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Partings by Bodkin	8 Review(s)
Marnie	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/21/2004
Goodness! How do you manage to write so fast? I can't keep up with you! This was a lovely chapter. I suppose it doesn't take much guessing to realize this was my favourite bit: He looked down from the wall contemplating this land of men, tall, his silver hair lustrous in the sunlight, an imposing figure, like a hero of legend, bright and pure and deadly, his eyes filled with the experience of the ages. Beside him stood his granddaughter, slighter, as dark as he was fair, but beautiful as a star-kissed night, her hair studded with sparkling jewels, gowned in blue silk the shade of the sky just after sunset. Because I loved Arwen and Celeborn's chat. I was really pleased that she got her due as being someone who had been raised to rule a realm. I think you're right, it'll be Arwen who pulls the kingdom together and teaches Aragorn how to be king. So many partings! I'm glad that Elrond and Aragorn didn't end up estranged, as could so easily have happened. This really brought home to me what a terrible period, personally, it was for the elves - the cost of the victory for them. Fascinating! Author Reply: No, I'm not altogether surprised that you liked that bit! Despite his time as Thorongil, I don't really think Aragorn was terribly well prepared for the nitty-gritty of being a king - he spent too much timing running around in the wild on his own far too far from bathing facilities. And even as a fighter - he had directed smaller groups of fighters that responded to events, rather than directing armies and considering overall strategy. I think that, about two to five years in to being king, Aragorn might well have gone through some dreadful personal crisis when he realised how dependent he was on Arwen and Faramir - and how much he hated the monotony of sitting in Council and listening to petitions. I don't think Elrond would have wanted to leave them in bitterness, no matter how sad he was - and that he probably had a better idea of just how fated this had been. It's one of the things that makes Lord of the Rings so interesting to play with - nothing is simplistic, it's all multi-layered - every happy outcome spawns misery for someone.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/19/2004
such a good chapter, I needed lots of kleenex's for this one. Celeborn and Galadriel are such wise elves. So glad that Aragorn and Elrond talked. They needed to clear the air. loved the conversations between Celeborn and Arwin, and Galadriel telling Aragorn that it could have been Arwin taking care of him when he was young. looking forward to the next chapter Author Reply: I think it must have been quite difficult for Arwen to deal with Aragorn's feelings of guilt - and he probably kept his distance from Elrond because he felt bad about what their marriage would do to him, which would have made Elrond feel even worse. (I think growing up with Arwen as a substitute mother and knowing that she had changed his dirty bottom and scrubbed his teeth and combed the tangles from his hair would have been a real passion killer.) This is such a sad division, because they have no hope of reconciliation while the world lasts.

SharonB	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/18/2004
Ah, even moe ... this is still great. I'm glad that Galadriel seems more at peace with her decision. But every body feels bad because not everyone they love will go with them or stay with them. In some cases cannot stay ... G & E that is. It's true that both Aragorn adn Arwen are outsiders to Gondor and how right you are that Aragorn may chafe under the protocol of Gondor. Wise indeed is Celeborn to tell Arwen for then to spek to each other of all things so they can suppor each other and find thier place leading the White City. I'm glad you like the analogy of lyrics I quoted for chapter 1. If you are interested it's the first song off an album called Strange Times the Moodies put out in 1999. The theme of the album was about time and change and the coming milleninum. So it does sort of relate to the idea of Partings since it is the change of the 3rd to the 4th age. If you think there are more pieces to this story please do finish them up and post them. Thank you. Author Reply: I think Galadriel is good at hiding how she feels - except from Celeborn - and she is working at easing the parting for A&A and Elrond. The more you think about this aspect of their separation, the more horrible it is. Arwen has been trained by her mother and Galadriel to be not just a lady but a Lady - she knows how to run households / realms, even though they are of the elven variety, and I think she would pick up the traditions of Gondor quite quickly. She knows who to listen to and how to delegate. Aragorn could, I think, be absolutely hopeless at it. He has always done everything himself, either on his own or with a small group of companions. Once the drama of battle and coronation is over (and the reward - the wedding), he is going to find the day to day business of kingship terminally dull. And he will hate being chased around by people all wanting to do things for him - and wanting him to grant honours, lands, trade concessions etc to them. He will need Arwen and Faramir to help him cope. And probably lots of very fast gallops away from the city so he can breathe fresh air. Thanks for the information about the album - I'll look for it. I like an old song called 'Forever Autumn' which is, I think, Justin Hayward. I was going to move to the grey ship next - but Rikki said that the twins should have their own section - which immediately got my mind going, so they will be next. This started with a simple cast of two and it is growing enormously!

