I liked how you addressed the normal people in this piece: LotR really does focus on the nobles, and the fandom tends to follow suit.

I thought the bit with Aragorn hugging the guy was a bit overdone, since if I was a peasant I'd be way more uptight around my king, whether I liked him or not. Otherwise I thought Aragorn at least getting on the ground was realistic, and your narrator was well developed. I'd definately be interested in reading an expanded version of this ficlet.

It's fine, but too melodramatic.

Good gods, that made me cry.
I think the role of Aragorn is a bit over-idealized, but the sorrow of this man is so true and so real. Beautiful story!

Quite incredible! I am very glad lindahoyland directed me here! I'll have to check out some of your other work also, now. Certainly this one was impressive - moving, sad, humorous and even 'hopeful' (nice touch that he thinks the king should be named 'hope'). The cynicism, the anger, the resentment - all well played and justified, and a nice transition as he begins to perceive his misjudgement of the man. The king didn't cause his problems, nor can he solve them all, but they agree to work together to do what can be done. Excellent leadership from Aragorn, and believable 'conversion' by Talion.

One thing:
the crude alter - in Am. English, that would be spelled "altar" (don't know if you are other than American, or if it is spelled differently elsewhere).

Well done!

- Deandra

Wow. What a powerful and moving story. Linda Hoyland remarked in posting "Seeking the Sun" that this story inspired her, and I can see why. Talion is a remarkable character, and his exchange with Elessar was life-changing indeed. An apt title.

Wow. Really, wow.

Excellent story. Unique perspective

"They say" many things, some true, some false, some indeterminate. But here we have a man renewed by hope returned by the king. Will he in time come to know that the King WAS named "Hope" when he was a child?

Wonderful story!

I like the fact that the man thought Aragorn should be named Hope. Very touching.

This is a wonderful book based piece of writting. It had me in tears even as I smiled. Keep writting you have the ability to draw the reader in to your work.

Wow. That one is *really* fantastic!

Nienor

this story had me weeping most of the way through. I loved the language you used. It was entirely believable that it was this young man speaking and not you. Aragorn's own grief for this man was felt deeply. I really liked it when he said the king should have been named Hope. I, too, voted for your story. I'm always glad when other readers agree with me. Many times they don't. Laura

Really good. I liked the way the story concluded with the repition of the "they say" idea; it wrapped everything up nicely. Sensitive and well written.

Excellent story, one of your finest. You remembered the 'little people' who are ultimately the cogs in the machine. I like the way you got us to see the narrator's side of things and the way that Elessar was able to break down those barriers. No knee-jerk reaction -- rather, his wisdom shone in his ability to have true empathy for his assailant. This is really very well done, the last paragraph outstanding. Thank you SO much for sharing it with us.

Oh... my... gosh! EXCELLENT! Wonderful story, so bittersweet and... wonderful!