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Aspects of Aragorn by Inzilbeth	9 Review(s)
Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/9/2009
shivers You described the Paths of the Dead a bit too well. g I really wouldn't have wanted to walk that path myself. I loved Aragorn's thoughts about Eowyn - his fear for her is only too understandable, and his words and actions towards her were rather hard, though I still think there was no other way. Taking her with him does not sound like a good idea to me. ;-) It must have been such a relief to be able to leave those dark tunnels again, though I don't think I'd have felt comfortable in the presence of the dead. I loved Aragorn's reaction to the banner. To finally be able to reveal his identity to the world must have been such a special thing to him. :) Author Reply: Ah, the banner, that was my favourite bit to write! It's such a fabulous moment even if it is overshadowed by the need for haste. I'm so glad you found this ride through the Paths to be scary. I think I would definitely have been like Gimli, on the point of turning round and racing out of there as fast as I could! Yes, Eowyn again! I think this was a case of Aragorn blaming himself again when he really didn't have a choice. Thank you so much for your review.

Mirach	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/13/2009
“If my men hold fast, their mounts will too. My men will hold fast, if I do.“ In a few words you just expressed everything… I like to imagine Arwen, sitting at a window in Rivendell, working on the banner – and thinking in Aragorn, on the moment when he will raise it. And right beside that image is a picture of Aragorn, looking at the banner and thinking of Arwen. But, enough words, may I show you? http://mirachravaia.deviantart.com/art/The-Standard-of-Gondor-118734197 Author Reply: Ah, that is lovely, thank you for sharing! Yes, I so agree, how could he not think of Arwen at that moment! I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter.

Baggins Babe	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/23/2009
I fully intended to review this the other day. I really felt as though I was there. I could feel the terror, the exhaustion, the desperate need to make it to Minas Tirith in time. Phew! I was tired out myself at the end of it. A wonderfully atmospheric story and how good to read this bit from Aragorn's POV. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Baggins Babe, for taking the trouble to leave a review. I always feel especially honoured when I get to hear from the Shirefolk! This was a part of the tale I really felt needed exploring from Aragorn's POV. I'm so pleased you enjoyed it.

Estelcontar	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/20/2009
I really, really loved your take on The Paths. I like the way you managed to fit in Aragorn's worry about Elrond and Arwen's anxiety for their loved ones; his guilt in relation to Éowyn and the hints about the ordeal that wrestling the palantír to his will must have been. But I especially loved it because you managed to illustrate very sensitively the strenght of Aragorn's will. He overcame fear, and because he did, so did the others: men, dwarves and horses. I'm always surprised when people who love Elves admire Legolas because he felt no fear. If you feel no fear, where's the merit? But when one, like Aragorn fears, faces his fear, overcomes it, and threads the needed Path leading others because it must be done, then, there's indeed a lot of merit in one's actions. You very sensitively made this point very clear in this chapter. The ending is very moving. I just loved the effect Arwen's banner had on Aragorn, and Aragorn's realization that this was his hour was totally thrilling. I felt like cheering him again. Our Aragorn's are so similar, I just cannot but help loving every bit you write about him. Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked this as I love writing heroic Aragorn! So often he is portrayed drowning in angst yet I much prefer to celebrate the greatness of the man. This really was his darkest moment yet all the same he overcame his fear and triumphed magnificently. Thank you for your lovely review.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/16/2009
Worthy has he proved! Now indeed is Strider put behind him, and now indeed he is Elessar, the Renewer! Nicely done! Author Reply: Thank you so much, Larner. It must have been quite a moment after a lifetime of disguises to finally throw them away and be his true self at last.

Jancy	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/16/2009
Hello! This is a cool chapter. It goes very well with the book scene. I can almost picture it when I read this. Author Reply: Hi Jancy. Thank you so much for leaving a review. I did a huge amount of cross checking to with the book when I wrote this so as to be sure of keeping the facts straight so I'm very pleased it felt right to you.

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/15/2009
I always wish Tolkien had told us about this directly,so this is as good as finding a lost chapter from the book.You capture the utter horrow brilliantly and Aragorn's amazing courage. Author Reply: Linda, you have so made my day! It was capturing Aragorn's courage that I particularly wanted to do here. I really believe this was his greatest test and one of the most important chapters in this telling of his lifestory. I'm so pleased that came through.

Celeritas	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/15/2009
Very evocative piece. I do not hold much for in-book gapfiller that repeats scenes already given in Tolkien (and this scene in particular I thought did well by sticking to Gimli's or a more or less objective viewpoint rather than Aragorn's) but I found myself liking this nonetheless. You did a good enough job evoking the fear of this place that I now have (and shall have for a while) Stephen Oliver's incidental creepy music for the BBC audio adaptation of the Paths of Dead sequence (which IMO is the best of their Aragorn scenes). Highlights: If my men hold fast, their mounts will too. My men will hold fast, if I do. This quote for me encapsulates all the tension in this sequence. chills I remind myself I am Isildur’s heir, the blood of Tuor and Beren flows in my veins. I will not cower before the ghosts of traitors such as these. You know, put that way it sounds as if the Dead have a lot more of a reputation than they deserve... Typo: we come at last to the Hill of Erech and to the great unearthly black stone than stands there. "Than" should be "that," I take it? Author Reply: Thank you so much, as always, for your very thoughtful comments. I agree with you about not enjoying fics that rework scenes we are given by the man himself [one reason 'A of A' doesn't have many chapters covering the actual time span of the book] but this is one scene I do wish we had been given from Aragorn's perspective. When Gimli says 'does he feel no fear?' I really want to know the answer! I too very much enjoyed that scene from the BBC version which was vastly superior to all those skulls in PJ's. I'm not though a huge fan of Robert Stephens's rather arrogant Aragorn. I prefer John Hurt's, though of course [IMHO] no one holds a candle to Viggo! Thank you too for the typo. Can you believe, even now, I read that and thought 'what's wrong here then'! Hopeless!

shirebound	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 4/14/2009
the threshold of this cornerstone of my life I feel tears prick my eyes as I gaze with wonder at this fulfilment of my beloved’s long labour. What hope and longing, and love has gone into every stitch as hour upon hour she sat in her workroom and made this for me? I feel humbled to receive such a gift. This is indeed a standard worthy of a king. This is beautifully written. What a dreadful place, what a desperate deed. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Shirebound. It was indeed Aragorn's darkest moment, I think.

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