Reviews (386)

Tari · 7 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

Alqualondë is part human methinks. The pain he feels is the same as ours and his love and devotion at least as deep or maybe even deeper. I shall seriously miss him when this tale finally ends. I was delighted to find that Pippin heard him speak. Wouldn’t they make a great pair? Tari

Linda Hoyland · 6 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

I just loved the scene of Aragorn with the cat.

Dreamflower · 6 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

Goodness! If Alqualonde thinks his world is turned upside down now, wait until he learns that the King has returned and that it was he who cured Faramir's Black Breath! I don't think anything could completely assuage his grief, but I expect that once the truth sinks in, he will be able to put it into perspective! And Pippin! How I loved Pippin's breathless recital! *grin*

shirebound · 6 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

What a fascinating story, where even a cat can benefit from the healer-King, and perhaps find a new life and a new purpose.

Fiondil · 6 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

How had he recovered so quickly from the horrors we had seen? How, indeed! But that's a Hobbit for you. *grin* Poor Alqualondë. I doubt he'll ever trust Gandalf further than he can throw the Wizard but I do hope with Pippin's help (and even Faramir's when he awakens), he will warm up to Aragorn and accept him as someone as worthy of service as he's acknowledged Denethor was. I wish these chapters weren't so short, though! I just get into it and boom! I have to wait for the next installment. At least you update regularly so I can live with it. *grin* Thanks for another great chapter about the Cat. I hope he (and your muse) deign to tell other tales about him in the future.

Grey Wonderer · 5 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

If it's one thing Pippin does well it's talk! LOL I loved the way he just started right in speaking to Alqualondë and chattering away. Alqualondë sorrow at the very beginning of this chapter is so heart breaking. I do hope Aragorn is able to ease the pain somewhat for this loyal, devoted animal.

Larner · 5 May 2008 · Chapter 19: A World Turned All Around

Alqualonde has a good deal to learn about Hobbits yet! Wait until he meets Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee! Heh! And he thinks Faramir's recovery is sorcery? Poor suspicious kitty!

Linda Hoyland · 5 May 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

I'm so glad Aragorn has come at last!

meckinock · 3 May 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

It's nice to see the warm bond that has developed between Alqualondë and Pippin, and that the cat is comforted somewhat by the respect the hobbit had for his late master. Whether the cat is right in blaming Gandalf or not, his need to lash out at a person he believes could have changed the outcome is understandable, given his raw grief and shock. It was touching when it was revealed the person gently holding him and stroking him was none other than Aragorn. It showed respect for Aragorn to formally introduce himself and ask for the cat's service. I suppose Alqualonde might have to wait and see how it goes with Faramir before giving an answer.

Baggins Babe · 3 May 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

Poor loyal, brave Alqualonde. I can see how he would have perceived Gandalf's failure to inform Denethor of the coming of Rohan to be treachery. Cats are always unfairly considered to be selfish or disloyal in my opinion, by people who don't understand these wonderful, bewitching creatures. I just want to hug the poor cat. Oh goodness! Aragorn has finally arrived. I do hope our dignified and wise cat feels able to give his service to the King.

Tari · 1 May 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

Poor Alqualondë. What a way to find out about his master. His rage is quite understandable. In the real world, cats do mourn when their owners die which made this so real to me. He was a brave little cat to attack Gandalf, who could quite possible have turned him into who knows what. (Maybe a toad.) I never thought about the possibility of Gandalf telling Denethor that Rohan was coming. It brings up the question as to why he didn't. I’ll have to pay closer attention the next time I read ROTK. Great chapter as always. Tari

Pearl Took · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

Poor horrified Alqualondë! To feel so alone and betrayed. I'm glad he could take some comfort from Aragorn.

