I really appreciate the skill and humanity you bring to this backstory. You have ever treated Denethor's character with due respect for a brilliant yet imperfect man who safeguarded Gondor until just before the return of the king, even though most prefer to demonize him especially after watching the films. It speaks eloquently of people like Aragorn and Faramir that they can put up graciously with a magnificent jerk like Denethor, who for all his flaws is indeed doing his very best (no small thing) for the kingdom and people he was born to serve/rule.

Crazy good! I can't wait for you to write more chapters in Eagle on the Ramparts!

I love how you set a foundation for Aragorn and Imrahil's future friendship!

I loved this! ! Great work. I will have to read the rest.

Great characterizations. Love this backstory on the Thorongil years.

What a beautifully written chapter, seen through the eyes of the young Imrahil, summarizing a deep conflict between Thorongil, the hidden King, and the proud son of the Steward. I love your descriptions, and how your skillful writing about affairs of state so clearly shows the character of these leaders... I am looking forward to more in The Eagle on the Ramparts.

Wow, this is really, really good!

I have to confess I secretly voted just for this order of the stories: first Gondor, then Mordor. I have always longed for stories about Thorongil, and the chance to read yours is a highly-valued gift. And judging by this teaser, I have all the reasons to expect a happy reading. :)

I'll start with the characters because the story is about *them*, after all. You already know what I think about 'your' Aragorn - and this holds true here, too: you show his unique amalgam of strength and gentleness marvelously.
And Denethor loses, indeed, - in more ways than one; still he is by no means an unworthy 'rival', and it makes things even more interesting.
Ecthelion is truly a nice person, it seems. And it somehow makes me sad that he seeks (and finds) support and caring not in his son (whom he obviously loves very much, regardless); and I can understand Aragorn's momentary bewilderment at Denethor's inattentiveness to his father's fatigue, for example. (By the way, when Aragorn calls Ecthelion 'my Steward', when talking to Denethor, it does sound... as if it had two meanings, even if I suspect he didn't mean it like that.)
Imrahil is charming as a boy. :) And there is his own depth to him, let alone an eager mind; I like him a lot.

The story is a gem as a composition, too: the comparison, woven through it, is impressive... and effective. And the tight mood works very well not only for a teaser :), but also for the story as a stand-alone.

Thank you very much for sharing this!

such grace and dignity from a 'nobody' - no wonder denethor constantly feels threatened in his authority/Position by the captain!

So yes, I'm very interested. :-) I admit to knowing almost nothing at all about this timeframe, and to not being that familiar w canon re: Denathor (if there is more beyond what is in the LOTR, that is), so I'm not really qualified to comment on his character here. He seems somewhat unpleasant - but then, it does seem as though his father is favoring Aragorn (or, I suppose, Thorongil), whether purposefully or not, which would be difficult to take. On the other hand, that's not really a very noble way of dealing w your displeasure and/or insecurities.

I love Thorongil's character - though he seems almost too perfect to the rest of us (I mean, he called for wine...) :-P Knowing Aragorn, he is very much that person, and he would be really hard to match up to - but I am now very much looking forward to the upcoming story in order to have some background to all of this, see what he's really got going on here.

Very enjoyable, thanks for writing!

Very interesting work Canafinwe. I've always been fascinated by Aragorn's travels abroad as Thorongil. His interactions with Denethor in particular are very interesting to read. As you wrote they are truly opposites and yet similar in so many ways. I'm really looking forward to see you write more about the Captain and the Steward's Son. You really seem to understand Aragorn and write him better than I've seen anyone else. I love your use of medical terms as well, it's very detailed. Great job!

Excellent - very much looking forward to it.

Yup, that Thorongil bug is tenacious :) Glad you couldn't get rid of him. I am so looking forward to further stories!

Thorongil is spot-on in this story, from his wise leadership advice to his care for Ecthelion to his refusal to be provoked by Denethor's discourtesy. You play out the delicate balance between the two captain's masterfully - they are indeed opposites in many ways, but well-matched. The one thing that I'm not sure I buy, at least not yet, is Denethor's viciousness. To physically strike Thorongil, even if he did not intend it to hurt as much as it did, is not only highly improper for a man in his position, but it also shows a surprising lack of self-control. Perhaps all will be explained in the next installment, however.

Interesting choice to tell the story from Imrahil's perspective - I like it, though I have to say that the Imrahil I have in my mind is the one created by Isabeau of Greenlea, and I kept having to push her characterization to the back of my mind to focus on yours! I think you would like her stories, if you haven't already read them.

I read your story on the Teitho site (though I did not take part in the vote) and seeing it here again I take the opportunity to tell you how much I liked it.

The setting feels quite tolkienesque Gondorian, the strict formalities of procedure and the over-awed supplicants, to mention two examples.

Aragorn and Denethor together are interesting psychologically; worthy opponents as a previous reviewer said, but Denethor fighting a rearguard action and over-compensating. As will happen when one party has got nothing to lose and everything to win, whereas the other is seeing himself placed beside an unlooked-for rival of tremendous strength and abilities. Much as I like your Aragorn, I think the situation is favouring him a bit. It is unusual for a father to hold in equal regard a councillor of unknown background and his own (highly gifted and obviously sensitive) son; ultimately, Ecthelion seems to prefer Aragorn, though he is trying hard not to make this too obvious. I can understand Denethor's hurt, insecurity, and resulting pathethic actions.

I, too, am looking forward to your longer story.

I love your Thorongil. The nobility of Aragorn really shines through, especially when you contrast his behavior with that of Denethor.

I'm so happy you're going to write more Thorongil. I'm sure a story about Aragorn in Mordor would be well written, because everything you write is, but I don't see how it can be anything but bleak and depressing. But him in Gondor gives room for so much scope of imagination. Yea!