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The Heir Apparent  by Mirkwoodmaiden 5 Review(s)
NurayyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/8/2021
Oh, there they begin falling in love. And there's already a lot of turmoil and grief and resentment. I loved how in the end respect grows between them. The beginning of something important.

Author Reply: Nurayy!

So glad you decided to read or at least start this story. It was the first many chaptered story I wrote as fanfic and it really holds a soft spot in my heart.

I have always been fascinated by the Dunedain as a people. They survived the destruction of their kingdom and really their entire way of life and survived for a 1000 years. Arthedain, the last of the three kingdoms that was Arnor fell in 1975 TA. And yet their goal, their dream to the light restored and Amends for Isildur's failure remained true. How? That is why I am fascinated by the Dunedain.

Also I have always been fascinated by Gilraen, "I give hope to the world by I keep none for myself." She left everything she knew to go with Estel to Imladris. She is frequently left out of a lot of fanfiction but I think she is so interesting. Very strong woman who sacrifices everything she was to help her people with their density.

Thanks for reading.

Stay Safe ((hugs))

MM


Author Reply:
Or rather "Destiny" and not "density" :-) *sigh* I would love to blame Autocorrect for this but alas I cannot!! :-)

MM

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/7/2020
I think I missed this when it was first being posted. At least, I don’t remember reading it before. (Though sometimes my mind has played tricks on me, and I have left a glowing review on a story that seemed “new” to me, only to discover in reading other reviews that I too had left one at an earlier time. Yikes!)

Fascinating, well-rounded (I’m not sure that’s the term I want; something meaning carefully thought out and rich in detail) vision of the life in the North lands for the people of broken Arnor.

Erkenthal thought Arathorn, be gentle with him for he is so young as a small smile widened his face.
Ah, he appears to know Arathorn so well, and trust him.

I wonder if Arathorn is a healer with a gift for bringing out the power of athelas?

Author Reply: Lindelea!

Hello! So happy to see your review! I finished this story back in 2005 so it has been a long while. I'm glad you found it now!

In this story Arathorn and Erkenthal have been compatriot warriors together for years. Brothers-in-arms together for longer than either care to remember! :-)

I never thought about Arathorn having those healing powers, but he is the heir before Aragorn and has the same kinship to Elros and therefore Elrond. So yeah he could. Hmmm...possible story offshoot!

I have always been fascinated by the Dunedain Rangers. How do a people with only a driving purpose survive the destruction of their cities and their entire society for over a thousand years. Arthedain the last of the three kingdoms of Arnor fell in TA 1974. I thought about it and how they were called a wandering, dwindling people, but you need some sort of society (even it is radically different from what you had before) when for the Dunedain who were long living if only for the Rangers to marry and have children in order to keep their purpose in life going.

I thought of an Anglo-saxon-ish system of Chieftain and Thanes loosely combined with the Plains Indians that had Winter villages. Basically I had a lot of fun thinking of it all and framing it all around Arathorn and Gilraen meeting and basing it all on the appendices in the back of ROTK.

Thanks again for the encouragement! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story!

MM

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/2/2005
An interesting look at that first meeting between Arathorn and his future bride.

Author Reply: I'm glad you liked it!! It's a subject that doesn't get a lot of treatment and the Dunedain have always fascinated me!

MM

Eruanneth_LuinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/29/2005
First I must admit that had the name of Elrond not appeared in your update I would likely not have read this tale as I prefer elf-centered stories.

But to my delight I found myself reading a thoughtfully written and intriguing tale. Obviously you are well-versed in the canon elements that you have woven into a believable story.

As to the particular events, those of note to me are the understandable resentment of the Thane toward his Chieftain, even though unfounded in truth; his son a perfect example of not being able to refrain from speaking that which he had heard and seen for so long.

The meeting of Arathorn and Gilraen was particularly enjoyable, mutual attraction, but tempered with good sense and respect.

Overall the chapter has strong a feeling of honor and courage, realistically set in the waning years of the Dúnadain. Thank you.


Author Reply: Eruanneth_Luin!

Hello! I'm really gald that you found my story enjoyable and an interesting read. I usually favour Elf-centric stories, but I've also always been fascinated by Aragorn's childhood and his parents and the Northern Rangers. How they stayed a more or less cohesive people for so long I found really thought-provoking. And also so little is written about Gilraen and yet I think that she was important in Aragorn's life. So with Estel's childhood and writing about the Dunedain I could encapsulate both passions.

When I decided to write about Aragorn's childhood I found that I had to go further back to his parents meeting. I needed to think of how the Dunedain would have survive. As singular Rangers they would never have survived as a people. Then had to be more.

I'm glad you picked up on the feelings of honour and courage. Very important aspects of Dunedain culture! I'm really glad you have found the story and have liked it a lot.

Thanks,

MM

Author Reply: That's "glad you found my story" I can't type tonight. :-)

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/28/2003
I've been eyeing this story for a while now, trying to decide if I want to commit to reading it and I finally gave in to temptation. What a great opening chapter. I loved this glimpse of life among the Dunedain. And Arathorn is a fascinating figure. The details are so realistic here.

Author Reply: Thanks Daw!

Glad you've decided to join me in this insane odyssey of multi-chaptered fanfiction!

I thought about what the Dunedain culture would have to be like 1000 years after the destruction of their last kingdom. Simple settlements loosely bound by a Saxon-y (at least less structured than the Norman social system) confederation, but also with a fierce sense of identity and destiny. Then I did some research into Saxon settlements.

With Arathorn's character I wanted to portray a leader who was not a proto-typical warrior, a man with compassion for others, echoes of the personality traits that Aragorn later will display.

MM

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