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The Hidden Days of Healing  by Linda Hoyland 7 Review(s)
Lady SarumanReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/15/2006
My apologies for the late review. Due to many projects & homework for school I have pulled several all-nighters already and I haven't been on this site for over half a month.

This chapter is certainly chaos, I can tell you that. The thing I admire about Aragorn is that he's quite selfless, but trying to heal the hobbits when he's still really ill might seriously damage his health permanantly. Pippin's scream of fright must have bestirred him to go help them. But I don't blame Pippin. Anybody would've screamed if they thought that someone who wasn't a healer was going to cut them. However, it is comforting to know that Pippin trusts Aragorn deeply. That's one good thing despite many bad things.

Frodo and Sam are both noble, because they tell Aragorn to care for the other when he was caring one of them. I'm afraid the Ring has affected Frodo way too much--in fact, so much that he has been thinking of dying and people killing him. His scream to Aragorn telling him to drive Anduril through Frodo's heart must have been heartbreaking to the future king of Gondor.

Then, the fight ensued with Sam and Strider was certainly terrible. Since both are weakened they should not even get up, least of all to fight each other. Aye, terrible, terrible. Well, I hope they'll make it up to each other. There's already been enough heart and guilt for everybody without hard feelings. =(

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review and welcome back, I was wondering if you were OK.Sorry you are having such a lot of schoolwork.

Aragorn is very selfless,but puts himself in danger by trying so hard to help others. Everyone is at the end of their tether in this chapter and saying and doing things they would not do otherwise.

trishetteReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/10/2006
Awww! =( Even though I know everything works out in the end, this strife still is quite the sadness!

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.It is sad to see them falling out like this,I agree.

Lady KoranaReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/3/2006
I really love this story. I've been anticipating each new chapter with bated breath, and I have been thoroughly enjoying this glimpse into a rarely depicted period in the Fellowship's history. The hobbits, in particular, are written very believably. However, I feel the need to jump in and defend Gimli, Eomer, and Legolas here. I think you're being terribly unfair to them in your judgement of them here and in your responses to the comments about them.

I feel that the behavior of Legolas in this chapter is particularly out of character...coming at Pippin with a knife like that, or snapping at Aragorn. The Legolas I know from the book would have been much more gentle than that, and made more of an effort to relax Pippin and help him understand that it was needed. Heck, the Legolas I know would have observed that Aragorn was awake, tried to help him walk, and made an effort to consult with him before trying a procedure like that. Also, I'm surprised that your Legolas is unaware of the whole 'Hands of a King are the Hands of a Healer' bit of lore. Legolas may be a warrior, but as the heir to an elven realm, he is more than likely better-educated than the common Mirkwood warrior. I was shocked at his lack of sensitivity here.

Yes, they're not trained by master healers like Aragorn was, but let's not forget that they had 4 critically ill patients practically dumped in their laps by Gandalf and were told to deal with it. Aragorn can mentally critique them on their attempts at healing, but they did do a decent job in caring for him, and surely he can see that they're doing the best they can for people they dearly love. They deserve a little thanks for their efforts, not just condemnation and dismissal.

It's your story, and I support your right to write the characters as you see fit. I just had to speak up, as the Three Hunters are particularly close to my heart, so that tends to make me a tad bit defensive of them. Thanks for listening.



Author Reply: Many thanks for your review.I'm pleased you are enjoying the story.

What I wanted to convey was that everyone is at the end of their tether,due to Gandalf as you say, dumping the patients in their laps.Aragorn ought to be grateful to his friends for their efforts but healers make truly dreadful patients.

Legolas was doing what he thought was best for Pippin( and Aragorn didn't actually do much different,just managed to make it seem less frigtening).

You might be interested to know that after this story,(my first) I decided to concentrate on writing about Aragorn and Faramir,as I felt I was better writing about the humans.

rabidsamfanReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/3/2006
Very interesting! I like the way that all the patients are reacting to their injuries with crankiness and stubborness -- it seems very much in character. And I'm much interested to see what will happen next!

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.I'm pleased you think I have them in character.I am hoping to update sometime tonight.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/3/2006
Well - at least Aragorn is on his feet. Just. At least until Sam loses it. Pippin is doing best at the moment, I think - his injuries are simply physical, and although the infection is painful, he will recover. Frodo is in a bad way emotionally, and that hurts Sam and makes him lash out. Aragorn, of course, is doing his best to pretend that he is fine. Not fooling anyone, Estel.

Eomer, Legolas and Gimli are doing their best. Shame it's so amateurish! You'd have thought that all those years of battlefield healing would have rubbed a little information into them.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.You are spot on about all of them !
I think the hopeless trio consider fighting more manly than repairing the damage afterwards.Maybe they will try to learn more after all this.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/3/2006
My heart breaks every time I read this bit Linda. So see these two at odds, even for a short time, is awful. So please be quick in updating this! *g*

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.I am hoping to update sometime tonight.I'm pleased you find this part moving,when I first wrote the story it was a late addition that jumped into my head while waiting for my meal to cook.Also thank you for your review on the other site,which is also much appreciated.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/2/2006
Now Frodo, Sam, and Aragorn are all feeling guilty and hurting themselves and one another in the fussing of it all.

Poor lads! But they will find healing--eventually.

Author Reply: Many thanks for your much appreciated review.It seems only Pippin is calm at present,the others could learn from him .

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