News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| The Heir Apparent by Mirkwoodmaiden | 6 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 5/22/2021 |
| Mirkwoodmaiden, I hope you are fine! What a chapter! It is so understandable how Elrond feels to let Estel go on his first journey and into possible danger on the way. He feels as a loving, worried father feels to let his son go, to let him grow. And it speaks of love that he will let him go all the same. And Gilraen too, how high a price she pays. But Estel is ready, and it is time and they know it. I love the sword-giving ceremony. And all his loved ones were there and so proud of him. I absolutely loved the inscription in sindarin. How meaningful! It gave me shivers. I was hoping he would meet with Erithain when they travelled north. And it really happened. I'm so glad! But it is really hard for the man to not be allowed to tell him who he is and how much he missed the boy. I can only guess what intense emotions Erithain is going through. I hope a great friendship will grow between them and that one day he will be able to tell him. Have a great weekend! Author Reply: Nurayy!! So happy that you are forging ahead in this story! It is hard for Elrond to see his young charge growing up. Not only does he raise to be the Heir of Isildur but also he loves him as his own son. Which is makes everything much harder, Elrond knows he must. I labored hard and actually constructed the Sindarin inscription on Estel's blade myself! I thought about how Aragorn will eventually wield Anduril and if he should have another sword of special meaning and I decided that he did indeed a sword of his own. "Elladan, noticing the boy’s discomfiture, immediately introduced Erithain. “Estel, this is Erithain he is captain of the band of Rangers who came to our aid and has been a friend of mine for many a year.” " I don't know if you caught this but I will mention it. Elladan introducing Erithain as his friend mirrors when Erithain is introducing Elladan and Elrohir to a two-year old Aragorn. Thanks again for reading! Hope you are well! ((hugs)) MM SIDENOTE: "Estel apprehensively lifted the spoonful of broth to his mouth under the watchful eye of both twins. An indescribable taste spread across his tongue and he had to quell his first instinct to spit it out, only because his beloved, but obviously culinarily challenged, oldest brother was looking on, expectant. “Mmmm!” he managed to voice without opening his mouth and swallowed the vile concoction down in a sacrificing show of filial love." Do you recognise this description? Think Two Towers extended edition when Éowyn is giving Aragorn that dreaded stew. I couldn't help but include this little scene. Poor Aragorn! Destined to eat disgusting food as not to give offense! :-) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/4/2020 |
| I rejoice that Erithain and Estel are remaking the connection uncle and little nephew once knew. And the answer the man gave the youth was just right. I, too, have Estel going on his first patrol with the twins at fifteen. Author Reply: Larner! Thank you for taking the time to write! It just seemed like time for Estel to step outside the boundaries of Imladris though he certainly had a time convincing Elrond and his Naneth. What is the title of your story about Estel? MM | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/9/2005 |
| Excellent descriptions of the battle and the reunion with his uncle. And I love the blessing--I, too, had Elrond swearing Aragorn only to draw his weapons at need. Author Reply: I try hard to make the battle scenes read well, so I'm happy that you think they came across successfully! Yeah!! About the blessing I thought it was important to have some sort of ceremony commemorating Estel's coming of age and that it is stated that Aragorn is not to wreck havoc, but to bring justice. Also I thought it was important to bring Erithain back the story before Aragorn returned to the Dunedain, so that Aragorn would have a real connection to the Dunedain and not just a one that is only spoken of. Glad that you are still reading the story and enjoying it! MM | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/7/2004 |
