At Hope's Edge by Cairistiona
Speedy Hobbit · 21 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Ohhhhh, Aragorn, so very eloquent in his letter-writing! What sorrows is he holding back, though? Time for me to click the "next" button...
Author's reply
Oooh, thank you for hitting the "next" button ... and for leaving the review. Hopefully you'll find the story compelling enough to keep hitting that "next" button. Thanks!
Szepilona10 · 21 December 2008 · Chapter 2: I Will Carry Your Sorrows
Honestly Aragron, it wouldn't hurt to be a little less stuborn(sp?) at times! Great chapter! Update soon please! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
I've tried to talk to him about that stubbornness, but he stubbornly insists on being stubborn. What can you do??? *grin* Thanks for the review and glad you're still hanging in there!
Estelcontar · 21 December 2008 · Chapter 2: I Will Carry Your Sorrows
Another great chapter. I really, really enjoyed the way Halbarad's love of Aragorn comes through here. You manage to characterize him well in this chapter as a loyal, intelligent and caring friend, who, like Aragorn, also has a dry sense of humour. No wonder he understands Aragorn so well. I can feel your Halbarad also has an enourmous zest for life. Anyway, he comes across as a very real person. The dialogues between him and Aragorn are wonderfully revealing: they show how well they know each other, and how their personalities match each other too. I like the way you build up Aragorn's growing despondency and the nameless fear all the rangers feel is threatening them. I'm sure this is a foreshadowing for an encounter with WIKI, or, what is worse with WIKI and the other nameless wraiths. The piece about the slightly over ripe sausage is wonderfully real.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words, Estelcontar! I'm glad you liked this chapter--I do think that Halbarad and Aragorn were kindred spirits in many ways, and yes, Halbarad definitely enjoys life. :) Glad you liked all aspects of this (even the past-its-prime sausage) and thank you again for the review!
RS · 16 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
The scene with Aragorn kicking the Orc was such a powerful scene. You've transcended such anger and despair that it was gutwrenching. It was kind of scary. The death of Mallor got to me, especially after Aragorn's memories of him. "For a moment, Aragorn was sure he would fall into the black chasm that suddenly seemed to yawn before him" A very memorable and effective line. You weren't kidding when you said this story explored tragedy and grief...and I can't wait for the next posting.
Author's reply
Thank you for such a lovely review, RS! And yes, I really wasn't kidding about the whole tragedy and grief bit ... I think Tolkien gave so many clues that Aragorn had really been through some soul-shattering times, and yet he was so strong by the time of the trilogy, I thought I just had to explore the things that might have happened to forge him into the man he is in FOTR and beyond. I'm glad that you found this chapter so vivid ... I do try my best to transport the reader completely into the character's world, to feel what the character is feeling, and it's gratifying to hear when I have. And yes, next post will hopefully be up Sunday or Monday, as time permits. Holidays coming up next week but I'll do my best to keep posting chapters in a timely manner. Thank you again for your review!
Silivren Tinu · 16 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
Poor Mallor. *sigh* This must be a really hard blow for Aragorn, and all of them. Mallor still had so much of his life in front of him, and now it's been cut short so cruelly. I don't like what's going on with Aragorn at the moment - he seems to be drifting further into some kind of internal darkness from day to day. It must have been so very difficult to hold on to hope for all those years, and support others while he probably would have needed some comfort and support himself. To be a leader is definitely a very lonely job. I'm already looking forward to the next chapter! :)
Author's reply
Thanks for your review! Mallor's death is definitely a hard blow, and one on top of the hard blows he already endured over the summer... poor Aragorn's really having a time of it, isn't he? Thanks again for your review!
Linda Hoyland · 15 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
This is just heartrending. I see my guess was all too correct. You are a wonderful storyteller. I felt I was by aragorn's side at that battle!
Author's reply
Thank you, Linda! Yes, you were right... poor Mallor died, as one of my reviewers aptly put it, a "hero among heroes". I'm glad you found the entire chapter vivid and touching as well. Thanks again for reviewing!
Larner · 15 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
Ah--the grief of such losses, and us knowing one day it will be Halbarad he finds upon the battlefield afterward. But the youth died a hero among heroes. Poignant.
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner ... glad you found it moving. And yes, there is that added sorrow on our end, knowing what happens to Halbarad. I think if I could change one thing in Tolkien, that would be it--I'd prefer Halbarad lived. Ah well. That's far down the road and beyond the scope of my story, so we'll save that sorrow for another time. Thanks again!
Raksha The Demon · 15 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
Excellent characterisation of Aragorn here; the war-weary leader, sorrowing for the youngest of their company, having to put his sorrow aside and lead his men. And very good battle-sequences, too. I think it would always sadden a leader to lose so young and promising a warrior.
Author's reply
Many thanks, Raksha! I'm glad you liked this... it can be hard to write a strong man sorrowing, but I think Tolkien drew that so well himself that I'm only sort of "coloring in" the lines he drew so well. And war-weary is the exact description of Aragorn at this time, I would think. It's been a long, dark time of fighting with no end easily in sight. Thanks again for leaving a review!
