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| Along Came A Spider by Jay of Lasgalen | 13 Review(s) |
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| Kalima | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 1/24/2005 |
| Well, NOW I can go and get something done. Thanks for the story. I'll be back. K | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/29/2004 |
| Wow... it has been a while since I read chapter 1 and 2, but this one is very impressive. Elladan's despair: accepting it and yet not. At first he seems to be able to let go of his brother and then he just cannot. Elrohir is his mirror, his other half. What would his life be like without him.. Well done. I could not stop my tears when Namo said: Elrohir looked up at Námo again, and slowly lowered his hand. “I cannot,” he said regretfully. “I cannot join you yet. There are those who love me – I cannot abandon them.” Námo’s thought fluttered all around him again. “Families survive even this loss, little one.” Yes families can survive it, but at what cost. No I am glad Elrohir in the end rather endured pain then being with Namo. A wonderful chapter again. Thank you. Author Reply: I cannot imagine what would happen to either twin if the other died, but while it's interesting to speculate - as in this chapter - I couldn't do it to them. I'm glad, in an odd sort of way, that you cried over the scene with Elrohir and Námo. I wanted it to be moving, and an extremely hard choice for Elrohir :( | |
| LKK | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/15/2004 |
| I will do what I can to ease your way – but you may yet join me again soon. I get nervous when I hear a vala say things like that. :( Perhaps it was pure selfishness that drove him now, but he had to try. Was it selfish for Elladan to try and bring Elrohir back? Perhaps. But ultimately the decision to return was Elrohir's alone. Elladan gave him a chance to make the decision. It was Elrohir who decided to take the chance. But then there are Namo's omninous words. I certainly hope that Elladan doesn't have to go through such an experience again so soon. Too funny that both Elrond and Thranduil have the same saying about their sons' stubbornness. Personally, I think it's an inherited trait. :) Author Reply: Well, Elrohir has survived for now - but he's still in a bad way. Perhaps it will be third time lucky for Námo - he gets to keep Elrohir next time ;) The next few days will be hard for both twins, and I'm making no promises about eventual survival. Is the stubborness inherited? It must be. And I seem to remember that the twins' grandfather Celeborn is somehow related to Thranduil - it's definitely inherited! | |
| Nikara | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/10/2004 |
| Very nice chapter. I'm glad that our boy decided to come back, at least for now. I have no doubt that Elrond is already on his way! Author Reply: Well, I couldn't leave him dead, could I? He's still alive at the moment, and Elrond is coming as fast as he can. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/10/2004 |
| This story is doing my nerves no good at all. What a tense chapter! The beginning of this chapter just about broke my heart. I hadn’t thought about the fact that Elladan might accept the fact that his brother was gone. To see him cradling Elrohir and saying his farewell was just so sad. And oh, the relief when he realises that he might be able to do something and sets about trying to resuscitate Elrohir. His desperation really came across, even as his training took over. That scene with Elrohir and Námo was just amazing. I like the thought that as long as he didn’t enter he was free to choose. “Families survive even this loss, little one.” There’s something very moving about that statement. Obviously the words are meant to reassure the one who has passed on and in a way they do but it still paints quite a poignant picture. The comparison to Elrond and Elros is interesting. I wouldn’t want to think less of Elrond’s grief but I guess it is true that they wouldn’t have been as close. At any rate, they were parted for so long before Elros died that they had learned to live separate lives. I’d forgotten about the first time Elrohir “turned away” from Námo – he almost died at birth in another of your stories, didn’t he? Or did die but was brought back, I think. I’m glad that when Elrohir does return here it’s with a feeling of Námo’s love for him. Like I said before, I really do like your depiction of Námo. I had thought of him as cold more so than gentle – I think because of Tolkien saying he wasn’t moved to pity – but this really makes sense. I’m still worried about Elrohir, though! I’m glad he doesn’t seem to be in such agony any more but how frightening it must be to see him so pale and still. So Elrond and Celebrian are on their way? They must be absolutely frantic. I feel bad for Calmacil too. I’ve always liked him as a character but I seem to recall him feeling guilty when Legolas’ mother and sister died, when Legolas was injured, and probably other times too. Imagine if the son of Elrond died while in his care, even though it would be no fault of his. At least they all seem to have taken it upon themselves to look after Elladan as well as much as he’ll allow them. His suffering is so painful to see. *sigh* Amazing chapter. As usual, my stomach is in knots after it – but that’s a good sign! :-) Author Reply: Thank you - I love such wonderful, long, detailed reviews! Poor Elladan - he had been fearing Elrohir's death all along, so at first thought 'that's it', but then realised he could at least try something. Let's hope it's enough - Elrohir is still in a bad way. I'm glad you liked the encounter with Námo - writing a Vala wasn't easy! You're right about Elrohir's first meeting with him - Elrond brought him back that time, and and the overload of healing energy is why Elrohir's a better healer than his brother. Neither of them know about that, though, at this stage. Poor Calmacil - he's very nearly as good as Elrond, but no-one can do much about spider bites, just hope. And use a bit of twin-bond magic. PS - Don't get me wrong, but I'm glad your nerves and stomach are in knots after reading this! | |
| DeepBlueSomething | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/10/2004 |
