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Promises to Keep  by Leaward 56 Review(s)
RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/28/2005
I am really enjoying this story! I came across your name on the HASA site and then tracked you down on ff.net and started reading this story and was loving it. Then I was on this site and I saw Life in the Angle on the front page and I was thrilled to saw that these stories are interconnected. Anyway, I like Tarkil and reading about what it must have been like as a ranger in the north. You have done an excellent job with him as an OC and after only 3 chapters I am already pulled into wanting to know more about him and his life and his family, etc. Very well done and very well written! I am so glad that I have this story to finish, plus two more to look forward to! :)

Radbooks

Author Reply: WOW! You went through a lot of trouble to find this. I'm so glad you're enjoying it after all that work. I hope you continue to enjoy Tarkil and his friends, a lot of work have gone into them, and a lot of love too. They have become very real to me.

I haven't posted to ff.net in a long time since no one was reading my work there, I'm really glad you followed the trail! And thanks for taking the time to leave a review too!

Sophia_SilfaeryReviewed Chapter: 15 on 4/18/2005
Wow :)

I'll admit it's been interesting reading from halfway through LITA and I am glad I have some of the background now. You really have brought OCs to a new height. I am so impressed at the time and energy that has obviously gone into this.

Tarkil comes across as a real living breathing three-dimensional person and you clearly know him back to front. It takes a tremendous amount of skill to juggle all the events and connections so well and I bow to you!

Author Reply: I had hoped that Life in the Angle could stand on its own, but it definitely will help you now you've read Promises to Keep. I think of Tarkil as being very real now, in fact his whole family is.

'Juggle all the events' ... you can say that again! It's been a real juggling act. But an enjoyable one. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Sophia. I know you've been busy with real life while trying to sober up Celeborn ;-) by the way, did Haldir ever come back? What ever happened to the Marchwarden that night?

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 15 on 1/28/2005
“Let us not get into that again, Hal. And you deserve to have a houseful of daughters – to pay you back for all those anxious fathers who had to watch you come to their door.”

Yay Tarkil!!!!! My sentiments exactly. It is great to see this story wrapped up so nicely and knowing there is more... It is good to see some conclusion between Tarkil and Poppi. Thank you for writing this great story! I am still pleasantly surprised it is your first and it is so incredibly well written, captivating from the first chapter to the last.

Author Reply: Thanks, Rhapsody! I've had a blast reading your reviews. I am thrilled that you got so involved and caught the nuances of my writing. And yes, it is my first. Hopefully I only improve from here. Thanks again! 'Two of Thirty-One' follows Tarkil and Haldon (and Gethron) to Gondor, and then there will be another one to follow called 'Life in the Angle' which will be about Tarkil once he returns from Gondor. It will feature Poppi and Tarkil's previous Dunadan girlfriend, Titheniel ;)

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 14 on 1/28/2005
Now that was a twist I didn't see coming at all! Oh my. I knew that there was something up with Poppi, but this. Poor girl. But her small remarks do make more sense now, now that I read the first chapters again. Excellent done! Oh my. There is one chapter left. I feel this urge to click..

Author Reply: Yes, there are hints all through those first chapters ... You'll find that in all my writing. Hints of what's to come in this story and the future ones. It drives me nuts the plot bunnies that pop up and turn into Nazgul!

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 13 on 1/28/2005
Haldon is here! Oh my! Go get him tiger!!! That was the first thought that crossed my mind when Angrim mentioned him. I hope Haldon meets a woman that treats him the same as he does to all those women. But you most likely are considering that... otherwise I can write a woman that will make him run for his money ;) Anyway. Gethron! Of all rangers nearby I was glad he stepped in. It is good to see him again. It is good to see Tarkil relfecting on starting a family on his own, despite it might lessen the bloodline. I fully agree with Gethron. So what does Tarkil want then? Make up your mind lad!

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 12 on 1/28/2005
Oh nice! First thought goes out to the horse and then you! Oh and finally insight on what happened between Haldon & Poppi. He would have her the next time? That is something Tarkil never would have said, but then again. At that moment Poppi could have been so disoriented. Did she know he was not Haldon? I liked the talk between Bregon and Tarkil a lot. Amazing how Tarkil could have kept his cool when someone threathened him with an axe. It is good to see Tarkil learning to control himself, keeping his cool. A bit.

Author Reply: I think Tarkil would think it simple to keep cool if only one man is threatening him with an axe -- especially after being trained to deal with Orcs. :D And you figured out about Haldon and Poppi? She did not realize it was Haldon as you probably have found out by now ...

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 11 on 1/28/2005
Another farm burned down to the ground, a chill crept up my spine when I read that. Tarkil just doesn't have that luck with him does he? And Poppi fled Bree. What did happen between her and Haldon.. we will find out in this story won't we? Oh and I have been wondering for a while. The name of the horse, Naló, does that have a meaning?

Author Reply: Do you know you're the first person to ask what Nalo means ... it's Adunaic (ancient Numenorean) for 'Shadow'. When you meet Haldon's horse Feinnail -- that means 'white stockings' or Boots! (well, as near as I could do it in Sindarin since Tolkien never left us a word for shoes...

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/28/2005
Oh. Tarkil is send home again. A small word of Gethron. He's limping... I guess he won't be around. Mallor's talk with Tarkil was great, in a way his eldest brother made him think of things he did not do. Like why he did not use the sword of Valandur, his anger issues.
“It’s a favourite refrain of his. And besides it's not anger, it's passion.”
I should remember that ;)

Oh and that letter of Haldon. What on earth happened. Somehow I wished to be the fly on the wall when Poppi and Haldon met... so intimately... Somehow, what the lads are thinking about confirms my earlier feeling about Poppi. but I don't think she played him. Hmmm.

Author Reply: "Somehow I wished to be the fly on the wall when Poppi and Haldon met... so intimately" But you were ;)

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/28/2005
Every time I read those beautiful narrative paragraphs it makes me want to stop writing. It just makes me feel that I am there and the way you described the camp, the way the rangers are huddling around the fires, the lack of normal nature sounds.

Oh it has got Elrohir! Yay. I loved the way how you perfectly, in my opinion, brought him in the story

“I believe I shall keep this for now,” an elegant yet steely voice said in his ear as the hand prised the knife from his fingers.

And Aragorn. In a way I felt for Tarkil, but I did like the way Aragorn adressed both of them. I could only find myself nodding while I read it and yet in the back of my mind I could understand Tarkil as well. he is still grieving and is closer to his core emotions then ever. I read it as well in his encounter withPoppi. The line she said:
"I don't feel as if I know you anymore," she said quietly."

This combined with Aragorn's speech on how to control himself gives it a double meaning. At least for me. I am not sure if you intended to write it that way.
How is Gethron doing? You will probably say: go and read chapter ten.. or eleven.

Author Reply: Thanks for your words of support about Aragon's speech. Writing words for him terrified me! I tried very hard to keep him in character, I'm glad you think I did.

... his encounter with Poppi ... Um, what encounter with Poppi? *snicker* He's on his way to Tharbad ....

RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/26/2005
I loved the inner dialogue of Tarkil. It was about time he wondered about those things. Funnily enough I wondering if Poppi is still a virgin. Bear in mind I have not read her story yet (she is a character of someone else right?). Well... I am to find out.. Gethron will be alright... wil he??

Author Reply: Poppi is the character of a friend of mine, but a story was never written about her that is posted here -- she was used in an RPG (well, really a round-robin story) that I participated in. As for Gethron, I probably should say -- keep reading! But yes, he will be fine and will be featured in future chapters and stories. Thanks for reviewing, Rhapsody. You've really made my day!

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