obsidianj
· 3 May 2007
· Chapter 10: A Midnight Conversation
So, Thandir was kind of a nursemaid ;-). Here in this chapter Aragorn shows that he really still is a young man. His indignation that Elrond still keeps an eye out for him shows that he feels insecure enough to interpret Elrond's care as mistrust. But in the end he is mature enough to see beyond his initial reaction to the love Elrond feels for him.
Author's reply
Yes, Aragorn is just young enough to equate parental concern with parental interference but intelligent and mature enough to eventually realize that Elrond is only looking out for his best interest. Thandir is savvy enough to recognize this and allows Aragorn space to come to terms with it and to appreciate the love that Elrond has for him.
Shoshana_Rose
· 3 May 2007
· Chapter 10: A Midnight Conversation
Short and crushingly beautiful. A very nice moment between them, perhaps even moreso because it *is* still a bit opaque; neither of them see the moment fully (they aren't connected in a way which strips *all* defenses and barriers between them), but they still connect in an intimate way, for all that they are not equals of situation, station, or race.
I love the grammatical notes you leave at the ends of your sections, too. I specialize in ancient Semitic languages, but these notes really strike a chord.
Shoshi
Author's reply
Thank you for your review. This chapter sort of wrote itself, so I can't take full credit. *grin* You are correct in your analysis. These two people have a history between them but it is not one of great intimacy, yet that is not necessarily a bad thing. It allows them space that could not exist say between Aragorn and Elrond's sons. This conversation in fact could not have occurred between Aragorn and Elrohir, for instance. Thandir maintains a remote distance from Aragorn that allows him to express certain feelings that he would normally not express to another elf and Aragorn is not "little brother" to Thandir. They are not equals, yet they are companions, and this is what allows them to have this particular moment between them.
I'm glad you like my grammatical notes. I have a background in sociolinguistics myself and find the way a language influences and is influenced by the culture in which it finds itself absolutely fascinating.
Bodkin
· 1 May 2007
· Chapter 9: In the Company of Elves
A simple answer to a simple question? No, I don't think so! And Thandir can be a little patronising! It would be nice to see him caught out - but it's probably not going to happen...
A system that leaves the plotters in place to plot again and only deals with the underlings doesn't seem very sensible - although, perhaps, it reflects reality more than it should!
The elves certainly seem to have something on their minds that they're not telling. Not yet, anyway. But it's never a bad thing to have an elvish protection squad around. Probably.
Author's reply
Elves will never do something simple when they can mysterious about it. It's part of their mystique. Whatever their reasons for doing what they are doing, they would seem good to the elves, though not necessarily good to the mortals.
The execution of nobles in the Anglo-Saxon period was considered a grave affair, not lightly entered into. In fact, off-hand, I can't recall ever reading about a noble being executed... although assassination wasn't unheard of....
Linda Hoyland
· 27 April 2007
· Chapter 9: In the Company of Elves
I wonder what those Elves are up to?It cannot be easy to be around them.
Author's reply
Guess we'll have to wait and see, won't we? *grin*
eiluj
· 26 April 2007
· Chapter 9: In the Company of Elves
(decloaking)
“The mood swings of the Firstborn”! Yes, they’re *not* mortal Men, no matter how, unthinking, we try to interpret them that way.
Enjoy your travels!
Author's reply
Yes, exactly. While Tolkien describes the Firstborn as Men in an unfallen state, and they obviously are genetically compatible with mortals otherwise they couldn't produce viable offspring, they are definitely not Men and should not be treated as such. Which makes it interesting for me as a writer, because sometimes even *I* don't know what they're up to! *grin*
Larner
· 26 April 2007
· Chapter 9: In the Company of Elves
Thandir knows something Aragorn doesn't know, obviously; and it's wonderful to think that Aragorn proved such a good influence for healing within Elrond's house on his arrival as a two-year-old child.
Now, to find out what plot the Elves are intent on seeing to the end. It appears Thandir doesn't intend to allow Elrond's fosterling to go into whatever it is without a watch at his back.
Author's reply
Aragorn healed more than just Elrond and his sons. Thandir and many others also suffered loss when Celebrían was attacked by the orcs. Thandir lost his wife, Eluwen, who was acting as part of Celebrían's escort. The only reason why he didn't follow her to Mandos is because their two children were still elflings. Thandir remained for their sakes. Aragorn's innocence captured the hearts of more than just Elrond, Elrohir and Elladan. Thandir was also taken in and has begun to heal because of it. He and his children will eventually follow Elrond to Tol Eressëa at the end of the Third Age and will eventually be reunited with Eluwen.
