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| An Unexpected Meeting by Bodkin | 4 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/15/2004 |
| How sad that her son would not forgive her. That really tear me up. I like the way her message was sent by a song. That seems elfy. Author Reply: It would be difficult to deal with that kind of abandonment, really. And he had always been the one to go off and do things, while she was always there at home waiting for them all to come back. Plus, as a male, he may have been less aware of some of the more subtle aspects of life as a female. And there had to be some reason why they didn't write. Considering they didn't. A song did seem an elfy way of sending reassurance, whilst allowing real communication to lapse. Next chapter: how to get through 960 years in one go. H'mm. Author Reply: 940. ish. | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2004 |
| Sadder and sadder, naturally. The departure of Mithrellas was so difficult to read. Wonderful that she got to see her daughter and grandchildren again. Wonderful that her daughter understood and her husband saw after her safety--which given her history, he naturally would. I liked her discomfort at going home and facing Galadriel and Celeborn. I can definitely see that. But the part I liked the most was the mithril circlet with sapphires that she saw again at Arwen's wedding. It gave me hope that no matter how much her son did not understand her decision to leave, no matter that her presence was denied by him, he did not completely discard her--the family still had that. Very emotional chapter. swearing on the lives of his entire acquaintance--Great oath. I liked that. She sent word: not a letter, even as Imrazor had asked. They both knew that her departure was a death of sorts and should be treated as such. She had sent him a song – of hidden glades and cool dark pools, of ancient trees stretching up to the sun and timeless love. -- Lovely. Perfect. Author Reply: Gilmith is a) female and b) more elven than Galador. And, as a female in a very militaristic society, she has a better idea than her brother of how Mithrellas's place in that world is very dependent on her role as Imrazor's wife. To outlive him would, I think, put her in a difficult situation and might be harmful to her family - and she wouldn't want that. Imrazor, too, could see that she would be better off leaving while he was still relatively hale rather than waiting until he entered true old age. He was probably surprised, in some ways, that she stayed as long as she did. It would be strange to go back to the life you used to live - but the place brings about the behaviour sometimes - witness how oddly some people conduct themselves when they go back to their parents' home and revert to the teenage. Mithril circlets and songs - just seemed the kind of messages that might arrive from beyond the 'death' of their division. And become heirlooms. I wonder if the song is still sung - with no idea of its origin or the meaning behind it? Thank you for reading. More soon. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2004 |
| Poor Mithrellas :( To have to make her farewells to her family and husband, and to leave Imrazor must have been terrible. It must have been even worse when her son would not understand her need. I like the contrasts between half elf and 3/4 elf children - and that the twins are susceptible to the cold! Jay Author Reply: Mothers are there for sons, not the other way round! He probably hadn't even really considered her point of view - and Imrazor might have been too hurt (and man-like) to want to talk about his own pain. The twins were clearly not less elven in most ways, but they probably had some slightly less elven characteristics - actually, given the lives they lived, feeling the cold would be a terrible nuisance. Living in an elven world, too, any differences would be a disadvantage: feeling the cold, needing more sleep, not being as strong in childhood and so on - but for Galador and Gilmith their elements of elven inheritance would make them stronger. | |
| SharonB | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2004 |
| Oh gee, this one had me sniffling by the end. Parting like that was such a sorrow for all of them. Gilmith knew her mother just as well as Imrazor did. Too bad Galador could not see the reason for what was done. I wonder if he forgave his father either, since he helped in all those arrangements to see Mithrellas back safely. LOL, some of that help long before she even left if letters went back with Curánwen I understand her need to go before Imrazor failed and his wish for her to go. We lived for some time with my father-in-law in very poor health and it's hard for any family member to cope with. With her background it would be even harder for her to accept. Even having lived through it with her own in-laws, to have to see that of your own husband would be many times worse. Lothlorien did seem to help settle Mithrellas and heal her some. But I think running in to her family here before she departs will be good for her too in the long run. Now she can see that both she and Irmazor do still live on in their descendants. And since she has encounted her family they know more of the truth and will remember her and their past better. And it seems you've slipped in that letter wririting theme again too. I will wonder if they were from Glimith or Imrazor. And if she still has any of them as keepsakes. Author Reply: Galador was probably feeling he was angry and resentful on his father's behalf, whereas he was really feeling like an abandoned kid. Anger is so often used as a cover for other emotions. He would have expected his mother always to be there for him - and now she wasn't. I don't know quite how much he would have been told about all the arrangements that had been made. His father might well just have moped back to their home in the woods and just assumed that his son would understand. Imrazor had a much better grasp of why Mithrellas had to leave before his own death. He really didn't want his last years to shadow their love. Lothlorien would be a good place to heal - its aura of unreality would help detach her from mortal worries, but I think it was good for her to say goodbye, too. Well - letter writing. What else could they do in the days before the telephone! And no television to distract them! | |