffed, but continued. LOL <3 "Not quite. I think there could be another reason the wraith is astir in your lands." Aragorn stopped. "And that is?" Yesss "Foremost always in Sauron’s thought is his desire for the One Ring. How he wants it, for it is part of him and he of it. They are bound to one another. But second to that desire is this: he seeks the Heir of Isildur. He seeks to utterly destroy both him and his line, because it is only through him – through you, Aragorn, son of Arathorn – that his defeat will be assured." Yesssssss he fears you, Aragorn "But the secret... he surely does not know I am the one he seeks." He hunched his shoulders, rubbing his arm. It felt like someone was jabbing it with a hot poker. Hehe yes Also OUCH um Jabbing with a hot poker This is getting bad "Sauron’s spies are everywhere, their methods devious and cunning. Who is to say that Sauron has not heard rumor that a son yet lives, a son that is hiding among the Dúnedain remnant? A son that has taken his rightful seat as Chieftain?" Hmmm good point Aragorn felt as though someone had punched him in the gut. "He is destroying the settlements in order to draw me out." That could explain why he doubled back to attack Windydale a second time... I was there... I drew him there... NOPE NOPE DO NOT HEAP MORE GUILT UPON YOURSELF "I am not sure, of course, but it is something we cannot dismiss." Aragorn stared at Gandalf without seeing him. Instead he saw burning buildings and the tormented faces of the dead. "Ever have I sought to protect my people," he said, his voice sounding thin and somehow distant, even to his own ears. "But now it seems as though my very existence has hastened their destruction." Nooooooo no no stop Gandalf shook his head. "No, Aragorn. Do not look at it so. Your service to your people has not been undermined. You have led them better than any other chieftain before you, and none in the long line of Isildur’s heirs have given themselves so selflessly to such a seemingly hopeless task as you have. You have not brought them destruction, but hope, and hope ever will be embodied in who you are and what you will become." Awwwwww THANK YOU SEE he is better even than each of his ancestors and prior chieftains. He is a great and kind and powerful and selfless chieftain. AND BRINGING THEM HOPE <3 Hope does little to serve the people when the enemy uses it against them," Aragorn said, bitterness riding hard on his heart. "If he knows who I am, then I give no succor to my people but am a threat to their very survival." He gathered his coat and his sword, then bent to pick up his boots. "I must leave. We will put forth the word that the Chieftain has died, the line truly ended, and maybe thereby give my people time while I go forth to Mordor." ARAGORN NO STOP DO NOT DO THIS THAT IS EXTREMELY HASTY AND FOOLISH also Buddy what do you think your half-alive hopeless self will accomplish alone at Mordor? "Aragorn, I am certain that Sauron does not know–" "It is as the visions... the nightmares... showed, only it will not be by the hand of my friends that I find myself at Sauron’s feet, nor chained and helpless, but by the strength of my sword and Sauron will be the one–" Noooooo not the nightmares Not the even worse all-my-fault twists on it Stop "Aragorn!" Gandalf’s voice sliced through the room like lightning. YES is this gonna be a BILBO BAGGINS! moment THANK YOU GANDALF Aragorn froze, a boot dropping from his hand. He barely kept himself from cowering in fear at the sight of one of the Istari in full-blown wrath. He started to open his mouth to speak, but shut it with a snap as Gandalf seemed to loom larger than the room itself. HA YES one of the only people, I think, who could make Aragorn cower in fear, and he sure needs that shock right now "You will do no such thing! The time is not yet full, and you would only destroy yourself and with that, all of Middle-earth!" YESSSS Then Gandalf’s rage passed as quickly as it erupted. He seemed to shrink, to become again a harmless-appearing old man with friendly eyes who spoke as a patient teacher to a stubborn pupil. Yess just like with Bilbo <33 he does not mean to gain some kind of like fear over him, just enough momentarily to knock some sense into him "I have no idea what you mean with this prattle of visions and being thrown to the enemy, but trust me in this: the enemy does not know you exist, else this region would be swarming with every evil weapon and soldier Sauron has at his disposal. That there has been just the one Nazgûl with a small force of orcs, as terrible as that is, tells me that your identity is mere rumor, as it always has been. Nothing more. Thank youuuuuu Aragorn jumping so quickly to these conclusions before Gandalf can refute them lol And, goodness, my boy, none of us will bind you over into Sauron’s hand." I LOVE THIS SENTENCE first hes like I have no idea what you mean by that but, and then he comes back and is like, “goodness, my boy” (love those words <3) we all love and are so loyal to you!! Aragorn put his sword