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All That Glisters by Lindelea	13 Review(s)
Endaewen	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/15/2006
I have not yet read this story (or some others in your massive collection) before. So far, it's good, and the notes to this one sent me to the Unfinished Tales to double-check things. I can't come to a conclusion either. On the other hand, we're in good company as it appears that CT couldn't either. At least, not according to N33 of the Disaster of the Gladden Fields in the Unfinished Tales.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 12/13/2004
I'd forgotten about the Star going to Sam. Thanks for reminding me.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 11/24/2004
Awww! This was so lovely, the bowing, and Aragorn honoring his hobbits. "For Frodo", brought a tear to my eye. sigh This is just how it ought to be!

Anso the Hobbit	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/15/2004
Oh! This was so poignant, and you had me all teary when Sam got that star. This was such an excellent chapter! More soon? I´m addicted to your stoires, lol, so I`m praying for your muse to behave. :) Author Reply: Happy to feed your habit! (Does that make me a nasty pusher? Yowch!) The Muse is back, without explanation but of course I welcomed her with open arms, glad to have her return. She dictated a new chapter of "Thain" and then retreated to the corner to let me rest, uncommonly thoughtful of her, for I am ill and more inclined to sleep than write at present. But at least she's back. Happily this story is written (in draft) to the end, so even if the Muse takes herself off I can still post it as I get it typed in. I am revising the next chapter, however, because of reviewers' comments and the lovely idea Lois introduced to me of Sam being a Knight of Arnor! But soon I hope to post it, and then we'll get to tying up loose ends, like Merry's arm, and Ferdi-back-at-the-Smials, and Jack and the boys, and then--gasp--we'll reach the end and I'll have to see which outline the Muse is most enthusiastic about tackling next. However, that will be for another day. I'm for bed! Thanks for the encouraging reviews!

Grey Wonderer	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/14/2004
Yeah! The feast! I just love Pippin and Strider in this one. Sam was so sweet when presented with Frodo's gift. Can't wait for more as it gets better all the time. Author Reply: Thanks, GW! Sam's reaction gets a lot of credit from Jodancingtree, who helped me with his characterisation in "At the End of His Rope" and helped me imagine his reaction here. Glad to hear you're enjoying the story! Author Reply: (oops, I meant Jo's help in "Rope" helped me to imagine his reaction here!)

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/13/2004
Hi Lindelea! I've enjoyed reading this story, and hope to see it continue... I'm glad you decided to include the meeting with Elessar... Pip's irreverent remark (and Strider's response) made me LOL! I think I can shed some light on the "Star of the Dúnedain" controvery: it is most likely NOT the Elendilmir (neither the original nor the copy made for Valandil). (BTW, I agree with Lois(?) that it is probably a star-shaped cloak-pin worn by the Dúnedain, possibly even Strider's own... but that is strictly conjecture on my part.) "Elessar took it [the original Elendilmir] up with reverence, and when he returned to the North and took up again the full kingship of Arnor Arwen bound it upon his brow.... But Elessar did not again imperil it, and wore it only on high days in the North Kingdom. Otherwise, when in kingly raiment he bore the Elendilmir which had descended to him [the copy made for Valandil]. "And this also is thing of reverence," he said, "and above my worth; forty heads have worn it before." [33]" Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 1, The Disaster of the Gladden Fields "33 The actual number was thirty-eight, since the second Elendilmir was made for Valandil.... - In the Tale of Years in Appendix B to The Lord of the Rings the entry for the year 16 of the Fourth Age (given under Shire Reckoning 1436) states that when King Elessar came to the Brandywine Bridge to greet his friends he gave the Star of the Dúnedain to Master Samwise, while his daughter Elanor was made a maid of honour to Queen Arwen. On the basis of this record Mr. Robert Foster says in The Complete Guide to Middle-earth that "the Star [of Elendil] was worn on the brow of the Kings of the North-kingdom until Elessar gave it to Sam Gamgee in Fourth Age 16." The clear implication of the present passage is that King Elessar retained indefinitely the Elendilmir that was made for Valandil; and it seems to me in any case out of the question that he would have made a gift of it to the Mayor of the Shire, however greatly he esteemed him. The Elendilmir is called by several names: the Star of Elendil, the Star of the North, the Star of the Northkingdom; and the Star of the Dúnedain (occurring only in this entry in the Tale of Years) is assumed to be yet another both in Robert Foster's Guide and in J. E. A. Tyier's Tolkien Companion. I have found no other reference to it; but it seems to me to be almost certain that it was not, and that Master Samwise received some different (and more suitable) distinction." Unfinished Tales, Part 3, Ch 1, The Disaster of the Gladden Fields: Notes, Note 33 What this boils down to is Christopher Tolkien's opinion; however, I believe that his opinion is likely the most informed and is (IMO) most plausible. - Barbara Author Reply: Thanks for taking the time to type out those references! Looks as if I need to add UT to the "want to buy someday" list. Have modified the note at the end of the chapter to reflect the information you gave. Happily I don't think the text of the chapter needs to be changed, since it says Elessar wore a "star" and not necessarily a jewel. It might not have been either of the Elendilmirs, the way it's written. Will probably leave it deliberately ambiguous. (Have a good example to follow! g)