| Wow! That was really powerful! I liked the idea that Elrohir came back because he heard his brother calling him through their bond. The part where Elladan didn't notice Thranduil coming to visit was just the right amount of humour inserted into a tense scene. Something tells me Elrohir is going to have a very long, painful recovery. I look forward to all the future angst in this story. Author Reply: The main reason Elladan didn't notice Thranduil was because I didn't write that scene - then realised that of course he would have come to check on Elrohir straight away! It seemed reasonable that Elladan simply didn't see him. And of course the twins' bond was why Elrohir came back. He didn't want to be alone any more than Elladan did. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/10/2004 |
| This is a real roller coaster (and I hate roller coasters - they make me feel sick). Good for Elladan - healing and twin-bonding in one. And Elrohir knowing that he couldn't leave Elladan to grieve and die, or abandon his parents. (The 'you've turned away from death before' comment - a reference to the circumstances surrounding his birth?) Elrond and Celebrian's arrival - they will have little hope for Elrohir, I expect, and are probably desperate to stop Elladan following him. Legolas is a good friend - providing just the kind of support Elladan needs by instinct. I'm not surprised Elladan didn't notice Thranduil - he is far too bound up in Elrohir's struggle. Calmacil not drugging Elladan's drink is not a good sign, really. It shows that he is not really expecting Elrohir to last much longer and wants Elladan to be there to make his farewells. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed. (And counting on the fact that both twins turn up to support Aragorn somewhere down the line!) Author Reply: I've mentioned before that Elrohir is a stronger natural healer than his brother (another result of his brush with Námo at birth, and the healing from Elrond), but Elladan is still gifted. The healing AND their bond - how could he fail? At this stage, the twins don't know what happened when Elrohir was born, so Námo's remark puzzled him. I realised I hadn't shown Thranduil visiting Elrohir, but he wouldn't have ignored them, so explained it this way. Calmacil does think Elrohir may well die, but not drugging Elladan just shows how ethical he is, and that he lets Elladan make his own decisions. But as he said, if he did knock him out, and Elrohir promptly died, he would never forgive himself, either. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/10/2004 |
| I have known it, their bond will Elladan help to call him back. It is very brave for Elrohir to go back to the pain for the sake of his brother. I love the way how you have described Elrohir's encounter with Námo. He was so gentle and understanding. Of course I know you want reviews, and sometimes I have a bad conscience. But I am German, and although I can read English quite well, it is still difficult to write in a foreign language. But I will try to write more reviews. Author Reply: Your review is better written than some from people who speak English as a first language - so well done. I admit, I do love reviews, so thank you for taking the extra trouble to write in English. Of course, their twin bond was what brought Elrohir back - how could they be parted? | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/9/2004 |
| One could say that coma is marginally better than death, I suppose. There's nothing to do but wait now. Elladan should probably grab some sleep, seeing as how he can't do anything else. I suspect that, if he puts the cot nearby, he'll know when Elrohir wakes up. Námo seems awfully patient with Elrohir. It must seem to him like Elrohir is acting like one of those cats who decides, on the coldest day of the year, that their absolutely favorite place to be is half in and half out of an open door. But that speech “This is the second time you have turned away from me, little one. . . Remember, there will always be a place for you here.” does sound ominous. You don't want to jerk Námo around too many times. It does seem as though Námo's argument concerning Elrond and Elros is faulty in one respect: Elros chose the path that would lead to his death, he chose it with open eyes, and he chose it five hundred years before it happened. None of these conditions apply to the current set of twins. When was CPR invented? Are we assuming here that someone has invented it in the past and taught it to Elladan, or is this one of those stories where someone has a Flash Of Insight and CPR is invented right then and there? Author Reply: I expect Elladan will doze while sitting with Elrohir, but he won't lay down on that bed yet. I loved your comment about Elrohir being like a cat! Both my cat and dog do that trick. But time means nothing to Námo, I think, so Elrohir can take as long as he likes to decide. As for Elrond and Elros, Elros still died, leaving Elrond behind, even though the circumstances were different, and they were already further apart. As for CPR - I think it would be a technique known to elvish healers, and Elrond would certainly have taught it to his sons. | |
| Lianna | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/9/2004 |
| Oh, poor Elladan. For him to think that he is to blame because of his incomplete understanding and control over his visions is just terrible. But it's entirely understandable. I think that anyone in his situation would feel the same way. How funny, though, that even in the midst of all this angst, Elladan is afraid that Calmacil had drugged his drink. Elrond really has to break his habit of sedating people without their knowledge or consent. He's giving healers a bad name! Author Reply: I remembered what Galadriel said about her mirror in FOTR - it is dangerous as a guide to deeds, and what it shows may not come to pass. So it's impossible for Elladan to understand the visions, even though in the past they have come true (The Search). Author Reply: I'm replying to your review on aff.net about Conception Day Gifts - don't know how else to contact you. I'm relieved you like it - at first I thought it was another 'how could you do this!?' comment. It's a stand-alone fic, not connected at all to anything else (though their backgrounds are similar), so don't worry about the discrepancies. BTW, I wrote it before 'Along Came A Spider'. I'm writing Ch 4 as fast as I can! | |