Tari
· 13 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
Well done, Larner. My heart always goes out to Nerdanel. She led such a tragic life. Fëanáro's obsession with the Simarils was the beginning if his downfall. However, had she not requested the palantiri things might have turned out quite differently; but where Fëanáro's involved, who knows.
Author's reply
I've always wanted to explore the beginnings of things, and now it was the turn of the Palantiri. And you are so right. But things were not always tragic for her--there was warmth once there between her and her husband. At least she has that she can cling to.
Kaylee Arafinwiel
· 12 September 2010
· Chapter 11: Treating with the Enemy
Dear Larner,
I see my friend Susana dropped you a review on this one. I can't remember whether I have yet or not...if I haven't I've only myself to blame, as I meant to do it from the time I first saw it; it's one I've read and re-read many times! LOL! Bad Kaylee *wry grin*
(Susana's writing about how Aragorn would treat with leaders of other countries (Harad, mostly) and this story immediately came to mind, as her view of Aragorn strikes me as very similar to yours, so I showed it to her)
Anyway, time to review it properly myself *lol* I think my very favorite part was where the Klifa's son begged his uncle to let them stay longer. It really shows what kind of ruler Aragorn is, that he would even have his supposed enemies' children happy and beloved of him. And that last line...! Oh, things are definitely going to change for the Khandian noble here! What a shock he's had!
I love Arwen's handmaiden. I've given Aragorn and Arwen a Haradric ward myself, and I'm planning for him to ask for Aragorn's daughter's hand when she's of age. (Karim will come of age first...I think Elrond will be laughing at Aragorn's discomfiture from the West.)
I wonder if Arwen's handmaiden (I can't spell her name, lol) would marry Eldarion in your story?
Please please PLEASE write more about the Klifa's son! (And if you have, direct me there, please?) I love him! He should be friends with Darion!
Kaylee
Author's reply
The handmaiden in question becomes a foster daughter to Aragorn and Arwen after Arwen buys her from a slave market in Thetos in Lesser Rings. That Hasturnerini should in time become one of Arwen's maids in waiting seemed very likely. And as in the case of your Karim, the girl had been made a slave for reasons regarding her partents' debts. Someone else becomes enamored of Hasturnerini, I fear.
I based my Haradri culture on the ancient Egyptians, as you'll find as you read the story, if you ever do. And I do think that Elrond would be most in sympathy with Aragorn should a Haradri suitor appear asking for the hands of either of the daughters I've envisioned for Aragorn and Arwen, even though I also think he'd want to laugh at the irony of it! Heh!
I do think that Aragorn would be a very human figure in spite of heroic status--or at least I firmly would think so. And his ability to turn enemies to allies would have become legendary by the end of his life, I imagine.
Thanks so--glad you commented at last.
Susana
· 12 September 2010
· Chapter 11: Treating with the Enemy
Dear Larner,
I really enjoyed this story, thank you so much for writing it! I loved all of the details, about the King's household in the future and such. Thank you!
Susana
Author's reply
And thank you, Susana! I do suspect that Aragorn and Arwen would prove far more human and approachable than was common in most of the lands of Middle Earth, and that many would be surprised to find Aragorn found as much (or more) fulfillment serving as a healer as he knew as king. And I can readily imagine that there would be pets in the Citadel once he and Arwen are firmly in residence! Heh!
Armariel
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
Pity they didn't have cellphones back then.;)
Odd juxtaposition of humor and tragedy here, but neat story on the whole.
~~~~~{~@
Author's reply
I know. Originally this was to be totally a comedic piece, but it refused to stay that way. Thanks so, Armariel.
SurgicalSteel
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
I wanted to like this - it's certainly a charming notion that the stones would've started out as a way for a busy family to communicate with one another. Two things really niggled at me, though. The first is the fact that you've consistently misspelled Fëanáro. It's a tiny thing, I know, but it stood out for me. The other is your description of the stones as basically a handspan in size, something that the boys can easily carry around in their pockets. This is in direct contradiction to the material in Unfinished Tales in which it states:
At smallest they were about a foot in diameter, but some, certainly the Stones of Osgiliath and Amon Sûl, were much larger and could not be lifted by one man.
