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| Aragorn's Moment by docmon | 9 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Estel_Mi_Olor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/14/2012 |
| Excellent story docmon! It was beautifully written and I believe it would mesh seamlessly with Tolkien : ) Author Reply: Thank you, Estel_Mi_Olor, for the highest praise I could hope for. | |
| LisaG | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/15/2010 |
| Great ficlet! I don't think the movies really gave a sense of the enormous weight of the responsibility that Aragorn was carrying...not how difficult his life was leading up to the moments in the trilogy. A lesser man would have run, but not our Aragorn...strong, honorable, courageous, caring of his people and all of Middle Earth, self sacrificing...he truly deserved all that came to him in the end. Author Reply: Thank you, Lisa! I agree, the weight on Aragorn's shoulders didn't carry over fully into the movies. His life was one with few choices, and always difficult ones! He had many people in his life to help him become that honorable and courageous person, but the 'moment' I write about is, to me, when it all came to fruition. | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/25/2008 |
| This has been here for over a year now, but I only just discovered your work with "With Hope or Without". This is emotionally powerful. Strider's next strides, indeed. I think one part of what gave him peace at that moment was that if the Quest failed, it would not matter whether Isildur's line failed, as the whole world of Men would fail with it. It would have been the end of "Men, and elves, and ALL free folk". The whole tone fits with what must have been in Aragorn's head and heart as the moment approached. Author Reply: Oh, thank you, demeter, for reading and reviewing another of my stories! Perhaps Aragorn drew some peace from knowing that, if they failed, nothing else really mattered, including his line and destiny. But I also think he saw his actions as the "right path," and the "best path" - and so his path. I didn't portray this idea in the story, but in a way, you could say, he saw himself fulfilling his destiny not in becoming King of Gondor, but in striving to complete the Quest, to destroy the Ring, and to save all free folk. It was in the striving that he did what he was meant to do. The results and rewards were the benefits of succeeding. Even I hadn't thought of it quite that way. Thanks for making me think! Author Reply: Oh, and I hit submit too quickly! I wanted to say I'm so glad you think the tone of the story fits so well into that moment in time. I'd like to think that's about what was going on in his head. Thanks again! | |
| AspenJules | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/27/2007 |
| Very nice gapfiller, docmon. I have also wondered about that phrase, and I think you handled it very well. It must have been almost a relief to finally know the end was near, for good or ill, in spite of all the concerns he must have felt. I especially like the following phrases: He might fail in this Quest. And he might never again see Arwen or wed her, in which case, he would be husband to none. And never a father. There would not be another heir. Isildur’s line would end with him. Very powerful, very doom-filled. Also He set them aside, to be given little consideration in the coming weeks and months save in those hours of the night when the heart was weakest. Yes, in spite of the best of intentions, those wee hours of the morning can weaken even the strongest of us. Beautiful job, docmon. Author Reply: Thank you so much, AspenJules! Wonderful words. I'm glad you think I handled it well - it wasn't an easy one. And you put your finger on something I had trouble with - I think he would have felt relief, too, after making such a decision. But his relief came perhaps from knowing that he had nothing more to lose, because he had just given up the things most precious to him. It's funny, but the first phrase you quoted (thank you!) was in the very first draft of this. The second didn't even exist until one of the final drafts. Just an observation. thank you again! | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/27/2007 |
| This is wonderfully done, docmon! Frodo wasn't the only one with a heavy burden. Author Reply: Thank you, Pearl Took! No, he certainly wasn't. After Frodo, I think Aragorn had the heaviest. The weight of responsibility, the burden of all he knew from experience, his destiny, the crown that was maybe his to claim... quite a burden. Thanks for taking the time to comment. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/25/2007 |
| The Cheiftain of the Dúnedain would set in motion, with his next stride, a course that would leave none unchanged. This is beautifully conceived and written. Here we have a truly great and humble man, willing to "simply do what must be done". Author Reply: Thank you, shirebound! Wonderful words. I greatly appreciate it. I really saw him as someone who gave up everything, even his own desires, for "what must be done." And thanks for that quote - you don't *know* how many times I rewrote that line! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/25/2007 |
| An excellent depiction of why the man spent his last moments in Rivendell in such a posture, as he stopped looking at all aims save the necessary ones--aiding Frodo as he could, and seeing to it Sauron was opposed as was needed where he would fall first and hardest--there at Minas Tirith. Author Reply: Thank you, Larner! Glad you like it. It bothered me that 'only Elrond knew' - well, I wanted to know too! So, this helped me figured out a possible scenario. It brought together for me the formation of his attitude for much of the Quest. thanks! | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/25/2007 |
| I, too, love the little, but vital, moments in the book and have often wondered about this one. The film has added some. I have it one in the background now and have just spotted Frodo losing his smile as Bilbo gets out the Ring during his speech at the party for instance. I love what you have done with this and it has great potential for expansion. Author Reply: Thank you, harrowcat, for your review. This one niggled at my brain from the first time I read it. Expansion, huh? Hm, never thought of that... thanks, again! | |
| Lamiel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/24/2007 |
| Very nice. I've occasionally pondered those lines of Tolkien's myself, and I think the master would be pleased with this interpretation. Author Reply: Thank you, Lamiel! That's about the best compliment I could hope for! | |