Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Arwen's Heart by Bodkin	12 Review(s)
jules	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2006
Oh dear, the twins aren’t getting any better at this, are they? After all those years of hanging around with the dunedain you’d think they’d know a bit about the psychology of boys who think they’re grown up already… But they seem to manage the protective big brother role quite admirably as far as Arwen is concerned. Author Reply: The twins prefer to avoid deep contemplation. Or perhaps they prefer to make you think they avoid deep contemplation. I think they shelter behind their reputation a lot - but they are very protective of their little sister. (Who can manage them nearly as successfully as Celebrian did!)

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/6/2005
And that commitment was recognized by the Valar themselves, to the point they allowed them to stay past their father's sailing and yet retain the choice. Author Reply: If Arwen was the sacrificial lamb - repeating, in a way, Earendil's sacrifice . . . and maybe Tuor's - than it seems quite reasonable of the Valar to grant her the presence of some of her kin over the years remaining to her. I don't know if Elrond could have borne to sail had he not known that Elladan, Elrohir and Celeborn would remain.

TithenFeredir	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 8/25/2005
Another lovely chapter. I love the exchanges between Arwen and Curaniel, sizing up the boys. Estel is a properly obnoxious, frustrated adolescent. It is a nice touch of realism for Gilraen to be wiser than Elrond in the matter of her son's development and very sad to see Elrond trying in vain to fend off the inevitable. ~TF Author Reply: Thank you. Well, you would be interested, wouldn't you? Even if you weren't really looking in that way! And poor Estel - I wonder how long it was since the elves of Imladris had had to deal with the growing pains of an adolescent. Gilraen is far closer to it herself, as well as knowing more about men. Elrond is such a courageous and generous elf - but this must have been one of the hardest sacrifices asked of him.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/11/2005
Well coming to review so late you really don't need any more commentary. After perusing through the reviews, there just isn't much else left to say. Except that this chapter - and story! - is so good I must at least tell you what a pleasure it was to read. You excel at revealing, characterizing dialog. And choosing just the right details to include. The humor is simply marvelous because it is so genuine and realistic. However, I especially liked Gilrean's thoughts and Celeborn's assesments about Estel. Wonderful chapter, Bodkin. Author Reply: Thank you. It's a very simple story - inspired purely by a desire to have an Arwen who doesn't drape herself over the furniture and mope in a very boring way. I can't resist dialogue. It's usually one of the characters saying something that gets me writing in the first place. Well, at least it stops me overdoing the adjectives! Poor Estel. Who would be a gawky petulant teenage boy in a haven of elegant elves? Celeborn isn't being really fair about him - and he doesn't see why he should be. But Gilraen - poor woman, it can't be easy to know that you know better than the great Lord Elrond and have the determination to get your message across. But he turned out all right in the end, so she probably succeeded!