Even if you haven't read that material, in The Two Towers, the Orthanc stone was heavy enough that Pippin seemed to be carrying a great weight when he retrieved it from the ruins of Isengard, and it seems to take him two hands to lift it when he pilfers it from Gandalf.
It's a cute idea, but it doesn't fit with canon - and I am aware of the extreme irony that is me quoting canon.
Author's reply
I have done some corrections, and hope you find them better suited to canon.
I'd always thought a span to be the distance between thumb and little finger with the hand open and fingers at their widest range, which would be definitely too large for the object to be carried in one's pocket. Such an object measured originally to an Elf's hand, and particularly those of the High Elves with the greatest stature, would be larger than most Men might measure a span, and definitely large by a Hobbit's standards. But as Pippin was able to find a stone and settle it under Gandalf's hand without detection, I suspected that the actual weight of the palantir might be comparable to the stone but that it might well feel heavier to Pippin due to the weight of its magic, much as the malice borne by the Ring caused it to become a far heavier weight than its actual mass when Frodo and Sam sought to carry It within Mordor.
I'd considered each palantir being carried in a specially crafted bag carried over one's horse's withers, or perhaps by a pack animal amongst luggage and supplies for a journey. If you will remember, the first cell phones were huge and had to be carried in large bags. One certainly couldn't carry one in a pocket or purse or briefcase. This would add to the reason why the sons of Feanor and Nerdanel would choose to leave them behind when heading for the Mortal Lands, as they'd be very bulky to pack and would greatly lessen the amount of supplies to be carried that might be needed for the anticipated journey.
Thanks so for the corrections--my mind does not always remember details of spelling well, and particularly as I rarely write stories based on the Sil.
UTfrog
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
This is one of your very best stories in some time. The development is excellent. Thank you so much. Nice to know the stones had such a loving and simple original use. That rings very true true to what had been a loving family.
Author's reply
Too bad it didn't say a loving family! The equivalent of mobile phones and baby monitors in Aman! Thanks so!
curiouswombat
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 99: Descendants
I do love this image - Elrond on an annual voyage to see how his family fare; a voyage his father has made for Ages past, watching with both joy and sorrow the changes in the families of HIS two sons.
Kara's Aunty
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
Hello Larner,
great story; very, very interesting. It really brought the Palantíri to life for me, and gave them a depth (no pun intended) and history I had never before imagined.
Great work,
M
Author's reply
It was strongly indicated that Feanor created the Palantiri, so I wanted to imagine how they might have come to be. Thanks so, M!
Sunny
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
I liked this! The idea of a practical-minded woman wanting to have a way to monitor her babies (who. once they reached toddlerhood would definitely get into trouble as soon as any adult's back was turned, and being twins, would get into at least four times of trouble the amount any singleton could manage) as well as have a means of contacting her older babies - for no matter _how_ old they get, they will always be Nerdanel's babies. :-)
The palantíri would be somewhat harder to haul around than my cell phone, though. ;-)
Author's reply
Yes--Tolkien indicated even the smallest was about a foot in diameter, so they'd be pretty bulky--although Denethor had managed to hide his under a pillow on the embalmer's table where he'd planned to kill himself and his son. But when the idea of the story first struck me I definitely thought of cell phones and baby monitors!
Ellynn
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
Very interesting story of how the palantiri were made. I like the explanation for the master stone and those two "twins", which explains why the palantir of Emyn Beraid sees only across the sea.
And I really really love the sentence "The nurse curtseyed with relief and fled to her own chamber, leaving master and mistress in charge of the two terrors of her life, vowing secretly that she would herself never give birth—and certainly not to two at once!" *lol*
Author's reply
The story started life as a comedy, but refused to stay that way. Am so glad others appreciate this possible beginning to the Palantiri, too.
Linda Hoyland
· 4 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
A fascinating account of how the palantiri came into being.They seem the sort of thing Fenor might have crafted.
