Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Mariner's Son  by Cairistiona 7 Review(s)
layneReviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/6/2014
Aragorn was perfect ( a king in every way! ) in the way he approached the mariner's son. Poor boy ...

Author Reply: I've always loved Aragorn's merciful side and the way he shows compassion to those who less understanding leaders might judge too harshly, so it was fun to explore that in an altogether different scenario than in the ROTK book where it was as military leader and then King where he showed mercy. This boy wasn't important in the bigger scheme of things, but yet Aragorn showed him dignity and compassion, which is what anyone who is authentic would do, I think.

Thanks for reading, Layne!

curiouswombatReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/1/2014
I'm so glad that you mentioned this in the Snowflake Challenge as I hadn't read it before.

Would you believe I have read it whilst there was a programme on TV about Hurricane Sandie, and people talking about being trapped by the rising water? It certainly made it very atmospheric!

Author Reply: Oh, what a terrific coincidence. I just hope no one in during Sandy had quite the level of trouble I put poor Aragorn through!

Thanks for reading!

Lady TelcontarReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/11/2009
What a touching story, Cairistiona.

It is quite a unique one, I've never seen a plot with the likes of it before and if it's such a well-written tale like yours definitely is, one cannot help but be awed by it.

You truly left me at a loss for words...

Author Reply: Thank you, Lady Telcontar! I'm so glad you liked this story. It was a fun tale to write and explore the issue of names and the effect a name, or lack thereof, may have on a person. It was my first attempt at LOTR fic, and I'm glad people are still enjoying it. Thank you so much for your kind review!

meckinockReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/7/2008
What a nice story, Cairistiona. Enemies sometimes aren't really enemies. Aragorn's warmth and sensitivity really come through when he deals with the Mariner's son.

Author Reply: Thanks, Meckinock! I'm glad you liked my take on Aragorn. I definitely wanted to explore his caring, compassionate side with this, and you're right--foes are not always what they seem, and that was definitely the case here. Thanks again for the review!

ElentarriReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/6/2008
Brilliant!

Author Reply: Thanks, Elentarri! Glad you enjoyed it.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/6/2008
I've been a special ed teacher for a very long time, and I see a few of my students and clients in this nameless child.

An interesting tale. It's hard to imagine anyone giving up his name like that, or failing to give his child a name to help anchor his identity.

Most intriguing.

Author Reply: Thank you for the reviews, Larner ... hope you don't mind if I respond to all of them with one reply. I'm glad you found the story intriguing--I know it's a bit unusual, having two characters with no name. It was odd for me, actually, because I tend to develop much of a character based on the name, so to not have names even after much research and musing was a bit of a stumper. But I think it worked out all right in the end. I hope, anyway. That's for the readers to decide, I suppose. It did afford me an opportunity to speculate a bit on the importance--or lack thereof--of names. And I liked the idea of contrasting a person who has absolutely no name, and hence no easily discernible future, with a person who has a list of names as long as his arm, and a future he is still unsure he can live up to. I figured they could each learn from one another, and hopefully that came through in the story.

Anyway, I'm rambling ... I'm glad you found the story vivid and intriguing--and yes, like you, I'm very glad NOT to have been Aragorn tumbling about in that hurricane! And I'm gratified that you found hints of real people in these characters. Thanks again for taking the time to review!

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/5/2008
A good finale to a well-written and thoughtful action story. I'm not sure about the future of the Mariner's son; though; he seems to be something of a loose cannon when he wants something.

The Mariner himself was a fascinating character; he certainly has been around if he's met hobbits andArathorn.

Author Reply: I don't know if the Mariner's son will have learned his lesson or not... but I think that'll be someone else's headache, for I imagine Aragorn beat a pretty hasty retreat out of there once he got his ring back. And yes, The Mariner is a bit of a mystery character. In a way, I'm kind of sorry to leave him behind, but I don't have any plans to revisit him or his son in any more stories. Although I guess, being citizens of Gondor, they may turn up for Elesser's coronation. Hmm, I wonder what the son would do when he gets a load of that shiny crown....*grin.

Thanks again for the wonderful reviews, Raksha. You made my day!

Return to Chapter List