Whatever the elves are up to, I don't think Aragorn will disdain their help if they offer it. He just knows them well enough to be suspicious and he's just young enough to resent the idea that the real reason for their being there is to "look after little Estel for ada".
obsidianj
· 26 April 2007
· Chapter 9: In the Company of Elves
This gets mysterious. Why do the elves stay with the Rohirrim and Aragorn? I think Aragorn is right to be concerned. Elves hadn't taken any interest in humans for a long time and now suddenly they show up and not just for a short visit.
I like the way you describe the mercurial mood swings of the elves, one moment more childlike and then the next cold and ancient warriors.
Have a nice vacation.
Author's reply
I have tried to show the elves as not humans. Their motives and motivations are not ours. Their mercurial moods swings are a testament of their differing psychology. They are indeed childlike one moment and cold and ancient warriors the next and their sense of propriety does not follow ours. Aragorn does indeed have reason to be concerned, but he is forgetting (or choosing to ignore) the fact that these elves watched him grow up and therefore they have a vested interest in his well-being, not just for his own sake, but also because he is Isildur's Heir and his destiny may well rule the fate of many, including the elves.
>> Have a nice vacation.
Thanks. I hope to. It's the first time I've been outside Manzhouli for some time now and I'm looking forward to seeing new sights. :)
obsidianj
· 25 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Wow! Elves in the Golden Hall. Although not unheard off, I got the impression that in Thengel's time, elves pretty much were consigned to fairy tales. And now they come on their own. Thengel's daughter was lucky.
I loved Aragorn's explanation for his elven name. He thinks quick on his feet ;-).
Author's reply
Certainly by the time Théoden becomes king elves are once again consigned to the Rohirric nurseries, but the presence of the elves here is due solely because of Aragorn (you really can't have one without the other, now can you? *grin*), otherwise they would have had no reason to be there at all, so yes, Théodfrid was very, very lucky in that regard.
>> I loved Aragorn's explanation for his elven name. He thinks quick on his feet.
As my beta-mom wrote in her comments to this chapter: "Good save".
Elena Tiriel
· 21 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Ah, thank you so much Fiondil! I have a much better understanding of Wídfara's honor now.
Thank you for such a thorough, detailed answer -- I appreciate the time you took to give it!
- Barbara
Author's reply
No problem. If you had a question about it, no doubt others might as well, so I was answering not just for you but for other readers. Glad my answer satisfied.
Elena Tiriel
· 21 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
And my guess for what Thorongil said in Quenya is something like a rude variation of "Show-off!"....
:-D
Author's reply
Oh no, even ruder than that! Very, very rude. *lol*
Elena Tiriel
· 21 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Hi Fiondil,
Hmmm, Orcs crossing the Wold to the White Mountains? and appearing to be heading toward a goal? That is troubling! Surely the nasty Queen Mama hasn't gotten that deep into dark doo-doo, to use technical jargon...?
And it made me a little nervous that Thorongil and Wídfara were taking narrow back ways to Aldburg.... and even more nervous later with the thick fog around Thengel's party. I kept worrying about an Orc attack... But you'd never write anything that we'd expect, would you? ;-D
Poor Wídfara! He's out of his element with this strange Dúnadan chap with his mysterious background and mythological friends, but he knows now for certain that Thorongil is someone to respect.... In my drabble series, I'm having Eorl dismiss Galadriel -- aka the Sorceress of Dwimordene -- as a children's tale, until he is personally set straight by her grandsons... kinda embarrassing for him, actually, so I am enjoying Wídfara's unease....
More Elves! Or, the same Elves once again.... I like! Especially protecting the dear royal kiddies... But I sooo wasn't expecting them to appear in Meduseld!
Okay... I'm all wide-eyed and waiting to see what happens next....
- Barbara
P.S. If you get a chance, would you say a little more about what a thane is? is it something like a minor lordling, or a servant, or a King's guard, or....? It sounds like it was an unexpected honor for Wídfara, but I can't quite figure out what manner of honor... Sorry, but I know absolutely nothing about Anglo Saxon customs.
