Yay! Such a great characterization of Boromir! I love your take on him. And the moment when Anakil realized who exactly Faramir is - absolutely brilliant!

Poor Anakil! That bastard Anborn is really giving him a hard time, does he? Even if he means well.

You know, at first I thought it was Frodo and Sam they have found. I laughed really hard when I saw that it was Anakil's horse.

Very nice story! How come I haven't found it earlier? My fault, no doubt.

I like the way your Rangers banter among each other, and the special rules for messengers are very convincing. I'm so glad you go with the book Faramir and not with the blonde movie puppet. It's a geat scene when you describe how he tries to keep looking cheerful for his men's sake at the end, but is, in fact, worried. Hmmm... who might have sent the other message?

Can't believe I haven't reviewed since Chapter 7! That's massively unfair of me, since this is one of my favourite stories going on at the moment. OK, quick overview of what I particularly love:

VIII: Anakil's realization of who exactly Faramir is, when confronted with the Captain-General. Yes, it *was* useful knowing the Steward had two sons, Anakil! The severed hands and the thoughts of the Black Watch were priceless, as was the litany he's been reciting all day - and its culmination: "Lying. Stealing. Deserting. Being stupid. – Being a really lucky little bastard."

IX: The descriptions of Osgiliath *rock*! Really impressive visualization. Loved Boromir's reflections on his brother and their relationship, the throwaway descriptions like Faramir's handwriting, and how Boromir has kept his tent so spartan when Faramir would clutter it up. I'm glad the healer was kind to Anakil - particularly when he's got Darin to face...

X: Hurrah for Mablung! And I'm glad Anakil's brothers came to the rescue - he is still a boy after all.

XI: But much more of an adult now, as well, after his adventures in Ithilien. I'm glad he was able to handle Irion, and not have to rely on anyone else to protect him. The final line of this chapter is just a riot! And Damrod's brandy - he really is a lush, isn't he?

XII: The tension is mounting in this chapter - *we* know what's about to hit Osgiliath, but Boromir doesn't yet, and I'm worried for the Ithilien rangers, particularly those who left with Mablung (at least we know Mablung makes it). I liked the ease that Boromir's officers have with him, very unlike the Steward and the Council back in Minas Tirith, I think. I love the Poet - hope Anakil finds out his name.

XIII: I very much liked the lesson about the messages and the different seals. But an evil place to leave us! You'd better update soon...

hey great story. it flows nicely and preserves the beautiful world tolkien created, while still having a modern feel to the language and style. your characters are interesting and developing nicely, as is the plot. keep up the good work.

Oh, I loved this! Absolutely fantastic. I couldn't get over how good the descriptions of Osgiliath are. Did you create all of them (in which case, you did a brilliant job), or are some of them inspired by various other sources? Whichever, if you could let me know I'd very much appreciate it - I'm about to be writing a fair amount about Cair Andros and Osgiliath in my story, and if there are sources that you've gone to for the descriptions, besides your own wonderful imagination, I'd love to know what the sources are so I can consult them too. I absolutely adored your presentation of Boromir in this chapter. His thoughts seemed so right and were so touching - the image of his tent without any personal effects (and the contrast between his tent and the way Faramir's would be), his hesitation to bathe in the presence of his soldiers because he doesn't want them to see his scars and know he's not invulnerable, his lack of close friends, the descriptions of and thoughts about Faramir's letter and the different ways that each of the brothers has to go about reporting the deaths of soldiers to the soldiers' families - it was all just perfect, moving, and wonderful. I'm so glad you're writing this!

So his punishment has been deferred. It sounds as if Faramir will put in a good word for Anakil though. Maybe Boromir won't be too harsh.

Your descriptions of the night and the land were outstanding. They invoked an image of a very dark beauty. I am very impressed.

Hopefully, Anakil and his companion will make the trip safely. I look forward to their journey and Boromir's proclamation.

I've said on list how much I like the characterization and the dry humour in this chapter. What I didn't say was how much I like the visual images you create - of Faramir sitting by the waterfall reading, of the view downriver out over Ithilien...

Another great chapter, and looking forward to the next.

You are doing such a great job! I envy your smooth, easy flowing dialogue. That is one of the hardest things for me to write.

You continue to build your characters very well. Anakil, Anborn, and Beldil are becoming like old friends as you open their hearts and minds to us.

Wonder what the Captain has in store for him now? Even though Anakil doesn't have much self confidence yet he has done well and I think Faramir will approve.

Btw, I have started a story about the Northern Rangers. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I like the stoicism of the Rangers in the face of the odds - 'Things happen,' they all seem to say. The details of the burial customs were very touching.

Your characterization continues to be great - Anakil's anxiety about causing trouble, Beldil coaxing rabbit from him, Anborn's rough kindness, Faramir's quiet authority makes itself felt even though he's not in the chapter at all.

Looking forward to your next update.

This chapter is like a peek into a secret world. I'm a pacifist by nature, but I found myself fascinated with the details of how a military camp is run. You also really made me feel bad for Anakil. Poor kid. I hope Faramir treats him well (as if our dear Ranger would do anything else!). peace...

Hey! I'm so glad I finally read this! I have to admit I hadn't done so thus far because I am first and foremost a Boromir fan, and since he's not doing anything in here (thus far, anyway - I can always hope for the future!), I didn't read it for a while. But I'm glad I finally did! You write very, very well. It's very well described and vivid and realistic, and Faramir seems very much himself. I'm currently working on a chapter of my Boromir story that has Rangers and a Hennuth Annun (sp?) type place in it, so once I get that posted I may bug you and try to get you to read the chapter to see if you've got any pointers on it, since you clearly know this setting very well. Anyway, keep writing! It's very cool

This story is really very good. Your writing style and mechanics are excellent.

I like the relationship you are developing between Anborn and Anakil. It is quite obvious that Anborn is a tough, battle hardened veteran but he does have a compassionate side. He is a hard task master but the environment he lives in does not allow many mistakes.

I hope that Anborn and Faramir can teach Anakil to be more selfconfident. He has the tools necessary to be a good Ranger if he is given time to learn. Will Faramir allow him to join the troop?

Love the dry humour throughout this chapter. Poor Anakil, how excruciating to find that his horse was the mysterious intruder. Loved Anborn's matter-of-fact 'shoot it and get back to sleep' attitude; trust Faramir to agonize over that.

Anakil is still young enough not to realize the extent to which Anborn is teasing him, and the relationship between the pair that you depict is just wonderful.

I loved the catalogue of crimes that Anakil reviews in his mind before going back to Henneth Annun. Troublemaker indeed.

*grins* Same comments as before! I'm still really liking this! Continue! Wow, that's a lot of excalmation marks! heehee!