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| The Ranger and the Eagles by Cairistiona | 15 Review(s) |
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| layne | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 2/16/2011 |
| I really need to brush up on the story of 'The Hobbit' esp in the light of the upcoming movie. It's been a while since I last read it, I think was only 13 or 14 at that time. So Beorn was a skin-changer? He could turn into other shapes/animals then? Author Reply: Yes, Beorn was a skin-changer, the last of his kind. He was also a man--not a wizard or anything like that, just a man with a very unique gift. He turned into a bear--I'd have to look up whether he could change into anything else--most of the time, and when he fought at the Battle of Five Armies, it was as a bear. He had a son, Grimbeorn, but apparently the "skin-changing gene" didn't pass to him. The chapters in "The Hobbit" with the Eagles and where Bilbo & Co. arrive at Beorn's Hall is my favorite in the entire book. My story owes a huge debt to those two chapters. :) | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/29/2011 |
| I just loved the eagle tucking Aragorn under his wing and Beorn and Aragorn's conversation. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda! So glad you enjoyed this chapter. :) | |
| Tigger | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/26/2011 |
| I've just spent most of the evening reading this fantastic tale and I can't wait for the next installment. I just hope that Durvain is alright, as you've left us quite a worrisome cliffhanger there. I miss LJ and chatting w/you and everyone else. There's been no word on the lump and it's been a month now since the tests, so...Hopefully in this case, no news is good news. Can't wait to read the next chapter!! :o) Author Reply: Hi, Tigger!! I'm so glad to hear from you... I've been wondering how things were going. Yes, let's keep fingers crossed that no news is good news, but it would be nice if they'd call you or send a letter to let you know so you can stop worrying. We've missed you over at LJ! I'm glad you're able to read the story, even if you're still limited as to online access... I'll be posting another chapter this morning! Thank you so much for the review! | |
| LisaG | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/26/2011 |
| LOL! Love Aragorn's reactions to Beorn and his household...must be quite a shock to see childhood stories come to life! I wonder what the trouble is with the eagles...was Durvain hurt worse than they thought? Author Reply: Thanks, LisaG! Can you imagine being feverish and injured and seeing all those animals doing all those crazy things?? Little wonder he doubted his sanity! Now on to see about those Eagles! | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/25/2011 |
| LOL, I very much hope Gandalf won't roast him after he had to go to so much trouble to keep him alive! I can't imagine he'll be happy once he realizes what his staff is currently being used for, though. *g* I really hope Menelris is alright and that nothing has happened to Durvain, though I'm quite sure that's too much to hope for. A distressed Menelris can't mean anything good. Well, at least it seems Aragorn is about to meet the eagles again, even if it may not be in the way he had wished for. I've always loved Beorn and I think you've really done him and his hall justice! You've also given me a great craving for honeycakes. *looks wistful* I hope Aragorn will get to see Beorn changing into a bear! It's really good to see Aragorn feeling better, though that won't last long if he goes on like that. *eyes him worriedly* I can't wait to hear what's happened to my favourite eagles! :) Author Reply: Thanks, Almut! Yes, hopefully Aragorn's fears of being next on the rotisserie are unfounded! I'm glad you liked my take on Beorn... he's my favorite character in "The Hobbit" and I wanted to do him justice. And yes, now I want a honeycake, too!! I may have to find a recipe.... but first we have to see too the poor Eagles. Thanks for the review! | |
| Lily Baggins | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/25/2011 |
| I have a suspicion that Gandalf will indeed roast him---but will it be for treating his staff so disrespectfully, or for getting up out of bed while still recovering? Oh, I can't wait to read and find out! How much did I love this chapter? Well, I adore Beorn---he's just a perfect mixture of gruffness and compassion. And I so enjoyed his and Aragorn's little talk---especially since Aragorn was so star-struck. And melancholy at times, which is really so realistic after you've been very ill. So nicely done. I'm looking forward to more of Beorn, and I really enjoy the way he treats Aragorn. Now, the sickness---how I LOVED the description of Aragorn's sickness and Beorn telling him (and unintentionally embarrassing him) about the details. Your way of describing Aragorn's physical discomforts is always so perfect---I eat it up like candy. Lovely, lovely, the thought of Aragorn delirious and vomiting and shivering and well, all of that! (I would give my eyeteeth and more than a few body parts to ever read the details of those two days from Aragorn's fevered, delirious POV, with Gandalf caring for him and wiping his face and brow and soothing him as he vomits and uttering kind words and changing his blankets and all... you have such a way with those scenes!) Ah, I wish this story could go on forever, I do. I'm very worried about the eagles... something tells me that Durvain is in big trouble. Oh, goodness, I hope it all turns out all right in the end... I feel like the eagles are great friends of mine now. And how I laughed at Durvain's speech about the vultures! That is educational. I'm almost sorry---okay, very sorry---that Aragorn seems to be recovering. I've so enjoyed his pitiful state, so enjoyed it more than words can say. But I suppose he's going to have to buck up and get his health back eventually or he can't ever realize his destiny, darn it. I sure wish I had some honeycakes and cream right now! But I suppose the closest thing I can come to are Twinkies. A pretty sorry excuse, I know! Author Reply: Thank you, Lily! I wondered if you'd be sorry to see Aragorn getting better. *g* But he can't stay ill forever; he does have that whole destiny thing to attend to, after all. But I'm flattered by how well you enjoy my take on things when he's not exactly up to snuff. :) And I had a feeling you'd tell me you wanted to see those two days in intimate detail! LOL Maybe I'll write it up special just for you; unfortunately, it would have dragged down the pace of things too much to include, since it would have been an entire chapter all by itself... it was time to let Aragorn get back on his feet (if barely!). He has Eagles to see to! I'm so glad you count the Eagles as friends now! I really did hope to endear these two to everyone's hearts, so that makes me feel warm and fuzzy all over. *g* And great, now I want a Twinkie.... Thanks for the review! | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2011 |
