Tigger
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
Wow...What a lovely, but also bittersweet few chapters Larner. Sorry I haven't reviewed in awhlie, but whatever is going on w/me has really sunk it's teeth in and won't let go easily. :o( Anyway...This has been a facsinating look at what happened after Aragorn's Crowning. Of course he would have to officially note the Accession according to the traditions of both Gondor and Arnor. Both out of tradition and to legally ratify the return of the King to Gondor. Why I never thought of that before, especially one like me who is very interested in Royalty and knows the various customs and formal ceremonies that go along w/being a Royal...
I guess that's a real indication right there of how wretched I've been feeling. Anyway...Loved the scene of Frodo being the first person to use the Royal Bedchamber in so many centuries. Was another one of those Awwww moments. :oD
Loving this story and looking forward to the next addition. I'm wondering what those Umbarians are up to though.
Author's reply
I suspect those from Umbar are mostly trying to figure out what is going on in the world around them. Suddenly no input from Sauron and the realization he's gone; the disappearance of his fleet; rumors going every which way; trying to figure out who's in charge and what's become of their spies in Gondor....
They are looking mostly for information, and will get more than they bargained for.
Author Reply: Sorry--hit the wrong button.
Sorry you're feeling awful, for I've been fighting the crud for weeks now and am getting heartily tired of it.
And the rules of accession are different for each country, and need to be followed; and Aragorn has to demonstrate he knows what has to be done to be recognized fully as King in Gondor. Glad you appear to appreciate how I've set them up beyond the acceptance of Crown and Sceptre, which is about all Tolkien left us in his writings.
And so glad you appreciated Frodo being the first to sleep in the Royal Wing in a thousand years.
Anyway, be well.
Amy
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
I suspect that this is not the first time that the Sons of Elrond have united to overrule Aragorn.
I'm not v. concerned about Aragorn overdoing things in the long run. Methinks that a certain lady will be even more determined than her brothers in making sure that the king takes care of himself for his own good and for Gondor's.
*waiting breathlessly for more; suspect that I'll squee when Arwen arrives!
Author's reply
Oh, we'll all be happy when Arwen arrives, I think. And I'm certain that the twins have done their best to assist Aragorn to do what's best over his objections several times in the last 88 years. Although he'll probably do better at accepting orders from his wife, once he finally has her.
grumpy
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
Forgive me for not doing this sooner, I had a cat on my lap. Can't do much when he trys to play with the keyboard.
Anyways, loved the signing of the scrolls, bet Aragorn stayed up many a night arround the campfire trying to memorise names and dates. And the twins only had to know two genorations. Great paart about the two marks indicating deaths.
Wonder if Aragorn will put then in once he figures it out.
Cat is back.
Author's reply
My blue-point loves to try to get in on my computer time when I'm on the desktop, and the tortoise-shell cats keeps getting on the laptop when I'm actually writing my stories, so know about feline intervention.
Yes, having to learn his genealogy back to Beren and Luthien, Idril and Tuor must have taken him a good deal of rehearsal. And the twins get to give him a hard time, made worse by the fact they knew a good number of them.
As for Aragorn adding in the ones left out--he has to learn their identities first, and that won't be for quite a while.
Love to the kitty.
Pernauriel
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
I am just being stupid, I compleatly forgot about his two brothers and the entire series that I read and loved. I obviously went and left my brain at work. I wondered why I thought it sounded it sounded familiar, And before I go and say anything else stupid, I will go and reread this one.
Aragorn definatly needs to go and have a nap, before everything gets stressful.
Author's reply
How many times have we all needed such naps when we push ourselves too hard? So glad you enjoyed that.
And I know about leaving brains at work--although I suspect a few times mine stayed at home in bed! Heh!
harrowcat
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
P.s. 2 chapter 18's Larner?
Author's reply
OOOOPPPSSSSS! Sorry about that--have corrected it. I was obviously NOT paying attention. Thanks for the help here.
TithenFeredir
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
Well, I really enjoyed seeing Aragorn get double-teamed by his brothers. Face down in his diner, eh? *chuckle* It seems everyone is beginning to slip into his or her place-- the new order is taking shape. I like it. ~TF
Author's reply
They WOULD remind him of that, wouldn't he? But, then, what else are big brothers for but to embarrass us into doing what we know we ought to do anyway? And yes, the new order is taking shape indeed, and glad you like it.
harrowcat
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
Oh dear, still my beating heart. What an avowal of love! Can you send Merry along to match-make for me please Larner!
And I am so glad that Aragorn has his foster-brothers et al to beat some sense into his head about the need to balance personal needs and duty. It is all too easy to become a workaholic, especially in the face of so much to do.
