Bodkin
· 14 November 2005
· Chapter 30: One Ranger, Two Rangers, Three Rangers, Four
'You'd rate a flogging for telling that tale to any other of the Halflings,'
I almost want Ferdi here to turn round and tell Elessar an equally horrific tale - calmly and very matter-of-factly - in a way that tells him not to be as patronising as his Steward was, and that being small, cute and generally good-humoured doesn't mean that the hobbits have not been exposed to dangers and horrors. Or maybe it would be even more effective if it came from Diamond.
Ranger society seems to have become more rigidly defined since Elessar became a king rather than a chieftain. Unsurprisingly, really. And, it would appear, rather more dogmatic about its punishments. I can't imagine that the Rangers who went round in small groups and acted relatively independently were very hierarchical and into punishing each other - however they reacted to ruffians. Aragorn wants to watch that. He could do with taking some of the attitudes of the north down to Gondor rather than exporting wholesale from south to north. Apart from anything else, his northern subjects will get rather fed up with their implied secondariness.
Poor Haleth. If I were him, I think I'd resign and go off and become a hermit. He'd be safer.
A fascinating story. And a good thing the brothers Elrondion were there. Or Halbarad and Halboron wouldn't be. Ferdi needed to hear that - and he needs to deal with his own demons, too - and it strikes me that men would be the best people to hear what he has to say. Another gripping chapter.
Author's reply
O I know. They're suffering a lack of imagination in the discipline department, when it comes to guardsmen.
Poor Haleth, but he really is such an upright soul he may never have been flogged in his life. It's just that hobbits keep leading him astray, lately, or so it seems.
And there already is a resident hermit near the Lake. Would hate for the hermit population to double. Of course, there's always Aragorn's reclusive relation, but he lives with wife and family so he doesn't count as a hermit.
Yup, I think Ferdi and Haldoron could be "good medicine" for each other. I wonder if there's some collusion going on between Thain and King, re: their respective cousins?
Thanks!
Larner
· 13 November 2005
· Chapter 29: A Tale of Two Rangers
Good--two stewards lose their prejudices this day. And they are coming to appreciate and accept one another as equals and not just as those funny and not quite trustworthy other ones.
Well done, Lindelea.
Author's reply
I think they may very well come to an understanding... eventually. But it is a start.
Pearl Took
· 13 November 2005
· Chapter 28: Resolution
Ah . . . another worry a worry no longer :) Thank you!
Author's reply
Whew. We're getting there.
Thanks!
Bodkin
· 13 November 2005
· Chapter 29: A Tale of Two Rangers
I hope it's plausible that Haleth would spill the story on such short acquaintance to a practical stranger.
He's in shock. He needs to talk. And he doesn't like the way this halfling is looking at Haldoron. Haleth wants him to appreciate what the Steward has sacrificed in protecting the Shire.
I can just picture Aragorn with cribbage-playing twins tucked into his pack. Or maybe not. But I certainly can see them turning up every now and then for a quick message delivery / Isildur's heir check. Sent, I imagine, by Mithrandir, Elrond, Arwen and even Galadriel at different times.
Author's reply
Thanks for the reality check.
I was originally wanting to say "playing penucle or peaknuckle or however the game is spelled" because of the alliteration involved, but the mental picture of toting up Orc-points is so very diverting.
Bodkin
· 13 November 2005
· Chapter 29: A Tale of Two Rangers
Aha! I thought Haleth might have known a different - and far more sympathetic - Haldoron. And he is a good person to talk to Ferdi about all this, because MFH would be looking on him as one of the Steward's victims. I wonder how MFH will react to knowing that the Steward's son died as part of the ruffian's plot to seize the gold. And to discovering that the Tookland guerillas were partly so successful because of the suffering of Rangers who spent so much time protecting the borders - for no recognition, let alone glory. It seems about time for Ferdi's mind to be expanded a little - he can (most understandably) be rather pig-headed at times.
