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The Ranger and the Eagles by Cairistiona	22 Review(s)
Lexilooper	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/19/2026
It had been a tiring day. Tiring, but rewarding as no day in his life ever had been. It was not every day, after all, that one is crowned a king. SKASJDDDHK WELL YES THAT WOULD EXPLAIN IT <33333 OH MY GOODNESS THE TRIUMPH AND RELIEF AND JOY CONTRASTED SO DIRECTLY FROM THE MOMENTS WHERE HE FELT HE COULD HARDLY DARE TO HOPE FOR THIS He looked at the crown sitting on its stand in the niche in the wall of his bedchamber. It was a bit crooked, so he straightened it until its graceful wings stood level with each other. His hands shook slightly, and he balled his fists and put them at his sides. He shut his eyes, took a deep breath and opened them again, almost afraid it had all been a dream.... skadh hands shaking slightly The crown was still there. And he was still standing in a vast bedchamber, where there were candles lit all around and a bed laid for him and a tray of food sitting on the table, left where he’d directed his maidservant to leave it. yesssss His maidservant. His very own. Not Elrond’s. Not Theoden’s. Not Denethor’s, nor Echthelion’s, all of whose household staffs had served him but at the behest of his hosts. Now, though, he had his own. And his own valet. And chamberlain and Steward and a vast army and... a crown. YESSSSS okay and the way he says this is SO DIFFERENT from similarish words I've heard from villain's perspectives. It's not at all "I have the power" and every bit "I am fulfilling my potential I am stepping into my birthright and it is finally time to lead" <3 He buried his face in his hands, then rubbed his face as though washing it and stood for a long silent moment with his hands covering his mouth, staring at the ancient yet still gleaming crown. awwww It was done. All the long years of struggle, of fighting and hardship and hiding and doubt, were over. Peace stretched before him and around him and within him, and within the hearts of good folk everywhere. YAYYYYYY The Shadow was finally defeated. yessss And soon... SOON No. He would not allow his thoughts to travel that road. Not yet. She was far away, and so many things would need to be done before he could look toward his own pleasure. Tending the wounded, seeing to returning refugees, housing those whose homes had been destroyed, rebuilding the city gates and repairing its walls, clearing away the battle detritus still clogging the Pelennor, readying it for next year’s crops... skadjfsg much work to be done indeed <3 But his mind would not let it... her... go. She was coming... and they would wed at long last. AWWWWWW SHE WAS COMING he cannot wait He smiled at the crown, seeing in its soaring wings his own soaring heart. "Thank you," he whispered, both to it and to Eru, and Elbereth, and the Valar and the Maiar and every Man, Elf, Hobbit and Dwarf who had given so much to defeat the Darkness. He would never forget that it was their sacrifices that allowed him to stand in this place, his future bright and secure and stretching out before him like the vast table of the past evening’s first royal banquet. SAKSDKFHGFSKJGHSJFDHGFKJGJ perfectly reflecting his own soaring heart <3333 HIS FUTURE FINALLY BRIGHT AND SECURE <3 He let out a laugh, then... a laugh that was halfway to a sob, a sound of disbelief mingled with a feeling he could not define. Sorrow, perhaps. Elbereth knew the weight of sorrow in his heart, but that did not define all of what he felt. sakjdhskghsdjhs yes the sorrow is still there, it must be <3 Humility? Certainly when he first felt the crown touch his head, it had been all he could do not to fall upon his face, prostrate before all who felt him worthy of such an honor, but he had taken a deep breath and reminded himself sternly of all that was expected of a king, none of which included huddling on the ground weeping. skjadsghkghjghdjskg <3333 his humility I love him so much Humbling it had been, yes, but now, in the quiet of his room, he had to admit, with the start of a smile, that it was not sorrow nor grief nor a wild tumult of humility that had him on the verge of losing all control. mmmmmm No, it was all of that and none of that. It was happiness and sorrow, pride and humility, peace and turmoil... but such a turmoil! Would that his spirit had always been so tempestuously stirred, for he recognized at last what it was that beset him: Joy. SKDDHSJKHAJDHAJFKGSHFG oh my goodness what the beautiful "what it was that beset him: Joy" describing it as besetting him, this wild mix of tumultuous emotions, and yet it is not bad. It is sweet above all. would that his spirit had always been so tempestuously stirred skadhskjghjgh these words Deeper than happiness, strong enough to overcome sorrow, joy such as he had never known and feared he would never experience again cascaded through every channel of his spirit. THROUGH EVERY CHANNEL OF HIS SPIRIT CHANNELS OF SPIRIT I LOVE Every emotion he had ever felt he now knew had been nothing more than tainted water, polluted by the Shadow, murky and stagnant. But now the darkness was defeated, and hour by hour, all day, he had felt the tumult building, just as surely as a great spring seeks a way through stone. But he had kept it contained, out of respect for the valiant dead and respect for the solemnity of the coronation and the gravitas of the moment when a throne left empty too long enjoyed a new occupant at last. He had dared to release a measured amount during the long coronation banquet, though as the wine flowed and his fatigue grew, keeping his emotions in check had become increasingly difficult. yessss But now, here in the privacy of his bedchamber, the full expression of his joy could no longer be gainsaid. He threw his head back with another laughing cry, then spun and raised both hands high in the air.... reaching