News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| The Ranger and the Man In Yellow Boots by Cairistiona | 44 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/1/2011 |
| I loved the way you incorporated Tolkien's own comments about Tom. I'm glad Aragorn had the twins to encourage him. A most enjoyable story. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda... so glad you enjoyed it! | |
| rs | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/31/2011 |
| Wonderful chapter. I love Aragorn's inquisitiveness on Tom Bombadil... so much childlike excitement. I think Tom brings that out in anybody that comes upon him. Love, love the relationship between Aragorn and the twins. The gestures of brotherly love (tapping Estel under the chin); the joking around of Aragorn's "union"; the endearment "littlest" makes their relationship so true to life and conjures up so many "brotherly" moments in my mind. **melts*** Letters to and from Halbarad?; visits from Halthir and Halbarad in Rivendell? Sounds like a "heads up" for a new story. If it is..can't wait!!! I chuckled at the image of the twins gnawing on the coney and trying to ignore the unpleasant taste of Estel's cooking. They were definitely hungry! Very enjoyable story. Author Reply: Thank you, RS! So glad you enjoyed this last chapter, and yay, made you melt! *g* I love writing brotherly moments, whether it's between actual brothers or friends-close-as-brothers. And yes, the visit from Halthir and Halbarad foreshadows another story--thought technically it doesn't foreshadow this story internally, since the visits take place when Estel is only ten. But it definitely refers to a story that I've been working on for quite a while, telling of Halbarad's coming of age. Thanks for reading this, and for reviewing! Until next time! | |
| Mirach | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/30/2011 |
| I really didn't expect the twins to show up here! Their care for their little brother was really touching, as well as amusing in places. When speaking among themselves, they were just amusing - as I would expect after a few hundreds years of being twins. With the joke about Halbarad, I almost thought Elrohir has overstepped the boundaries, as his love must be quite sensitive topic to Aragorn (daydreaming about Arwen and not paying attention to the way shows that), so I'm gklad he didn't continue in that line of conversation. There is a great range of moods that Aragorn goes through in this chapter - from enthusiastic and then anxious Estel (he really looked very young in the first part of the chapter), to the determined Aragorn. The first step on the long, long journey that awaits him yet, ending with yet another name - Elessar. Author Reply: Thank you, Mirach! I wondered if I'd surprise readers by jumping ahead to the rendezvous with the twins. :) But I felt I'd wrung all I could from Tom Bombadil, and it was time to nudge Aragorn closer to his destiny, even if it did cause him to panic a little. And no, Aragorn would *not* have let Elrohir continue on in that vein... I think he was quite serious in his threat to pound Elrohir into dust, and I think by that point in his life, he was strong enough to do just that. But it was only the sort of brotherly teasing that goes on among those who are very close. Glad you enjoyed the story! | |
| Inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/30/2011 |
| This is has been a delightful story from start to finish though I do think this last chapter is my favourite. The easy relationship between Aragorn and his foster brothers is great fun and I love the last line especially. I feel you've captured perfectly the essence of a young man on the cusp of adulthood, determined to fulfil the expectations required of him yet understandably nervous at the scale of the responsibilities so unexpectedly laid upon him. A truly wonderful birthday gift. Thank you so much. Author Reply: Thank you, Inzilbeth! It was a great pleasure to write it for you! I don't know which is my own favorite chapter but I did like writing the twins and Aragorn together; there's always such scope there for meaty discussions and good banter, and I do like to think of them as always being there for Aragorn, looking after him and cheering him when needed. And calming his nerves! :) Thanks for the review! | |
| Midnight Promise | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/30/2011 |
| Hello! Haven't been able to read and review stories for a bit cause life has been crazy, and this one is rushed. But, I must say - last chapter was my favorite. :3 And you ARE doing another story to this last chapter, right? Right?! ;) Awesome job, hope life is treating you well. If not, get your kicking shoes on. ;) MP Author Reply: Thank you, MP... I'm sorry your life has been crazy, but thank you for squeezing in reading my story in the midst of it all! And yes, there probably will be a follow up, eventually, because I do intend to write about Aragorn's first days/months/years as chieftain eventually. But I want to backtrack and tell Halbarad's back story first. It's hinted at in this one, where Elladan mentions Halbarad and his father visiting Rivendell... there's a big angsty story attached to that visit, which happened when Aragorn was 10 and marked the first time Halbarad and Aragorn really met (I don't really count Halbarad babysitting baby Aragorn as "meeting"! LOL) There's a lot of "setting up" of my version of the Dunedain in that story, so it needs to come before we see my version of Aragorn's return to his people. :) But I'll also have little stories here and there as well, so hopefully you'll still be entertained! Thanks again for the review! | |