I'm not surprised Haleth didn't fancy breakfast, but he'd better have something to eat soon - before he gets shaky on his legs.
It sounds as if Haleth was as lucky to survive the Orc Incident as Haldoron and Halbarad. And a good thing the Sons of Elrond were there to help Aragorn. Exciting stuff. Tense, too.
Author's reply
It was very fortuous that the sons of Elrond had stopped by with a message from Gandalf to Aragorn. Don't know if there's time to shoehorn that little scrap of info in, or not. I'm not of the opinion that Elrohir and Elladan were just conveniently hanging around Aragorn all the time, playing cribbage or the like, though it might read that way.
I hope it's plausible that Haleth would spill the story on such short acquaintance to a practical stranger.
Your question about Ferdi's reaction to the death of Haldoron's son is a good one. It's not in the draft of this story. Don't know if it will make it in, on edit, or if it might have to wait for the "Farry and Ferdi go to Gondor" story.
Thanks!
Author Reply: On second thought, cribbage does seem to fit the scenario, especially when slaying Orcs is in the picture. I can almost hear it in the back of my brain:
"Fifteen-two, fifteen-four, fifteen-six and a pair is eight. What did you get?"
harrowcat
· 13 November 2005
· Chapter 29: A Tale of Two Rangers
Lindelea, I think that I am awarding you the reviewers 'kick up the p***s' trophy for evil cliffies! Come on you can't leave them in the hands of orcs all night!
Author's reply
Oo, I get a trophy! Awesome!
*g*
Didn't want to post what was going on with Halbarad and Haldoron last night... might give the Esteemed Reader nightmares. (Certainly would give the author some.)
Dreamflower
· 12 November 2005
· Chapter 29: A Tale of Two Rangers
This is a wonderful chapter! Ferdi's no fool, and observant as he is, he will grudgingly admit when his prejudices are proven wrong, at least in individual cases.
I love Ferdi's gruff crankiness with the healer. He's not at this point happy at all with his orders.
I also love how quickly he is drawn into Haleth's tale. Hobbits do love a story, almost as much as food and drink, and at least as much as pipe-weed, LOL!
And I am drawn in very nearly as much. Can't wait to hear how Aragorn, Elladan and Elrohir rescue Halladan and Halboron.
Author's reply
"individual cases"--yes, you have the right of it there. I don't know that he ever absolves the race of Men. Actually, I'm not sure he ever completely makes up his mind about Elessar--or at least, he never admits to it.
Ferdi is not at all happy. 1) Who knows what Pippin is up to in his absence? 2) He needs the reassurance of Pimpernel, after seeing the flogging earlier. 3) He's in the midst of healers, and you know how tricksy they are. 4) He's off-balance by the scale of everything around him. 5) He's in the presence of the Man who hauled Jack and Will away to be hanged, and argued to take young Robin along, and in the presence of the Man who ordered the hangings and flogging, and then was himself flogged. It's some sort of twisted justice, but Ferdi doesn't know what sort.
(I think Ferdi's food is going cold, actually.)
Well, let us just say that if the sons of Elrond didn't "just happen" to be there, carrying a message to Aragorn from Gandalf, things would not have come out as happily for Halbarad and his brother.
Larner
· 11 November 2005
· Chapter 28: Resolution
Hooray!
Fed Hobbits, sleeping Gwill, and a moment of privacy for the couple when Gwillam awakens at last. And realization he was right followed by compassion and the resuming of a truer love than what had been there before.
Again, Lucky Bodkin--winning this prize!
Author's reply
Nice summation! I do love this part of a story, the part where the tangled threads begin to fall into place and we begin to... what was it my mother called it. Knit off? Don't quite remember, I just remember being fascinated watching her needles work, and the amazing patterns she turned out with that gorgeous Irish wool. Fisherknit sweaters, she called them. Each a different pattern. Rather grim story behind them--I guess they sometimes identified drowned sailors by the patterns of the sweater they wore.
