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Eärendil’s Tale by Bodkin	12 Review(s)
lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/29/2005
I believe this story's first chapter began right after things here really fell apart. When chapter 5 came out, I had to look back to remember the story (I've kept up, but just couldn't seem to review). But after reading 5, I've decided this is too good not to review, so I'm gonna catch up! :-) I have to say that I know just how Elrond feels...thinking if I can just close my eyes none of this will be happening. That says so much about Elrond's past. It would be hard to get reacquainted with the mother and father that knowingly abandoned you...even if it was for the good of the world (and in Elwing's case, the safety of the twins). But Elrond does a good job of finally deciding to put his insecurities behind...that was when he really and truly put away childish things and became an adult! And I found myself feeling really sorry for Earendil...the Valar didn't give him any choice about returning to his family. Very sad, not only for them, but him, too! The description of the fight with Ancalagon (Elrond's first "bedtime story" from his father) was amazing! Is Earendil going to relate any more of these great stories???? ;-) This was a wonderful beginning, full of the hesitations and sadness and bitterness and regret one would expect at such a time...and poor Elwing is at home waiting to see if her son will reject her! sniff Again, very sad. But the ending is perfect...and upbeat, too. One can hope that things will finally work out for this family who has given so much and from whom so much has been taken throughout the Ages. "We are a very special family...Disregard us at your peril." Yes, indeed! linda Author Reply: It probably helps you to put your insecurities aside when you are over 6000 years old and you know that you have until the end of days to work on them. But Elrond is essentially a very kind-hearted person - when I think what it must have cost him to act as a foster father to Isildur's heirs over hundreds of years - knowing he was taking these boys and educating them to grow up and old and be replaced by the next generation, yet still to care for them all. Taking Aragorn when he was so young must have been even harder - I can see there would have been a relief in seeing him come to kingship, were it not for the fact that Elrond then lost his daughter to Aragorn and mortality. In fact, all Elrond's family (and most of the other elves, come to that) had a pretty raw deal. Earendil and Elwing seem particularly badly off: they were only about 30 when the sons of Feanor arrived and they were divided from their sons - and then they were stuck with what sounds grand until you think about Elwing in a White Tower on the edge of nowhere flying out to greet Earendil as he returned from sailing the night sky. EVERY night? For two ages? And who was there with them? What interaction did they have with other elves? From the sound of it, not much. But they are a special family - and they are strong. I'm sure they will work out their difficulties.

Siorah	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/7/2005
Wow! Terrific Story. Pleas continue it. Siorah Author Reply: Thank you! I'm already most of the way through the next bit - so there will be more. I hope you continue to enjoy it.

Bejai	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/7/2005
Oh, nice Bodkin! I sure do love your stories, and I'm a sucker for Valinor reunion stories. What a wonderful meeting! Appropriately tense, with a kind of hope and despair on both sides. I hope they get a chance to tell one another their stories, and learn to know each other better. pokes you, wanting more Author Reply: Thank you. If you like Valinor reunion, the next bit might be to your taste, too. It's just more or less written itself - on the way to stories of Earendil's adventures.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
I'm late in reading this. Sorry, I didn't see the email notification. Wow, Bodkin. There is so much in this. Elrond behaves exactly as I would expect him to. He has seen too much and lived too long to hold grudges and I can't see that. But the little touches like, "He felt a wrench when he realised that, after all this time, he still cared more for Maglor than for the adar before him.." That is one strong statement and it would surely be true. And: It seemed – odd, to say the least, to see his sons so plainly in the adar he knew by name only. How sad, that struck me. And the realization that Eärendil has no hope of knowing Elros. That is truly sad. I liked the battle description. To me it seemed to underline how separate they were since that is what Elrond remembers seeing. But at least he had that. In that part, I particularly like the line:‘They never mention in the tales, do they, that heroism is in facing peril and death despite your fears. So true, as I imagine Elrond knows all too well. But this:If your adar cannot be with you,’ Eärendil said ironically, ‘at least you can boast of his peculiarities. Consorting with the Valar, fighting dragons in a flying ship, sailing the sky as a star. Not to mention a naneth who can put on feathers and fly.’ ‘We are a very special family,’ Elrond grinned. ‘Disregard us at your peril.’ is perfect. Great lines! I definitely would like to see more of this. What challenge it would be. I hope you take it on. Author Reply: Elrond has had a rough life in many ways - but I think Earendil and Elwing have had a tough time as well. I'm not sure that spending your time sailing the night sky, or sitting waiting in a tower and flying out to meet him each morning is much of a way to spend two ages. I hope they are not as isolated as they sound. I think children care most deeply for those who care for them when they're small - and Elrond scarcely knew Earendil and then Elwing was torn away from them in a very traumatic way - and Maglor and Gil-Galad seem to have shared the parenting of Elros and Elrond. I'm glad you would like to see some more, because they pinned me down and made me write the next bit - which will be along soon.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
When I mentioned in another review how odd it must be to have such legendary figures in your family tree, I hadn't thought of actually being reunited with them! What an unusual, awkward meeting that must have been. I do feel that Earendil and Elwing abandoned their young sons, but I suppose in the end they really didn't have a choice. Poor Earendil, and poor Elrond. Earendil, though, still has the pleasure of meeting his grandsons to come, and the slightly more dubious pleasure of eventually seeing his great-granddaughters (and taking them sailing!) Jay Author Reply: So many of them really had no real choice - I suppose the inevitability of sorrow and loss in the pursuit of the greater good is one of the things that makes the Elves so darn noble. I suppose it is a typical mother/father divide, but I can see Earendil sailing off in search of salvation, but I find it much harder to see why Elwing didn't just chuck the Silmaril in the sea and say 'you want it that bad, you go and swim for it. Now give me my sons.' Although, of course, that wouldn't have worked with the Plot. But then I don't see being stuck in a White Tower, or spending every night for two ages sailing your ship - on your own - across the night sky, with that *** Silmaril stuck on your head as being much of a reward for risking your life and your children's happiness and asking the Valar to come to the aid of Middle Earth. I feel Elrond would be aware of a terrible loneliness and grief in Earendil and Elwing and have a need to take them into his care - a bit of Half-Elven solidarity. Earendil has a while to wait before meeting E2 and still longer before the elflings arrive - I see this reunion as taking place before E2 Thranduil, Glorfindel and Celeborn sailed.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
I enjoyed this first chapter and I would like to read more about how they get to know each other. They have a lot to catch up on and share with each. Author Reply: Oh good. Thank you for your encouragement. Earendil and Elrond need to learn about each other. And, for a lore master, there cannot be much more tempting than to learn about the adventures of the Mariner from his own mouth! By the time Earendil has told him all about the last couple of ages, they will have spent enough time together to be friends and fellow half-elves, if not a loving father/son.

Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
Oh, excellent. I am certain Earendil has marvelous tales to tell his son! :-) The tense meeting of father and son was nicely done. Author Reply: Thank you. I certainly hope he has! It must have been a difficult moment - it's a shame that Elwing chickened out of this first meeting, but perhaps Earendil thought it would be better to test the waters first. I think there will be more stories to come. Earendil is looking for an audience for some of those episodes that make Elwing sigh, roll her eyes and say, 'You've only told me that one about a thousand times!'

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
The notion that Elrond cares more for Maglor than Earendil just tore my heart out, but I can see it happening. Children love those who care for them, and from little Elrond's and Elros's pov, their parents abandoned them. It's a decision that I find hard to accept and I wasn't their child. Elrond is quite generous here to forgive like this. Author Reply: I think that Elrond looks on Gil-Galad more as his father, but Maglor is definitely up there. After all, he spent longer looking after Elros and Elrond than Earendil ever did. Maybe Elwing has a bigger place in his memory - but her care of them must have been shadowed by her loss and the trauma of the Kinslaying. I find I can't admire the Silmarils - they seem far too tainted with obsession and greed. And poor Earendil got stuck with one! Elrond is generous - and wise. After 6000 years or so, he has probably had time to come to terms with his parents's decision.

SharonB	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
Oh good, "in progress" means there is more to come in this story. I can imagine that both Elrond and Earendil would feel awkward at first. It has been so long and how much, really how little, Elrond rememebrs of him probably did produce a large gulf between them. And to know how to act when intellectually you know what had to be done was done but emotionally you hate such things having happened is such a burden. Elrond was very gracious in opening that door of understanding. I'm sure his having been reunited with Celebrian helped strengthen him to this task. Sigh, next you have to bring Elwing back to meet her lost family. ;-) Author Reply: I have a feeling that Elrond would end up feeling that Earendil needed his care - I think Earendil and Elwing are very lonely and isolated. The philosophy of the Last Homely House would persuade Elrond to overcome two ages of division. And, in a way, Elrond and Elros received parental care - first from Maglor and then Gil-Galad, whereas Earendil and Elwind have spent all the intervening years grieving for the loss of their sons with no-one to console them. There should be more to come - Elrond, the lore master, really wants to know the stories that Earendil can tell him. By the time they have all talked themselves out, they should all be much better acquainted. And, if not parent/child, they should become friends and fellow half-elves.

sqrt(-1)	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/6/2005
Yay! Another story by Bodkin! I'm a bad reader and don't often review, but I really like your version of the elves in the Blessed Realm. I'll look forward to any updates on this story as I do to updates on your others. Author Reply: Thank you - I'm flattered. I think there will be more - some ideas are floating around rather. Earendil has lots of stories to tell about his voyages across and above the world. And Elrond needs to spend some time with his mother!

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