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Brothers at Heart  by Radbooks 3 Review(s)
SurgicalSteelReviewed Chapter: 15 on 5/7/2006
I've been reading this for a little while, actually - I'm really enjoying the story, and I love the developing friendship between Aragorn and Halbarad.

Author Reply: Thank you for reviewing the story, I appreciate the encouragement!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 15 on 5/6/2006
As I think you know, I made the choice to have the Northern Dunedain speak mostly Adunaic with Sindarin their secondary language, based primarily on the use of the "Ar-" prefix used by the people of Arthedain for the heirs of Isildur and to partly differentiate themselves from the Elves with whom they cooperated. But Sindarin would indeed be used heavily, particularly, I think, among those of the strongest royal lineage.

I love Aragorn here, and the realization by Eradan that in truth Aragorn is little older than he himself, and yet that he is already far more mature.

And I love the smoking lessons! How anyone can decide to smoke considering how difficult it can be to learn to do so without choking is beyond me, actually.

And I loved the manner in which Aragorn handled the direction of the taking of the raiders, and his dealing with Halbarad and Alvist particularly afterwards. Certainly Eradan has learned the hard way just how careful he must be walking amongst enemies.

Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing the chapter, I do appreciate it. I thought about Adunaic as I knew you used it, but I don't know much about it myself so didn't want to go that way in case something came up and I was already using, 'adar' and 'naneth'. The whole language part is not very clear and Tolkien said different things at different times and so I went this way as it just seemed easiest. There are times that I wish that Tolkien had not left so many notes for his son to put into all of these books to 'muddy' up the waters. But then what we would have to write about to fill in the gaps, etc? :)

Glad that you loved Aragorn in this chapter, we haven't really gotten to see his 'warrior' side so far in this story, though we will a bit now. :) Yet his compassion and firmness in speaking with Eradan later was needed... he did do a good job, yet he did need to be reminded to be aware of what was happening as well. Eradan will never forget that lesson, nor will he forget Aragorn's confidence in him that he will be a good Ranger one day.

I just wanted to point out the very small difference in Aragorn and Eradan's ages and yet Aragorn is leading all of these people - men 70 & 80 years older look to him for leadership and Eradan is not even allowed to go out on patrol yet! It just strikes me at times of the difference in the two of them and all of the things Aragorn told Eradan were right - the lives they have led were just so different.

Halbarad is just wearing Aragorn down with the whole pipe-smoking thing! :) I don't smoke, but I do like the smell of pipes, but not cigarettes.

FireReviewed Chapter: 15 on 5/6/2006
An other fine chapter. I'm sorry for Halbarad, having to kill that man, but it could'nt be helped. I'm sure it happens to the rangers more often than they would like, being who they are. I can imagine Eradan thinking it was his fault the man was killed, but it surely wasn't.
So Aragorn wakes what ever elves there are with him on patrol when he starts humming does he? ;) Nice picture you paint there.
It's good to see Aragorn trying to comfort Halbarad and Eradan, he does really seem a lot older than they are.


Author Reply: Thank you for reviewing the chapter, I appreciate it. It would be so difficult to have to take a man's life, it is not something that I can imagine and yet it had to be done, and as you said, probably much more often than they liked. In another story that I have written one of the other characters made a comment that he couldn't imagine how Aragorn could have been involved in fighting and war for over 70 years at that point in his life... I can't imagine that, either!

It just strikes me how very young Aragorn is to be leading these people and I want to bring that up from time to time. Men seventy and eighty years older than him are looking to him and he is only the same age as this 'boy' who is not even allowed to go out on patrol yet. But all the things he told Eradan were true, growing up with only adults (very ancient adults at that!) does mature you and he has just been groomed for this for a long time, etc.


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