Author's reply
My version of Rohirric society is somewhat different from the Anglo-Saxon society on which it is based (for one thing, there aren't any slaves). In early Anglo-Saxon society, a thegn was simply a man who was more than a freeman (ceorl) but not a noble (ealdorman). He was a thegn by virtue of the fact that he was granted land by the king in exchange for providing military service to the king. At some point this particular "class" became hereditary and you had a separate warrior class within the society that consisted of freeman and nobles, the latter usually comprising the king's council or witan. Since there was no standing army, the king's personal troop of household retainers were thegns. They were not a permament group, however. Instead, the members of the king's household retainers rotated throughout the year (usually for a 3-month period).
In Rohirric society, as I envision it, while every thegn is a warrior, not every warrior within an éored is a thegn. Promotion to thegnscip is dependent upon the king granting the warrior land in exchange for military service. Wídfara's family owns its ownn steading, but his father is not a noble, but a freeman. Wídfara is a younger son and so would not inherit the steading. Being granted lands of his own raises his standing within Rohirric society. As a thegn he automatically becomes a member of Thengel's personal troop of household retainers or the 'cyninges éored'. He is thus permitted to stand with the other thegns as part of Thengel's Great Council which consists of thegns (active warriors) and witan (retired warriors and nobles). See the description of Thengel's court in Chapter 1).
Wídfara's promotion to the thegnscip would not be considered unheard of, but given his relative youth, such a promotion would have been deemed unusual. Wídfara would normally not have thought of being granted thegnscip status for at least another ten or fifteen years when he would be a proven seasoned warrior instead of a youth barely tried.
I hope this explanation helps somewhat. While I follow Tolkien's lead in giving the Rohirrim an Anglo-Saxon flavor, I don't feel obligated (no more than Tolkien himself) to depict Rohirric society along strict Anglo-Saxon lines, so I may not always treat Anglo-Saxon terms in quite the same way as they would be treated if speaking about some aspect of Anglo-Saxon society.
In the meantime, I'm glad you are enjoying this story to date.
Larner
· 20 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Okay, you have my curiosity going big time. What did he say in Quenya to get Thandir so jolly?
The coming of the Elves was quite a surprise to all, and loved the explanation of his Elven name. What a reason to give! Oh, this child of Men has become quite to warrior himself.
Author's reply
If you really want to know what got the elves so jolly send me an email and I'll tell you, but I'm not putting it on a public forum, no way, not even untranslated! *lol*
As my beta-reader said about Aragorn's explanation of "Estel", "Good save, Thorongil". And Aragorn is indeed becoming quite the warrior himself as we will probably see in subsequent chapters.
Linda Hoyland
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
What a gripping chapter.You caught me completely by surprise.I love all the twists in this tale !
Author's reply
Thanks, Linda. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and that I was able to surprise you.
obsidianj
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
That's a surprise. So there really are elves around in Rohan. Smart idea of Aragorn to pretend to be an elf. But the real thing is always better than a make believe ;-). Poor Widfara. He probably felt like in a bad/good dream. This new friend of his suddenly seems much more than just a Dunedain of the North and then elves...
Author's reply
Wídfara probably is wondering just what has he gotten himself into with Thorongil, but he's young enough to adapt to the situation and take delight in it.
Idril Celebrindal
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Wonderful chapter and from the other reviews I see that you will not be telling us the one word in Quenya, so naughty of you! :-)
I like Thandir and his response to why he is hear is just perfect for how I envision his character to be.
Keep it coming!
Idril
Author's reply
Well, part of the fun of *not* telling everything is it allows the reader to fill in the blanks. If anyone *really* wants to know what he said, you can always contact me via private email. Please include picture ID with DOB. *lol*
Thandir's response to Aragorn's question is typical of elves who do not live by the same rules as mortals and who respond to circumstances differently and (for mortals) in unexpected ways.
Shoshana_Rose
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Wow! Great chapter. Good job of getting us back to Edoras and moving the plot (and the *plot*) along swiftly. I will truly enjoy hearing Thandir's explanation of how the elves arived like Deus ex Machina in order to save the day yet *again*. And I'd also like to know what Thorongil said to Thandir in Qenya. I can't wait for next week. Cheers!
Author's reply
Everyone wants to know what Aragorn said in Quenya! You'll have to use your imagination as I'm not about to translate it here. *grin* Regardless, I'm glad you liked this chapter and are looking forward to more.
