Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

A Long and Weary Way: Appendices  by Canafinwe 19 Review(s)
RowanfairReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/3/2017
A beautiful way to pick up loose trails (about two- as well as four-legged friends) and weave them back into the overall colourful picture! There is so much light and hope in all of these appendices. In contrary to the dark and grave base-story you admit some bliss for your main character, finally ;-).

Eirinn LeighReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/5/2016
*This* is precisely the sort of tying-up of ends that had wished to see as I read through Aragorn's quest in 'A Long and Weary Way'.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/25/2015
I love this tale. It is so nice to see Losfaron and Moroch survived. It sounds very believable that Losfaron is wrecked with guilt over his failure to keep Gollum. Luckily for the world he failed in his task. I love the way Aragorn explained Gollumn's role in a nutshell. That should really help to alleviate Losfaron's guilt. I love your portrayal of the horses.

Author Reply: Thank you! Even Legolas seemed so dismayed and guilty; I felt it would be far worse for Losfaron, who actually beheld the toll the journey took upon Aragorn. I'm so glad you like my take on the horses! They're lovely fun to write.

RowanfairReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/18/2015
I love this piece! Giving deep insights into your characters souls - including those on four legs, you never slip into trivialities.


Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm very happy to know that.

Camp.6311Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/2/2015
I've been re-reading this amazing tale and the appendices, I think after following this story for so many years, I'm reluctant to let it go.

I love this line from Aragorn "None could have faulted you for your good heart even had the consequences been dire." Gollum's escape did indeed lead to the destruction of the ring, but Aragorn's forgiveness was so genuine, and completely independent of that final outcome. With all the talk of the good that came from Gollum's escape I hope Losfaron gets that, I like to think he does.

Add me to the list of those curious as to who sired Moroch's filly. My first guess was Roheryn, but after re-reading that the filly was delicately boned, I couldn't imagine him throwing any foal who could be descibed as delicate. Perhaps there was a beautiful white stallion in Rivendell that caught her eye? Will we get to hear of another Rivendell love story?

Author Reply: You are the first one to suggest a certain Frodo-rescuer as a potential sire for Moroch's filly. Very nice! (Moroch's not telling...)

Thank you for your lovely comments, and for your years of faithful reading!

SnehaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/24/2015
A lovely resolution! Aragorn wears his kingship well. How true that the kindness of the folk guarding Gollum played such a huge role in the destruction of the ring. I have always loved that twist, truly even the wise cannot see all ends! I look forward to more chapters!

Author Reply: Yes! Gandalf was so very, very right about that: all the grace bestowed undeserving on Gollum, by Bilbo and Frodo and the wood-elves and all, culminated in such a great and unexpected good! I'm glad you liked this piece! Thank you.

elizaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/22/2015
What an utterly charming tale Canafinwe,

It's always a pleasure to read about the "other" people who were caught up in the ring war.
I really enjoyed this. lol, it was also interesting to read about an Elf who seems to share very "human" qualities. who'd thunk it, that an elf harbors some self doubt.

Can't wait until the next one.

Author Reply: Oh, my favourite Elves are the ones who show self-doubt! I'm so glad you liked this piece, and that you're eager for more. Thank you!

MarianelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/22/2015
Such a wise and kind king Aragorn is! I really never thought that he would blame Losfaron for real though. And what if Losfaron and his friends hadnt showed Gollum that mercy! It would have been a catastrophe! Thank you a thousand times over for your wonderful Long and weary . I cant even make your writing justice in my reviews. " I look so much forward to more of the appendices.❤️👍🏼

Author Reply: Yes, if Losfaron hadn't been so down on himself I'm sure he would have expected understanding and forgiveness -- though of course he could never have predicted such a tale of unlooked-for grace. You're so very welcome for the story, and I'm thrilled you want more appendices... because I *do* have a few still to come.

LyanaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/21/2015
First - an apology... I have been reading and thoroughly enjoying your stories without rendering proper commenting compensation; you very effectively drew me into the world you created for A Long and Weary Way. So... a much belated thank you!

But I had to come out of lurkerdom for this one - oh, I loved this gapfiller! When you introduced Losfaron and his role in ALAWW, I thought, "Oh no - this is the guy who loses Gollum!" And as the story went on and he was just such a great character, I really felt horrible for him and what was to come. Lovely, believable resolution in this little vignette; I want to think it happened that way. :-)

Author Reply: How sweet of you to take the time to comment, especially as you usually don't! Any feedback is a gift, and you shouldn't feel guilty about reviewing only when you're able. Losfaron's character growth was unexpected for me, and Moroch was a complete surprise. I'm so glad you like their contribution to the longer work, and this glimpse into their peacetime lives!

Cimarron's Girl Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/21/2015
Oh, I was absolutely delighted by this scene! I had wondered if Losfaron would survive the War of the Ring, especially since I knew Gollum's guards were slain or taken prisoner when he escaped. So, I'm really happy to see that he, and of course Moroch, lived and even ventured to Minas Anor with Legolas. It's so pleasing to read that Moroch has her own little filly to mother now, too! You have done such a wonderful job of portraying the horses; I very much appreciate your realism. It drives me crazy when I see how horses are depicted in many films and/or stories, where they just randomly whinny and rear up all the time (my Cimarron Horse is all but mute and never rears), but your depiction of them as attuned to their handlers, occasionally nickering, and enjoying scratches is perfectly true to form.

Now, horsey rant over, I wonder if I could guess who the filly's daddy is? Given the her age, I have some suspicions... ;)

I enjoyed hearing Losfaron's perspective on the events following Gollum's escape, Legolas's departure, and the subsequent fall of Sauron. I have often wondered about the Wood-Elves' view on these events, particularly their sentiments about losing Gollum; you did an excellent job of capturing Losfaron's sense of guilt about this. I'm glad Aragorn was able to alleviate Losfaron's self-recriminations and compel him to understand that Gollum's escape ultimately served Middle Earth's best interests, though none could have guessed it.

Once again, lovely writing... and finally, we have a story where Aragorn is genuinely happy, healthy, and full of good humor!

Cheers!


Author Reply: It means a lot to know that my portrayal of the horses is fitting! They're a little more vocal than I would write, for example, the horses of Rohan, because Elven horses seem to have a greater capacity to understand speech. Asfaloth's understanding of Glorfindel's instructions is only one example. Even so, I would *never* have a horse rear without a good cause (Nazgūl spring to mind...)! Even from Gollum Moroch only recoiled. A well-trained horse, especially one groomed to be ridden in battle, would have to be pretty nearly unflappable!

As for the filly's sire... Moroch's not telling. ;-)

I'm glad my take on the emotions surrounding Gollum's escape rang true! And it *was* lovely to write a story with no peril or agonies (physical or emotional) for Aragorn to endure. A rarity for me, as I'm sure you've seen.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List