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| A Long and Weary Way by Canafinwe | 19 Review(s) |
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| someone | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/18/2015 |
| Rivendell in June sounds lovely. It must have done good for Aragorn, to have spent so long time in such a nice place. And he has new boots, too! No need to go to the dunedain in the green ones. It is quite clear where the black silk is needed for. It seems that Arwen is starting her own preparations for the return of the king. (Now that you have mentioned the difficulties of making black fabric, I can't help thinking that Sauron and his minions must be quite desperate to have some dyed by Elves!) And when it comes to making clothes, the Elves must have had quite a bit of fun with Aragorn's. It's not every day that they can make everything look old and badly done! Quite different from the ones they made for Elrond in The Valley is Jolly, but the boots seem to be as difficult to put on. The farewells were lovely, too. I especially enjoyed the fact that both Elrond and the groom gave Aragorn and Arwen some privacy. And that Arwen tasted of cinnamon and moonlight, I've never seen a combination like that before! Thank you for writing this story and sharing it with us! I will be looking forward to the appendices. Author Reply: New boots at last! ;-) I can only imagine what a stir the green ones might have caused in Bree... Re: black fabric. Yeah, forget the Rings of Power: the REAL reason Sauron wanted to infiltrate the craftworks of the Noldor in Eregion was to learn their dying techniques! Thank you for your faithful reading and your wonderful feedback throughout! It's all so very much appreciated, and it made posting a joy! | |
| Sneha | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| I am so sad it is over. I used to check for updates several times a day and read the new chapter at least twice before reviewing! You set the mood so beautifully in this chapter, the bout under the sun and then the news of his leaving (I swear I had the same response as Arwen, mine was more selfish however, I kept thinking this is the last chapter!). The 37 years of betrothal made me sad for both of them, how long the wait with very few days of comfort. For me that was one of the highlights of the story, I really felt how slender was the hope and how much had to pass before it could be fulfilled. I admire Arwen's strength in never asking Aragorn to leave his duty aside, he would have been torn then, and it would have grieved him to deny her or abandon his duty. I loved the tiny bit about the beginning of the standard, the final, tender farewell between both of them. Your Elrond never disappoints! And finally a note to the wonderful imagery, the sights of Spring, the mists in the morning, the verdant valley below as the traveller takes a last look! It was amazing in tone and dialogue. The promise of appendices brightened my gloom! I want to thank you again for the many happy hours I have spent reading this wonderful tale and for your regular updates! I do hope that you would continue on with new stories (hint: Aragorn's betrothal in Lothlorien and wedding in Gondor, I had to beg one last time!) Best wishes! Author Reply: Thank you for all your lovely remarks! That slender hope is so important, and I'm glad it comes across. It's easy to forget, knowing how it ends, just how improbable the victory and the fulfilment of these hopes was. Both Arwen and Aragorn are *so* strong in their commitment to this long waiting. As I'm sure I've said before, it means the world to me that Elrond came across as he ought! Thank you! Oh, this story needs appendices! If nothing else, a concise list of all the various Beornings and their ages. ;-) | |
| Aromene | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| Oh GOOD, there are appendices! I had a moment of 'oh no, it's over!' I'm glad they'll be a little something else to read. Your wording in this chapter is the most beautiful yet. Every word sounds so carefully chosen, and just fits the mood so well, particularly in the latter half. Stunning writing, the whole way through! ...I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself now. Author Reply: Not quite done yet. ;-) Thank you so much for your faithful readership! I'm glad this chapter satisfied, too. Cheers! | |
