Reviews (428)

Bitsay · 1 March 2020 · Chapter 999: 'The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen'

What a truly remarkable piece of writing. The tone and language is so reminiscent of Tolkien; you have captured the characters so perfectly. This is now one of my favourite pieces of fanfiction. Thank you so much for this sensitively and beautifully rendered depiction of the life of the noble and honorable Aragorn, son of Arathorn/Estel Elrondian.

Bitsay · 3 August 2016 · Chapter 999: 'The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen'

What a truly epic and breathtaking piece of writing! Thank you so much. Such detail and insight, based on canon. I loved it.

Silivren Tinu · 26 January 2010 · Chapter 36: Elrond

*sniff* That was both beautiful and heartbreaking! I can only repeat that I love the way you write the father-son relationship between Aragorn and Elrond. That last parting must have been so bitter for both of them. I really like to believe that they met again some day, at the ending of the world. I loved the idea that Elrond would take that Palantír with him. It must have brought him some comfort to be able to look into the stone from time to time. :)

Silivren Tinu · 26 January 2010 · Chapter 35: The White Tree

Here I am again! :D I can only begin to imagine how Aragorn must have felt when he finally got reunited with Arwen and knew that she would be his forever from then on. After all the sacrifices both of them had to make they really deserve all the joy and happiness they can get. I loved how you described the White Tree in this chapter! It seemed to be very fitting that they spent their first night together next to the White Tree. :)

Silivren Tinu · 18 December 2009 · Chapter 34: The Hands of the King

I loved getting to read the scene where Aragorn recalled Frodo and Sam! Poor both of them. It was sweet that Frodo only came back because he did not want to leave Sam, and that Sam almost didn't come back because he did not want to leave Frodo. Hobbits are indeed the most amazing and loveable creatures! :) It was so very fitting that Aragorn would not entrust their care to anyone but himself, even if it endangered his own life. I enjoyed this chapter very much! :)

Silivren Tinu · 18 December 2009 · Chapter 33: Halbarad

*sniff* What a wonderful tribute to Halbarad! I guess no one could wish for a more noble, brave, and loyal friend, kinsman, and follower. I like the thought that he died saving Aragorn's life - it would surely have been the kind of death he would have wanted for himself. *sigh* Poor Halbarad! I'm going to miss him through the following chapters.

Silivren Tinu · 18 December 2009 · Chapter 32: The Black Ships

I really would not have wanted to endure that forced ride with an army of dead always following right on my heels! *shivers* I think no one but Aragorn would have been able to make his men and friends follow him through such hardship and make even the dead follow his commands! It must have been so very different for him to suddenly be able to openly ride under his own banner and his own name. I like the idea that Halbarad might have been aware of the fate that awaited him, though it probably makes his death even more heartbreaking. I do not even want to imagine what might have happened to Minas Tirith and every living soul sheltered within its walls if Aragorn had not made such haste. A great chapter! :)

Silivren Tinu · 9 December 2009 · Chapter 31: Isildur's Heir

*shivers* You described the Paths of the Dead a bit too well. *g* I really wouldn't have wanted to walk that path myself. I loved Aragorn's thoughts about Eowyn - his fear for her is only too understandable, and his words and actions towards her *were* rather hard, though I still think there was no other way. Taking her with him does not sound like a good idea to me. ;-) It must have been such a relief to be able to leave those dark tunnels again, though I don't think I'd have felt comfortable in the presence of the dead. I loved Aragorn's reaction to the banner. To finally be able to reveal his identity to the world must have been such a special thing to him. :)

Silivren Tinu · 9 December 2009 · Chapter 30: Eowyn

Poor Eowyn! I'm glad I already know that a happy ending is waiting for her - her fate would have been terribly sad otherwise. It must have been incredibly hard for Aragorn to reject her the way he did and know how much he would hurt her; but there really wasn't anything else he could do.