Bodkin is *very* lucky indeed. The Muse is not always quite so obliging. Sometimes she goes to Hawaii for weeks at a time, with nary a word, not even a postcard.
Thanks!
harrowcat
· 11 November 2005
· Chapter 28: Resolution
I have a tune from Phantom of the Opera running through my head 'Love, love conquers everything'. Isn't that truly a theme that runs through all this and the main story too!
Author's reply
You know, I am going to have to see that one of these days.
"Les Mis" is our favourite stage production, since seeing it more than a decade ago. But I keep hearing good things about "Phantom".
Truly, especially where hobbits are involved, love seems to save the day.
Dreamflower
· 11 November 2005
· Chapter 28: Resolution
Diamond began to sing softly, and the other hobbits joined in, a soothing song, a hopeful song, of the sun returning from her winter sojourn to warm the earth once more, the seeds bursting from their sleep to send forth shoots, to bud and bloom.
*sigh* That sounds like a lovely and hobbity song. You should write it for us sometime.
I'm so glad "Gwillam" woke, and knew his wife, and that Seledrith was able to see in herself what had made him fear losing her. I'm very glad that she was able to quickly overcome her initial anger, and reassure her husband.
The last little bit was very sweet and poignant.
Author's reply
Thank you. I just couldn't let Seledrith stay angry at him for long, poor fellow. He's been through enough already.
(Funny thing. The dc were singing "Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow" while I was writing that description above. Don't know how closely it fits... *g*)
Bodkin
· 11 November 2005
· Chapter 28: Resolution
I'm glad that Seledrith and Will were able to have their reunion in apparent privacy. I think she needed that. And to know that he didn't keep secrets from her because he didn't trust her - but because he loved her so much that he was afraid to lose her.
And his eventual recovery seems fairly assured now. He has his marbles. He knows Seledrith, he knows what happened, he can speak (even if not a lot). Fingers crossed he is now getting well.
I love the hobbits singing to them - such a reassuring sound, I would think, in a silent and clean Houses of Healing.
Now, what is happening with Haldoron? And what's the feeling on the streets? It's all action in Annuminas!
Author's reply
Yes, we're on the downhill side now, coasting down to the finish. At least I think we are.
What is happening with Haldoron?
Your least wish is my greatest desire, as my good friends amongst the Shire-folk would say.
Bodkin
· 10 November 2005
· Chapter 27: For Old Times' Sake
The Shire is Jack's home. His love for it comes over as being such a strong and motivating factor in his life. You can see how, when everything went wrong for him, that he just yearned to go back. The gold was an excuse more than a real reason.
I love the story-telling - Seledrith and her family are beginning to understand the actions of Jack and his boys, and that they put themselves at real risk to save the hobbits, not for any thought of reward, for they knew that in revealing themselves they were risking all they had, but from genuine kindness and love. And they can see that Jack's bond with the Shire-folk stretches back long before the Edict - and is reciprocated.
Then Haldoron has been commended to Ferdi's care. That could prove interesting. The hobbit could learn quite a lot about the better type of men from the Steward - simply from observing his battered body, I should think. And the draught may well have left Haldoron looser in the tongue, so that he reveals more than, perhaps, Ferdi would wish to know.
I am just loving this.
Author's reply
Exactly. The Shire is home to Jack.
How cruelly it must have hit him when, after things started to settle down and he happily shrugged his pack onto his shoulders and made his way back "home", only to be stopped at the Bridge with the news that the Shire was closed to Men, after the King's edict went into effect.
And Jack's self-isolation, avoiding all contact with hobbits for the past ten years, is doubly tragic considering his past and his kindred feeling with the Shire-folk.
Seledrith's family are finding out that Jack and his boys are just as upright as they ever thought them.
