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| The Keys of the Realm by Larner | 82 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| Peregrines! (laughs softly) I have read in haste, for I will be interrupted at any moment, but just had to take the time to drop a note. This is delightful! The girls are adorable, the conversations ring true. The uncertainty of the people, and the very rightness of Elessar restoring the rod of the Steward to Faramir... so many little touches, such satisfaction in seeing this day from the POV of Hurin and his loved ones... This is the first chapter of this I've read, would you believe? I hope for time to go back and read the previous chapters, but not today! We're off to set foot upon a replica of one of Columbus' ships, in a bit... Author Reply: Well, what other bird WOULD it be, Lindelea? Heh! Of course peregrines! And this is based on a pair that nested repeatedly in downtown Seattle. And am so glad you find the children believable. There would be uncertainty as well as rejoicing, and such a feeling of relief to find out what kind of King they now had! I'll probably be down next month--after this last week I need a week off, I think. One of my clients has had a tremendous setback, and I'm still shaken at how fast her condition can progress. And may the children love their visit to the replica of a Spanish exploring ship! Give them and the hubby and Zoe my love! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| It must have been a nightmare to clean up the Pelennor after that battle - I don't even dare to guess how many corpses were lying around. A lot of workto do for the ones who stayed behind! *snicker* You caught Ioreth and her incessant chatter very well; that fits perfectly with canon. No wonder Húrin and his family were hurrying ahead to escape her! I am glad Húrin has such a nice family; he deserves this happiness. And what a lovely idea to have his daughter near at the coronation! The girl will talk about it forever, of that I am sure. And the King even showed her his ring! This is such a beautiful chapter, seeing the coronation through the eyes of Húrin. And btw, I was rather amused that *peregrine* falcons, of all birds, decided to nest at this window, just now with Pippin there! Author Reply: Well, of COURSE it would be peregrine falcons? What else? Although actually a pair of such birds made a repeated point of nesting several years in a row on a ledge of a high-rise in Seattle, as has happened elsewhere. I was to include a nest in the story, so I had to pay tribute to those falcons that love high places and seem to see little difference between a window ledge and a ledge on a cliff or bluff. Cleaning up the Pelennor must at times have felt like an overwhelming job. Am so glad they appear to have managed by the time the camp for the returning army was set up. And I decided to write Ioreth more in keeping with her endless chatter during the coronation in the book this time, and found it fun. Our minister's older daughter once talked him into allowing her to stay by him as he celebrated Communion during a small, rather intimate weekday service; she may never forget it--I KNOW I never will, and how her little sister crawled away from their mother and over kneelers and under pews and then under the altar rail to set her older sister off and disrupt the service. I'll never forget Sharon carrying Katie off, once she'd finally been recaptured, explaining, "You don't bug Daddy in the middle of a service!" while Meggie settled down and returned to bouncing from foot to foot and her father resumed the service, almost shaking with mortification and frustration. For Beruthien, to be able to be by her daddy and see what he does, and to learn first-hand how much her dad honored the new King, and to have the King pay attention to her as if she mattered--which she did, to such as Aragorn--would have been so important after all the changes and uncertainty they've all known. Am so glad this chapter appears to have delighted you, Kitty. | |
| Fiondil | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/28/2008 |
| And so the King Returned has entered into his city at last and has received the first of many gifts, the first and perhaps the most important: the gift of welcome from one who knew him from before. I wonder who gets the room with the peregrines? *grin* Author Reply: Do you think, perhaps, he might have assigned that room to the twins? Or if they might have chosen it? We've had peregrine falcons nest on high-rise buildings in downtown Seattle, and I've heard of them in similar situations elsewhere across the States as well. When I learned I was to include a birds nest in this story, the idea of the falcons nesting on a bank building in Seattle just hit me, and that had to be written in. And he has found himself welcomed by one who remembers him with gladness, and I myself am glad it wasn't all folk he had to convince. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/26/2008 |
