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His Father's Son  by Linda Hoyland 9 Review(s)
Lady SarumanReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/23/2006
This is really lovely--I've reread it for the second time--it's so funny. There was never a point in my life that I hated boys except for times when I witness them in one of their immature modes. It gets REALLY annoying then. After landing in the flowers in the garden who would have thought that Eldarion and Elestelle would have a newfound respect for each other?

And the reason why Eldarion doesn't understand why his father kept "making such a big fuss over a girl", as he calls it, is because it is like a natural instinct for adults--they always coo over a baby or toddler because they think that they're so cute. Perhaps every time Aragorn does that Eldarion feels a wee bit jealous, though all he ever shows for Elestelle in the past was scorn--and still does--up until after the fight.

A note to Aragorn: *shakes finger in disapproval* tsk tsk, you bad daddy. Arwen is right, you really DO need to spend more time with your son, otherwise you wouldn't know his habits. But you probably should have realized that toddlers are the most playful and active at this age.

But I don't blame him--after all, according to his past experiences Eldarion behaves perfectly. However, he shouldn't have left them and tempted Faramir to leave with him just by saying that they have new books and leaving the children in the care of a maid. But like I said before, I can't put the blame on him too much because he thought that they behaved perfectly.

And......once the daddies leave an argument issues between "nobility and royalty." It looks like both children have erred in the aspect. For example, Elestelle says “My Uncle Eomer is a King and your adar is my Uncle too, so I have two kings as uncles!” while Eldarion counterattacks her with “My adar isn’t your real uncle as your adar is just my adar’s servant!” WHOA there! That's going quite overboard! A servant and a steward are two different things! But mayhap Eldarion thinks that everyone below the rank of his father would be a "servant", except for his mother. Seeing as he calls Elestelle's father as "Uncle Faramir" which means that they are close and he still thinks of him as a servant of the king, I wonder if he thinks that Eowyn is a maid or something. *Sigh* Sometimes things issuing from a child's mouth is so funny. =)

And........then they leave to find Arwen, causing nearly the whole kingdom to erupt in panic. Then, the two poor mothers! If anyone had recognized the two young "rascals" then it would have been indeed difficult to explain. I really liked the part when the fathers become sheepish under their wives and Faramir gets yelled at by Eowyn. For some reason I enjoy it most whenever it contains something about wives yelling at their husbands. For some crazy reason it just seems funny.

Hey, at least Eldarion has an enjoyable punishment: “I will think about it,” Aragorn promised,” As for you, ion nin, I expect you to help the gardener replant the daises you ruined and to spend an extra hour each day learning Quenya with your tutor for the next month!” I love plants and nature so gardening would be appealing. However, more alluring would be learning Quenya. I've always thought that it was such a shame that Tolkien never made an Elvish dictionary--I would have loved that. In fact, I have been copying down any Elvish I see from sources so that I could puzzle them together. If you remember from my site on councilofelrond.com, my own Elvish name, Rhîwlim, is composed of two parts: 'Rhîw', meaning 'winter', and 'lim', which means 'light'. That is what I mean by "puzzling together"--finding words and seeing if combining them with other words would make them sound prettier.

A very nice ending you've got there. Arwen comes in and finds everything peaceful and nice, just the way a story should end. =)

-Lady Saruman



Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.
I think Eldarion is a little jealous of Elestelle who holds a special place in Aragorn's heart as he saved her at birth.

ARagorn does need to spend more time with his son,despite all his duties as King.I think he will have learned a valuable lesson just like his young son.

It would indeed help if Tolkien had left us an Elvish dictionary.

Mysterious JediReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/27/2005
This is a lovely story. I like how they ended up acting friendly towards each other.

<>< Saved from sin through Christ,
mj

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.

JuliaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/17/2005
Great ending! Liked how Aragorn tried for a save with the hide and seek thing, but neither lady was buying it, wisely so. He and Faramir are very lucky that their wives are so in love with them that they find it impossible to stay angry with them for long.

I love Eldarion in this story. As you pointed out, he is *truly* his father's son, and Gondor and Arnor are as fortunate to have him as heir to the throne as they are to have his father for their King.

Also liked how Arwen dealt with the drinkers who claimed they were "too sick" to work. I hope the Healer who they are assigned to is Ioreth! A foul tasting brew and a nice scolding from her and they'll be sober and begging to go to work to escape from her.

Author Reply: Thank you so much for your kind review.

I'm pleased you agree that Eldarion is truly "his father's son". I am quite sure if the drunkards are sent to Ioreth they will behave in future !

Ithil-valonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/14/2005
Thanks so much for the sweet story! I thoroughly enjoyed it and delighted in the image of Aragorn being chagrined at the thought of Arwen finding out he had left the children alone! :)

I hope you'll write some more tales of young Eldarion and Elstelle and their parents.

Author Reply: Thank you so much, I hoped you would enjoy this one !If the Muse is obligiging, I would like to tell more tales of the children.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/13/2005
"“We were just playing hide and seek, my dear!” Aragorn replied in dulcet tones."

Heeee! Very funny moment, with Aragorn trying to cover his tracks; no doubt he's become very skilled in the art of evasive answers during all the years of concealing his true identity.

Very sweet ending, with Aragorn telling both his son and Faramir's daughter stories, and the kids snuggled up against him in utter trust, and poor tired Aragorn sleeping along with the kids. And good for Aragorn, insisting that Eldarion help replant the posies that he and Elestelle damaged.

Author Reply: Thank you so much for your kind review.I'm so pleased you enjoyed this story.I think Aragorn still needs some evasive answers at times in order to keep the domestic peace !

I especially wanted try to portray the King as a loving and just father.

LilanReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/13/2005
Linda, that one was just sweet, and I seriously wonder which genre you are better at, angst or humour. Both kids are great (not cute little angels, but hey, those are not really interesting, are they?) I love the way you show little Elestelle, having inherited bothe her mother's and her father's traits (let us hope she will not turn into a pyromaniac, to show something of her grandfather too!) And the respect Eldarion starts to feel after his little companion's resistance - so believable!

Author Reply: Thank you so much for your kind review.This was my first attempt at writing a genre other than angst and I enjoyed doing it.

I hope Elestelle won't inherit her grandfather's traits either.I hope her loving parents and 'uncle' will ensure she grows up showing the best traits from both families.

I'm pleased you find the children believable.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/12/2005
Good for Eldarion. It's not Laerwen's fault - and she's only a junior nursemaid. The kids were in their fathers' charge. Ergo, they are to blame.

Very sensible of Faramir to keep quiet and let Eowyn get the irritation out of her system. And it seems to have done the children good to see that other children don't have it as good. So the end result is beneficial for all.



Author Reply: Thank you for your review.

I think Eldarion will grow up to be wise and good like his father,as will Elestelle.

I hope everyone learned some valuable lessons,including the fathers !

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/12/2005
Ah! *happy sigh* mixed with *fits of giggles*. Aragorn & Faramir got off very lightly - this time!

Author Reply: Thank you so much for your review.I think Aragorn and Faramir will be more careful in future and will not dare let anything like this happen again !

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/11/2005
Lovely image, Aragorn standing helpless (as well as undoubtedly glad it wasn't him on the receiving end!) while Eowyn lays into poor Faramir! But good to see both children beginning to mature a bit.

And like him falling asleep with the children on his lap, and the servants thinking him eccentric. All our favorites are eccentric--Aragorn, Bilbo, and Frodo....

Author Reply: Thank you so much for reviewing,I'm pleased you enjoyed the story.I hope the children have learned a valuable lesson.I think I'm rather eccentric,so no wonder I love Aragorn !

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