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The Ranger and the Eagles by Cairistiona	21 Review(s)
Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/14/2026
Gandalf stood in the cave opening, his staff glowing and all his thought bent on the Eagle flying overhead. He could only hope that it would see him and be intrigued enough to come investigate this odd new glow on its doorstep. It was all well and good to know that Eagles were around, but convincing one to come to one’s aid was often a tricky matter. righttttt they're very useful. When they want to be. They held themselves aloof from the affairs of Men and Elves and all those creatures that were tied to the earth, including wizards. But these majestic Northern birds, much like the Men of Westernesse themselves, had kept their ties to Manwë, and as Gandalf also had a strong connection with that great Vala, he could only hope that such affinity might hold him in good stead when it came to convincing an eagle to come calling. Okay whoa the fact that like. Gandalf personally knows the Valar, is friends with the greatest of them, is kinda crazy to think about. He frowned, adding Manwë to his thoughts, and the tip of his staff burned brighter. yessss After quite a number of minutes, Gandalf felt a change in the air. It was subtle, but he had felt it before, while perched in burning trees with goblins and wolves howling for his blood and the blood of his fourteen diminutive companions. He looked to the sky and smiled. The Eagle now circled directly above, looming larger and larger as it slowly descended toward him. Before very long, Gandalf could see the great shining eyes and the variegated shades of brown and cream on the mighty bird’s feathers, and the glint of gold around its neck. Gandalf chuckled quietly; it seemed the Eagles were still enjoying their share of the Dwarves’ gold. lolll <3 okay that change in the air he feels is so cool It was not the Lord of Eagles, but this one was very nearly as large. If Gandalf were not mistaken, it seemed he was about to be visited by a female eagle, for females were often larger than their male counterparts. ohhh true that makes sense As she passed overhead, the rush of wind from her vast wings buffeted Gandalf and blew his hat completely off his head. She landed as he bent to retrieve it. He picked it up, brushed the snow from its brim and held it in his hands as he turned and bowed to her. She lifted most of her feathers and let them settle again as she looked him up and down with golden eyes that shone with fierce intelligence but also benign good will. "Gandalf the Grey," she said, bowing her noble head. "It has been many years since you last met with my kind." yayyyy <33 "Too long an interval, my lady." She preened a bit, then nodded. "I am Menelris, one of the Chieftains of the Eagles." "A queen of the sky, indeed. Great are your wings, and lovely are your feathers." She accepted the compliment as her due, then looked beyond Gandalf’s shoulder to the cave within, where Aragorn was just visible, still sleeping by the fire, the blanket clutched in both hands and pulled to his chin. "The man found you, then?" the Eagles are so like, proud but also "intelligence and benign good will" and all those things, you describe them well. Their pride is not unfounded or excessive, just "yep my wings are indeed great" "Ah, so you know of him." "I saw him fall, but then billowing snow from the avalanche hid him from my eyes and I lost track of him. I am glad he found succor. Surprised, but glad. Few who suffer his fate live to tell the tale." yayyyy yes "It is uncertain yet that he will live, which is why I am so grateful you deigned to land." "Whether my landing benefits you or your friend remains to be seen, wizard," she said with some asperity. "What was he doing on our mountain?" loll she's like. well that's up to me whether to help you, isn't it. please do? "He and I are hunting." hmm well that's one way of putting it "A bit late in the year and high on the crags to be looking for game. Indeed, my mate and I will be starting our southward journey within days. It is warmer there, and in those lands the Anduin will not be so stingy with her fish during the winter months." "The game we seek is not for eating, but for questioning. We hunt a creature, a pale, gangling thing named Gollum, who skulks in caves and shadowed places and who may tell us important information regarding a bit of treasure he once possessed." yes thank you for...a bit more of an explanation treasure hm "Treasure again! Always treasure with you and whatever companions with which you array yourself. I like my necklace, but I will not put myself in jeopardy for a trinket. Nor to help you find a trinket of your own." lol uh she has no idea "We already know of the treasure’s location, but we now seek knowledge of its significance. I fear it may be a force of unspeakable evil." thank youuu that's a better description. well said. She tilted her head. "Evil, you say. Yes, there is much evil growing in the south, and its stench grows thicker each day. I fear it will spread North ere long. Indeed, we watched nearly two years ago as evil stalked the lands to the west, in the guise of a darkly-clad wretch the likes of whom we have not seen for generations.