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| A Maid Waiting by Larner | 110 Review(s) |
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| Ainu Laire | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/28/2008 |
| Wonderful, absolutely wonderful. You are truly one of the most thorough authors I know, and so canonical. To spin such a story around OCs, and keep canon characters so thoroughly in character... it's always a delight to read your writings. I liked the intro of the story especially, but I enjoyed watching Ivormil growing into a greater man, and his relationship grow with this chambermaid. Very enjoyable. Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked it. Last year "Vocabulary Lesson" was nominated for a MEFA, so in order for the longer story to compete that chapter had to be removed from the story itself, although I did leave it capable of being read in its proper place with the caveat that it was originally written to stand alone. And it was nice to write a romance of sorts. I think that just contact with Aragorn and Frodo and Faramir would evoke spiritual growth in most folk of good will, so am thrilled you liked seeing Ivormil change and become the person he was intended to be. Thanks so much for the feedback. | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 2/24/2008 |
| Yay! I do so love a happy ending! It was another excellent story, Larner. I love stories that are about the common folk - they show so much more about the life of a country than tales about great lords. Hopefully, the new couple will be very, very happy together. :) Author Reply: I'm not certain just how this got moved back to the top again--I was rereading the author's notes, considering what I might say on the notes to a story I'm working on, and next thing I knew it has bounced to the top, and I don't know why! But am so glad you enoyed it. I love thinking what Aragorn's Citadel might have been like. Certainly very different from that of Denethor! | |
| Nieriel Raina | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/1/2008 |
| Oh, you continued the tale! I'm just now catching up. Great start and I look forward to reading more! NiRi Author Reply: Yes, enough wished to see more of the story that I did exactly that. Hope you enjoy it, NR! And thanks for letting me know you'd found it. | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/29/2007 |
| Soory it has taken me so long to review. Thank heavens for time off between Christmas and New year. Just wanted to say how much I loved your story. Glad that Ivormil and Systerien have gotten together. And that Ivormil has gotten to be a better person. Author Reply: I understand vacations myself, Grumpy. And it was good even for me to learn that there was indeed good there in Ivormil and Systerien, and that the two of them have found one another. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 12/29/2007 |
| And may we all seek to emulate the selflessness and inner nobility of those we’ve come to love within Tolkien’s world while accepting their--and our own--very humanity and fallibility. I'm trying and not living up to it too well some times. But you are right about both - they are superior role models and we are fallible so maybe I shouldn't be so hard on myself. Still they continue to teach and I try to continue to learn. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, allowing ourselves to accept ourselves as we are is difficult; but it's important to do so. And may we all learn to find our own places in the great scheme of things. | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 12/29/2007 |
| So the ripples of influence that Frodo left in his wake continue to widen with another child named in his honor. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: Yes, he's the stone in the pond that turns all to their proper path in the end. Hannon le. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 12/20/2007 |
| I enjoyed reading the background to your story. I certainly agree that Tolkien meant his characters to have a spirtual aspect.As you know, I try to bring out those aspects in my stories too. We both have created involved Tolkien sub universes ! Author Reply: Thank you so, Linda. There's no question of Tolkien seeking to endow his stories to have a spiritual aspect, and it's always a pleasure to plumb that feature in writing our own. Looking forward to your next chapter in "Time to Reap," of course! A joyful Christmas to you. | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 12/18/2007 |
| Well, I knew, of course, that I was going to take you up on your suggestion of this story (you know it best, and “I think you’ll like it” is enough to intrigue me thoroughly without reading a word—also true, as I was very sure it would be), but I didn’t know I’d be able to read it all at once. I couldn’t stop. “One more chapter…just one more! *Then* I’ll tackle all that homework…” Right. :D Oh, I’m delighted with the way Ivormil turned out, the effort he made, and the help he received from some of the best suited to give it. As for his father…absolutely pathetic and horrible “lord” and more apt to the name “thief,” but I pity him all the same. It’s a shame he couldn’t see the truth before he died and carried his bitterness to the grave with him. It’s beautiful, also, to watch Systerien blossom and grow over the course of this story! At the beginning I didn’t like her, and I hoped Airen would be more in focus than she would. But as events progressed and unfolded, I was glad she was a main character instead, though I like Airen too. Amazing how our Hobbits seem to work miracles, often without being conscious of doing so, and Aragorn too, of course. I found the scene with Ionil especially touching. Ah, and I just knew we’d end with a wedding! Wonderful! And the