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No Man's Child  by anoriath 107 Review(s)
BlueberryReviewed Chapter: 72 on 3/12/2020
It’s such a wonderful story! A story I could read over and over again.
I was so sad when Edainion died, but now, after reading the end, I see why you did it. Otherwise it would have been quite a different story, wouldn’t it?
And the end is just perfect! She really deserves to be stewardess of the North.
(Although I think I would have also liked it, if Nienelen became queen of Gondor, but then, of course, it also would have been a different story.)
By the way, I’m so glad that Nienelen and Arwen became friends. And Elenir is just cute.
Thank you, thank you for finishing your story. Now I finally know how your story ends :)
Is there perhaps any chance that you’ll write a sequel? I’d love to read about a visit of Aragorn and Arwen to the North or Nienelen and Elenir to the South…


Author Reply: Yay!

I'm glad you made it all the way through Blueberry! And that it feels fitting to you.

(And also that I was able to take you to the end of the tale. )


There were lots of things I wanted to explore in this fic, but some of the main ones were what it really means when Tolkien says that the Dúnedain of the North faded away and nobody remembered them after Elrond passed West. That's just a passing reference, but, for me, it leaves this huge plot hole of how in the world Aragorn could justify what he must have asked of them in order to protect the Shire.... and then he survives and goes off to live this wonderful life in Gondor. (what????) Made no sense to me. So, I fixed it. :)

And if that was what I was going to do, then, well, the loss and fear had to be real and affect the main protagonists.

By the way, I’m so glad that Nienelen and Arwen became friends.

Thanks! One of the themes I was going with was that the way you survive suffering is by reaching out to others and that we are here to pick each other up when we fall down. So, it seemed a nice opportunity to reinforce that theme. Plus, they had so much in common and I gotta think that Aragorn has a type - which means that have even more in common. So, there was no way they weren't going to get over themselves and start helping each other out.

And Elenir is just cute.

:D I'm glad you like her. I had all kinds of fun writing her. She's got a fun, take no prisoners little personality.

Is there perhaps any chance that you’ll write a sequel? I’d love to read about a visit of Aragorn and Arwen to the North or Nienelen and Elenir to the South…

I can't promise anything. I'm kinda in that state where I'm in mourning. It's really hard to say goodbye to "people" who have been in your head for so long. My muse packed up and went on vacation to the Canary Islands. She sends postcards occasionally, but without a whole lot written on them. :) So, we shall see.


Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Blueberry. I'm really glad you stuck around and were here to read it after all this time.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/7/2020
Such a wealth of rich detail! I love the way that reading this engages all the senses.
Hmmm. Methinks the Elder has told Halbarad to choose a wife and get busy on the business of begetting.

I also really enjoy the Elder’s daughter and the way you sketch her interactions with her father.

Beautifully done.

Author Reply: Thanks Lindelea!

I'm glad the writing is pulling you in.

I truly enjoyed writing Elder Maurus and his daughter Pelara. I based both of them off coworkers. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see them together very often as they worked at two different sites, but they did have a lot of affection and respect for each other.

Methinks the Elder has told Halbarad to choose a wife and get busy on the business of begetting.

Maaaaaybe. :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 72 on 3/4/2020
A proper ending, and the one I foresaw! They don't wish to part, but both now recognize the necessity. At least they accept they still love one another, and he appreciates she knows the needs of their people.

A wonderful story. Thank you for it!

Author Reply: A proper ending, and the one I foresaw!

Yes, indeed you did! :) I enjoyed watching you picking up the hints I was laying down.

I'm glad you feel like it's a fitting ending. It's definitely not of the fairytale variety, though, in truth, we started this story with the "happily ever after" and, I hope, took it to its logical end.

Thank you so much for reading, Larner! I've really enjoyed getting your comments every once in a while and wondering what you would make of the next set of arcs in the story.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 71 on 3/4/2020
Time seems suspended as the two go forth to confront the man both love.

Author Reply: Yep, the calm before the storm. :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 70 on 3/4/2020
I rejoice that these two complement one another so. A hard time for each to know they now share him in such a manner. Will he leave her his Steward in the north? Certainly the lost palantir of the north would give Elenir a means of ongolng communication with her geographically distant father.

Pain and reassurance both is the burden these rwo women share.

Author Reply: Thanks Larner! Right? The more I thought about it the more parallels I could find between Arwen and Nienelen.

And yeah, there's no way I was going to make them rivals, not in a story all about how people bear each other up.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/4/2020
Ah, it seems as if very hopelessness haunts her thoughts as Estel lies near death. They have fought long and hard against the darkness, and now it looks as if the line of Elendil will fail at last and the darkness will claim them.

(And in the middle of these grim thoughts, a part of me jumps in delight at this glimpse of Halbarad.)

Powerfully written. Looking forward to more.

Author Reply: a part of me jumps in delight at this glimpse of Halbarad


Halbarad deserves ALL the love. :) (And a MUCH better end than he got in ROTK imho :P )


now it looks as if the line of Elendil will fail at last and the darkness will claim them.

I can't imagine what the Dúnedain of the North made of Aragorn's reluctance to provide an heir and what that meant when he would disappear for years on end to other lands or, Valar forfend, get injured.

Thanks Lindelea!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 69 on 3/4/2020
A difficult situation for each and all, with pain and to spare for all. Alas that her fears for her daughter's safety are too well founded!

Author Reply: Yeah, I can't imagine what Elrond's reunion with his wife was like. I suppose that must be what makes him such a great healer.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: Prologue on 3/3/2020
Vivid descriptions. I look forward to reading more.

Author Reply: Thanks Lindelea! I hope you enjoy. :)

sueReviewed Chapter: 72 on 3/1/2020
You are a master story teller. What a journey this has been. Although I knew that 'journeys end with lovers meeting' it is the parting that weighs my heart. My dear husband died a year ago (and yesterday). I'm sure my tears are twined as much in his loss as in Nielein's story. I have so enjoyed this, and looked forward each Friday for a new chapter. Truth be told, I often started checking on Wednesdays. 8>D
Can I hope for a new epic to begin soon?
Best Wishes and Thank you for many hours of enjoyment.

Author Reply: Oh, I'm very sorry to hear about your husband, Sue. All the little reminders that come with anniversaries are hard.

I'm really glad that you found this story absorbing. Thanks for reading and commenting along the way. It's been a journey for me, too. :)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 74 on 2/23/2020
It is these moments of cooperation that make her position livable, I think. Nice to see them working together and him finding more reason to have esteem for her good sense.

Author Reply: Thanks Larner! Yep, they say write what you know, and this little quiet moment was a joy to write.

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