Lois	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/13/2004
Still thinking about the star issue, now in light of the other comments... If "the Star of the Dunedain" was Aragorn's very own silver cloak pin, worn all his life through all those adventures, it would be of enormous personal significance to both that he should hand it on to Sam. It is also, especially, a symbol of his long protection of the north, very pertinent in this context. Also, there wouldn't be any argument with all those Gondorian nobles over giving away royal regalia (although that version, too, has interesting possibilities for dialogue...) Instead, half of them would miss the deep subtext. But Sam sure wouldn't, nor would anyone else who once knew "Strider". The brooch would mean more to Sam than the elvish jewel, I think; potentially, stunningly more. It's not a matter of correct or incorrect. I'm acquainted with the inconclusive identification arguments; I just like the "knighthood for Sam" and the silver star pin interpretation better on a dramatic and emotional level. At this point, the revision would be only the matter of a few lines, quite painless; but which you chose could have diverging consequences in the later story. Your tale, your choice. Carry on! bests, L. Author Reply: Well, modified the note at the end of the chapter to reflect my current "choice": deliberate ambiguity. While I'm sure JRRT's ambiguity was not deliberate, I'm going to reiterate JRRT's description of Elessar with the "star" bound about his forehead and leave it up to the reader to work out if it was a silver star or a white jewel. OTOH, the "feast" chapter is begging for an insert where Sam learns the history of the star... and which includes the information about the knighthood of Arnor, and so, I might change my mind and clearly indicate that the star is a star and not a jewel. It is difficult to be decisive on so little sleep. (Sick children, up most of the night.) In any event, it has been fun to mull this over. Thanks!

Connie B.	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/13/2004
I really, really liked this chapter. Merry's remark about listening to the wrong counselers was great. It's a good thing Aragorn didn't hear that "nobleman's" comment. He would not have been a happy king. Aragorn's comfort around people like the hobbits is so obvious in this chapter. Deep down he's much more like them than the high-born Gondorians he's surrounded by these days. Great job. Sorry I can't help with the star issue. Connie B. Author Reply: Thanks for the moral support, anyhow! (I think I managed to solve the star issue, thankfully!) Amazing how a review can burn off the fog and make me feel more optimistic about writing. I actually managed half a chapter of new writing yesterday, and as soon as I can finish it, another story will enjoy an update. I am reading a marvellous series of books. I forget the author, but the first in the series is "A Squire's Tale". I picked them up as read-alouds (with judicious editing--there's mention of a knight being sawed in half and a few other too-graphic details for the littlest one) and am thoroughly enjoying them. King Arthur in those books is very much like your comment about Aragorn. He lives among all these high-falutin' knights with their fancy talk and all, and occasionally he takes himself off to a monastery for "meditation"--actually, he's old friends with the head of the monastery, and so he "sneaks out" without anyone the wiser, and goes off riding incognito around the countryside, jousting and knocking heads together for the fun of it. I can just see Aragorn going off on a hunting trip with some old buddies and not bathing or combing his hair for days! Sitting around the fire, telling questionable stories, and singing songs, and such...

