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| A Long and Weary Way by Canafinwe | 7 Review(s) |
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| Lily Baggins | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 9/13/2015 |
| Oh my, such a lovely chapter full of discomfort and tending for our poor ranger! How much did I enjoy Gandalf and Helegond speaking as if Aragorn were not there? And Aragorn's slowly growing irritation was wonderful---haven't we all been there at some time or another (though surely in better shape than Aragorn, I'm sure, and certainly not suffering from the same afflictions!). I live for chapters such as these... Aragorn neglecting his health for the sake of the greater good... there's nothing better. Oh, he still has a long way to go... I worry about his traveling too soon. This was such a pleasure to read. Author Reply: I'm sure it's a universal convalescent experience! I'm glad you liked this chapter. I felt it was very in-character for Aragorn to do just that (exactly WHEN did he sleep between Bree and the meeting with Glorfindel?? And, apart from that one night, between Dunharrow and dawn the day after the Pelennor?). And, of course, having Gandalf to fuss over him is always wonderful. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/23/2015 |
| And the interrogation continues. You paint a vivid picture of the tiring task of getting the story our of Gollum. Poor Aragorn, sitting on that chair for such long hours in his state. But I can understand of him forgetting about food and drink after they have a little scrap of information with the hope of getting more. | |
| Aromene | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/19/2015 |
| Oh, we're getting to the end, aren't we? *sad face* I can't imagine not having this to read! Loved reading the revelation of Deagol's murder (well, I say 'loved'...) and how Gollum reacted to Gandalf's fire power. And Aragorn ignoring his injuries in spite of everything. Sounds just like him. Author Reply: So glad you liked the chapter! Don't worry: we're not done yet, and I'm champing at the bit to start the next project! There'll be *something* to read, even if it isn't this. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/19/2015 |
| And now I've traversed beyond punning to punchy. While idly looking over my earlier comment about stepping on Legos in the dark, my brain transformed the thought to "stepping on Legolas in the dark". Now that could be painful, indeed! (and makes me want to read a snippet to that effect. Gimli, on the Quest, or any number of scenarios... but I'm much too lazy to write today, have spent all my designated writing time in reading and web-surfing, unfortunately. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.) Author Reply: Mwahahaha. Perhaps in Moria? Or is it too dangerous before they're actually friends? | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/19/2015 |
| (Have you stepped on a retting board? The thought makes me shudder. Much worse than stepping on Legos in the dark in the middle of the night, I imagine, thought that's bad enough.) Thank you for the explanation. Aragorn's knowledge of such matters is not unlikely, but uncomfortable to contemplate for all that. Author Reply: Thankfully, no! But you only need to spread your palm over the top of those spikes and lower it lightly to know what would happen if any real pressure were applied: yowch! Some of the spikes are long enough to go right through a hand. Very uncomfortable to contemplate. I've got textual evidence of prior personal experience with a certain denizen of Mordor who was "more cruel than any orc"... | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/19/2015 |
| Ah, yes, the dam breaks... sort of. More of a trickle than a flood, but still, one could call it progress. Fat, rosy, curly haired and wooly footed fishers. It somehow adds an extra chilling touch to the story, and reminds me of a snippet I read long ago (it might have been written by Dana -- she's very good at "chilling" -- but so long ago I cannot say for sure who the author was) that replaced Smeagol and Deagol in the scene with Merry and Pippin. It was true horror to read. Poor pretty fishes. coming out of it suddenly with a snarl of derision that somehow, surreally, fit the metre. I had this darkly humorous thought (It rhymes!)even before I read this summation. With the name of an individual and his race and the name of his country, Strider could have found an unsuspecting someone in a matter of weeks; no more than four months even far into Harad. "Aragorn Strider, Private Eye..." Hmmm. Got a kind of a ring to it. (Or would that be Ring? Sorry, am extra tired and short of sleep this morning. Have gone beyond crankiness to punning.) How much more could Sauron, with his swift spies and his vast resources, accomplish? Even now the agents of Mordor might be swarming down upon the Shire, searching for Baggins and his Ring. All levity aside, this is a chilling thought. The gesture was meant to be one of comfort and hope, but the hand was shaking. Hah! It's these little details that make your writing sparkle. 'He does not know where it is.' A scrap of conversation floats at the back of my mind. "A place with the uncouth name of Shire." "The Shire, I said..." You sketch their weariness so skilfully... in just a few descriptive phrases. 'Choose one,' Aragorn said crossly. LOL! I was thinking the same thing! The list of his faults was multiplying absurdly, Ahhhh. Quintessential Gandalf. he would have to sit up again, and that would require an effort far greater than staying as he was for a few minutes more Sad to say, I know exactly how he feels. ...and Aragorn had been raised to... Ah, Estel. Born for such a time as this. Then warm fingers were sliding over his clenched left fist Ah. We are reminded that Gandalf is Encouragement itself. I think of his passage through Minas Tirith during the siege, and the effect it had on the Men there. Excellent! Author Reply: Heh! It is more of a trickle, isn't it? And an intermittent one at that. Still, they're through at last! Ooh, that sounds HORRIFYING. Dare I ask who had which role? Not that would really make a difference, I suppose... *shudder* It delights me that you noticed the rhyme! Aragorn would too, of course, poetically gifted as he is. ;-) Your pun made me smile, as did the image of Aragorn in a rakishly-angled fedora! It's great to know you like the details. I do, too (obviously!), but I'm sure some people may find them labourious. Chilling indeed... Scolding Gandalf is fun to watch. I'm sorry to know you have experience with that sort of exhaustion. I have, too, and for less cause than Aragorn feels it here. "Ah, Estel. Born for such a time as this." Yeah, that pretty much sums it up! I love that moment when Gandalf passes, leaving hope where he treads! Such beautiful, elemental Tolkien... Thank you AGAIN for the delightful comments! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 65 on 8/18/2015 |
| Burglar Baggins! Stole from dragons, he did, stole from us! Songs and stories, yes, Precious: they sings about him, nassty thieving thing. What an interesting detail. I continue to be so impressed with your story. Author Reply: Thank you so much! It means a lot to hear that. | |