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| In the Court of the High King by Dreamflower | 204 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| eiluj | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 8/1/2013 |
| Nothing below the floor but air. Well, you found a way to make us feel sorry for him. Poor hobbit.... Author Reply: Yes, well, we all know how hobbits feel about heights! He'll learn to live with it. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 7/31/2013 |
| Dago is so fortunate that his situation is this good. I suspect he'll learn quite a bit about Men, Gondor, and maybe even himself. Author Reply: Both hobbits are extremely fortunate that Elessar was their judge. Imagine how Denethor might have dealt with such a crime. He will be learning a lot about Men and Gondor. I hope he begins to learn some things about himself as well. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 7/31/2013 |
| I do not think he has figured out how very lucky he is. How the prisoners come to term with their fates will be interesting indeed. Thank you. Author Reply: Yes, it will be interesting to see when and if they come to terms. | |
| Imhiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/22/2013 |
| The details of Aragorn's plans and discussions about the rebuilding of Annúminas are totally fascinating, and I have grabbed them unabashedly for my personal headcanon *g*. The scene was also particularly carefully written, I thought, very subtly showing just how Aragorn makes the Hobbits instantly comfortable by his demeanour, his way of speaking - and of course by providing food *g*. There were allusions in "Road to Edoras" about Mosco wondering why he was on the embassy, and his feelings about feeling a little useless. When you had him watching the buildings in Minas Tirith so intently in a previous chapter, I was wondering if that would be the kernel to the solution, and I'm happy I got it right. And how neat that it is a "Burrows" who will help in the rebuilding. Is that coincidence or did you do this deliberately? Either way: I like it! Author Reply: Why thank you! That's a high compliment! I love it when people tell me that! He's spent enough time with hobbits now to understand what makes them comfortable: just enough formality to satisfy good manners, but not enough to be embarrassing, a setting that is physically comfortable, and, of course--food. *grins back* You are quite right. I wanted Mosco to begin to come into his own when he got to Minas Tirith, and I was hoping some readers would catch on to his keen interest in architecture and the details of building. And you are also quite right about the Burrows part. It was deliberate; the name gave me the idea, since I thought perhaps it indicated that the building of "burrows" might run in the family. I'd begun to have these ideas about Mosco back when he first volunteered to go. (And I have another something in mind for him as well!) | |
| Imhiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/21/2013 |
| I can totally see just how battered the Hobbits must have felt as the went from their first sight of Minas Tirith, to the Rammas Echor to the Gates, up the seven levels, to the Citadel, to the throneroom with its (really!) preposterous opulence into the presence of the High King and High Númenórean court etiquette of the long days of yore. But they hold up remarkably well. And poor Aragorn, having to sit halfway in the clouds and be all formal and stiff. I can understand the Gondorians, they have a king again after thousands of years, so they seek support and counsel in old lore in search of firm footing. But really, time moves on, and I bet Aragorn and Faramir between them have made a firm commitment to blow off the dust and cobwebs of this over-elaborate protocol and get rid of as much as they deem compatible with their offices and duties. If all else fails, he could threaten to don his weatherworn Strider gear again and elope with Arwen to vanish into the mists of Eriador again, I suppose *g*. But actually what I liked best amid all this pomp and pageantry was the detail of Poppy's faint grunt and the popping of her knees. And trust Aragorn to notice it and help! Author Reply: Yes, you've nailed the Gondorian attitude perfectly: rather than move forward into a NEW Age, they want to move backward to the time they imagine as the "glory days" of the Old Kings--and that means dragging out all the old protocol, or failing that, using the strict and formal protocol of the later Stewards (not realizing that particular formality and stratification was an austerity measure enacted because of the Enemy, who is no more!) Aragorn and Arwen had tried for a while to accommodate these hide-bound nobles and courtiers, but it's holding Gondor back. Nothing like the presence of the hobbits though, to give them and Faramir the excuse they need to dust things off. I would imagine that the King makes that threat in his head a dozen times a day, LOL! And he might even be brought to mutter it aloud once in a while if greatly frustrated. Poppy's not young--she isn't especially elderly as hobbits go, but she's well past middle age, and like her author, she has a bad knee and a touch of arthritis. And Aragorn's help was based on the gracious help I was once given years ago by the "king" in Court at an SCA event, after I myself had been called into the presence of the reigning "royalty" and realized to my embarrassment I was not going to be able to stand on my own. My knee audibly popped, too! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/19/2013 |
| Excellent judgement from Aragorn. I enjoyed this very much. Author Reply: Thank you! He had to think long and hard about this one, but I believe he came up with a really good solution. | |
| Fiondil | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/18/2013 |
| Well, the sentences are just and sound. It remains to be seen if they take advantage of what the King is offering them or if they squander this second chance. I think Clodio might do well, not sure about Drogo. He doesn't strike me as someone who learns his lessons well. So, what's next for the embassy? Author Reply: Well, there will also be many lessons for the hobbits of the embassy, each of them finding new ways of thinking and new things to do! I actually have several little adventures in the works for some of them; and my main thing will be to find the way to put them together. We'll also see what happens with Clodio and Dago--right now, you are very close to the mark. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/17/2013 |
| Well thought punishments, but will Clodio and Dago mend their ways. Author Reply: Will they? That is certainly a question Aragorn has to be asking himself--but I think you may see the clues in the guardians he chose for each! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/17/2013 |
| A proper punishment and time of retraining for the two of them, I think. Good enough! And Freddy will see to it that the report is given to Paladin, the Mayor, and the Master that the miscreants have all been dealt with appropriately! Author Reply: Yes, there will soon be reports sent to the Shire and elsewhere. And Aragorn is certainly hoping that the punishment will result in rehabilitation, which is why he chose each hobbit's custodian carefully! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 7/17/2013 |
| What a delightful surprise to meet up with Serinde and Thorongil again! King Elessar is indeed wise and merciful. These two will have learned so much by the time they complete their sentences, if they take advantage of all the opportunities they'll no doubt be exposed to. Author Reply: Yes, they will have their chance. The question is: will they take that advantage. | |