Reviews (344)

Author's reply

Hope your trip is fun and educational! I've felt overwhelmed with too many new experiences at once, particularly when I'm tired. Just coming out of a serious injury, I think Ankhrabi would need to possibly do some resting while trying to keep the new experiences down to manageable bits. And the differences between the ways daddies versus mothers see the relationships growing for their daughters is always interesting to compare and contrast! You are right there--moms tend to be more practical, and dads more protective. And I think this is how zoos have often started--someone makes a gift of an exotic animal, and then someone else wants to top it, then a third party adds to the collection, until in the end they end up with all kinds of beasts and need to find some practical use for them. Looking forward to your return home at the weekend.

Author's reply

The Batsis appear to be insistent that Aragorn ought to own some of the best camels bred, aren't they? And, yes, it does appear he is beginning to gather a zoo. Now, if he could only meet someone of the caliber of Gerald Durrell to help him get the thing going properly. Have you ever heard of the Jersey Trust Zoo? I'm dying to visit again. It's my ideal of what a zoo should really be. And the Northern Dunedain sailors certainly got their surprise, didn't they? As for Denethor and the camel, I rather wish Aragorn had sent it to him. Might have given him some thought. As for my guesses.... I'll let you answer them as the story unfolds.

Author's reply

I'm so glad you found yourself appreciating the story, Radbooks, and am still looking forward to reading more of yours in return. And of COURSE the Haradri cook wants mushrooms now--he has a reputation to uphold as the best cook in Thetos, after all; and having found a new pleasure, he'll want to present it when he can and to best effect. And of course Aragorn had to have at least a small part in creating the sculpture of An'Sohrabi, even if it was only doing a few removes. And the willingness of the northern royalty to work practically as well as offering leadership in war and peace will have a positive effect, I hope, on all. So glad you continue to enjoy it all.

Author's reply

Some chapters to come yet, yes. What precisely happened in the remains of the temple of Seti is difficult to say, but part of it may yet be revealed. Or perhaps more. It's niggling at me, I find. Trust has been established now between the house of the Farozi and the house of Telcontar; and Benai is now learning what he needs of the two Northern Kingdoms to bear back to his own people, and learning what aid they will give against such as the G'banis. But we ARE winding down, I think.........

Author's reply

Yes, it's cooler and probably more humid as well. But as it is now high summer, they probably won't feel cold, and will be surprised, I suspect, to find the nights are warmer than what they are accustomed to there by the desert. Haven't learned about Mayanerini's son-in-law as yet, but they'd not had a great deal of time to find him before they headed for Gondor, after all. That's coming. As for Setra'amun--that part of the story is still niggling at me. It wants to be told, but I'm not certain I wish to tell it.

Author's reply

We'll get some, but not a great deal--visits with major conflicts are always more interesting to read than those where things go primarily peacefully, after all. Setra'amun wants his tale told, I find, but am not certain I wish to tell it. We'll see what the next couple days bring. And, yes, I think Aragorn would wish indeed to be a humane hunter, and would not do so just for the fun of the sport.

Author's reply

Yes, I think that Aragorn would be a humane hunter who would indeed only seek to hunt for what he will eat, and not just for trophies and the like. The Haradrim are already finding reason to appreciate the hospitality of Gondor just on the voyage; that they will appreciate it more by the time they are ready to return home is, I think, a given. And we will see what is revealed of the story of Setra'amun.

Author's reply

Yes, the ship is now taking them home, and good has come out of the potential for much evil. And we look now for welcome in Gondor, hope in Camaloa, and gentleness everywhere.

Author's reply

At least they get to leave under peaceful circumstances, don't they? And the visit ended on an upbeat note. No, Aragorn can't promise to be by An'Sohrabi when the time comes, but will do what he can to help Ankhrabi and Ma'osiri to be the best rulers they can be. Thanks so much for following this, and interesting about the sticksies.

Author's reply

Yes, even after time the remnants of athelas tea which filled that waterbottle for Frodo for so long, still lingers and gives a healing essence; and everyone who comes to know the King of Gondor well tends to love him.

Author's reply

Oh, I knew you'd like it! Even when not at home or in the Shire Hobbits just have a way of getting folk smiling and knowing comfort. Thanks for reading it.

Author's reply

The King's Gift is a two-edged sword; and remember that the Ring used it to weaken Frodo and to tempt him (in my version of it, at least). It can be most uncomfortable in situations like this. And, the water tasting of the athelas the waterskin held for so long when Sam was keeping it prepared for Frodo would indeed bring him in tune with the two of them. When I started writing this, I was prepared not to like Sohrabi; but he has turned out to be a very decent sort after all, and I agree with you--I like him and his family as well.

Author's reply

You just used the description I wrote in the response to the review above this one--yes, a double-edged sword indeed. But he's forged a wonderful family for himself, for he, like Frodo, draws those worth knowing to himself. Thank you for appreciating the twins' concerns about Setra'amun being as double-sided as they are. Hope to have the next chapter posted tomorrow--took a client to the Fair today.