for what he was not sure. Eru Himself, perhaps. He could not say. He only knew that suddenly he wanted to leap, to run, to fly.... I FEEL I HAVE DONE THIS THOUGH OBVIOUSLY NEVER IN SUCH PURE JOY AND SO I FEEL I WOULD DO IT AGAIN because now he knows. He WAS born to fly <3 And then he dropped his hands and his head and stopped, blushing, even though no one was there to see him. lolll yes that would be me But he did not stop smiling. skajdfsgh <3333 Feeling too constrained by the four walls of his room, he pushed through the double doors onto the balcony and looked to the skies. The sun had long set in the West, drawing down a day that had been filled with celebration and ceremony and smiles. So many smiles, each face lit as with a bright and shining beacon. On all levels of the city, revelers had been making merry throughout the night, and the thought warmed him that the people of Gondor had so thoroughly and unequivocally welcomed him as their new king. He heard the echo of Faramir’s cry... Behold the King! And he heard the echoes of the trumpets and smelled again the flowers that blanketed the streets, flowers that released their sweet perfume under his feet as he walked upward through the city. Through his city. awwwww <3333 WOW you capture the joy I felt reading those chapters so well. Only even increased, for we see firsthand Aragorn's joy <3333 His eyes stung and he blinked several times, swallowing hard against the knot lodged in his throat. Yes, it had been a day like none other, but he realized now how very tired he was. Fatigue had crept over him as the coronation feast went deep into the night, and as its grip tightened, his own grip over his emotions had started to slip. Gandalf had seen it, had seen him surreptitiously blinking away tears of joy as he looked out at the throng of happy guests at the table. And Elladan and Elrohir had seen it a moment later when those tears of joy turned to sorrow as thoughts of Halbarad suddenly flooded his mind, and he had buried his nose in his goblet of wine and nearly choked when the wine could not pass the lump in his throat. Together, in unspoken agreement, they had shooed him away from the evening’s banquet to seek the solitude and rest he sorely needed. awwww THE JOY AND THEN THE SORROW thank you for reminder of Halbarad <3 <:((((((( I love Elladan and Elrohir they are my favorite <3 especially being the best big brothers to Aragorn And now he placed his hands on the balcony rail, tentatively at first, as if he were not quite sure he were allowed, but then he cast aside such foolishness and gripped the stone balustrade as so many Stewards and Kings had before him. YESSS I love this like shy hesitancy and then remembering who he is. It felt cool against his palms, and smooth. He rubbed his hands up and down its length and then looked again at the bright moon sinking in the southwestern sky. He imagined, fancifully, that he might see beyond it to Elvenhome. "To Númenor that was, and Elvenhome that is." Then he repeated, in a whisper, "To Númenor that was." The moonlit clouds seemed then to change before his very eyes, and it was the Meneltarma he spied, and Elros walking up its steep flanks, leading a silent procession of the Faithful to give thanks to Eru. whoaaaaaa <333 seeing Elros leading them up the holy mountain to give thanks to Eru <33 Then with a gasp and a blink, the vision faded. He rubbed his face again, wondering at the portent of what he had just seen. Had it been a chimera cast by an overwrought imagination, or had it been a true vision? He listened to the awful thudding of his heart and sensed in his spirit a fear unlike anything he had ever felt. It was the fear of someone about to approach something... holy. SKASHDK whoa He took another shaking breath. Could it be... dare he try to renew that custom, here in Minas Tirith, even as Gondor’s kings of old climbed Mount Mindolluin’s steep flanks to offer their prayers? He looked at the bulk of the mountains to his right, at Mount Mindolluin that loomed over the Citadel and blocked part of his view of the western horizon. Where on that mountain was that ancient, long-forgotten hallow? Perhaps Faramir might know. Or Gandalf. Or perhaps he might go up there himself to seek it out. However he accomplished it, he knew somehow that in the finding of it, he would receive the sign that this vision was true, and that his heart’s desire was not some cock-a-hoop homage to his own greatness but an act that would be pleasing to Eru. skadjhskg this is so so cool I love love it Aragorn would be the perfect person to lead the reinstatement of this worship The moon again broke through the clouds and pulled his gaze back, and his imagination wandered again to Númenor and the Pillar of Heaven, where the witnessing Eagles circled... yessss He squinted. As unlikely as it seemed in this pre-dawn hour, a pair of Eagles were indeed flying through the distant sky. He could see the moonlight glinting on their wings, and see their shapes as they passed before the moon. He watched them disappear against the dark cloth of heaven between the stars and then he saw them reappear in the moonlight, growing ever closer in leisurely swinging arcs, as if they were looking down on the Pelennor, wondering at the dots of lights spangling its edges, lights that for this one day signified celebration instead of mourning, bonfires of joy instead of the mournful pyres that had burned nearly without cease since the siege and the final battle before the Black Gate. SKASJDHGSJKSG YAYYYYY I hoped this would tie back more directly than simply his assumption of the crown, although that would have been enough <:(( I forget sometimes how many still died in that battle and the ones before, as joyous as the return of the King was. "Long have you been faithful servants of Manwë," he whispered, "And as you were welcome in Númenor, so you are welcome here." But unless