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Arwen's Heart by Bodkin	16 Review(s)
jules	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/30/2006
Hello Bodkin Read your story as it was posted but haven’t been able to review until now. Love the detail you convey with your writing – you really paint the scene so the reader can visualise it rather than just read the words, yet somehow it doesn’t distract from the flow of the story. Really enjoyed the wordplay between Arwen and Galadriel, with poor Celeborn realising that they’ve started to lose control of the situation despite all their best efforts. Nice sibling camaraderie with the twins, but what comes through most strongly is Arwen’s quiet strength and composure, even though she must have begun to suspect Galadriel had foreseen some terrible doom for her. Author Reply: Thank you! I can get a bit carried away with scene-painting and have to keep an eye on myself there! I think it works OK as long as it doesn't interrupt what's going on. Celeborn should count himself lucky that Galadriel and Arwen love and humour him - but then so should they, because he makes a perfect husband and grandfather. The twins are always good value - and can lighten a mood that has become a trifle too serious, but I'm so pleased that you feel Arwen comes over as strong and composed - and aware of the tug of destiny. I was so fed up with stories that didn't seem to appreciate her as a strong-minded, nearly 3000 year old elf who made her own decisions - and was doubtless instrumental in enabling a ranger from the wild to establish himself in the political cess-pit that was probably post-war Gondor.

viggomaniac	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/26/2006
Came across this last night (although I think I've seen a few of my favorite authors recommend it before) and just finished the first chapter. I love the dynamics here. Arwen, shrewd enough to wonder just why she is being kept from Imladris, Celeborn and Galadriel fearful but resigned to what may be inevitable, the twins' acknowledgment that Estel has brought changes to their lives. Beautiful wording too. Excellently done and I look forward to reading more. Author Reply: Thank you. I started writing this because I was feeling tired of wimpy nonentity Arwen - and wanted to present her as a strong, wise and experienced character who made her own decisions! Galadriel knows what is coming, I think, but Celeborn finds the idea hard to accept at the moment - he has lost his daughter and doesn't want to lose his granddaughter to an even more difficult division. And the twins are always good value! I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/5/2005
I always loved Galadriel's warning to Sam, that the mirror is not a good guide in that often by trying to forestall an event we only make it more certain to occur. And I love that Arwen already realizes she will never come to Aman. So beautifully written. Will have to catch up over the coming days. Author Reply: Thank you. The whole prophesying think is dangerous, really - and, on the whole, I think it's probably better not to be granted glimpses into the future. But the whole family is closely acquainted with the demands of Destiny - with a capital D - and I suspect Arwen must have asked herself a few times just what it was that kept her waiting east of the sea. And all that 'fair as Luthien' stuff must have made her wonder. I felt impelled to start this because I was so sick of a) totally wet Arwen, and b) coming between Aragorn and take-your-choice-of-character Arwen. And it is fun to make more of her point of view.

lindahoyland	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/12/2005
This is very interesting,I like your interpretation of why Arwen was kept at Lothlorien.I always find Elrond's actions mysterious,if Arwen had grown up with Arwen, she would have no doubt seen him a brother.Then Elrond forbids Aragorn to marry any woman rather than just trying to get him to choose another!Poor arwen unable to please herself even at such a vast age ! Author Reply: Thank you. You can't help but get the feeling that, little as he liked it, Elrond was only too aware of the finger of fate prodding them all on in one direction. And I suppose he was genetically adapted into being an emissary of destiny. I am sure that if Arwen had been around to drag a grubby little boy around by the ear and force him to bathe and wash his neck - and then make him complete his study tasks - he would have looked on this vision of beauty as a truly irritating older sister and pulled a revolted face at the idea of ever wanting to do anything yucky like kissing her. But - the fate of Middle Earth demands that she is his lady fair - to whom he can devote himself with such dedication that he can withstand the dangers of some 70 years. (Dangers including pretty Dunedain maidens as well as orcs, despair, loneliness, battles and so on.) But Arwen isn't just Galatea (is that the statue that Pygmalion adored as the perfect woman?) or the doll in Coppelia - she is a very real and very strong elleth, who is aware at some level of the likely outcome.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/1/2005
I just went to review Chapter 2 and realized I hadn't reviewed Chapter 1, so first things first. I really enjoy your exploration of the interplay of foresight and fate. It's intiruging to imagine that Galadriel and Elrond, seeing an undesired outcome, did manage to take an action that ended up making things worse - at least from their perspective. All the characters here are so well-developed and believable. Arwen's deliberate dissection of her grandparents' cover story was so well done. I wouldn't have wanted to watch anyone match wits with Galadriel - but the daughter of Elrond did quite well for herself! But Galadriel's been playing at verbal fencing for far longer - throw an "aha!" at her and she just drops a little one-word conversation-ender: "Precisely." Celeborn's musings are very revealing - his description of the aftermath of Celebrian's departure on Elrond and his sons really emphasized why the entire family viewed Arwen as the one family member who was still untouched by harm and must remain so, at all costs. Baby of the Family syndrome, to an extreme. I liked Arwen's interaction with Elladan and Elrohir and their discussion of Estel. It's nice to think that Estel was a warming influence on the family. I laughed at the comment, "You will have time to put your stamp on him." But dear, that mothering inclination will have to go. I enjoyed the scene with Arwen and Celeborn in the tree, but the revelation that she has long known she would not sail was sad. That must have made her goodbye to her mother even more unbearable, not to mention her relationship with her father, who still expects some day to have his family all together again. What an awful secret to have to keep. This is an exceptionally engaging and thought-provoking, story, Bodkin. Author Reply: Fate is a difficult concept really - because, if it is really fated, then surely any intervention is in itself fated and becomes part of bringing about the necessary outcome. I think that keeping Arwen from Aragorn would have made their romance more likely - though I don't think Elrond would have thought that . . . but Galadriel might have. If anyone can take on Galadriel and stand a chance, it must be her granddaughter. (A skill that will stand the restored King of Gondor in good stead one day.) I'm glad you think the characters are well-developed. Celeborn and Elrond are together in wanting to protect Arwen from all harm - and I suspect her brothers would opt for it too, given the chance. I think that Estel must have been good for the twins - and, yes, much of the mothering will have to find another outlet. Not all, perhaps. He is a man, after all. Every cold will be pneumonia. I think Arwen will have had her own share of foresight - and this seems a likely subject for it. And both she and Celebrian will have suffered terribly in their separation - but possibly been more pragmatic about it than their male relatives. Glad you like it.

