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Shire Yule  by Dreamflower 13 Review(s)
TiggerReviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/21/2012
I'd just downloaded the two Christmas Albums of one of my favourite Celtic Canadian bands and Family, The Barra McNeils, and while listening to them, lo and behold I hear Good King Wencenlas comes through my headphones. That in turn made me want to re read this story, so imagine my surprise and delight to see your Christmas series on the front page when I came here to look for it. :oD

I always read this at Christmas time ever since I first read it about three or four years ago and I love it each and every time. :o)

Now I'm off to read this year's addition.

A Very Merry Christmas to you and yours mellon nin ((((HUGS))))

Author Reply: *grin* I'm so glad to know that "Good King Elessar" is a holiday tradition for you!

Sorry for the late reply--I am not getting notifications from here lately.

Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 22 on 10/26/2011
And there's the answer to that question! Hurrah for Aragorn, the Good King Elessar indeed. =)

Kaylee

Author Reply: Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!

Theresa GreenfalconReviewed Chapter: 22 on 7/12/2009
I had to review the Good King Elessar story set. I like the story of redemption in this set - I'd like to think that a few of Saruman's Ruffians either felt remorse for what they'd done or gotten in with the wrong crowd and wanted to not do harm to others again - people are people, and this is true of many a young man or woman in prison today.

I really enjoyed this.

Author Reply: Why thank you! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. It had seemed to me for some time that it was possible not every "Ruffian" was really a "Ruffian" at heart--surely at least one or two found themselves in a situation they'd never bargained for.

And thank you for the lovely review!

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/5/2008
Dear Dreamflower,

I read this last chapter a few days ago, but had not time to write a review. But better late than never ;-)

I enjoyed this story a great deal and I was pleased to find that the visitors were Pippin and Bergil. Pippin would not have gone alone, but as Bergil returned much earlier than expected, it makes perfect sense that they went out together to find Aragorn and Frodo. And I can very well imagine Merry waiting impatiently for their return. Good old Merry :)

Finally I was glad to see that Mr. Appledore decided to be Aragorn's new caretaker.

"I can't think of a greater blessing than to have him for our King."

That is so very true!

Unfortunately, there will always be rulers in our world who will not live up to their name. That lies in the nature of mankind, I think.
But as we have seen in Middle-Earth, there is always hope :)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/5/2008
A lovely ending to a truly heartwarming story.Thank you for a most enjoyable read. I hope you'll write more Aragorn and the Hobbits stories in future.

FiondilReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/2/2008
Good King Wenceslas has always been one of my favorite Christmas carols, and I love how you interpreted it for Middle-earth, especially with Elessar as the king. And Frodo-lad was just perfect as his page. Thank you for this little tale. Aragorn is indeed the consummate king and I have to agree that when one looks at the mess present-day politicians and so-called leaders have made of things, I wish very much that we can have a king like Elessar leading us (and that's from someone who had ancestors who fought in the American Revolution against the King of England! LOL).

Author Reply: It has always been a favorite of mine as well! It's the only Christmas *carol* I know of that does not actually mention Christmas. (I'm not including modern winter songs sung around Christmas time like Jingle Bells!) Yet it is so much in the spirit of the season--about serving, and giving and finding blessing through doing so. Add to that the fact that the story is basically appealing--a King, taking care of the least of his subjects personally, and not just by giving orders; the drama of the young page following his King through the snowstorm, and the way in which following in his King's footsteps literally is the saving of him--it's just beautiful in both plot and symbolism. I never fail to see that story play itself out in my head when singing it. The knowledge that Wenceslas was a real king, that he was fairly young, and was martyred for the troubles he took on behalf of his people only enhances it.

I have to say, my personal belief is that in an ideal world we would still have monarchy. Sadly, the sorts of Servant-kings of legend, such as Arthur, Wenceslas *or* Aragorn are all too rare in Real Life, so in this less than ideal world, where power tends to go to men's heads if allowed, democracy is the second best choice. (And I too, am American, and have never failed to exercise my right to vote!)

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/2/2008
Ooh a wonderful cherry on top of the icing. And a perfect King.

Author Reply: Why thank you!

He is pretty much a perfect King--I think JRRT meant him to be the sort of king or leader we'd all like to have.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/1/2008
Yes, this is OUR King! How I love him still!

Author Reply: How I wish he *was* our King in RL--I think the world would be a lot safer! (And I love him, too.)

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/1/2008
Wonderful, marvelous, delightful!!

Thank you so very much Dreamflower!

Author Reply: You are very welcome, Pearl. I'm so glad you've enjoyed it.

NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/1/2008
Yeeees! Mr. Appledore came! Now our lovely King has to convince him of his worthiness. Frodo is very happy to be with his 'Uncle Strider'. Wish we could live under such a King's rule on the Earth. However, we have the opportunity to be ruled by the King of all Kings on a spiritual level...such a privilege! Would be lovely to have both, though, eh? :)

Author Reply: I think most of us wish that about him. I think JRRT *meant* him to be the archetypical king-who-returns, an earthly representation of that King of Kings, and the sort of leader we would want to follow.

And when I see the mess "politicians" have made of the world, I wish it even more.

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