Episcopal Witch · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 9: Saved

“That the Hobbit should think his family’s history could hold a candle to mine, but I like the imp and I will put pride aside, for a moment.” If the Cat learns more about Hobbits, perhaps he will be startled by their knowledge of the tiniest details of their family trees! And I suppose the purring and nestling is all JUST a smokescreen, hmmm? The Cat’s clear-sighted yet subtle perceptions are casting such a revealing on this oft-told tale from RotK. Even though I knew that Faramir was going to make it, I felt the Cat’s fear. Love the image of Pippin yelling and the Cat hissing at the Nazgul! (Have just had a ridiculous image of the Cat at Eowyn’s side on the Pelennor field arching his back at the Witch King—-Alqualonde is “no man,” too! Impossible but appealing. I hope that Alqualonde is going to end up nestling by Faramir’s side in the Houses of Healing, next to all that’s left of his beloved Steward....maybe there is some Rohirric ear-scratching in his future....) I’m glad that Alqualonde is bonding with Pippin. As I look at the chapter titles coming up, I know he’s going to need it. (It’s getting harder and harder to ration myself to small doses of Cat.) The worse events get, the more the Cat himself seems to be becoming aware of how truly he does love Denethor. “I must be with him when he hears the news; I must.” The more I read this story, the more I wish, like you, Agape, that the fate of the tragic Steward could have been different.

Grey Wonderer · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

This part was so sad for me. (and perhaps hope that another of my kind might be found. There are none left here in Minas Tirith.) The thought that in the midst of all of this, the Alqualondë is alone. I think it gives the cat a bond with Pippin during his time in the city. Pippin is the only hobbit in Minas Tirith for a time and alone among the big folk while Alqualondë is alone too. I have seen anger in a time of grief that reminds me so much of the scene that you've written here with Alqualondë's reaction to the sight of Gandalf. It's a blind rage and can be very startling. I find myself wondering what will be the result of Alqualondë's thoughts being heard. So far, the cat had not spoken to Pippin, so he at least, must have been caught completely by surprise. Again, I must say that I find this look at events through Alqualondë's eyes very entertaining and I am still enjoying this very much.

Raksha The Demon · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

A very dramatic, painful chapter indeed. I do have some objections, not to the quality of the writing, which is powerful, but to certain other points. 1. The chapter title - Treachery Revealed. There is no treachery. Gandalf never betrayed Denethor; nor did he swear fealty to him to obey him in anything. Denethor certainly didn't reveal all of his knowledge of Sauron's strategy to Gandalf (until Gandalf himself announced them - i.e. the Witch-King's participation in the Enemy's taking of the outwalls, and the coming of another of Sauron's armies from the Black Gate). Neither Denethor nor Gandalf is under any obligation to reveal information to each other. The title only makes sense if the title is a reference to Alqualonde's own opinion rather than an objective heading for events within the chapter. 2. I do take issue with Pippin saying that Denethor didn't know that the Rohirrim had come - Pippin never said so in the book. In ROTK, it is not said whether Denethor knew or not; though his attitude is so prideful and despairing by that point that, as other readers have pointed out, knowledge of the Rohirrim's arrival would probably not have deterred Denethor from his course. 3. From what I can see by reading ROTK, it is very likely that Denethor did know that the Rohirrim had come. At the time that he is having the servants prepare the pyre in Rath Dinen, the sound of the horns is reaching up into the very sides of Mount Mindolluin (Horns, horns, horns. In dark Mindolluin's sides they dimly echoed.) 4. Gandalf has often been close-mouthed, cryptic and secretive. But he has never opted for needless cruelty; and seems to have always abhorred unnecessary deaths. There are two possibilities why Gandalf didn't tell the crazed and suicidal Denethor that the Rohirrim had come: (A) Gandalf took it for granted, having heard the horns himself and the horns being loud enough for Denethor to have heard them in Rath Dinen; (B) Gandalf deliberately withheld mention of the Rohirrim because he thought the battle wasn't necessarily going well on the Pelennor and he thought that telling the already distressed Denethor that his allies had arrived and were getting their horses' behinds kicked might cause poor Denethor to light that pyre even quicker. I think the first theory more valid.

