Keeping Watch by Cairistiona
Lisa G · 28 January 2010 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Mwah ha ha ha ha! After the initial scare over Aragorn's illness (loved all the TLC he got), I was just cracking up at the whole confusion over Aragorn trying to kiss Elladan, thinking it was Arwen...too funny!
Author's reply
Hee hee... glad you liked that little bit of fever-induced humor; I'm sure Elladan didn't like it at all. *g* Thanks for the review! And for working your way through my stories! :)
Lily Baggins · 5 May 2009 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Guh guh guh guh guh---that's the incoherent sound I make when reviewing something that hits me on a really emotional level. I so enjoyed this---a mix of sincere concern and worry with humor and lightheartedness. Gosh, how I love to see Aragorn receiving care and TLC when he's ill, and how I love to see him vulnerable and feverish and all those delicious things. This is one heck of a story! I must say, Aragorn's dream of Arwen was hilarious. And I can imagine he was well embarrassed by it! Thank goodness he's got a little blackmail material. :)
Author's reply
Thank you, Lily! I'm glad this story drove you to incoherence. *grin* Seriously, I am glad you enjoyed this. I too enjoy reading TLC scenes, and Aragorn received it in spades from those three. The kiss scene... hee hee. I'm evil but I couldn't resist injecting humor into the entire situation. I almost don't know who to feel more sorry for--Aragorn for the embarrassment of trying to kiss own brother or Elladan for having now to live with Aragorn's threat of retaliation hanging over his head. LOL I think Aragorn ended up with the upper hand. Thanks for the review!
Ravenswing14337 · 17 April 2009 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
I absolutely loved this story. Your ability to paint a picture with words is extrordinary. I could see these scenes so vividly. Thank you for a lvoely tale.
Author's reply
Thank you, Ravenswing! I'm so glad you liked this... it's a prelude to my other story, At Hope's Edge, and was very fun to write. I'm glad you could see the scenes so well. That's what I try my utmost to do--create a vivid world where the reader feels they're standing in the middle of it. Thanks again for the review, and let me know if you ever give At Hope's Edge a try. :)
Marethiel · 15 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Oh, I loved this. :-) I so enjoy your characterization of Halbarad, one of my favorite secondary characters! He'd HAVE to be a strong soul with a good sense of humor to withstand Aragorn's angst! LOL Anyway, many thanks for the enjoyment your work has provided me and for sharing your talents.
Author's reply
I'm so glad you liked this, Marethiel! Halbarad is definitely my favorite secondary character and plays a large role in most of my stories (he has another big part in At Hope's Edge). I agree in that he has to have a good sense of humor to put up with Aragorn! Thanks for reading and leaving your lovely review. :)
grumpy · 7 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Great story, I enjoyed it a lot. Halbarad, Aragorn, the twins, what's not to like. Liked the part about Elladan leeping out of the bed.
Author's reply
Thank you, grumpy! I'm so glad you liked it ... and that your review was not grumpy in the least. :) Thanks again!
Celeritas · 5 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Thanks for writing this! It was extremely well-done (hard to imagine Aragorn laid low by illness, but he's only a man after all and I think prone to overworking himself)--and the supposed preminotory dream about Arwen was hysterical! ~Celeritas
Author's reply
Thank you, Celeritas, I'm so glad you liked this! And yes, I do think Aragorn, even though the hardiest of all living Men, still had his bouts with illness like everyone else. And yes, very likely brought on when he pushes himself too hard. I think that probably is a characteristic of his--it gets a little overdone in fanfic but I do think he overworks himself and sometimes fails to recognize his limits. And I'm glad you liked the "dream". I had fun writing that, I have to say. *grin* Thanks again for your review!
george · 2 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
So glad to hear this is a prequel! You write marvelously--all your characters sprang to life in this story. Even Aragorn, and he was basically unconscious for most of the story! That's rather saying something, I think. ~_^
Author's reply
Thank you so much, George! I'm glad the characters seemed to live and breathe as you read ... that should be the aim of any writer and I'm glad you felt I hit the mark. I hope you feel the characters as strongly in At Hope's Edge. It's written in a different style but hopefully just as vividly. Thanks again for the lovely review!