they came closer, he had no idea how he might tell the Eagles such a thing. He thought back those many years to the only Eagles he had ever spoken to directly: Menelris, and her mate, Durvain, he of the valiant and compassionate heart who had promised to return in the spring to take him on a flying ride across the Misty Mountains. But Aragorn perforce had to travel to his own people before Durvain returned, NOOO whyy and in all these years since, though he looked often toward the Eagle’s Eyrie, he had never seen the bird again. He finally had to assume that some disaster had befallen Durvain, and his heart still grieved at the loss. NOOOOO THAT'S SO SAD that he had to assume that, had no way of knowing what had happened or whether indeed anything had happened, his heart still grieved <33 <:( He lost sight finally of the Eagles as they continued eastward past the great prow of the city, so he walked back into his bedchamber, knowing he must find sleep before the night was entirely wasted. But he was so beset with restlessness that the bed held no welcome. He walked to the door and opened it, and the guard immediately snapped to attention. "As you were," Aragorn murmured. Then he stood for a moment, wondering which way to go. He glanced at the young man standing so stiffly by his door, worried for a disquieting moment that the man had heard his earlier wild laughter. lolll I would too Then he glanced at the thick stone walls and the sturdy wooden door and decided it was unlikely. "Can you tell me," he started, then had to scramble for the young man’s name, "Sigilthir, which is the quickest way out of this building and into the fresh air of the court of the Fountain?" He had followed the chamberlain through so many twisting corridors and up so many winding staircases that he could have been back in Rivendell for the length of time they had walked. awww him trying to so quickly learn everyone's names because he knows how meaningful it is to be known by name <3 also does that mean...dagger-face? XD which perhaps does not translate into English well but feels fitting for a man of Gondor The man’s eyes widened a bit, and he stammered out directions, offering to accompany the King. aww he's like AHH I really love the, like...he did not grow up in this palace. He's spent time in it (I assume), though likely not the King's actual quarters, but it's giant and he didn't grow up learning the halls and is, even if fully ready for the throne, a bit lost. And all the guards and people are like, in awe of him and completely accepting and filled with joy at the return of the King, and hold a great respect for him. And he's just gonna be wandering around all friendly asking for directions and they're like OH YEAH he doesn't automatically know everything by nature of being great and wise um of course uh anything you need it's that way! And he's either going to be slightly embarrassed at being so lost or just like, you guys. I don't bite. "No, thank you. I prefer to walk alone for a bit, to clear my mind before I retire." "Yes, my lord." He bowed his head, clicked his heels and jerked his shoulders even straighter. Aragorn stifled a sigh, wishing suddenly, desperately, for Halbarad and his easy way of ever standing guard over him, whether it was outside his tent or beside him as they lay each in their own bedrolls under the stars, or, as on that last day of his life, doing his best despite wretched seasickness to make sure Aragorn did not somehow fall over the railing of the ship to, as he had growled, give the sea monsters a royal banquet. Irreverent, irrepressible, irreplaceable. Gone now to his fathers beyond the halls of Mandos. Hot tears burned his nose and throat. Would the pain never ease? SKASDHAJHSHG <:(((((((( THANK YOU for giving us some of these last moments of Halbarad. Their relationship is truly everything to me, I love it so muchhh "despite his own wretched seasickness" lol as Aragorn remembered they are all rather susceptible Irreverent, irrepressible, irreplaceable SKASJDHSGKGHD THOSE 3 WORDS ARE PERFECT FOR HIM <:( XD of course he would be worried about Aragorn falling overboard, in the middle of everything. Aragorn's like "I hope we get there in time!! Row!" Halbarad's like STAY AWAY FROM THE RAILING YOUNG MAN He moved on, past Merethrond, the Hall of Feasts, on his left. The vast white building had been filled with light and laughter deep into the night, but now was quiet and dark as he walked past. The revelers had gone, and the replete silence left in their wake reached even into the Place of the Fountain. The courtyard was empty save for the four guards standing watch over the lifeless White Tree. Aragorn looked at its bare branches and felt an incredible sadness. He had hoped, a bit fancifully, that the old tree might have magically sprung back to life at the moment the crown was placed on his head. Childish thinking, that. <:((( sadnessssss at its loss "But wouldn’t it have been something?" he murmured. indeed <33 lol like the movie He walked down the steps and to the tree, nodding at the guard standing on its north side. so it's a little frustrating (or would be to me) that he can't walk around in complete solitude like he's used to, even in the middle of the night there are guards standing there, but it's also kind of fun to just have them as. Witnesses. Watching their king walkin around doin his thing in the middle of the night <3 I can only imagine they learn a bit more about him and love him the greater He walked under the spreading, lifeless limbs and laid his hand on the trunk. "Would that you have bloomed one last time," he sighed. He sat down on a bench in front of it, again facing West. awww I love his continual facing West The moon had now set, but the stars still blazed with unbridled vigor in the black vault above his head. He looked at them, spotting the familiar constellations and suddenly saw a movement there, a