Days of the Dunedain by Arnakhor
PSW · 16 February 2025 · Chapter 19: Framsburg to Bree
They may just meet up with that son and grandson in a bit! I like that Gandalf reassures him that his life is important and necessary too. The great deeds cannot come to pass without all the years of toil and faithfulness that lead up to them…
PSW · 16 February 2025 · Chapter 18: Bombadil
Yay for Tom! And glad the Men are there as an escort back - Hobbits don’t seem to have much luck in these woods…
PSW · 16 February 2025 · Chapter 17: Tales to Tell
Ha! Like his ancestor Hagar, he longs for adventure outside his small world. He does seem a little more sensible to start out than Hagar was though! :-D It’s so difficult to image being a part of community that is for all practical purposes on their own, with only a few visitors here and there. So much different than what we have now…
PSW · 16 February 2025 · Chapter 16: Odofur's Predicament
Ah yes … I had wondered if he had run afoul of the Withywindle (my favorite river name in Arda) and some ancestor of Old Man Willow … and it seems that is the case! Either the Rangers or Tom had better come along soon!
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 15: Framsburg
Well, great uncle certainly made things easier! Glad they got that settled and can get on to the story-swapping portion of the visit!
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 13: Eotheod
Well, it was no more than he expected, really….
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 12: Odofur's Forest Foray
Oh yikes! That sure didn’t go as planned! I would be wanting to get out of there too. I probably wouldn’t be there in the first place… Are stones unconscious? I guess in a way they are … 🤔
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 11: Into the Shire
So odd to hear Gandalf described as a curiosity they don’t really understand! Were used to years when he’s a little better known! Curious how much those of stories actually tell of the Dol Goldur tale - I’m sure there’s a lot that didn’t make the cut!
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 10: Healing
Glad to hear that Wulfric’s situation is looking up! And hoping there’s no trouble explaining himself to the horsemen!
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 9: Odofur's Boat Trip
“… though on occasion felt the need to take a swipe or two with it at some imagined adversary.” Hee :-D He’s off exploring, hmm? I suspect he will find more than he bargained for!
Lindelea · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 9: Odofur's Boat Trip
Hmmm. Precursor to the Ferry, perhaps? I like his hobbity priorities. Food is the first consideration when thinking about what he packed. Weapons? They sound like more of an afterthought, though a prudent one. (Is there no Bridge of Stone Bows in existence at this time? I can't remember.)
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 8: Recovery
I’m sure he doesn’t have any enthusiasm for arriving with a dead chief’s son, just as you say - I hope Wulfric makes it!
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 7: South of the Shire
Valor without renown, as Aragorn II says in the future. But time well spent, to protect others who would have far more difficulty protecting themselves…
PSW · 15 February 2025 · Chapter 6: Odofur Oldbuck
People that want to be in charge of things like that baffle me … :-D Wonder where he’s off to today, though? Plenty of time to get in trouble before then!
PSW · 14 February 2025 · Chapter 5: Rescue
It’s good someone came along! Even after killing the wolf he would have died if no one had found him. I guess Aranuir has a foot in now, unless there’s something going on w Wulfric we don’t know about…
PSW · 14 February 2025 · Chapter 4: Prancing Pony
Hmm … either we will have Hobbits involved, then, or he’ll get distracted w something else before he gets there. We shall see!
PSW · 13 February 2025 · Chapter 3: Tharbad
I also love his glimpse of the long handing down of not only knowledge but *reason* - why we live this way, why we put forth the effort we do. Go have a drink with the Hobbits, boys! That will cheer you… :-)
PSW · 13 February 2025 · Chapter 2: Hint of a Wolf
I can feel the loneliness of the surroundings. (Except for the wolf - glad he’s got a good horse!)
Lindelea · 13 February 2025 · Chapter 8: Recovery
Life as a recurring theme in this chapter, both implied and stated outright, seems to be an effective literary device. Luck? I think JRRT would have had something to say about that...
Lindelea · 13 February 2025 · Chapter 7: South of the Shire
Such a lovely summation as to the Rangers' mission. (Who gave them that remit, I wonder, and why?)
Author's reply
One could say they gave that remit to themselves. Also Firiel's words to her son Aranarth, the first chieftain, in chapter 1 of Dol Guldur, provide him with the direction to take on that remit.
PSW · 12 February 2025 · Chapter 1: In the Wild
Once again, your descriptions just pull me right in… Starting this story after recently reading ‘Dol Goldur’ begins to give me a sense of the long years of hidden wandering and the type of men required to live through such years. Looking forward to the story!
Author's reply
Thanks! So glad you can read them back to back. Working on one that will follow Days of the Dunedain, but that is still a month or two away. Author Reply: Thanks! So glad you can read them back to back. Working on one that will follow Days of the Dunedain, but that is still a month or two away.
Lindelea · 11 February 2025 · Chapter 6: Odofur Oldbuck
Alas, poor Odofur. To be volunteered for such a large undertaking! But it seems he's not all that upset about the prospect. His gardens sound both beautiful and practical. The Thainship at this point in history sounds a lot like the Mayor in Sam's time! (Was there a Mayor at this point in time?) Primadoc certainly doesn't sound much like a military leader. A bit of adventure, eh? Does "over the water and into the woods" mean crossing the Baranduin and going into the Old Forest? (I wonder if Bombadil comes into this story...?) Are adventures as socially unacceptable as in Bilbo's time? Anyhow, this is quite intriguing.
Lindelea · 8 February 2025 · Chapter 5: Rescue
Looks like Naron was correct about the wolf threat. Looks like their coming over the ridge is fortuitous timing. What was this horseman doing at distance from his homeland? My question, exactly! The head injury doesn't seem to have scrambled the young man's wits, I think. And I'm equally interested in hearing more!
Lindelea · 7 February 2025 · Chapter 4: Prancing Pony
Wonderful descriptions. I can almost hear the low buzz of multiple conversations filling the common room. It's interesting to peek inside Gandalf's head. The lands are at peace at the moment? This is a nice moment of respite, then. When I was younger, I was curious like Gandalf and loved to wander and see new places. Nowadays, I seem to becoming more and more like Radagast. I can see value in both viewpoints. Will we have the privilege of seeing Gandalf's visit with hobbits? So this is before the Oldbucks moved across the Brandywine and founded Buckland, and handed over the office of Thain to the Tooks? (I could go and look it up in the Tale of Years, but I'm feeling lazy at the moment. Or, more precisely, tired. I need to stop reading soon and look forward to reading more tomorrow.)
Author's reply
Yes there will be a hobbit visit among other things. This is indeed before the Oldbucks moved across the Brandywine to found Buckland. But more on that to come. Thanks so much for your comments and interest in this story!
Lindelea · 3 February 2025 · Chapter 3: Tharbad
The foreshadowing made me shiver – in a good way. Halflings? I also invariably find them cheering.