Raksha The Demon · 15 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Being Heir of Isildur and Chieftain of the Dunedain is certainly no picnic in the late Third Age, is it?! But it's good that Aragorn is thinking like a king.
Author's reply
No, it's definitely not a picnic, and probably far worse than any of us can picture or even that I've written, I imagine. I do think, though, that Aragorn's days as Chieftain really honed him for the long struggle to attain the throne, and even as Chieftain he was always looking toward the future, or trying to, even when the path became too dim to see. And that is the heart of the struggle in this story. Hope you continue reading and thank you for the review!
inzilbeth · 14 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
We can only guess at how dreadful is the aftermath of battle, but it seems very realistically portrayed in this chapter, as is Aragorn's crashing despair at the lost of yet another of his men. The foreshadowing of worse to come is also most skilfully woven into the plot. Great stuff.
Author's reply
Thank you, Inzilbeth! And as you say, losing yet another man after the hard losses of the summer, especially such a young one... he would very much feel crashing despair. Thanks again for your review!
meckinock · 14 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
Wow, the sights and smells and physical aftermath of battle are grimly and realistically portrayed. The draining of adrenalin and the quiet, frantic headcount, and the dismayed realization that another man was lost. This is grim and gritty and quite matches the chapter title! Looking forward to more...
Author's reply
Thank you! "grim and gritty" ... I like that! That's definitely what I wanted, that and the (again I love your word choice) "quiet, frantic" feel to the chapter. I do think that too often in stories... whether fanfic or novels... the physical effects of the aftermath are glossed over at best or ignored. I wanted to be sure to show that Aragorn had the same sort of reactions as any man after a fight like that. More to come next week. Thanks again for your review!
meckinock · 14 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Ah, finally! I'm glad you finished this. Looking forward to reading it.
Author's reply
Yes, finally finished it, after what, a year? LOL I hope you like it ... I will always be extremely grateful for the help you gave me at the outset. I really don't think I would have gone anywhere in the fandom without your friendly welcome and this story especially would have died a quiet death on my hard drive without your input. Thanks again!
Estelcontar · 14 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
What a wonderfully poignant and insightful first chapter. Your description of the battle was so vivid, I felt I was there with Aragorn fighting that orc, and feeling exhausted. His pain at the death of Mallor is just right too. It illustrates beautifully the kind of leader Aragorn is: one who loves and cares for his people as if they were his own kin. That Mallor felt as if Aragorn were his father was a good point too because it shows the kind of close knit relationship a fairly small people like the Dúnedain of Arnor share. It so sad that Mallor had to die so young. He was such a sympathetic character. His death, though, highlights the self-sacrificing life the Dúnedain of Arnor led in order to protect their ancient territory.
Author's reply
Thank you, Estelcontar! I'm glad you mentioned the close-knit aspect of the Rangers, because I agree with you in that they would no doubt form very close bonds. Going through hardships together is something that binds men closer together than just about anything else, I think, and there definitely was plenty of hardship for the Dúnedain of Arnor to endure. And I often wonder how many young men they lost to battle, like Mallor. Scary times they endured.
Szepilona10 · 14 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Foreboding
How sad! Mallor was so young(older than me, but anyway). His poor mother! Update soon please! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Yes, it is a sad start, isn't it? Poor Rangers, and poor Mallor, and yes, his poor mother. Next update will come Sunday or Monday. Thanks for reading and reviewing ... and God bless. :)
Linda Hoyland · 10 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Poor Aragorn,what a grim outlook he faced.I've a nasty feeling the young boy will be the next doomed one.You write Rangers beautifully.I find this part of Aragorn's life very hard to write.I eagerly await more.
Author's reply
Thank you so much, Linda, for your kind review. I'm glad you like the way I write Rangers... they've become near and dear to my heart, so I'm glad to know you think I'm doing them justice. And of course, I can't say what comes next, other than, um, well ... no, I won't say anything. ;) Thanks again for the lovely review.
Marchwriter · 9 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Dear Cairistiona, At last, I can return the favor of a review! What a charming and engaging beginning to what promises to be quite a story! I can tell already that a great deal of work and time and consideration went into this piece. I would love to discover your interpretation of the matter of the Nazgul for that quote has often fascinated me (I also thought that there was something of the flashback in his "unseeing eyes aas if walking in distant memory or listening to the sounds of Night.") Tolkien was a soldier of WWI; it's not inconceivable that he would have been aware of such things--or even suffered some of them himself. Now for all of the delicious detail you put into this very promising prologue, I do have one aspect that jarred me a little. Your OCs look very engaging, and I look forward to meeting, but I wonder if Aragorn, having known these men for an indeterminate length of time, would have described them in such thorough and...gushing? detail. I know that letter writing was the best way of communication then, and men put a lot more into their words and were comfortable expressing a lot more than they seem to today, but the almost overabundance of description seemed...off. Perhaps, it's just me, and that is, of course, only my opinion. I still very much look forward to what you come up with (actually, I'm quite glad this story is already complete, so I don't have to suffer :) My own readers, unfortunately, will have to for a little yet.) All the best, Marchwriter --more detail? Less of an out and outright description of the men. Would aragorn spend so much time describing his men in that intimate a detail?
