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| Beyond Imladris by PSW | 34 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 3/11/2025 |
| I've got to admit, I'll be glad to see the back of Baradhald. Dorhaur, I wouldn't mind so much if he hung around. Would that be the same flat protected hollow where Strider found evidence that Rangers had been there, and left the firewood, some decades hence? (TIL the meaning of Amon Sûl!) And now the tower (before it was ruined) reminds me somehow of a lighthouse, withstanding the storms. No wonder the three kingdoms fought over it, if I'm remembering right. Baradhald had better watch out. I'd walk lightly around Glorfindel if I were him. Do I detect a hint of peas in a pod? ("You could not prevent me.") And "climbed steeper with worse injury..." Ah these Rangers. No wonder I want to read more about them. Estel's thoughts about lessons vs. "the real thing" certainly ring true! I remember exploring ruins as well as reconstructed historic sites, and I can definitely identify with young Estel and his enthusiasm. I wonder what great forces were employed to destroy what must have been a mighty tower. within a week of returning Elrond would likely know every Elf who had made such a statement within the bounds of Imladris, whether Estel had overheard or no. Ah, yes. In my stories, this phenomenon is known as the Talk of the Tooks (whose gossip seems to carry more destructive power than the common gossip of other Shire-folk, perhaps because of the feyness of that family, with the rumors of fairy ancestry). I might also imagine that the irritation of being forced to endure Baradhald's company over the past days has added to Estel's poor opinion of Men. "rejoice in what you are" Words of wisdom. Along with the challenge to be a Man that others would be proud to follow. Be a Man who can draw forth the valor and the love which lies hidden in other Men. I have an inkling as to the topic of the upcoming conversation between Elrond and Dorhael. It will be interesting to see if I've guessed right. Um. He's alone on Weathertop, unless Elrond and Dorhaur are still there. Is he going to overhear part of their conversation? Or is he going to encounter danger? It may even be possible that the hilltop is haunted by restless spirits of the Men who died there. | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 3/4/2025 |
| The curiosity of a child is so wonderful! Question after question, trying to fit new sights and insights into their proper place amongst previously acquired knowledge. Ah. It seems only right that Estel would have a sense of homecoming in this land. he suspected the boy was highly unlikely to approve of any familial appeal to seal a promotion for his father's cousin. I suspect he's right. it was an image the Dúnedain cultivated, much as at times they wearied of its effects. I hadn't really thought about it, but of course they do. And Elrond's thoughts about the name "Scowler" are quite amusing. Aha! Clever, perceptive Dorhael! (Estel could do worse in a foster-father if he should return to his people.) "Are we there yet?" Familiar words, indeed. Maybe he would just walk everywhere when he was grown. Foreshadowing, perhaps? By the way, I sympathize. I've been saddle-sore in my time. Weathertop! Author Reply: Foreshadowing indeed, for someone who will be called Strider in future times… :-) I Yes, I can only imagine the excitement (and boredom) of endlessly crossing land that is in many ways utterly different than anything you’ve grown up with. Good thing he’s got patient and affectionate teachers along for the ride! Thx so much for all your lovely comments! | |
| Itarille | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 2/24/2025 |
| How comforting it must be, to be sheltered in a hobbit hole after soem dreadul days! And of course a hobbit will know when something is not right. Author Reply: Yes - I imagine it must have been possibly the most comforting place available at that point - warm and cozy and full of good food. And small - which I kind of imagine would act a bit like a weighted blanket… | |
| Itarille | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/24/2025 |
| I liked how you described Estel's bewilderment as he encountered a waitress, and a (seemingly) uncaring innkeeper. He has had a sheltered childhood, and it is believable that many mundane things would be totally new to him. Author Reply: Yes - it really occurred to me more and more as I wrote this story how different and foreign the entire world of Men must have been for him when he finally began to interact with it. I also suspect it may have made his years of wandering and his eventual move to Gondor a bit easier - his attitude toward time couldn’t have been that of a normal Man (even a normal Dunedain), and his home was never with the northern Dunedain to begin with…. Thx for your comments, hope you enjoy the story! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/24/2025 |
| I can imagine how trees might soothe ragged Elvish nerves... LOL, the similarities between children mentioned here are amusing to contemplate, along with the Twins' reactions. It must be so frustrating to know that Estel was there but is somewhere else now. Elrond's anger at the sick man is understandable, but what he hears about Estel's attitude must be humbling. Probably not an emotion he's used to experiencing very often if at all. Lovely! I'm looking forward to reading more. Author Reply: I think it all just caught up to him at once on seeing Ferrier there - he’s been so focused Estel and on finding Estel that he hasn’t really thought much about Ferrier yet. But he has sowed the seeds for Estel’s compassion and now that work comes back to help (and yes, humble) him… | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 2/18/2025 |
