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A Long and Weary Way  by Canafinwe 7 Review(s)
obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 66 on 11/8/2015
And the healing continues. I like the way you show how tiresome and irksome it is to interrogate Gollum by having Gandalf develop a headache. At least Aragorn could do something about it even without potions. I know the kind of headache Gandalf has and massage is the best remedy.

Author Reply: I'm very glad that Gandalf's headache had the desired impact! Thank you. (Sorry to hear you've had firsthand experience. They're miserable.)

Lily BagginsReviewed Chapter: 66 on 9/15/2015
How I love the Aragorn and Gandalf banter so incredibly much! I live for friendship fics with these two, and here, you can tell they're so comfortable with each other. That said, it's lovely to see Gandalf's stern side come out toward Aragorn, too.

The headache scene was very nice... no matter how much discomfort Aragorn himself is in, he never forgets the pain of others.

Author Reply: I'm so delighted that you like my portrayal of their friendship at this wonderful stage when they know one another so very well. I agree completely with your words about Aragorn's concern for those around him. Happy you liked that scene! Poor Gandalf: such a tiresome labour!

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/30/2015
‘Healing?’ All trace of amusement faded like a doused candle, and Aragorn sighed wearily. ‘Do you earnestly believe there can be any hope of that in one so twisted with malice?’

‘It is a slim hope, I grant you,’ said Gandalf. ‘The One Ring is a terrible force, corrupting its bearer by degrees until it seems all good is rotted away like a limb slowly putrefying from within. Yet you have saved a gangrenous leg or two in your time, have you not?’

‘Yes,’ the Ranger admitted. ‘But never one so far gone in rot as Gollum is in wickedness.’


Ah, Strider. I do believe that memory of this conversation will wring your heart with pity and fear as you travel southward in Company with the Ringbearer...

I do love the easy relationship, indication of long and even tested friendship.

More to the pint, he has said it today.
I know it's very likely a typo, but somehow it sounds so hobbity, written just as it is. I could see this being a byword in bull sessions at the Green Dragon or Golden Perch.

That rattle does sound concerning. Take it from one whose lungs are not all they ought to be...

I had forgotten about the cradle robber. *shiver* I feel so sorry for the Woodman and his wife. Worse, even, that they never had any other children.

I could use a headache remedy like that!

The conversation with the King (I am amused at the thought of king-in-waiting and king talking together) is wonderful. And is that a reference to Legolas, I wonder?


Author Reply: I'm sure you are right about that: Strider being haunted by this knowledge all through his travels with the Ring-bearer. *shiver*

I had to grin at "more to the pint". Yes, a typo! But what a lovely little tale you wove around it. You're a very creative person.

It is amusing to have the king-in-waiting and the king talking together, isn't it? Oh, Thranduil!

Thank you as always for the delightful review! Such a treat.

CelethReviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/24/2015
I have been enjoying this tale all this time, and not a word to show my gratitude for the wonderful hours of entertainment. Well, enjoying is actually not the right word. There were times back there when I really really wanted to beg you to stop torturing Aragorn...all those endless sufferings he had to go through...there were times I wanted to throttle you er.. I meant Gollum =)

I must also tell you that I truly enjoyed the interaction between Aragorn and Gandalf. This is one of the few long stories with Gandalf and Aragorn in it, and I am truly thankful for the treat. I just love long stories so much; the longer the better, so long as they stay as close to the Tolkien's own characterization as possible. This must have taken a lot of research, and heaps of imagination and talent.

And I have often wondered if you are a doctor, or maybe you have suffered some of those injuries (except for Gollum's bites), to be able to describe them so well, including the kind of pain that each movement will entail while on the road to recovery!

All I wanted to say was, thank you so much for the stories, and I'm so looking forward to more...I "heard" something about another story coming up...thank you in advance.

Author Reply: I'm delighted to know that you're enjoying the story so much: thank you for taking the time to let me know! It's also lovely to know that you like the *long* stories. I do, too, so it's great when others don't think them drawn-out and dull.

I probably did deserve throttling a couple of times there, but after all, *I* wasn't the one who picked the route to force the poor man to make six river crossings at the end of winter in Rhovanion. ;-)

I love the interaction between Aragorn and Gandalf, too: they're so fascinating together in the Book, and they're amazing to write. Happily Gandalf makes more than a couple of visits to Minas Tirith during the Thorongil years, so there'll be scope there, too.

And yes, I'm a health care professional. Handy for me, lousy for Aragorn!

Cheers!

UTfrogReviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/22/2015
Another great chapter in a great tale. I loved the interaction with King Thranduil and am looking forward to the party. Good news indeed that Gollum did not know quite as much about Bilbo as feared. Every day was needed it seems. Again, thanks.

Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm delighted to be posting, and I hope to finish it at last. I'm glad Thranduil comes across well. He's an interesting character.

isabel villenaReviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/22/2015
I am in awe of your writing skills; are there no limits to your talent? You portray each and every lanscape, character (never mind how small the part) and situation with painstaking detail, yet never repetitive or boring. You make us suffer with Aragorn through his toils -and very few writers, besides you, can convey so convincingly what dauntingly hard, painful work is being a hero, both physically and morally- and smile and relax in his easier moments, few as they are: I chuckled when he annouced himself "exceedingly rested" after a one day break!

You surely must be a professional writer?

Anyway, here are my humblest thanks for your selfless efforts and for all the joy you bring to our lives. And please remember: you have now commited yourself to tell us the Thorongil tale and the Mordor one too! We will try and not let you forget, we are selfish like that!

Am I wrong or are we going to meet Prince Legolas shortly? If so, I am sure he will be portrayed much better than the shamelessly teenager fodder we got on the LOTR film trilogy, which I very much enjoyed otherwise.

Eagerly looking forward to your next update, here is a big, grateful hug from Barcelona,

Isabel

Author Reply: Thank you so much for the delightful comments! I'm humbled that you think so highly of my work, and absolutely delighted to know the detail isn't burdensome! Alas, it is VERY hard, painful work being a hero, especially on such an ignominious and unsung quest as this one. I love Aragorn's understated self-deprecation in the Book, and "exceedingly rested" fits right in with that.

Oh, no, not a professional writer at all! But thank you for yet another lovely compliment.

Ahh... well, I can always do with a little pestering! I don't forget my promises, either, though sometimes it may take a few years to come through.

*sigh* Yes, the portrayal of Legolas in those movies was certainly problematic, wasn't it? You're not wrong on either score: now that Aragorn's sufficiently recovered that Legolas's comment at the Council of Elrond won't make him sound like an insensitive clod, he's coming home to Mirkwood.

Thank you once more for the lovely remarks!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/21/2015
It's a treat to imagine healing for Gandalf, especially from such a trusted and dear friend. The weariness and pains he must feel, as well as the strain of fending off despair, must be quite a trial for a being such as he. The details of the friendship between Gandalf and Aragorn you're crafting is wonderful.

Author Reply: Thanks so much! I love their friendship, and it's a privilege to be able to explore it. Gandalf is no doubt seldom in need of such care, but this wearisome work is draining him. Thankfully he need not struggle through it alone!

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