Author's reply
Thank you for the review, Marchwriter! I'm glad you mostly liked my beginning. In answer to your question--I do think Aragorn would describe the men as such. For one thing, this was a letter to his foster father. Had the letter not been a personal one but a strictly military report, then no, he would not have mentioned any of them in such terms. But being a missive to a loved one, I think we can give Aragorn some leniency in waxing a bit eloquent about his friends. But mileage varies and you're fine in disagreeing with my take on it. :) As for the Nazgûl quote, I have that exact same impression of it--I think Tolkien probably was very aware of men who had such experiences after combat. Wouldn't it have been great had Tolkien given us more detail on this? But then we wouldn't have the fun of exploring it ourselves. Thanks again for the thoughtful review. Hopefully my take on Aragorn will ring more true for you in future chapters.
Larner · 8 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
What to say, and what to leave unsaid, that is often difficult. Alas for the one who will be king, now when all looks otherwise. Lovely impressions of his life amongst his own folk.
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner! I do really want to paint the life of the Dúnedain with my stories, so I'm glad you commented on that. I think it must have been so hard, waiting so many years, watching the world grow darker and more evil, and not being able to do anything toward reaching that destiny... those are the thoughts that formed the genesis of this story. Well, that and Tolkien's vivid description of Aragorn's traumatic memory of the Nazgûl. ;) Thanks again for the review!
Silivren Tinu · 8 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Now that is really a promising beginning! You already had my full attention when I saw the FotR quote at the beginning - I always would have liked to know *exactly* what Aragorn was thinking about when he said those words. It seems my wish will be granted at last. ;-) It seems Aragorn has taken the deaths of those Dunedain very hard - you already hinted at it in "Keeping Watch", but he seems to be even more downcast now. I'm very glad he has Halbarad at his side to help him through whatever is to come. It is so like Aragorn to not want to worry Elrond and pretend that he's alright - somehow it makes me sad. He's so alone because of it. A wonderful beginning, I'm looking forward to more! :) Almut
Author's reply
Thank you, Almut! I'm glad you liked the start of this. And yes, that quote intrigued me from the first time I read it, too. It just seemed to me that whatever happened to him must have been really terrible for him to have such a reaction however many years after--he seems to all but have a flashback, from the sounds of it. And for someone as strong as Aragorn to still be troubled ... well, there had to be more, right? I hope the rest of the story holds up as well for you as the prologue! Thanks again!
inzilbeth · 8 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
I'm absolutely delighted this fabulous story is finally seeing the light of day. It's one of the most realistic, gritty views of how life might have been for the Rangers, and for Aragorn in particular, that I have ever read. Those long years between his return to the North and the finding of the Ring, must have been so difficult for Aragorn and at times maintaining hope, almost impossible. I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride one more time!
Author's reply
LOL ... well, thank you so much for all the help you gave me or this thing would *not* have seen the light of day now nor any time soon. It really is hard to imagine just how hard life was for Aragorn and the rest of the Rangers. Hopefully I'll have done it justice by the time the story is finished. Thanks again!
Estelcontar · 8 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
What a fascinating prologue. It's beautifully written, to the point, and gives one some tantalizing foreshadowing of what it's to come. Furthermore, you get a completely believable and cannon faithful Aragorn. In his letter to Elrond you see the caring and thoughtful leader of the Dúnedain, who worries and frets about his people and about the effects his despondency might cause on Elrond. On the other hand, through it all you feel a gentle streak of humour which lightens the piece, and illustrates well one of my favourite traits of Aragorn - his sense of humour. Well done. I can't wait to read the other chapters.
Author's reply
Wow, thank you, Estelcontar, for such a lovely review--I'm amazed you pulled all that out of this because I have to confess, I didn't consciously try to do any of those things. But I suppose in knowing Aragorn and the person he is, when one writes, those traits will come through. And thank you again for being my "test reader" on this! I hope you enjoy the second time 'round ... there'll be a few new things here and there. ;)
Elflingimp · 8 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
I loved this, I cannot even imagine what it would have been like to be Aragorn, such a hard life before Sauron fell he had. I however can imagine Elrond reading between the lines in Aragorns new letter. His foster father was a wise elf, one of the wisest in Middle Earth. Hugs The Imp
Author's reply
Thank you, Elflingimp! I'm glad you like the start of this one, and yes, it would have been incredibly hard to have been Chieftain, watching over a people that were fast dwindling away. And yes, you and Aragorn both know that Elrond would read between those lines! Thanks again!
Szepilona10 · 8 December 2008 · Chapter 0: Prologue
Poor Aragorn! Update soon please! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Poor Aragorn indeed ... and this is just the beginning! I'll update again next Monday. Thanks for your review and God bless right back! :)