grumpy	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/4/2005
Very good story. Love the part where the twins where coming up with the idea of faking the taking of Arwin, just to keep their grandparents on their toes. Also love how they are trying to keep Aragorn and Arwin apart, never knowing if by doing so they are actuall putting them together. If Arwin knew Aragorn as a boy, would she feel different toward him later, or is it just fate. great story. Author Reply: The twins just insist on adding their own wicked humour to serious situations. I think their grandparents might have played along too - they would be very pleased to see their grandsons being a bit more light-hearted, as they were in the good old days before Celebrian was wounded. I think that if Arwen had been involved in caring for the infant Aragorn she would have found it more difficult to look on him as a desirable adult male. And if he was used to her nagging him about the state of his clothes and forcing him into the bath - and scolding him for raiding the kitchens or not doing his lessons, he might well have found her to be just another beautiful elleth rather than the embodiment of his desires. But her grandparents meant well - whatever they thought the outcome might be. Glad you enjoyed it.

bejai	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/4/2005
Ah, Bodkin, have I told you lately how much I adore you? And have I mentioned how in-awe I am of your ability to turn out whole stories in the time I take writing one chapter? And how brilliantly you write these characters and situations? I'd love to go through line by line and tell you how much I enjoyed this! One of the things I like the best about this one is the idea that C&G don't know what actions will bring about what they've seen, and what will prevent it. Ultimately, by keeping Arwen from meeting Aragorn until he was older, I think they were sealing his fate. But how were they to know? Wonderful story, as ever. Author Reply: Thank you, Bejai - your chapters are so much more COMPLEX than any of mine - and so involved with established history. (Why do you think I started off only writing post-4th age stuff in the Blessed Realm?) And I've got far too many stories going at the moment - although the purely frivolous, like Reflections, is not too stressful. If you know exactly how to bring the future about, it would be quite horrific, really - and why would you bring about the things you did not want to happen - like losing your child or your grandchild? But yes, I think keeping Arwen away from the grubby little boy, to whom she was an annoying adult, probably ensured that romance was possible. But what was the intention? Celeborn probably wanted to keep them apart - with well-placed arrows if necessary - but did Galadriel know that Aragorn's bond with Arwen was the only thing that made him willing to endure the trials of kingship? Would she have sacrificed her daughter's child? Don't know. Suspect Celeborn wasn't entirely sure either. I'm glad you liked it.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/3/2005
This was wonderful, Bodkin. The characters are so rich and alive! The language flowed seamlessly. I very much liked the characterization of Galadriel and Celeborn. I could tell that they knew more than they were saying and Arwen knew it too. And we knew that Arwen knows that's something's up, but not exactly what. The line about her not being welcome home with this Dunedain child in residence was just great. She knows there's something about this kid that's important to her, but what, she has no idea. I also really liked the discussion between Celeborn and Galadriel about messing with fate. You really had no idea how to change it and you really couldn't. Celeborn speculated that by keeping Arwen there that they might be playing into the hands of the very fate they wished to avoid. I think he might be right. If Arwen had know Estel as a child, she might not have seen him in the same light as she did when she met him. That could have changed everything. Their relationship would have been established as an adult to a child. That would have been hard to overcome when he grew up. Yep, I'd say that Elrond and his in-laws made a boo-boo. I enjoyed the glimpse of the twins. They did seem to be finding some balance...especially if they were planning devilment. I'm not sure they really meant to do it, as much as they only intended to distract Arwen and amuse her. But you never know. The ending moment with Celeborn was just wonderful. I loved the scene, the conversation and what wasn't said. The strength of their love came through as what would see them through whatever was to come. Gosh, that was nice! I'm very excited to read this first chapter. I hope there are many more to come! Karen Author Reply: I'm blushing. G and C seem to have taken up quite a position in my imagination these days. Arwen knows that they have reasons for everything they do - even if they won't let on what they are. But she's no dumb elleth - she's Celebrian and Elrond's daughter and C and G's granddaughter, and if only she had had long enough, she could have become just as powerful as they were - they weren't going to be able to pull the wool over her eyes entirely. Galadriel's mirror seems to be a two-edged sword - well more than two-edge, actually. She doesn't know if what she is seeing will happen / might happen / won't happen at all - and consequently any action might make precisely what you don't want to happen, come true. Celeborn is determined to protect Arwen - but I think his action only made her fate more likely. If Aragorn had grown from infancy looking on Arwen as the annoying person who made him eat spinach, he would have been much less likely to realise how beautiful she was - and had she had to change his bedding after he had eaten too many green apples, she would never have been able to see him as a gorgeous hunk. Mind you, Estel was definitely good for the twins. A bit like having a puppy. He edged his way through the cracks in their armour and warmed them up again. I think they might have carried out their scheme, given any encouragement - and I think C and G might have let them get away with it. They will have been very pleased to see the spark of mischief relit in their grandsons. I think Celeborn would have been a great father to Celebrian and grandfather to Arwen. He might have been one who was rather more demanding of boys. But a certain Dunedain had better watch it - the Lord of Lothlorien will not give an inch when it comes to his granddaughter. There will be more - I'm not sure how much. I don't think I can face going through to Arwen's end, but you never know.