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/10/2005
What a delightful chapter. I love all the gossipy parts, like Celeborn and Glorfindel making snide comments about Thranduil, Arwen and E2 making comments about Glorfindel and Celeborn sniping at each other, and Arwen and Curaniel talking girl-talk. Legolas, too young indeed! ‘Of course not – you just enjoy watching half-clad ellyn rolling around on the ground.’ Well, yeah. Who wouldn't? Celeborn seems to take a suitably dim view of Estel's adolescent antics. What a great, sullen, adolescent he makes, too - glowering at every turn, congratulating himself on managing not to slam the door, and running away to the woods to remind everyone how much they need him! Oh, fantastic! Elladan handled him very well; he's catching onto this big brother business. Gilraen's musings about her son were so bittersweet and she is so, so right - as much as everyone wants to protect Estel, in very short order he has to be the chieftain of the Dunedain. Elrond is acting out of love (this was a wonderful line - Who would have thought that an elf lord of Elrond’s great age and might would sit with a grubby, tear-stained child dirtying his fine silken robe, with sticky fingers twisted possessively in his ebony braids?), but he's on a different timeline. I expect their discussion will be very interesting. The warm, comfortable scene with Arwen and her brothers was very nice. It is good that they have such a close relationship - it will certainly be tested in the future. E2's thoughts on Lothlorien were interesting - I could see where they could get the impression that Lothlorien's battle-readiness has suffered from lack of use, but as we all know that would be a mistaken impression! It is interesting to see how the various Elven realms view one another. Author Reply: Nothing like a bit of gossip! And Curaniel might change her mind if she actually saw Legolas! And, for all she denies it, she's definitely got a soft spot for Elrohir. Which will prove unrequited, I'm afraid. Still, watching half-clad ellyn is able to take her mind off it, so perhaps she will find the elf of her dreams sooner or later! Adolescents are just - well - wearing. When they're somebody else's they can be pretty amusing, but your own are generally enough to make you tear out your hair. Elladan is quite good at big brother - but he finds it harder to switch between authority and siblinghood. And Estel is just so-o-o-o young as far as they are concerned. Gilraen is right that she needs to keep in front of them the fact that Estel only has another half a dozen years before he needs to be ready to fly this protected haven - and he has to be ready. (Mind you, I can see why Elrond would want to protect him, too. A few shielded years of sheltered happiness to bolster him against six decades of struggle. Doesn't seem a lot to want to provide that!) Arwen is, I think, very relieved to have her brothers back from that cold hard place where they hid themselves after Celebrian's wounding. And she needs them - and will continue to need them. (I'm glad E2 and Celeborn stayed - and Arwen must have been a huge part of that decision.) Lothlorien feels such a distant and dreamy place, it would be easy to think that they would not be able to defend themselves - but Celeborn wouldn't allow that to happen. Very practical grasp of reality, that elf. Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/8/2005
Sorry to be so far behind in reviewing...as usual this summer... I loved this chapter! I was pleased to see the twins and Glorfindel arrive. And very amused by the conversation regarding Thranduil and Legolas--of course Legolas can't go to Lothlorien this close to the Ring War. Pity. I would like to see him in these games but I thoroughly enjoyed the conversation about why he was not there. And Estel basically ran away! That is so typically teenage! Too funny. Along with Glorfindel's reaction--tempted to leave him indeed. There is something very funny about the thought of Aragorn doing kitchen duty. So it seems Estel is not going to be content to stay hidden in Imladris. Imagine that! ;-) But Gilraen's thoughts are right. But most of all I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters in this. You have nearly the entire cast of elves gathered in this one chapter and they are all so well done. Obviously we know how this ultimately ends, but I am really curious to see where you will take this particular of Arwen and Estel's story. Author Reply: I'm rather behind in answering reviews, I'm afraid. What with one thing and another . . . I even checked to see if Legolas could go and meet the twins. But he couldn't - so there had to be some excuse! Estel wouldn't put it like that. He was asserting his independence, right? Showing that he could look after himself. I think I would have gone with Glorfindel's suggestion and outwaited him. But Elrond is as kind as summer and didn't want to let him feel unloved. And you never know, kitchen duty might have proved very useful in later years. He could have concealed himself in the guise of a washer-up in an inn in some remote town . . . He has to take up his own life in what probably seems to elves no more than a few weeks - half a dozen years learning the skills he will need to survive and rule don't seem too many. For all his princely training, he's going to spend a lot of time dirty and cold and tired. Lots of people - including the less-often-seen Glorfindel - all able to be fairly relaxed together. Fun to do. It's going to be quite short, I think. Not day-to-day detail, but jumping to key moments. And, at that, probably not going to the end of the Arwen/Aragorn story. Have to see.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/8/2005
