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Too Long a Sacrifice  by Linda Hoyland 5 Review(s)
demeter dReviewed Chapter: 8 on 2/18/2014
I have a few minutes free today. I will try to catch up on some reviews of stories I have enjoyed recently. This is a beautiful conclusion to this story which has been beautiful as well as frightening and emotional. I very much enjoyed your description of the ceremony. I felt as though I stood on the banks of the Anduin with your characters, bathed in the golden light of the Harvest Moon. That mantle of Findiulas's which Eowyn wore is especially perfect for the occasion!
Fikri's moment of remembering was especially touching. I believe many of us have memories of our mother or grandmother singing over our beds which pre-date our understanding even of spoken language. As it often does, your evocative writing has reminded me of threads of yet another lovely scene from yet another story I am familiar with. Several years ago, actor Robin Williams made a movie called "Hook". The premise of that one, for any readers who might not have heard of it, is that in one of his visits to Wendy, away from Never-Land, Peter Pan falls in love with Wendy's granddaughter. He stays to grow up with her, but as a consequence loses his memories of Never-Land. Decades later, Captain Hook kidnaps Peter's two children in an attempt to get him to come back and "play" some more. There is a wondrously beautiful scene where Peter's daughter stands on the deck of the ship, bathed in the light of a brilliant moon, and sings a lullaby which her mother sang to her and her brother. She had the listening Lost Boys, and even most of the Pirates, in tears!
And one more shared thread. Aragorn comments that perhaps through their reaching out to the "Lord of the Moon" the Haradrim have been reaching out to The One all along. There is a scene in the last of C.S.Lewis's Narnia Chronicles which I especially like. The world of Narnia has ended, and Aslan the lion,(who is a parable for Christ,)has led the righteous survivors of that world into his heavenly kingdom, a new Narnia. One of the people whom we discover in Aslan's kingdom is a young Calormene soldier whom we last met as a member of the invading army which helped to destroy that world. The young man is terrified when greeted by Aslan. He told Aslan that all of his life he had striven to serve Tash, the frightening bird-headed God of the Calormene people.
Aslan replied that it was impossible to render any righteous service to Tash, who was inherently evil. Aslan continued that continued that any service given out of a good and loving heart was rendered unto himself, and would be rewarded accordingly. (That is one story which, I think, will not be filmed in our world today. The main villain culture is even more "Arabic" in feel than the Haradrim!)

Lady BluejayReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/4/2013
A nice happy ending. Just what I like. LBJ

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/4/2013
I rejoice that Fikri is beginning to find his true self and identity at long last. It is a blessing fitting to the celebration.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/3/2013
"Your uncle will help you remember and guide you in the ways of your tribe," said Aragorn. "I was once much like you, as I lived apart from my tribe when I was a boy. I had to flee to safety with my mother after my father was slain."

What a marvelous way for Aragorn to connect his experience with Fikri's.

Thank you for such a hopeful and lovely ending. This young man has a lifetime of experiences ahead of him, and many who love him to help him on his path.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review. I'm delighted that you enjoyed this story. I think Fikri will now have a chance to enjoy the life he was born to lead.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review. I'm delighted that you enjoyed this story. I think Fikri will now have a chance to enjoy the life he was born to lead.

MarianelReviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/3/2013
Im so relieved it all ended rather well for the poor Harad boy.I have followed this story and it is one of the best I have seen in fanfiction:)I was so afraid for Faramir and it was a close call indeed.I look forward t your new story of the Harad family and in the meantime I entertain myself with your other stories! :) Hugs /Marianel - Swedish Tolkien fan

Author Reply: Welcome to my stories! I love to meet my readers.Many thanks for your much appreciated review and your very kind words which made my day. I'm delighted that you enjoyed this story.I hope the new story will be published within the next week or two.

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