Author's reply
Oh, I'm SO glad you like Faramir's statement of love for Eowyn and how she describes how she came to love him in return. I just wish I had Merry here to help me at the moment....
And yes, Aragorn has to retrain himself. The crises from this point will be quite different than what he's dealt with till now, and he'll do better resting between times, for adrenaline may help in "fight or flight" but not necessarily when facing down Umbarian envoys at a feast.
Am glad Elladan and Elrohir are here to help in the retraining, myself.
Pernauriel
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
I love reading this story. I am intreaged with the two dots indicating two unknown deaths. I am sure there is an entire story reagarding those two dots.
Author's reply
Yes, there is one. Am basing this on my previous writing, and particularly on the story "Fostering." Others who've read that, "The Ties of Family" and "Lesser Ring" are already gloating as to the identities of those two dots. And it will be in the last chapters.
French Pony
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 19: 19: A Fresh Wind in the Citadel
Yes, Aragorn, go lie down. You've been doing bureaucracy all day, and you need the rest.
Éomer seemed very reasonable when faced with the prospect of Éowyn and Faramir getting married. Yes, he has reservations, but he's smart enough to know that once Éowyn has made up her mind, that's it.
Sigh. Must go. Colloquim (yawn) beckons. . .
Author's reply
Poor Aragorn is so accustomed to having to stay up for days on end facing this battle and that he'll have to be retrained to function as a King. Yes, he needs the rest.
And I think that Eomer is warming to the idea, myself. And he's getting quite a remarkable brother-in-law in the exchange. Hope he appreciates it.
Hope the Colloquium went well.
Kitty
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
Aragorn must be a fresh breath of air to the servants in the Citadel, and a pleasant surprise as well. I doubt Denethor would have even remarked the cloth over the stool, much less thanked a servant. No doubt the household staff will soon come to love their new master!
Well, we know for whom the odd marks in the roll of Arnor were, don’t we? I’m a bit surprised Aragorn didn’t ask Elrond before he left Middle-earth,but then there was so much more important to do and he has probably forgotten about this.
I loved Éomers comment about the length of a chant with the names of all the Kings and Stewards. And imagine the Hobbits could do this with their Thains, too. Although the Shire hadn’t existed for so long as the line of Kings, they would sit for months considering their countless cousins and the need for so many breaks for meals!
Another lovely part was the exchange between Aragorn and his brothers about memorizing their family trees. It certainly isn’t fair the elves who have known so many of these men and would be able to remember them have only two generations to memorize, while poor Aragorn, who not even truly knew his father, has to remember so many he never knew. These little friendly insults are fun!
The visit of the Umbaris sounds interesting. At least it is clear Aragorn is under no illusions what to think of them and is taking some precautions. I look forward to know what this means.
Author's reply
Yes, Aragorn notes when instructions are exceeded by what is further offered to the comfort of others, and the staff is going to love him for it, I think.
Yes, I suspect we do know the reason for the two death marks, those who've read my previous works. And the idea of the Hobbits taking meal breaks when considering how many cousins of the Thain need to be included in the chant of the names of the Thains is a lovely one. Thanks for the giggle!
Yes, for Aragorn the only one of his forebears he remembers is his mother, although his uncle and aunt and cousins are counted in the Rolls just to keep folk aware there are at least two side lines that might be utilized at great need. I just like Aragorn being able to jibe back at the twins from time to time.
And for those from Umbar--they've been a thorn in the flesh of Gondor for quite some time, and so it must be pleasing to all, including Aragorn who as Thorongil fought them before, to make them cool their heels.
Bodkin
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
I like the name for the orange fruit. And I'm glad Frodo enjoys it.
Quite a job, keeping up those rolls - and I enjoyed the dig at Elladan and Elrohir's short ancestry. Aragorn had a lot more to learn! But at least his foster brothers can remember most of it from personal experience and correct him if he goes wrong.
Good planning over the table layouts and Umbar disposal. Aragorn is showing that he knows what he is talking about, even at the simplest level. He knows his way round and understands politics and protocol. His people will be taking notes - this is not some savage from the north.
Author's reply
No, not a savage at all, and Galador isn't even realizing yet just how knowledgable this new King is of the layout of the Citadel or the relationship historically between Gondor and Umbar and so on. Some things are just going right over his head.
And glad you like the exchange of insults between Aragorn and his brothers--this was one time when Aragorn could jibe back.
And what other name for it BUT the ORANGE fruit? I'm glad Frodo could giggle over it.
