Loved this! So well done.

bob pearblossom...omg that's hilarious! nice to see aragorn smiling and chuckling for a change...poor boy needs some major TLC to recover.

This is a well written and well thought out story. Thanks for posting it!

Bob Pearblossom. Heehee... :-)

I liked your Rangers - they seem to be just what I have always pictured. I love seeing Aragorn come into his inheritance... but I do like getting glimpses of his Strider persona because that part of him has always intrigued me.

Thanks for writing!

Wow wow wow superb writing with just the right amount of humor! Thank you :)

"Bob Pearblossom" XD I really enjoyed reading this fic. It was well written and with great suspense

cool!

My gosh... Great story. :'D emotional and humorous.

Now I need to go mercilessly hunt down the rest.

Good luck with your writer's muse!

In response to Dudo's question, the names of Gandalf are these:

Olórin, Mithrandir, Incánus, Tharkûn, White Rider, Greyhame, Stormcrow, Láthspell, Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White, Grey Fool, Grey Pilgrim, Grey Wanderer. I don't know if I missed any?

If I did, please reply.

Dear Meckinock: This story was most interesting and extremely well-written. The plot was excellent, and the characterization mostly well done. I qualified that statement because a few things struck me as not quite right. Tolkien told us almost nothing about Halbarad, so your interpretation of that Ranger is as likely to be right as anyone's. However, IMHO, both he and Aragorn were just a bit too inclined to behave like social workers instead of the hardened warriors they were. Aragorn was of course a good man, a decent man, and I'm sure Halbarad was too, but Tolkien often described the former as "grim," and the Dunadain clearly led hard lives. I do not believe Aragorn would have fallen quite so quickly or so easily into feeling sorry for Rolly, or if he did, he would not have forgiven the boy as easily as he did in this story. Nor would he have claimed Rolly was just a "tool of his master." Aragorn understood as few did how responsible we *all* are for our own actions, regardless of our circumstances. At the Council of Elrond, Aragorn was the one who wanted Gollum kept under lock and key, when others were feeling sorry for him, remember? Admittedly, Aragorn in this story was feeling guilty about the death of the young Ranger, and that undoubtedly influenced him. But since among the Dunadain even fifteen-year-old boys can be Rangers, IMHO that would have made Aragorn less likely to regard Rolly, the same age, as a mere helpless child. As for Halbarad and Dudo-the hobbit was an interesting OC, but after one hour-long interval of Halbarad playing "good cop" he goes from being a selfish little rat to a boy scout who is worried about poor Strider? Not very realistic, IMHO. I believe both Aragorn and Halbarad would take a wrongdoer's origins and circumstances into consideration-as Aragorn did with Gollum-but in the end, I believe both men would still hold we are all responsible for our choices and our actions. So in that sense, I disagree with how the two Rangers were portrayed here. That said, I enjoyed the story very much. You have a fine descriptive style, the dialogue was well-written and most entertaining, the plot was very good, and the character of Gandalf was very well written indeed. I am curious about the identity of Rolly's "master," and I have my own ideas; I hope that will be revealed in the sequel to this story. You are clearly a good writer, and my criticisms are just my opinions, which you did not ask for, after all! Thank you for writing and posting this fine story. Sincerely, Darkover

I had to read this through a second time before I reviewed to catch all the subtle hints that Rolly dropped. I must admit the first time I read this I had no idea of what Rolly was up to. I am guessing though that his 'master' is Saruman. Am I right?

This is probably one of my favorite stories. The pacing had me on the edge of my seat even on the second time through. I laughed; I cried; I hated the baddies with a vengeance...good stuff. I love the way you portrayed the canon characters. Gandalf and Halbarad are a hoot; Aragorn is the perfect mix of angst and subtle humor.

The part in this chapter when Dudo give Halbarad the Ranger name had me practically rolling on the floor I was laughing so hard.

OK sorry for the rambling, but this deserved a long review.

Thanks much! Noro go hûl, bado go Eru (Run with the wind, go with God.)

~Twain

I have been savoring this story for the last two weeks, reading it through thoroughly on my laptop rather than trust to my attention span on my desktop, and I must say I am disappointed in myself for not having read it sooner. You have an amazing storytelling ability and an engaging style that snags the reader's attention immediately and refuses to let them go until they reached the very end. But I think what caught me most about your work is there is such authority within the text itself: Halbarad's tracking skills, the reasons they watch out for the horses for example. I felt as if I were following them slogging through the mud.

I must admit too that "Bob Pearblossom" had me chuckling for ten minutes afterwards.

Now, the story is over. Fortunately, it can be revisited and what's more there is a certain "Matter of Honor" that merits my attention.

Thank you for a beautiful tale, engagingly told and very true to the characters of the original creator.

All the best,

The Lady of Light

At last I finished it. It was very hard for me, but I did it. Because it was intresting, of cause. I really love hobbit. He loves names and so do I. I haven't understend all about Rolly, but it's a sad story.

This was amazing! I loved how you fleshed out all of the characters. It was refreshing to see Gandalf's slightly bumbling side portrayed very faithfully. And Gandalf, Halbarad, and Dudo made a terrific character combination. This is going on my Favourites list!

-Sanaryelle

This story was amazing! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the whole story, and I couldn't beleive the twist at the end. Dudo is so cute. He sorta reminded me a little of Merry and Pippin. Halbarad was awesome and well, this story as a whole was Amazing. Daisy was a very good horse as well. To bear such an ungraceful rider as Aragorn, while slightly injured (Daisy that is, not Aragorn) Anyway. I look forward to reading A Matter of Honour, but I'll do that tomorrow, It's late, I'm tired. Amazing story. You are a very talented author and I look forward to reading many more of your stories.

Nelarun