Silivren Tinu · 9 December 2009 · Chapter 29: The Palantir

I've always loved gapfillers dealing with what happened when Aragorn looked into the Palantir, and the moments afterwards. What Aragorn told his friends later on really was not enough to satisfy my curiosity. ;-) I very much enjoyed your take on the Palantir-scene! Poor Halbarad - I guess even in his worst nightmares he could not have expected what Aragorn would decide to do and where he would have to follow him. I love that ranger's steadfast loyalty. It's something Aragorn more than deserves and really needs right now, even though he does not ask for it. :)

Silivren Tinu · 9 December 2009 · Chapter 28: The Doubter

What a dark moment for the Fellowship and especially for Aragorn. Being a leader must be so hard sometimes, but it must be even worse when your decisions decide the fate of many, or may cost the lives of your friends. I don't agree with Aragorn that anything that happened was his fault, but I'm quite sure he wouldn't listen to me anyway. ;-) I really liked how you described his emotions and inner turmoil here. :)

Silivren Tinu · 2 December 2009 · Chapter 27: The Foster Son

I sure love your scene between Elrond and Aragorn a lot more than I did the one in the movies. ;-) Getting to see such a scene in the movies would have been perfect. It is so sad that even a victory over Sauron would bring so much loss and grief - losing the elves might still seem better than being ruled by Sauron, but it always seemed a sad victory to me (I'm suffering from Grey Havens trauma since I read the book for the first time). I believe Aragorn really needed Elrond's forgiveness and his blessing before he left Rivendell (and I really could have done without that certain scene in the movie). Loved it! :)

Silivren Tinu · 2 December 2009 · Chapter 26: The Sons of Elrond

Being killed by a Nazgul must be a terrible way to die! The rangers indeed pay a high price for their loyalty and sense of duty. The news the twins brought with them must have been very hard for Aragorn to bear. I like the thought that Aragorn knew beforehand of Boromir's arrival and his story and was able to prepare himself for meeting him. Btw, I'm sure Aragorn must have looked absolutely gorgeous in the clothes Arwen prepared for him. ;-)

Silivren Tinu · 2 December 2009 · Chapter 25: Isildur's Bane

I really wouldn't want to be the one standing between the nine Ringwraith and a hobbit carrying the One Ring. *shiver* That night really must have seemed endless to Aragorn! I loved the added scene where the Ring tried to lead him into temptation - Aragorn must have thought about taking the Ring at least once. Of course, the Ring stood no chance against that specific heir of Isildur. It must have been such a relief to finally hear the cock crow and know the night would soon be over. I loved your take on Aragorn's vigil. :)

Silivren Tinu · 2 December 2009 · Chapter 24: Strider

It was great to get to see those events from Aragorn's POV for a change! I like the idea that he already found the hobbits and watched over them before they reached Bree; and I also like the idea that he and Tom Bombadil might have known each other. I enjoyed this chapter very much! :)

Silivren Tinu · 1 December 2009 · Chapter 23: The Journey to Mirkwood

//Aragorn, the greatest huntsman and traveler in this age of the world.// I really can only agree with Gandalf there! What a terrible journey! I was so relieved when he arrived in Lorien, met the Beornings, and was finally rescued by the elves of Mirkwood. I cannot begin to imagine how he managed to keep going all that time, especially since he also had to drag Gollum with him. It was nice to meet Legolas in your story. ;-) A great chapter, and I do not think you could have done this journey justice had this chapter been any shorter. :)

Silivren Tinu · 1 December 2009 · Chapter 22: Deadly Perils

*starts breathing again* Now that was a narrow escape whenever I saw one! When the Witch-king of Angmar showed up, the only thing that still gave me hope was knowing that this wasn't the last chapter and that this story isn't marked as AU. ;-) I really don't want to imagine what would have happened to Aragorn had he not been able to escape. I wish help and a safe place to rest wouldn't be so far away from him now. //“They will come on you in the wild, in some dark place where there is no help. Do you wish them to find you? They are terrible.” The hobbits looked at him, and saw with surprise that his face was drawn as if in pain, and his hands clenched the arms of his chair.// Reading that part always chilled me, but I also wanted to know what he was talking about and what had happened to him when he encountered the Nazugl (or at least one of them) before. I very much enjoyed your version of that encounter! :)

Silivren Tinu · 1 December 2009 · Chapter 21: Roheryn

It was very nice to get some backstory on Roheryn in this chapter - I've always loved that horse! :) I think Arwen's unexpected presence in Rivendell was just what Aragorn needed to re-fuel both his hope and his strength... and he really more than deserves some happiness after all those long and tedious years spent looking for Gollum in vain. I loved that Glorfindel had an appearance at the beginning of this chapter - Aragorn and Glorfindel's meeting reminded me a lot of the scene when Aragorn and the hobbits meet Glorfindel on their way to Rivendell. It's one of my favourite scenes in the entire book. :)

Silivren Tinu · 1 December 2009 · Chapter 20: Gilraen

Poor Gilraen! It is so sad that she did not live long enough to see her son's destiny fulfilled and to learn that her hope had not been in vain. Her fate must have saddened Aragorn greatly. I wish she could have found some measure of hope and happiness for herself, but perhaps the times were too dark for that and her grief and fear too strong.