Lindelea
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 6: 6: The King Comforts
Where did the scent come from, the odor of the Sea, that Sam smelled?
I told him I needed your permission to leave the post assigned to me, and that to do so without it could mean my execution, and he went pale, and asked my forgiveness.
(Ah, yes. Echoes of what Beregond is going through, at this very point in time.)
(A note about the chamber pot. Considering the function of a chamber pot, I should think it would be placed out of the way, under a bed, rather than on a shelf. Just a thought.)
Frodo began to laugh, and sat back helplessly, clutching the blanket about him as he rolled his head from side to side. “You’d expect sense from someone just in his teens?” he finally asked.
Pleased to see Frodo could laugh, Aragorn smiled. “He’s a Man, and not a Hobbit, Frodo. I was fighting orcs beside my brothers when I was but fifteen, and came of age at twenty. But some Men do mature more slowly than others.”
(Somehow this made me want to laugh. Expect sense from someone just in his teens? I know a number of teens who are very mature in their outlook. Most of them are homeschool students, a few are not. But I know an awful lot of silly teens as well, who'd likely be horrified to be called "silly".)
Excellent, even though I was interrupted three times in the reading. Looking forward to reading more on a quieter day.
Author's reply
As Tolkien had indicated that the athelas tended to have different scents for different people, reminding them when used for Eowyn of the breeze off a mountain glacier, I decided that for Frodo it would smell predominantly of the Sea often with an echo of the scents of the Woody End, as a foreshadowing of where he will find his final healing. As this time it had been used primarily for Frodo, that would be the scent lingering in the enclosure, I thought.
In purchasing washstands in England for our antique store, we often found the simpler stands had a fairly wide rounded shelf for the basin with a smaller one above it to set the ewer out of the way when washing (although it usually sat in the bowl between times), and a shelf at the bottom on which to set the chamberpot. For the larger ones more similar to dressers, the chamberpot was often set inside a cupboard. If there weren't enough chamberpots for all within a room, it tended to be in the commode stands or on the bottom shelf of the washstand rather than under the bed to make it easier to find if one awoke in the middle of the night, rather than waking folks up fumbling about under the beds looking for it. But you are correct to common placement for such things, particularly in rooms where there was but a single occupant.
As for sense out of teens--I've known both those who were marvelously mature at fourteen and horribly childish as twenty-two. We just don't all mature at the same rate. But for Hobbits, used to thinking of teens as only larger, hungrier children, the idea of someone who's a teen who is expected to have sense must have been bizarre.
So it appears we have similar experiences. I was a bit of a mix, myself--very mature in some ways while a complete infant in others at eighteen; my daughter was pretty mature at that age although she went to pieces at fifteen; and my son didn't really become mature until he was in his late twenties.
harrowcat
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
The rolls do interest Frodo indeed, and Faramir too! Of course I just adored the two deaths detail but I won't post a spoiler by commenting more. By the way, do you have a chronological order for your tales posted somewhere? I know how much they interweave but there must, eventually, be a best order in which to read them. Also by the way, happy anniversary for the eleventh!
Author's reply
I had to check--but you're right--the eleventh is the first anniversary since I started writing here. Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate it.
No, I'd not thought as yet of a good chronology for reading the stories, although I'd read "For Eyes to See as Can" and "Filled with Light as with Water" first, of course. So far this one is predating "The Choice of Healing," but there will be some overlapping in time.
And many like the two death marks, although one new to my stories has asked about them. So glad you appreciate them.
Radbooks
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
Simply wonderful chapter!
I loved this part:
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness in bringing the cloth as well,” the King said, smiling at the Man, who was overwhelmed and became the King’s man from that instant.
Kindness on the part of the man and courtesy on the part of the King made such a small thing something lasting. We often forget to thank people and it's so important. (I don't think I'm doing a good job here of saying what why I liked this so much, but I did like this part very much! It's getting too late!)
Then the signing of the Rolls of both Kingdoms was interesting to see and how he had to name all of his ancestors and the one from Gondor. I loved when he made a comment back to Elladan about he only had to worry about two generations in the same number of years. :)
I love how Aragorn takes charges of everything - now with the table arrangements with the people from Umbar coming and people are wondering how he knows so much about the feast hall, etc. Erchirion knows something is up, he's a smart one. :)
The Master of Protocol is totally insensitve! Who would make a comment like that about someones mother not living to see him crowned?
Anyway, looking forward, as always, to the next chapter!
Author's reply
Aragorn cares about the details for comfort, and will honor those who also care about them; and thus are loyalties forged. And thus is the whole lump leavened.