Pippin is scheming again. He knows that if Ferdi doesn't get a chance to get to know the Steward as "human" before he sees Gwillam, whom the Steward ordered hanged despite the Thain's pardon, he'll be irrevokably prejudiced against the man in particular, and will add to the prejudice Ferdi has against Men in general. He would like to send Ferdi to Gondor, as escort to his son, but he cannot if Ferdi is hampered by such a mindset.
Larner
· 9 November 2005
· Chapter 27: For Old Times' Sake
Ah, now the tales come out, and we find ourselves, I think, with three more "adopted" Hobbits who come Man-sized, three more who will freely be granted the right to enter the Shire when and how they please--as long as it's openly.
And now all know the stories, although not quite how he found Pippin and Lop, perhaps--just that he did so.
Author's reply
Good instincts. Jack is "Shire-folk"--how can he be banned from his homeland? That hardly seems like justice to me. "As long as it's openly"--ah, but if he could come and go as he pleased, he'd have no need to sneak.
Pearl Took
· 9 November 2005
· Chapter 27: For Old Times' Sake
You tell your tale as well as any Took ;) This story draws a person in and doesn't let them go. Wonderful, simply wonderful!
"'Of course he did!' Hilly said. 'Why let me tell you...' and he began to spin the tale, in as fine a manner as any Tookish storyteller, such that Gwillam's wife was drawn in, scarcely feeling when tiny Robin's lips stopped their suckling and merely quivered against her, as the baby dropped off to sleep under the shawl."
"'How are you faring?' the Thain said, moving to the bed and hauling himself up to sandwich Farry between himself and Diamond.
'Quite well,' Gwill said. 'I need only open my mouth to eat; my guests are doing all the talking."
VWD
Author's reply
What a compliment! Some Tooks are quite the storytellers. (Thinking of Bilbo at the moment. And Frodo, though both bore the surname "Baggins". I cannot think of the "Took" connexion at the moment, but there must have been some, for Frodo to be Pippin's cousin.)
harrowcat
· 9 November 2005
· Chapter 27: For Old Times' Sake
Oh no we can't have Robin losing him now. Just how long is that potion going to last? And how hard is it going to be to convince Ferdi that not all men are ruffians. Now my attention is really torn - when the focus is on Will and the lads I want to know how the Steward is doing but while we were hearing about him I wanted to know what was transpiring in the houses of healing! All I can say is please keep updating quickly!
Author's reply
I'm not sure it's the potion so much as lack of air keeping him from coming completely awake.
Hope to update tonight but might have to wait until tomorrow, the way the schedule looks. (If only the dratted stories would simply type themselves in...)
Dreamflower
· 9 November 2005
· Chapter 27: For Old Times' Sake
Ooooh! Ooooh! Oooh! *bounces up and down excitedly waving hands madly*
And I remembered how you saved me, on a summer day long ago in the Shire, when fever had taken me and I nearly drowned, lying with my face in the stream that ran through Whittacres Farm...'
'You saved him from drowning?' Diamond said to her husband. 'You never told me that.'
'I was only eight at the time,' Pippin said. 'It was a year or so after we'd first met, when he found me wandering and carried me to Bag End. My mother was happy to nurse him back to health, to return the favour, and though my father never liked Men to speak of, he found Jack a tolerable fellow.'
Oooh! Oooh! Oooh! *squees like crazy*grin*happy*happy*happy*
Uh, excuse me! *ahem* I like this chapter. Er, yes, very good. *ahem* Tries for coherency...
This is really lovely, the way the hobbits have rallied around their friend, and the way Seledrith gradually begins to understand, as their words slowly pierce the fog of her confusion. I do like the way she doesn't quite comprehend at first what they are all talking about.
And then the spell of words that Robin/Jack/Gwill weaves, as he tells of that long ago day, and how all are enthralled by it--it's so easy to believe he once made his living as a traveling gleeman, for he is clearly a skilled storyteller.
Beautiful job. Now, back to squeeing...
Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!!!!
Author's reply
Grinning.