down, and suddenly weariness replaced panic and he felt very foolish. As if he could hope to take on Sauron! "I know," he sighed. "It is just a recurring theme in my nightmares, nothing more. As to the other, I spoke rashly. I know I cannot take on Sauron, not now and not alone, much as my anger would drive me to try." He laid the coat back across the chair and then stood for a moment, chewing his lip before he finally spoke again. "So you truly think he has not discovered who I am?" Yessss THANK YOU for recovering your reason And seeing now how absurd the moment was "He cannot possibly have, else you would not be standing before me, even in so bedraggled a condition that you seem barely able to stand. Aragorn, you look like the brush of a butterfly’s wing would knock you down." THANK YOU MY DEAR GANDALF Aragorn pulled a face. "I am fine." He resumed pacing in front of the fireplace, albeit more slowly than before. YEAH SURE "Again, you try to fool a wizard at your peril. And I do wish you would sit down and stop pacing," Gandalf said sharply. He added under his breath, "Is it any wonder you call yourself Strider?" Yessss this sharpness, like when it came from Halbarad, is making me happy. “At your peril” THATS THE TRUTH he’s like, this is your danger you’re putting yourself into by trying to fool me??? Also, trying to fold a wizard? Really? "I don’t call myself that. Usually." Aragorn stopped his prowling but refused to sit down. "The question is, then, what can I do to stop the wraith returning?" Mmm usually lol And yeah, thats mostly others’ nickname. But this is rather a funny accurate application Also I just realized, if Aragorn manages to hide exactly what happened and how close to death he was until Halbarad wakes up…well, wait till Halbarad wakes up "Nothing." "Nothing?" Anger rose again. "How can you say–" Aragorn my friend you have a very short temper tonight <3 "You do not stop him. No, not by yourself nor with your Rangers, nor even with Glorfindel, although he has bought us time with his strength. No, you have a large role to play on the grand stage of Middle-earth’s doom, you and your Rangers, but before this is over and Sauron is defeated, you will have help from an entire array of folk, both expected and unexpected." Yessssss truth truth Aragorn frowned. "What ‘folk’?" HEHE shire-folk :) Among others "All in time, my dear friend, all in time," Gandalf replied cryptically. "But we must first deal with the matter at hand, for you can only play your part if you are healthy and strong. This broken-down shell of a man standing before me is not capable of dispatching a mosquito, let alone a Nazgûl. You must heal, and then we will talk of strategy, and of the plans I have for you." Thank youuuuu broken-down shell of a man, although I’m sure Aragorn does not appreciate that description, I like Gandalf using strong descriptions to show how greatly Aragorn is failing at hiding his physical state Also yay the plans I have for you <3 (sounding rather like Jesus there :)) "What plans?" Aragorn asked warily. He was far too tired for the wizard’s riddles. lol "Future plans, nothing imminent," Gandalf waved him off. "I am still searching and watching and traveling, trying to find answers that are slow in coming, but coming nonetheless. But they needn’t concern you yet. Heheee hes like oh don’t worry atm In the coming months, perhaps. But for now... you need the care of your father. You have not told him of the Nazgûl, have you?" YES THANK YOU I AM SAYING THAT A LOT BUT I SAY IT SINCERELY HE NEEDS THE CARE OF HIS FATHER <333 I need him to have the care of his father Aragorn glanced away. He rubbed his temples, which were pounding with an intensity that threatened to rob him of his sight. "Not yet. He has had his hands full with Halbarad. My own troubles can wait until morning. The dark of night is not the time I would have preferred to speak of it. To anyone," he added pointedly. Mmmm But the dark of night is exactly when it’s strongest and you need the most support "Then you should learn to keep your mouth shut while you sleep. I’m surprised your howls were not heard in the Shire." LOL okay this all makes sense now. Aragorn went to bed and had nightmares and screamed himself awake (<:() and Gandalf heard Also “your howls”, like as much as his says this almost teasingly (which I like) there’s also. Aragorn does not howl, ever, if he can help it. That makes it sound like. So intense and loud. And PAINED Aragorn felt his cheeks burn but he could not really say anything in his own defense. He had woken himself up, after all. And over the past week, Halbarad and the men certainly had let him know in no uncertain terms that their sleep had also suffered because of his nightmares. Loll they’re sympathetic but also they will let him know he’s disrupting their sleep. Poor guy is extremely aware and feels bad He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I am sure I was not heard in the Shire," he muttered. Aww this rather petulant but also embarrassed and pained mutter <3 Gandalf again put his hands on Aragorn’s shoulders, his eyes compassionate. "I should not tease, for I know how distressing this is. You have suffered much but rest assured, Aragorn, this affliction is near its end. Elrond knows how to treat the Black Breath and rid your mind fully of this menace, fear not. Shall I find him now?" Skajdjfjs yes he can fully rid his mind of this great menace <3 "No. He worked long and hard today; there is no need to disturb him." "If you are sure?" Aragorn nodded, wincing a little as the motion sent a wave of pain rocking through his head. "I just need to sleep." lol sure Also is he like, severely dehydrated? I feel like he’s been taking random gulps of water here and there but that’s it "I do not know whether to trust your judgment in this, but seeing as it appears you have gotten yourself this far, I will agree. And you are right in that Elrond worked long and hard on Halbarad and needs rest before dealing with you. Very well. Get some rest of your own, in the meantime. And have you any athelas?" A great point and conclusion <3 Aragorn’s judgement may or may not be trustworthy on this but he will not die between now and then and Elrond can better heal him and give him his full love and care if he is rested “before dealing with you” lol "I can find some, yes." "Good, good. Use the athelas... I think perhaps in the rush of fighting off wraiths and hauling wounded friends to Imladris that you have neglected yourself too much." Mm good idea YEP I didn’t think of him using Athelas again but I’m sure that would help him last longer Aragorn ducked his head but did not argue. Gandalf was right, as always. <3 indeed "Feel no shame, my dear boy. ‘tis one of your strengths, that you look to the welfare of others before you take care of your own. It will serve you well as King. But it can also be a great weakness when you neglect yourself to the point where you are near collapse." Mmm yesss often our greatest strengths undermine us in certain situations Gandalf patted his arm. "There. I will stop my lecturing and let you rest. Then I will see you in the morning and take you straightaway to your father." Yayyyyy take him to his father <33 "What, no breakfast?" Gandalf stared for a moment, then laughed. "You must not be too near death, if you can still make a joke." LOL says the guy to whom food tastes like nothing (Also if I have not already said this, starving but no appetite and having to force down food if they eat at all is a great trope and I’m glad you used it) "Who was joking?" Aragorn smiled, then opened the door. He leaned his arm on it as Gandalf walked out. "Gandalf, wait." Gandalf stopped in the hallway and turned. "Thank you. For listening." <333 thank you for appreciating him. There is still reason under the hopelessness-induced crabbiness "All in a day’s work." He glanced toward the darkened window. "Or night’s, as it were. Good night, old friend." :)) night’s Old friend <333 "Good night, Gandalf." Aragorn shut the door and leaned back against it. He shut his eyes for a moment as again he kneaded his temples. Maybe before hunting down athelas, he should go down to the kitchen and get another cup of willowbark tea. Then he could stop by Elrond’s study... he always kept a supply of athelas and other medicines there. Aragorn opened his eyes and looked once more at his room, and at the bed. OOH IS HE NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT TO THE ATHELAS I would like that muchly. As much as he needs some, him still being as depressed and hurt as possible when Elrond tends him also scratches my whump itch so And good idea to get some tea, I’m impressed you’re actually planning to do extra things to take care of yourself Also you’re doing such a good job of prolonging his pain. Thank you >:) I was not expecting it to last this long (besides the hints of the chapter titles) Somehow now it all looked very inviting. It would be good to come back to it and finally sleep. HE ACTUALLY WANTS SLEEP AND REST like, he can actually accept it Smiling, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, but stopped short as a knife of pain suddenly stabbed through his skull. He gasped as he grabbed his head with one hand and slapped a hand against the wall to steady himself with the other. OOOH that is indeed a knife of pain, to make him gasp and stagger AND JUST WHEN HE HAD A GENUINE SMILE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN WHO KNOWS HOW LONG He stood that way for a long time, praying for the pain to ease but it did not, and shadows gathered in a filmy haze before his eyes. He took another step but his knee buckled and he slid down the wall, knocking into a potted fern on an iron stand. He tried to grab it but pain from his head and his arm made him clumsy, and he only succeeded in knocking it completely over. It crashed to the floor with the clamor of shattered pottery and clanging metal and he landed on top of it, its wrought iron edge digging excruciatingly into his wounded arm. Aragorn cried out and then felt