| Lori | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| That was an awesome finish to an awesome story. Aragorn is back, or nearly back, to full strength. I love the way you describe whatever activity or setting you are writing about. You put details that most people don't even know that really add to the scenes and bring them alive for us as the reader. Aragorn and Arwen stole the show after her unexpected appearance at the epic sparing match, which by the way was so cute to see Agagorn win at least with practice blades before his beloved. But I really felt for Arwen as she realizes he is leaving and it is his duty to do so. She could cry and beg and plead, but she won't because she knows how much that will tear Aragorn's heart and make him want to put aside his duty. This is why we have the quote about behind every great man is a great woman. Without her inspiration, the hope of their future, and her selfless willingness to put his duty ahead of their own desires show that she is one of the main reasons Aragon was able to get to do his duty so faithfully through that long wait. When Bilbo mention that in a few months in would be Midsummers eve and that Aragorn should spend some time with his bethrothed on that special day and Aragorn looked at Arwen, it made me so sad. I am sure there was nothing more that Aragorn could wish for than to do just that. It is at times like this that you can see the real burden that was placed upon Aragorn when he was told his title and destiny. 37 years of waiting - definitely nothing to celebrate from their point of view. A real kiss! I loved it. Their great restraint makes it all the more precious. They so needed something to boy their spirits up for another prolonged separation. The good bye to Elrond was loving, encouraging, and very fitting. Everything was a fitting end, and the beginning of something new. I loved reading this whole story. Author Reply: Hey, winning with practice blades is HARD! They're usually way half again as much as a real sword, making them harder to lift and more unwieldy to use. The idea is that once you've grown used to that weight, a real sword is much easier to manoeuvre. ;-) I'm glad you appreciate Arwen's forbearance and its importance to Aragorn as he drives himself onward in his duty. I've always seen that as her greatest gift to him; even greater than her faith and hope. It's very touching to know you found Bilbo's suggestion sad. It's meant to be so, and to give a sense of just how long they have been waiting and hoping. And of course I'm so glad the kiss came out well! Thank you for your lovely remarks. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| Congratulations on such a marvelous tale. This is a satisfying ending for your readers, and another beginning for Aragorn in his long, difficult, noble journey. How lovely of Bilbo to be keeping track of Aragorn and Arwen's betrothal date -- only a true friend would do that. And your line, "Go with a peaceful heart, my child, and know that the works of your hands are good" reminds me of part of a Native American poem that I dearly love: "Make me always ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes, so when life fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit will come to you without shame." Well done. Author Reply: Thank you so much! It's great to hear that the ending was satisfying, what with its open-endedness. Dear old Bilbo: he has a lot of hope invested in their love story, and I'm sure it delights his imagination as well as his heart! His regret at being unable to travel to the wedding speaks volumes. Thank you for your faithful reading! It's been such a privilege to receive your feedback. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| One of the very best stories written. Fantastic achievement. I so appreciate your work. I also am very greedy and look forward to more. Author Reply: Oh, thank you! You've been such a loyal reader and reviewer. I appreciate that more than I can say: it makes posting such a rich and rewarding experience! | |
| Kate | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| What a journey you've taken us on! I have to admit I'm a little sad to see it's over but all stories must end, and of course we know that Aragorn's tale continues! I genuinely mean it when I say that is one of the best pieces of fiction I've ever read. Wouldn't change a thing! You bring so much depth and a sense of realness to Tolkien's beautiful world. Thank you so much for all of the hard work that you have put into this. It has made many a long bus journey enjoyable! Aragorn taking his leave of the valley is so well done, particularly the words between him and Elrond, and then Elrond giving him and Arwen privacy to say goodbye was just lovely. And then we get a kiss! I wonder if we will meet Halbarad in the appendices...? Kate x Author Reply: Halbarad in the appendices... tempting thought! Thank you for your lovely words of praise, and for reading so faithfully! I'm so glad that it was an enriching experience, and that it eased those long bus rides (been there!). It's wonderful that you liked the leave-taking! Cheers! | |
| NotACat | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/16/2015 |
