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| Tailings and Tales by Canafinwe | 41 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| TheAnswerIsDawn | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/10/2015 |
| 'Folk would put on airs in an inn, but he’d never known one to put on irony.' What a wonderful line! Author Reply: Oh, so pleased you like it! Thank you for letting me know! | |
| someone | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/10/2015 |
| How long has Barliman been now in charge, about half a year? He has managed well, if The Pony's reputation has already grown. Interesting detail that Strider is not wealthy by even ranger standards (and has clothes of matching colors). Either it has bern a long time since he was able to resupply or he really doesn't have any more. However, the lord of the dunedain must have some sort of income, trade or something, right? So that he could sometimes buy a real dinner and not eat bread like that (soaked in beer, of all things!). I am almost waiting for him to offer to do the dishes in exchange of a meal, as Barliman clearly thought he was good at that job. I was already suspicious when Barliman noticed that Strider was using only one hand, and then it was a "prudent" time to visit the inn again and the odd sounds from behind the door... What has happened to the poor ranger? A couple of nice details: Barliman's starting memory problems and the "courtyard" (of course Strider would think of The Pony as a palace, as he couldn't possibly have seen anything better!) and Barliman's surprise that a ranger can read. Author Reply: Yes, he has managed very well! Here the close-knit Bree-land community works in his favour: news of a positive change travels quickly, too! Regarding Aragorn's income as Chieftain... yes, I'm certain he must have some. Income from trade is one possibility. Income from tenanted lands is another, but doesn't fit as well with what little we know of the Dúnedain of the North. Then there's the idea of taxes/tributes/tithes from his people: each household contributing to the wellbeing of the Chieftain as part of their feudal duty. Whatever the case, there are definitely times when Aragorn is well-heeled enough to buy the occasional hot meal. He's just been a long time out in Arthedain by the end of November: the married Rangers have all been home for the harvest, and he can't get away to resupply himself (see "Lonely Watches"). Very astute: noticing the one-handed fumbling! What has happened indeed. Glad you liked the "courtyard"! And the conversation about reading, too. Cheers! | |
| NotACat | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/10/2015 |
| Another kind of "cliff-hanger", and we can guess that this will likewise remain unresolved for the most part, because we know how these two interacted by the time Frodo and his bunch arrived in the Prancing Pony. I am most intrigued to see how you do resolve it, given those restrictions! Author Reply: Yes: I love my cliffhangers. And yes: there's not a whole lot of resolution or reconciliation between these two. Hopefully the story will still be satisfying, however! | |
| DoggieGirl | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/9/2015 |
| As always, you painted the reality of Barli's present life with subtle details that made it seem real. By the time the mysterious stranger appeared I already had everything pictured in my minds eye. Nicely done. Poor Barli. He just doesn't have a well organized brain to remember fine details. of course it was a long time ago for him and only one night. So I guess it might have been easy to forget a face and voice. Aragorn ironic and understated responses were classic of him. When he replied that he read "a little" I definitely snorted in amusement. That is such an understatement from a man who knows how to read four or five languages fluently and probably understands others. I don't envy Aragorn's lunchin though. It sounds pretty disgusting all right. A ranger's lot doesn't often provide for a tasty, chew-able lunch with fancy trimmings now does it. The timing and even the short handedness of Barli seem to echo their first meeting. What worries me is the injury that Aragorn is concealing. I thought it was a little strange at first,,that Aragorn would stop buy so early in the day. But now I am wondering if he has something that cannot wait to long to be dealt with. I can't wait to see what happens next. Author Reply: Thanks! It's interesting to build a life for a character who has so little clear background. I'm glad that it all came across clearly. And yes: one night, more than half a lifetime ago -- and it just doesn't make SENSE for someone to be so similar after fifteen long years! I had fun with the bit about literacy. I think four or five languages might be a conservative estimate! But understatement is Aragorn's specialty. In the Book, he also describes himself as having "some skill as a hunter at need". Alas! Travel fare is rarely pleasant after the first couple of days. At least there were no weevils... And yes, there had to be a reason he would turn up in the middle of the afternoon. ;-) Very astutely noticed! Thank you for the wonderful review. | |