more than saw a door open and footsteps rapidly approaching. YESSSS YES YES COLLAPSE COLLAPSE I WAS HOPING HE WOULD COLLAPSE BEFORE HE RECEIVED CARE he lasted impressively long And “excruciatingly” is right, and a good strong word, I CANNOT IMAGINE, an iron edge (I assume with like curls and stuff too?) digging into a wounded and infected arm that was already poker-hot stabbing him earlier with no provocation, like Anyways I loveeee this it was very good. The waiting for pain to ease but it does not, and then instead of a quick collapse the whole struggle of knee buckling, sliding down the wall, clumsily unable to right the pot and instead falling on it, is so great "My dear boy!" Gandalf’s alarmed voice in his ear. "My dear boy. Let me help you." YAYYY AWW My dear boy <3 “Let me help you” aksjdjdk Strong arms slipped beneath Aragorn’s and he felt himself being pulled to his feet. "Gandalf..." "Shh, do not try to speak." Yess like when the Black Breath first came over him, and his friends kept telling him “don’t try to walk” Aragorn tried to walk but his legs seemed incapable of supporting him. He sagged dizzily against Gandalf and started to fall again. He felt an arm sweep behind his knees and he knew he was being carried and hated it. BUT I LOVE IT SO Gandalf is indeed strong. And I love that we have proof with him having effortlessly carried Faramir. Anyways Gandalf carrying Aragorn!! Makes me happy!! "I am a fool of a wizard for believing you! Yesssss fool of a wizard hehe Even I believed his judgement may possibly have been okay! Until I realized he was going to try to walk around the house It is as I feared. Worse even; you are burning up with fever. We cannot wait for morning. Elrond!" Gandalf bellowed and then hurried into Aragorn’s room. Yessss GANDALF BELLOWING makes me happy Also: thank you Gandalf for sleeping close to his room Mm yes I suppose he had not felt the fever He laid Aragorn on his bed and Aragorn grabbed at the coverlet, hoping against hope that he might ride out the crazy spinning of a world gone wildly out of control. Skajdjfdj I love how even though he senses the things going on, when we turn to his own mind hes just worried about THIS CRAZY SPINNING and we go oh whoa oh dear he is clutching at his coverlet to make wild world stop, he is not well indeed He felt a hand on his forehead. "Yes, you are indeed ill beyond the remnants of Black Breath, young man," Gandalf said testily. "And no doubt have been all evening and yet all you could tell me is ‘fine’. Stubbornness, your name is Estel Elrondion!" OH MY GOSH SO SO SO TRUE THE MOST STUBBORNEST PERSON HE IS His footsteps moved away and again Aragorn heard a bellow. "Elrond!" Aragorn tried to sit up. "No, no. Lay down. Be still." Indeed <33 But he had to get up. Had to keep moving. "No... have to move... the shadow..." skajdjdjdjdj this again Delirium "Shhh. Easy, my child." Against the footsteps faded and again a bellowing shout into the hall. "Elrond, cease your slumber and come immediately!" Oh my gosh this is making me GRIN All of it And Gandalf bellowing three times And PARTICULARLY “Elrond, cease your slumber and come immediately!” YES I LOVE Aragorn looked toward the doorway, but the room seemed dim, full of shadow and flame. He groaned. It was getting hard to breathe. He dropped his head back to his pillow with a low cry. Fire-wreathed darkness enveloped him, and then it felt as though he fell into black waters. They closed over his head and he knew no more. SKAJDJFJD the groan GETTING HARD TO BREATHE the low cry ahhhhhhh filled with weak pain (As in, not the pain but him that is weak) FIRE-WREATHED DARKNESS only Sauron and his servants could achieve that ASKDJDJD THE DROWNING DARK WATERS ARE BACKKKKK and before he was struggling to keep above the surface, even on death’s door, but now they have finally closed above his head…what does that say???

Dreamdeer	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 8/10/2009
Skillfully throughout the author has walked the tightrope of showing us Aragorn's increasingly disordered perspective, making it credible that he should believe what he does, while making sure that the reader knows just how unfairly he perceives himself. Now comes the painful promise of relief, that finally someone with authority will cure the man of his doubts and self-destructive delusions that he has till now been too wary to confide. Laying bare the fullness of his suffering at last hurts, but finally brings us back over the edge of Hope to a promise that the long-neglected, infected wound will be cleaned--on all levels. What powerful metaphors Cairistiona has laced this story with! Author Reply: Wow... thank you! I can't say that I consciously created all the metaphors--they just sort of happened. In fact, that the physical wound was a metaphor for the spiritual wound wasn't anything that even occurred to me until you pointed it out. I have a feeling if I tried consciously to do that, it would have been clunky and unwieldy. LOL Thank you for your kind words, always.