Linda Hoyland
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
A very enjoyable chapter.I loved all the drama which you wrote superbly.I love it when Aragorn becomes all kingly.Especially nice touches were Thandir's appearance to the conspirators and Aragorn's care for his young companion.
Author's reply
I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. Writing is was rather fun, especially the part of Thandir and the conspirators. It was probably the most fun he's had in centuries. *lol* Aragorn is finally taking ownership of his role as Isildur's Heir now and we see this here and in subsequent chapters.
Bodkin
· 19 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Those elves! They just love turning up at critical moments! Still - how better than to get on a king's good side than to rescue his daughter from a knife at her throat. And a pretty good thing that Aragorn was alert.
Unfortunately, it might be difficult to track this one back to Eohild. Assassins don't generally carry a note from mother on them for anyone to find.
Still - the rebels are getting rather too self-confident, so they will probably mire themselves in something unavoidable sooner or later.
Author's reply
Yes, elves are a handy bunch aren't they? *grin* Conspirators usually have a blind side to them. They are just arrogant enough to think everyone else is stupid and just stupid enough to believe in their own arrogance. Makes for a dangerous combination because they are capable of anything and there's no way of knowing when or where they will strike. Still, like most non-professional criminals, they're bound to make a fatal mistake.
Elflingimp
· 18 April 2007
· Chapter 8: Fox and Hounds
Alright I just have to ask, what did Aragorn say in Queyna?
Author's reply
That would be telling! And certainly not on a family-oriented forum. *lol*
Bodkin
· 15 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
That was handy! Having a group of elves turn up just when they could do most good!
But did they pick up on all the plotting? They've just sent the Queen Mum off with her party of recalcitrants .... but do they know what she'll be getting up to next?
Aragorn is being quite regal and authoritative here - and proving that he has the respect of a group of people Wídfara didn't even believe existed. I suspect that Wídfara will be thinking quite hard about his new friend - and maybe deciding that there is more to him than meets the eye!
Author's reply
I don't think the elves really care one way or the other. They only have gotten involved (and really, only Thandir is involved actively) because of Estel. For any other mortal it would've been "namárië". And Aragorn is beginning to come into his own here. Wídfara, I'm sure, has much to think about concerning his new friend.
Elena Tiriel
· 13 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
Well, that's annoying... I thought I had tested those links to the HASA Research Library articles. My apologies for the problem... here they are in plain text:
The Northmen of Rhovanion:
www.henneth-annun.net/resources/bios_view.cfm?scid=256
The Éothéod (People) (or, if you prefer, the Proto-Rohirrim *vbg*):
www.henneth-annun.net/resources/bios_view.cfm?scid=259
- Barbara
Elena Tiriel
· 13 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
Actually, the Rohirrim are descendants of the Edain, for one branch of Hador's line did not go to Númenor with Elros and the other Edain. They elected to remain in Middle-earth and some of them eventually made their way across the Misty Mountains to settle in the upper reaches of the Vales of Anduin. No doubt they intermarried with those who were already there, but the blood of Hador would still be in their veins. Their descendants, in turn, followed Eorl the Young in his ride to the Field of Celebrant to the rescue of Cirion and the Gondorians and thus became the Rohirrim.
No, the Rohirrim came from people who had never crossed the Misty Mountains. Except for the return of the Edain/Dúnedain to Middle-earth from Númenor, the overwhelming bulk of the migrations of Men of the West have been westward.
The Northmen of Rhovanion migrated westward and settled in Wilderland, east of the Misty Mountains; they were a very numerous people with many tribes. A very small part of them -- including some, but not all, of the ancestors of what later became the House of Hador -- broke off to continue their westward migration, and settled in Beleriand in the First Age. They were named the Edain by the Elves of Beleriand.
But while there may have been some movement from the remnant of Edain who didn't leave for Númenor back eastward across the mountains, it would have been a truly inconsequential number of people compared to the numerous existing Northmen... and I haven't found any mention of it in Tolkien's writings.
In the Third Age, another established group of Northmen who lived east of Mirkwood -- many of whom shared ancestors with the House of Hador -- were displaced by invading Wainriders. Some gathered together in the Vales of Anduin near the Carrock; they called themselves the Éothéod (others joined the Beornings or Bardings, and still others were killed or enslaved by the Wainriders). Later, the Éothéod migrated north to the sources of Anduin, then eventually south to Calenardhon (Rohan), as you describe. These are the people who became the Rohirrim.