* Tell me: was it seeking this same creature?" yessss and oh yeah I think I earlier said "last winter", I forgot about the year that passed between "No, I do not believe so. I believe it may have been seeking my wounded companion, for reasons I cannot share at this time." "Does your companion have a name?" "He calls himself Strider." hmmm yes A knowing glint appeared in Menelris’ eye. "‘Calls himself’. Interesting choice of words. I take it he has some other given name that he would prefer remain unknown." yesss "calls himself" hehe Gandalf smiled. "You are as canny as you are beautiful. It could go ill for him, were his identity to become widely known." "It takes no great intelligence to read the meaning behind your words, wizard. But I thank you for the compliment nonetheless." She lowered her head and again looked toward the cave. "Far be it for an Eagle to involve herself too closely in the affairs of wizards and men, although I admit I am very intrigued by this Strider of yours. I have seen him before, wandering the lands. And when he was young, he dwelt in Imladris, am I correct?" yesssss lol Gandalf complimenting her and she's like well, thanks, but also. Not too hard mm she knows much "Nothing seems to miss your sharp eyes." indeeddd Gandalf knows how to interact with the Eagles "I know of him, and can make a fair guess as to his true identity, but his business and whatever name he now goes by may remain his own, so long as the evil one was not searching him out as an ally." oh HECK no "I can assure you, Strider is no ally of evil, in whatever guise it takes." "So you vouch for him?" "Most definitely." yesssss "That, then, is sufficient for me, for you have ever been a friend to the Eagles, and to all living things. You said this Strider – such a landbound name! It is harsh on my tongue. Better was another name by which he traveled. But you say he is injured? How may I assist?" awwww YAY thank you noble Menelris <3 Also what does her name mean? As far as I can tell it means "heavens/sky/firmament" but google does not know any Sindarin root that is "-ris" It took Gandalf a moment to recover, so great was his surprise that she seemed to know all about Aragorn and his many guises, especially Thorongil. yesss I like also that she's like ah, eagle of the star is a much better name :) instead of being like "hm a human dare take on himself the noble name of eagle?" But he supposed Eagles likely knew far more than they told, for they saw things far and wide from their great circling flights above the earth. But did she know of the import of his true name, he wondered, and then decided even if she did, the secret would be safe with her. He relaxed. "He is injured, yes. A wound to the back that threatens to suppurate, and a blow to the head that has left him dazed. I have cleaned the back wound and stitched it, but he will need rest and warmth and good food, all of which are in short supply in this small cave." suppurate ooh a new word I like but don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to use XD "I can carry him to Rivendell." "I was thinking of Beorn’s Hall, actually." She shifted, her feathers ruffling slightly. "The Beornings will shoot me." A glimmering amusement lit her eyes. If anything, Gandalf would have to say she looked mischievous. "Allies they have become since the great battle, but they still think we enjoy too much of their mutton." LOLL her mischievous look "I see things have not changed in the years since I last spoke with the Eagles." lolll She let out a chirruping laugh, a high whistling note of mirth. "Ever will Beornings raise sheep, and ever will Eagles view their flocks as banquets set upon the hillside in our honor." LOL um even when it's clear you know they are not meant to be "I understand your hesitancy to brave the bowshots of the Beornings, but I fear it too far to Rivendell, and the height too great. The chill air may do him greater harm than staying here." hmmm as much as I like Rivendell that is a great point "I can take you as far as The Carrock, then." hmm "And how then will I get Strider, weakened as he is, across all those dales?" YEP She walked to the cave entrance and peered in, then clicked her yellow beak in sympathy. "Men always seem pale to me, but he does seem pale beyond what is healthy. If he were an Eagle, I would say he looks more than a bit feeble in the feathers. Definitely in no shape for hiking, is he. YESSS lol more than a bit feeble in the feathers indeed, I love it thank you for your sympathy <3 Perhaps if I brought you food, and wood for your fire, you could stay