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The Ties of Family  by Larner 7 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/21/2005
Sestor is beginning to see how he and his group have been used for the benefit of the few who gains from war. His opinion of his companions is interesting. They have chosen the ones they think expendable, eh? Mostly because they are too honourable? Interesting, indeed. Only I think they have Aragorn badly underestimated. He will thwart them, no doubt. I start to suspect something and wouldn't like to be in the shoes of the warlords back there in Angmar *eg*

How good to see Narcissa and Brendi starts to recognise their feelings for each other! I wonder if they are long enough in Imladris to be married by Aragorn himself. It would be so fitting.

Author Reply: A good question. Although I think the Thain and Master would want to be included as well--but wait--they are along! Might be interesting, you know.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/21/2005
These chapters are coming so fast, it's hard to keep up! I really appreciate how Sestor explained why he changed his mind about his captors:

"All who have dealt with me and the wound I bear treated me with equal respect, which again ought not to be if your people were as we have been told."

“I have seen trust and love shown for your king, and not fear. I have seen concern felt for his welfare, not due to the fear of chaos which would follow if he were slain, but due to the regard with which all hold for him. This is all opposite of what we were told."


And calling Sam 'Sam-Dad' is a very sweet touch.

Author Reply: Well, it was how he heard Sam addressed by Elanor, who in the deleted epilogue called him that, so I've adopted it for her from early on.

Honorable folk respond to honor shown, and I think Sestor would do so if anyone would.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/21/2005
You continue to amaze me! You come up with lots of OC's, each one with a well-developed personality and each one is able to stand out among the other characters. And throughout this story, you have all threads under control - and there are many! Well done, indeed!

One of these threads is the beginning of a romance between Narcissa and Brendilac, which I like very much :) Everyone around them has noticed it now, including me ;-) Now, one of them has to take the first step.

Author Reply: Steps are being taken as we speak, I suspect. Am so glad you like the way I handle the threads, but am not completely certain how I'll tie off one of them. It has been one I've definitely begun, but am still partly stumped as to how I'll answer it.

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/21/2005
I love seeing the different sides of Aragorn's character in your stories - the healer and the judge. The fact that he is willing to execute someone rather than lay the task on another is indicative of his honourable nature, and of course he feels the death whether he strikes the blow or not.

I love his normality with the hobbits - like Gandalf he obviously feels that spending time with them is good for those in power. Looking forward to seeing more of him with the twins.

Author Reply: I think you will be impressed by a consideration I'm bringing up in a coming chapter.

But, yes, one needs to spend time with Hobbits to keep ones perspective, and perhaps that, along with the idea that Sauron never thought of having one forged for the Hobbits, is why Frodo and Sam were born to that race rather than to the races of Men or Elves.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/21/2005
Ooh *gives an excited wriggle,* Aragorn the tactician! Watch out Agmar!!! I do like your OC's. You and Shirebound have completely converted me to the value of AUs - but they do have to be well done and in character even if not in canon. I am looking forward to the dance and are we, at last, begininng to hear more wedding bells in the distance?

Author Reply: Again, am not certain how AU this is--Elanor saw the King when perhaps too young to remember according to the deleted epilogues, after all; and we do have wars in far countries where Eomer led his Riders in the wake of Aragorn's banner. So, here we have a viable alternative, I think.

As for OCs, I like to think of them as Tolkien's own characters we just hadn't had the chance to meet as yet.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/20/2005
Uh-huh. Sneaky!Aragorn. So, I get the impression that Angmar is about to have a change in its government--and maybe by a few men who are now thought of as good as dead, hmmm?
The few. The proud. The expendable.
Interesting.

And I look forward to seeing more of the hobbits!

Author Reply: Yes, the few, proud, and expendable are forces to be considered in their own rights, I think.

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 34 on 6/20/2005
This was so powerful on many levels. Glad to see Sestor understand his actions were not what they thought they were. That he had been used for others benefit. Aragorn sees that as well and...Judging by the look on his face, Aragorn is plotting. If I was the Lords of Angmar, I'd be quacking in my boots.

Glad to see Brendilac will be fine. Also that Narcissa and he seem to be aware of the blossoming of their feelings towards one another. Might Aragorn be asked to officiate at another wedding in the near future?

Excellent chapter all around. Looking forward to seeing where this tale is headed next.

Author Reply: The war leaders of Angmar might well be quaking in their boots, if they truly understood what they have set loose on themselves.

And there is, I believe, a wedding coming up.

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