| People like Captain Baradhald. Yes, the effective people get things done in spite of such people and often find them quite a barrier. And then people like Captain Baradhald typically take the credit for any success (and none of the blame for the consequences of their errors). At last, we get a glimpse into the reason for Estel's dislike of the Man. I'd had an inkling. Gilraen was infinitely wise in choosing to raise the boy in Imladris, I think. Especially since it's all too clear that Baradhald has ambitions to use Estel as a tool for his own purposes. Author Reply: Ah yes, isn’t that the way ….? Baradhald is ambitious, but also a hothead and none too careful. It’s going to get him into trouble one of these days… Thx so much for reading and leaving comments! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/15/2025 |
| What mattered was that his own heart, so reluctant at the start to open itself as father to a child of Men, could not now easily bear that child's loss. An evocative sketch of the development of the relationship between Elrond and Estel, in a nutshell. "limp as a rag doll": how worrisome! And the situation, especially the knowledge they are accumulating based on interviews and tracks and other evidence, is (as you say) intolerable. At last! They reach Dari, and the girl with Estel's hair tie knows exactly what to do. (And I hate having hair in my face, too, Estel. I rejoice with you on getting your hair tie back. It's so often the little things that make life livable.) Hmmm. It seems that Estel's previous interactions with Baradhald were not pleasant. It will be interesting to learn more. Author Reply: It is the little things, for sure! I can imagine collecting each new bit of information, all piling up to see worse and worse. At least they were able to learn from the inn that Estel was up and about and didn’t seem to have been harmed by drugs not meant for him. As a healer, I can only imagine the worry that would have been for Elrond. No, Baradhald is altogether unpleasant. Not many redeeming qualities, to be sure… | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/14/2025 |
| What a happy awakening for Estel. I'm sure he was exhausted, and his body is probably all too short on fuel and all too full of stress hormones still, even after the long sleep. How alarming the scene in Rivendell sounds. I can clearly imagine the sequence of emotions: amusement, annoyance, the emergence of worry (shoved down), and finally, acknowledgement that something is very, very wrong. But at least they seem to be on the right track before the chapter ends! Author Reply: Yes! Very happy and very exhausted both. It’s been a rough couple of weeks, and I’m sure it will take a while for him to get himself figured out again. When I started the story it was all going to be from Estel’s POV - but I got to the second half and realized it would be so much more well-rounded with a couple of other views and some backstory. And I was glad I decided to do it - I think it works much better this way. Thx for all your comments! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/13/2025 |
| Definitely a day for shocks. And perhaps still more shocks are in store for our helpful Ranger. Good strategy, Dorhaur, keep pretending to be asleep. You'll hear a lot more that way. Yup. More shocks. Unfortunately, I have known my own share of Baradhalds in my time. [Insert expletive of your choice here.] I like how you show the different attitudes the Elves have towards Dorhaur and Baradhald. And the awe that Dorhaur must have felt in looking at the sleeping child – the hope of the Dúnedain... and the world. Author Reply: People are crabbing at each other - always wise to play possum and stay out of it. And in this case yes, it had the extra benefit of giving Baradhald time to blow the whole thing wide open. Yes, there are many versions of him running around out here unfortunately. I was as surprised as Dorhaur when Baradhald went that direction - I didn’t have a solid idea of his personality before he appeared, and I wasn’t truly expecting *this* … but here we are. Dorhaur’s entire world has indeed just been upended… | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/13/2025 |
| "What are you doing down there?" My mind immediately generated half-a-dozen snarky answers. It's a good thing young Estel has more sense than I do. He really sleep-walked a long way, didn't he? Ah, Dorhaur has a rope in his pack. Doesn't do him much good there, unfortunately. Still, he has a rope, which is more than the Fellowship could say when they came to Moria. (I am snarky tonight. It must be getting close to bedtime.) I'm glad Dorhaur didn't leave him alone in the ravine in the night when who-knows-what might be out there! Yikes! My respect and admiration for Dorhaur just keeps growing – exponentially, at this moment. I can see him sliding down into the trap to the rescue! And the moving battle! And, whew. The cavalry comes over the hill just in the nick of time. It'll be interesting to see the upcoming conversation between Dorhaur and Estel's foster-family. Author Reply: Ha! I think Dorhaur had the snark covered - though Estel might have added more if he wasn’t half asleep… I didn’t even think about the Fellowship’s rope troubles when I wrote that! That’s funny. No, it doesn’t do him any good back in the camp - but I guess one can’t have everything. ;-) Dorhaur did well not to leave the kid on his own in the middle of the night, and it turned out to be the right decision… | |