dark shadow flitting across them, momentarily blotting them out with its passage. With too many recent memories of fell beasts driving fear into his heart, he scrambled to his feet, and the guards around the tree jerked their gazes upward and drew their swords. yes I love his still ready for a quick reaction if needed But Aragorn raised a hand . "Stay your weapons. It is an Eagle," he said. He walked out from under the tree and halted when he saw it was not one Eagle but two, surely the same two he had seen from his balcony. Then his eyes widened. "How can this be?" SKASDHFSGJHSJG YAYYYYYYY again I do love that the guards will witness this The Eagles came down gently, and as the light from the flickering lamps set round about the courtyard revealed them fully, he ran to them, tossing propriety to the winds, so great was his joy and amazement. "Menelris! Durvain! My old friends! I thought you had perished!" AWWWWWWW yessss forget propriety throw it out the window Menelris bowed her head. "Great King, it is good to meet again." Durvain also bowed and Aragorn remembered belatedly to return their greeting, but then he lost no time in throwing his arms around Durvain’s neck. "My old friend," he cried, and cared not that hot tears dampened his cheeks as Durvain’s wings enfolded him. "I thought you lost." AWWWW he's like oh yes bow HUG Durvain wrapping his wings around him <:(((((( okay how devastating would that have been to only have borne the good-bye for hope of seeing them in the spring, and then not being able to, and then losing hope you'll ever see them againnn TEARSSS <33333 "It is good to see you again, Strider," Durvain chuckled. "I mean, your Majesty." "No, no. None of that among friends. Strider I was, and Strider I shall always be. It is the name of my house, after all. I am known now as Elessar Telcontar." yess you have made me like this more. Like when Aragorn first said his house would be called Strider I was like...but I'm not sure I like that! It was a name started rather condescendingly, but then you having him tell Elrond some wise thing of "one day I will be called by it in Quenya but not yet" and now the Eagles knowing him as such and him happily telling them to keep calling him it, it's much more friendly than your Majesty and they are indeed dear friends, "Elessar," Menelris said, with the air of one trying out an unusual meal that is not altogether appetizing. "It is a noble enough name, I suppose, if you must name yourself for a rock. But though Telcontar is higher than Strider, in any language it still seems harsh and landbound to me. I would rather you were King Thorongil." She clacked her beak and settled a few displaced feathers on her chest. lollll I love her <3 "Menelris, hush. He can use whatever name he chooses. He is the King now, after all." "You may call me King Thorongil if it pleases you, my lady," Aragorn smiled. Nothing could dim the pleasure of this moment. "You may call me whatever you wish, in fact." <3333 aww "Fear not, I shall call you by your rightful name, lest Durvain peck me to pieces for my breach of etiquette." lollllllll Durvain let out a whistling snort. "And that you may count on, even if you are my Chieftain." XD wait is she Chieftain now? Aragorn laughed at their antics, and finally shook his head. "It has been a day of wonders for me, but your arrival, when I thought you long consigned to the grave, may be the greatest wonder of all. Tell me where you have been these many years!" awwwwww <333333 "I never did give you that ride, did I?" Durvain said. "I apologize for that. We returned late to Beorn’s Hall that spring. Hunting had been particularly good in the south, so we stayed longer than usual. By the time we arrived, you and Gandalf had already gone. And then of course, having stayed overlate in the south, we had to rush to get to our nest, so that we might ready it for our egg, and then –" "We had two eggs that spring," Menelris interrupted proudly. "Two boys. We named one Thorongil, after you." SAKSDHGSDJKGHSDJGSHDFJKD AWWWWW THE SWEET IM SCREAMING "I am honored." <333 "He was, and still is, a stout one. And the other was swift, the first to break free of his egg and the first to spread his wings, so we named him Meneldor." "But I know of him!" Aragorn cried. "He was at the final battle and flew into the Black Land to help fetch the Halflings." SKADHGSDJH WHAT "Thorongil was there as well, fighting in the company at the Black Gate. He saw you, he said," Menelris said. "He it was who set himself high above you toward the last, defending you from the air." AWWWWWWWWW they have taught their young complete devotion to Aragorn, I'm crying <333 Aragorn swallowed hard. He had seen many Eagles, and rejoiced at their arrival. And he had noticed that one in particular seemed to be staying overhead as he ordered the final fighting against the remnants of Mordor’s armies, after Sauron fell and after Gandalf left to retrieve Frodo and Sam, but he had given no thought to the idea he or any of them might have been kin to Menelris and Durvain. That the one that stayed over him the entire time was their son... named in his honor.... He was left utterly without words. "Tell him thank you," he finally choked. AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW <:(((((((( THE SWEETEST "You may tell him yourself, for I will make sure he calls upon you," Durvain said, then a twinkle of humor gleamed in his eye, "that is, if you welcome Eagles in your new eyrie." skadhgdsfhgsjkhdskj <3333 "Welcome them! I should say so! You and all your kind are not only welcome but expected, nay commanded to visit as often as you can, if a humble king of Men can place so bold a commission on the great Eagles." AWWWWWW YES just as he was wishing he could tell them they are fully welcomed as they were in early Numenor <33 he is so committed to ruling as Elros and the great early Numenoreans. How I hope it