Reviews (322)

Nilmandra · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Oh my, a ranger behaving badly! I read this at 2am and interestingly enough, wanted to cuff him up alongside the head and tie him to his chair. But being a ranger, he'd probaby do me in very quickly. Aragorn must really not be feeling quite right to decide to ignore the possiblity of immediate answers in Imladris and instead butts heads with Elrond, whom he has finally made his peace with, and decides to head out into the wild. I admit I am very curious to know what he might be thinking - does he think his father was having an affair? Or that he is not Arathorn's son? Not Gilraen's son? And that someone else might know and that somehow it matters at this stage of the game, even if it were true? I think Saddlebags must have slipped him some drugs. The descpritions of the attic were very good. I can see a curious child having much to explore up there, and a great hideway on rainy days. I like the idea that no one besides Erestor knows where anything is (and probably no one else cares!) The twins at the table were quite funny, discussing the finer points of grape growing, to diffuse the tension when Estel so nicely stuck his foot in it. I hope the twins decide he needs an escort whether he wants one or not when he leaves, stubborn ranger. Of course, not sure how far a guy who can't walk to the attic without wheezing expects to get away from Imladris.

RS · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

YIKES!! What is worse than a tryst with a tavern wench?!!! Indiscretion??? Holy mackeral!! Why do you do this to me?? This chapter is SUPERB!! Could it have been one of the craps-shooting women..the quiet one?? Is Aragorn going to the camp to confront this woman? This is too intense for my poor little heart. I've always wondered why the title of this story was "A MATTER OF HONOR". Now I think I know why! Just want to say that the moment with Elladan in the attic was precious. Your description of that part of the story was so vivid..the sunlight shining through, the smell..everything about it. I just adore the twins---trying to make the situation at the dinner table a little less tense with their wine talk (big smile on my face). But those words to Elrond...OUCH!!..(HIT ME WHERE IT HURTS!) I will sit here and wait all night and all day for the next update. Please hurry!

Dot · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Ok, my first thought was 'oh my God - Arathorn and Halbarad's mother'!! *snort* Never mind. Excellent chapter. Back tomorrow :-)

fliewatuet · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Ouch, Aragorn's 'farewell' words to Elrond were not of the most diplomatic kind, to put it mildly. I have always wondered what would drive Aragorn from Rivendell in such haste, as you hinted in your summary. So his father was not the honourable Dúnedain chieftain he seemed to be, at least that's Aragorn's impression from reading those letters. Though I am not sure if Aragorn is going to discuss his discovery with Halbarad ... unless Halbarad has something to do with Arathorn's indescretion. But I think I'll better quite speculating now ...

viggomaniac · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Oh my stars! What HAVE you done? I swear this has to be one of my alltime favorite fanfic chapters out of all my favorite stories ever. Wow! You kept us mesmerized throughout; the attic scene was sheer poetry; the memories evoked by opening the trunk as realistic as it gets. And now, what? Treachery of some kind (an indiscretion) on his father's part? Obviously something really, really bad has happened/did happen/is perceived to have happened and our poor ranger feels that it must be kept secret. I can't tell you how good this is. You must have known when you were writing it. An absolutely incredible chapter. Just when I was beginning to wonder what the meaning of your story title was, you come out with this chapter. Anyway, on to a few highlights. Of course there were so many, it's hard to name them all. Dudo, as always, a true delight and I loved Aragorn's comment that he "wasn't born a crotchety old Ranger". Rather enjoyed Bilbo's suggestion that Dudo live with Frodo and the answer from Elrohir. That and the observation that Aragorn "had had no hand in packing the trunk; having demonstrated a boy's typical disinterest in the maintenance of treasures". Elladan's affection for this "crotchety old ranger" is touching. But dang! I want to know what was in those letters. That whole scene was incredible. Tense. Very tense. And now, Aragorn has to distance himself from Elrond (with the utmost reluctance it would seem). I simply can't wait until the next chapter. Your story has really taken off and I want dibs on the first class seats. Ew. That last cliche makes me cringe. Anyway, update soon...

