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The Ranger and the Eagles by Cairistiona	190 Review(s)
layne	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/7/2011
Awwww ... Strider. To be so traumatized by that childhood event of his cuddles him I was rather afraid at first, that there was something sinister behind his fear of the gentle eagle. I'm glad that was not so because I really like Durvain, and I love his and his mate's backstory in the chapter before this, that tugged at my heartstrings. Love the part where Gandalf probed into Aragorn's thoughts, and Aragorn being cross at that!! Author Reply: Thank you, Layne! My apologies in taking so long to reply... somehow I didn't get an email notice about this review. Glitches happen, I suppose, but I hate it when they do! I'm glad you're enjoying the story--especially Durvain and Menelris and their story. I wasn't sure how well OC eagles would be accepted by everyone but it seems that those two have found places in readers' hearts. :) And no, nothing sinister behind Aragorn's fear... just a silly phobia set in place by a scary childhood incident, similar to what anyone might suffer. Hope you enjoy the rest of the story, and thanks again for the review!

Tigger	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/6/2011
Oh!! This was so perfect!! Of all the days for Aragorn to reunite w/Menelris and Durvain, what a gift for it to take place on his Coronation Day. Love, love, love it!! I felt like giving myself a slap upside the head though for not realizing where you got the idea for Menelris' name. ;o) Nicely done there and I adore that another Thorongil was looking over Aragorn and his safety during The Battle of the Black Gate. Wonderful that!! This though... "If it would be permissible, I would gladly fly you over your new city." Aragorn gasped. He had not considered such a thing... his heart leapt at the thought, but would it be proper... I swear the first thing that came into my head on reading that was..."You know you've spent a lot of time around Samwise Gamgee when..." :oD So sorry to see this lovely story come to an end, but what a beyond perfect ending for it. BTW...Their Coronation Gift to Aragorn? That has produced a Plot Bunny that nailed my ankles and is now in the incubation stage of planning. I've got a couple other stories on the go, but in particular I really need to finish one and soon, as I'd like to submit it for this month's Teitho contest. At least I hope I can get it done in time. When I do write the story that will be produced from this plot bunny, if I'm still not able to access LJ, how can I get it to you? I'll be able to post it at the LOTR Message Board/Website I belong to in our Fan Fiction section, so if all else fails, I can put it there and let you know. Anyway, I really would love it to be you to read it for the first time if possible. And on that note...I need to get to bed. Going to miss this story and I hope this isn't the last we see of Menelris and Durvain helping out their Friend among Men. :o) Thanks for the wonderful story!! ((((HUGS)))) Author Reply: Thank you, Tigger! I'm so glad you liked the ending to this. And full disclosure on my part? I didn't really make the connection between my creating Menelris' name and Meneldor until I actually wrote the epilogue. LOL Seriously, I was just going through the Sindarin name-generator (I love Darth Fingon's handy tool) and created a name that approximated "Queen of the Skies". So I actually had a bit of a slap-upside-the-head moment myself. LOL I think sometimes my brain subconsciously "knows" things that I don't realize and pulls them from the soup that is my knowledge of Tolkien without any conscious direction. Weird how that works. And how neat that this inspired a plot bunny! I do like it when my stories stir the creativity of other writers--leads to more good tales. :) As for contacting me, if you have access to email, you could email me the story or email me when it's posted. My email should be listed in my bio/profile thingy here at SoA but if not, it's cefox1@aol.com. Thanks again, and good luck with the plot bunny. :)

Thorongirl	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/5/2011
What a marvelous story! I get very emotional sometimes when I read a great story, and your epilogue was very stirring. The whole scene at the beginning where Aragorn tries to identify what he is feeling was so well constructed. And yes, joyous. I felt a lump rising in my throat throughout and I couldn't suppress a smile when Aragorn wondered if perhaps the guard might have heard him. That was so realistic. Oh, and thank you so much for the touching (and sometimes humorous) reunion. This story made my heart soar. Your knowledge of your characters and canon shines through with every word you write. Author Reply: Thank you, Thorongirl! I'm so glad you read this story and enjoyed it... I'm always so grateful when I hear that something I've written has stirred a reader's emotions like this did yours. The idea of the night after all the festivities, where Aragorn's finally alone to process everything, has always been near and dear to my heart and it was such a thrill to finally find a story where I could explore the whole gamut of emotions he must have felt. And you know me, there has to be some humor in even the heaviest moments. :) Thanks for the review!

