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| The King and the Steward by Itarille | 8 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/27/2025 |
| I re-read this chapter and had a couple more thoughts. (I must have skimmed it the first time... I remembered the second half clearly but not the first half. Perhaps my eye fell upon mention of hobbits and pulled my attention away from the weapons practice. Quite possible.) I understand and appreciate Dirhael's joy in archery practice. It can resemble a sort of meditation. I'm sorry to see his mistrust continuing (and jealousy?). But he reveals his perceptiveness and honesty here: A thought struck Dirhael. During their stay in Cormallen, the Ithilien Rangers had spoken reverently of their Captain, who had led them safely home from perilous ventures; who had guarded their backs as they retreated from Osgiliath, pursued by the Winged Terror; and who would not slay even an Orc needlessly, and never gladly. So the Steward was that Captain? He seemed indeed one whom Aragorn would trust and favour. If only he can connect the dots a little further... that the Steward is one that Dirhael can also trust and favour. Author Reply: Thank you for re-reading! Dirhael will continue to connect the dots in the subsequent chapters. After all, most of my stories (if not all) can be summarized as: various people come to realize Faramir's worth in various ways. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/22/2025 |
| To answer your question, for additional stories about the northern Rangers I also wrote "Guarding the Shire" a (one-chapter story), and "Force of Nature" and "The Rings of Evendim" (in particular chapter 11). You can delete this 'review'! | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/20/2025 |
| Excellent. I am really enjoying your work. Author Reply: Thank you! I'm editing the next chapters. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/20/2025 |
| I haven’t even read this chapter yet, but I wanted to thank you most sincerely. I have a terrible head cold and I am cranky. Seeing a new chapter of this excellent story gave me an emotional lift. Author Reply: Oh, that's high praise indeed! You've made me blush. I hope you get well soon, and I'm very glad if my story can help you, even a little. If you think more stories might help, I 've posted a very short (about 500 words) fluffy story on another site, which I think might be perfect for a terrible head cold. It's about Faramir and Eowyn in a modern setting. I didn't post it here, as I'm not sure this site welcomes stories in a modern-setting. https://archiveofourown.org/works/63167542 | |
| Erulissé | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/20/2025 |
| I love this story!!! I can’t wait for the next chapter. I have been reading it all throughout today. You nail how I would expect Faramir to be, and how Aragorn would respond. I had never considered how the Grey Company would feel about the change and their Chieftain’s elevation. It definitely is an interesting thing to contemplate! That lady, Ivriniel. My goodness, she is something else. I am curious what Aragorn will say to her/how he deals with her, I won’t lie. And I am very curious as to her reaction to Arwen when she comes. It sounds like she could stir up some trouble here in the future. I am also curious what Dirhael is going to do. I hope he will take the high road. Faramir doesn’t deserve his jealousy. I am afraid of how that will end. I hope you are doing well and I can’t wait to see what happens next!!! Kudos x 100!!! Author Reply: Thank you so much for your review!!! This is the first time I'm hearing from you (right?), I hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters. I'm glad you found Aragorn and Faramir believable in this story. Ivriniel and Arwen? That's an interesting idea, I've never thought of that. But Arwen has the advantage of her age and Elven blood, which Ivriniel would recognize and respect. Dirhael will take the high road. He is a noble man of Numenor. And he is jealous not for himself, but for his recently departed father. In this he is similar to Faramir: Faramir is indignant when he thinks people forget his father's life-work of defending Gondor. Faramir, I imagine, is endearing to many, but perhaps annoying or unsettling to others. He has weakness, of course (nobody is perfect), but growing up with a stern father and the burden of duty, he has learned to master his weakness well and always present the best version of himself. Not for praise or validation, but because that's the only mode of being he knows. He thinks that if he doesn't give his all, his best, all the time, then he's failing in his duty. At least that's how I imagine him. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/20/2025 |
| Ah, hobbits! (Whose idea was this nuncheon gathering, I wonder...?) The connection between the Northern and Southern Rangers makes sense. They're both used to conducting a different sort of warfare than Knights and Guardsmen, with the latter's drill and polished mail and ceremonial as well as practical duties. Rangers live rough and fight using more guerrilla tactics, I think? The Steward gazed at him, searching to understand whether he meant the curtness. Then the man nodded graciously. Does Dirhael not know about the blood of Westernesse running "nearly pure" in Faramir's veins, as Gandalf described him? (Gandalf also talked about Denethor, saying, He has long sight. He can perceive, if he bends his will thither, much of what is passing in the minds of men, even of those that dwell far off. It is difficult to deceive him, and dangerous to try, which I assume would also apply to Faramir.) Author Reply: I imagine the hobbits cook for an army every day, and others just conveniently drop by every now and then :) Dirhael can see the "nearly pure" blood of Westernesse in Faramir, and that is one (of many other things) which annoyed him about Faramir. I thought of Emma's (natural, and plausible) dislike of Jane Fairfax when I wrote this. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/20/2025 |
| “Might as well rise and do some useful deeds.” I think I'll get in the habit of saying that to myself! Poor Dirhael, what a sad and confusing time. You might enjoy my short fic, "The White Tree of Annúminas", in which I envisioned a son of Halbarad chosen as Steward in the North. Author Reply: You do have a story about the North! I thought you might. I'll have to find it. Ah, rise and do useful deeds. Easier said than done. | |
| PSW | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/20/2025 |
| Ha - sometimes it’s hard not to be angry at someone for being just too perfect, right? :-D Another good chapter exploring this new and uncomfortable phase (for Gondor as well as the northern Dunedain, I’m sure, though Gondor at least has the home field advantage at the moment). It’s good that they’re mixing with all, though - barriers can’t be broken down if you keep to yourself. It seems he and Faramir have some work to do, though… Lovely writing, as always. Thx for sharing! Author Reply: Yes! When I wrote this, I remembered Emma's dislike of Jane Fairfax, which only melted when she saw Jane being less than perfect/ complained about something (her family, if I recall correctly). Gondor has the home field advantage--you sum it up perfectly. Thank you for leaving a review! It is very encouraging. | |