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| Aspects of Aragorn by Inzilbeth | 428 Review(s) |
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| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/27/2009 |
| I've always wondered how Bilbo and Aragorn became friends and I greatly enjoyed reading your version of it! This chapter was both fun and heartwarming - you and Cairistiona will manage to turn me into a hobbit fan in the end! ;-) I really loved your Bilbo and his reaction to hearing the story of Aragorn's life. I also enjoyed Elrond fussing about Aragorn in the beginning (I really can't blame Aragorn for secretly enjoying to be fussed over). I always love scenes that show Elrond's fatherly love for his adopted son. :) I can't imagine how moved Aragorn must have been upon hearing Bilbo's poem for the first time (and Bilbo is right, it describes him to a tee). Bilbo's advice made me laugh! I guess a dragon must be about the only evil creature Aragorn managed to avoid meeting. *g* Author Reply: I'm so thrilled you enjoyed this chapter as it was one of my favourites to write. I love Aragorn and Bilbo together in those short glimpses we get in the Hall of Fire and at the Council of Elrond. Theirs, on the surface, is an unlikely friendship but I'm sure it might have been very genuine for Bilbo to have written that poem. I too like to see Elrond caring for his foster son so there was a lot of personal gratification in this chapter! Thank you so much for your lovely review. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 11/24/2009 |
| This chapter transferred me right back to the time when I read the scene where Gandalf tells Frodo about the Ring for the first time. All the excitement and the fascination I felt back then came back while I 'listened' to Gandalf and Aragorn talk about the Ring, Isildur, and Gollum. It's almost like reading LotR all over again, with the the benefit of getting additional background information. I have to say I always wanted to read more about Aragorn and Gandalf's Gollum-hunting and was quite frustrated Tolkien only gave us that short summary of their experiences. I really like that Halbarad was able to forgive and forget so easily once the situation asked for it - Aragorn leaving with ill feelings still standing between him and his friend is something I really would not have wished for. Loved it. :) Author Reply: Ah, thank you, Almut. I too desperately wish Tolkien hadn't 'lightened the load' as he put it and left out Gandalf and Aragorn's adventures. I'm glad this reminded you of 'The Shadow of the Past' as I too was thinking of that chapter when I wrote it. As to Halbarad and his irritation with Aragorn, yes, I'm sure any pettiness would have been immediately forgotten once something more serious cropped up. Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews you've written today. I'm very glad to know you are still reading and enjoying the story. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 11/24/2009 |
| I do not know if your descriptions have steadily become more and more beautiful during the course of this story, or if I'm only now beginning to realize just how beautiful they are, but your descriptions in this chapter were once again just as breathtaking as the view Aragorn had from the top of Elostirion. The Undying Lands must have been a sight almost to beautiful to endure, especially for a mortal. I have to confess that I had all but forgotten about the existence of this specific Palantir and I never thought about the possibility that Aragorn might have used it. I really loved your Cirdan - both his wisdom and his kindness were something Aragorn sorely needed. Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm thrilled you enjoyed the description here [I confess, I do think I got better once I got the hang of this writing lark!]. This isn't a scene I've ever seen done in fan fic before so I don't imagine many consider the possibility either. It was great fun to try and write Cirdan so I'm very glad you liked him. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 11/24/2009 |
| The way you describe Rivendell at the beginning of this chapter makes me wish I could come home to it, too. ;-) I love that you gave us both Aragorn and Elrond's POV in this chapter - it's so sad to see the pain they both have to endure, but also comforting to see that their love for each other is unbroken. Aragorn's despair after Elrond had told him his decision was heartbreaking, but I liked how he worked his way out of it and how it was Arwen once again who gave him the hope to go on. Author Reply: Rivendell is my absolute favourite place so I think there was a lot of wish fulfilment in that scene for me! I don't doubt for a moment that their love remained as strong as ever in spite of the inevitable strain Arwen's choice placed upon their relationship. I'm so glad you liked both views and I'm sure Arwen's love gave Aragorn the strength to go on on many occasion. Thank you so much for your lovely review. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 11/24/2009 |
