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| The Ranger and the Hobbit by Cairistiona | 15 Review(s) |
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| Lily Baggins | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/21/2009 |
| This was an awesome chapter---so heartfelt and touching. I've been there---that is, not in Middle-earth waiting for my Chieftain to recover, but sitting with a family member or friend and worried about the health or future of a loved one. It's tough---in fact, the toughest thing a person can go through. Blame, guilt, depression, anxiety---you've caught them all here with Halbarad and Denlad. But those two also show how having the support of others in such a situation is priceless. I adore Ferdinand! Wow, what a shrewd hobbit. He may be a Took, but he reminds me more of Merry with his way of figuring things out. He's adorable, in any case, and indisputably one of the best people they could have there to help with Aragorn. I think they should make him an honorary ranger, yes I do... Eee, looking forward to the next chapter! Author Reply: Thanks so much, Lily! It's always encouraging to hear a reader equate to real life the emotions and thoughts I have the characters going through. It's those universal feelings that I do try to tap into when I write, to make the characters easy to relate to and as real as they can possibly be. And yes, I do think there's probably a bit of Brandybuck in Ferdinand... there's times when I've thought he seemed a lot like Merry, too! But then there've been times when I thought Merry seemed an awful lot like what Bullroarer Took might have been like. I think there must be a lot of shared characteristics between those two great families. :) I'm glad you like Ferdinand. And glad you're looking forward to the next chapter! Thanks for the review! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/20/2009 |
| Some thoughts on the anonymous review - "Strider tells me that Ilúvatar loves us... but sometimes..." I am not sure that Strider would have mentioned Iluvatar in this context. None of the LOTR characters ever pray to Iluvatar, much less discuss his care for the people of Arda. I believe that Tolkien mentioned in Letters that his characters did not call on the Valar much or have organized religion in the way we do now. (there is only one instance where the Valar are called on; and it is an Ithilien Ranger's cry to turn the Mumak aside, in The Two Towers). That being said, I would not restrain a fanfiction writer from incorporating his/her own religious beliefs into a story. The issue of the presence of Nazgul in the North in the years preceding the Ring War is a rather convoluted one: In Appendix B of ROTK, it says that Sauron sends thre of the Nazgul to reoccupy Dol Guldur - in 2951, the same year that Aragorn learns his true name and goes out into the Wild. Aragorn himself implies, in FOTR, that he has met the Nazgul, when he tells Frodo that they are terrible!. He speaks of their ways as if he has had at least one personal encounter with the Wraiths. In FOTR, when Gandalf describes his encounter with Radagast in the summer of 3018, he mentions the Nine as a single force, but never says that a few Wraiths had already been living in Dol Guldur, or that they had not. He could have been thinking of the Nine as the Wraiths in full force again, the Dol Guldur Wraiths rejoined the larger group from Minas Morgul, who crossed the Anduin in June 3018. In Unfinished Tales, specifically The Hunt For The Ring, it is specified that before the Wraiths fought Boromir's forces and won half of Osgiliath in June 3018, The Chieftain of the Ringwraiths dwelt in Minas Morgul with six companions, while the second to the Chief, Khamul the Shadow of the East, abode in Dol Guldur with one other as his messenger. It is also specified that the seven Wraiths from Minas Morgul meet up with their two pals from Dol Guldur around July 22 in the Field of Celebrant. A discrepancy is acknowledged, in the notes, as far as the number of Wraiths occupying Dol Guldur before June 3018; since the ROTK Appendix says three Wraiths and this version says two. So there is plenty of canon and other evidence that there were at least two Ringwraiths quartered in Dol Guldur from Aragorn's youth through June 3018. There is also the evidence that Aragorn has encountered at least one of them before he meets the hobbits in Bree. There is Canon and then there is Canon, and some of it is cut-and-dried and some of it is fluid, and some is a bit contradictory - giving all the more opportunity to fanfiction writers. A good chapter - I loved how smart Ferdinand is, figuring out Aragorn's importance and hidden rank from Denlad's conversation. Author Reply: Thank you, Raksha, for the reasoned review. While I don't exactly have in my story that Aragorn or his men actively pray to Iluvatar, I do think that Aragorn, not least because he is a descendant of the Faithful who escaped Numenor's destruction, would believe that Iluvatar nonetheless loves them, which is different than praying to him... it's merely a held belief, and one that I think Aragorn would indeed hold and mention to his men occasionally. They are, after all, Children of Iluvatar. I also think in times of duress the Men of the West (either of Gondor or the North) might call out to the Valar as that Ranger did in Ithilien... either in expectation of help or if only out of a wish that the Valar would hear and answer, as I have Denlad doing after hearing Halbarad's despair. As for organized religion... no, nothing like going to church on Sundays and following the Book of Common Prayer, but there were no doubt rituals that bound them together, the Standing Silence being the on that most easily comes to mind. The fluidity of canon is definitely what makes fanfiction such a fun endeavor... it's those statements like "the characters did not call on the Valar 'much'" that give each of us the wiggle room we need to make our own interpretations. I think it goes against the spirit of such interpretive creativity to be rigidly adamant that every jot and tittle of canon be followed. That's as far as I'll go in my own thoughts about that anonymous review. I thank you for your supportive statements, and gee, glad too that you liked the chapter! :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/20/2009 |