The exchange between Aragorn and Elladan about the difference in numbers of generations in three thousand years was fun, but also underlines how differently the two races view time. Although when we go back to the end of the first age, we are looking now still basically on three generations for Elrond's family compared to how many more Aragorn has had to memorize. It definitely indicates the relationships between Aragorn and the sons of Elrond while highlighting how much more swiftly Men must live.
Yes, Erchirion is beginning to wonder, and will probably begin wondering when his esteemed father will FINALLY get a clue as to WHOM Aragorn reminds him of (in "The King's Commission" I indicated it didn't hit till four years after Aragorn was crowned). But Aragorn already has an idea of what kind of folk those from Umbar are and how he is going to deal with them.
And Galador is pretty insensitive--there you are right.
And I'm looking forward to your next chapter as well.
Linda Hoyland
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
I can understand why Frodo wants water with him at all times.I assume the marks indicate Gilraen's lost sons ?How difficult it must have been in the days before DNA tests! Luckily Aragorn's powers prove who he is !
Many thanks for your much appreciated review,the first for this chapter.I don't know either who is suffering the most.
Author's reply
The nature of the death marks will be revealed in the last chapters, of course. And, yes, DNA tests might have been helpful; but you are right that Aragorn has proven his rights already through the wielding of the Sword Reforged, the passing through the Paths of the Dead, the ability to utilize the Elessar stone, and the display of the Healing Hands of the King. The fact that Elladan and Elrohir could vouch for him would mean a great deal as well, I'd think.
And am looking forward to the next chapter of yours, of course.
Radbooks
· 4 November 2005
· Chapter 17: 17: Royal Apartments
I enjoyed the description of the Royal Wing, it was nicely done. I can't imagine the hope of a people to keep up a place for a thousand years in the expectation that a king might someday return. So that part where Balstador is thinking about the things that had been done over the years to check on the Royal Wing just struck me as sort of amazing. His insight into Aragorn was so very good, how Aragorn had specific things he wanted done for the hobbits and yet had given no direction for his own needs or desires.
Of course his knowledge about the Citadel and Gondor is going to make everyone wonder and will, I suppose, make those among the servants be even more in awe of him. At least it would if I was a servant and this new king showed up and knew things that he shouldn't know when he had never been there before. It would be something I would be talking about! :)
Author's reply
Good servants TRY not to gossip about their masters--but THIS one must be causing consternation and the desire to tell folks.
Yes, the same hope that has guarded a dead tree for a thousand years in hopes one day it will be uprooted and a new one planted in its place has also seen to the maintenance of the King's Wing, for the beloved hope one day one might reenter it, bring life to it, bring a wife and children back again to it.
And that such a one has come from beyond all hope, coming in the twilight between hope and despair, one age and the next, must be a wonder to all.
I'm looking forward to the King's meeting with his new staff.
French Pony
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
All the bureaucracy that goes into being King! They're going to have to promote Faralion to full-blown herald if this keeps up much longer.
I did like Aragorn's little jab at the sons of Elrond about only having to remember two generations of family instead of forty.
Author's reply
Full-blown herald? I wonder how he'd like that idea? But to be a ruler is to bind oneself about with red tape, unfortunately. Few are as unfree as the ruler of a great nation who does well by his people. Aragorn has signed on for a most difficult and sometimes apparently thankless job, although he knows this is what is needed.
And am glad you appreciate the exchange of insults here--having as brothers two of Elves who have undoubtedly teased him regarding the limitations mortals face must on occasion get tiresome, and it's nice to have something valid to jibe back with.
shirebound
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
The Kingship of Arnor is conferred by acceptance of the Sceptre of Annúminas, which is as yet still in the keeping of the Lord Elrond. Until he presents that to me I remain but chieftain there
Goodness, such attention to detail! And this is lovely jest:
Aragorn gave him an annoyed look. “Some have such poor memories they do well to remember the two generations their family has known in the same amount of time.” Elrohir laughed, and Aragorn turned back to his writing.
Author's reply
It would be important to the Galadors of Arnor, that Aragorn does not properly become King of that realm until he receives the Sceptre. I had to go back and reread the story of Aragorn and Arwen and a bit more of the appendices to make certain I was getting it right.
And with all the twits Aragorn is certain to get from his foster brothers about the inferiority of mortals, I love to see him get his own back from time to time.
So glad you appreciated this.
TithenFeredir
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
The mention of Elendil's handwriting impressed upon me the idea that the scrolls were not merely documents, but a sort of living history and an ongoing thread of tradition connecting their past with their present. I can't think of anything like it in our world. Wow. ~TF
Author's reply
Exactly, TithenFendir--these are the ties Aragorn has to his heritage as one of the Heirs of Isildur, and the ties the realms have had to their heritage as the lands of the survivors of Numenor. The closest we have to it is the records of the rulers of England, I think.