Estelcontar	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/20/2009
Poor Aragorn, this time he indeed did manage to make a mess of things, didn't he? As I must have mentioned a thousand times, he should have taken Halbarad's wise adviced, and let Elrond know what's was going on with him. How did he expect weary and heavy-hearted as he was before meeting the Nazgûl to cope both with the effects of the black breath and of an infected wound? I'm glad wise Gandalf was there to see what was going on. If I were him I would have clouted Aragorn on the head and taken him to Elrond immediately. LOL But it is a testament to Aragorn's strenght that he managed to fool even Gandalf about his real state of mind, and to resist so long against the combined effects of his own state of mind, the black breath and that infected wound. liked the idea that Sauron had heard rumours about the Heir of Elendil and sent one of his Nazgûls to investigate. And it does even make more sense that Aragorn in his state of mind would feel guilty and responsible for the destruction and death this lead to. See, I liked this one also, though I'm on tenterhooks to know what you're going to come up with in the next chapter. Author Reply: Thank you, Estelcontar! Gosh, you're flying through these chapters, aren't you? I'm so glad you're getting caught up. grin And glad that you're leaving me all these lovely reviews. I do think Aragorn likely would have been able to pull off quite a charade, and did, but eventually his deteriorating state told the truth of the tale. You can't be that sick, for that long, and continue hiding it, and that finally happened with Aragorn. And I'm glad you liked the motivation for the Nazgul being in the region... that was the one thing that gave me the most issues in writing this, coming up with a reason for a wraith to be up there. Searching for the existence of the Heir seemed the most likely. Thanks for the review!

Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/10/2009
hands over Mean Cliffhanger Award I think this ending qualifies, lol! I have to say I absolutely love your Gandalf! //Gandalf glared at him from under those massive grey eyebrows of his, which were drawing toward each other like two warships bent on destroying each other.// This beginning already made my day! g That's about how I hope Gandalf would react. You've perfectly captured the irascible, quick-witted, aquiline-nosed (if that's a correct expression ;-), big-hearted wizard from the books, whom I personally much prefer to the Gandalf of the movies. It was really a relief that Gandalf was finally able to get the whole story out of Aragorn. //"It is unusual, I must say, after all this time. Most men would long have died by now," he mused, seeming to be talking to himself more than Aragorn.// chuckles What a wonderful, annoying reaction to Aragorn's tale! I think it probably need an Istar in full-wrath-mode to stop Aragorn from marching right into Mordor. shakes head It's a good thing Aragorn did not think about the possibility that Sauron might have learned his identity (or suspect it) before Gandalf arrived. Gandalf's outright way of talking about things is so very refreshing! :D No need at all to disturb Elrond, of course. glares at half-dead ranger Luckily Gandalf has no such qualms. //"Elrond, cease your slumber and come immediately!" // LOL!!! I only hope no one tells Halbarad what has happened - that poor ranger might get a heart-attack. A wonderful chapter, Cairistiona (if I didn't mention it lately, I love your sense of humour g)! I'm a little bit worried about Aragorn now, though. ;-) Almut Author Reply: Thank you so much, Almut! Gee, the Mean Cliffhanger Award, even! I'll gladly accept. evil grin I do like cliffhangers at the ends of chapters, which I'm sure everyone's figured out by now (and is probably wishing they could beat me about the head and neck over). It just always seems to me that a chapter should leave the reader leaning forward a bit off balance so that the next chapter can sort of push them back in place. I have to say I laughed when I read your review of the last chapter as you hoped Gandalf would snort loudly in disbelief--I didn't have him exactly snorting at the start of this chapter, but basically the same reaction. grin I'm so glad you feel I've caught Gandalf in all his many irascible, witty and compassionate ways. He is rapidly becoming a favorite of mine, so it's reassuring to know I've managed to capture the essence of him. And yes, I do think aquiline-nosed is the right expression! Your point is well made in that it likely was a good thing Aragorn hadn't figured out that he might be the target of the attacks... he may have done something foolish and impetuous and really brought a mess down on his head (as if this mess he's in now isn't bad enough!) Thank you always for your kind (and fun!) reviews! (And yes, we do have the same sense of humor, don't we! LOL)

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/10/2009
Well it's about time!!! Excellent building of tension and some misdirection between Gandalf and Aragorn, culminating in Aragorn's final fall and Gandalf being there to understand and catch him, literally and metaphorically. Aragorn can't pretend to Gandalf; the wizard is simply too old and wise. Looking forward to the next chapter! Author Reply: LOL... I think that's been the general consensus of everyone: FINALLY!! grin I'm so gratified at your kind words about the build-up of tension, because that is exactly what I was going for: that sort of push and push and push until everyone's about ready to explode from the tension. And yes, Gandalf was there on every level for Aragorn, which is how I see their relationship--Elrond is of course Aragorn's father but with the tension that exists between them, I've always felt Aragorn needed one other father figure, one without the "baggage", so to speak, and that need is filled by Gandalf. And yes, Gandalf is so wise... he won't really let Aragorn get away with much foolishness, although he did perhaps miscalculate just how sick Aragorn was. We might forgive Gandalf that, though, since Aragorn had almost everyone fooled except Halbarad. And Halbarad was not there to hop up and down insisting they strap Aragorn down and get him fixed up. :) Have a wonderful weekend and a happy Easter, and thank you again for the review!

