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A Cat in King Elessar's Court  by Agape4Gondor 6 Review(s)
Episcopal WitchReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/14/2008
Pippin is a breath of fresh air at the beginning. "I liked the fact that he knew I watched. It was heartening. ‘Mayhap Frodo is not as witless as I think.'" The Cat can make me laugh even as events get worse!

The NERVE of that Gandalf. How dare he twit the Cat that way!

‘You have Faramir’s respect and his love.’ Alqualonde sees clearly. If only Denethor could believe this.



Author Reply: Glad the Cat makes you laugh... it will be sorely needed in the future!

As for Gandalf... in the books, he can be a bit sharp(e) *grins* I think the Cat will forgive him this... later on? Who knows....

Denethor needs total support now, more than ever. He doesn't see it from his son - not in the way he needs it.. very sad.

Blessings and thanks for the review!

Pearl TookReviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/7/2008
Yes, look beyond, Denethor. You've sat in your own city for too long. I'm glad Alqualondë is beginning to see the wisdom in the larger picture.

Well done, Agape! :-)

Author Reply: One cannot fault Denethor too badly, I think. He firmly believe that if Gondor falls all of Middl-earth must fall. So to prevent that - he must concentrate on Gondor. Because we can see the whole picture, makes it no less true for Denethor. Mithrandir sees it - but he is a Maia - what would one expect!

Denethor has watched his father battle the Enemy since he was a child. He took his father's place and did battle also. Then, he sends his sons and they battle. Denethor and his sons are too close to the problem... they are caught up in the fighting and the death and destruction. How can they possibly see beyond that? Especially with a palantir telling him that all is lost. *shivers*

Though the cat listens and believes Mithrandir, his love for Denethor will never fail and he will, for a time, make excuses for the Lord of the City.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/7/2008
I hope our dear cat gets to meet Merry, Frodo, and Sam.

Author Reply: Well - the title has to do with Elessar as King - we can only hope!

The cat thanks you for the endearment.

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/7/2008
So now Pippin is beginning to learn how to talk to Alqualondë. It is very important to understand what cats are saying, all cats I think. They know things.

I feel so sorry for Denethor in this chapter. It seems that he not only doubts Faramir's feelings for him but also thinks that Gandalf has replaced him in Faramir's heart. I know what's coming but I can't help but wish it were different.

Author Reply: Ah, GW! It is very important to understand a cat. They carry such comfort with them if one listens..... and they know things.

It is a slow progression of lost love and trust - without communication. One wonders how often they saw each other these last years. It would seem the sons would always be off on some campaign or the other. With Sauron showing Denethor only the bad things in the palantir, what else would he think? He must have felt that he had no one about him whom he could trust. *shivers*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/6/2008
Sauron's despair is heavily upon Denethor this day. And love the growing respect for the unmet Frodo. He would do well to nurture that respect.

Author Reply: Faramir definitely spoke kindly and with respect of Frodo. And the cat, though he does not alays agree with what Faramir does, loves and respects Faramir. Ergo - the cat will love and respect Frodo. That will be a fun meeting, I think!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/6/2008
Poor Denethor! For one normally so discerning, how little he understands of both Faramir and Gandalf. Of course, the way the palantir has been at him, no wonder he judgement has become clouded. It was clear from so many little things that Gandalf said, that even in his disagreements with Denethor, he still respected him.

And Faramir never lost his love for his father, even though he could see and respect Mithrandir's wisdom, as his father could not. I wonder what lay back of Denethor's hostility to Gandalf...

Alqualonde is, as always, delightful. He's such a cat--*chuckle* I loved his thought about the milk, and angling to still get breakfast, LOL! Isn't that just like a cat?



Author Reply: I truly believed Denethor respected Gandalf. He was accepted in all the meetings. He also was given ALL the passwords for the seven gates. He was obviously allowed access to a LOT of Minas Tirith.

However, Denethor is still grief-struck over Boromir, not sleeping probably at all (which can be attested to that it is at night that those in MT have seen the light in the Tower and say that it is Denethor battling the Enemy), and that Faramir has disobeyed him entirely by letting Frodo go - rule #1 - obey your Steward. And if the Steward happens to be your father - maybe obey him even more.... As for Denethor's hostility towards Gandalf... it seems to me to stem from the time Mithrandir backed Thorongil with Ecthelion. An extremely difficult time for the son of the Steward. How far, he might have wondered, would Ecthelion and the wizard go (for Ecthelion valued Mithrandir) with Thorongil? Would they have made Thorongil Captain-General after the Battle of the Haradrim in 2980????

As for the cat, for the nonce, he still wants his food!

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