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| Tailings and Tales by Canafinwe | 41 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Aromene | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/12/2015 |
| Well, Aragorn may be a good storyteller, but you're even better! Wonderful story; I've thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Author Reply: WOW! High praise indeed. Thank you: so glad you liked the story! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/12/2015 |
| *applauds* I enjoyed this story very much. Oh, how it will shock Barli's entire world to later learn that Strider has become King! A tale for another time, perhaps... :) Author Reply: Thank you so much! I've got a post-War piece around that very idea in the works. Some day.... | |
| someone | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/12/2015 |
| Great tale within the tale! I like how Butterbur gradually accepts that Strider just might know the right story. However, I pity the sergeant: at once thrown into a jail and then unable to tell what had happened. Is it possible that Thengel would have known who to blame and was testing the captain, or would he really have punished The Eagle for finding the prince? I was surprised that a soldier in Rohan can't tell the truth if it harms his captain, even in something like a court of justice. I'm glad that there were no repercussions for riding one of the maeras, but that may be because no one but Theoden knew. Barliman is a good man, letting his dishwasher eat what he wants and even before doing the dishes. I can't agree with his way of disposing of the guests' washing water, though. It may be easier to chuck it out of the window, but really, now he has bloody snow in a very visible place in the courtyard. Better to choose a single place out of sight. I wonder, did Aragorn expect to hear that the ranger who had nearly broken his word was himself? And I'm still smiling at the thought of Thorongil standing in front of Thengel with straw in his hair. Thank you for this story! Author Reply: Thank you! I'm sure it seemed a bit too much to hope for that this Strider might *actually* know the story... Yes, poor sergeant! That code of silence would not be entrenched in law, but instead it is one of the unspoken rules of conduct in many such armies from our own history: questioning a superior officer did not become generally acceptable until well into the 20th century. So Thorongil risked the King's wrath, but ensured he would not be ostracized. And I do not doubt that things would have gone ill for the Captain had he not been honest: after all, saving the heir to the throne outweighs the act of disobedience. As for the transgression of riding the mare... if indeed Théoden had any clear recollection of it, the grave stakes would have justified it in Thengels' eyes. Delighted that you like that final image of disheveled Thorongil! Kind of adorable... You're very right about the wash-water! But it's so VERY pre-modern to do it that way... And no! Aragorn did not suspect that he might have been the almost-breaker of promises. Cheers! | |
| Celeth | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/12/2015 |
| I feel pretty much like the way Barliman must have felt, sitting there before the unknown (to him) Ranger and hanging on each word, so engrossed with the story that it takes a while for him to realize that the storyteller has finished. And then feeling sad because it is over. I keep thinking of that moment when he exclaimed about "Strider, him with the golden cup and all!" towards the end of LOTR when Gandalf and the hobbits bring him the news of Strider's coronation, and incidentally, when he admits that "those Rangers" were not so bad after all. Thank you again for this lovely story. I love the way you portray Strider and Barli, and the way they interact, consistent with LOTR. Hoping for more stories... Author Reply: Thank you so much! I"m glad you were able to enter into the story. I love his exclamation about Strider's golden cup! It's such a wonderful, triumphant moment on all fronts! It's the chief reason I like Butterbur and feel compelled to write about him. Your kind feedback is so very much appreciated! | |
| Matt | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/12/2015 |
| Nicely done, and a great story to show how Aragorn's travels taught him to understand the lot of the weak and disadvantaged. Thanks loads for your hard work on this. Author Reply: Thank you so much. It's a part of the ancient mythic concept of the Good King: that knowledge of the lot of the least of his subjects. I'm glad you enjoyed the story and took from it that important concept. Cheers! | |
| Jane F. | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/12/2015 |
| I have enjoyed this story so much - made myself late for work because I saw chapter 2 had been posted and I couldn't bear to stop reading . Young Barli was so sweet B-) & Aragorn so pigheadedly honest in the face of harsh treatment. Author Reply: Ooh! Well, apologies for making you late. ;-) But I'm thrilled to know that you liked the story, and that Barli came out well: sweet is just the right word! As for Aragorn's pigheadedness... well, now let us cry 'A plague on the stiff necks of Men!'. | |
| DoggieGirl | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/11/2015 |
| It was a good end. I knew you couldn't really have Aragorn himself as the same stranger those many years ago, but we all like to hope. I really would love to imagine that Barliman met Aragorn after he became king sometime and everything was revealed. What a total surprise that would have been. I am always impressed with self-control that Aragorn processes. I am sure it was so hard to bear the Bree folks's and disparaging and often rude comments about rangers when he and his men are literally bleeding and dying for them. At this point Aragorn seems to have resigned himself to the fact that Barliman will always be in the dark about the true link between himself and the mysterious stranger. I am glad that Barli leaned his lessons well and that Aragorn got to have a good meal and a bit of kindness. It sounds like he really needed it. But did you really have to leave us with such a mysterious injury! This is going to be as bad as the strangers unfinished story for Barliman. How did he get injured and why and did Barliman ever put two and two together and realize that Aragorn was injured? It was such a tantalizing detail that it needed a story itself. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed your story and kind of solid character that your version of Aragorn has. Good work. Can't wait to read more of your work. Author Reply: Well, I always have meant to write that follow-up to "Beneath the Surface"... Aragorn's self-control is one of his most remarkable qualities. His patience is so amazing, and the moments when the two fail him are so painfully telling. Yes: he's happy to let Barliman remain in the dark about the identity of his Ranger-stranger. It would raise too many awkward questions... Both characters had need of what they received in this chapter. I apologize for the mysterious injury! Of course there's a story behind it... but not one that I could permit Butterbur to hear! Thank you so much for your lovely words. It's so very much appreciated that you take the time to share your thoughts. Thank you! | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/11/2015 |
| Lovely ending to a great story. I can see the Butterbur of this tale as the Butterbur of your first story. Thank you so much. Author Reply: Thank you! I really wanted to keep Butterbur consistent, so that's lovely to know. | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/10/2015 |
| Walker or Stalker or Prowler…... Love it! What a wonderful back-story for Barliman, and the Prancing Pony, and the courteous, suspicious, mysterious ways of Rangers. "‘Simple as that,’ Strider echoed. He tilted his head to one side and studied Barliman pensively. ‘What a thing, to have such a choice,’ he murmured. He lifted the mug to his lips. He was not drinking in healthy gulps as a man ought to, but nursing it: savouring every drop of the brew as if he had not had good beer in years and knew not when he would see his next. I wish I was there to buy him a supper! Author Reply: I'm sure he would appreciate that so very much! He's earned a good supper. Thank you for your lovely remarks! I'm glad it all fits well. Cheers! | |
| ainisarie | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/10/2015 |
| I suspect/hope that Aragorn will surprise Barliman and finish the tale. Barli is not a bad person at all. Scatterbrained and busy, yes, but not unkind. I think his suspicion of Rangers is that, like most people, he has no idea what they do besides wander. They don't seem quite reputable by his standards, even if he knows nothing bad about them. So, he is wary of them but not to the point where he refuses to allow them into his inn. Also, i want to know the rest of the story too. Author Reply: You're right: Barliman is a good man. He's scatterbrained, but so well intentioned. He's suspicious of Rangers, but not cruel to them. And he really does risk his life to help Frodo and his friends. Thank you so much for reading! Ah, the story... would I really leave that hanging? | |