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No Man's Child  by anoriath 2 Review(s)
Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 16 on 8/26/2019
I feel bad for Nienelen here; she's little more than a housekeeper and broodmare; though if Aragorn doesn't spend more time in her bed (and do more there than sleep, there won't be any "quickening". At least Nienelen is respected, and does seem to derive some satisfaction from her work in keeping the chieftain's house. But there isn't much real communication going on between them; and I hope that Nienelen will eventually think of her husband by his name rather than "My lord" all the time.

Author Reply: At least Nienelen is respected, and does seem to derive some satisfaction from her work in keeping the chieftain's house.

Yep, good! I'm glad that that is coming across as an aspect of her personality.

But there isn't much real communication going on between them; and I hope that Nienelen will eventually think of her husband by his name rather than "My lord" all the time.

Yeah, that power differential between them is pretty messed up, in its way. I couldn't think that there would be anything but a pretty big gap in power between 70-something year old Aragorn and a woman of the Angle, daughter of one of his men or not. He wouldn't want to abuse it, but would be pretty comfortable with it otherwise. She's stuck with "how the heck can I question him?" And there we have it. Everything flows from Aragorn to Nienelen, and he's not ready to talk about much of anything with her..... yet.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 16 on 8/24/2019
I rejoice he is home safe. Her question had to be asked. Too bad his answer appears to be equivocal. I hope he realizes she loves him, and appreciates how she displays it by seeing to his comforts as she does.

Author Reply: Too bad his answer appears to be equivocal.

Yeah, I'm not sure he has much that he could give. He strikes me as a person who is very careful not to promise more than he can deliver.

I hope he realizes she loves him, and appreciates how she displays it by seeing to his comforts as she does.

I would think he does, but is pretty ambivalent about it - and, like above, very worried about promising more than he can deliver about that, too.

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