6336 · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

Probably not, as far gone as Denethor was I don't think he would have belived Gandalf, he was too much in Sauron's thrall! More please, Lynda

Fiondil · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

I think I would have to agree with most of your other reviewers and for the various reasons they give. If Gandalf ever thought to tell Denethor about Rohan, perhaps he realized how futile such would prove in deterring Denethor from his chosen path. I think ultimately Denethor was less in love with Gondor and more in love with himself as its ruler. He would never have been able to live in a world where there was an actual King on the throne of Gondor (and Arnor) however exalted his role as Steward might have been under Aragorn's rule (as we see in his ennobling Faramir as Prince of Ithilien). It is hoped that the healing hands of Aragorn will comfort Alqualondë and that the Cat will come to realize that even if Denethor had known of Rohan's coming, it was, for him, too late. Thus, Denethor's greatest tragedy was succumbing to despair. A great, if short, chapter and I'm looking forward to seeing how this all ends.

Anonymous · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

Yeah, Gandalf is a terrible person. Denethor believes nothing he tells him unless he has already confirmed it for himself, he has treated him badly for years, insulted him, told him that he believes he deliberately tried to poison his sons and his knights against him. Is he going to believe Gandalf in a highly charged moment after his mind has been overwhelmed by despair? No. He would think it another trick, meant to delay him so that his will could be thwarted yet again. Why SHOULD he believe Gandalf, or anyone? By the same reasoning used to disparage Gandalf, didn't anyone else in the city hear the horns, like Pippin did? Didn't other people already try to tell Denethor? Wasn't there shouting and cheering in the streets when the horns were heard? Probably. Did this make any difference whatsoever to Denethor? No. Remember, he told Gandalf that their hope had been cheated. He probably had seen Rohan coming in the palantir -- just as he had seen the Black Fleet coming. He believed that the reinforcements coming to the aid of their enemies would be stronger than any help coming for them. This is the sort of thing Sauron would have delighted in revealing to him. "Sure, your allies are coming, but they're not going to be as many or as strong as the allies who are coming to help ME. Chew on that, Denethor!" Which he did, and despaired. Gandalf could have said, "Rohan has come," and it would have made no difference. Despair was now in control of Denethor's mind, not reason.

Dreamflower · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

You know, you have put your finger on the one thing about Gandalf's characterization that had so often irked me over the years: the many times he kept his mouth shut when it would have made so much more *sense* for him to say something. Of course, *story-EXternally* it makes a lot of sense--JRRT couldn't surprise the readers if Gandalf was constantly spoiling major plot points. But *story-INternally*, I've never really been satisfied with a lot of the explanations. What did Gandalf know, or not know, why did he reveal or not reveal, certain things? Of course, it makes him seem more "human" to have a flaw. Gandalf was "close"--whether as the Grey or as the White, he was cryptic and secretive. Still--it's never satisfactorily explained to me!

shirebound · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

It looks as if the hands of the King -- and his esteem -- will be a healing force for our dear cat, as well as for the others.

