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The Days of the King  by Cairistiona 5 Review(s)
InzilbethReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/1/2010
This is lovely! Aragorn really showed his mettle by coping so admirably with this huge change in his life. I particularly liked how you captured his kindness here.

Author Reply: Thank you! I do think Aragorn faced the challenge of fitting it as King with the same creativity, skill and fortitude that carried him in all the other difficulties in his life. And compared to some of those difficulties, learning to like formal gardens was no doubt easy!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/1/2010
Time indeed for taming, but also perhaps for relaxing as well? I can certainly appreciate how he feels!

Author Reply: Hopefully he can find his way to relaxing in such a formal setting, yes! If anyone could, it'd be Aragorn.

Thanks for the review!

EstelcontarReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2010
What a lovely drabble. And so like Aragorn to be gracious like that.

Author Reply: Thank you! I wanted to show that gracious side of Aragorn, the side of him that never wants to belittle anyone. I think that's such an important and often overlooked characteristic of his.


FiondilReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2010
I love gardens and I've seen many different kinds in Europe and China. I can understand Aragorn's distaste for the straight lines and neat rows of the formal garden. Some of my favorite gardens are the country gardens that are full of wild flowers and herbs and don't have a straight line within them. Yet, at the same time, I can understand the gardener's pride in his neat formal garden (they do have their place after all), so I feel sorry for him, tring desparately to please this stranger-king and fearing what he might think or say. Aragorn at least is valiantly diplomatic here. *grin* This is a good start to the series, Cairistiona, and I look forward to seeing furter glimpses of Aragorn's early days as King Elessar.

Author Reply: Thank you, Fiondil! I'm like you... I can see how formal gardens have their place but I prefer something a bit more naturalistic and even unkempt. I imagine Aragorn would be more comfortable sitting on a bench reading a book in a Shire garden than in such a formal one, but yes, he has to be diplomatic. After all, he's the new kid! :) I'm glad you enjoyed this, and yes, there'll be more to come as the muse strikes. Thanks again for the review!

MirachReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/30/2010
Oh, I really understand Aragorn here! I use to spend a few weeks out of civilization each year, if I can, and when I return, everything looks so unnaturally straight and sharp...

Author Reply: I'm the same way... I feel somehow stifled in gardens that are too civilized, much as I can appreciate their beauty. I thought that Aragorn might have similar feelings, living as he did so long in the wild beauty of raw nature.

Thanks for the review!

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