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| The Ranger and the Hobbit by Cairistiona | 197 Review(s) |
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| Mirach | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/12/2009 |
| "And kingsfoil has such deep roots! Frost won’t get them, not by a long chance." I loved the paralelles in this chapter! "At any rate, I like to sit quietly" seems a bit contradictory, considering I felt my jaw drop a bit every time Ferdinand began a tirade, skipping from one topic to another, and mentioning things with much deeper meaning without realizing it. (I'm such a quiet type myself, speaking only when necessary, so when someone does that, I'm always a bit awed =)) I loved the descriptions of "Halbarad the Elven, Fierce and Fair of Face, and Noble Denlad of the Golden Hair" - I have the feeling that Aragorn can threaten them with revealing these titles to the other rangers it in the future when they will argue with him :D And see, if this would be the review after the first reading, it would be full of "Oh my..." and "Oh dear!" and "What's going to happen?!?" too... Author Reply: Thanks, Mirach! I'm so glad you caught that little parallel between kinsfoil and Aragorn. Who knows if kingsfoil would really be that way, but I figure it must be a very hardy and tenacious perennial to have survived on its own in those patches where people planted it years and years and years ago. My own bit of M-e gardening fanon. LOL And yes, it is kind of hard to imagine Ferdinand sitting quietly, the way he's acting in this tale! Glad you enjoyed this, and yes, glad you waited so you could give me a more coherent review than "oh dears" and "oh no's"! ;) | |
| Mirach | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/12/2009 |
| I hope you don't mind that these reviews are coming after the second reading - at least they will not frantically demand the next chapter =) I can imagine the shock of both rangers when they discovered a human body on the trail, that must have been a really unpleasant surprise. Good that the Southron does not resemble Aragorn at all... And after recovering from this shock, they find the bloodstains, and these are not the Southron's this time... Being around Aragorn, one must have iron neves to absorb all the shocks that he prepares them... not that he would be doing it deliberately, but still. Anyways, good that they have his trail! Author Reply: I don't mind at all when and how you leave your reviews--I'm very flattered you're giving this a second reading! That's praise enough right there! You make very excellent points... it would take a lot of emotional stamina to keep up with all the shocks Aragorn metes out. Even from the age of two, he was wrenching at Halbarad's heart strings (if Halbarad is indeed older than Aragorn, as I imagine him to be), although that wasn't exactly his fault. But then he up and leaves for years and years as Thorongil, then he comes back only to disappear looking for Gollum... and I'm sure when he did return he likely had more scars and more grey hair, and that would have been very hard for a kinsman like Halbarad to take, I would imagine! Thanks for the review and I'm glad you're enjoying the story another time around! | |
| Lily Baggins | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/30/2009 |
| Well, this has been a thrilling ride, but I'm so very sorry to see it end! I've adored it from start to finish. The ending here was a really telling look at how Ferdinand so easily accepted Aragorn and showed his gratefulness, when contrasted with Butterbur's barely concealed contempt. Oh, how I love Aragorn's control and his wish to just give in and let Butterbur have an earful! I do hope we might see Ferdinand again! I mean, he's still a young hobbit... methinks he might want to visit Rivendell someday or perhaps go to Minas Tirith many years in the future. :) Gosh, I'm going to be reading and re-reading this one. I'll have you know that I'm one of those who VERY frequently revisits At Hope's Edge, as well. I've lost count how many times I've read it. This will be one of my favorites, I know. Thank you for gracing us with such a wonderful story. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Lily! I'm glad this is a story you'll return to again--I do hope that my stories are worth a second read and it's nice to hear from a reader who's already got re-reads planned (and is also reading At Hope's Edge over and over! Wow!) :) I definitely can see Ferdinand trekking to Minas Tirith--knowing him, he'll probably just show up unannounced and unexpected, whistling a merry tune just like along that path in the wilds, confounding the palace guards and feeling right at home. Thanks again for the lovely reviews and all the support you give my stories! It's much appreciated! | |
| Fantasia | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/30/2009 |
| I'm so sad to see Ferdinand in his way to the Shire and to see that this story has come to an end. I'll miss Aragorn and his gang. You know, what a good idea will be to see the reaction of Bree at the news that the King is no other that old Strider, they are such a bunch of ungrateful people. Thanks Caristiona for this wonderful story and looking forward for more in the future. Maybe you have one planned as a Christmas gift for us, please? Author Reply: Thank you, Fantasia! I'm so glad you enjoyed the story... I'm sad to see it end, too, because it was so much fun to write. I do want to do some sort of story for Christmas, if the muse cooperates and if time allows. *crossing fingers* Thanks again for all your reviews and encouragement! | |