| AzureSkye | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/30/2011 |
| Oh, yes, one hopes Arda is ready indeed. As much as I had hoped to see the dunadain in this story, it was a wonderful ending. Any chance of a sequel? I would write more, but reviewing from my phone is actually very annoying. I will say I loved the interactions between the twins and Estel. As lovely as anything you write! Author Reply: Thank you, AzureSkye, and kudos for you for leaving a review from your phone. I hate typing on those tiny keyboards! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter, and yes, eventually I will be writing about Aragorn's first days/weeks/months/years as chieftain, although, as I told another reviewer, I have to tell a tale of Halbarad's younger days first, because it helps set the scene (and it's hinted at in this story, where Elladan mentions Halbarad and Halthir's visit to Rivendell). That's one of those big novel-length stories more like "A Star in Midwinter", though, so it will be a while in coming. There'll be other short stories in the meantime, though, plus perhaps a return to Denlad's story. Lots of ideas percolating, at any rate! Thanks for the review! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/29/2011 |
| Ah, yes, the desire to distract oneself with unnecessary second visits when one is truly concerned by the changes of the day.... Lovely that they have indeed prepared him for what is coming, and that Halbarad is anticipating that coming even now! And love that the Chieftain is able to banish the remembered child as he prepares for his advent to his own people. Excellent! Author Reply: Thank you, Larner! I'm so glad you enjoyed this little tale of mishaps, nerves and confidence and hope returning. :) I really enjoyed exploring the various themes in this, so it's always gratifying to know the readers shared the same enjoyment. :) | |
| Darkover | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/29/2011 |
| Dear Cairistiona: This third and final chapter was very well written. The dialogue between Aragorn and the sons of Elrond was the best part, IMHO. I particularly liked that nickname of "Littlest," and how it was never to be used in such a way as to make fun of Estel/Aragorn. In this final chapter, you have also made it clear (as you did in your reply to my last review) that Aragorn's self-doubts arise more from last-minute jitters than from any real lack of confidence. (Thanks for your explanation about how you were utilizing panic dreams.) The only criticism I have this time is that the name of Aragorn's mother should be spelled Gilraen--and a typo is hardly a major error! In this chapter, you reinforced the bond between Aragorn and his foster brothers, showed how Aragorn is young, untried, and understandably a bit worried, but ready to accept his destiny and rise to his responsibilities. This story was very enjoyable to read. Thanks for writing and posting it. Sincerely, Darkover Author Reply: Thank you, Darkover... yes, sometimes you have to read the finished whole to see how all the threads come together; what may have appeared to have been a lack of confidence really was just jitters and nerves. I'm particularly glad you liked the "Littlest" nickname and back story. I figure the twins had to have some sort of endearment for Aragorn that lingered from his younger days--I know in my own family, an 89 year-old aunt still calls her 73 year-old niece by her childhood nickname! Those childhood comforts never grow old. And thank you for pointing out the typo. Good grief, how many times have I spelled Gilraen! But you can look at a draft sixteen ways to Sunday and still miss typos. Very glad you enjoyed the last chapter after all. Thanks for reading and thanks for your reviews. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/29/2011 |
| What a fun ending! I like hearing Elladan's and Elrohir's assessments-- and their teasing of their "little" brother. They seem to know just how far to go, and when to get serious. Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower! Glad you enjoyed the tale, and Elladan and Elrohir. I always enjoy writing them when they're with Aragorn. It's interesting to think of them being in some ways Aragorn's own age, but in other ways immeasurably older as they truly are. It makes for a very interesting dynamic. Thanks for reading and reviewing. :) | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/29/2011 |
| How many times had Elladan longed to leap to the nearest roof and shout, Behold, find joy, for your hope yet lives, protected by secrecy all these long years! What a marvelous line. So many secrets held for so many years. It would be lovely if it was the Twins who in years to come bring the news to the northern Dunedain that Aragorn has been crowned and the King has at last returned. What a *wonderful* story! I'm so happy you lengthened it, every scene and bit of dialogue is just delightful. *applause and yays* Author Reply: Thank you, shirebound! I'm so glad you liked it. I had a lot of fun writing it and thinking about what young Aragorn's mindset might have been as he approached the day when he took his place among his people. I always imagined he would have felt a real storm of emotions running the gamut from elation and confidence to worry and uncertainty. Hopefully I've captured a little of that here. And I love your idea of the twins being the ones to bear the news to the Northern Dunedain... what a reward that would have been for the House of Elrond, who helped and supported the Dunedain in years of greatness and moreover, in the years of decline. Thanks for reading! | |