| This is awesome, and I shall make sure to download it to my Kindle for repeat reading as soon as the darn thing is back in service. I look forward to the Appendices. I confess to being confused about the timing. Gandalf visited Frodo in April 3018, before being side-tracked by Saruman. You have Aragorn leaving Rivendell in June, which I have to assume is June 3018 because he found Gollum in 3017 and there's been a winter since then. Yet you have Gandalf say that he won't confront Frodo about the Ring until Yule which isn't for months yet, when according to the calendar he already did! Where am I going wrong? Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm glad you liked the story. Here's the breakdown of the timeline: November 3016 -- Gandalf and Aragorn part ways in Harondor (Ch 2) January 3017 -- Aragorn in Ithilien. February 1, 3017 -- Aragorn finds Gollum March 1, 3017 -- Aragorn's 86th birthday, he and Gollum reach the Gladden Fields. March 21, 3017 -- Aragorn and Gollum reach Thranduil. April 3017 -- Aragorn and Gandalf return to Imladris June 3017 -- Aragorn, recovered from his travails, leaves Imladris to return to his labours. April 12-13, 3018 -- Gandalf *finally* visits Frodo at Bag End, throws Ring into fireplace. June 20, 3018 -- Sauron attacks Osgiliath, seizing the bridge so that the Nine can ride West in search of 'The Shire'. June 3018 -- Gollum escapes from Thranduil's realm September 29, 3018 -- Aragorn meets Frodo at The Prancing Pony So the winter in this story is the winter of 3017: specifically its last bitter gasp, which is very common in northerly climes immediately to the east of tall mountain ranges. Thanks for asking! | |
| DoggieGirl | Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 10/15/2015 |
| So this long, enduring, weary, recovering, loving, hopeful journey comes to an end while another one begins. It was an excellent chapter. Glorfindel and Aragorn’s sparring was great. You made it believable that Aragorn could defeat the mighty golden warrior in this setting. Although I am not sure I buy Aragorn’s line that ending the match when he did had absolutely nothing to do with Arwen’s presence. I am sure that Aragorn was tired all that and seized an opportunity when he saw it, but he is still very much a guy and what guy doesn’t want to win in front of his girl. Aragorn always seems very credible doing the amazing feats he does in your story. You always set up enough back details to make it all somehow realistic. We all want to Aragorn to be the truly remarkable hero unparalleled in the world of men that he is, but not many of us can actually make it believable like you can. The detail about Aragorn jumping over the stile and offering to carry Arwen’s burden for her highlighted again what a gentleman he is. It is a small detail, but says much about his depth of character for me. And sneaky Arwen is already working on her banner. Aragorn is obliviousness to what it will become is cute. I love this story so much that I was very sad to see Aragon go. I knew he had to leave soon, but it sort of crept up on me. Poor Arwen though. She must so want Aragorn to stay forever, but doesn’t want to do anything that would draw him away from his duty. Selfless love that. I can’t say it enough, you have brought true sense class, deepness, unwavering loyalty, and self-sacrificing love to Aragorn and Arwen that I had always wished for but had never seen so well-articulated before. Oh the good bye on steps and the kiss just about killed me with feels. I liked how you said in review response that kisses are dangerous things for this betrothed couple and thus are rarely bestowed. But when they are, they are intensely intimate and treasured. These two are so deserving of each other and love each other so much. The unenviable necessity of patience, the torturous waits, the helpless fears of safety, the sad fair wells, the long separations, the constant dull ache of unsatisfied longing, the hopes hardly dared to think about, the darkening future – it all was so hard for those two. I can’t imagine experiencing that for 37 years. I would have driven myself mad I am sure. What devotion to each other and depth of love. She was his and he was hers indeed. Oh their wedding and rule together must have just about burst their hearts with joy. Because of their many personal trials endured during their long wait, the last few weeks of anticipation and final fulfillment of all their dreams must have been stupendous. I am sure they had to keep pinching themselves it was for real. You really must write a story about that sometime. You write them so profoundly. Thank you so, so much for this awesome journey you have taken us on. It has led us through many unsavory places and bitter trials but ended in a beautiful valley in triumph. I look forward to reading the appendices coming up. Anything you write will be on my radar. Keep up the excellent work. It is always a pleasure to begin to read some of your work and to practically see the world described and the characters there in paint themselves vividly in my imagination through your words. Author Reply: Thank you so much for all of your wonderful feedback, both on this chapter and the many before it. I am so glad you liked the details of this chapter, from Aragorn's little bit of dissembling (yes, I'm sure he *did* enjoy the chance to win the bout in Arwen's presence!) to the business of the basket. Most importantly I'm so glad to know that the selflessness and beauty of their love comes through. Thank you! It's delightful to hear such remarks from one who clearly understands Tolkien's portrayal of this great romance. I'm honoured by your words. You're so very welcome for the tale! It's both wonderful and saddening to be done it at last. | |