does not fall to such darkness ever. "I think in your case, such a command is quite permissible," Menelris said. She let out a small whistling chuckle. I love their whistling laughs <3 and aww they're like sure you can command us to visit!! He's like um I'm not sure if anyone can presume to command eagles but if so... "In fact, I have much to discuss about that," Aragorn continued. "About Eru and giving thanks as in the days of Númenor, and re-establishing your witness..." He stopped and held up a hand. skadhfdsgk yes they can counsel him, as ones close to Manwe <3 "But wait. I am overwhelmed and my words are making little sense, so save all that for a later time when joy has not made such a muddle of my wits. Tell me instead of simple things, more about your children and your nests and whether Durvain has found more trinkets by the road. And how it is that Eagles are flying at night! I want to know what has occupied you these many years." skadhgsjk awww he's like okay I sound crazy let's back up and talk of simpler things <3 "Much the same as has occupied you, I would think," Menelris said. "Raising our young. Fighting orcs." "And finding trinkets!" Durvain chirped. "I found an entire set of silver spoons last fall." awww HE SHOULD GET TOGETHER WITH LOBELIA XD "Still my little magpie," Menelris said, affectionately rubbing her head on his shoulder. <333 "Of course, we also found far too many orcs," Durvain sighed. "We lost an eaglet to a band of them two years ago." <:(((( that would be devastating "Oh, how terrible. I am so sorry," Aragorn said. "But of all little ones who lived to adulthood, every one lives yet," Menelris said. "And what a privilege it was to fly alongside our children in the great lines that arrived at the Gates of Mordor just as the fell beasts retreated back to their barbarous lands. We were witnesses to the ending of the Shadow, and glad we were to watch the Tower fall." awwww sksahsgihs they all livedddd and they were there too <333 "That darkness was so heavy that the darkness of night now seems as day to me. Perhaps that will suffice as an answer to why we fly at night now and then, in these days of peace." Durvain shook himself, fluffing his feathers as if in discomfort, and as they slowly fell back in place, he continued in a brighter tone, "But enough talk of battle and darkness. We brought you a gift." awwww yayyy <333 "No, please... the assistance you have given me, to all of the free folk, is gift enough." "No, no... this is a personal gift, from both of us to you. It is a gift for your coronation, a token of our joy that you have at last achieved your dream, and also a remembrance of our time together those harrowing days so long ago." He stepped aside and it was then that Aragorn saw that there was a bundle sitting in the grass, a very large one. He must have missed seeing it in his excitement. awwwwww yesss give him a gift I love it <3 gifts are very important in Tolkien's works and such a sign of respect and friendship and gratitude and honor and things I love it <3 "Open it," Menelris urged. Aragorn grinned, feeling a bit like a child at Yule, SKASH as he should <333 that is so cute, I don't know the last time he felt like that and tugged on the ropes. They fell away, and he unfolded the fabric wrappings and he suddenly was a child at Yule. "Eagle down!" he cried. "You brought me eagle down! And so much!" SKASDHGSDFKJGHDFKGHSDFGJSH JAW DROPPED IN HAPPY and suddenly he WAS a child at Yule skadjfg Durvain let out a happy whistle as he bobbed his head. "You thought I was sleeping, but I overheard you tell Gandalf that you only ever wanted to sleep on eagle down. We could think of no more fitting gift for your coronation day, Strider-Elessar Telcontar, King of Gondor and Arnor." HANDS FLAPPING SO HAPPYYYYY THIS IS PERFECTTT yesssss he overheard <33333 yessssss and he knew Aragorn when made King would never actually go ask the Eagles for a bed of eagle down like Gandalf suggested but... also lol Strider-Elessar Telcontar he gets to be Strider and Telcontar lol and Arnor yessss "Thorongil," Menelris added quietly, with a gleam in her eye. LOLLLLL <333 I love her She has also made me like that name better, for though I am in love with the meaning of "Eagle of the Star", Thorongil, to use her words, has always felt more harsh on my tongue than other names of his "I will have a cover made for it straightaway and sleep on it tomorrow night and every night thereafter," Aragorn said. He pulled a handful out and rubbed it against his cheek. It seemed softer even than he remembered. Arwen will be so pleased.... "Thank you." awwwwwwwwwwww yessss he's like I will make sure it's made TODAY and his next thought is yay Arwen gets a soft bed <333333 oh I had a question about the eagle down from originally, did Aragorn sleep on the blanket on the down, with two blankets on top of that? or just straight on the down and it was large enough that it didn't scatter too much? "And I have one more gift for you, if you would be willing," Durvain said. "Although it is less a gift than a belated fulfilment of a promise." Aragorn turned and stared. "You mean - " SLADFJSGDKFGJSKLGJDSFGKLSDFJGKFLDGKJLDFJ I FORGOT IN THE FACE OF THE OTHER GIFT THANK YOU <333333 "If it would be permissible, I would gladly fly you over your new city." SKADHGSKJGHJSDDS Aragorn gasped. He had not considered such a thing... his heart leapt at the thought, but would it be proper... would it be too great a risk? "I accept!" he said immediately. "But it must be a very short ride, and high enough that no one sees me. And," he added with a sly smile, "I must be atop." lolllll no I want EVERYONE to know he's riding a great eagle through the sky over Minas Tirith :))) LOL but if he carries you you can do more loops and twirls... "What, you don’t prefer to dangle from my claws?" "Talons," Aragorn corrected. "And no, I do not prefer that." LOLLLLL HE SAID CLAWS