Oh my goodness. This is perfection. I am 100% sure Tolkien would be proud.

This is a fantastic story by an excellent writer with a real understanding of how tough the hunt for Gollum must have been.

I just finished this story for the first time and I’m so sad it’s over, I’ve been reading it over the past 2-3 weeks. I have been dreading the end because it was genuinely that good, but it was a satisfying ending for this tale. I can honestly say I savored this whole story. It’s one of the best pre-fellowship Aragorn fics I’ve ever read. I love your style of writing and your descriptions. I love your dialogue and how in character it is, and how Aragorn’s interactions with others match how well he knows the person. Your Aragorn is dignified and humble, your Elrond is wise and patient but also very caring, your joyful, gentle Arwen is perfectly matched to our Estel. I particularly liked how you wrote Glorfindel! My favorite parts of the story are Aragorn’s storytelling to the children of the house of the Beornings, Aragorn’s stay in the halls of Thranduil, and when he shows up to the ferry looking much less ragged and they don’t recognize him at first, but when they do, he handles it with grace. Several times I cried reading this, though I don’t remember at what parts now. I will be coming back to read this again. This was so good it is now canon, to me. I know I’m years late to the party but I can tell this was a labor of love, the amount of time and research that must have been put into this is incredible, and makes me want to improve my own skills as a writer, so thank you.

I got into your writing only recently and it's better than anything I ever imagined fanfiction could be. I'm really sorry to see that you haven’t been here in seven years and sincerely hope that you are alright and will come back someday.

I have to say I read it through. The story works, you did a good job. But having Aragorn turn from a warrior into a weak person throughout the story, both sick and hurt, makes him seem more of a burden than a protector. It really annoyed me and I couldn't finish reading it. Thank you for writing, you did a great job, just my opinion on how weak this whole thing is.

I wonder who he was? The captain I mean. Cannot be Faramir, wouldn't he be too young?

What a fantastic story. This is the first thing I've read after watching the Lord of the Rings movies. It's convinced me I need to read the Lord of the Rings books. What a wonderful character portrayal, and what an inspiration. The love shines in your work.

I've really enjoyed re-reading this 3 fantastic work!

I clicked on this story due to the amount of reviews, although I must say the summary didn’t grip me—it wasn’t the type of story I was looking for, or expected to like.
But here I am, maybe only two or three days later, having devoured it! Amazing writing, very true in tone as others have noted, a wonderful puzzle piece fitting into canon. I didn’t think a relatively solitary tale of Aragorn and Gollum would be so interesting, compared to stories with more of an ensemble but wow! I found myself on the edge of my seat at times, and often had to say, “relax, you already know how this tale ends.”
Bravo. I will 100% be reading every single story you’ve read!

This has to be, without a doubt, not just some of the best fanfic I've ever read, but some of the best writing I've ever read. It's incredible! Tremendously well-researched, compelling, a perfect encapsulation of tone with all the right touches of humour, suspense, and drama.

I've just finished this story - many years after it had been written and I simply have to leave a review and a thank you. It was such a beautiful story and it rang so true and it read so much like something Tolkien himself might have written that from now on, for me, this will be what happened just before LOTR. I don't really know how to express what I feel after reading it. It was so rewarding, especially the time in Rivendell - I laughed through the whole chapter about the welcome home celebration. So thank you. I bow before your talent.

A perfect and gripping and heartbreaking TLOTR tale. Your Aragorn is incredibly in character. You fill the gaps between Tolkien stories and your skill is so great that it is like reading a new one from the good professor. Thank you so much for all of your amazing works and the pleasure you give to your readers. And sorry for my bad english, I am french.

I would be interested in hearing (or reading) a full rendition of "The Flight of the Eagle". It sounds really interesting.

That was an interesting song about Thorongil. Did you make up the lyrics yourself? If so, then well done.

That is so sweet that you mentioned Bilbo in this story.

I must say that it amazes me how much your writing is similar to Tolkien's style. It is so...accurate. I find it very enjoyable.