eiluj · 30 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

That's an interesting point of view. Too bad we can't ask JRRT! I agree that there *was* enough time for Gandalf to tell Denethor, but I don't think it would have changed his mind. I offer the following quotations: 1. "Then Gandalf seeing the madness that was upon him" -- I think this cannot be understated. Given Gandalf’s ability to read minds and hearts, there’s no doubt he understood Denethor’s mental state. And I think Tolkien was telling us that Denethor was literally beyond reason at that point. 2. "'Nay, I have seen more than thou knowest, Grey Fool. For thy hope is but ignorance. Go then and labour in healing! Go forth and fight! Vanity. For a little space you may triumph on the field, for a day. But against the Power that now arises there is no victory. To this City only the first finger of its hand has yet been stretched. All the East is moving. And even now the wind of thy hope cheats thee and wafts up Anduin a fleet with black sails. The West has failed. It is time for all to depart who would not be slaves'" -- I really doubt that knowledge of Rohan's arrival would have given Denethor enough hope to have made any difference. Especially since all that Gandalf and Pippin knew was the simple fact of Rohan's *arrival*. But look again at what Denethor says: it could be his answer to a mention of Rohan: "'For a little space you may triumph on the field, for a day. But against the Power that now arises there is no victory.'" 3. Denethor sneers at Gandalf's plans to bring in a Northern Ranger to "supplant" him. "'What then would you have,' said Gandalf, 'if your will could have its way?'" Denethor answers: "To be the Lord of this City in peace, and leave my chair to a son after me, who would be his own master and no wizard's pupil. But if doom denies this to me, then I will have *naught*: neither life diminished, nor love halved, nor honour abated’” -- If we take this literally, Denethor wouldn’t have been satisfied with victory over Sauron unless it was also accompanied by Faramir’s return to health (and lack of allegiance to Gandalf!) and the continuation of the Stewards’ pre-eminence in Gondor. And if he can’t have all of that, he doesn’t want to live. And he believes he’s losing *all* of that: Faramir is dying -- and in any case, looks to Gandalf rather than to his father -- and Gandalf is bringing in the Northern heir. Even victory against Sauron will usher in a world Denethor refuses to accept or be a part of. I think you’re correct in that it never occurred to Pippin to mention Rohan. Would Pippin have regretted not telling Denethor? Definitely! And Gandalf? He may well have thought of mentioning it, but felt it was an argument that wouldn’t have made any difference. Would he have regretted not telling Denethor? I think that depends on his evaluation of Denethor’s madness -- but I’m sure he’d have had second thoughts and regrets, also. I’m looking forward to seeing Alqualondë’s reaction to Aragorn.

Larner · 29 April 2008 · Chapter 18: Treachery Revealed

He thinks that Gandalf betrayed Denethor by not telling him of Rohan's arrival? But Gandalf wasn't in the Citadel, and probably was more focused on Faramir's safety than on what Denethor knew or didn't know about the coming of allies and reinforcements when he confronted Denethor in the House of the Stewards, or so I would think. Alas! But at least he now has a new Lord, and one whose mind is clear and healthy, and whose spirit is such he will do what Denethor had lost the ability--and will--to do for Gondor. Yay! Aragorn is here now!

Episcopal Witch · 28 April 2008 · Chapter 8: Livery

"Thankless indeed were the deeds of the men of Gondor. Did those in the far reaches of this land know of the sacrifices made by the stalwart knights of this fair land?....Free, for a time, from evil, because of the Lord Denethor’s sense of duty. My heart sang in praise of him." Wonderful Cat. I'm glad he appreciates Denethor. I hope his feline pride allows him to let Denethor read this feeling in him. "Now, more than ever, I knew he needed me. Were not Boromir lost and Faramir away? Who else did he have?" This is utterly simple and desperately sad. The note of impending sorrow and doom is inevitable at this point in events. I'm glad that Alqua is such a Cat, though, that he gives the possibility of salmon top priority.

Episcopal Witch · 28 April 2008 · Chapter 7: An Unexpected Chat

This was just lovely, the whole encounter from beginning to end! I'm so glad the Cat met Gandalf! And I'm pleased, too, so see that I was right, that Gandalf knows quite well what the Cat's been up to. How fine that he does not, in fact, disapprove. Gandalf understands that the Cat is helping Gondor. Two kindred spirits. This gentle, twinkly, but quietly powerful Gandalf is just right. I very much like the way you portray Gandalf's reaction to Denethor. I have always thought that Gandalf respected Denethor highly and himself felt thought the two had much in common as "terrible old men." And the relationship with Faramir - the Gandalf who here says "I would do naught to sunder him from his father" is the same person who reminds Faramir that his father does love him. I can just see the Cat stalking out, tail held high, on his dignity pretending it was his own idea to leave!

Episcopal Witch · 28 April 2008 · Chapter 6: Ill News and Foul Memories

That opening was unexpected! Poor Cat.... I continue to thoroughly enjoy the Cat's completely justified sense of his own dignity and value. "The Lord Denethor must have cat in his veins..." No higher compliment possible, indeed!