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The Ranger and the Eagles by Cairistiona	17 Review(s)
Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/10/2026
LOL GANDALF POV LAUGHING AT HIS OWN METAPHOR <3 imagine being Gandalf and having full power to banish the pains of a mortal he has taken on but not being able to really for the situation does not allow it in wisdom oh...that sounds like someone else I know XD Few had seen the stone; Gandalf kept the ring well concealed always, and few knew he was its bearer, but sometimes, when he was alone, he drew it forth and let its power refresh him. But tonight, it seemed to hold no sway. oooh not helping tonight They did not answer, and Gandalf’s beard bristled. Would it have been too much to ask for this small cave to have held some sign of his quarry within its granitic embrace? his beard bristled XD uh...yes, probably He smoothed his offended whiskers. LOL <3 Gandalf considering Aragorn a mighty hunter is high praise <33 During their long sessions around the fire in Elrond’s study last winter planning their expedition, aww them planning together <33 so they did not in fact leave the next morning lol Gandalf had bowed to Aragorn’s wisdom, awwww I love Gandalf's support <33 also this chapter title and so it passed that he took the easier trails along the mountains’ roots, while Aragorn plumbed their depths and climbed their heights, following as always the riskier paths. aw of course he does <:( And risks those pathways held in plenty: orcs, of course, but also cave-ins below and rock slides above, blinding fogs, sudden early blizzards, and yawning crevasses hidden by crusts of snow too thin to bear a man’s weight. And even if the fallen snow did not hide pitfalls enough, it could suddenly crumble down the mountain in a vast avalanche. Gandalf had seen one just yesterday, a rumbling cloud of destruction obscuring the mountain face not even a league away. He had felt the tremor in his feet. He wondered if Aragorn had seen it as well. He wondered... oh dear "Aragorn, I hope you were not caught out in that," he muttered. There was little reason to think that of all the places Aragorn might have been, he had been on that particular mountain at that particular moment. "So why does my heart feel such sudden unease?" OH DEAR (Except. I...hope his heart is right :)) His mortal body also reminded him, with a loud rumble, that his stomach had not felt the comfort of food in many long hours. He pulled out a bit of lembas, given him by Elrond from his small store provided in turn by the Elves of Lothlórien, and took a small bite. The flavor, like all things crafted by Galadriel’s folk, immediately stirred in his soul a longing for that fair land far to the West from which he came and to which he longed ever to someday return. But not yet, not yet. There was a small matter of defeating the Enemy standing between him and his return to the Blessed Realm. askdjsfshjk I never thought of those sorts of things paining him with a longing for his blessed home, but it makes sense <3 and thank you Elrond <3 I love that he has a small store from Lothlorien thank you Lothlorien <3 He longed to turn his thoughts again to the past, to seek comfort, like any old man, in the memories of his youth, in the days when he called himself Olorín and moved freely without the constraints of this old man’s body. He remembered those times, but only vaguely, as one remembers a particularly pleasant dream, or a view of a beautiful city seen from afar. saskjdsf I love seeing how hard this mortal life with a memory of blessed and free days is for Gandalf, we don't often appreciate that <3 And tonight, like all such times when he tried to cast his mind backward, the present intruded, taking the form of a very persistent yet undefined worry gnawing at his heart. Again he looked toward the cave entrance, toward the hidden peaks where Aragorn toiled. Gandalf rose to his feet, restlessly pacing the opening to his cave. Dread, manifested in a prickling of his skin so sharp it almost itched, would not release him. But he saw and heard nothing. YESSS "Fool of a wizard," he mumbled, "calling yourself Wise, and yet here you are, fretting over a man long used to taking good care of himself without any assistance from you." uh mostly true but do you forget so quickly last fall? also what happened when you ignored your instincts in relation to him then... He was awakened suddenly, but by what, he was uncertain. Some small sound? A gust of wind? He blinked at the darkness; the howling snowstorm had moved on, but without a fire, the cave was lit only by what few stars shone through the cave entrance, and since he had been embodied as a Man and not an sharp-eyed Elf, starlight alone made for a poor lamp. He groped at his side for his staff. He started to quicken its glow, but something urged him to stop, to listen before revealing himself. ooooh For a long moment, he heard only the low keen of the restless wind, but then came another noise, softer, more distant. From outside. A crack of a broken twig. The crunch of the crust breaking on hard-packed snow. skajdfask oh no A bear, perhaps? (an Aragorn, perhaps?) And then a low grunt and a sharp intake of breath. A man. SKADJFH if this is Aragorn he sounds wounded Gandalf gathered his legs beneath him and rose silently with an ease that belied his aged appearance. An old man he may appear as these days, but it was an Istari that empowered the bones and sinews, and though he was forbidden to use his full power, he could nonetheless move with unwonted agility when the situation called for such things as clambering up pine trees to fight off wolves, or sneaking through a cave to see what manner of enemy might be approaching. Yessssss or carrying Aragorn and Faramir around :) The trammeled snow seemed to start near rocks some distance away, and then the trail disappeared into a small clump of stunted pine trees growing just below the cave entrance. Indeed, he heard a scraping sound from within their huddled mass, and then a low moan that could not have been the wind. ooooooooh yay :)))) "a low moan" just sounds so weakly desperately despairing and exhausted A shadow moved into the clearing, a shadow that moved awkwardly and breathed heavily and unevenly. The shadow–definitely a man, for Gandalf could finally see the hooded shape clearly–paused for a moment. He swayed unsteadily, then fell to his knees. Gandalf’s sharp ears barely heard his desperate, whispered plea. "Elbereth... hear me... help me..." SKASDKJDFHJFKSHK <333 oh my goodnessssss beautiful angst whispered plea to Elbereth, thinking he is all alone and helpless And then the man collapsed prone in the snow, face down, utterly motionless. SKADJS <3 he do like to make an entrance Pity and dread smiting twin blows to his heart, Gandalf hurried from the cave entrance. awwwww he indeed learned pity from I forgot her name <3 my favorite Vala he does not realize still who it issssss The snow was deep, but he floundered on, arms outstretched for balance. His foot slipped and he dug in with his staff and steadied himself. It felt like a nightmare, pushing and pushing but never getting any nearer, but at last he dropped to his knees beside the fallen man. "Easy, my friend," he gasped, his heart pounding more from fear than exertion. "Your prayer was heard, and help is at hand." skasjdsfhkjh <333 also so sweet that he would say these words to any stranger in need He shakily rolled the man onto his side, praying the foreboding he felt would prove false. The man’s pack prevented Gandalf from rolling him completely over, and the star shine was insufficient to let him see much detail about the man’s clothing, other than he wore a dark, hooded cloak, its true color muted by night’s shadow. A scarf was wrapped round and round his face, covering all of it save for the half-closed eyes. Gandalf peeled away the scarf, which crackled with ice, and then with great tenderness and sorrow looked upon the pale and pinched face. "Elbereth, help us indeed," he murmured. It was Aragorn. SAKSDJHKJSFGHSJKGHDJSFK <33333 what a beautiful angst reveal I love with great tenderness and sorrow <33333 he loves himmmmm the pale and pinched face asdkjdf