here until he is stronger, and then I can carry you both to The Carrock." generous, is she <3 thank you Gandalf stroked his beard, frowning as he stared into the middle distance, weighing the risks of staying. A blizzard could strike, trapping them here for who knew how long and preventing Menelris from bringing food or wood. And there was still the matter of orcs. As close as they were to the Eyrie, they were likely safe enough, but if a stray band were to come upon them here, defense of such a small cave was hardly tenable. And truly, he did not fancy calling upon Menelris to wait on them hand and foot for so long; it was too much to ask even of her evidently very generous nature. Perhaps Rivendell were the best option. But he needed to know the answer to one last question before he could decide. "How fares the weather in the High Pass?" indeed an evidently very generous nature, but yeah I'd get nervous asking that much favor from an eagle hmmm "Foul. ope looks like we're staying Winter has struck early, and there are storms nearly every day, though it falls as rain still in the lower reaches. The High Pass is already closed to those who travel afoot. Flying through there, though possible, is difficult. We have to soar over the tops of storms more often than not." ohhhh dear yeah "and the height too great" I don't know how Aragorn would handle that, three pairs of hose or no also air "A man, injured or no, cannot live in such heights above the clouds, even for a short while," yeahhh good point Gandalf said. It was decided, then. The Carrock it must be, and he would make do with whatever shelter he found there. "If you could return in the heat of the day, when the chill of flying will be lessened for my friend, I will gratefully accept your offer to take us to The Carrock, and hope from there to find help among the Beornings. I could, if need be, leave him for a time as I seek assistance." hmmm I hope Menelris bowed her head, and then she stretched her wings. Gandalf expected her to fly away, but she suddenly folded them back. She looked toward the cave, her eyes troubled, then stepped into the opening. She was far too large to enter, but she stretched her neck so she could take a closer look at Aragorn. Gandalf moved closer, stooping low to look through her legs, ready to intervene should Aragorn become alarmed. But Aragorn lay insensate, completely unaware that he was under the close scrutiny of a very large eagle. lollll he has no idea She gently brushed her beak against his cheek, a surprisingly motherly gesture from one so fierce. She cooed softly, but when Aragorn failed to stir, she backed out of the cave, stepping lightly back onto the snow. awwwww "Even one as ignorant of the ways of Men as I can see he is weak and in no small jeopardy of losing his life. He breathes too lightly." She clacked her beak several times, obviously agitated. "No. I do not like the idea of your leaving him once you get to The Carrock; it could mean his death. So I will make this promise: if there are no hunters about – if the way seems clear – I will take you to Beorn’s Hall itself, or as close to it as I safely can. Archers shooting at me could as easily hit you or your companion, after all. But looking at him.... yes, I feel we must risk the danger." <3333 THANK YOU MOST NOBLEST MENELRIS Her tender concern touched Gandalf deeply. "That is more than a fair promise, and I thank you." Awwwwwww yes indeed <333 "Of course, what you do from there is your own affair. I have heard that Beorn does not suffer unexpected guests with good grace." (she says with some amount of concern for their affairs <3) "I have had dealings with him before; I am certain I can convince him to let us stay." <3 if he can convince him to house 13 unexpected dwarves and a hobbit he can convince him to house himself and one deathly ill man in the middle (well, beginning) of a harsh winter XD "If he has a heart at all, he will take one look at your friend and pity will consume him," she said, again with a tender note in her voice. "Until this afternoon, then. We will fare each other well properly after I deliver you however far to the East as I may," she said, and then with a mighty flap of her great wings, she was airborne and riding the updrafts back to the heights of the mountains. AWWWWWW Aragorn winning hearts as effortlessly as ever <333 her pity and tenderness is so sweet. And being sure anyone who looks at him would feel the same. Also she does evidently know enough of men to tell when their breathing is too light, and that goes to her credit <3 Gandalf watched her until she disappeared, then ducked back into the cave. Aragorn was awake, and looking at him. "Am I mad with fever, or did an eagle just touch me?" he asked, his voice far too weak for Gandalf’s ease of mind. LOLLL <33 far too weak yay Gandalf pressed the back of his hand against Aragorn’s cheek; his skin felt almost painfully hot, and a sheen of