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A Star in Midwinter  by Cairistiona 13 Review(s)
Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/12/2010
It made me feel cold just reading this and grateful not to be out.Poor Aragorn and his companions.A very vivid chapter.

Author Reply: Thanks, Linda! It's probably a good chapter to read in the midst of a sweltering summer heat wave. LOL As cold and snowy as this winter has turned out, I may have to write more Snow-struck Aragorn stories to get me through to spring. Thanks for the review!

Lily BagginsReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/4/2010
Oh my goodness . . . how I love growling Elrohir and calming Elladan caring for Aragorn here! It is wonderful beyond words---I get so much enjoyment from reading about their brotherly bond. And oh, I remember reading about using hot potatoes to warm your hands in the Little House books! Seems like a good idea to me (isn't a shame they had no foil...)

And it's amusing to me that with all his troubles, Aragorn is most worried about Denlad finding his present. Hee! That's what I call consideration and selflessness.

Now, I find that the description of the blizzard has me feeling the cold along with Aragorn and I need a nice warm cup of hot chocolate to soothe me . . .

Author Reply: Thanks, Lily! I read about the baked potatoes in those books, too, plus my father told me that was how they kept their hands warm in winter when he was growing up in the 1930s. I thought it likely that the Dunedain might do the same thing. :) I hope the hot chocolate warmed and soothed you... this chapter was definitely on the cold side! Glad you enjoyed it, even if it left you a bit shivery!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/28/2009
Recovering and anxious--our Aragorn! And the horse is safe in spite of its foolishness.

Author Reply: I do think that Aragorn's one of these types that's not content unless he's fretting about something. *g* Nah, he's not that bad, but it is funny how when the big crises pass, there are always little crises waiting to make you worry. Thanks for the review!

MirachReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/27/2009
The weather seems to be against Aragorn’s Mettare celebration, too. I know the feeling of coming from a blizzard into a warm cottage, it’ð something wonderful. Halbarad has some very convenient contacts in these parts, it seems. But who can be angry at Aragorn for chasing the horse? I hope he’s not angry at himself anymore, too. And the horse would certainly appreciate a warm barn instead of freezing outside. But it was good that Aragorn didn’t have to use both arms to catch him, he must be really cold that he forgot about his injury. First after they return inside it was clear how cold they really are, dangerously cold. You did a great job in showing the thoughts confused with cold. Good that Elladan is there to unthaw him, and, even more important, to prevent him from blaming himself.

Author Reply: Thank you, Mirach! I'm glad you enjoyed this. It's very likely Aragorn forgot his shoulder along with his good sense in that literally mind-numbing cold! But yes, Elladan was there to remind him that no one is perfect, not Elves, Peredhel, nor even Kings of Men.

Thanks for the review!

FantasiaReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/23/2009
God Cairistiona, I'm so cold now....the only good thing is that they will have a celebration when the rangers get back, but if you keep delaying them with more troubles, knowing your Aragorn, I'm sure that this is not the last of his problems, poor guy.

I want two brothers like Elladan and Elrohir for Christmas.

In this sentence, it is Elrohir or Elladan? I wasn't sure: "Undoubtedly. Whatever you choose to leave for those in needs, Ellarohir and I will take care of. We will return to the settlement at such time as we are free. Do not look for us for at least a week."

Merry Christmas and stay warm...it is not so bad where I'm, around 60F an sunny, but for us is cold.





Author Reply: Ellarohir... that's the long-lost brother of Elladan and Elrohir. Didn't you know they were actually triplets? *g* Seriously, thank you for pointing that little gaff out. I think my fingers must have been frozen!

I hope the chapter didn't leave you too cold to enjoy the rest of the story!

Thanks for the review, and yes, if I don't get a chance to say it before, Merry Christmas to you, too!

Silivren TinuReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/23/2009
You know, I would always be willing to take in half-frozen rangers. *bg* Aragorn, Halbarad, and Turgil really were lucky. That crazy horse chase could have found a much worse ending. I'm quite relieved they all made it. It's a good thing Elladan and Elrohir were able to take care of them right away. I'm glad Aragorn has already stopped blaming himself - making the right decision when you are half-frozen is beyond even him. ;-) I loved the nice comfort scenes in thia chapter. :)

P.S. And it is so like Aragorn to worry that Denlad might have seen his presents after he himself has just almost frozen to death! *g*

Author Reply: Somehow I thought you might volunteer, warm blankets and hot toddies in hand! *g* You are so right in even the mighty Aragorn isn't very mighty when he's nearly frozen. Even Numenorean brains suffer when the body pulls all the blood into its core like that. And yes, now onto the next worry--whether or not the surprise has been spoiled!