Mandy · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Oooh, mystery. I like it. I assume Arathorn had a mistress? There was a child? Which one came first? Perhaps Aragorn isn't Isildur's heir after all, merely his runner-up.

daw the minstrel · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Wow. Things are heating up here. That was quite a twist. I didn't see it coming at all. The description of the things in the trunk was very evocative. I could see them and see the painful sense they evoked of a person long gone. Aragorn was very slippery to get away from Elrond like that.

Levade · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

It always amazes me how a long-forgotten scent will bring forth the most powerful memories you never even knew existed. I love the image of the attic, and young Estel playing there in his own private kingdom (even if he didn't know then no one else wanted it). Hiding from the twins, playing hide and seek -- they were training him young! The whole scene with him finding his father's trunk was beautiful. Going through the clothing of someone who has passed can bring back so much, but for a son who never really knew his father, it's doubly powerful. I have to think he's misunderstanding the letters in the pouch. Poor Aragorn, agonizing over something that (I hope) is innocent. Love that the elves can steal sneak up on him, LOL! That would be nerve-wracking! The dinner that no one is comfortable at, and none really understands why, except Aragorn. Comedy of Errors that isn't very comical though I did find it funny that Glorfindel was the one to put an end to the twins lengthy distraction. *g* It is painful to Aragon that he has to deceive Elrond, but then I suppose he feels a bit deceived himself. That last part though...ouch! Stubborn Rangers, Eru bless them!

Audra · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Oh dear. Now you've got me really nervous. What in the world did Aragorn figure out about his father? I'd like to think that he's been through enough... I just want to pet his little ranger head and say everything will be okay, sweetie. But uh... I'm guessing that won't happen? I hope you won't make us wait too long to see what in the world is going on =)

daw the minstrel · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Oh yeah! Because yesterday was a holiday and you weren't on line, I was hoping you were about to update. I'll come back and review when I don't have to get ready for work RIGHT NOW.

viggomaniac · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

Can't believe I read this WEEKS ago but never reviewed. As always, a marvelous character portrayal of Halbarad. He no longer exists as a shadowy figure in my mind but as a flesh and blood person. That's all due to your sensational writing. I loved the ending to the chapter when his wife --being the proper lady that she is -- shrieks and jumps into his arms. And now, the new chapter has arrived. Could it be the one where we find out just exactly WHAT this matter of honor is all about? I'm dying to read it, but alas, will wait until my family have left for the day. And now, I must go off to the mundane realities of life until that time arrives. Dang! HOW many more hours????

Bodkin · 17 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Ghosts in the Attic

Oh my! Bigamy? Secret sons? Has Aragorn just discovered himself to be the illegitimate product of a bigamous relationship? Therefore not the heir of Isildur, not the Dunadan, not the once and future king and potential beloved of the Evenstar - now accepted as such by his foster father? While, of course, still shaky from his near-terminal illness and too woozy to realise the unlikelihood of said disaster? Since elves know Everything and would certainly have sussed that Arathorn was leading a double life! Or is Aragorn's sudden rather stiff formality with Elrond because he suspects that he did know and is being devious? H'mm. Or just Aragorn being unworthy and shocked and feeling like hiding at the bottom of the midden. What a delightful prospect for lurking around and digging in the deepest pits of human ignominy. Or Bree. I just love the attic. Even perfect, elegant Rivendell has to have somewhere to store the debris of ages - and what more likely than that Estel would have found himself drawn to his natural environment for a bit of dusty lurking. The description of Erestor as the sole person able to lay his hands instantly on long-disregarded treasures is delightful - precision seems to be such a part of his make-up. And I can just picture Rivendell thrown into total disarray because he has gone off to visit Mithlond or somewhere and nobody knows where to find the best silverware. Dudo is still a joy - such a curious little hobbit. He's supposed to make his home with the Bolgers, is he? Provided Aragorn doesn't waylay him on route and make use of him for another purpose, that is. I love the reasons why Frodo can't take him on. Nothing to do with a shiny band of gold. It would be interesting to see what Dudo made of the Troubles - I imagine one who had survived the pleasures of Bree would be quite good at the necessary ducking and diving, wheeling and dealing. And lying. He'd be good at that in need, too. Great chapter - I look forward to more confusion, mud, embarrassment and mud. Poor Aragorn will deserve that throne when he gets it!