Canafinwe	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/5/2013
Blessed be the writer's block that left me poking around on this site instead of finishing my own chapter today! Otherwise I never would have found this, and I too am eager for a good Gandalf-Aragorn hurt/comfort fic! In your trusty hands, it cannot fail. Such an excellent start: Gandalf and his hatful of fire. You've really captured his 'voice' in the narration, and the chill of the winter's night is so beautifully drawn. I suppose I should be glad that Gandalf has found such a nice, cosy cave to rest in, but all I can think of is Aragorn out there somewhere in the snow. I shared Gandalf's dread at the thought of his friend being 'caught out in that', because of course he was! The scene of Aragorn's arrival is so perfectly piteous and heart-wrenching and lovely. Staggering on to the end of his strength, and managing to utter a small desperate prayer before collapsing in the snow -- and his prayer is answered, of course, for here is Elbereth's most faithful servant come to help him. I hope! Author Reply: Thank you, Canafinwe! While I'm very sorry you hit writer's block, I'm honored that you landed on my story to keep you entertained until it passes. This was my first foray (and only, so far) into trying to write from Gandalf's POV and I had such fun with it. He's probably my favorite character after Aragorn, so I can't really imagine why I haven't tried my hand at writing him more. Too many other story ideas, I suppose. At any rate, so glad you found this and I hope it hits all your h/c buttons as much as it hit mine when I wrote it!

Midnight Promise	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/3/2011
Sputters! No new updates from you in a while, and then you have the AUDACITY to not update every five minutes until everything is posted?! For shame! ;) "He smoothed his offended whiskers," Haha, he reminds me of a disgruntled feline. :-D Those little tidbits help center the story around the characters; the little quirks of each are always endearing. Hurt/comfort? Grabs the chocolate and warm, fuzzy socks I'm in. ;D Aragorn's entering plea was perfect, tugged at the heartstrings. :/ Eager for more, and hope the Holidays were happy ones! MP Author Reply: LOL!! Thank you, MP... yes, I am a bit audacious in not slapping the entire thing up in one day, I admit. g But I hope today's posting of chapter 2 will mollify you for a bit. :) So glad you enjoyed this first chapter! I do love exploring character quirks... like you say, it's what endears characters to readers, and Gandalf's whiskers and eyebrows to me always seem to have a life of their own. Keep the socks on and the chocolate at hand; much more is on the way! Thanks for the review and the holiday wishes. Mine were terrific, and I hope your holidays were lovely as well. :)

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/1/2011
You made me feel cold reading this! Great descrition and a wonderful beginning! Author Reply: Thank you, Linda, although I would imagine making you feel cold is the last thing you need right now! LOL But I'm glad you found yourself "there" with Gandalf and Aragorn. hands you an electric blanket Thanks for the review!