Glad you enjoyed this and thanks so much for the review!

VilwarinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/23/2009
Ouch... again. Long rides in winter conditions are not pleasant indeed. And then almost freezing to death. Uh oh.

But at least there are some nice people in the world. That must mean a lot for the Rangers.

And it's sweet that Aragorn starts worrying about Denlad's presents.

Author Reply: Thanks, Vilwarin! I know I definitely would not want to ride out in weather like that. *Brrr* And I do figure there had to be at least a handful of kind folks in Breeland, although they were few and far between. Fortunately, our kind woodcutter wasn't TOO far away. Thanks for the review!

ElentarriReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/22/2009
Hi

Thank you for the new chapter.

I must admit to looking forward to your chapters more than I'm looking forward to Christmas Dinner with my family or Christmas Day with my boyfriends family.... or the holiday by the sea in the new year......

Splendid writing as always.

Elentarri

Author Reply: My goodness, thank you! I hate to think of my story trumping the anticipation of a holiday by the sea or Christmas dinner with family but I am grateful it's added joy to your holiday season!

I could do with a holiday by the sea, actually. LOL Thank you for the review!

CanafinweReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/22/2009
Ooh, the cold! The biting, permeating, insidious cold! You had me shivering all through this chapter! In my corner of the globe, winter temperatures routinely drop below -45 degrees C (-50 F), and let me tell you, you have nailed this kind of storm! It's a calm, if cold, day, and then the sun comes out (or goes down) and the wind picks up and the temperature plummets...

I can understand Aragorn's self-castigation (and it's all too in-character!), but really, as Elladan said by the time he went charging after that horse he was already addled by the cold. That kind of weather makes thinking a chore long before hypothermia sinks in. The other point that neither of them seem to make (again, perfectly in-character) was that it was Turgil who took off first. Aragorn, being the consummate captain, could scarcely leave one of his men to go off alone.

The thawing scenes are simply fabulous: accurate, gut-wrenching, and yet oddly scrumptious. I just love to see Aragorn tended by his brother. Elladan's anger (read: terror), his firm ministrations, and his gentle soothing of Aragorn's tormented conciousness were absolutely sublime! My favourite moment in the whole chapter was '"Hush, my brother." Elladan put a hand on the back of Aragorn’s head, briefly pressing his own forehead to Aragorn’s as in old when Aragorn was only a child tagging along after the half-Elven brothers he idolized.' Much-needed consolation, fond filial love, and a reminder of wee little Estel long ago... who could ask for more!

Dear me, though, Mettare when the trees are in bloom indeed! I look forward to seeing how this plays out, but I do hope they aren't stranded for too long! Aragorn needn't worry too much about Denlad happening across his gifts, though: I don't really think he's got enough self-confidence yet to go poking around in the Chieftain's cottage.

Unless Ivorwen needs something from it and Denlad goes running in a fit of helpfullness. Uh-oh. The storm had better break quickly!

Author Reply: Thank you! You read Elladan's anger perfectly--he was hiding terror in anger, that sort of "Now that I've found you, I'm going to kill you" reaction mothers have when they finally track down a wayward child. And I'm so glad that I got the weather pegged. I don't live quite so far north that we deal with those extremely low temperatures, but being something of a weather nerd, I do know how brutal... and shockingly fast-arriving... a storm system like this can be. I knew someday I wanted to write Aragorn and Halbarad inadvertently trapped by a storm like this, and this story presented the perfect moment.

"Denlad goes running in a fit of helpfulness"... I love that! LOL Is there medication for that, do you think? *g*

Thanks for the review!

Midnight PromiseReviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/22/2009
Aw, Estel is worried about Denlad's present. . . :3


FLUFFINESS! I absolutely ADORE the scenes between Aragorn and the twins! Maybe there will be more scenes/possible flashback of when Estel was a child "tagging after his idolized brothers"? ^_^

Hahaa, I can't believe Elladan slapped him! I shouldn't be laughing. . . .hehehehe. ;3

Awesome job, LOVED IT!

Kudos,

MP

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