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The Ranger and the Eagles  by Cairistiona 16 Review(s)
CanafinweReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/5/2013
Blessed be the writer's block that left me poking around on this site instead of finishing my own chapter today! Otherwise I never would have found this, and I too am eager for a good Gandalf-Aragorn hurt/comfort fic! In your trusty hands, it cannot fail.

Such an excellent start: Gandalf and his hatful of fire. You've really captured his 'voice' in the narration, and the chill of the winter's night is so beautifully drawn. I suppose I should be glad that Gandalf has found such a nice, cosy cave to rest in, but all I can think of is Aragorn out there somewhere in the snow. I shared Gandalf's dread at the thought of his friend being 'caught out in that', because of course he was!

The scene of Aragorn's arrival is so perfectly piteous and heart-wrenching and lovely. Staggering on to the end of his strength, and managing to utter a small desperate prayer before collapsing in the snow -- and his prayer is answered, of course, for here is Elbereth's most faithful servant come to help him.

I hope!

Author Reply: Thank you, Canafinwe! While I'm very sorry you hit writer's block, I'm honored that you landed on my story to keep you entertained until it passes. This was my first foray (and only, so far) into trying to write from Gandalf's POV and I had such fun with it. He's probably my favorite character after Aragorn, so I can't really imagine why I haven't tried my hand at writing him more. Too many other story ideas, I suppose. At any rate, so glad you found this and I hope it hits all your h/c buttons as much as it hit mine when I wrote it!

Midnight PromiseReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/3/2011
*Sputters!* No new updates from you in a while, and then you have the AUDACITY to not update every five minutes until everything is posted?! For shame! ;)

"He smoothed his offended whiskers," Haha, he reminds me of a disgruntled feline. :-D Those little tidbits help center the story around the characters; the little quirks of each are always endearing.

Hurt/comfort? *Grabs the chocolate and warm, fuzzy socks* I'm in. ;D

Aragorn's entering plea was perfect, tugged at the heartstrings. :/

Eager for more, and hope the Holidays were happy ones!


MP

Author Reply: LOL!! Thank you, MP... yes, I am a bit audacious in not slapping the entire thing up in one day, I admit. *g* But I hope today's posting of chapter 2 will mollify you for a bit. :)

So glad you enjoyed this first chapter! I do love exploring character quirks... like you say, it's what endears characters to readers, and Gandalf's whiskers and eyebrows to me always seem to have a life of their own.

Keep the socks on and the chocolate at hand; much more is on the way! Thanks for the review and the holiday wishes. Mine were terrific, and I hope your holidays were lovely as well. :)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/1/2011
You made me feel cold reading this! Great descrition and a wonderful beginning!

Author Reply: Thank you, Linda, although I would imagine making you feel cold is the last thing you need right now! LOL But I'm glad you found yourself "there" with Gandalf and Aragorn. *hands you an electric blanket*

Thanks for the review!

ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
First, Happy New Year! Second, That was really good! Hope I see another chapter soon. Hugs The Imp

Author Reply: And a happy New Year to you as well, Imp! So glad you enjoyed this; another is coming on Monday. Thanks for the review!

VilwarinReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Yay, the story is being posted at last!

I think you captured Gandalf perfectly - a great combination of old man and wizard. And that dreadful weather they're in! Makes you appreciate a warm home all the more. I somehow suspect that Gandalf will get a bigger fire soon, though.

I'm waiting eagerly for the next chapter.

Author Reply: Thank you, Vilwarin! I'm so glad you enjoyed this first chapter... and I suspect you're right about that bigger fire. :) Thanks for the review, and Happy New Year!

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Break out the athelas! Or at least some bandaids! Poor Aragorn needs some TLC, since it would be difficult to do his own healing at this point. It's not always easy to realize, in our comfortable hi-tech lives, how treacherous it can be to get hurt in the wild; when one doesn't have tetanus shots and antibiotics regularly available.

Hurry up with the next chapter!

Author Reply: LOL... next chapter will be up on Monday. :)

And yes, Aragorn's hardly in a position to pull off a "physician, heal thyself" move, is he. Too frozen, for one thing, and who knows what else... Gandalf will have his hands full, I think!

Thanks for the review, Raksha!


RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Ah, this is a really nice start! An Aragorn and Gandalf story for the holidays is always welcome - well, it's welcome at anytime of the year, but you know what I mean. :) I love the imagery you painted of Gandalf in the cave, it was very well done. I could just see him there in the cold huddling over his hat-sized fire.

Looking forward to the next chapter! Happy New Year to you and your family!

Author Reply: Thank you, Radbooks! I'm so glad you liked this... and yes, I do know what you mean. :) It was really interesting to visual poor, half-frozen Gandalf and his tiny little fire, especially in light of his ability to set the world ablaze should he so choose.

May you and yours have a blessed New Year as well! Thanks for the review.

Lily BagginsReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/31/2010
Oh wow... I saw this chapter and my heart just about leaped out of my chest with excitement!

And so far, it is FAR MORE WONDERFUL than even I could have expected! You really caught the cold, lonely feeling one would have camped up in an isolated cave in the Misty Mountains... cold, miserable, full of danger, and absolutely unforgiving. I felt like I was THERE.

I really do love Gandalf's feeling of foreboding here. Something draws him to look out of that cave entrance... and oh my goodness, what a fantastic entrance for Aragorn! Have I ever mentioned how much I adore him collapsing?

The entire chapter sent shivers up my spine... and now I'm dreadfully afraid of exactly what Gandalf is going to discover regarding Aragorn's condition (okay, I must admit... excited, too! Excruciatingly so---to bring on the comfort!)

I am in heaven reading this---thank you so much for expanding that drabble idea! This is really a wonderful start to 2011.

Author Reply: Yaaaaay! I was hoping you'd get a chance to hop online and see I'd started posting. *g* I need to thank you for the wonderful plot idea, because I don't think it would have happened had you not requested a Gandalf-Aragorn h/c scene. Of course, now that I've written this, it seems so obvious! LOL

I'm glad you felt like you where right there in the cave with him... I always aim for that "you are there" feeling when I write. And hmm, yes, you may have mentioned adoring seeing poor Aragorn collapse, a time or two!

Hope you enjoy the rest of the ride... this one really did turn into a crazy kind of adventure, so fasten your seatbelt. :)

Thanks for the review!

EstelcontarReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/30/2010
I'm so glad you're finally posting this tale. You know how much I liked this chapter when I first read it. I like it even more now that I've read it a second time. Your description of that freezing evening in that small cave and how it affected Gandalf was so vivid, I again felt nearly as frozen as he did. The dichotomy between Gandalf's hidden strength, and the handicaps and desires of his mortal body was very well put, and his foreboding of Aragorn's predicament worked perfectly as a foreshadowing of Aragorn's dramatic entry, which I enjoyed very much indeed.

Author Reply: Thank you so much! And thank you for your feedback as I was writing this; it most definitely improved the story. I did especially want to touch on that dichotomy with Gandalf--the hidden strength and the "old" body. When you read "The Hobbit" it just seems so incredible, at least to me, that he can clamber up a pine tree and yet look like a bent little old man. And there are moments like that throughout LOTR, of course. Gandalf really is an amazing character. And Aragorn... well, everyone knows by now my thoughts on Aragorn! *g*

Thanks for the review!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/30/2010
At least he is there to succor his friend as is needed. Now--to get him into the cave and the shelter and relative warmth it can offer.

Author Reply: Yes, he needs succor fairly desperately, doesn't he! Thank you for reading, Larner!

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