Elflingimp	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
First, Happy New Year! Second, That was really good! Hope I see another chapter soon. Hugs The Imp Author Reply: And a happy New Year to you as well, Imp! So glad you enjoyed this; another is coming on Monday. Thanks for the review!

Vilwarin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Yay, the story is being posted at last! I think you captured Gandalf perfectly - a great combination of old man and wizard. And that dreadful weather they're in! Makes you appreciate a warm home all the more. I somehow suspect that Gandalf will get a bigger fire soon, though. I'm waiting eagerly for the next chapter. Author Reply: Thank you, Vilwarin! I'm so glad you enjoyed this first chapter... and I suspect you're right about that bigger fire. :) Thanks for the review, and Happy New Year!

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Break out the athelas! Or at least some bandaids! Poor Aragorn needs some TLC, since it would be difficult to do his own healing at this point. It's not always easy to realize, in our comfortable hi-tech lives, how treacherous it can be to get hurt in the wild; when one doesn't have tetanus shots and antibiotics regularly available. Hurry up with the next chapter! Author Reply: LOL... next chapter will be up on Monday. :) And yes, Aragorn's hardly in a position to pull off a "physician, heal thyself" move, is he. Too frozen, for one thing, and who knows what else... Gandalf will have his hands full, I think! Thanks for the review, Raksha!

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Ah, this is a really nice start! An Aragorn and Gandalf story for the holidays is always welcome - well, it's welcome at anytime of the year, but you know what I mean. :) I love the imagery you painted of Gandalf in the cave, it was very well done. I could just see him there in the cold huddling over his hat-sized fire. Looking forward to the next chapter! Happy New Year to you and your family! Author Reply: Thank you, Radbooks! I'm so glad you liked this... and yes, I do know what you mean. :) It was really interesting to visual poor, half-frozen Gandalf and his tiny little fire, especially in light of his ability to set the world ablaze should he so choose. May you and yours have a blessed New Year as well! Thanks for the review.

Lily Baggins	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Oh wow... I saw this chapter and my heart just about leaped out of my chest with excitement! And so far, it is FAR MORE WONDERFUL than even I could have expected! You really caught the cold, lonely feeling one would have camped up in an isolated cave in the Misty Mountains... cold, miserable, full of danger, and absolutely unforgiving. I felt like I was THERE. I really do love Gandalf's feeling of foreboding here. Something draws him to look out of that cave entrance... and oh my goodness, what a fantastic entrance for Aragorn! Have I ever mentioned how much I adore him collapsing? The entire chapter sent shivers up my spine... and now I'm dreadfully afraid of exactly what Gandalf is going to discover regarding Aragorn's condition (okay, I must admit... excited, too! Excruciatingly so---to bring on the comfort!) I am in heaven reading this---thank you so much for expanding that drabble idea! This is really a wonderful start to 2011. Author Reply: Yaaaaay! I was hoping you'd get a chance to hop online and see I'd started posting. g I need to thank you for the wonderful plot idea, because I don't think it would have happened had you not requested a Gandalf-Aragorn h/c scene. Of course, now that I've written this, it seems so obvious! LOL I'm glad you felt like you where right there in the cave with him... I always aim for that "you are there" feeling when I write. And hmm, yes, you may have mentioned adoring seeing poor Aragorn collapse, a time or two! Hope you enjoy the rest of the ride... this one really did turn into a crazy kind of adventure, so fasten your seatbelt. :) Thanks for the review!

Estelcontar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/30/2010
I'm so glad you're finally posting this tale. You know how much I liked this chapter when I first read it. I like it even more now that I've read it a second time. Your description of that freezing evening in that small cave and how it affected Gandalf was so vivid, I again felt nearly as frozen as he did. The dichotomy between Gandalf's hidden strength, and the handicaps and desires of his mortal body was very well put, and his foreboding of Aragorn's predicament worked perfectly as a foreshadowing of Aragorn's dramatic entry, which I enjoyed very much indeed. Author Reply: Thank you so much! And thank you for your feedback as I was writing this; it most definitely improved the story. I did especially want to touch on that dichotomy with Gandalf--the hidden strength and the "old" body. When you read "The Hobbit" it just seems so incredible, at least to me, that he can clamber up a pine tree and yet look like a bent little old man. And there are moments like that throughout LOTR, of course. Gandalf really is an amazing character. And Aragorn... well, everyone knows by now my thoughts on Aragorn! g Thanks for the review!

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