| I'm glad they went to Beorn with all due speed or Aragorn's stomach might have decided to part company with him for good. So, Aragorn's stomach did not let him enjoy his flight. What a pity! A grat chapter this on: Beorn and Aragorn's discussion of death sounded very credible and convincing. Aragorn's waking up to see that dog's soulful look; the delighted grin, and the dog trotting of on all fours to call Beorn was a lovely scene indeed, as was Aragorn thinking the helpful animals were visions caused by his delirium. I liked very much how you portrayed Beorn. He sounded very much like what a wise older Beorn should sound like. And the idea of Aragorn using Gandalf's staff as a cane is goooooooood. Let's hope Gandalf does not roast him. *g* Author Reply: Thank you, Estelcontar! That would have been terrible, had Aragorn's stomach parted ways with him for good! LOL This chapter was both a joy and a huge challenge, what with getting that conversation just right according to canon, so I'm glad you enjoyed it and found it convincing. Beorn is so fascinating to me; it was fun to extrapolate how he might have mellowed with age and what sort of lasting effects Bilbo and Co, and the Battle of Five Armies and all that might have had on him. And yes, now to see what's up with the Eagles and how Gandalf will react when Aragorn tells him the dog drooled all over his staff! Thanks for the review! | |
| Mirach | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2011 |
| This was a lovely chapter! It's wonderful to see poor sick Aragron getting better, and even meeting Beorn. That was a fascinating dialogue he had with the old skinchanger, from the initial embarassment of meeting a legend from his childhood tales to the deeper topics, and I'm glad he found compassion in Beorn. We know that he will pass every test laid beore him in his life, including the last one, but he does not know yet, and the uncertainty and the seemingly unreachable goal before him must be a heavy burden. And, just for your information, I'm very worried for Durvain now! Author Reply: Thank you, Mirach! I'm glad you liked this chapter--there was a lot going on in it, not least of which was Beorn finally getting a well-deserved moment in the fanfiction spotlight. *g* I'm glad you liked my take on him. As for Aragorn, I think you've hit on something interesting--I think sometimes because we know he'll meet every test and pass with flying colors, that he never had a moment's doubt. But you're right--he didn't know, at this time especially, how he would hold up to the challenges ahead, and I would imagine that weighed on him quite a lot from time to time. And yes, what of Durvain! We'll find out, next chapter. :) Thanks for the review! | |
| Darkover | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2011 |
| Dear Cairistiona: This is the most delightful chapter so far! Your descriptive style was well done, as always, and I loved the conversations between Aragorn and Beorn. You also gave the reader your interepretation of why Beorn seemed so suspicious and unwelcoming in the past: well done. It was also interesting to hear some of Aragorn's thoughts and feelings on his situation. The man has had a hard time of it lately, he has also been wounded and sick as a dog, and I more than sympathize with his worries that he will never be able to accomplish his life's goals. It must be frustrating in the extreme, as from his POV at this time, he is no nearer to his goals of having a home of his own (as you wisely and sensitively made the point,) being King of Gondor, marrying Arwen, and having his own family, than he was when he first went out into the wild as a very young man. BTW, IMHO you did a lovely job of capturing Beorn's gruff character, as well as his exotic household. And let us not forget Durvain! I really like that Eagle. I was unaware that vultures urinate down their legs. This story has been educational in some weird ways. This is my favorite chapter so far--have I said that before? If so, you keep outdoing yourself. I thoroughly enjoy this story, and I eagerly await the next chapter. Take care! Sincerely, Darkover Author Reply: Thank you, Darkover! I'm very glad the story is improving with each chapter--and glad you were educated a bit! Vultures do indeed urinate on their own legs. Biologists believe it's to sanitize them from the bacteria on the carrion. Lovely thought, eh? I would imagine, if you could ask an eagle, they might express their disgust over the habit, so Durvain perhaps speaks for Eagles everywhere, or so I imagine! And Beorn is my favorite character in "The Hobbit", so it was fun to explore the possibilities for why he is the way he is, and how he might have been at the very end of his life. I think there had to have been times when the hard road Aragorn walked weighed heavily on his spirits, especially when he was tired, ill, or injured, or in this case, all three. But at the same time, it shows the strength of his character and faith that he never gave in to despair. I tried to show a glimpse of that strength in this conversation, even if Aragorn did sort of bumble and fumble his way to expressing himself! A concussion will do that... Thanks again for the review! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2011 |
| Poor Aragorn--he has been very unwell, of course. And no wonder he's thought he was hallucinating! Now--what causes the distress in Menelris? I hope the black eagle hasn't attacked Durvain in a cowardly fashion! Author Reply: Thanks, Larner... I can't imagine being delirious and concussed and then brought into a man's home where the animals walk and talk and carry things in ways animals never have! Poor Aragorn really did fear for his sanity. And yes, what about those alarmed cries? The next chapter will tell! | |