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The Heir Apparent by Mirkwoodmaiden	122 Review(s)
grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/7/2004
great chapter. So brave and wise of Elrond to let Estel go at such a young age. He was walking a fine line , what to tell him and what not. Loved the blessing of the elves at the coming of age for Estel. Elladan and his cooking had me laughing. Glad to see Erithain again, glad he was there to see Estel again after his first battle. looking forward to more Author Reply: Thanks Grumpy! I wanted to see find a way to work Erithain back into the story because I grew very fond of him, but for secrecy's sake I did not think that I could bring him into Rivendell. I figured a secret as important as Aragorn's existence had to have no word leaked. Glad you liked the story! Yeah! MM

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 12/1/2004
I loved it when Elladan elbowed Elrohir to make him say that riding Elrond's horse was, "of course," the wrong thing to do! Also, "Snowdrop" was a hoot! That does sound like an Elrond with a smart sense of humor. There's a story on the site somewhere (I think it's called "Toy Story") that talks about how Estel's time in Imladris was different from that of the other heirs of Isildur because he didn't know who he was and also because he was younger when he came. I thought that was an interesting notion and it fits well with what you have Elrond feeling too. Elrond's explanation of the difference between bravery and recklessness was right on. Author Reply: Daw! I have a lot of fun writing Elladan and Elrohir! They flow through the keyboard and are so easy to write! Also I wanted to further strengthen the relationship between Estel and them. I think it was a very important one because I don't imagine there were any Elfings in Rivendell at the time Estel was growing up there. Also I wanted section where Elrond and Estel were sharing father and son moments. I have read some really good ones and want to do the relationship justice! I'll check out that story you talk about. It sounds like it would be worth a look. Thanks for always reading and reviewing. It is really appreciated. MM Author Reply: Daw! I have a lot of fun writing Elladan and Elrohir! They flow through the keyboard and are so easy to write! Also I wanted to further strengthen the relationship between Estel and them. I think it was a very important one because I don't imagine there were any Elfings in Rivendell at the time Estel was growing up there. Also I wanted section where Elrond and Estel were sharing father and son moments. I have read some really good ones and want to do the relationship justice! I'll check out that story you talk about. It sounds like it would be worth a look. Thanks for always reading and reviewing. It is really appreciated. MM

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/21/2004
I just clicked onto your bio after leaving the review... You got married! Woo-hoo! Congrats!! I guess I have to forgive you for disappearing so... ;-)

