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Enter the Ranger  by Larner 11 Review(s)
EllynnReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/30/2019
Great chapter - great crime story!

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/22/2016
This was a learning experience for Aragorn, especially in how not to conduct a trial. It is a very uncomfortable experience to see the proceedings go wrong and not being able to do something about it. The King's Gift seems to be a two edged sword. It can be a heavy burden.

Author Reply: I am certain he would have found it a most alarming and frustrating situation to try to deal with, and it would have strengthened his resolve not to allow his own courts go this way.

And, yes, I do believe the King's Gift would have been a MOST mixed of blessings, but I think it would help make better rulers and leaders. When you KNOW you will feel what you mete out, it would definitely make you consider carefully your decisions, I'd think. The temptation might well be to allow everyone to know mercy--until you realized that if the one you were merciful to went on to kill or torture others and you'd feel that.

Thanks so!

PSWReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/3/2016
I really like this! :-) Its been quite interesting so far. It would indeed be difficult to not only have to adopt a new people, but a whole new mindset as well. The discussion about not getting each other's jokes several chapters back really illustrates this well, I think. It's not a matter of being intentionally aloof or just choosing to be different--in many cases, it's a matter of truly not understanding. He grew up in a different cave, to pull Plato into the discussion... :-P

Thanks so much for writing!

Author Reply: Oh, yes, definitely Aragorn grew up in a completely different Platonic cave. He must learn to assimilate, although he's making a pretty good beginning, I think, and the others are allowed to learn to respect his skills without having them shoved into their faces, which is helping him to fit in better as well.

Thanks so very much! So many stories have been written in which Aragorn finds himself at his grandparents' sides learning to rule, but I think he'd want to find out just what and whom he'll be ruling first, and how they are accepted as fully functioning adults from the get-go.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/3/2016
Great new chapter!

With a little help of Gildor it was expertly proven that the boys had nothing to do with the murder of Gaffer Teasel and the theft of the cup.

Aragorn also learned a lot about the ways of men (and hobbits). And I think he did not like all he saw there in Bree.

The King's Gift, however, is not always a blessing but also a heavy burden. I really don't envy Aragorn for having to deal with it.



Author Reply: No, I don't think that Aragorn fully approves of what he has seen of the ways of the Breelanders when it comes to making judgments. At least the innocence of the boys has been established, and they can go home once more.

Thanks so very much, Andrea!

ibonekiReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/1/2016
My favorite WIP! So thrilled to see this updated again, and allowed myself a long and leisurely re-read before the new chapter. I loved all the details woven together in this latest chpater; what a great way of demonstrating Aragorn's skills outside of traditional battle, as well as the King's Gift. Also, with the added refresher/context of the re-read, it was so fun to see Berevrion's changing demeanor towards Aragorn once he figures it out.

Author Reply: It was a relief to get the chapter finished at last! There's not a good deal more to come, but at least three more chapters, I think.

Yes, Berevrion at least has realized just who Peredhrion in reality is, and others are probably beginning to realize it, too. Even Orominion is realizing that this young Man who dresses in Elvish style is indeed more observant and intelligent than the rest in the troop are, and is willing to let Peredhrion perhaps shine a bit more by going into Bree. Although he perhaps had hoped that somehow Peredhrion might demonstrate some colossal social gaffe from not being brought up among Men. It's hard to say with Orominion, I fear. And this has granted Aragorn the chance to see how too often justice is dispensed, so as to allow him to better imagine how HE shall dispense it when it is his time.

Glad you are glad to see the story continue. I am finding my life growing even more confusing and busy as I age, I fear, and I don't write anywhere as swiftly or prodigiously as I once did.

Thank you so!

6336Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/29/2016
Hm, fat chance of that happening, as far as Arkansas is concerned it is over and done with and be careful you don't trip over the bump in the rug, so much has been swept under it that there is quite a pile there!

Lynda

Author Reply: Ain't that the truth? The Alford plea allows the state to pretend they got the right ones originally, without having to explain why they are all three allowed to leave the state and live and travel where they please, these three guys who as teens supposedly brutally murdered three little boys.

UTfrogReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/29/2016
So very happy to see this story continued. Thank you.

Author Reply: This chapter has taken months to finish, I found. The next chapter should come more quickly.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/29/2016
What a wonderful, well-rounded education for Aragorn. Every day, every experience and meeting, brings him new understanding of himself, and of those he will live among, lead, and learn from. I'm enjoying your story so much -- especially the dialogue, and how so much experience can be crammed into what might otherwise have been an uneventful patrol! And I'm very happy for Fry and his mum. :)

Author Reply: I am certain that Elrond did all he could to prepare Aragorn for the day he would become the full Chieftain of the northern Dunedain and hopefully High King over Arnor and Gondor both. But now he has to learn about living with mortals who feel far more pressure to fit as much as they can into their relatively short lives, and who don't always think things through well. He certainly saw here one uncomfortable truth--that people prefer to think that evil is the purview of "them" rather than "us," and that they will distort what they see and hear to protect themselves from the fact some of "us" are as bad or worse than "they" are.

And I, too, am glad for Fry and his mother. Poor lady!

FreyalynReviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/29/2016
What an excellent explanation of the King's Gift. And this whole new chapter is excellent - you managed to conjure up the confusion of everyone shouting over each other, different stories, Lord Gildor standing and speaking. Just wonderful. Thank you

Author Reply: As Aragorn explains to Frodo in "The Acceptable Sacrifice," the King's Gift is a form of the land sense many Elves exhibit, and appears to be intended to make the King think carefully before acting so as to make things good for everyone, not just for himself and his family.

And I have seen such informal tribunals come out with very distorted results solely because they do tend to turn out very chaotic. And it was fun to find a way to work Gildor into this story.

Thank you so, Freyalyn!

6336Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/28/2016
So now he begins to learn what it means to have the Kings Gift, a gift that will be most unpleasant at times and a joy at others.

He is also learning how frustrating it can be to see injustice done and not be able to prevent it, mob rule is an ugly thing and all to prevalent in some places these days.

I have just been rereading Murder Most Foul and he was at least able to see justice done in that case.

It's hot as Mount Doom and I can't sleep so have been getting up and reading till it cools off in the morning and I can sleep a little!

Lynda

Author Reply: Now that he has come into the world of Men, I think it would be time for the King's Gift to begin manifesting itself.

And I do think that this experience would help him realize that this ain't the way to have a trial, particularly one in which the defendants may be executed. I think this would help him make the decision he would not allow such procedures to occur when he's definitely in charge.

Thanks so! And I do wish we could get the Attorney General in Arkansas to agree to reopen the investigation in the WM3 case!

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