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Moments in Time  by Larner 18 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/13/2007
Oh, dear, poor Ivormil. I have to pity him even while his arrogance is (or I should say was) disgusting. There's a prime example of "young and foolish," if ever there was one, though I shouldn't say that and honestly probably have no room to talk, considering all the stupid things I've done and still do. After all, the poor boy probably didn't have the best example in his father and was more than likely spoiled and used to having everything he wanted exactly when he wanted it. He still might have listened better, but...well, at least he's being given a chance for growth and change.

Poor Frodo and Sam, I don't think I would have considered that a funny joke in their place! But what a wonderful way for it all to turn out:

He turned his eyes back to meet those
of Frodo Baggins, filled with hard-won wisdom and experience, realizing those bare feet had trod the many, many leagues between his own land and the slopes
of Mount Doom and those eyes had seen terrors the likes of which he, heir to the Lord of Bidwell, could not imagine. Humbled in the face of true greatness,
Ivormil made the first bow of honest respect he’d ever offered. “I ask your forgiveness for my discourtesy yesterday, my Lord Iorhael,” he said with a
sincerity he’d never felt before.

“Please,” the Hobbit answered him, “please address me as Master Frodo if you must use any title.”

Confused, Ivormil looked back into the eyes of the King, saw the pride and love held for this one, and began at last to understand what the
Lord Elessar had meant about developing an understanding of the true nature of honor and humility.

Wow! I'd be interested to see how things went with Ivormil after that. He seems to have his share of spirit, and if he would just pour it into learning the true qualities of nobility, he might turn out very well.
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: We've all been young and foolish, and in my case middle aged and foolish as well. But this young lordling is at least open to learning, and is beginning to understand just what those terms the King insists are important mean. And there's hope for him. But I'm NOT following the rest of his story YET. (Grinning.)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/11/2007
I enjoyed seeing this pompous young lord learn some lessons.Poor Aragorn having to no doubt deal with many like him, I can see where the rebels in my last story come from !A nice mixture of the comic and the serious.

Author Reply: Yes, this is the type of guy likely to lead to your Folco and his co-conspirators against Aragorn.

So glad you appreciated the mixture--but the thinking of such folk does tend to be absurd, after all.

ElemmírëReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/11/2007
This is terrific, Larner! You always come up with such interesting concepts. I was very glad to see "Lord" Ivormil receive the proper rude awakening he deserved at the end. And Aragorn delivered it with such grace. And Sam was priceless, as was Frodo. Kudos to Balstador for bringing his worship to them as they were indeed the only Lords left in the White City at that time. I certainly hope Ivormil takes the time to learn and reflect on the humbleness of the hobbits. He could certainly learn much from them. I'd like to think Gandalf would have turned him into a toad otherwise.

You built the tension and drama of this tale so well ... I too, wanted to skip to the end to see Ivormil get a reality check, but I behaved myself and read every delicious word and enjoyed it immensely. After all, what goes around comes around. (there was a higher-up at the hospital I work at who bears strong resemblance to Ivormil--anyone who didn't have MD or RN after their name was the scum of the earth and treated as such ... until recently, that is ;)

~Elemmírë~

p.s. will we see a sequel perhaps? After all, Ivormil's father has within a month’s time and explain himself

Author Reply: Yes--dealt with a outreach director for a public institution who refused to accept my credentials for some reason I still fail to fathom, so I know the type. Sam and Frodo, as Hobbits of the Shire, have a far more democratic view of the rights of those who inherit titles than do the folk of Gondor--the Thain and Master, after all, advise and consent and take responsibility for seeing things done, and don't actually rule as the folk of Gondor are more accustomed to seeing. Therefore they're not likely to be very patient with this obvious blinkered, bureaucratic nincompoop; and where Sam is likely to let it be obvious he takes offense, Frodo will be more diplomatic but probably at least just as obviously disapproving in the end.

But Ivormil is quite young and realizes his blunders as he actually recognizes the King; I think there's hope for him, but can't say as yet how his dad deals with the new reality for the realm.

As for a sequel--can't say as yet. Am almost finished with the next chapter for "Tenant" and have one partially finished for "Stirring Rings" as well, and MUST get them continuing on, at least.

Thanks so for the comments and feedback.

grumpyReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/10/2007
Well this trip was certainly an eye opener for Ivormil. He and his father for going to have to start earning that Lordship. That part about Ivormil looking down on the dents on the guards armor, reminds me of some idiot general in WWII who expected soldiers to be neatly pressed'
Really enjoyed the story.

