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| Moments in Time by Larner | 18 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| I fear, my lord, that you have a good deal yet to learn about the nature of service I will not have serving as lords of this realm those who do not exhibit the traits you just recited to me. Lordship must be earned--it is not merely a birthright. I will honor those who display honor, no matter what their birth. How wonderful. This King is ushering in a new and most glorious Age, that is for certain. Author Reply: Aragorn is indeed demanding substance and not show, and Frodo and he both provide excellent examples of just what traits he expects to be emulated by those serving under him. So glad you approve. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| Was grinning through much of the story – that was fun, Larner. From the moment Ivormil was complaining to Balstador about the food I was gleeful anticipating his reaction when he finally understood that he has *no* right and reason to think the High King of Arnor and Gondor has to be at his beck and call. Knowing Aragorn, it was so clear he would be seriously displeased with this pompous, arrogant young guy. (Foppish popinjay was a very nice name for him!) Truly, I have to applaud Balstador for his patience with him. But of course, the bit we learned about Ivormil’s father is enough to know the boy hadn’t a good example. I doubt Ivormil – and his father – would have dared to act similar if they would’ve had still to deal with Denethor. Though I feel sorry for Ivormil’s servants. Hmm ... Ivormil isn’t overly bright, isn’t he? They told him he was led to Lord Perhael and then Lord Iorhael, and the hobbits told him he had seen both, but he failed to consider they could be these lords. And if Ivormil thinks he is adequately trained with a sword, I’d love to have him spar with Pippin *evil grin* Can’t say I’m sorry for the public humilation Ivormil got during the audience. He brought it upon himself. But I think there are some signs he is not completely lost yet – maybe he thinks about it all and changes. Very well done! Every court has fools of this sort, I suppose, and it was as much fun as it was intriguing to read this one example. Author Reply: So glad you enjoyed it. Ivormil's realizing just what a self-centered wretch he'd been acting and is having his eyes opened to the new reality for the realm. And Balstador has indeed shown superb restraint in his ability to curb his desire to ream this one thoroughly. I think you're right, Denethor wouldn't have stood with it, either, although he'd have landed with both feet on them for not sending proper support to the forces along the Anduin or to the capital sooner than Aragorn did, not that Aragorn had as yet had a good deal of time for dealing with such situations at that point. I never thought to consider having Ivormil spar with Pippin, but then I suspect you've just set another plot bunny loose in the dog pen. You would do that, wouldn't you? Heh! And I do think there IS hope for the young man, too. As for his father.... | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| Oh what a pompous, arrogant young upstart of a Lordling! I was giggling all the way through at the thought of the come uppance he would be receiving once he met the KING! Public in his disrespect so very public was his lesson in humility! Fortunately he seems to be quicker on the uptake and more ready to learn than he appears at first. The last bit was inspirational Larner and the rest - just wonderful! Please give Lindelea's writing companion a doggy treat and a pat from me and your own pack ofcourse. Author Reply: Yes, Ivormil has been now made an example before the realm, but at least there is indeed hope for him. And am so glad you found the last inspirational. Thank you. And the dogs send a numerous amount of tail-wagging to you, from Yogi's little tail wiggles and attempts to speak to Kerry's most expressive waves of her lovely tail--she, as Mama Dog, is our fan-dancer and uses her tail outrageously to express herself and flirt. | |
| cookiefleck | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| Very nice. I best liked the interchange between the man and Sam, and then with Frodo... and the payoff scene where realization finally dawns was fun. Good points made, too. Author Reply: Yes, Sam has this ones number double quick, and finds no patience for his self-centered world view. Nor is Frodo much more capable of retaining patience with him. And it was fun to see his pride properly punctured. Now he has a chance to actually learn how true nobility expresses itself. Thanks so for the response! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| I am interrupted at this point (will include the quote where I stopped, in a minute, partly because it's where I stopped and partly because it's *wonderful*!) but just had to say this is glorious! It so nicely fills in some of the background of the time that JRRT barely sketched in, the behind-the-scenes that *has* to be there but that the reader seldom sees. I am so looking forward to reading to the end, later. In the past few weeks their new Lord had made it plain that he would see all serving within the Citadel treated ever with honor, and that he honestly was both grateful for the service rendered by all who labored to keep this great edifice functioning properly and respectful of the work they performed. And here came one who resented being greeted by such as himself when the King and his folk all were courteous and expressed thanks regularly? Just so--this is so very apt a characterisation of Aragorn, who laboured as long as the lifetime of a lesser man, a servant himself in many ways, before he came into his own. Author Reply: "He who would be greatest among you, let him be as the servant of all." I certainly see this in Aragorn and in those who came with him as well, particularly the Hobbits. I'd always felt this was the kind of King Aragorn would be, which is why I wrote that one of the first things Aragorn did after the coronation was to arrange to meet with the Citadel's staff to indicate this was precisely the type of situation he wished for them, and included similar images both in "The Acceptable Sacrifice" and "Lesser Rings," in which Aragorn and Arwen both help cleanse poor wretches rescued from a slave ship. Am so very glad you appreciate this, Lindelea. Love to the hubby and Hobbitlings, and a pat to the writing companion until I can see you hopefully next week. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| Love the last paragraph. I rather liked the spoiled brat somehow and hoped, nay, knew the King wouldn't be TOO hard on him. He's just a kid after all, and couldn't have had such a great example set him. I like how he was given a second chance while being told like it was. ~~~{~@ Author Reply: The King is offering the young man a chance to grow and change, and he indeed offers a much better example than the boy's father. And Aragorn would indeed tell it as it is, I think. | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| This is an excellent story, Larner!! A good lesson indeed, I hope the young man learns it well. Author Reply: I'm certain that taught as publicly as it was this one had a good chance to hit home, and I suspect Ivormil will surpass his father as a lord of the realm. So glad you enjoyed it, Pearl. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 6/9/2007 |
| Well, somebody certainly needed comeuppance! Actually, I felt rather sorry for the stupid young Ivormil. He'd obviously been over-sheltered, and his father seems not to have offered a very good example of fortitude (I'm thinking of poor Denethor, who was not exactly a marvelous father, and who failed his Stewardship in the end, but who did fight the Dark Lord personally for decades, and sent his own sons into peril, rather than staying safe in some provincial bolt-hole). But there's hope, at the end, that Ivormil is still open to becoming a better lord than his father. I loved the line where he looks at Frodo's feet and thinks of those bare feet walking through Mordor; there's the beginning of shame and reverence and understanding there. I wonder what Aragorn and co. would have done with Paris Hilton... Author Reply: Yes, someone needed a comeuppance, and the plot bunny for this one has been gnawing at the dog pen for months, insisting on recognition. I had to deal with it or the dogs might escape up to the road or get into the chicken pen or something equally dire. I'm certain there were minor lordlings who holed up; and I felt they ought to be addressed, and you're certainly right about the contrast to even Denethor, who put the realm first until the last madness. But Ivormil is young, and as you note there is hope. He may not have heard of Hobbits, but he's certainly heard of Pheriannath, and it's hitting home now; and he's learning the lessons Aragorn desired to see taught. And after reading a few stories speaking to the damage those two pair of feet must have suffered in their long journey through the black land and up the slopes of Orodruin it just seemed right that they ought to be mentioned here. Thanks so for the comments, Raksha. | |