That is a wonderful post. First of all, it's urging me to try the book again, but secondly because of the relation to you and your friend - well, and because I recognize it well. When I was 10, I remember watching over my younger cousins sleep in my grandparents' house - we were all in the living room because it was so crowded with people - and feeling like I was Aragorn from Lord of the Rings watching over them, protecting them from the night in a way. That feeling continued, continues to this day sometimes, I've been the one person (seemingly) awake at 3 a.m., watching the world. (Incidentally, I actually thwarted - I believe - a potential car break-in one night!)

Anyhow, impressive. I loved reading your post.