Author's reply
Tolkien indicated he was the most likely one to have created them. Thanks so!
shirebound
· 3 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
What a gentle and innocent beginning to the legendary seeing stones! I'm just charmed by the idea of one of them being in a nursery like a "baby cam" might be used today. This is a wonderful back-story.
Author's reply
I'm so glad you like the idea, too, Shirebound. Yes, I had the idea of cell phones and baby monitors in mind when this story started in on my ankle! Heh! But even the most mundane objects can take on other uses and connotations over time.
Thanks so!
Dreamflower
· 3 September 2010
· Chapter 100: The Crafting of the Seeing-stones
What a fascinating idea for the origin of the palantiri! I love that they were originally domestic in use, rather like modern parents putting a monitor in the nursery or giving their teens a cellphone!
Author's reply
Actually, I indeed did think just in those terms when I started writing this story--cell phones and baby monitors! But it wouldn't stay humorous as I'd first envisioned it. I'm so glad others appreciate it, too, though. Thanks so! *Hugs!*
Andrea
· 2 September 2010
· Chapter 99: Descendants
I very much like the idea that Elrond found this unique way to have a look at his and his father's descendants once in a while.
And I particularly like it that those descendants are also found in lands that were formerly supporting the enemy (necessarily).
The World has changed!
Author's reply
I'm glad that Mirach's vision of Elrond sailing once a year with his father struck me this way. Am so glad others enjoy this, too. Thanks so, Andrea!
Rhyselle
· 1 September 2010
· Chapter 99: Descendants
I really liked this one. The mental image of Elrond flying in Vingilot with Earendil is charming, and it must comfort him greatly to see the flourishing of what he had to leave behind.
And I still hope that his sons do eventually follow him across the Sea.
Author's reply
I love to think that in time Elladan and Elrohir did choose to follow their father--to lose one or both of them as well as his daughter and brother would have been too much, I think. And I'm glad for the image Mirach has given us of Elrond sailing once a year with his father and the both of them watching over the descendants of Earendil and Elwing remaining in the Mortal Lands. Thanks so, Rhyselle!
Armariel
· 1 September 2010
· Chapter 99: Descendants
Neat idea!
Author's reply
I'm so glad you find it so, Armariel. Thanks!
Raksha The Demon
· 1 September 2010
· Chapter 98: I Shall NOT be Supplanted!
I can't help but feel very sorry for Denethor here; it's disheartening to hear one's own father go on and on about one's shortcomings and how a stranger from an estranged dynasty would be welcome to rule in one's place. Which is exactly what would happen decades later. To a man like Denethor, accustomed to being the center of Gondor's attention after his father, his own self-worth entwined with his position and his father's regard, Ecthelion's words, and later, Aragorn's return, had to intensify that cup of bitterness that eventually poisoned Denethor.
Good story!
Author's reply
Man, am I ever behind on responding to comments! Yes, you have put it so succinctly here, Raksha. Thanks so very much for the feedback!
Fiondil
· 31 August 2010
· Chapter 99: Descendants
Rather like Abraham counting the stars. *grin* And only once a year. One has to wonder on what date and what its significance might be for either or both Elrond and Eärendil. An interesting little scene, Larner, with much to think on. Thanks.
Author's reply
Look to the last chapter of Mirach's "Hope of a Star" to learn that, Fiondil. Had to do a comment on that!
Andrea
· 17 August 2010
· Chapter 98: I Shall NOT be Supplanted!
A most mysterious soul, my young Captain.
Mysterious and highly skilled in diplomacy!
Ecthelion finds it possible that Thorongil might be the (or one?) rightful heir of Isildur. He also thinks him more capable of ruling Gondor than his son because of his personality and his charisma. That's interesting!
And I absolutely agree with him that Denethor's marriage will positively change his reputation among the Gondorians.
Denethor, however, should better not have tried to best someone who plays in a different league (if you know what I mean). It only made him bitter.
