News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Aspects of Aragorn by Inzilbeth | 11 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/12/2009 |
| I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Aragorn to be forced to leave Gondor again and leave friends and a place that was beginning to feel like home behind once again. Knowing that his path would lead him towards Mordor can't have made it any easier. //In his heart he felt as much for those left lying on the quayside as he did his own injured men. Killing orcs was one thing, but these were soldiers, no different from his, save that they had been deceived by the Dark Lord and had come under his sway.// I loved that - I just can't imagine Aragorn not being sickened by war, especially when his foes were men and not creatures of the Dark Lord. I can't help feeling sorry for Ecthelion. I wish he would have learned the truth some day. I don't mind that Aragorn's departure made Denethor feel uncertain and confused, though. *g* Author Reply: Thank you so much, Almut for your review. I'm glad you liked that line. War was, after all, a necessity of Aragorn, not a career of choice. And after making a good life for himself, where he was loved and honoured, it must have been so hard to simply walk away and leave it all behind. And yes, Thorongil's leaving was very hard on Ecthelion. I bet he very much regretted that, though probably he was less worried about Denethor! | |
| Mirach | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/5/2009 |
| It needs a great deal of courage to accept change. I always thought that he made the choice to leave himself, after Denethor guessed too much. But you made very sound arguments both from his and from Gandalf’s side. He really couldn’t know that he’ll return to the city ever after, and it had to take a lot of courage indeed, especially when it was Arwen’s hand that he could get would he claim the crown. And then the image if war and the tiredness of it is very vivid. Author Reply: Aragorn's courage in making this decision is what struck me the most too. He had earned a good life for himself in Gondor, where he was honoured and respected. To simply walk away and leave all that behind must have been so difficult. I agree, he may very well have reached this decision on his own, but we know Gandalf occasionally visited, so this seemed a more interesting way of tackling the rationale behind it. I'm very pleased you liked the battle, thank you. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/17/2008 |
| I risk my neck almost daily to try to keep these lands safe and free from evil. What more would you have me do?” Oh, a lot more. A lot. Because we know how the story ends, it's so easy to just take for granted the events of Aragorn's life because we know they had to happen that way. But you've taken us into the moment and shown us how very hard it must have been to live in those moments. This must have been one of the hardest - he had a home he loved, a job he loved, as much security as a man could have in Middle-earth; an entire life and identity he had built there; status and friends and a respected place in society. How hard it must have been to shed it all like a second skin and just walk away. You've done a great job of bringing home what that must have felt like. Author Reply: Oh, I so agree that this must have been one of the hardest things ever asked of him. It would have taken enormous courage to walk away from all that life he had made for himself, especially to head east into Mordor. But that, I guess, is the measure of the man! I'm so glad you thought that came through in this chapter. | |
| Freelancer of Arda | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/14/2008 |
| I liked the title, the story, and everything about it, espeically how you write Aragorn. Author Reply: I'm thrilled you enjoyed this. Thank you so much for letting me know. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/12/2008 |
| You see Aragorn just as I do and I love this story.A very plausible explanation for Aragorn's departure. Author Reply: I'm just delighted you enjoyed this chapter and thrilled that you think we have a similar take on Aragorn. | |
| Estelcontar | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/11/2008 |
| What a perceptive chapter. I must confess that though I had always though it must have been terribly hard for Aragorn, and a lesson in self sacrifice to give up everything he had achieved in Gondor as Thorongil, and right after such a wonderful victory too, to go East and travel the evil paths of Mordor, I had never thought he would consider revealing his identity and claiming the throne of Gondor. You make it sound very believable, though, especially because Gandalf is the one who shows Aragorn that the time is not yet ripe for him to claim the kingship . Most especially, I think you've showed us in a very moving way how very difficult it must have been to Aragorn to leave Gondor,the place in which, after all, up till then, he had spent the greater part of his mature life; where he had been greatly honoured, had learned much, and had reached his maturity. Author Reply: Thank you so much for your review, Estelcontar. Yes, I'm sure leaving Gondor must have been terribly hard for Aragorn, one of so many hard lessons in his life. Regardless of whether or not he did consider revealing his identity, I did feel I ought to include the pros and cons in this chapter somewhere. I'm so glad you thought the aguments convincing. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/11/2008 |
| A good rationale for the decision at that time to leave Gondor. Alas for Ecthelion, but at least a temporary respite for Denethor, who follows his father as last ruling Steward of Gondor. Love the fight! Author Reply: I'm so glad you thought the reasoning made sense. Yes, poor Ecthelion is so often overlooked. He must have been very hurt by Thorongil's departure, something I'm sure Aragorn would have understood and regretted. Glad too you enjoyed the fight! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/11/2008 |
| One of the things I like here is the way you move the story along. This passage for instance: How about a bite to eat first? I have ridden a long way.” “Of course, I’m sure I can find you something,” said Thorongil, knowing he could never hurry the wizard, although, as always, he was hoping Gandalf brought news from Rivendell and the North. As Gandalf ate, he told Thorongil the news, such as it was I really like the way you skip over preparing the food, which would be boring. The transition is artfully done and if didn't spend a lot of time thinking about stuff like this, I probably wouldn't even have noticed. Also I'd never thought about why Aragorn didn't reveal his identity in Gondor when he had the Steward's love. Tolkien left us with a lot to wonder about. Author Reply: Thank you so much, daw, but I think you give me more credit than I deserve. To be quite honest, I mostly fret that I don't include enough of these 'boring bits'! I tend to just write it as I would enjoy reading and I confess I'm not that interested in what Gandalf has for lunch LOL! I really had to think a lot about why Aragorn didn't reveal his identidy then as, at the time, it must have been very tempting. Where would we be without Tolkien's mysteries! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/11/2008 |
| He had now been Thorongil for far longer than he had been Aragorn. How interesting. You do bring up the most fascinating tidbits. What a wonderful tribute on this Veterans/Remembrance Day. Author Reply: You don't think I might be coming a little bit obsessive here do you? LOL It is pure coincidence but I thought of that too. Many you so much for your review, shirebound. | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/11/2008 |
| Lots of things I liked about this one, but most of all I liked the subtlety of refocusing Aragorn's purpose by changing the name by which he thought of himself. If he did go around thinking of himself as Thorongil, it would have become that much easier to be lulled into staying in Minas Tirith--if not for the rest of his days--at least for tomorrow. Author Reply: Thank you very much, I'm so glad you enjoyed this, and especially that you noticed the change of name. I tend to imagine Aragorn as having been very happy and settled in Gondor [who wouldn't enjoy the sort of popularity he had there!]and so it must have been very hard to leave, especially to head off to somewhere like Mordor. | |