Ainu Laire	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/5/2011
Bwaahhhh! Oh what a fantastic ending! I love the sheer joy you describe Aragorn having... I cannot imagine anything else, now! It made me grin, I'll admit. Hah! He got his eagle down! Very cute. And the whole scene with the four guards at the tree sworn to secrecy, Menelris preferring the name Thorongil and naming an eaglet after him- and said eaglet protecting him in the battle at the Black Gate! How fantastic! If you ever do any post-War fics that have to do with battle, I can see Thorongil the eagle protecting him even then. I want an eagle protector. And the ride, hah, the ride was a great ending. I want to ride an eagle too. I noticed you had this whole little almost mini-series with titles going on, here... first Hobbit, now Eagles... what's next? Ranger and the Ents? Ranger and the Dwarves? Ranger and the Orcs? said Ranger glares at her Just kidding, just kidding! tugs at collar Man can't take a joke... whispers Ranger and the Spiders... Ranger and the Trolls... Ranger and the Balrog... feels evil glare on back Right! Ranger and the Unicorns it is! I best get out of here before my sleep deprivation kills me. I look forward to whatever is coming from you next, whether it's another Ranger title or something else! Author Reply: Thanks, Laire! Glad you enjoyed the ending of this wild and crazy ride. :) Wouldn't it be awesome to have your very own Eagle bodyguard? And the titles... it's not really an intentional mini-series idea where I have sixteen more such stories lined out, but it might be a nice accidental series, who knows! If it does, maybe I should go back and rename "At Hope's Edge" to "The Ranger and the Wraith". Naaah. LOL But it would simplify trying to come up with titles. Thanks for the review, and hopefully I can come up with something a little sooner than next winter!

Elflingimp	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
Thank you so much for this wonderful story! It is by far one of the best ones I have read in a long while and brings so many emotions to me as I read it.Sniff. Hugs The Imp Author Reply: Thank you, Imp! I'm so glad you liked this tale, and very flattered that you think it one of the best ones you've read in a while. That makes a writer feel very encouraged. :) There's one more little gapfiller "appendix" to go, and then I'll start working on something new... so the stories will hopefully continue, although probably without Eagles next time. Thanks again!

Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
Oh, that was beautiful! I had so hoped that Aragorn would get to ride on Durvain at alst, though I hadn't expected that he would have to wait until after his coronation! g In a way, that made it only better, though. What a perfect way to celebrate his coronation and victory! I love the idea that one of Durvain and Menelris' children was watching over Aragorn during the battle at the Black Gate! Hehe, I can't blame Menelris for liking the name "Thorongil" more than "Elessar". I guess Aragorn will always be Thorongil to the Eagles. ;-) Of course I also loved the gift they had for Aragorn! This was a wonderful ending to your story, Cairistiona! Though it makes me sad that this story has to end at all, I couldn't think of a better way for it to end. Loved it! :) Author Reply: Thank you, Almut! I figured that moving the "flying Eagle ride" so far into the future would surprise everyone, because it certainly surprised me! Stories have a way of doing that sometimes. And you know, one of my own favorite lines in this epilogue is Menelris' very quiet, "Thorongil." hee hee. She's a stubborn bird, Menelris, and will never come around to any name that refers to rocks or walking. Hmm, I wonder if she and Durvain had a big argument about whether to name their little one Thorongil or Strider! g Thank you so much for reading this and for all the reviews you've given... each one is greatly appreciated!

Elentarri	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
This is such a beautifully written story. Thank you. The ending is really cute - especially the eagle down :D Can you please write a story with Aragorn, Denlad and Halbarad set after "A Star in Midwinter", but before the other stories? :D Something where Denlad is still young and trying to fit in or still learning to be a Ranger...? Happy writing! Tanya Author Reply: Thank you, Tanya! So glad you enjoyed this story. I do have another story started that picks up where "A Star in Midwinter" leaves off... when I'll get it finished is anyone's guess, as it's in the very early draft stage. But I'm definitely working on it and want to get back to "my" Rangers, and especially Denlad. Glad you enjoyed this departure from them. :)