conversation between Systerien and the king and queen beforehand, too! Aragorn’s words about being a servant to all certainly reminded me of Jesus’ own; I love that you bring those themes into your stories. And they named their son Iorhael? I’m glad. Melda, the woman who serves the Fellowship in my own universe, and her husband the guard were going to name their child after Frodo in that way as well. I’m glad you beat me to it as it’s becoming increasingly hard to be tugged both ways (between M-e and worlds of my own imagination). There’s so much to be done and I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to writing it now. I wish I could just find a happy medium, for goodness sake! I know I’ve said it before, but you really, really should publish something someday, so that those outside our fanfic community can also share in that quality that makes your stories real treasures, wonderful for heart’s ease and a miracle cure for muddled minds in which unruly emotions and right priorities have gotten hopelessly tangled around each other and wound so tightly as to make things look rather bleak. There really is something special in your writing. I can’t point to exactly what it is, but it always has a way of reminding me that there is good still left in the world, and it won’t fade so long as there are those to keep it alive. Yours are some of the stories I miss most when I can’t seem to make time to read here, and I miss the people in them almost as much as their refreshing nature (I’ve been wanting to have a reread of Trials and Tribulation for several months now, for the sake of its heroine, who is so heart-warming). This week is turning out to be really not fun; it’s only Tuesday and there are only two more days left to pull through until I’m free of school for a blessed thirteen days, and I’m already exhausted physically and a mental and emotional frazzle. But in spite of the fact I know I shouldn’t have gotten on to read tonight with such a towering pile of homework, I’m glad I did and can’t feel too guilty because after that, even rereading Of Mice and Men and doing all that awful busywork my English teacher assigned to make sure we read it seems bearable. Thank you for arousing my curiosity and longing to enjoy fic again; I really needed that. *smiles* God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: You're finding your own niche now, and am looking forward to seeing you go professional one day. As for me--there's a bit of fear, I think, in heading out into the public realm; and my story, although it's been well mapped out in my head for many years, just doesn't appear to be going anywhere very fast for some reason. It just doesn't flow out of me as the LOTR stories do. Poor Louie has made it onto the boat home, but the boat doesn't appear to be getting there for some reason. Aack! I'm so glad I appear to be able to introduce characters that folk can respond to in my stories--we love them or hate them or get exasperated with them or cheer them on or blow raspberries at them--and that's a sign I'm doing something right. Am at my friend's house, and just hooked up her new turntable, but it doesn't want to run! We're both frustrated, as this is supposed to work for recording our old LPs to CD format--we both want certain LPs we've owned for years in CD format! Oh, well--will try contacting the manufacturer tomorrow to find out what's going on; and I'll meet with Lindelea and her delightful little Hobbits on Thursday. Anyway, it's always a joy to hear from you. I'm still plugging away at Stirring Rings and The Tenant, but they're slow going at the moment. God bless you as the new year approaches, and may Christmas warm your heart. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 12/18/2007 |
| Just a quick word to "maman", for I found that post very interesting. "Maman" was used in Germany as well, in the 18th, 19th and maybe even in the early 20th century by children of wealthy or noble families who learned French as their first foreign language. Therefore I interpreted "maman" as a sign of education and pride, which fit in very well with the story. Maybe it was not what you had intended, but it fit anyway ;-) And may we all seek to emulate the selflessness and inner nobility of those we’ve come to love within Tolkien’s world while accepting their--and our own--very humanity and fallibility. Well said, Larner! And one thing, or word, is very important: If we only begin to "seek" to accomplish that, we are on the right way! It took Frodo a long time to realise that. Thank you very much! Author Reply: I didn't know that, so you've added to my knowledge. Thanks, and am glad you felt it fit, although perhaps "aba" and "ama" might have been closer to Tolkien's vision for Middle Earth. And am so glad you appreciated the author's notes. Thank you so very much. | |
| middlepiglet | Reviewed Chapter: Author's Notes on 12/18/2007 |
| Your stories remind me of a tapestry. In the centre of your canvas stands a small figure and around him you have woven his stories, and tales of those that affect his life. And just when I think the canvas is nearly full you pick up another thread and once again gently begin to weave this new tale onto your canvas. As I sit and study this tapestry I can see how each thread, how each new colour continues and enlarges the life of your main work, your central figure. How I delight in each new thread you pick up or an older thread continued. How I love the tales you weave. I think that when you work you should have a big sign on the door QUIET, MASTER WEAVER AT WORK. I hope you never run out of thread. Author Reply: I am so very deeply touched by this, Middlepiglet. Thank you very much--you actually have me tearing up. So you see me related to Ruvemir's mother, then? I am very honored. Thank you again. | |