Lily Baggins	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/9/2009
After reading this chapter, if I were a man I'd ask you to marry me. Seriously---how can you know this is practically a scene I've dreamed of reading for years? And years? And years? Aragorn steadfastly refuting Gandalf's assertions that he's not well . . . stubbornly refusing to get help . . . and then completely collapsing, leaving Gandalf to find him and do his best to help? For someone such as myself who is such a a huge hurt/comfort lover, this chapter was masterfully done. Gandalf's concern is awesome, while Aragorn's fear and despair are so palpable. The collapse scene alone deserves some sort of special Aragorn angst medal, yes it does. My heart was up in my throat when the stabbing pain in his head came about, and I'm sure my eyes were popping out as I read on. I am SUCH a sucker for Gandalf comforting Aragorn, and his use of "dear boy" and his alarm absolutely melted me into a puddle of goo. So Aragorn is unconscious now---I can't help but hope he'll regain some consciousness and be something of a difficult or stubborn or delirious patient!!! Or at least, sick for a good long while with fever and all the terrible and unpleasant complications of the wound infection and the BB and the wrenched ankle and the chest bruise and the mosquito-borne illness he hadn't ever quite rested up from. :) I'll be thinking all weekend about the next chapter, I promise you! Have a wonderful weekend! Author Reply: Oh Lily, you have no idea how your reviews are leaving me smiling! I think were I not already married and were YOU a man, I'd accept your proposal. grin Goodness but your comments are so encouraging. I'm so glad to have brought to life a vision that you've had for so long--to think we both had that same "if only this might have happened" idea! That's the fun of fanfic, I think, is exploring those things and then finding others with the same ideas. Yes, poor Aragorn is unconscious and whatever fighting he may do from this point is merely to stay alive... no more protestations of being perfectly well. Now it's up to poor Elrond to sort through that incredibly long list of ailments and figure out what to handle first. You have a wonderful weekend, too, and a happy Easter. Aragorn, well, he'll likely sleep through the entire thing. ;) Thanks again for a lovely review!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/9/2009
I just love Gandalf here and how he manages to make Aragorn tell him everything.No other man could have endured so much and it was an amazing feet bringing Halbarad to Rivendell.You have me gripped by this story. I hope Aragorn now gets some TLC that he badly needs and deserves. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Linda! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story so much. :) And yes, I really do think only Aragorn had the stamina and the strength to endure so much--like I said at the outset of this journey, this is truly a test of the "most hardy of living men". But even the hardiest have limits, and Aragorn's finally reached his. Now for that TLC! Thanks again!

BeeGee	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/9/2009
Woweee! Excellent characterization of Gandalf here, and Aragorn does have a lot on his shoulders. I'm sure all of Imladris is awake now with Gandalf's bellowing :) Poor Elrond! At least now Aragorn won't be able to squirm out of getting proper treatment. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.... Author Reply: Thank you, BeeGee! I'm glad you liked this chapter, and my characterization of Gandalf. Yes, I do think he probably managed to rouse the entire Homely House with his bellowing, and I do bet it was quite a rude awakening for Elrond. Thank you so much for the review and the next chapter should be up on Monday. :)

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