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A Deck of Heroes  by Larner 8 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/23/2009
Ah, our always suspicious Denethor! Of course he had to notice that the Northern Rangers look up to 'Thorongil'. But I love the comparison with Gil-Estel, and the idea that he can't track Aragorn in the Palantír.

Author Reply: I suspect that between them Elrond and Arwen, and possibly Galadriel as well, have done their best to give Aragorn whatever protection they can for his privacy against such prying. Thanks so!

Author Reply: I suspect that between them Elrond and Arwen, and possibly Galadriel as well, have done their best to give Aragorn whatever protection they can for his privacy against such prying. Thanks so!

VirtuellaReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
"I wonder, do they see you as their Gil-Estel?"

Nice irony! ;-)

Author Reply: I am so glad you appreciate it, Virtuella! Thanks!

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
I just loved this.I can imagine Denethor thinking these thoughts.

Author Reply: I am so glad you can imagine it, Linda. Thank you so for the comments.

AndreaReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
This is very interesting, indeed!

I'm quite sure that this is Denethor's POV. And I have been quite sure that "the woman of great beauty" refers to Arwen - until I read Dreamflower's review. A very plausible explanation, too. I think she's right.

Author Reply: Oh, yes, definitely Denethor's POV. I intended the woman to be Arwen, although in many ways Galadriel works as well or even perhaps better. Thanks so!

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
Brilliant Larner. I had much the same reaction as Dreamflower when trying to decide who's POV you were using. And the same about the mysterious woman. You have definitely written yourself further plot-bunnie material here.

Author Reply: Again, thanks for both reviews, Harrowcat! And perhaps one day I'll follow through on this, AFTER I'm finally done with some of my current bunnies and nuzgul!

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
Ah! A very appropriate use of the prompt! Intriguing as well, with the indication that Denethor is already using the palantir-- even though he is not yet Steward.

And I find this hint *very* interesting:

All I find when I would look upon your doings is a brilliant light and sometimes the disapproving face of a woman of great beauty.

First of all the idea that the palantir would not respond to a desire to spy on Aragorn: is it that he is its lawful master? but then there is the "woman of great beauty". My first thought was Arwen, somehow sensing that someone was trying to spy on her beloved-- but then I wondered, could it have been Galadriel? Somehow blocking the attempt to spy on the heir of Isildur?

Either interpretation is definitely worthy of further exploration.



Author Reply: Sorry to take so long responding, but the days are already harrowing!

I read Anglachel's "The Hands of the King," in which she has Denethor beginning his assays with the Anor stone before his own accession as Ruling Steward, and decided to continue this. I'm not certain whether this is before or after Thorongil left Gondor; if after, it's just after. I know that Aragorn and Arwen were not yet betrothed, but I suspect that as she is described as particularly quiet and pensive during this time she had found her attention caught by this latest fosterling of her father's, and could not quite make up her mind what it was about him that had done so. So she would try to take a "sisterly" interest in him, to the point of beginning to "watch over him in thought" as Tolkien describes.

I also suspect that both she and her father would wish to see to it that as much as possible Aragorn remain "invisible" to any form of magical observation likely to be unfriendly, with possible augmentation by Galadriel as well, although I am not certain that she had met Aragorn as yet--I rather doubt they had, actually, as during the years of his youth Aragorn had remained ignorant of Elrond's daughter, who was in the keeping of Galadriel and Celeborn during the time. It is possible that Galadriel was aware of him, and perhaps had already an inkling of Aragorn and Arwen's possibe fate, but that's a hard one to call. That an Elven watch might at times lead Denethor to become aware of the displeasure of one of those who watched over Aragorn from afar simply pleases my imagination, I find!

I rather like your idea, though, and certainly it's a plausible interpretation.

Thanks so, Dreamflower!

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
Thorongil must have brought such mystery with him, and even more mystery when he disappeared. It's interesting to think of how and when the palantir might have been used before Denethor's time.

Author Reply: In Anglachel's "The Hands of the King" Denethor begins using the Palantir during the last year or so of Thorongil's time in Gondor, and I'm undecided as to whether this is shortly before or after the assault on Umbar's fleet. But I do not believe he could have had a great deal if any success at using the stone to keep an eye on Thorongil.

utfrogReviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/22/2009
This is just great! Thanks

Author Reply: And thank you, Utfrog.

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