perspiration matted his hair against his forehead. But the droop was gone from his right eye, and some of the bleariness. "You have fever, yes, but you are not mad. Menelris is her name. Queen of the Sky, one of their Chieftains. She has agreed to take us to the east, hopefully as far as Beorn’s Hall." mmm feverrrrr yayy droop gone Aragorn’s eyes grew troubled. "How..." He stopped, then said in a very quiet voice, "I have never ridden an eagle." awwwww troubled and then that quiet nervousness <33 we very rarely see Aragorn nervous or like, shy or whatever this is "You will be fine. It’s quite like riding a horse, in many ways." LOL sure Aragorn said nothing, but Gandalf could tell he was beset with great unease, and he wondered what worried Aragorn more: the idea of flying itself, or the idea of flying while weak and injured. awwww <33 being scared of flying. Which. Very fair. flying while weak (VERY) and injured...eep He thought about asking, but Aragorn tensed suddenly, gritting his teeth against a wave of pain. The spasm, when it passed, left him pale and trembling. "I’m sorry," he gasped. YESSS WHUMP TENSING PALE AND TREMBLING and gasping speech uh, sorry Aragorn :) "My dear fellow, do not apologize. Let me see what is going on back there," yes thank you please do not apologize <3 Gandalf said, and stepped around to kneel behind him. He gently peeled the bandages back and was surprised to find that last night’s redness had faded. There was a small amount of swelling but the wound looked far better than Gandalf would have expected. But there was little doubt Aragorn had a fever; even now he shivered as he fell back into uneasy sleep. yayyyy hmm already asleep <3 but uneasy yess oh I forgot to picture him on his side What could be causing this fever, Gandalf wondered. hmm I honestly have no idea The wound seemed better, so perhaps it was simply due to too-long exposure to the cold. Even the hardiest of Númenóreans in the days since that isle was drowned sometimes fell to divers fevers and plagues. Broken indeed were the gifts of Númenor, even in one whose blood was as pure as Aragorn’s; for as great as Elendil himself was, his span was not as long as the Lords of Andunië, and theirs not as long as the days given Elros before them. Waning, waning... to ever wane seemed always the fate of Men. Gandalf sighed. Not since those early days had the Dúnedain lived the intended span of their lives. Still, Gandalf had felt that strong pillar of strength in Aragorn, and he somehow knew this would not defeat him. "Long indeed will be your days, Aragorn. They shall not end in shivering and suffering in a cave on an unnamed and misbegotten mountain." <33 YESSSSSSS well said lolll "misbegotten", he's like, curse the day this mountain was formed He stepped over Aragorn and settled down again beside him to keep watch. Try as he might, he could not keep his thoughts marshaled toward hope, and that was a rare and unsettling thing. He looked down at Aragorn, at the suffering etched in his face, and seldom had he felt such impotent anger. saskdfkh the suffering etched in his face This was the king lying here, injured, ill, forgotten by all save a remnant few of his own people, and a scattering of Elves and apparently at least one Eagle. Gondor herself had no inkling, no prescience that her king cometh. No, for all her seers and men wise in lore, even to the Steward Denethor himself, none knew that their king lived and breathed, crownless as he moved from peril to peril, seeking a way, often alone, to defeat the Shadow, at whatever considerable cost to his own life. SKASHDJSGKJSDHG <3333 thank you thank you Gandalf for being one of the few who does truly know and appreciate Aragorn's nobility, suffering, sacrifice, humility, and pain. Such great and selfless deeds going unknown and unthanked is a very frustrating thing for me, so I'm glad it is for Gandalf too <3 It was enough to embitter even the most hopeful. Gandalf's turn to struggle with hope? So fair <:( embitter, yes. I like worry that it's pride that makes me want Aragorn to be more appreciated, but I don't know. Maybe it's more just. Wanting fairness and love for him. Cause usually pride is more self-centered. In any case it makes me feel better that Gandalf and probably anyone else who knows Aragorn's identity and story feels the same way <3 Aragorn muttered something. Gandalf bent close, but Aragorn did not repeat himself. "Crownless you may be, but a king you are, Aragorn, and a king you shall ever be, even if you never see your throne," Gandalf whispered. He brushed Aragorn’s hair from his face, and did not try to blink away the tears pricking his eyes. ADKSSHDFJKSHGSJD AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW and a king you ever shall be <3333 thank you Gandalfffffffff I greatly appreciate the words of honor not trying to blink away the tears <3 I think those are all very reasonable extrapolations and I like them!