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/21/2004
Well! Hello there. I’m so thrilled to see you back again with this story. I was worried. I hope all is well. And what a great comeback! This chapter was fantastic. I thought it was a very good idea to bring the time forward a little. I’ll admit that I haven’t actually had time today to re-read the rest of it - I will when I can – but your pacing seems perfect to me. Estel appears to have well and truly settled in – and taken over as only a small child can! I loved the start with him trying to catch the fish. Elladan was certainly amused anyway! I guess our little man will have to learn throughout his life that elves can do some things that he just can’t, but at the moment he doesn’t seem at all bothered and is clearly determined to keep trying – and with his resolve I don’t doubt for a second that he’ll succeed eventually. You know, I always find it weird when Aragorn calls Elrond ‘Ada’. I just don’t see it. But in fairness, it does make sense in this story. I love that Estel is comfortable enough with him to run up and hug him. I get the impression that Gandalf is seeing a whole new side of Elrond as well! I really like how light-hearted Elrond and Elladan are with each other as well as the child. “I’m not having a repeat of last summer when she gave me an earful when you came down with the sniffles.” Oh, I love that. Apart from the hilarious image of Gilraen tearing into Elrond, it really showed how the elves had to take some time to adjust to having humans around. Clearly it didn’t dawn on them that little boys can’t be allowed to wander around in wet clothes… I thought you wrote Gilraen really well. Her pain doesn’t come through as strongly any more but there’s still a sense of it being there somewhere, buried perhaps not quite as deep as she thinks, as well as a certain loneliness that comes through despite her new life. I’m glad she’s found some peace in Imladris but I guess those hidden memories will have to be faced some day. I loved the line “They had given Estel back his smile.” It seems that as a mother that was all she wanted. It’s interesting that Estel senses that his mother is troubled sometimes but doesn’t know why. How hard it must be for Gilraen not to share his past life with him. It seems to that there’s a divide between them now, in that Estel becomes more elvish every day, adopting their tongue and way of life but Gilraen will always see it as something different than what she is and what she’s used to. Elmiran seems nice! Is there anyone at all who hasn’t fallen under Estel’s spell…?!! I get the impression that the frog incident is only the latest in a long line of such occurrences. I suppose Estel’ll eventually learn the lesson that Elrond is trying to teach him. “All living creature thrive best where there is a place to grow and be happy.” Ah, how wise. I must say, I totally agree with you that having Aragorn meet Gandalf is a great idea. There’s such instinctive trust on Estel’s part that it certainly gives weight to their later relationship. I enjoyed watching Gandalf piece together the different parts of this child’s life. He should really just go back and talk to Elrond!! Is Gilraen going to meet him? This was a wonderful chapter. Thanks for coming back to it. I eagerly await more :-) Author Reply: Dot! So happy that you’ve remembered my story! I’m glad that you liked the chapter. It wasn’t an easy one to write after being out of the swing of things for so long. I thought it was time to bring a little light-heartedness into the story. After all according to either the ROTK appendices or the HoME series I can’t remember which say that something about Estel charming the inhabitants of Rivendell. So I went with that. Elrond is for all intents and purposes Aragorn’s father. The only father that he remembers and in the appendices to ROTK it says that “Elrond took the place of his father and came to love him as a son.” So it is a double tragedy for Elrond. If the Ring War is lost it is obviously a tragedy, but if it is successful then he looses his daughter to the man he has come to love as a son. In the films this father/ son relationship is completely lost, which is a shame. You would never know that Elrond is Aragorn’s foster father. It was obviously something that Peter Jackson decided not to show. I thought about how to portray Gilraen living in Imladris. Given that she actually says “Onen I-Estel Edain, u –chebin estel anim.” (I gave Hope to the Dunedain, I have kept no hope for myself.) I thinking that she never learned how to live past the tragedy of her husband’s death and realizes that little Estel would never wholly be hers only. There is, as you say, dividing wall between them placed there by fate and circumstance. Later she comes to completely accept it, but it takes time. She doesn’t have the happiest of lives after Arathorn dies. But for now she is still a major part of little Estel’s life. I thought it was a good idea to have Aragorn meet very early. In the films and in the book you sense Aragorn’s complete trust in Gandalf. Their meeting when Aragorn is still such a young child can help to explain why it is so strong. Thanks for all the thought put into my work. It is really appreciated. :-)) MM

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 9/20/2004
Oh my goodness, I can't believe this story is back! Yay! I loved the picture of Estel sitting in the pond, trying to figure out what went wrong. After all, he did just what Elladan did! But the poor little thing -- worried about his mother's 'troubles.' Children really are very sensitive. I have a friend who married a Frenchman. Their three children were born in the US and then they went to live in France for a while. The kids all spoke both languages, and so did she, but it actually sort of shook her when her kids started to be French children instead of American. She had no problem with a husband who was 'foreign,' but she didn't want her kids to be. Author Reply: Thanks! Daw! Glad to be back! I'll going to try to find more time for writing now! Hopefully. Glad you liked it! I found the chapter not easy to write because at first I felt it shifted too quickly into "happiness and light mode." But then after reading it through I think the shift was needed. After so much pain a little hope (no pun intended) was needed. A couple friends of mine in England were American but they had been living abroad for so long that their daughter (who is technically American) has never lived in the States. She was an English school girl, no different from her friends while her parents have never lost their accents. I was thinking of that when I was writing Estel. MM