Am so glad you appreciate the idea of it.
Amy
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 18: 18: Amending the Rolls of the King
Oh, I know who the enigmatic signs are for!
Am looking forward to that party of fair folk arriving!
Author's reply
I think we all are, myself.
And I think several who've read The Ties of Family and Fostering and Lesser Ring know who the enigmatic signs are for.
So glad you let me know you appreciated that detail.
Kitty
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 17: 17: Royal Apartments
Ah, so it was Gwaihir who suggested to name Frodo and Sam 'Lords'? Good idea - they are less likely to object under these circumstances than they'd do if it was Aragorn, I think.
Poor Balstador, I suppose it would've aided him if Aragorn had thought a bit more about himself and to tell the man what he wants for his own rooms. It is difficult to prepare the rooms for someone one knows not and to have to guess what he wants, is it not? You're probably right that Aragorn simply didn't think about it before. Well, he was much too busy directing how to make others comfortable. It is about time Arwen arrives and takes things in hand ;-)
Author's reply
Yes, it is about time for Arwen to come and help take care of the practical matters, although that is coming. For now it is enough for Aragorn to try to make certain of the comfort of those whom he considers his guests and extended family and under his care.
And I figured that if it was Gwaihir himself who was seen as having initiated the ennoblement, there'd be the least squawk from Frodo and Sam. Hard to disagree with someone who could pick you up in a talon and carry you away and leave you stranded on a mountaintop if he gets frustrated with your reluctance to accept proper honor due you.
Lily
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 15: 15: First Audience
I'm hardly able to catch up, but you must know that I simply love this story! Be it language, style, plot or characterisation... it's perfect!!
*LOL*
I loved the scene of the hobbits and the fellowship discussing their new homes while all the court watched.
Author's reply
Am so glad you appreciate it, Lily. I know I tend to use more formal and archaic language forms fairly often, although now and then a modernism slips in. But am very glad you appreciate the plot and characterization. And thank you for letting me know how much you are enjoying it.
grumpy
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 17: 17: Royal Apartments
So it was the king of the eagles who brought up that Sam and Frodo should be caled lords, very smart of him.
I first thought in order for Aragorn to feel comfortable in his rooms they should put in a few trees and maybe a ranger or two. but I think he would like it a lot more if they plunked Arwin in there, and made the queens room a nursery.
Author's reply
I suspect he actually said something to the effect of "All of those who are children of Iluvatar shall honor them from this day forward," to which Aragorn and Gandalf agreed, and the plan was hatched. But certainly Gwaihir is one that Frodo isn't likely to argue with--plus the fact remains he's back at his aerie far in the North, while Frodo is down here in Gondor trying to make sense of things.
And I do suspect that in the end only one of the two rooms will be used regularly by Aragorn and Arwen; but custom has decreed two chambers, so that's what they've got now.
Thanks for the laughs--I can see them transplanting a tree into the King's chamber--a mallorn, of course....
Bodkin
· 3 November 2005
· Chapter 17: 17: Royal Apartments
Balstador will indeed discover that Aragorn knows his way around.
The rooms sound splendid - but it was very wise of the hobbits to realise they needed something simpler if they were to be happy.
And I wouldn't be at all surprised to find that Aragorn spends his first weeks as king sleeping on the floor! All that luxury will seem most uncomfortable after all his rangering.
Author's reply
I wonder if he'd be all that uncomfortable--after all, he did apparently have a bed he could count on in Rivendell, and they had beds of sorts in the pavilion in Lothlorien. But if that bed is too soft he might well ask for a firmer mattress.
And I agree--the Hobbits need something at least a bit more "home-like"--and it's not likely in the Citadel.
And I love to imagine how Aragorn will be "outed" as Thorongil--am working on that idea at the moment.
Linda Hoyland
· 2 November 2005
· Chapter 17: 17: Royal Apartments
What an inrteresting tour of the rooms !I'm not surprised Aragorn likes green, I always have blues and greens myself as they are restful.
I liked the way all the aces hail the Hobbits as lOrds.
Author's reply
I love blues, greens, wine colors, and subtle golds, myself--they're the colors I wear most often, and even my house is green right now.
And I would think that the ennoblement of Frodo and Sam was pretty universally accepted. Am so glad you appreciated the brief tour and Aragorn's preknowledge of the Citadel. I suspect that the King will shortly be "outed" within the Citadel itself. Am trying to figure out exactly who does this, of course....