Minerva Organa	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/13/2011
How much do I love Menelris? Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiss much!! I love that the Eagles have finally come, I love that you have given us a female Eagle, and I love the way you characterize her. The way she talks is very similar to how I've always imagined the Eagles, and the exchanges between her and Gandalf are perfect. And of course, I also love Gandalf and Aragorn. And am very concerned for our Ranger!! Author Reply: Thank you, ma'am! I'm so glad you like Menelris... I had a lot of fun creating her, almost as much fun as coming up with owies to inflict on poor Aragorn. g

LisaG	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/13/2011
I love Menelris! She's very...well...eagle-ish, but kind and caring :) Gandalf's concern and compassion over Aragorn's current predicament and his life long struggle against the darkness is very touching...you made me smile at his teary reaction in the end. Author Reply: Thank you, LisaG! So glad you like Menelris, and I'm glad Gandalf's teary reaction wasn't too over the top. I imagine it would take quite a lot to bring him to tears like that... and well, Aragorn nearly dying surely qualifies!

layne	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/13/2011
Yay for a girl eagle! I thought that was a good move, and I love it when she said that Strider was such an earth-bound name :) What does Thorongil mean btw? Author Reply: Thank you, Layne! I'm glad you liked this. Menelris as a Chieftain seems to be agreeable with just about everyone, which is a relief. :) And Thorongil means "Eagle and Star" or "The Eagle and the Star", basically, so you can see where Menelris might prefer that name over Strider!

Ainu Laire	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/12/2011
I fail at the whole 'review on time' thing. Anyways, this story is fantastic so far. Very medically-techy, never knew you were so well-versed with medicine. Also, I love how you characterize the Eagle, she seems very neat. I did love the end of chapter 3 when Gandalf was staring at the eagle, wondering how he was going to help Aragorn and find a horse... and then he came to realization. I was laughing a bit at that. Anyways, fantastic job, as always, Cair. Cannot wait for more! :D Hope the eagle isn't shot at! Author Reply: Thank you, Laire! Fear not, you don't fail at reviewing... there's no deadline, after all. :) I'm glad you're liking this so far. As for the medical stuff, I did quite a bit of research, and though I don't aim for technical perfection, as this is fiction and not a medical journal, I do try not to stretch "dramatic license" too far past believability, although I'm sure there are glaring errors here and there. And yay that you laughed at poor Gandalf! Well, Gandalf may not appreciate your laughter, but I do, as I wanted that to be a bit of a light moment amidst all the angst. :) And you know what? Eagles are FUN. I never would have thought I could have enjoyed writing Eagles but wow... Anyway, thanks for the review and hope you enjoy the rest of the tale!

Darkover	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/11/2011
Dear Cairistiona: I love this story. I'm very pleased that you've added some new chapters, and I eagerly await more. I loved that "feeble in the feathers" line. I'm still wondering how Aragorn managed to get part of a tree branch in him. Thanks for writing and posting this story. Sincerely, Darkover Author Reply: Thank you, Darkover! I'm so glad you're enjoying this tale! I'll be updating twice weekly until it's finished, so there's more to come on a regular basis... including a bit more on how Aragorn managed to get snagged like that. Thank you again for the review!