Durvain chuckled and lowered himself to the ground. It was then that Aragorn saw he had a harness of sturdy rope tied around his neck and his body. "You came prepared." yesssss "I felt fairly certain you would accept the invitation." hehehe :)) Aragorn sternly admonished the guards around the White Tree that no one was to know their new King was about to fly over the city. As one, the four men bowed their heads, and he saw a flicker of a smile light the stern visage of the one nearest him. But then, heart pounding, he scrambled up and onto Durvain’s back. "What should I do?" SKAGH :)))) the guard actually smiles a bit I think they're going to enjoy this his stern admonishment and then scrambling like an eager child onto a chair to play horsey-ride "Hang on, mostly." "I don’t need to shift and such? Gandalf warned me I should not sit like a lumpy sack of potatoes." "I remember. And I’m sure you will do no such thing. I have seen you ride horses; riding with me will differ little from that. Oh, and do you see the loops on either side? Slide your legs through them. They will hold you in case you slip. We mustn’t lose Gondor’s king on the very first day she has him, after all." Aragorn slid his legs into the loops and tugged them tight. yessss maybe now they can do some loops lollll that would indeed be a very ironic(?) tragedy I love Durvain being like yeah I know but like. You're good at riding horses it's not actually that different when you're not a wounded sack of potatoes and don't have to think about it much "Ready?" Durvain asked. "Yes!" he's so excited :) Durvain spread his wings and pushed off with his legs and with one easy flap they were airborne. Aragorn’s breath utterly left him and his hands tightened reflexively on the rope. High above the Citadel they flew, in great circles, and though his stomach shivered a bit, he was far too excited to feel anything but delight as he looked down upon his city. In the soft shadows of pre-dawn, skasdjhfsgjkh wait I saw "pre-dawn" and was suddenly cackling at the thought of Elladan and Elrohir shooing a visibly exhausted Aragorn from the feast and off to bed only for him to spend all night pacing his chambers, laugh like a madman, look over his new city, then go and ride an eagle. much of the damage from the siege and battle was mercifully hidden, and he saw walls gleaming like so many luminous pearls, and he saw lamps shining golden in windows and the glint of bonfires on the Pelennor, and beyond the city he saw the mountains, their snowy peaks already gleaming shell pink in the day’s first light. And above it all, in the East, Gil-Estel sailed, the Silmaril’s light of the past giving hope to the present. Aragorn raised a hand to Eärendil, who seemed near enough to reach down and clasp the hand of his grandson so many generations removed. Aragorn’s throat tightened, and he took a great shuddering breath. "Thank you, Giver of Hope," he whispered. skadhgsjhfjdskhg that is a beautiful name that I forgot and love <333 skadhfsgkgjhsdjkgh seeming near enough to clasp hands <3 I hope Earendil is looking down on him with love and pride Was that the star Elrond followed in Aragorn's black breath? Or was it only A star. Love the beautiful description of the city and surroundings <3333 it does Tolkien justice, I think He looked again at the city below. His city. His people. He thought of Boromir, then, and their final words to one another: ‘Go to Minas Tirith and save my people!’ he had pleaded. And Aragorn had given his promise: ‘Minas Tirith shall not fall!’ And, though sometimes still he could barely trust it not to be a dream, the promise had been fulfilled; the city had not fallen. Then his thoughts went to Halbarad, and from his fallen kinsmen to the countless others who had given all so that this day might arrive. "I look down upon this city for you both, and for all those who did not live to see this day!" he cried. SKAHDJSDGHSJK <333 thank you. Those noble brothers. I can hardly believe it either, for all that it has seemed so far away with Aragorn barely daring to hope or imagine what it would be like to actually defeat Sauron and everything to work out. Even though I knew from the beginning it would, it still feels unreal. Then he fell silent, overwhelmed. He leaned down to rest his cheek against Durvain’s broad neck. "Thank you, my friend. This is a gift beyond price." skadjhgsh <333 I also love Durvain just a silent witness to Aragorn's shout "You are most welcome, Elessar Telcontar, Great King of Gondor. Behold your city, and rejoice." SKJAHGSJKH And so Aragorn looked and beheld its beauty, and he wept for sheer joy. SAKDJGHSJKHSJGHSDJFGSHDJGKDSJFSDKFDSFHDSFJKSHDFJGSJDFGJSDGSHDFJ what a beautiful ending <3333 Aragorn beheld his beautiful city and wept for sheer joy <33333 yesss I agree with the notes and I definitely want Aragorn to spend lots of time at that house, so cute <33

Baggi	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/28/2017
What a wonderful story. It brought tears to my eyes, especially the end. Thank you! Greetings from Germany! Baggi Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm glad you found it moving! cairi

Layne	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 3/2/2011
I am so very happy that the eagles came back to pay Aragorn a visit, such a befitting thing to do on his day of joy. Love it that the eagles' kin helped take care of Aragorn during the final battle. And Meneldor! And oh, the king surveying his kingdom, soaring from the back of an eagle, high up in the sky, what a magnificent picture that was! LOVELY. Author Reply: Thank you, Layne! I'm so glad you liked the ending to this... after all those years of waiting, Aragorn finally got his Eagle ride. :) And I have to say, I really like the image of the King surveying his kingdom from on high like that (as if the Citadel isn't high enough! LOL). Thanks for all the reviews you left!