| Yes, they have to keep hold of that hope! A wonderful moment! Author Reply: Thank you, Larner! It's a hard thing for them, but somehow they manage, by helping each other when hope fails. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| Ferdinand is one shrewd hobbit! He's a Took and well-educated, not to mention his relationship and acquaintance with Bilbo! I love his conversation with Denlad-- Denlad had to keep sharp to keep ahead of a Took! And even so, Ferdinand, of course, guessed a lot-- and came very close to the mark. I'm glad too, that Denlad could help Halbarad. Author Reply: Thanks, Dreamflower! I'm glad you liked the conversation and especially Ferdinand's end of it. I do see him as an educated hobbit, both in formal ways and in just the fact that he has a sharp mind and has lived life beyond the fullest up to this point. Yes, he's definitely a Took! Thanks for the review! | |
| Calenlass Greenleaf | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| Ferdinand is too smart. Definitely a Took. *grin* I liked the conversations in this--the way you wrote it made it all seem so natural. Really enjoyed this chapter. :) Good luck with NaNo, BTW! ~Cal Author Reply: Thanks, Cal... I'm glad you enjoyed the quieter nature of this chapter. Lots of things for everyone to be talking over, definitely. And thanks re: NaNo! I'm getting there. :) | |
| inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| Poor Halbarad has really been through the mill here, hasn't he? Nearly losing his chieftain for a second time won't be something he'll get over in a hurry. Thankfully he has the wise and sympathetic Denlad in whom he can confide his fears. Ferdinand is proving a very inquisitive hobbit but Denlad did an excellent job of deflecting him, as did you, my dear! Author Reply: Thanks, Inzilbeth... yes, Halbarad really has been put through the ringer and now it was his turn for a little bit of encouragement. I think he and Denlad likely shared more confidences like that as time went on and Denlad grew in experience and wisdom. I don't know that Denlad ever became Halbarad's equal (and definitely not in his own sight) but I think he was very likely highly esteemed in the eyes of the Rangers. Now if only he can learn to deflect hobbits without saying *quite* so much! Thanks for the review! | |
| Minerva Organa | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| "You came. And you listened. That is your gift." And why I love Denlad so very very much XD. This was gorgeous, Cairistiona! The moments between Halbarad and Denlad especially...their position is so precarious that faith was really all that they had to hold on to, but crimany, it sure must have seemed sometimes like the Valar were not there at all. And that conversation between Halbarad and Denlad captures that perfectly. Author Reply: Thanks, Minerva! I'm so glad you liked the conversation between Denlad and Halbarad. I can't really imagine being in their shoes, with the weight of Arda's future on their shoulders like it rests on no others. It had to have felt so lonely and hopeless. I'm glad you felt that the conversation captured that. Thanks for the review! | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| That was a most touching and poignant chapter indeed. I liked that fact that you let us have a glimpse of Halbarad at one of his fragile moments. It made him very human to see his fear for Aragorn's safety, and how he tries to hide it from Aragorn, from himself, and from the other Dúnedain. It was good to to see how Denlad was there to help him. I do believe that what made the Dúnedain of Arnor able to bear the hard lives they had to lead was the sense of comradship that bound them together. That's what you show us in this chapter. I see your irrepressible Ferdinand is also a great detective. Denlad was no match for him, was he? It was a nice touch to show that the death of the girl in At Hope's Edge that still disturbs Aragorn. It's very characteristic of the man that this should affect him more profoundly than his encounter with the Nazgûl did. Author Reply: Thanks, Estelcontar! I agree so very much that it had to have been the comradeship between the Dunedain that often helped them overcome the despair that was sure to fall on them all at one time or another. Halbarad in my stories is usually so strong, it was good to have a chance to show that he too has his fragile moments, because to mind he has them aplenty... he just doesn't usually let his guard down for fear of lowering the morale of those around him. And yes, poor Denlad was bowled over almost completely by Ferdinand, poor guy. *g* In my "universe", I think Aragorn likely won't ever completely get over not saving that little girl... to have had an opportunity to save someone and then missed the mark is a very hard thing to come to terms with. The sorrow of it never goes away completely, even though it does fade with time. Thanks for the review! | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| Ah! That was such a peaceful ending, I however got really tense when they both went away from Aragorn and left him alone with the hobbit, I think I'm a little gunshy here LOL! Hugs The Imp Author Reply: Thank you, Imp! It was a little chancy, leaving Aragorn behind like that, but I think Denlad was desperate for help lest that pesky hobbit pry every last secret from him. :) They weren't far away, though, I don't think. Definitely still within earshot. Thanks for the review! | |
| Midnight Promise | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/19/2009 |
| . . .Wow, beautiful, absolutely beautiful. The ending between those two was perfect, again with the brotherly love! :D Happiness! Amazing, love it! My life give you free money! ;3 MP Author Reply: Thank you, MP! I'm glad you liked this... and wow, I'll take any free money life has to offer! LOL I love writing brotherly love scenes, and this one was fun in showing that there's love not only between Halbarad and Aragorn, and Denlad and Aragorn, but also between Denlad and Halbarad. Bonds forged in war go deeper, I think. That's always at the heart of my stories. Thanks for the review! | |