This was the story I mentioned, awhile ago, when asked if there were more stories about Jack. Though he appeared in "Healer's Tale" shortly after that, and might have given the impression that *that* was the story I meant, I was really thinking about Jack's second meeting with Pippin, where dazed with fever, he faints while crossing a stream. Good thing Pippin was there, little or not! (Don't quite know when that story will be written, or what context it'll appear in.)
"Gleeman"--what a wonderfully descriptive term!
Bodkin
· 8 November 2005
· Chapter 26: Missions of Mercy
Once you've aroused the protectiveness of hobbits, you're lost! I'm afraid Haldoron is about to discover the halflings' strongest points. I loved the way they formed up round him to escort him to the Houses of Healing - and the extreme caution shown by the guardsmen who can't quite believe they've got out of this one.
Of course, the exchange about hobbits' 'interfering' is delightful. Charming asides from both Elessar and Pippin and Haldoron's response makes an excellent olive branch.
Then there's the very tentative and polite rebellion of the townsfolk who are complaining about the apparent unjust arrest of their fellows. Aragorn did well there to treat them so informally - they are clearly worried, even as they put their point. He told them true - and they can now add to the rumour mill.
I'm pleased that Balanurthon has improved Hunethon's skills. And I'm sure their job is necessary. But I'm glad it's not mine.
Things should start to settle down now, I should think. Although some of the most interesting conversations are probably still to come. And I'm looking forward to them all!
harrowcat
· 8 November 2005
· Chapter 26: Missions of Mercy
'I have it on good authority that we are very interfering folk,' Pippin added.
Too right Lindelea and, mostly, just as well. What an honour guard for the Steward. The best way to scotch the rumour mill is to feed it the truth and that is just what Aragorn is doing. Great stuff.
Dreamflower
· 8 November 2005
· Chapter 26: Missions of Mercy
Ah, things are looking up! Well, of course they are, the King's back and seeing to things.
Again we see the effects the lack of instant communications have. Here wait a delegation of tradesmen, all misinformed from rumor, and behind the times as well. By the time they return to their shops, they will have heard a highly embellished version of the truth. Yet, fortunately, they have at least had the most important truth from the King's own lips.
I love the way the hobbits are accompanying the Steward. Indeed, I can just see them surrounding him. It may very well be that they will be the best medicine he can have.
Author's reply
Yes. I hope that it wasn't out of character for Elessar to talk with them at the gates that way. I halfway expected him to escort them into the Citadel to formally hear what they had to say. But I left it informal for two reasons:
1) speaking in the gates that way, he was likely to be overheard by the guardsmen at the gate as well as any passers-by, thereby accommodating the spread of truth versus rumour
2) I was too tired to write it out any longer than it was.
Of course, if it turns out he's out-of-character I'll have to take some time to rewrite the scene. (Echoes of an old teacher: If you don't have time to do it right, what makes you think you'll have time to do it over?)
Thanks!
Author Reply: p.s. I find hobbits to be very soothing, myself. Except for the times when they are irritating. *g*
Pearl Took
· 8 November 2005
· Chapter 26: Missions of Mercy
"'I have not yet accepted your resignation,' Elessar bent to murmur. 'My Counsellors will accompany you, and be assured they will interfere if they find anything to object to along the way.'
'I have it on good authority that we are very interfering folk,' Pippin added, for the hobbits had crowded after the King, to observe Elessar's healing hands, and Arthad's, at work.
'Very kind of them, I'm sure,' Haldoron said faintly, and then his eyes closed and he spoke no more."
Yes, those interfering hobbits, whatever is to be done about them ;)
I'm glad Elessar was able to turn around all the rumours.
Well done!!
Author's reply
Very interfering creatures, they are, and once you gain their confidence they are quite chattery as well. I don't know if Haldoron understands hobbits, but I have a feeling that he's in for an education.
Thanks!