| Aranadhel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/9/2015 |
| Doc, Tim has passed into the West already? :( bless that ol' hobbit for his kindness to give Estel something to 'makan' that fateful night. Walker, Stalker, Prowler and Strider... now mellon... is this a tease that there are 3 other Dunedain going about Bree along with their Chieftain? Love your story! PS - sorry for going off topic but may I ask from which country you are from? Author Reply: Alas, yes! Old Tim was indeed old. Very nice use of "makan", by the way: made me grin. Heh. So the other Rangers Butterbur thinks of weren't enough? You want three MORE? Oh, my, you're insatiable, my dear! So glad you like the story. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/9/2015 |
| Longer stories are always better! Love that Strider never returned until Butterbur owned the Pony. Still, I want Butterbur to hear the end of the Theoden story. I am really enjoying this tale. Thank you. Author Reply: So pleased you feel that way! I'm sure Strider would have been very curious to see how the young boy he met under such strained circumstances was managing as innkeeper. Thanks as always! | |
| ainisarie | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2015 |
| You do such a wonderful job of taking fragments of the story and fleshing them out into something very real. For example, Barliman said to Frodo "He seldom talks: not but what he can tell a rare tale when he has the mind." And here is one of them. I truly do enjoy your Aragorn. Thank you! Author Reply: Thank you so much! I love that quote, and fragments of canon are my specialty. So glad you like my interpretation of Aragorn! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2015 |
| This is a truly wonderful story. I'm eagerly anticipating the final chapter. Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm thrilled you like it, and I'm honoured you're reading. | |
| someone | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2015 |
| And now I'm curious as to how the story ends! And you are right, I had never spared a thought to Butterbur's nice, clean sheets etc. being destroyed when the nazgul were hunting hobbits. Poor Barliman, that on top of everything else. Interensting chapter. The ranger didn't apparently hold to the agreement only out of fairness but also of pride. Little Barli had a good reason to be confused, when a strange, cheated man laughs when cleaning the floors. How did Thorongil/Aragorn get so good at household jobs, though? Did Gilraen teach him? I seriously doubt that he learned from Elrond or Ecthelion to use vinegar when scrubbing floors, or the best way to mix soap to dishwater. Tim is a kind old hobbit to make sure the stranger had something good to eat without breaking the deal of eating only tailings. And apparently, Aragorn really doesn't like dirty sheets, even if he has to sleep on the floor to avoid them. Author Reply: Yes, that was a rough night for our favourite blustering innkeeper. Very true: fairness, pride, and just a little of that ironclad stubbornness that he unmasks at the door of the Meduseld... As for the household jobs... well, his mother taught him how to make a bed. Preparing the soap to wash dishes would be a simple matter of observation at any point he might have spent a night and taken a meal with one of the families of the Dúnedain. And as for scrubbing the floor, doesn't that seem like exactly the sort of a chore that a dutiful grandson might take on while visiting Ivorwen? I laughed at the idea of Ecthelion ensuring that his great Captain knew how to keep house! So pleased you liked Tim. And yes: the dirty sheets were to be avoided. It's also an implicit rejection of the innkeepers grudging hospitality. Thank you for the wonderful feedback! | |
| Aranadhel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2015 |
| Bless Tim the ol' hobbit! Guess that's why Estel makes sure the Shire is diligently watched by his men. Eternal gratitude for the fine food. You really caught me off guard with your calculations regarding the Dunedain population. Goodness me... never thought of it that way *claps* Yes, the Sarn Ford massacre is a sad story indeed. Sad though if indeed they are down to less than a thousand by the Third Age. Guerilla warfare! Why didn't I think of that before?? That's exactly their type of ambush attacks I reckon... reminds me of the Nargothrond elves who followed the same tactics when eliminating the Enemy. I still look forward to your introductions to new Dunedain, maybe popping in the Prancing Pony or up in Imladris ala Calmiel and Ancalimon. *grins* Would we be seeing any elves popping up in Bree anytime soon? From Imladris perhaps? *hint hint lol* Great post as always. :) Author Reply: You can always trust a hobbit to keep everybody fed. ;-) Good to know the numbers make sense. No Elves in this story, I'm afraid. Maybe next time... | |