Author's reply

Oh, I'm so glad I found this one tonight. How I miss reviews at times I'm not certain--only know I do, and it leaves me feeling embarrassed. I fell in love with Aragorn the first time I read the books when I was only thirteen-fourteen years old. He was so wise, so many-sided, so experienced in many things. The movies and Viggo's depiction of him just added to it all. That you think I write him well means a great deal to me. I've thought long about how psychic abilities might affect folks, and they could definitely be blessing and bane at the same time, particularly when you must deal with fanatics and madmen (or madwomen, for that matter). I've found myself halfway understanding folk who would do things I couldn't do myself, and empathizing with them more than others whose logic is harder for me to appreciate, and so I apparently projected that feeling onto Aragorn, I guess. Thanks so much for the feedback. And you are right--we all need a Sam.

Author's reply

As has been pointed out, they are an extended family now, and all learning to look after one another, and particularly the one who has the most responsibility and who's most likely to overextend himself for everyone else. I know sometimes when I'm upset I need to head for a hole, and other times I need just to talk to someone. Stands to reason Aragorn would find the same dilemma, one time wanting to surround himself with others as a distraction and the next heading out to somewhere quiet without too many distractions just to try to deal with it. And, yes, we all do walk that thin line, don't we? I've not seen the total turn away from God shown in the priest, but have seen the spirals away others have taken, getting wilder and wilder until you're certain this time the person is totally losing awareness of where the Light is. But there are some folks I find myself empathizing with whom I truly wish I could ignore, while others I can't find enough in common to make it worthwhile trying. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Author's reply

I know you love Aragorn healing anyone, and it's a blessing to be able to write such scenes, as you know. If Aragorn is the Sacred King, he represents those he stands for before the Valar and the Creator as well as the health of the land itself. The Elves feel the health of the land and all that grows on it; I just stretched that Elven ability to make the King's Gift in which he feels the well-being of its people as well. Yes, it would make him more special for he physically or psychically feels the needs of his people and thus will go out of his way to try to see to it things go as well as possible for most so as to enhance his own feelings of well-being. A person with such a gift would almost be forced to act in as responsible a manner as possible.

Author's reply

Well, Pippin recognized this water bottle must have been used by Sam for Frodo's tea as the water tasted of athelas; I think he recognized that Aragorn most likely might need it that night. And the King's smallest guard would have passed on Sam and Frodo's blessings in such a way. We do get a bit of a mix in this story, don't we? Author Reply: (ps--Sticksies??? Wassat?)

Author's reply

Well, before they can hunt those ducks they need to teach Aragorn how to use the bird bow and throwing sticks--and I imagine that he will find himself outshined by others, novice that he is. And now and then we need some philosophical discussion without more strife, I think. Sorry it's taking longer to do chapters--real life is catching up to me.

Author's reply

To be shut in an empty temple devoted to one who chose power over his intended purpose would have to be about the worst thing in the world to contemplate, wouldn't it? And am so glad you approve of the inclusion of Aragorn and Arwen's children and Amon'osiri in the trial, learning what they must for when it is their turns to sit in judgment--as well as Amon'osiri being certain that what had happened to his brother wouldn't continue. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Author's reply

The heads shot over the walls in the film came directly, of course, from the books themselves, and I was so glad to see them, fearful that the horrors of Mordor would end up being glossed over. In most cases we tend to wallow too much in horrors and atrocities; that Tolkien used this on instance to show the effects of psychological warfare at its worst made it a far more powerful image in the end in both book and movie. People who live more subsistence-level lives do tend to be more brutal in their actions toward traitors, and are more hardened to such things--we see it in dealing with many cultures where lopping off the hands of thieves is done routinely. I felt this would prove a good contrast between the more refined actions of the Farozi's folk in their cities and those of the tribes living in the desert areas. I've seen so many bizarre things done trying to protect children--had a friend who didn't want her daughter to read my Mad Magazines because they might teach her irreverence to authority; but she rented National Lampoon's Vacation for the same children at age six and eight, and I was left going, HUH???? No irreverence for authority, but okay to see a dog dragged to death, a girl turning on to drugs and sex, carrying around Gramma's body because it was too much trouble to deal with it properly, and so on??????? OOOOOOKAAAYYYY! Oh, the examples of such weird thinking and often totally bizarre twists of logic are too numerous to number! I tried to be honest about the world with my kids as my Mom was with us; trouble was that they became certain that the shows on television and the tales I told them were all fabricated just to "control them" and "deny them fun." Letting them accept personal responsibility for the results of their choices and actions was the hardest thing we as parents could ever do, but it was worth it in the end. I like to think that with their longer lives preparing them to be parents Aragorn and Arwen would have managed to realize that the children have to see from early on how judgements are made, how people act and how it affects others, how they need to be dealt with to stop them from going on to do worse things. The punishment for Gebankhrabi and Setra'amun started out as a means in my own story I've been working with for dealing with those who choose evil. But trying to think up a proper punishment in any other way just didn't work for the people I'd made up; and I found it just fitted for these two as well. Obviously this chapter has stirred up a lot of thought on several levels. Thanks for the feedback.