Pearl Took
· 8 November 2005
· Chapter 26: Missions of Mercy
"'I have not yet accepted your resignation,' Elessar bent to murmur. 'My Counsellors will accompany you, and be assured they will interfere if they find anything to object to along the way.'
'I have it on good authority that we are very interfering folk,' Pippin added, for the hobbits had crowded after the King, to observe Elessar's healing hands, and Arthad's, at work.
'Very kind of them, I'm sure,' Haldoron said faintly, and then his eyes closed and he spoke no more."
Larner
· 8 November 2005
· Chapter 26: Missions of Mercy
Yes, I would far rather have the two executioners hang sandbags than men, although from time to time there will be those who need to be hung, unfortunately, with the way human nature has of destroying itself almost as often as it redeems itself.
So glad Aragorn was able to reassure the merchants of the town square that true justice has been done now, and that the Steward had an HONOR guard, having won back his own.
Blessings on all within Annuminas this day....
Author's reply
I only hope Aragorn sounds in character. He is awfully casual or informal, in this chapter. I hope it can be attributed to keeping the company of hobbits (and perhaps fishing), but I'm feeling uncertain about his characterization.
I think that those of Annuminas will be experiencing more blessing than worry in the new day that has dawned.
Thanks!
Pearl Took
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 25: Consequences
These are such powerful chapters!!! I'm glad I read them together. Very intense and very acurate responses on the part of the hobbits. *shudders* Powerful work!!
Author's reply
Thank you! It was rough going, and I'm not quite sure how the next couple of chapters go, to hook up this part to the last part, so your encouragement was very welcome tonight.
harrowcat
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 25: Consequences
Sorry, yet again, Lindelea. I realised as soon as I had posted my review that you hadn't specified the number of lashes. Too keen to read it when I spotted that you had updated to read it properly. And I was at work and wasn't supposed to be reading at all. Can't wait for the next but I promise to read just a bit more slowly. Good food should be tasted on the way down as my Mum used to tell me!
Author's reply
No problem, I just didn't know quite how many the Steward had taken, myself, and after doing research on flogging I knew not much more than I'd started out with (except that British naval floggings were many more lashes than I'd imagined, but then I was thinking of Roman floggings where forty lashes could kill someone because of the kind of whip used).
Too true, I tend to gulp my fiction. But that's mostly because of my interruption-prone life. I'd really rather savour it slowly.
Bodkin
· 7 November 2005
· Chapter 25: Consequences
Oh my. And yet, such a very public - and self-imposed - penalty for Haldoron will probably go a long way to reinstating him in the respect of the citizens of Annuminas.
Good, too, that those who saw this were reminded of the toll taken on those who fought against the forces of the Dark Lord for so long.
Haleth must respect the Steward - which seems a funny thing to say of someone who has condemned you to fifty lashes - because I cannot see any other reason why he would wish to intervene and demand that he take his part of the punishment. But then he probably knows more about Haldoron than most.
I'm glad the sympathy of the hobbits has been aroused - their presence will do a lot for Haldoron. And I'm very glad that Aragorn intervened while the punishment was still punishment rather than torture. (I would rather like him to rein in the justice system a little more, too. Not just from lopping off hands - but I suppose in this pseudo-medieval world that would be a bit too much to expect.)
What consequences! I look forward to finding out where this goes now. Forgiveness, I hope. Restitution? Recovery? Respect? I can't wait to see.
Author's reply
Well, considering Haldoron has been Steward for at least ten years, maybe more (while Annuminas was being rebuilt, before Aragorn returned to the North-land and met the hobbits at the Bridge), and Haleth has likely served under him for much if not all of that time, I'd say he probably knew Haldoron in the early days, after Aragorn had chosen "the best of the Northern Rangers" for his steward.
I do think that Haldoron has paid his dues. And now a nice long sabbatical, while someone else drives the wain for awhile, and perhaps he might even be able to return to being Steward some day, with new eyes and a renewed heart.
I have to grin, thinking of what is in his future. (The Epilogue is written, and what fun!)