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2004
"His princess, his Evenstar, his Luthien, his hostage to fate, his gift to the new age... ...tall, his silver hair lustrous in the sunlight, an imposing figure, like a hero of legend, bright and pure and deadly, his eyes filled with the experience of the ages. " Such brilliant descriptions. Wow! Excellent job. I love the closure you give to Elrond, Arwen, and Aragorn. Very well done. Author Reply: Thank you. I'm really happy you like the descriptions. I like to think that Elrond, Arwen and Aragorn managed to come to an understanding that there was no happy ending that would suit everyone - and that they needed to accept each other's choices and make the best of a happiness that would come with grief attached.

rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2004
Wow! What a lovely but bittersweet story. I love reading all your stories, your ability to paint a broad landscape with just a simple description or thought is always enjoyable. It seems that everyone has accepted what they can not change and yet the final sharing words have not been spoken. It was a loving goodbye present that Galandriel gave to Arwen by talking to Aragorn - making him see that Elrond had never stopped loving him and Arwen because of their choices. The bittersweet part for me was the last paragraph where Elrond sees he must talk to Arwen. "She needed to know he understood. Although Estel had not been able to put it into words, she needed to know that he loved her, that he accepted her decision and that he would let her go. He could do that. He must. If he had to sail to join her naneth, leaving their daughter to die a mortal death, the least he could do was to leave Arwen secure in the knowledge that the bonds of love would hold them beyond time and distance until the final day when the world would be remade and they would be reunited." I do hope that you have at least one more chapter to add to this as the only two family members you have not included are the twins. Author Reply: Thank you. I think they all needed to acknowledge that they accepted each other's decision - everyone is rather inclined only to see their own sides. Aragorn was so immersed in his own guilt that he couldn't see that Elrond, too, felt guilty. I hadn't thought about doing a special twins' chapter, but now you come to mention it. . . - that makes you responsible for chapter 3!

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2004
Wow! You have done it again. There are a lot of 'last moments of Arwen and Elrond' stories out there and many of them are very good. But this is incredible. I read most of these because they always touch me. I don't remember many that included all the possible elements--Celeborn and Galadriel along with Elrond dealing with Aragorn too. You captured every angle of this--how each person was affected by that one simple personal choice and exactly how they must have seen it and reacted to it. I absolutely love it. Such a tragic decision but, as you showed, one destined to lay a smooth path for the Age of Men. Arwen Peredhel and Aragorn the Dunedian would have needed each other's strengths to lead Gondor successfully I think. Celeborn would understand their love having seen Luthien and would probably have seen the importance of their union given his years of wisdom. As would Elrond and Galadriel. But it would still be such a wrenching decision that would produce all the emotions you describe. Such a good analysis and portrayal of it. I just loved this. Please continue this if this is what we can expect! Author Reply: Goodness - thank you. It's an impossible situation really - especially because of the different fates of the mortal and immortal. Yes, I don't think seventy odd years as a Ranger, even with part of it as Thorongil, is a terribly good preparation for a century of being king of a very formal society. Arwen (and Faramir) would have been essential to see him through the early years. I hadn't really thought much about the Luthien angle until Marnie's latest piece, but, having seen that blow up into disaster, Celeborn would have a very strong reason to do his best to support Arwen. There's probably more - though less painful, since most of the others can expect to be reunited.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2004
This was lovely, Bodkin, especially the ending. I loved Elrond thinking of Arwen as his gift to the new age. How fortunate that Galadriel and Celeborn were able to help these two reconcile with Elrond. Author Reply: Thank you. I can't help but feel that Galadriel and Elrond knew what would happen - and they had a good while to accustom themselves to the situation. I can see Aragorn chockful of guilt about dividing Arwen from her family, but I feel that Elrond also felt guilty for leaving when he did. They needed to acknowledge each other's pain - or Arwen would have felt torn between them. It's an impossible situation really.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/17/2004
What a lovely tale to read on a Sunday morning, Bodkin! Very bittersweet. The sadness from all is so perfectly explained, but also the inevitability of Arwen loving Aragorn. I loved Galadriel's idea for preventing it - Few men fall in love with those who have changed them when they were wet and insisted that they ate their greens. I also liked Arwen's request that Celeborn take E2 with him when he eventually sailed - which, of course, we know he managed. Jay Author Reply: Thank you! I do think that if Arwen had been responsible for raising Aragorn, their love would have been less likely - it's a bit hard to get sentimental over grubby little boys putting tadpoles in your water and frogs in your bed. And those boys probably aren't likely to go google-eyed over someone (even a beautiful elven lady) who has scrubbed the dirt from their faces and nagged at them for ripping their clothes. Those final years must have been very painful for all concerned, especially for those who couldn't comfort themselves with the knowledge that they would meet again. And of course Celeborn took the twins - anyone capable of managing Galadriel could manage the sons of Elrond!

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