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/3/2005
I am just awe-struck with the way you have so many stories going all at once...and every one of them is wonderful (not to mention all the previously wonderful stories you've already done!). The idea of this story is very well developed, even in this introductory chapter. And what an interesting subject! I confess at different times I wondered why Arwen stayed away from her father and brothers after the loss of her mother, when her presence might have done much to alleviate some of their grief. This is a plausible explanation, and you have done an excellent job in portraying Celeborn's and Galadriel's efforts to keep her in the dark about things. Celeborn, especially, is well-done here. Such a loving, protective grandfather and his fear for Arwen is barely contained. Their picnic in the tree at the end was one of those scenes that should contain a handkerchief warning. The visit by the twins and their plotting to play a trick on their grandparents was so in-character also, and I was relieved to see a little effort on E2's part at humor. But the interaction between Arwen and her grandparents - amazing. And Arwen's statement that she will never sail...insight? or perhaps just a very intelligent elleth putting 2 and 2 together and getting 4 (given the reports of the new residents under Elrond's care.) An amazing beginning, Bodkin; I look forward to the next chapter of this story (and Earendil's...and E2L...and...). :-) linda Author Reply: Too many stories going at once. (Although I don't really count Reflections, because that's just fun.) They insist on starting with half a page or so and then I'm caught. This one has been hanging round as no more than a wisp of thought for ages - until the twins arrived! I'm really afraid that in his desperation to protect Arwen, Celeborn has actually facilitated the outcome he doesn't want to happen. If she had been in Imladris during Gilraen's early distress - changing Aragorn's smelly bottom and trying to get him to sleep at night, I'm pretty sure Arwen wouldn't have chosen to love him - and if she had been in charge of teaching him his manners and morals as a grubby little boy, I'm fairly sure he wouldn't have fallen for her. But then - what would have been the result? Would Aragorn have settled down to married life among the Dunedain and forgotten his high destiny? Would Sauron have succeeded? I was glad to see the twins lightening up - I think Estel was good for them. His need re-awoke something in them that they had been suppressing for a long time. And I think Celebrian had sufficient insight, especially when she was about to sail, to know Arwen's fate - and maybe said enough to get her daughter thinking. And Arwen is Galadriel's granddaughter - she has hidden talents and a well developed ability to read those around her. (I'm pretty sure the next offering will be Elflings 5. And since Elflings 6 was written before 5, that will probably come after. Just need to re-read them a few more times.)

Hotaru9	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/3/2005
This was lovely. I really like the relationships between Celeborn, Galadriel and Arwen. It's interesting because it's not a subject that is often wrote about. I really enjoyed the thoughts about Galadriel and her nature. Definitly ironic. It never really occured to me that Arwen knew her fate from that early but she definitly gets to that point later on. Congrats on another great piece of work!! Author Reply: Arwen doesn't get much attention really, except as Mrs. Aragorn. I think there's a lot more to her than the elleth who lay around on sofas and moped. And more than a girl who stayed home with her embroidery while the world descended into war. The whole mirror business is very difficult - and tied in with causality, too, I suppose. And the ripple in a pond business. It would take very little to change what you have foreseen - but should you? I think Celeborn's answer would definitely be 'yes', if it came to saving his granddaughter - but then Aragorn might never have been in the right place to do what he did. I don't know - it makes me glad I'm not Galadriel. Arwen is Galadriel's granddaughter though - and her mother's child - and I'm sure she had inklings very early on of some involvement in the outcome of the war against Sauron - although it might not have been until she was so carefully kept away from Imladris that she began to realise what it might be. Thank you! There will be some more - but I'm not sure how much.

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