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/13/2004
I was being somewhat facetious about Aragorn carrying around the Star of Elendil, I hope you realize. I assume he actually got it from Ellandan or Elrohir when the Grey Compamy joined him. I read the other comments about the star being a cloak pin, and I don't think I agree, but I admit there isn't much to go on. If there were more than one of them, wouldn't the appendix read, "A Star of the Dunedain" instead of "The Star of the Dunedain"? I figured Elessar just didn't need two crowns, though I can't imagine Sam wearing it. Author Reply: I thought I just caught a contradiction in the "Companion", but if it is reliable (as I hope it is, such a wonderful, carefully-researched and lovingly compiled treasury of information that it is) it really clears things up marvellously. The original Star of Elendil or "Elendilmir" was in Isildur's possession at the time of the disaster of the Gladden Fields. A new Elendilmir was made for Valandil, Isildur's last remaining son--this was the jewel Aragorn wore at Pelennor Fields. After the War of the Ring, the original Elendilmir was found in Orthanc, after Saruman's expulsion. (I missed the distinction in my first read-through) Therefore, Aragorn could give Samwise his northern crown and still retain the heirloom of his house. Whew! Will have to add an author's note, I guess. Thanks for jogging my memory and sending me to double-check! Author Reply: And now I see that what I got out of the Companion is what you said you found on Encyclopedia of Arda. (There I go, reading too fast, and reading when distracted--there are three young people singing three different songs simultaneously at the moment!) "Companion" has a footnote, saying the information about the original being found in Orthanc was in "Unfinished Tales", p. 359. I don't have a copy of that book, so cannot check, but it is likely to be there.

FantasyFan	Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/13/2004
The appendices say that Strider gave Sam the "Star of the Dunedain" at the bridge. Exactly what that is is not elaborated, but I think we can make an educated guess. When Aragorn meets Eomer on the battle field, it is said that he has the "Star of Elendil" on his brow. Later, when he enters the city, it is said that he removes the "Star of the North Kingdom" before he enters. At his coronation, he is described as the "bearer of the Star of the North". In appendix A, the "Star of Elendil" is described as a heirloom of the North Kingdom, kept at Rivendell, immediately after it talks about the Dunedain being the continuation of the line of kings. It is pretty obvious that all these various-named things are the same. Interestingly, when Elrond gives the 20-year-old Aragorn the heirlooms, the star is not mentioned, but we have to assume he got it sometime before he left on the quest, and has been carrying it around all that time. At his coronation, he is described as wearing a star upon his forehead bound by a slender fillet of silver. Why on earth would that be anything other than the Star of Elendil? The name "Star of the Dunedain" is not mentioned other than in the one line in the appendix where it is given to Sam, but I have always assumed it was the Star of Elendil, which would be consistent with its other names. (The encyclopedia of Arda has something about an original star of Elendil which was lost when Isildur died, and replaced and then the original rediscovered in Orthanc after Saruman left, but I don't know where that story comes from. They don't say anything about it being given to Sam.) Author Reply: Whew, I feel better! Basically I was working along the same lines as you went over, in your review. It is the information I found, combing LOTR and the appendices. It does say in "The Steward and the King" that a star was bound upon his forehead, and not a white jewel. Unless the jewel was shaped like a star? Even if the jewel was called "the Star", the reference doesn't seem all that clear to me: wouldn't it have been capitalized in the description of Aragorn in "The Steward and the King", if it were the jewel and not the silver star? This is sort of the thought process I was going through at the time I outlined this chapter. However, just now, looking in my "Complete Tolkien Companion" I find the information that the "Star of the Dunedain" was "the rayed brooch that Aragorn II, Chieftain of the Dunedain of the North, wore on his cloak when he served Gondor as "Thorongil" ("Eagle of the Star"). He later presented it to Sam Gamgee." Don't know where they get the "rayed brooch", but perhaps they're taking it from the "silver star" he wore on his cloak. Woohoo!!! Just hit the jackpot, looking up the Star of Elendil! (Don't you love stream of consciousness? Am not going to revise what I typed above. Sorry if it's an inconvenience. The "Companion" says: "It was this jewel, known also as the Star of the Dunedain, which Aragorn wore in battle at the Pelennor Fields". Don't know enough to say if the "Companion" is completely reliable, only that I haven't found an error in it yet, so far as I know.

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