| Silivren Tinu | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/29/2009 |
| I really hope Ferdinand will reappear in another story - he's barely gone, and I'm already missing him. Well, I guess Aragorn feels the same way right now. It's too bad Ferdinand isn't the landlord of the Prancing Pony. ;-) Butterbur is not only trying Aragorn's patience, he's also trying mine. *glowers* It's probably a good thing Halbarad is taking care of the horses. Somehow I don't think he would have taken kindly to Butterbur insulting Aragorn (and all other rangers) after all he's just been through. *shakes head* That landlord really is a fool! I wonder if he ever learned about Aragorn's true identity and how he reacted to it (I bet he fainted, lol). A great story, Cairistiona - I enjoyed reading it from beginning to end. :) Author Reply: Thanks, Almut! Yeah, I think Halbarad might have popped a gasket if he heard what Butterbur had to say to Aragorn! Just as well he was out with the horses. I do sometimes wonder what Butterbur's reaction was when he found out the Strider he used to more or less abuse all the time ended up becoming the King of the Realm. I imagine he served himself up a LOT of humble pie! LOL I'm glad you enjoyed the story and enjoyed Ferdinand so much... I do think he'll be back at some point. Just have to figure out when and how. :) Thanks for the reviews throughout and of course for this one! | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 11/28/2009 |
| Well thank heavens for the talent of hobbits that can throw stones and het their targets. Love your story, nothing better then my favorite rangers, with a hobbit thrown in. Author Reply: Isn't it great that hobbits are such good stone throwers? I'm so glad you enjoyed this story... thank you for the review! | |
| snarky | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/28/2009 |
| Wonderful story. Your OCs were fabulous. What's next from you? Any stories on the horizon? :) Author Reply: Thank you, snarky, for the definitely not-snarky review! I'm glad you enjoyed the story and the OCs especially. As for what's next... I have several multi-chapter WIPs but none are near completion. I'm hoping to get some short stories done (I'd love to do something for Christmas but I'm still waiting for inspiration to strike), and I will be adding a bit more to the appendix for At Hope's Edge. Thanks for asking, and thanks for the review! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/28/2009 |
| Excellent interaction between Aragorn and Butterbur. You convey the hidden king's pent-up frustration with the innkeeper's distrust very well. After all he's been through, Aragorn having to endure such scorn from a provincial innkeeper is almost too much! A most enjoyable story, and I loved Halbarad's mother-henning Aragorn. Somebody has to! Author Reply: Thank you, Raksha! I'm glad you enjoyed this story... you're entirely right in that Aragorn needs mother-henning, and what better candidate at this point in his life than Halbarad. And yes, it does seem too much insult to injury, Butterbur's reactions to Aragorn's arrival, but I do imagine that was likely the reception Aragorn and the rest of the Rangers received--lumped in with the wild troublemakers, without any attempt at understanding. It made their hard road that much harder, I think. Thank you for your kind feedback all throughout this tale! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/28/2009 |
| Ah, if they only knew! Was glad to see this here, Cairistiona. Joy to you and yours, as we pass Thanksgiving and approach Advent and Hannukah and so on. May the Light return to bless us all, even Ferdinand Took and his stubborn, delightful Tookishness! Author Reply: Thank you, Larner, and yes, the same in return to you this holiday season! I'm so glad you enjoyed this tale and my first foray into writing hobbits. Ferdinand was a fun character to write and I do think eventually I'll have to return to him in a tale of some sort. Thanks for all your reviews! | |
| Inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/28/2009 |
| After all the kindness and love that Aragorn has been given by both his companions and Ferdinand, it must have been so hard to 'return to work' and suffer again the mistrust of those he protects. This has been a most wonderful story, hair-raising exciting in places but ultimately so heart-warming and satisfying. Your Ferdinand is an absolute treat and everything any self respecting Took should be! Many congratulations on a excellent job well done. As always, I feel very privileged to beta for you. Author Reply: Thanks, Inzilbeth! As always, my stories would be far less without your excellent guidance in all things canon. :) It does really seem, in a way, a return-to-work situation at Bree for Aragorn, although his time away hardly was a vacation. I like to believe, though, that he gets a complete rest and recuperation in the quiet room at the top of the stairs before he has to head back out to the wilds. It's too bad, really, that he couldn't go home with Ferdinand! Thanks again for all your help! | |