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/28/2003
Hi there! Welcome back. I hope all is well – I certainly missed you! Did my e-mail get through alright? What an incredibly powerful chapter. Yeah, it was short but that gave you a great opportunity for some deeper characterisation. You did a particularly good job showing Gilraen’s sense of futility and her questioning of her life now and her place in the world. She seems at a total loss as to what to do with herself, especially when she is without Aragorn to keep her focused. I’m glad Elladan and Elrohir are spending so much time with Aragorn – the child could probably benefit hugely from their influence. They’re just so amazing – I imagine Elrond must be very proud of them. I really like your portrayal of Elrond, actually. I think it’s important to see that any decision he makes is only done so with difficulty and that he is completely aware of the pain he may cause. He strikes me as so compassionate, which is exactly how I would have imagined him. I never thought before how the protection of Aragorn would have affected Gilraen in the sense that she is forced to hide so many of her memories instead of sharing them. It was his devotion to his people and his heritage that made Arathorn the man he was and yet she cannot share this with his son. That’s really quite heartbreaking - you really made me stop and think! That part with Erithain receiving the news was handled so well. The numbness, despair and reluctant acceptance of his new position... Arathorn played such an important role in his life, and his devastation is portrayed so realistically. Galadriel??! That was unexpected! But a beautiful touch. I like the way she reinforces the importance of the unity of the Dunedain. I’m beginning to suspect that Erithain has a role to play yet (yay!)... I was a little worried about him but he’s lucky to have such a friend as Erkenthal, who really must be equally devastated. Our boys’ll be alright, won’t they...?!!:)

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/27/2003
The two sections of this chapter showed the brother and sister suffering the aftermath of Arathorn's death, each in their own way. You made the pain very real. I could see how much at a loss Gilraen was as her life was stripped from her. And her brother is now alone with heavy responsibilities. Great chapter. Author Reply: Thanks Daw! I tried to stay true to how the emotions of these people would unfold. At first I thought to leave Fornost entirely and not show Erithain's pain but I developed a great fondness for him and thought he needed to express his grief! MM

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/4/2003
One other thing I forgot to comment on - I like your elves. You have given them a dignity like what I think Tolkien intended - they are gracious and well spoken and funny. They can be very serious and full of mirth. Yet they are different than the humans. Not everyone manages to capture that :) Author Reply: Nilmandra! So glad you are enjoying it! I have try to give the Elves grace and dignity, because like you I think that is how I think Tolkien did intend. Also they have a joy for life and I wanted to show that also. I'm happy to know that the subtle distinctions between men and Elves comes across in the writing! :-)) I thought hard about what I could use as a catalyst for moving Aragorn to Imladris and how best for Arathorn to die in a battle. After studying the timeline in the ROTK appendices I decided to use the Gladden fields report of activity because that would have directly influence the Heirs and everything they've worked for. Thanks again for all the kind words. :-))

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/4/2003
Well, I am caught up. Sorry I did not comment on the prior chapters, but I was engrossed in reading the story. You have given this story some unique twists that I like, with the detail of Elrond performing certain ceremonies for the Duendain and also of foresight leading Elrond to send for Aragorn. How incredibly sad that in this act Arathorn would be slain. There is a poignant irony to that. I love the ideas of how the fea connect and healing energy is shared, and you used the concept very nicely and in a very 'elven' manner. It is very clear that Gilraen is welcome in Imladris, and yet we know she must stay hidden - which means that she probably can have little contact with their families. The thought is saddening, yet speaks to the committment they had to see Aragorn grow into his position. I am looking forward to seeing what you do with it. PS To get the marking for feä, at least in word, go to Insert, then Symbol and all the letters with their various accent marks are there. I have no idea what they are named but I know how to find them! Ctrl : and then the letter are supposed to do it, but mine has never worked.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/3/2003
I loved the mind-to-mind stuff between the Elves and the idea that Elladan could/would "weave sleep" around a child and heal him, although at great cost to himself. This grief filled chapter was very convincing. Author Reply: Again Thanks Daw! I tried, through the chapters leading up to this one, to show the commitment and connection between the the twins and the Heir's family. Anything like this was going was going to fall to Elladan as he was the one who had seen Ivorwen's worry and sorrow. So glad you like it! Thanks for the thoughtful comments. :-)) MM

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