You’re productive lately! I love the start with the ‘formal’ meeting between Arwen and her brothers. I was wondering what the “problem” was that delayed them. Glorfindel rolling his eyes says it all, really. At least Celeborn seems to be getting some amusement from the thought of Elrond having to suffer through Estel’s adolescent escapades. I do love the warm relationship between Celeborn and Glorfindel. Especially when they’re talking about Thranduil!! You do a great job writing a surly adolescent! '… but somehow, from somewhere, Estel seemed to have acquired the belief that he knew best.' LOL. Lessons in history and languages indeed. As though that would actually happen if he did go. It’s good to see Gilraen and Elrond standing firm and of the one mind. 'Elladan found him in the small room at the end of the library where some of the oldest scrolls were kept, carefully wrapped in silk.' O.k., so the first time I read that sentence I thought it was Estel who was carefully wrapped in silk. Odd mental image. Elladan is quite good with him. He did as well as anyone could, really. It must be hard to balance being a brother with being an authority figure. Oh, I so would have done as Glorfindel wanted and let Estel find out for himself that he isn’t quite the man he thinks he is. ‘He sounds to be a remarkably tiresome young man,’ Celeborn said flatly. ‘I am surprised that Elrond tolerates his tantrums.’ Yeah, like he was never an indulgent adar. It would be so funny to see him experience petulant Estel for a while. I thought Glorfindel summed things up very wisely when he says ‘what counts is that we have become estranged from each other. It is no wonder that Mirkwood’s archers look on us with doubt – when did we last emerge from our havens to offer them aid? When did the elves of Mithlond last come east? We are too often our own worst enemies, my friend, and in our own pride, we offer up our throats to the blades of our foes.’ When you think about it like that too, Arwen’s idea of the challenge is a good one – it brings them together and they become familiar with each other’s strengths, weakness and styles. As well, of course, as keeping them in training. I love the fact that after all the rivalry between Haldir and the twins, it’s Mirkwood’s archers who seem to be putting them to shame! ‘ And he is far too young to be really interesting.’ Give that girl a slap!! Your Gilraen is very wise. Her strength rivals that of Elrond. As hard as it must have been to watch her son as a human child in an elven home, wanting to be like them, it must be even harder now to let him be a man, especially knowing it is necessary to let him go soon and yet these immortals show little understanding of how short time can be. I think she’s right that she can understand this better than Elrond can. The conversation between Elladan and Elrohir about Lothlorien was interesting. It’s fascinating to see what the different realms think of one another. It also says a lot about Lothlorien if even those from the protected valley of Imladris find it remote. Of course, there’s some truth too in the point that they’ve become more involved in the outside world and that’s why they’ve only now realised how cut off it is. I love seeing the three siblings together. ‘Maybe not,’ Elrohir spoke softly, ‘but we will look after you – one way or another. On that you can rely.’ Ah, yes. And so they will. I can’t tell you how interesting it is to see this time through the eyes of these people. You’re doing a tremendous job :-) Author Reply: I'm actually feeling very unproductive at the moment! It's not good when the sun is shining. At least the good thing with the adolescence of the sons of men is that it is much shorter than elven adolescence! It may be intense, but within half a dozen years poor Estel will be Aragorn - and out in the wild. I don't think Celeborn wants to be totally fair when thinking of Estel - although to people in their xth millennium, the trials of youth must be irritating - but he's too suspicious of this heir of Isildur and not prepared to be fair. (Celebrian could manage her adar with a glance - but I don't know how aware he was of his manipulatability.) I like seeing Celeborn and Glorfindel as friends - they share a lot of experience, after all - and together with Elrond and Thranduil and, I suppose, Cirdan, they are a group of equals. I think it must be almost impossible to be a brother to someone nearly 3000 years younger than you - but the twins seem to have managed that remarkably well. I'm so glad they have recovered so much of their