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| We Lost Enough by Saelind | 10 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/9/2014 |
| What a beautiful story, giving life to Gilraen and her parents! I especially like the combination of humor with the more serious questions being answered--a delicate balance, superbly maintained. Author Reply: Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I'm glad it felt balanced w/r/t the humor v. seriousness--I'm always slightly afraid I veer too far in one directon or the other! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/8/2014 |
| We are not guaranteed long lives together, but must find our joy as it comes to us. I rejoice that she is still glad for what time she had with her husband, no matter how short that period proved. Author Reply: Thank you for the review, Larner! The time that Gilraen and Arathorn had together was all too brief, but I imagine that she never regretted a moment of it. | |
| Canafinwe | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/5/2014 |
| What a lovely conclusion. From Gilraen's concern about her mother's sore head, to her dismay at Dirhael's proposed cure, to her wise words about her son, you've given us a portrait of such a well-rounded character. Dirhael is lovely too: sensible and forthright and just a little bit wry (I see Aragorn inherited something of his grandfather's sense of humour!). I especially loved the conversation about Arathorn's courtship of Gilraen: Ivorwen the "very persuasive", the joy that Gilraen found in her suitor, and Dirhael's quiet question: "was it worth it?". Beautiful; just beautiful. Author Reply: Thank you so much! I feel Gilraen very much with the dismay at Dirhael's proposed cures; the inclusion of the fried eel was sparked by a dare from my roommate when we were researching old hangover cures :P. I'm so glad you enjoyed the conversation about Arathorn's courtship of Gilraen--it's not a straight parallel to Aragorn and Arwen but I imagine it had to be running through her mind as she contemplated her own son's life. | |
| Ellynn | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/4/2014 |
| Wonderful story, with such a beautiful touching last line - it made me all 'awwwwww'. :) Author Reply: Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed it! :) | |
| Cairistiona | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/3/2014 |
| Ah, you write Dirhael and Ivorwen so well. I started to beta your second part of this when I realized I hadn't read the first half... so I scooted over here to take care of that massive oversight and I'm glad I did. Some favorite lines: "There are days when I can think of nothing else beyond mere survival, and that even when Aragorn is with us." How *hard* would that have been for the Dunedain! This line captures that raw fear perfectly. "Perhaps it is time I stopped pretending I can affect much else, beyond praying that they might still heed the grumblings of an old man." *sniff* Aging simply sucks. Making the transition from active warrior/leader to the more passive role of "village elder" is a rough journey. Dirhael's confession to Ivorwen speaks not only of his own state of mind, but of the closeness between these two. "Aragorn and Halbarard both know to listen to those who came before them. Trust in what you have given them, my darling--it is not simply your blood that runs through their veins. It is everything you have taught to them as well." What a perfect summation! Dirhael has such a wise wife! Okay, now to get back to beta'ing so you can post the rest. :) Author Reply: Heee, thank you so much, both for the beta and the review! The hard choices that the Dunedain faced have been on my mind so much lately, as I'm sure you know :P. Things had to have been so hard for Dirhael to begin with, being the de facto leader of his people for so long, and I imagine having to make the transition from active leader to more of an elder role had to be rough indeed, as you say. And of course, Ivorwen remains my favorite. So wise indeed! | |
| Sneha | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/1/2014 |
| I hope you update soon. Again it was wonderfully done. A wonderful New Year's Gift! Author Reply: Thank you so much! Planning to have the second part up today or tomorrow :) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/29/2013 |
| I rejoice that they are able to look ahead, and that he is moved to trust in Aragorn's wisdom after all. It is a difficult thing to believe one's grandson and hereditary leader is pursuing a foolish course, but in the end it worked to the good, as WE know, at least! Author Reply: Thank you so much! It always makes me sad that some of the most important mentors in Aragorn's life never got to see his final triumphs...sometimes, then, trust is all they have to go on. | |
| Canafinwe | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/28/2013 |
| How exciting to see a follow-up to your other piece! I'm intrigued to see what Dirhael will do with this new discovery. I do love that they both consider the question so seriously, as guardians of the line of Elendil must surely do. It's so easy for us, who know that all turns out for the best, to forget how worrisome the question of Aragorn's heart must have been. You capture so well the grim life of the Dunedain: "There are days when I can think of nothing else beyond mere survival, and that even when Aragorn is with us.". Holding hope for a better future is a noble thing, but it is certainly not an easy thing. I'm eagerly awaiting the second part. You've set up such a wonderful dynamic here. Author Reply: Thank you so much!! I can't help but imagine that it must have been difficult for both of them to come to terms with after all the trials the Dunedain have faced. Difficult indeed to hold out hope for a better future, especially for Dirhael, who in my own conception was the one who took up the task of acting Chieftain until Aragorn returned to them. He's certainly got a lot to think about now! | |
| Matt | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/27/2013 |
| Thanks for broadening this little corner of the universe a bit more. Really nicely done. Looking forward to the second half.... Author Reply: Thank you so much! Typing away at the second half as we speak :) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/27/2013 |
| “You never settled for anything less than a better future. ‘Tis what you taught to Aragorn, when he returned, and I would be very surprised if that is not part of why he clings to his love for Arwen now.” What a perfect thing to say. This is a very insightful story. Author Reply: Thank you so much! I feel like Dirhael and Ivorwen had to offer each other a LOT of support over the years through everything they've gone through, and I tried to capture that here. | |