RS · 6 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

You outdid yourself this time!!! FUNNY!!! What a hilarious scene with Halbarad's mother and the ladies shooting craps..and to top it off, trying to teach the granddaughter. Reading this whole thing felt like walking right into the a Ranger's camp. No wonder he was so uncomfortable in Imladris. The camp is truly his home. His thoughts of his wife is simply beautiful "No rapturous leys would ever be sung about her flawless skin", except in the private dreams of Halbarad." Sigh!! I like the way Halbarad's wife greeted him, "What are you smiling at, Ranger" and his reply, "Beauty". Great ending to this chapter, also. Can't wait for the next update. Will we see Aragorn and Arwen?

daw the minstrel · 6 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

I'm in Sydney. I'll start the endless plane rides home tomorrow and am using up the minutes left on my account--more precious than gold and twice as expensive! Halbarad's family made me laugh. His mother and her old lady cronies are a hoot, and the little girl tossing dice made me laugh out loud. I'm glad Halbarad gets a sweet reward with his obviously capable wife. So this is soon after Gilraen's death? I hadn't thought about what her return to the Angle might cause.

Linda Hoyland · 4 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

You made me feel that I'd actually visited the Rangers your desciptions were so vivid !I just loved Halbarad's mother ! It is so poignant that he will not live to see the restoration of his people that he so longs for and forsees that ARagorn will bring about.I love his loyalty to Aragorn.Very enjoyable as ever.

The Karenator · 30 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

that was a jingle for a television commercial here about thirty years ago - Eru knows what dark corner of Karen's brain she dredges this stuff up from. I can't even remember what the product was, but I'm sure she can.) Perfume. Enjoli. Just thought you might want to know. :>)

Dot · 30 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

Ah, the Ranger in his natural environment. After seeing Halbarad’s unease in Rivendell, this really shows us the reason for it. You know, much as I would rather be in Rivendell with its soft cushions and feather beds, there’s something about how much Halbarad really loves his land and his people and this life where the hardships are what makes it real that has me sitting here with a dreamy smile on my face and sighing sappily. Now, that’s a man!! *cough* Where was I? Oh, so I love the idea of the path to Rivendell hiding itself as Hlabarad leaves it behind. It really is a different world and you get that across so wonderfully through these references. Boy, he really is mistaken about who controls the Bruinen! LOL. But it probably gives him a little more respect for Gandalf. And he also probably didn’t need another reason to feel awe for Elrond! So the elves sent his clothes to the great laundrette in the sky, huh? I can just imagine what a sight Halbarad made. There he was thinking he was getting back to his Rangery roots and out comes Brandol and makes Halbarad look like he’s wearing his Sunday best to clean out the oven. I really enjoyed the description of the settlement. There’s still such a sense of life to the place, of activity and community, even if it feels emptier than usual to Halabrad after the orc attack and with the patrols out. Elanor is adorable! I kind of prefer picturing Aragorn riding a Rose Petal than a Pearblossom, though. I love the grannies playing dice! And Nelaer is just brilliant. Not the mother I’d picture for Halbarad at all! The way she says “So you’ve been off rescuing Aragorn from Dunlendings. And it looks as if you’ve been to Rivendell, from your clothes”… I can just picture her rolling her eyes at such nonsense. As though he’d been out playing instead of doing his chores. When I bet she was worried until she knew he was alright. I admit I rather like her. Perhaps not her personally but that type of character here. To Halbarad she’s obviously just his quick-tempered, fault-finding mother but there seems to me to be a suggestion of her just genuinely wishing her son could be around more at home, where she sees things that need to be done immediately. The Dúnedain may have believed that the king would be restored some day but that doesn’t help much with day-to-day living where there’s so much to do. Nelaer seems like a very practical type of person who lives very much in the present. She also sounds like someone who, like all of them, has maybe seen a lot lost to the cause and responds with bitterness. She’s very interesting, set against the faith and determination of Fimenel and Meneliel. Plus, I like seeing Halbarad with a feisty mother – and I bet she’s not all that bad; she certainly seems good with Elanor (even if she is teaching her to gamble)! '“I’ll tell the horse,” he replied' ROTFL!! Smart-ass. 'No rapturous leys would ever be sung about her flawless skin or melodious voice, except in the private dreams of Halbarad Dúnadan.' Aaaw! You know, that along with calling his granddaughter Pearblossom and his fond thoughts about the landscape and I think Eru isn’t the only who’s figured out where Hurin got his dreamy and poetic tendencies from. Don’t tell Halbarad I said that, though. Eirien is so perfect! Exactly the wife I would have wanted for Halbarad. I’m still smiling at the ending with Halbarad taking his filthy, muddy, soaking wet wife and making sure the two of them enjoyed his homecoming :-) Great as always, Meckinock. I’m looking forward to the next part. (Is it terrible that I didn’t miss Aragorn at all in this chapter?!)