I have compiled extensive histories of the Northmen and the Éothéod from Tolkien's words on the subject; if you are interested, see these entries in the HASA Research Library: Northmen of Rhovanion and Éothéod (People). If you know of other relevant Tolkien quotations that I have missed in these two entries, please let me know where to find them.
But even if that isn't strickly true, Aragorn's last part about they being Children of Eru does hold true and this is what he is stressing to Thandir and the other elves. And they're not about to argue genealogy with one who can actually claimm kinship with a Maia, however distantly. *grin*
Agreed, the quibble I have does not impact Aragorn's main point. And, if any other Man said that, I would just think they were not very knowledgeable. ;-) But it is precisely because of Aragorn's credibility that I truly believe it is glaringly out of character for Aragorn, who was educated in the House of Elrond, to make such an error... especially when he could just as easily said the Rohirrim are "kin" or even "brothers" (metaphorically) of the Edain, rather than "descendants".
Sorry that the research geek in me sometimes takes over.... ;-) Don't let the number of words I've devoted to this quibble obscure the fact that I really enjoy the story overall, and look forward to seeing where you take it.
Author's reply
Well, I can easily modify Aragorn's words if it will make the research geek in you happy. *grin* No one else has bothered about it and I confess I haven't bothered with extensive research about the ancestors of Rohan except where it directly impacts the story I'm writing, but thanks for the history lesson anyway. It's always interesting (being a history geek myself).
Elena Tiriel
· 12 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
Hi again,
I just remembered: there ie an open challenge at HASA that perfectly suits your story. It's called "A Tale within a Tale", and after you log in at HASA, you can find it at www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/challenge_detail.cfm?NGID=457.
It closes on April 30, and, since HASA challenges accept unwritten stories (via placeholders -- I have a lot of those ;-) ), in-progress stories certainly qualify.
Anyway, I think this story would be a welcome addition to that challenge... in fact, I'm enjoying it so much that I'm going to go check out the ones already submitted....
- Barbara
Author's reply
Hi again,
I haven't been over to HASA in quite a while and had forgotten about this particular challenge. I will have to check it out. Thanks for the head's up.
Elena Tiriel
· 12 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
Hi Fiondil,
What an interesting story! I like the realistic sense that you portray... for example, certainly not all of the Eorlings would accept Thorongil as an equal, despite his prowess on a horse, and some might take the more "direct", er, "masculine" way of showing their disapproval....
I especially enjoyed the last two chapters. Elves? Who'da thunk it? So now you have Elves and Rohirrim, my two favorite races.... and for that, I'll certainly tolerate an uppity Dúnadan or two.... ;-)
I really like how you've interwoven genuine Rohirric history into your story... Folca was indeed the King who cleaned out the last of the Orcs that had fled to Rohan after the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, so it makes sense that the Dúnælfenedale massacre actually occurred then... and I like how you hinted at the deaths of Folcred and Fastred. And Fengel was certainly hated, but it's a surprising and thought-inspiring twist that his wife would conspire against her own son... what a nasty piece of work!
One tiny quibble with They are descendants of the Edain.... It would be more accurate to call them "brothers" of the Edain: they share common ancestors (especially the House of Hador), but the split in the family tree arose before the ones who became Edain were called that.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing where you take this story in the future....
- Barbara
Author's reply
Hi Barbara! Thanks for your review. Actually, the Rohirrim are descendants of the Edain, for one branch of Hador's line did not go to Númenor with Elros and the other Edain. They elected to remain in Middle-earth and some of them eventually made their way across the Misty Mountains to settle in the upper reaches of the Vales of Anduin. No doubt they intermarried with those who were already there, but the blood of Hador would still be in their veins. Their descendants, in turn, followed Eorl the Young in his ride to the Field of Celebrant to the rescue of Cirion and the Gondorians and thus became the Rohirrim.
But even if that isn't strickly true, Aragorn's last part about they being Children of Eru does hold true and this is what he is stressing to Thandir and the other elves. And they're not about to argue genealogy with one who can actually claimm kinship with a Maia, however distantly. *grin*
As with all my Middle-earth stories, I try to bring in the history of the people about whom I am writing, as much as I am able without bogging the story down, and filling in the gaps with my own twists whenever Tolkien's own gaps in Middle-earth history allow me some latitude (without, of course, violating canon).