Author's reply
Highly skilled in diplomacy? I'd most sincerely hope so, considering where he was raised and by whom. And no matter how intelligent Denethor was, still Thorongil was in a league of his own, and someone was discerning as Ecthelion undoubtedly was couldn't hope but notice that, I'd think. I'm so glad that Denethor did know what I believe was a good marriage to Finduilas, and I'm positive that it did him good both emotionally and politically. But in time all Denethor could see when looking at Thorongil was the bitterness of always seeming to come in lesser to what had to have been seen by himself as a bitter rival. It must have destroyed what friendship may have been building between the two men who had so much in common.
eiluj
· 16 August 2010
· Chapter 98: I Shall NOT be Supplanted!
Poor Denethor: what a day he is having!
Author's reply
Oh, but I agree, eiluj! Poor guy--finding out that his own father doubts his ability to serve as Ruling Steward--of COURSE he'd have to prove him wrong!
Thanks so!
harrowcat
· 16 August 2010
· Chapter 98: I Shall NOT be Supplanted!
Great answers in a tough spot Thorongil. Such a shame that the books got closed due to other peoples' opinions! Great episode Larner.
Author's reply
Anglachel wanted a story in which there was a good deal of politics, and I simply see the situation in Gondor during Thorongil's stay there as rive with it! And this book, at least, Denethor will never open again. Alas--he might have learned a great deal from it. Thanks so, Harrowcat!
Fiondil
· 16 August 2010
· Chapter 98: I Shall NOT be Supplanted!
A most interesting look at how Denethor might have begun to distrust Thorongil even more than he already did, Larner. I loved Aragorn's replies to Lord Meredorn, speaking the truth without actually saying anything. *grin* I loved this part especially, and snickered out loud:
“My father died when I was little better than a babe in arms. It was another, a distant relative, who took my mother into his home and saw me raised among his own sons, and who saw me trained to serve as I can.”
“You would stand to inherit from him when he dies?”
“There is no question that his sons are legitimate and much older than I. No—I look to inherit nothing from him. I have no claim to anything that is his save the love he gave me for the sake of my fathers. As I said, we are kinsman from afar.”
Very clever, Aragorn. Perhaps if Denethor had not inadvertently overheard this conversation things would have turned out differently, but perhaps not. I think in the end Denethor would have found an excuse not to trust 'Thorongil' and would never have accepted the idea of him or anyone claiming the throne of Gondor.
Author's reply
Yes, I do believe that the Lord Captain Thorongil became an expert at being circumspect--rather had to in order to survive and not be assassinated or anything of the kind.
And, not knowing that Denethor was privy to the details of these conversations, none of the participants had any idea as to why suddenly the natural resentment of someone who always seems to be JUST better than oneself turned to out and out animosity.
Thanks so, Fiondil!
Kitty
· 7 August 2010
· Chapter 97: No Abandonment this Time
Yes, finally a child that grew up with both parents, as it should be!
Author's reply
And one of the major characters, too! Heh! Definitely Aragorn would have liked that thought.
Kitty
· 7 August 2010
· Chapter 96: The Gift to the Servant of the Secret Flame
Ah, so that's how Gandalf got Narya! Cirdan certainly didn't lose any time to gift him with the ring, not even to get to know him a bit before. But then, I guess our dear Gandalf feels very trustworthy, even without Cirdan's foresight. And Cirdan's argument seems logical – the ring of fire isn't the right one for someone with an affinity for water. For Gandalf, however, it worked just fine, obviously.
Author's reply
Even in Tolkien's naturally short version it appears that Cirdan decided to gift this right away. And I'm certainly glad he did! But it struck me that this would be a good rationale on Cirdan's part to decide to pass the ring on.
Kitty
· 7 August 2010
· Chapter 95: Inaccessible
True, Elrond's children didn't have any grandparents on their fathers side, and the ones of their mothers side may not have been the most attentive sometimes. But at least Tolkien left them one grandmother ... we all know that he treated mothers quite badly.
Author's reply
Yes, at least one grandmother who is able to have a direct effect on their lives. At least Aragorn had the chance to be with his until he came of age, and Frodo knew his until his twelfth year.
Author Reply: Yes, at least one grandmother who is able to have a direct effect on their lives. At least Aragorn had the chance to be with his until he came of age, and Frodo knew his until his twelfth year.