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Duty  by Lindelea 3 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/15/2010
He has yet the truth of his father's position to learn. But they do have these days together!

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/9/2004
I'm glad that they are all home for the time being! Bergil sure has been busy sending messages and such! I'm glad that Bergil gets along so well with the hobbits and was able to help Merry find his strength once again! I'm looking forward to seeing Beregond sentaced (again ;) Thank you!

Author Reply: I'm sure everyone in the city has been (happily) busy getting ready for the army's return. Just a couple of chapters left! Thanks for commenting.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/9/2004
Interesting to look at the army's return from the walls of Minas Tirith rather than from behind Aragorn's shoulder.

The length of time it took from saving Faramir to the point where the king heard the case must have seemed an eternity to Beregond and his family. All of them trying to go on as normal, with the sentence of death hanging over him.

They've passed the Deceased Wife's Sister Act in Gondor, have they? So it is considered legal and morally acceptable for Beregond and Gilwyn to get together?

I'm enjoying the less rarefied atmosphere of life as seen from the point of view of an ordinary family.

Author Reply: The length of time it took from saving Faramir to the point where the king heard the case must have seemed an eternity to Beregond and his family. All of them trying to go on as normal, with the sentence of death hanging over him.


That stuck with me from the first time I read the book. Aragorn said, "from old the penalty was death". They *must* have known, and yet Beregond marched off to war at the head of a Company, and kept doing his duty as assigned (though he was not serving as a guardsman in the Citadel while awaiting trial), and walked to his hearing without JRRT mentioning chains or anything.

It was a curious thought, this Man going like a lamb to slaughter, knowing his likely fate, and yet too honourable to try to run away from it, or whatever.

Actually, when a loved one of mine had terminal cancer, he faced his death with much the same dignity. He couldn't escape it, so he conducted his life with as much dignity as he could before sentence was carried out. My first story about Beregond (Choices) is dedicated to his memory.

Thanks!

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