Edlyn
· 12 April 2007
· Chapter 7: Dúnælfenedale
A very exciting and entertaining chapter, meldonya. Blood will tell won't it?
I like Erkenbard very much. When he admitted to forging the letter I laughed aloud and his "It's been a thin year," comment was priceless. Is he perhaps the father of Erkenbrand?
Aragorn's idea was very clever and I have to admit that when he was grabbed from behind I guessed that it had to have been an elf because I can't imagine Aragorn being so preoccupied that he wouldn't have heard the approach of a man. But as Thrandir said, it might not have worked or he might have gotten caught out.
Even though I knew that Thrandir was going to play the role, it still gave me shivers to hear his words. The idea of being in the presence of a being that remembers a time before the existance of the sun and moon is mind-boggling. I think that Widfara was very brave and can't say that if I were in his position that I could have handled the situation with as much grace as he did.
Seeing Aragorn take on his true aspect as a Lord of Men was wonderful. I suspect his doing so is a lot like the way a friend of mine described "the sudden expression of comand presence." One minute you're doing whatever you are doing with this other person sitting over on the other side of the room and then he simply stands up and you find yourself snapping to attention without consciously knowing why.
I'm betting that should he live to old age, Widfara will have wonderful stories to tell his grnadchildren (Did you REALLY meet an Ælfhláford, Ealdfader?).
I meant to mention in my last review that when reading the story of Dúnælfenedale that Thengel told Aragorn, that I was reminded of the story of Tam Lin. Most likely it is the connection of water in each tale with the elven Lord/Elfin-Knight. And given that mortal Aragorn was going to play the part of an Elf Lord there at the spring, mortal Tam Lin in thrall to the Elf Queen at the well at Carterhaugh returned to my mind.
I really oughtn't to be surprised that I'm seeing such parallels given the amount of folktales I've read in my life and given that Tolkien's world echoes many of the archtypes from those tales.
I think it is going to be interesting to find out more of why Éolind thinks that Fréawine is more malleable than Thengel. I am still willing to take Thengel's opinion of the man over the dowager queen's opinion but until we (and Aragorn) actually meet him and see him interact I think I'm going to reserve judgment on Fréawine's loyalties and capabilities.
As I am reading this I've caught myself planning the layout of a manuscript recording the telling of the adventures and works of Earntungol in the service of Thengel-King as heard in the King's Hall of Meduseld. Though that might be aggravated by seeing the animated Bayeux Tapestry video on YouTube.com this morning (If you haven't seen it you ought to check it out at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDaB-NNyM8o).
Have a good day and I look forward to your next posting.
May you live blessed,
Edlyn
Author's reply
I never saw the original Bayeux Tapestry, but in Winchester Cathedral is a wooden representation of it that someone carved that is quite fascinating to see (along with the "Round Table" purported to belong to King Arthur). This animated version was quite clever. I liked the different mix of music which nevertheless blended in very well.
Anyway, you can see that the Aragorn of this tale has matured quite nicely from the Aragorn of the previous tale, especially as we see him in the beginning, setting out for Mirkwood with Elrond and Glorfindel. Thandir, especially, only remembers Aragorn as a fourteen year child nagging his "ada" about letting him ride with his "muindyr". He and the other Imladris elves have never seen him as "Isildur's Heir", hence their condenscending attitutde towards him. The Lórien elves are even less impressed, not having the history of fostering Elros' descendants that the elves of Imladris have had, and see only a Mortal haranguing one of the Firstborn, who, for all that he has eschewed the titles to which he is entitled as the scion of a noble Amanian family, is still a Noldorin elf-lord.
I think once he got over the shock, though, Thandir rather enjoyed seeing "Aragorn" rather than "Estel". He also obviously enjoyed going into "Elf-lord mode" and probably drew on memories of his own father and the other Noldorin elf-lords with all their arrogance when confronting the conspirators. Of course, just being an elf would have been enough, but he probably decided to put the "fear of the Valar" into those three mortals just for good measure.
I have to admit that while not consciously drawing on any specific folk/fairy tale as I'm writing this story, I am drawing on my own store of knowledge about English folk tales and such to provide the atmosphere for this story. Even though the Rohirrim are not Anglo-Saxons, it's hard not to draw cultural parallels between them.