light-heartedness - and I suspect Aragorn helped a lot there, even if it was totally unconscious. But they are his trainers as well - and, in his up-and-coming position, Estel has to learn about being friend/cousin/lord/commander at the same time. I suppose the twins are offering training there too. It must be good for the elves to get together - they have grown apart in their peaceful tranquil way - or how could they have let Mirkwood struggle so while the other realms remained inviolate? And they do need to have some trust in each other - below the level of the rulers, that is, who do understand what each other is doing. Gilraen is a courageous woman - of a line of intelligent, self-sacrificing Dunedain and she is probably the only person in Imladris who can put pressure on Elrond to see what Estel needs. Apart from being the only Dunedain around, she is also Estel's mother and that helps her pack some power. (Yes, I think leaving Estel until he came home on his own would have been a good idea. But Elrond said no.) I'm glad the twins (and Celeborn) stayed. Arwen needed them. And they needed to be there for her. Sorry to be so long getting to replying. Been distracted.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/8/2005
Ouch. Estel as an obnoxious adolescent. Old enough to be certain he knows best, and that he doesn't need anyone else's help. I'm rather sorry that Glorfindel's method of dealing with his 'running away' wasn't followed through! Jay Author Reply: Yes - it would have been rather interesting to see how well Estel managed to cope with being left to get on with it until he came out of his sulk and had to make an actual decision to go home. Might have been a rather good learning experience. It must have been rather difficult for Estel as an adolescent - for one thing adolescence will have hit him at a time when all the elves still saw him as a child. I would think it might have taken them a while to catch on to the fact that he was growing up so swiftly. And everyone around him was so much older than he was. I hope Gilraen manages to persuade Elrond to step up Estel's training so that he feels that the changes in him are being recognised. But I don't think either Elrond or Gilraen will let him get away with being obnoxious for too long!

Lia	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/8/2005
Love this very much. I hope you continue. ^_^ Author Reply: Thank you - I am glad you are enjoying it. It will continue. I'm not sure how far it will go, but it will continue!

Bejai	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/7/2005
Nice, Bodkin! Have I mentioned recently how I bow to the miracle that is your writing, with multiple excellent stories updated every few weeks? It puts my bi-annual schedule to shame ;) My favorite bits - the friendly competition. And Arwen was right -- they elves do need to get out every once in a while, and remember they are allies. - Legolas and Thranduil, making an appearance (in spirit and note, at least!) - Petulant, glowering, teen-age Estel. "I'm going to run away, and THEN they'll see how much they miss me!" Yeah, I can see that ;) And Gilraen, putting her foot down with her son. And then going to put her foot down with Elrond :O - Celeborn, who would not have been willing to put up with teenage tantrums. Been a while since he's been around children, clearly. - E2's discussion about Lothlorien, and it becoming more remote feeling. Wonderful scene! And this: "It is not our grandparents I doubt,’ he said. ‘They are dangerous, whatever way you look at them" Yeah, I'd agree with that! - And this bit: "but we will look after you – one way or another. On that you can rely." And we readers, who know what is coming, can't help but sob a bit. That's why they stay in Middle-earth for so long! Wonderful chapter, as ever. Author Reply: Thank you - I'm flattered. Note the minimal amount of plot! The elves are remarkably isolated from each other, really - and getting more so. I actually checked (!) and Legolas hadn't been to Lothlorien before the Fellowship, so he couldn't come - bit of a nuisance really, but facts just get in the way! Poor Estel. Raging teenage hormones combined with everyone thinking of him as a small child - trouble was inevitable, I would think. Gilraen wouldn't have been a soft touch as a mother though - she was the only member of his race there and the need to raise him to be a credit to his father must have made her determined not to indulge him. She knew too much about what it meant to lead the Dunedain. And, although I doubt she enjoys the thought of giving Elrond a crash course in the needs of teenage boys, she will do it. Celeborn isn't all that fond of the thought of Isildur's heir. He is rather suspicious of him. Of course, it's always easy to tell other people what they are doing wrong. I imagine Celebrian could twist her ada round her little finger. Even though he is dangerous! And that is largely why the twins stay - at least as far as I am concerned. As well as a not inconsiderable factor for Celeborn. The world, yes, but family too. Glad you enjoyed it.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List