The Karenator · 29 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

Johnny Halbarad looked back over his shoulder; the path he had just ridden disappeared into a tangle of bushes messier than last week's plot of Desperate Housewives. The last homely dad's house was now as safe as tuna was from Jessica Simpson. He let a sigh of relief that would have made him a shoe-in for bassoonist in the Mayberry Marching Band and urged his horse onward. It was good to be on the road again. He hummed a few bars of 'Crazy' from the old outlaw himself and pointed his horse toward another home so well hidden it'd take Joe Friday's dragnet to find it. The dad's house was nice, puffed up fluffier than Orville Reddenbacker's corn, but the PI would never feel at home with twinkies, fairies, and men who wore butterflies barrettes. He was a hard-boiled; a man wary of soft cushions, and distrustful of anybody who used over one utensil at a meal. Real life went on down at the Triangle where real men got together to spit and scratch and swap sordid stories that would turn the gut of an elf inside out faster than Buck Rogers could fire twenty rounds from a empty ray gun. Halbarad had a love for this land. The only place he'd ever seen that looked better to him was on Episode Ten of the first season of Lost in Space. The robot got stuck between two boulders that jutted up out the dirt like two sisters embracing the tin man. Eriador was the moon to him. This was his sea of tranquility--with an odd alien face that looked like Colonel Attar from Planet of the Apes carved in the rock. The PI arrived at the checkpoint to find old Ben Kenobi standing guard on the Old Republic. Halbarad's people, the last of the rag-tag resistance, had been hiding out in the scrub brush since their home planet of Numenor had sunk below the vast wasteland of watery space. Only a few of the faithful friends of the Fates had managed to escape on a couple of beat-up hulls to hide out in the sticks of Eriador. Halbarad offered up to the guard the shooting-bird sign that said he was still a mangy ranger and hadn't been seduced by the fairy side so that the old geezer wouldn't plug him with a heat-seeking arrow. "Thank a yodeling Yoda, your saber still lights up," the old man said. "Shoot me if you ever find braids and butterflies in my hair," the PI said giving the grizzled guard a wacky wink. The old man guffawed, but the grin fell of his face as quickly as a battlestar could drop off the galactica map. "You might want me to give you a push off the bridge when you find out who's showed up." "I know it ain't the chief ranger, because I left him snoozing in the firehouse back in fairy land. So, who's got your engines off line?" "Your maternal mangy rangerette," old Ben said, sorrow dripping from his voice like coolant from a ruptured coil. "Ma?" the PI spat out like a Klingon clearing his throat. "The grand garnisher of grief herself." "What's she doing here?" "Got fired from her job as shrew as the Academy, I've heard." Halbarad knew his mother wouldn't make it long as the professor of prying peeks in personal proclivities. She was effective as an interrogator, but she was bad to smash her subjects’ sensibilities into sub-particles. This was just perfect. Nothing could have set the PI's teeth more on edge than finding out his malignant mother unit had dropped in to pay a house call. Living with her was like sharing space with a Sauronian dragon suffering a bout of bloated bowels. He'd rather have his hair braided. Doom fell on him like a clod of Kyptonite. Still, the PI was not one to let a frumpy female fogy with foul fortitude foil his forthcoming felicitations for finding a floundering fop of a frontman. He did his job, and he did it well. Old Ben eyed the ranger's new duds. "So," he smiled, "you look like you've joined the fairies' rear guard." "I don't go in for that kind of thing," the PI said spinning his tone into a hiss that sounded like his boiler was about to blow. "Well," old Ben said with a toothless grin, "nice boots." The old grizzled gizzard walked with the PI to the shanty town they called sort-of-home. As they neared the first row of splintery cabins, a walloping whirlwind of