| Wonderful background story about how the circlets were made. I'm quite sure that Gimli is a great craftsman, and I particularly liked how he spoke of the mithril and the gems as if they were living things, eager to be chosen for that special purpose. Apparently he understands their "language". I would love to see Hurin's present to Aragorn. It must have been beautiful. Concerning Sam's name I'd say that the Gaffer was only cautious, like that story you mentioned indicates. However, after all that happened he should appreciate the new name that was chosen for his son, and I think he will. Author Reply: The one who planned the crystal reliquary in which to keep Galadriel's hairs must have been an excellent craftsman, I'm certain. And who better to "hear" the voices of metal and jewels than a Dwarf, created by Mahal just of that purpose? I, too, love the thought of Hurin's present. And now you've set still another plotbunny loose! How am I to manage them all! Author Reply: Hee! I've found a way to incorporate that little plotbunny into another challenge I'd just finished! So, look for it in a few weeks! Hope you enjoy it once you see it. Sometimes you have to wed certain plotbunnies and nuzguls to keep them from bounding about too rampantly, I find! After all, "The Acceptable Sacrifice" started out as two sizable nuzguls with a few bunnies thrown into the mix as well! Heh! | |
| cookiefleck | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/26/2008 |
| Just to let you know that I am reading and enjoying this story. So many fics set in this timeframe give short shrift to Samwise so thank you for not doing so! Liked this chapter especially. Author Reply: Unfortunately neither Frodo nor Sam figures strongly in this tale, but what is there of our Sam is intended to be appropriate to the marvelous Hobbit! So glad you approve. | |
| Neilia | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/25/2008 |
| Another wonderful chapter to a wonderful tale. I await further postings with bated breath! No kidding! So well written and so well presented! It is interesting from the 'get-go'. :D Hugs, Neilia Author Reply: Thank you so, Neilia. Next chapter will be posted about Wednesday, I hope. | |
| Grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/25/2008 |
| Wouldn't you just love to see Frodo and Sam with circlets and sam in armour. Actually I would not mind a look see at the treasuries of the city, and I promise I would even take any of the goods. Author Reply: Oh, I agree, Grumpy--I rather wish the movies had used Cormallen rather than the Houses of Healing myself. And I'd LOVE to see the Treasuries of Gondor--they must be wonderful! | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/25/2008 |
| Hmmm this lord from Langstrand seems to have doubts, off with his head! Whoops good thing I am not king. Faramir handled him quite well. Dress robes for the king, I guess ranger garb is not going to do. Author Reply: I'd think the court might indeed look to see what the King could look like when actually DRESSED like a king! Heh! As for the lord from Langstrand--wellllll---- But then your suggestion isn't outside the realms of possibility! Heh! | |
| Antane | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/25/2008 |
| Indeed...Sam*wise* - it irritates/grieves me that the Gaffer would call his own son half-wit when from he is so much more. We all know better and hopefully the Gaffer, when he saw his son returned grown so much, would see it too. Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I read one story in which the Gaffer tried to avoid a bad fate for his son by naming him as he did, fearing that if it was realized just how smart Sam was it could lead to major problems. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/25/2008 |
| Another question answered - how did they get the circlets for Frodo and Sam? They had to be made specially, I suspect, so I sometimes wondered. It's not something everyone bears in his pocket, after all. The same goes for the mail Sam got at Cormallen. Very sweet of Húrin to have this signet ring for Aragorn made as his own personal gift. It shows how much he loves the one who helped him so much after he lost his arm, and I am sure Aragorn will greatly appreciate this gift. Lovely chapter, Larner! Author Reply: I would think these would be made purposely, and who else to make them besides Gimli, who knows and honors the two of them? And I had to figure out where this armor might have come from! Oh, I'm certain that Aragorn will appreciate the gift as well as the symbolism it contains. Thanks so, Kitty. | |