Author's reply

Yes, this would be an extremely difficult time for Harpelamun, both being forced to leave the familiar and to lose a brother. So many times twins in Middle Earth have been faced with choices that either sundered them or bonded them more closely together. With the sons of Ankhrabi hopefully it will aid to nurture their relationship so that they continue to work together as Sohrabi learned to do with Amonrabi rather than working on differentiation to the point of insanity as Setra'amun has done. As for trying to teach things that don't need to be taught--Stephen Pinker was contrasting Western culture in general with that of the pygmy peoples of Africa. They find our obsession with trying to elicit speech from our very young children laughable, while they do all they can to assist the child to sit up unaided and to stand, where most Westerners realize that these things the children will do on their own when they are ready. In reality both skills are hardwired into our brains, and given the opportunity and examples around them, children will do pretty well learning both activities on their own without having to be groomed to them. And here was the chance to reinforce the spiritual values and truths that LOTR has embraced and teaches, although less overtly.

Author's reply

A friend has served as foster mother to countless children who had been emotionally and physically abused, and the case of Mayanerini is broadly based on one of the case histories she became familiar with. Obsessive mother wanted to force her grown daughter to remain in emotional bondage, trying to keep the relationship always in the nurturing mother-dependant daughter mode. What the children experienced was pretty horrible. Much as the situation with Varondil in The King's Commission, much of this particular situation is dealing with situations that, unfortunately, happen in real life. Setra'amun is loosely based on a mixture of about four individuals who are bipolar in their more bizarre states. In many cases these as children would manufacture in their minds completely unrealistic "what-ifs" and become obsessive of them, working through elaborate schemes to deal with almost any contingency that could possibly happen should the particular "what-if" should ever happen. At the same time, real dangers would be facing them and doing everything but beating them about the heads and shoulders, and they'd just blindly continue in their careers. It's as if they were driving down the road and a brick wall was way ahead of them where the road ends or turns, and they were drawing a picture of some completely different danger so as to distract themselves from the real one they actually faced. Watching them drive right into the brick wall again and again was heartbreaking at times. And I'd think Aragorn and Arwen would want their children's lives firmly grounded, and to have them from their earliest ages have a realistic idea of what a King is SUPPOSED to do and be like. They wouldn't want their heirs to be spoiled idiots. Thanks so much for the feedback.

Author's reply

As a special ed teacher and a former substitute teacher I've seen so many people do such odd things attempting to "protect" their children that it's a wonder many of them have any idea what real life could be like. It has been bizarre at times, like the arguments over whether or not Harry Potter teaches witchcraft as practiced by Wiccans (which, of course, it certainly doesn't! GAACK!) So many who took part in atrocities such as the Holocaust and the My Lai massacres and similar things were "only following orders," when in reality they knew they were doing things that were wrong and only sought to lessen their own guilt by blaming their superiors. And true worship isn't just going to church and mouthing empty words before returning home to beat the wife and abuse the kids and fight with the neighbors; nor is it trying to coax people to "demonstrate their faith" by tithing more than their family can afford or taking part in bizarre activities such as handling poisonous snakes or refusing proper medical attention to their children. I'm so glad that you found so much that is true to life for you here.

Author's reply

Having a good example before us as we face and make choices is important; and I realized that in spite of their rocky beginnings my stepson and adopted daughter both ended up in some ways a bit too protected, leading to some difficult times when they were teenagers. But I've seen parents of some of my students who have done such bizarre things thinking they're "protecting" their children which ended up backfiring on them over time; I prefer to think Aragorn and Arwen would want their children to see good examples from childhood, and to know from early on what their parents' positions entailed, so they didn't grow up to be the royal brats described in Mercedes Lackey's Valdimar stories about the early years of Princess Elspeth. And Aragorn and Faramir would, I think, have developed a good relationship, both on the personal and working levels. Of course Faramir would be "my beloved friend and counselor" to Aragorn, as well as developing an equally loving relationship to that of Aragorn and Eomer, but based on completely different traits--intellectual, shared heritage, shared duties, closer proximity, a simple deep affection to help avoid and partially fill the holes left by the loss of brothers, parents, close friends, and so on. And with the examples of other twins and brothers to think on, I think Aragorn would wish the relationship between Ma'osiri and Amon'osiri properly nurtured.

Author's reply

You should see mee editing chapters, wondering why I KEEP hitting the period instead of the question mark, and how I keep managing to type a k instead of a d! I sometimes think my hands are dyslexic or something. I am finally becoming as decent a typist as I am a braillist, not that my first attempt at transcribing a book is any great shakes--I'm a hopeless fumblefingers who still types about at least ten "Damns!" a minute, although I do get more words done any more! Heh! I am so glad I can now transcribe onto the computer so I can correct things before I send it to the embosser!