a waggish waif ploughed his bread basket. "What's this?" he asked, a hearty laugh of punkish pride punctuating the placid place. "A perian punkster?" The plucky pigtailed pixie gave him a peeved peek from under a pair of pallid lashes. "No, you old grumpy gramps, I'm your granddaughter." "So you are," the PI said. "I thought I recognized you." "Granny says you're MIA so much that you wouldn't know you own left foot unless it was in your mouth." The PI groaned. "Which granny?" "Your genetrix: the matriarch of maternal malfeasants." "I was afraid of that," Halbarad said with a snort. "Where is the haggard harpy?" "Waiting on you to show," the lovely little lass said. “And where is your other granny? The one I like.” “Out in the lower forty,” the clever cherub said. “She’s midwife to a mother-to-be mare in the mud. I didn’t go. I don’t know nothing about birthing no babies.” The PI snorted. This kid played dumber than Jar Jar Binks, but she was as smart as Anakin Skywalker and look what that got him: helmet hair, a push button chest and a bad respiratory disorder. Halbarad found his ma planted in his sitting room, playing craps with a crowd of her cronies. "So," she said, tossing the dice with the skill of a skunked scalawag, "where's the leader of this maudlin mob? Is he still trying to make time with that polished petticoat when his own folk are floundering like festering fish?" "Ma!" the PI groaned. "Watch your wankery, woman," one of his mother's merry mates said. “That raggedy ranger may one day be your king.” “King!” Halbarad’s mother yelped. “We’ve been waiting on a king since Ar-Pharazon’s administration went swimming with the fishes. And,” she added with a gleam of gutsy glee in her eyes, “we’ll all be farming worms with Tasha Yar before another one shows up.” “I’m off to find the missus,” Halbarad said, ignoring his mother’s gibbering gibes. His paramour was right where the petite precocious preschooler said she’d be, stretched out like Scotty trying to fix a limping lithium crystal, only her arm was up a horse. Rain fell, turning the bucolic bottom–the land's, not the wife's—into a soggy bog. “What are you looking at, you flatfooted fool?” she asked. “A real woman,” he said. “The kind that can bring home the bacon, fry it up in pan and never, ever let me forget I’m a man.” She looked up at him as if he had just made the hyper-jump into a wookie. “Make yourself useful, gumshoe.” The PI dropped down into the muddy mess and held the mare that was probably wondering at this point if the stud muffin had been worth it. “You’re looking mighty fetching in your blood and mud stained frock,” the PI said. She pushed away from the heaving hulk of horse and stood, looking him over like the menu at Sonic. “Nice boots,” she said, smiling. “I could lose ‘em.” “What else you got to offer?” He swept her up into his arms. “My saber still lights up too,” Halbarad said, and kissed her. Ray’s Dog I love this chapter. Halbarad’s pleasure at being home is so nice…and he looks real nice too. He knew he’d be in for a ribbing when he showed up looking all spiffy. Little Elanor is a doll. I love that she names the horses. However, there’s a small problem at my house over this. Barney and Rudi are rather put out. Snickers and Comet don’t give a hoot and a hollow as long as they get the good food and the pernicious pups leave them alone. But both are agreeable to being immortalized in the Angle if you really need to. And they’re sure you do. But they don’t care. Really, they don’t. I seem to be the minority, but I love the grumpy old mama. She’s just blowing smoke and Halbarad probably knows this, but that’s not the point; she annoys him anyway. It’s her job. And it’s his to get his fur rubbed the wrong way. Gambling grannies. I love it. Ah…muddy Eirien and her love muffin. He’s been away from home for too long. I guess he’s fully recovered. Seriously, that's a great scene. Sweet and just enough to let the reader fill in the blanks. Very nice. This chapter is so good I didn’t even feel too bad about Aragorn getting left on the cutting room floor. But I know he’ll be back up next. I’m looking forward to seeing what he’s up to. Delightful chapter, meckinock. Karen