Author Reply: I doubt that Aragorn would gladly tolerate self-centeredness in the lesser rulers of the nation. And in a culture where there isn't mass communications such as television or broadsheets or news photos and so on, recognition of the newcomers to the Citadel wouldn't be nearly universal as it is in our culture.

And where Aragorn would honor those who found themselves wearing somewhat battered armor because they'd actually been fighting the enemy, someone like Ivormil would merely see it as slovenliness and would need to have the facts of life slapped home to him. And I'd heard about that general, also--one who'd never actually fought and was worse than many green lieutenants. How that guy got promoted as he did is beyond me, although I've felt the same for many who promote public policy that sounds good in theory but destroys the efficacy of what they'd "improve".

elanor winterflowersReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/10/2007
This was hugely enjoyable. I had to hold myself back, because I really wanted to skip down to the end to see that kid get his just desserts! But the build-up was just as enticing as the hoped-for end, and I particularly loved Aragorn arriving in all his scruffy grandeur to further add to the calculated confusion. I could just see Viggo all shabby and disheveled, just as he was in the beginning when Merry wondered whether he was fair or foul. I expect the lordling thereafter spent a lot of time falling over his fancy feet trying to prove himself worthy, with his valet snickering in the background. Just excellent!

Author Reply: Ngila's costuming was so superb for these movies, and shows how indeed it was that Strider could have come off as both somewhat disreputable and regal at the same time. And the idea that this hot-house lordling would have mistaken it for a commoner's garb was too delicious to ignore.

I think Ivormil at least will reform. Not certain about his father, of course.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/10/2007
*grin*

Lesson learned, I think. I have a feeling that this was a most salutary lesson, and that, whatever his father may or may not do, young Ivormil will someday prove to be one of those who does offer loyal and steadfast service to his King. And I think he will have a proper respect for hobbits as well, after this!

Author Reply: Yes, I do think in this case the lesson has been learned, and the example properly honored at last. So glad you enjoyed it.

Baggins BabeReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/10/2007
Oh I did enjoy this one, Larner! Fabulous story and I was so hoping Aragorn would give the upstart a talking to. Loved Sam's reaction too, muttering away to himself and clearly aware of the sort of person this young lordling was.

Phone line was out for over a week so I'm catching up!

Author Reply: Oh, that's horrible being cut off. So often I try to log in at home to find that the satellite is refusing to give service, and I can't seem to get through to the grandson it's NOT my computer downloading email but the under-endowed equipment the ISP has online. They keep blaming us for using "too much bandwidth" when in reality we'll often be unable to access the internet at all for days and haven't used any; and text downloading such as I do uses little bandwidth at all. Blame the users rather than update infrastructure is what my ISP does!

Author Reply: And I hit the send instead of return! Gaack!

Anyway, so glad you liked Sam's reaction, for I can see him doing just this!

TiggerReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007
Oh, nicely done Larner. Nicely done indeed. Loved, loved, loved this. Are you sure the Senschal of Minas Tirith hasn't taken lessons from Glorfindel on how to bring stuck up lordings down to size? ;o)

Sigh...Oh, how I wish I could send this to a certain two members of Canada's National Figure Skating Team. They both need the same lessons this young popinjay needed. However, I do think after things that have happened in the last two months, that might just indeed be starting to happen. And not before time either.

Wonderful story Larner!! :o)

Author Reply: So glad you do love this, Tigger. Have known a few colleagues who needed just such a lesson, and it's interesting you've found it even among figure skaters1 Now, that's interesting! But I think in this case the lesson was learned.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007
The humble shall be exalted and the exalted shall be humbled. Lessons indeed.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Yes, so it has happened. Those who are thoroughly grounded in proper responsibility don't tend to worry so much about signs of status because they're too busy doing what's needed to care much; but fools mistake the protocol of signs of respect for true respect and need to learn the difference.

Good to see you back online. Second Mum is now finished, and now to get to your story posted yesterday that the ISP from Mordor wouldn't let me access.

utfrog98Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007
Any new story is a treat, but this one is just marvelous. I am especially fond of stories just after the coronation when both Aragorn and his people must learn to deal with each other. I agree completely with your portrayal of a man who has simply had it with useless protocols and now intends to end them. Thank you so very much.

Author Reply: There must have been a few minor lordlings such as Ivormil and his father hidden here or there who, out of the paths of the Enemy's armies, didn't see the point to going out of their way to send appropriate troops anywhere else, offering only the least service they felt they could get away with; and those who mistake the ritual of displaying proper etiquette for true respect are legion, I've found.

And thank you for reading and commenting.

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