Linda Hoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/9/2011
What a beautiful ending! I can just imagine Aragorn's mix of emotions and his joy to see the eagles again and pleasure in their gift. I've used a pilgrimage up the mountain in one of my stories and am baffled more writers don't use that theme. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda... so glad you enjoyed the story and the ending! Perhaps more writers don't explore that pilgrimage theme because they interpret the canon scene where he climbs the mountain with Gandalf as pilgrimage enough? Hard to say. I do know that I personally find exploring the spiritual aspects of Aragorn and his kingship fascinating. :)

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/9/2011
It's about time that Aragorn experienced some joy; mixed as it is with the sorrows of great loss along the way. And a ride with the Eagles; what a great coronation gift! (not to mention the Eagle-down) I do think that more of the work of clearing the Pelennor and seeing to the refugees would have been undertaken by this time; Aragorn does have a very capable Steward; but that's a minor point. A soaring Epilogue in all respects! Author Reply: Thank you, Raksha, I'm glad you enjoyed the epilogue. Aragorn did deserve some joy at long last. :) I don't know that I agree with your assessment of what would have been done by the coronation. Only five weeks had passed since the fall of Sauron and it was likely only about 4 weeks since the returning soldiers could realistically add their strength to the men that remained in the city in working to restore the Pelennor and the city itself (and the majority of the army probably still was occupied in putting down skirmishes here and there). And four or even five weeks in an era before heavy mechanized equipment isn't very long, even with the most capable Steward directing the efforts. Some or most of the refugees might have returned and those with damaged or destroyed homes given temporary shelter (a tent city on the Pelennor, perhaps?) and bodies would have been burned and/or buried, having priority lest the decay spread disease. But the rest of the detritus--the litter of stones from shattered walls, the remains of siege engines,catapults, ladders, all of that--would be littering the fields for a long time. At the time of the coronation, Aragorn and Faramir both would have been completely consumed with the lengthy task before them, so I don't feel Aragorn's musings, or what the Eagles saw, was off base. At any rate, you may disagree and that's fine. It's a fascinating topic to think about.

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/6/2011
Oh!! This was so perfect!! Of all the days for Aragorn to reunite w/Menelris and Durvain, what a gift for it to take place on his Coronation Day. Love, love, love it!! I felt like giving myself a slap upside the head though for not realizing where you got the idea for Menelris' name. ;o) Nicely done there and I adore that another Thorongil was looking over Aragorn and his safety during The Battle of the Black Gate. Wonderful that!! This though... "If it would be permissible, I would gladly fly you over your new city." Aragorn gasped. He had not considered such a thing... his heart leapt at the thought, but would it be proper... I swear the first thing that came into my head on reading that was..."You know you've spent a lot of time around Samwise Gamgee when..." :oD So sorry to see this lovely story come to an end, but what a beyond perfect ending for it. BTW...Their Coronation Gift to Aragorn? That has produced a Plot Bunny that nailed my ankles and is now in the incubation stage of planning. I've got a couple other stories on the go, but in particular I really need to finish one and soon, as I'd like to submit it for this month's Teitho contest. At least I hope I can get it done in time. When I do write the story that will be produced from this plot bunny, if I'm still not able to access LJ, how can I get it to you? I'll be able to post it at the LOTR Message Board/Website I belong to in our Fan Fiction section, so if all else fails, I can put it there and let you know. Anyway, I really would love it to be you to read it for the first time if possible. And on that note...I need to get to bed. Going to miss this story and I hope this isn't the last we see of Menelris and Durvain helping out their Friend among Men. :o) Thanks for the wonderful story!! ((((HUGS)))) Author Reply: Thank you, Tigger! I'm so glad you liked the ending to this. And full disclosure on my part? I didn't really make the connection between my creating Menelris' name and Meneldor until I actually wrote the epilogue. LOL Seriously, I was just going through the Sindarin name-generator (I love Darth Fingon's handy tool) and created a name that approximated "Queen of the Skies". So I actually had a bit of a slap-upside-the-head moment myself. LOL I think sometimes my brain subconsciously "knows" things that I don't realize and pulls them from the soup that is my knowledge of Tolkien without any conscious direction. Weird how that works. And how neat that this inspired a plot bunny! I do like it when my stories stir the creativity of other writers--leads to more good tales. :) As for contacting me, if you have access to email, you could email me the story or email me when it's posted. My email should be listed in my bio/profile thingy here at SoA but if not, it's cefox1@aol.com. Thanks again, and good luck with the plot bunny. :)