| The visions Arwen saw in Galadriel's mirror were so intense, beautiful, and touching, that they almost made *me* cry (the vision of the battle didn't faze me since I know how things will end *g*). If I was Arwen, those visions would have undoubtedly made me fall in love with Aragorn all over again. *sigh* I so loved your descriptions of Aragorn here. *fangirls* It is almost palpable in this chapter how strong and beautiful the love between them truly is. :) Author Reply: Lol! Yes is wasn't that hard to put myself in Arwen's shoes here either! I'm so glad you enjoyed this chapter. I really wanted to look at Arwen as any other 'young' woman in love who worries about the decision she's made even though hers was far more momentous. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/24/2009 |
| I think Aragorn's humbleness and midesty are two of the traits I like most about him. *g* He must have looked so stunning in those garments! Accepting that Arwen needed to bind herself to a mortal can't have been easy for Galadriel, but I believe she of all people would have had the wisdom and foresight necessary to understand that Aragorn really needed the hope and strength only Arwen's love would be able to give him. This was a beautiful chapter! :) Author Reply: Thank you so much, Almut. I couldn't agree with you more, both about Aragorn and Galadriel. In one way it was a huge sacrifice that she made, and yet, in another, she knew the days of the Eldar were coming to an end and, through Aragorn and Arwen, they would at least leave something of their legacy in Middle-earth. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/12/2009 |
| Poor Aragorn! He more than deserves to go home... or at least, go to a friendlier place with lots of green, growing things where no one tries to kill him for a while. I loved how you described the contrast between the desert and the place Aragorn woke up in. I'm glad there were some good, friendly people even in that hostile land. I think at that point in his life, Aragorn really needs a rest. Author Reply: This was definitely the point to send him on his way home and into the arms of his beloved, don't you think! Thank you so much for reviewing. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/12/2009 |
| I can't imagine how hard it must have been for Aragorn to be forced to leave Gondor again and leave friends and a place that was beginning to feel like home behind once again. Knowing that his path would lead him towards Mordor can't have made it any easier. //In his heart he felt as much for those left lying on the quayside as he did his own injured men. Killing orcs was one thing, but these were soldiers, no different from his, save that they had been deceived by the Dark Lord and had come under his sway.// I loved that - I just can't imagine Aragorn not being sickened by war, especially when his foes were men and not creatures of the Dark Lord. I can't help feeling sorry for Ecthelion. I wish he would have learned the truth some day. I don't mind that Aragorn's departure made Denethor feel uncertain and confused, though. *g* Author Reply: Thank you so much, Almut for your review. I'm glad you liked that line. War was, after all, a necessity of Aragorn, not a career of choice. And after making a good life for himself, where he was loved and honoured, it must have been so hard to simply walk away and leave it all behind. And yes, Thorongil's leaving was very hard on Ecthelion. I bet he very much regretted that, though probably he was less worried about Denethor! | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/10/2009 |
| I have to admit I have never before given any thought to the possibility that Denethor might have guessed at or discovered Thorongil's true identity. It's an intruiging thought! This chapter made me warm up to Denethor a bit. His concern for Thorongil, even after he found out about Thorongil's true identity, speaks for him. Still, I believe knowing about Thorongil's identity will only make him cling to power even more, now that he is aware he might lose it anytime. That must have been a very hard blow for someone as ambitious as Denethor! Author Reply: I think you're right, Denethor is going to make life very hard for his father's favourite from now on. I don't think Denethor was a cruel man by any means and, in different circumstances, I suspect he and Thorongil might have been friends. In a way he was very much a victim of the situation created by Sauron. He just didn't handle it as well as he might. I'm glad you warmed to him a bit here. | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/9/2009 |
| I really like how you subtly show the difference between Denethor and Thorongil in the last two chapters without ever being obvious about it. It's really hard not to like Thorongil, and it's equally hard to like Denethor. Somehow, Denethor just does not seem to be able to be selfless, or to place the welfare of others above his own, though I think he tries (occasionally). As noble as he is, it's really not easy to warm up to him and his attempts to pry into Aragorn's private matters do not endear him to me. ;-) A great chapter, and a very interesting glimpse into Denethor's mind! :) Author Reply: Thank you so much! Denethor is a very complex character and he undeniably has his strengths, but I agree with you, he is hard to like. On the other hand, Aragorn oozes charisma which of course further distances him from Denethor. It was interesting to put those two men in the same room together and see what happened. I'm so glad you enjoyed the result! | |