Elena Tiriel · 2 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Ah, I like these vignettes, Cairistiona.... I think you've really captured the interplay between four people who know each other so well! Halbarad would clearly rather die than see permanent harm come to Aragorn. And the serious kidding is... well... just like guys! LOL! Nicely done! - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you, Barbara! I'm glad you liked this. I agree that Halbarad most likely would die before letting any harm befall Aragorn, if he could help it at all--although hard to put a sword through a mosquito-borne illness of whatever sort this was. And yes, the kidding! Guys definitely have a unique way of showing affection at times, don't they? Thanks again for the kind review!
Estelcontar · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Well, it was worth the wait to read it all at one go. I would be driven nuts imagining what was going to happen to Aragorn if I had read it in bits. What a moving and poignant story. Elladan and Elrohir's bond with Aragorn, as well as Halbarad devotion to his chieftain shine through here. As usual, the humour skillfully interwoven with the sorrowness and anxiety, works perfectly, and does highlight the closeness of their relationship. Needless to say, I really, really enjoyed the kissing episode. "How like you to ask after others’ health before your own." Halbarad does know his chieftain, doesn't he?
Author's reply
Yes, I think Halbarad does indeed know Aragorn pretty well. :) Thank you so much for the kind review ... I'm glad you liked it and found it worth the wait to see it all at a go instead of bit by bit. That kissing episode ... I really have no idea where it came from but it did end up pretty fun. *grin* I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Larner · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
I love seeing this friendship, this fraternity, given such realism. Oh, yes, but I love this. And the reaching for Arwen only to have Elladan hurry from the bed, and the disturbed dream afterwards---- Oh, dear! What an image to hold in mind. I'm surprised that Aragorn didn't try to kiss Elladan when he caught him by the hair! Would have served him right! Heh!
Author's reply
I did think about going that route, actually! LOL But I figured Aragorn would no doubt realize that his brother had saved his life and I couldn't bring him to be cruel. A blackmailer, yes, but not cruel. *grin Glad you liked this!
Szepilona10 · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Nice story! Update soon please! God Bless! ~Szepilona10~
Author's reply
Thank you, Szepilona10 (what an interesting name!) ... God bless you too! I'm so glad you liked this. And yes, I will be updating soon--I'll be posting the new story a chapter a week starting next Monday. :)
Jay of Lasgalen · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
I really, really enjoyed this, and how in the midst of so much anguish over Aragorn's illness there was such sudden humour. I loved Aragorn trying to kiss Elladan in his fever, and the subsequent laughter and teasing between the brothers. Well done for a skillful blending of angst and comedy!
Author's reply
Thank you, Jay of Lasgalen! I'm glad you enjoyed the mix of emotions--at least in my own life, humor always seems finds a way to lighten even the darkest times, so I try to put that into my stories. I really enjoy exploring the interactions between the Twins and Estel, so I'm also glad you liked that aspect. Thanks again for the review and glad you enjoyed the story. :)
utfrog · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
WOW - really good story told in the tiny bits.
Author's reply
Thank you, utfrog! (I love that name) It was definitely an unusual way of writing and not my norm. The story that follows will be told in a more conventional way. I'm glad you liked this one!
inzilbeth · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
A delightful story which reads even better as a single post. I love the way you seamlessly weave humour and angst in this, but at its core, it's Halbarad's devotion to his chieftain that makes the tale ring so true. A great introduction to 'At Hope's Edge.'
Author's reply
Thanks, Inzilbeth! I'm glad it reads okay as a whole instead of just the separate drabbles like I had it on LJ. I did end up tweaking it here and there but nothing major. And yes, it kind of has that cliffhanger-ish ending, doesn't it? Thanks again!
shirebound · 1 December 2008 · Chapter 1: Keeping Watch
Oh, this is marvelous. Such love and fear and attentive care for one who holds the hope of all, and the love of many.
Author's reply
Thank you, Shirebound! I'm glad you liked it! (And boy, you're fast on the reviews! I only just uploaded this story. I'm impressed! *grin*)