Thorongirl	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/5/2011
What a marvelous story! I get very emotional sometimes when I read a great story, and your epilogue was very stirring. The whole scene at the beginning where Aragorn tries to identify what he is feeling was so well constructed. And yes, joyous. I felt a lump rising in my throat throughout and I couldn't suppress a smile when Aragorn wondered if perhaps the guard might have heard him. That was so realistic. Oh, and thank you so much for the touching (and sometimes humorous) reunion. This story made my heart soar. Your knowledge of your characters and canon shines through with every word you write. Author Reply: Thank you, Thorongirl! I'm so glad you read this story and enjoyed it... I'm always so grateful when I hear that something I've written has stirred a reader's emotions like this did yours. The idea of the night after all the festivities, where Aragorn's finally alone to process everything, has always been near and dear to my heart and it was such a thrill to finally find a story where I could explore the whole gamut of emotions he must have felt. And you know me, there has to be some humor in even the heaviest moments. :) Thanks for the review!

Ainu Laire	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/5/2011
Bwaahhhh! Oh what a fantastic ending! I love the sheer joy you describe Aragorn having... I cannot imagine anything else, now! It made me grin, I'll admit. Hah! He got his eagle down! Very cute. And the whole scene with the four guards at the tree sworn to secrecy, Menelris preferring the name Thorongil and naming an eaglet after him- and said eaglet protecting him in the battle at the Black Gate! How fantastic! If you ever do any post-War fics that have to do with battle, I can see Thorongil the eagle protecting him even then. I want an eagle protector. And the ride, hah, the ride was a great ending. I want to ride an eagle too. I noticed you had this whole little almost mini-series with titles going on, here... first Hobbit, now Eagles... what's next? Ranger and the Ents? Ranger and the Dwarves? Ranger and the Orcs? said Ranger glares at her Just kidding, just kidding! tugs at collar Man can't take a joke... whispers Ranger and the Spiders... Ranger and the Trolls... Ranger and the Balrog... feels evil glare on back Right! Ranger and the Unicorns it is! I best get out of here before my sleep deprivation kills me. I look forward to whatever is coming from you next, whether it's another Ranger title or something else! Author Reply: Thanks, Laire! Glad you enjoyed the ending of this wild and crazy ride. :) Wouldn't it be awesome to have your very own Eagle bodyguard? And the titles... it's not really an intentional mini-series idea where I have sixteen more such stories lined out, but it might be a nice accidental series, who knows! If it does, maybe I should go back and rename "At Hope's Edge" to "The Ranger and the Wraith". Naaah. LOL But it would simplify trying to come up with titles. Thanks for the review, and hopefully I can come up with something a little sooner than next winter!

Elflingimp	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
Thank you so much for this wonderful story! It is by far one of the best ones I have read in a long while and brings so many emotions to me as I read it.Sniff. Hugs The Imp Author Reply: Thank you, Imp! I'm so glad you liked this tale, and very flattered that you think it one of the best ones you've read in a while. That makes a writer feel very encouraged. :) There's one more little gapfiller "appendix" to go, and then I'll start working on something new... so the stories will hopefully continue, although probably without Eagles next time. Thanks again!

Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
Oh, that was beautiful! I had so hoped that Aragorn would get to ride on Durvain at alst, though I hadn't expected that he would have to wait until after his coronation! g In a way, that made it only better, though. What a perfect way to celebrate his coronation and victory! I love the idea that one of Durvain and Menelris' children was watching over Aragorn during the battle at the Black Gate! Hehe, I can't blame Menelris for liking the name "Thorongil" more than "Elessar". I guess Aragorn will always be Thorongil to the Eagles. ;-) Of course I also loved the gift they had for Aragorn! This was a wonderful ending to your story, Cairistiona! Though it makes me sad that this story has to end at all, I couldn't think of a better way for it to end. Loved it! :) Author Reply: Thank you, Almut! I figured that moving the "flying Eagle ride" so far into the future would surprise everyone, because it certainly surprised me! Stories have a way of doing that sometimes. And you know, one of my own favorite lines in this epilogue is Menelris' very quiet, "Thorongil." hee hee. She's a stubborn bird, Menelris, and will never come around to any name that refers to rocks or walking. Hmm, I wonder if she and Durvain had a big argument about whether to name their little one Thorongil or Strider! g Thank you so much for reading this and for all the reviews you've given... each one is greatly appreciated!

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