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To See Justice Done  by Lindelea 8 Review(s)
Anso the HobbitReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/22/2006
This is a really hard case and Sam more and more sees Aragorn's view of justice and mercy here. I think I should ocmment more on this chapter because so much important is said but I'm a bit muddled so I don't have anything to say beyond what I have and that it is a great story and I love it of course! :D

Author Reply: Anso, I don't know if you'll get this (emails being what they are -- who knows if yours is still the same as when you left this review?) but I just wanted to say I appreciate your stopping by and taking time to leave a good word.

I miss your voice! Hope this finds you and yours well.

rabidsamfanReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/16/2006
This is still marvelous. I love the way you have Sam and Aragorn banging heads, I truly do. They're both right, of course, but that doesn't mean that either one of them is on sure ground.

Thank you so much for writing it for me!

Author Reply: I am glad you are enjoying it.

I had sketched out an outline that inserted some Sam-angst into the story, after the first draft was complete, but then things hit the fan and I dropped everything. But if I ever write that in-between chapter I'll let you know.

The last chapter ought to post tomorrow, if all goes well.

Glad to hear you're on the mend.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/16/2006
Death in battle is one thing. Execution is another. I'm sure Beregond would happily (well, sort of) had his death disappear in among a thousand other deaths. But the full ceremonial execution - would be so damaging for his poor sons.

Ithilien. And Captain Faramir. The words have been linked.

Do you think that having the Ringbearers come forward and ask for pardon would not have been enough to get past the problem? Their link with Pippin and Beregond would have made it likely that they would have done it - and they would have been hard to refuse.

Still. Aragorn managed to come up with a different solution. Eventually.

Author Reply: well, sort of. Well put.

Oh, I'm sure that the Ring-bearers' request would have been hard to refuse. But Frodo is being too sensitive and practical here--an attitude I worked out from going over Beregond's hearing, to try to wring every scrap of nuance from that short passage. What I came up with, from almost nothing in the way of clues, was that Frodo realises somehow that it is important for Elessar to establish his reign, here in the early days (perhaps there's a precedent in Shire history amongst the Thains of the Tooks). Why, the Coronation was less than a week ago! Perhaps Frodo has talked it over with Gandalf. Gandalf may be waiting for Aragorn to come into his own, to make the right decisions... but with things not going so well, he's given Sam the nod to speak...

I do think that this is a decision the King needed to make himself. Can't explain why, but it is my gut feeling.

And since Beregond was surprised (in the book) by the verdict, it seems to me that the hobbits must have refrained from asking for pardon. Surely Beregond would have known of their intervention, seeing his and Bergil's link with Pippin.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/15/2006
Aha--I lied and read all the available chapters--AGAIN! But still the idea hasn't quite coalesced into what it will be. It must have been the most difficult decision Aragorn faced at the time, and yet in the end it was an elegant and proper ending for it. Interested in seeing how you have it play out.

Author Reply: KWYM about that... I have actually skimmed a number of chapters in your latest, with no time to comment. I do want to go back and read them properly and add feedback... but I'm overcommitted at the moment and should not even be at SoA (yes, I came online to look something up for RL, but I ought not to *stay*)

Hope to catch you later.

GamgeeFestReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/14/2006
Interesting arguments on both sides. Aragorn is torn between what his heart tells him and what the law tell him, and Sam is being his stubborn self. This collapse sounds like the distraction Sam was hoping for. I'm greatly interested to hear what Sam's final thoughts were, how it is he thinks he can save Beregond.

Author Reply: Moving right along, though the answer to your question won't become clear until the final chapter (due to post tomorrow, if all goes well.)

Thanks.

EndaewenReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/14/2006
I was enjoying this story and went back to my LJ to find the remaining two parts, only to find that you've deleted your journal. What happened?

Now I have to wait for you to post them here. Please post them soon.

Author Reply: I went through a rough patch, but am functioning again.

Thanks.

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/14/2006
Oh Lin, this is wonderful!!! So sensitive and caring. Man and hobbit both hurting for this soldier of Gondor. Both wishing, straining, for other options. Wonderful!!

( I like Sam not being a "Peeping Pippin', LOL)

I look forward to more.

Author Reply: "Peeping Pippin". Sounds almost as if there's a story there. Hmmm.

Thanks.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/14/2006
I love the title of this chapter Lindelea. And that opening paragraph is just heart-wrenching! You are really making us feel all the ramifications of this decision. How to choose truly when all ways seem ill. Strangly the bit in the book where Strider has to choose to follow Frodo or Merry and Pippin came to mind while reading this. I also liked how Aragorn realised that Frodo had probably not approached him about Beregond in order not to compromise the new King's position and make it harder. Sam IS making it harder but also, his plain hobbit sense is helping Aragorn through to the best solution.

Author Reply: Thanks! I wrestled with the chapter a bit. I wanted to say something about Strider's hands being tied and Sam's tongue being tied and yet couldn't find a short and pithy phrase, for the longest time.

You know, I was thinking about Parth Galen, where all choices seemed ill. I was wondering if this story was plausible, or if it would be an affront to Aragorn-fans, that he should be so fallible and groping for a solution rather than seeing clearly. And then I remembered his bitter speech at Parth Galen, when he stopped himself short and declared that all his choices up to that point had gone amiss.

I figure that Gandalf won't interfere in the new king's reign, but there's nothing wrong with him pointing Sam at Strider and giving him a push...

Want to hear something funny? I wrote a much angstier version of this story than the one posted at LJ. (Sam-angst, that is.) I missed a great opportunity, last week, but I wrote the thing is such a hurry... Don't know if the angst-chapter will see the light of day. We'll see...

Author Reply: I meant, I wrestled with the chapter *title* a bit. Sorry, was carrying on a conversation and writing at the same time.

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