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Lesser Ring  by Larner 5 Review(s)
DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/20/2005
I enjoyed this chapter, with all the cultural hints about the Haradrim and their temple, and the visit there, but I found myself intrigued by something that appeared to be just a throwaway line:

“I’d thought once I might become close to the minstrel who wrote the Lay of Frodo of the Nine Fingers, but it has not happened--not as yet, in spite of the shared love for song we have. I cannot say why this has failed to come to be. He is as compassionate as is Ruvemir and certainly as gifted; but it is as if he holds himself back from me, afraid to allow himself to come too close.”

Dare I hope that a plot bunny might hatch from this? It would be an interesting thing to know about...*hint*hint*


Author Reply: I've considered it, although it is likely to come after a time. Have so much I'm SUPPOSED to be working on I've not touched, after all.

It's been fun to find ways of exposing and illustrating the culture of Harad, which is so definitely Egyptian in many ways, but differs markedly from it in others.

Thanks for the feedback, as always.

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/1/2005
What a lovely sweet chapter. Loved what the High Priestess told Arwen and the joy it brought to the Queen. Also found Aragorn's telling of his various relationships, especially between him, Denethor and Ecthelion, very interesting and intriguing too. Gives another insight into his character. Where did the scene of the giving of flowers as tribute to Lady Varda/Neryet come from? Is it another piece of Egyptian history that you've adapted? Regardless, I thought it was a wonderful way to thank the Goddess for the precious gift of a new life.

As always, looking forward to the next chapter. :o)

Author Reply: Actually, the offerings of flowers came both from Christian customs as practiced in my church at least (we often offer altar flowers in memory of those lost or in thanksgiving for a blessing received) and in part from Aztec customs. There were certain festivals where the offerings made were not blood sacrifices, but instead the offerings of flowers and butterflies; and I thought that an adapted version of that would probably be the kind of offering one such as Neryet would prefer.

That Arwen might have an office to serve to welcome the Vala back to the Presence of the Creator at the End of Days seemed a wonderful one to explore, and that Aragorn would reassure Bhatgebamun's widow as well I thought would be part of the balance of the exchange.

Tolkien indicated that Denethor came to realize who Thorongil was, and that part of the reason for Aragorn to choose to leave the service of Gondor was due to the desire not to get into conflict with the man once Ecthelion was dead. Anglachel has written a wonderful story called "The Hands of the King" which looks at the relationships between Aragorn as Thorongil, Adrahil, Imrahil, Finduilas, and Denethor and his sisters (she has given him two, one disfigured from birth who serves as the archivist for the Citadel at the time). I can't completely agree with her view of the politics of the time, but it is a fascinating and extraordinarily well-written tale. I have tried to think of some of how the relationship between the two of them might have developed, and what would have led to Aragorn's perception of rejection by Denethor, and felt that the unwillingness to have himself seen as second-best would very well be part of it, whether it was second-best in swordcraft or in the pursuit of love; that already this was his failing which would lead to his final declaration he would not bow down to this Ranger from the north, last of a ragged house in ROTK.

Thanks for the review.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 31 on 9/1/2005
Pippin was a lot of fun in this chapter, with his question about Nefiramonranis child - curious as always. As was Isumbard with his worry about bringing his pillow *grins* And their discussion about the necessity or joy of swimming and, more so, the misunderstanding with smiling/smial *giggles*

The idea of Frodo and Eärendil meeting is interesting. Maybe it could turn in a little story sometimes in the future? I would like this, as well as Elrond meeting his father again. This is not often done, and Elrond deserves it after all his losses and sufferings.

Another part that was nice is Aragorn's strong friendships. And the confession of Sohrabi to have missed Horubi'ninarin was touching. Our Ranger left quite a strong impression in Harad! And obviously Bathgebamun's widow reacted equally strong to him and Arwen - that was nice how they assured each other about the life after.

Of course you are right about the scrolls of the Egyptians, but for me it is still unimaginable not to know a book. When I was young I went to school and back with my nose in a book, carried home towers of books from the public library, and now I'm a librarian. You see I can't live without book! I'm absolute hopeless.

Author Reply: Oh, I know about books, living as I do in my own private library. I swear, my Mother made me do it! Blame her for the fact I have over three thousand, and my husband and friends who are blind for the fact I have cassette books as well as book books. Heh!

And, yes, it's fun to see how Pippin and Isumbard reflect the love of Hobbits for comfort and for relief of curiosity!

As for Aragorn and his friendships--even as a Ranger having to stay so hidden, he still has had time in his near century of living to develop many, while Sohrabi has not had that luxury, growing up under the thumb of Mordor itself.

Horubi'ninarin would have been the first northerner Sohrabi would have met on his own; and that he was willing to defend a stranger and then offered his skill as a healer to the leader of who ought to be the greatest enemies of his people would have made an impression even without the rest of their
time together. It was the first chance he and his family probably had seen that there was another way to rule than through force and fear.

Thank you for the suggestion, and for the feedback.

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 31 on 8/31/2005
Smiling hobbits don't swim! :) Very funny, translations and children sometimes just don't mix very well. Then Pippin wanting to know about the sex of the baby and Aragorn telling him it wasn't any of his business and Pippin telling him what he had told Gandalf about all the things he wanted to know. Ah, hobbits are such wonderful creatures in so many ways - make you laugh and cry within minutes of each other it seems like.

I liked the temple and the flower customs. Especially when the high priestess told Arwen that she would eventually be meeting Varda at the end of time to welcome her. That was an interesting though that I hadn't considered before.

Oh, I also liked when Aragorn was talking with the Farozi about his friendships with others and how he had thought he might have had a friendship with the minstrel because of their mutual love of songs. He wasn't sure why it hadn't happened except that he thought the man held himself back. I suppose we all do that in relationships at times - keep ourselves distant to protect ourselves or whatever. But Aragorn would really sense that and so would do the same. Maybe the man was intimidated because of who Aragorn was - that's why Aragorn would like Ruvemir so much, he wasn't intimidated by Aragorn being the king. He saw him as a man and not just the king... maybe though it was because of the way he met him.

Well, enough rambling on here. :) I enjoyed it very much.

Author Reply: Yes, I think the manner in which Ruvemir met Aragorn would indeed make him less likely to hold back in developing his relationship. He meets someone he's not met before, has no idea who or what the guy is, but gets just enough hints to intrigue him and willing to ferret out the rest, until the revelation hits and he already has the relationship going. Even then, I think the King tended to hold back just a bit for a time, not wanting to rush into a friendship that might turn into something else once it came out he was King.

And, yes, Hobbits are like that, aren't they? Funny and emotive and evocative of great compassion as well as possessing such themselves.

Thanks so much for your response. Don't have time to write more now, I fear,

lindahoylandReviewed Chapter: 31 on 8/31/2005
A lovely chapter.I liked the discussion on Aragorn's friendships ,as I have always felt too that he gives his heart to his friends in a unique way.
I also enjoyed the arrival at the temple.

Author Reply: Yes, I, too, felt Aragorn's friendships would all be important indications of his own nature, and would be very deep and fulfilling.

And I'm so glad you appreciate the tale of the visit to the temple. I found that somehow the widow of Ankhrabi's brother might need some of the King's healing, and that Arwen might need to bring something back from there as well.

Thanks so very much for all the feedback!

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