Imbecamiel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/11/2011
Just a silly, short addendum, but I forgot to say - And naturally she would think that "Thorongil" was a far superior name to "Strider." Ha! Yep, that part gave me the giggles. ;D - Cami Author Reply: Hee hee! I'm glad you liked that little detail... as I was writing, it just occurred to me that an Eagle wouldn't really like anything to do with walking! g

Imbecamiel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/11/2011
Oh, this is just excellent. I believe I've mentioned before how much I admire the sure-handed way that you write characters commonly seen as difficult and intimidating to handle (I think so, certainly!). Gandalf is so fun to read, and to my mind perfectly in keeping with his canon personality. You know it's good when reading a story not only satisfies your inner fan, but actually makes you love the character more. Aragorn, in both his moments of wakefulness and the secondhand views of him through Gandalf's thoughts, continues to be utterly awesome. The way that you manage to blend Aragorn-being-awesome, Aragorn-being-vulernable, Aragorn-being-hurt (g), and the general dichotomies presented by his being simultaneously noble and kingly, and yet humble, down-to-earth, and very used to rough living... Well, I just couldn't ask for better. Utterly satisfying. Yep, enough to leave me grinning like crazy all the way. And eagles! Oh, eagles! I just love the great eagles, but they are so rarely used in fanfiction. (I can actually only remember seeing them make an appearance... once? Maybe twice?) Yes, given the fact that they tend to avoid involvement in outside affairs that may be only logical, but still... wistful So much fun to see them here! Menelris is just delightful - you do just have the best sense for OCs, always making them interesting and endearing, real, and never crossing that line between "filling out and complementing the plot" and "taking over, drawing things too far from the main characters, and becoming annoying." They really serve to make "your" vision of Middle Earth that much more alive, and I enjoy them immensely. And, naturally, the occasional touch of unavoidable ranger injury and illness is nicely handled. Yes, I think I can tolerate that aspect or this particular story quite easily. innocent smile (Okay, yes, it's just as excellently done as I've come to expect from you, and wonderfully angsty. Bring on more! ;D) You know, there are some stories that're so packed full of awesomeness that all the way through I'm torn between the desire to read as fast as possible to find out what's going to happen next - and the need to keep taking breaks, just because there's so much good stuff there that I actually have to keep stopping to think parts over and properly savor it. Your stories definitely do fit in that category. Yes, even on re-reads. g Absolutely loving it - and can't wait for more! - Cami Author Reply: Thank you, Cami! Oh gosh, you've made me blush furiously, reading all this! Where to start... I guess by saying that you've hit on all the reasons I write fic: to explore the "untold" bits of Tolkien's world, definitely, but also to bring, hopefully, a new appreciation of the characters to readers. Like the Eagles--you're absolutely right in that there's very little fanfiction that includes them, and most of that is done with a sort of light hand. I want with this story to show them as full-fledged (no pun intended!) individuals, each with their own personalities, and who, as a group, have a thriving community of their own. In some ways I think this story is more about Eagles than Aragorn! At any rate, I'm glad you enjoy the OC's and the way I handle the canon characters. It's always encouraging to hear that I've given someone new appreciation for the canon characters. :) Thanks so much for the thoughtful review!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/11/2011
As Manwe's servants, the Great Eagles were likely to recognize the royalty in Aragorn, or so I would suppose. Love the caring she shows for him, and her willingness to dare the bows of the Beornings for Aragorn's sake. Author Reply: Thank you, Larner! So glad you liked this... and I do wonder if that recognition of Aragorn might have played a part in her willingness to help, or if it just is an aspect of her caring nature. I haven't quite decided which!

Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/11/2011
Now I really want to meet an Eagle, too! I love the way you wrote Menelris - she's so perfectly eagle-ish (now that a really weird-sounding word, lol). I wouldn't be surprised at all if the Eagles knew about Aragorn. I'm just glad this one does and is more than willing to lend a helping hand... uhm, I meant to say wing. g I'm beginning to get more than a bit worried about Aragorn, though. It seems to me there's something more ailing him than what we (and Gandalf) already know. Well, I'll wait and see, but I'm quite sure he wouldn't be happy with whatever you've planned for him. ;-) Author Reply: Thanks, Silvren! Oh, poor Aragorn really is better off not knowing what lies ahead. evil grin And that's all I'll say about that. hee hee. But I'm glad you like Menelris... she did turn out very Eagle-ish, didn't she? And Tolkien wrote his Eagles very Eagle-ish, if you look at real eagles and how they behave and think etc. It really has been fascinating to study both types of birds and see the similarities and differences. :) Thanks for the review!

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