Silivren Tinu · 1 December 2009 · Chapter 19: The Storyteller

Oh, I would have loved to sit in the Prancing Pony on a dark, rainy day and listen to Strider's stories! I've always wanted to learn more about Aragorn's adventures in Moria - it is such a fascinating place, and Aragorn's words made me wonder what he might have encountered there. I'm very happy to hear you're working on a story about Aragorn's time in Moria. Getting to read such a story from you would be a wonderful treat! //Who knows, they might even come in handy if those stone-giants ever took to wandering down out of the mountains.// Now that made me chuckle! It's nice to see that even Barliman realizes that rangers come in handy sometimes. ;-)

Silivren Tinu · 27 November 2009 · Chapter 18: All that is Gold

I've always wondered how Bilbo and Aragorn became friends and I greatly enjoyed reading your version of it! This chapter was both fun and heartwarming - you and Cairistiona will manage to turn me into a hobbit fan in the end! ;-) I really loved your Bilbo and his reaction to hearing the story of Aragorn's life. I also enjoyed Elrond fussing about Aragorn in the beginning (I really can't blame Aragorn for secretly enjoying to be fussed over). I always love scenes that show Elrond's fatherly love for his adopted son. :) I can't imagine how moved Aragorn must have been upon hearing Bilbo's poem for the first time (and Bilbo is right, it describes him to a tee). Bilbo's advice made me laugh! I guess a dragon must be about the only evil creature Aragorn managed to avoid meeting. *g*

Silivren Tinu · 24 November 2009 · Chapter 17: Gandalf's Request

This chapter transferred me right back to the time when I read the scene where Gandalf tells Frodo about the Ring for the first time. All the excitement and the fascination I felt back then came back while I 'listened' to Gandalf and Aragorn talk about the Ring, Isildur, and Gollum. It's almost like reading LotR all over again, with the the benefit of getting additional background information. I have to say I always wanted to read more about Aragorn and Gandalf's Gollum-hunting and was quite frustrated Tolkien only gave us that short summary of their experiences. I really like that Halbarad was able to forgive and forget so easily once the situation asked for it - Aragorn leaving with ill feelings still standing between him and his friend is something I really would not have wished for. Loved it. :)

Silivren Tinu · 24 November 2009 · Chapter 16: Elf-Friend

I do not know if your descriptions have steadily become more and more beautiful during the course of this story, or if I'm only now beginning to realize just how beautiful they are, but your descriptions in this chapter were once again just as breathtaking as the view Aragorn had from the top of Elostirion. The Undying Lands must have been a sight almost to beautiful to endure, especially for a mortal. I have to confess that I had all but forgotten about the existence of this specific Palantir and I never thought about the possibility that Aragorn might have used it. I really loved your Cirdan - both his wisdom and his kindness were something Aragorn sorely needed.

Silivren Tinu · 24 November 2009 · Chapter 15: Elrond's Decision

The way you describe Rivendell at the beginning of this chapter makes me wish I could come home to it, too. ;-) I love that you gave us both Aragorn and Elrond's POV in this chapter - it's so sad to see the pain they both have to endure, but also comforting to see that their love for each other is unbroken. Aragorn's despair after Elrond had told him his decision was heartbreaking, but I liked how he worked his way out of it and how it was Arwen once again who gave him the hope to go on.

Silivren Tinu · 24 November 2009 · Chapter 14: Arwen

The visions Arwen saw in Galadriel's mirror were so intense, beautiful, and touching, that they almost made *me* cry (the vision of the battle didn't faze me since I know how things will end *g*). If I was Arwen, those visions would have undoubtedly made me fall in love with Aragorn all over again. *sigh* I so loved your descriptions of Aragorn here. *fangirls* It is almost palpable in this chapter how strong and beautiful the love between them truly is. :)