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| The Ranger and the Eagles by Cairistiona | 15 Review(s) |
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| Lily Baggins | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/19/2011 |
| Oh my goodness, what an AWESOME chapter! I'm sitting here grinning like a total fool. First off... let me say that I sympathize GREATLY with Aragorn. I have an incredibly intense fear of flying in airplanes. The last time I had to get aboard one, years ago, I remember closing my eyes and making quite a number of deals with God if he'd just let me survive it. I get nervous for days before I have to fly... now, I just won't. I would rather do ANYTHING than fly in one of those unnatural silver machines that have a gazillion parts to them---any one of which could go wrong and lead to a spiraling, fiery death. So, I understand. I do. I don't blame him a bit. Aragorn is utterly adorable here---if he can be called such---with his petulance and pouting and stubbornness. Oh, I adored his bad attitude about flying so very much . . . I can't tell you how amusing I found it. And his attempt to hide the fact that he can't even sit up on his own---oh, Aragorn, you try to fool a wizard but you can't! How awesome is that? This is h/c I live for! VOMITING AND THEN PASSING OUT---MY ARAGORN DREAM FIC! You rock, you SO rock---I am speechless! I am overcome!!! I can't even express my facial expression at the whole "stand up, collapse, vomit, pass out" episode. That was superbly done, and I will see it in my mind's eye for years. Oh, Aragorn was so pitiful and trying so hard... it was just perfect. And Durvain does make me laugh---the shoes comment was priceless. I loved the humor in this chapter to bits. I think I did laugh the most at Durvain's innocent attempt to show Aragorn the scenery! How hilarious! But oh, oh---you wicked THING. Poor Aragorn just actually lived through his worst, most horrible nightmare---the fear of an eagle wanting to eat him and trying to grab at him! I would be in fetters. Now that is some bad luck---I'm very surprised he even got back in the air! But I suppose it's like falling off a horse and having to get back on. Gandalf's concern for Aragorn in this chapter was just lovely... especially the sweet embrace and calming Aragorn's fears as he shivered and quaked... adored every moment of it. Gosh, I could just babble on all night if you let me. I can't possibly relate to you how happy this story is making me! Words cannot express. Author Reply: LOL, Lily!!!! Thank you so much... I figured you'd be in raptures at a certain scene in this and I'm relieved to find I predicted well. *g* I honestly didn't think Aragorn's condition was going to lend itself to that, but as the story went on, and then this chapter came along and he started acting so foolish--well, let's just say that he asked for it, silly Ranger! You make an interesting point that I hadn't really thought about--that Aragorn's "grab him and eat him and spit out his bones" nightmare might have actually come true had that southern Eagle gotten him. Now I wished I'd touched on that a bit! Ah well. I think, though, that to my mind, the moment Aragorn finally was a bit free of those fears was when he looked up at the wound on Durvain's wing and felt the battle surge rise. It's hard to be fearful when you're wanting to get your sword out and go to war, even if you are 8,000 feet above Arda! And I wondered how many people who are afraid of flying would read this and relate. I'm actually not afraid of flying--I better not be, as my husband is in the aviation industry! So I had to go a bit by "insight through imagination", to borrow a line from a Dick Francis novel. And I had to make sure I didn't make Aragorn TOO craven. He is Aragorn, after all. Inzilbeth helped immensely in guiding me in keeping Aragorn frightened but still Aragorn. But I thought it safe that even Aragorn might be afraid to fly, since less than 1% of the population of Arda ever had the experience! Don't take off your seatbelt or pull down the tray table in front of you just yet... still more flying to come in the next chapter! Thanks for the review! | |
| Darkover | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/19/2011 |
| This is another fine chapter! Poor Aragorn! He faced up to his fears more bravely than I suspect I would have. I'm really beginning to like Durvain, as well--he may be small for a giant Eagle, but he has a big heart. Gandalf, as before, is completely in-character--made abrupt and impatient by worry, but deeply concerned about his friend. I'm glad Aragorn was finally able to bring himself to enjoy the experience, at least to some extent, before it ended. Sure, it would be scary, but think of how cool it would be to fly! I eagerly await the next installment. Thank you for writing and posting this one. Sincerely, Darkover Author Reply: Thank you, Darkover! So glad you liked this chapter, and very glad indeed that you're growing to like Durvain. He really has carved a soft spot in my heart, I must admit. :) And I do think that Aragorn finally overcame the last of his fears of Eagles; now it remains to be seen whether he has the stamina left to actually enjoy the final leg of his flight. He's been through a lot for a wounded, weakened man, even if he is a Numenorean! Thanks for the review! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/19/2011 |
| Oh, what a thrilling experience! And what a sweet love story between these mighty and wonderful Eagles. This chapter was mesmerizing, and the end was just wonderful. Goodness, whatever will that prickly Beorn think of all this? Author Reply: Thank you, shirebound! Hopefully some of Beorn's prickles have worn a bit smoother over the years, but yes, it'll be interesting to find out, won't it! | |
| AzureSkye | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/19/2011 |
| Wow, those sound like some pretty miserable nightmares. Love the question of Numenorean insanity....and it sounds like Aragorn doesn't like sailing. As mild as Durvain is I really don't think he's liking Aragorn calling his talons hooks and claws. And the seven-year-old looks never work anymore do they? I was laughing hysterically when Durvain told Aragorn to try again; he'd missed Gandalf's boots. I don't think I could have taken the turbulence or the dive during the flight, I *hate* falling. I don't like roller coasters for that very reason. I'd never even considered there might be "fallen" eagles, but I suppose as every other race has some, eagles must too. And its wonderful that Aragorn has finally gotten over his fear of flying! Author Reply: Thank you, AzureSkye! I'm with you in not being particularly fond of that feeling of freefall (although I used to love rollercoasters in my younger days!). I don't think you'll ever catch me, or Aragorn, skydiving! As for "fallen" eagles... that southern eagle is an original character but the idea of him is straight out of canon. In "The Hobbit", Tolkien tells us, "Eagles are not kindly birds. Some are cowardly and cruel. But the ancient race of the northern mountains were the greatest of all birds; they were proud and strong and noble-hearted." I wrote Menelris in the same vein as Tolkien wrote most of his Eagles, but Durvain I wanted to be a bit of an exception--much like in nature, one can very rarely come across an exceptionally friendly wild animal. I wanted Durvain to be that exception to the rule--still very much the noble-hearted and strong, proud bird, but also with a rare charitable streak. And if you don't mind my yammering too much on where I get ideas for characters, Durvain was influenced in part by a real bald eagle named Freedom, who had been rescued and brought back to health and has proven to be exceptionally friendly and caring toward both her caregiver and also, inexplicably, toward the seriously and terminally ill. If you google "Freedom the Eagle", you can find more information about her. :) | |
| Fantasia | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/19/2011 |
| Of course that your Aragorn's fly experience couldn't have been easy, he has to get in trouble! Love those Eagles, they are the best thing that happened to Aragorn in years, I'm sure. "You missed his shoes, Master Strider. Perhaps you should try again." - Again, this made me laugh. Do you think that the Eagles can fetch Elrond? I think that we will need him to tend Aragorn injuries. Author Reply: Hee hee... yes, Fantasia, with me it can't just be a simple flight to Beorn's Hall, can it. And sending them to fetch Elrond--that's an interesting thought. Trouble is, winter has already struck up in the high passes, and I don't think Elves can fly any higher than Men can, so I think Aragorn will have to settle for Gandalf and whoever they might find at Beorn's Hall. Thanks for the review! | |