| I really enjoyed this chapter! My heart went out to Estel. The questions he asks must have been weighing on his mind for some time and yet he is so aware that in asking them he might cause Elrond pain. You did a truly fantastic job with the emotions in that scene. As bad as I felt for Estel, I felt equally so for Elrond. Of course, he knew this day would come but that wouldn’t make it any easier. His reluctance and sorrow really came across very well. It must have been so difficult to try to give Estel a heritage to claim, without saying too much. I was quite moved too by the little mentions of Gilraen. Even more than the loss of her beloved husband, it was the fact that she had to keep his memory from her son that always seemed to grieve her and it seems that this burden hasn’t grown lighter over the years. I suppose it makes sense too that she would really see what is missing from her son’s life as he grows older and needs an identity of his own in this place where he is loved but will always be different. How hard it must have been for Elrond to hear Estel reciting his history lesson when these are people that he himself knew, events whose repercussions are still felt and more than that, a vital part of Estel’s own story. Estel is so *young* to be going off to the north like that! But I can’t blame him for wanting to learn a little of where he came from as well as to prove himself. I do love your take on the little snippets of canon that Tolkien gives us! The gifts and the blessing were beautifully done. Did you invent all of that? It absolutes resonates with depth and meaning. And it’s lovely to think that Estel leaves for his first warrior trip with the love and respect of his family. The fact that the elves are sworn to protect Estel and that he is utterly oblivious really drives home how important he is not just to Elrond but in the role he will one day play. And it speaks volumes of how much the rest of the elves respect Elrond’s word and recognise the significance of this boy in their midst. I had to laugh at the cooking scene! Poor Elladan. They’re so good to him but I somehow think he won’t be too happy if he ever finds out that he was kept in the dark! “There is a special bond between those two. I cannot bear to think what would happen to one, if the other should come to harm, or worse.” Ouch. That wasn’t you being ominous, now was it??! My heart was in my mouth for the battle scene! He did very well, though. And Erithain is there! I was wondering if we’d ever see him again and I’m so, so happy that we did. What a shock it must have been to him, though. I completely understand his anger at the fact that his nephew has no knowledge of his family or heritage. I think that would have been my first reaction as well. He’s just as loyal and selfless as always, though, in abiding by Elrond’s wishes. I loved the notion that there’s still some connection between the two. I had tears in my eyes when Erithain explains to Estel about not becoming accustomed to killing. He spoke in such a loving and reassuring way, almost as a father would. Your lines “That kind of bond never leaves the soul even if it has left the conscious memory. So in some portion of Estel’s soul the memory of love for his uncle lived” are a beautiful way of expressing it. This chapter was fantastic. I’m getting really excited now at what might be coming! Sorry again for the slow reviews; I hope they make sense now that I’ve finally got around to them because it’s rather late and my bed is beckoning! I can’t believe you’re 12 chapters into this story – I’m still completely gripped by it and eagerly look forward to more! :-) Author Reply: Dot! Hello! I really enjoy writing Elladan and Elrohir! They are too much fun! I thought it would be amusing if Elladan, this beautiful and bright elf, could have this flaw of being "culinarily challenged." The Gift-giving and the Blessing are both my creation. I did borrow the Blessing from my short story about Legolas "The Gift". I figured it was all right to borrow from myself and it really fit well into the story! MM | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/7/2004 |
| I've often wondered about that time before Aragorn was 20 when he rode out on "deeds of errantry" with Elladan and Elrohir. He was amazingly young to do it, but I guess men were expected grow up quickly. He does need to learn about the people he will lead. He can't be a good king unless he does. Author Reply: Daw! I agree that Estel is very young to be going out and about, but that's written in the Appendices to LOTR. Also, thinking about it, any 15-year-old is going to be restless and the inquisitive, curious child that I painted Estel to be would never settle for pat answers. Elrond had to do something, going out on patrol gives Estel a purpose and it's serves the purpose of giving the boy knowledge without letting too much knowledge out. Thanks for reading and reviewing! MM | |
| grumpy | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/7/2004 |
| great chapter. So brave and wise of Elrond to let Estel go at such a young age. He was walking a fine line , what to tell him and what not. Loved the blessing of the elves at the coming of age for Estel. Elladan and his cooking had me laughing. Glad to see Erithain again, glad he was there to see Estel again after his first battle. looking forward to more Author Reply: Thanks Grumpy! I wanted to see find a way to work Erithain back into the story because I grew very fond of him, but for secrecy's sake I did not think that I could bring him into Rivendell. I figured a secret as important as Aragorn's existence had to have no word leaked. Glad you liked the story! Yeah! MM | |