Bodkin · 29 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

Well - at least Halbarad has found a way to wipe the gloss of those nice new clothes! And Eirien seems just the right sort of practical, down-to-mud wife for him. I don't blame her for spending her time out in the paddock turning foals - it seems a lot more peaceful than sitting indoors with Halbarad's mother. Love Halbarad's response to her. 'No rapturous leys would ever be sung about her flawless skin or melodious voice, except in the private dreams of Halbarad Dúnadan.' The old romantic. I think Pearblossom will make a very good name for the foal. Elanor should clearly have a career in horse-naming. I rather like the idea of solid, strong-willed Dunedain rangers riding on horses called Rose Petal and Sausage and Princess. It must be quite spooky to be riding away from Rivendell and having the access roads disappear behind you. And the river - I wonder if Gandalf realised that Halbarad thought he had done it, or if it was one of those cross-purposes conversations which the two of them both thought they had understood - yet, had they then been forced to explain it, would have described something entirely different. His old clothes had been 'otherwise disposed of in accordance with Elvish practices' had they? That puts all kinds of interesting images in my mind. Just what sort of practices might they be indulging in here? How many children does Halbarad have? Judging from later ... activities, there could be quite a few. And he's a grandfather. Hurin and Alagos and who else? The settlement is much more real than Rivendell - I can understand why Halbarad feels more comfortable with it. It is connected to the world in a way that the elven refuge isn't. Whereas Rivendell still says 'home' to Aragorn - which is just as well really, since he is going - eventually - to marry Arwen. And be king. Nelaer seems just the kind of mother to make riding off on patrol on rangering duties a very good idea. Although one can hardly blame her for being cynical - the return of the king doesn't seem too likely at this point. A lovely chapter - with promise of more to come. Delightful.

Estelcontar · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

And you've done it again! Here am I reading an Aragornless chapter instead of the Aragorn crammed one that I was expecting, which would warm the cockles of my heart, and I still find myself delighting in it. But how could it be otherwise when you give us such an earthy, sympathetic, compassionate, warm-hearted and believable Halbarad? After all, he's been, together with Elladan and Elrohir, a favourite of mine, which I've always wished The Professor had written more about. I've also always wished Tolkien had told us much more about the settlements and the lives of the Dúnedain of Arnor, and now you've just done that. So, how could I not enjoy this wonderful chapter? Besides, now, I'm just looking forward to starting 2006 in the company of Aragorn.

grumpy · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

There, Halbarad did get his roll in the mud, now look at his nice new boots. At the least the time with his wife under the willow tree, is time well spent. Loved it that in his private dreams Halbarad sings about his wife. I think Gandalf, talked to Halbarad, about the river, just to muddy his thinking about what really happened. Sneaky old goat. Halbarad mother is something else, quick send her back to where she came from. It is great that the old ladies are playing dice for walnuts.

fliewatuet · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

Halbarad does have an interesting family. I must admit that I am glad that Nelaer is his mother and not mine ;-) But I love Eirien ... and Halbarad obviously does too. Their meeting was just wonderful, and the prospect of them frolicking beneath the willow tree is about as much contrast as you can get to stately Rivendell (if we choose to ignore Elladan's hilarious performance, of course). Now I am really curious about Aragorn's 'homecoming' (well, not really 'home'coming, but something close to that) and his encounter with Nelaer and all the other Dúnedain you just introduced. That won't be easy for him. Oh, and I almost forgot: if I had to pick a favourite part of this chapter, it would be ``[...] Granna Eirien said you’d be madder than a hobbit in a hailstorm.” Having recently been witness to a hobbit in a hailstorm, Halbarad knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he was much, much madder. “Is Granna Eirien inside, too?”

cagey · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

Hey Meckinock, your writing just keeps going from strength to strength. Don't know how you do it but keep doing it! I love the depth you bring to your characters... all of a sudden we know that Halbarad has (at least) two sons but it's brought in so naturally that it enhances the story, rather than seeming like superfluous detail. Looking forward to hearing some more about Aragorn in the next instalment... hopefully still mangled and in pain or, if not, then sufficiently recovered to get himself into the sorts of situation that leave a Ranger mangled and in pain (do I have to beg?).

Bodkin · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 7: Family Matters

I just love Halbarad in this - and his world - and, as soon as we take my mother home, I will tell you just how much I enjoyed it.

washow · 28 December 2005 · Chapter 6: A Gift Returned

I am pathatically late with my review but I really enjoyed this chapter. I loved how Elrond was interacting with Aragorn, it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.