Ellynn	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
Awww, this is such a wonderful, touching end. melts Thank you for another great story. hugs Author Reply: Thank you, Ellynn! So glad you enjoyed it! :)

Lily Baggins	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/4/2011
Well, this was an incredibly beautiful and most satisfying ending to the story--- a story I will be VERY sad to see end. I may weep! Thank goodness you have other tales up your sleeve. That comforts me. I was so intrigued to see that you set the Epilogue years after the original story---I love that it takes place just after the coronation! Aragorn's doubts played a major role during parts of the story and it's lovely to see him joyful and unburdened by worries about his future, and thinking about the past and how far he's come. But it's sad, too, to think about Halbarad---oh gosh, I can't even go there without getting too teary-eyed, after getting to "know" your Halbarad so well. And of course, I LOVE the fact that even as king, Aragorn has not lost his playfulness! Poor Aragorn---living for years imagining that something bad had happened to Durvain. Thank goodness the eagles showed up to truly provide a fitting end to his sorrow over that. And brought down! Now that brings the story full circle---how awesome to think of him having it sewn up and sleeping on it every night, after mentioning it all those years ago. And Thorongil as Menelris and Durvain's son? Sheer brilliance. This chapter just gave me the best, best feeling of warmth and happiness all wrapped up in a cozy, neat little package. And so it ends. I have to say I've adored every single minute of this story---down to every last word---and I'm sure I'll make a habit of re-reading it until I have the darned thing practically memorized---along with the lovely gapfiller, of course. Me, obsessed? Yes, I guess I have to say so. And insatiable. However, I'm feeling very well sated and fulfilled right now, thanks to this story. Thank you so, so much for taking that drabble idea and really running a marathon with it. It's been a real spot of joy in my life these past few weeks. Author Reply: Thank you, Lily! I'm so glad you liked the unexpected turn the ending took! This whole story really was an exercise in taking unexpected turns... who would have thought that your request for an h/c drabble between Aragorn and Gandalf would have turned into such a crazy wild ride! I'm just very, very glad that this was all you expected... I really do wonder who had more fun, me as the writer or you as the reader! Either way, I think we can both safely say it's been a blast. :)

Matt	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/3/2011
Well, we got the ride even if the rest of the story is missing....Great job. Thanks for your efforts, i hope that you do more in this universe, though possibly with a touch more moving about in the world and not too much hurt/comfort. I know a lot of people like it but its so close to angst....and we have enough of that in the world as-is. Matt Author Reply: Thanks, Matt! Yep, finally got the ride (and eagle down to sleep on the rest of this days). The rest of the story isn't exactly "missing", per se... Tolkien told a lot of it, after all. ;) The interesting thing about fanfic is the way fanfic and canon work together to tell a complete tale. I'll get back to the hunt for Gollum eventually, though I can't promise no angst (or hurt/comfort, which I think is actually different than angst, though some fans use them interchangeably. To me, angst is a story where the character deals with the emotional conflict or inner turmoil that comes when he faces a seemingly insurmountable obstacle, which could be grief, heartbreak, impending war, etc. An "angst" story might not have any physical injuries at all. An h/c story, on the other hand, is where Aragorn falls down and goes boom and someone kisses it and makes it better. :) I have found I really can't write a straight h/c story... I always seem to need to throw in angst and humor and action, and more importantly, strength and hope, as well). Tolkien pretty much set up his world to be full of hardships and sorrows, and Aragorn walked that very hard road full of trial (both physical--the "hurt"--and mental, emotional, and spiritual--the "angst") that Elrond and Gilraen both foretold he would. I think the "take away value" in his life, though, is knowing that he walked through all those hardships yet emerged strong and whole in the end, never losing his hope or his joy except for brief moments. Those are the themes I try to touch on in my own stories, because I find them inspiring and helpful in my own life. :) Sorry, that was a long and rambling answer to your very concise review! But if you want to try something I've written that's more lighthearted, you might like "An Unexpected Feast", which details an unusual banquet Thorongil finds himself attending, or "Upon a Spring Morn", where he and Halbarad deal with a tricky lambing. "A Star in Midwinter" also has a bit less angst, though it does have some. I appreciate hearing your thoughts, and hope you continue reading! Thanks again.

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