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History Lessons: The Third Age by Nilmandra	22 Review(s)
Del	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/8/2006
Showing the same propensities I did the last time I read your work, I sat down four days ago and started reading your History Lessons series. Once again, I worked my way through HL1 and HL2 in under two days. Then I dithered. I procrastinated and I futzed around. I started HL3 no less than four times simply because I didn't want to read this part. But, this afternoon, I sat down with my teapot and I read it. And I wept. Oh, how I wept. You have reduced me to quivering tears with startling and ruthless efficiency. I expect that I shall weep more before I'm finished. This continues to be staggeringly gorgeous work and satisfies my lyrical soul. It also continues with lockstep canonical accuracy and feeds my analytical mind. Thank you, Del Author Reply: I am glad you liked this, despite all the sorrow and pain that these characters were living through. Such times are character building, and all those tears shed did much to purify their souls. Thank you for reading.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/25/2006
Again the comparisons of the two woundings are touching and show many parallels. Heartsore and spirit-sickened, both needed what they could not find here; both found it in the end. Author Reply: I look forward to writing them in Valinor, actually. Celebrian, if healed, would be a great inspiration/example for those coming so shadowed and weary.

Alassiel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/7/2005
Dear Nilmandra, It's terrifying to think that in this instance, the Ring is actually helping to keep Frodo alive—so that he can become a wraith! Yes, I think Frodo's death would be preferable to his complete fading. Glorfindel's offer to act if necessary accords well with his character. I like the descriptions of Elrond's state of mind at this time—from the total concentration and absorption when engaged in trying to push the shard of the Morgul blade away from Frodo's heart to his clear memory of Celebrían. In the next scene, it is hard, almost harder than in the previous chapter, to see Elrond suffering as he ponders the decision that his wife should sail. It is also hard to see her parents' sorrow. It is intriguing to think that Galadriel might be able to communicate with the great eagles, the messengers of Manwë. What a mixed blessing Elven memory is, as for them, it is more like reliving than remembering, so that Celebrían's nightmares must have been truly terrifying. In the scene with Elrond and Arwen, when he tells her that her mother must sail, I liked the foreshadowing of Elrond's struggle to protect Imladris from Shadow. Elrond certainly has wonderful friends in Erestor and Glorfindel. I'm glad they were there to support him at that time. The scene in which Elrond tells Celebrían that she must sail is wrenching. It must have been dreadfully hard to write. This gets worse and worse. Poor guilt-ridden Elladan! Poor grieving Elrohir! Poor Elrond! The scene in which Elrond throws Vilya away is very good. Another mixed blessing, that ring! By this time, it has become a part of him, but I agree with Glorfindel that he does need to wear it to protect Imladris. I loved the scene with Mithrandir—uh-- Olórin. It gave me chills. I guess he didn't tell Elrond who he is, but he did help and reassure him! A truly wonderful chapter. Thank you. Alassiel Author Reply: These chapters are dreadfully hard to write, but knowing that a happy ending is possible - indeed necessary for Faerie - really gives me incentive to write and reach that place. And for all the tragedy and pain, the family is surrounded by people who love and support them, let them grieve and pick up the pieces when they crash. And the crash is coming, unfortunately. But we know they come through it and still love each other and their home and their people, and they give fully of themselves to the fight for Middle-earth. That is strength, I think...to love and lose and yet still love again.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/6/2005
What to say? Well, for one thing, I saved this until last on my catch up, because I just knew it would be great and moving and I wouldn't want to read anything else afterwards - and it was twice that. The power of poor Frodo's story - and the love of Arwen and Estel - is completely dominated by Elrond's agony over Celebrian's frailty. His pain is so tangible - and yet each character - Galadriel, Celeborn, Arwen, Glorfindel, Erestor, Elrohir, Elladan, Mithrandir - every one of them is so clearly defined. Anger, helplessness, determination, duty, surrender - so many emotions. Their reactions foreshadow so much - Arwen's seeking refuge with her Daeradar, the twins orc-slaughtering campaign, Galadriel's resolution, Elrond's need for Glorfindel's support - and Erestor's - to maintain his determination to last until the very end. And through it all, Celebrian herself - broken and despairing and yet strong enough to accept her fate and prepared to wait for Elrond across the sea until he is free to join her - one way or another. And Mithrandir's arrival - able to offer the reassurance that only a Maia could, so that Elrond will be able to sustain himself over the long years to come with the knowledge that his beloved will be healed - and that Galadriel's parents will offer her the same love and support that she and Celeborn will provide for Arwen. This is such a moving detailing of those dreadful months after Elrond's world was thrown into disarray. Wonderful. Amazing. I must read it again. Now. Author Reply: Ack, I wish I could say that the next chapter was better, but its not. Each person handles their grief differently and must pass through the stages until there is some acceptance and healing, but guilt is a terrible terrible thing. I am glad you liked the chapter, though. It was hard to write, but hopefully realistic.

Elenluin	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/6/2005
First of all, I'm not sure how my review on CH4 ended up here confused yesterday or so it was still in its correct place :s The chapter was as always breath-taking, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. You described these hard times well, showing emotions but not overdoing it, I really loved it how you showed Galadriels grief, it made her more of a "real" person to me... Author Reply: I am glad it made Galadriel more real. I could only imagine what it felt like to be that powerful, to have done all that you can, and despite it all you cannot save or protect your child. And she, like Elrond, knows she cannot leave yet. For all of the faults she may have found with her own parents in their lack of desire to return to Middle-earth etc, I am sure she is greatly comforted that they will be there for her daughter.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/5/2005
I have been away dealing with some RL issues and, knowing what events awaited, was resisting reading these last four chapters. Then today, took them on all in one sitting. I should not have been so reluctant. You are the most marvelous of storytellers. In the way you told of Frodo's hurt, but especially with Celebrian's tragedy. My own troubled heart found comfort in the courage of this extended-family. They were burdened and stuggling to be sure, but survivors all. There are no inconsistant, completely-unreal miracles of healing or rescue, thankgoodness. (and also thankfully you paid attention to LACE too) These are people of fortitude and generosity. They offer love and strength and duty. Elves of our better nature. You could have made this deadly bitter, filled with destructive angst. Instead, you let them answer in character, each with their own measure of courage and sacrifice. The strong supported the weak. Elladan and Celebrian, disabled by their spiritual wounds, are not allowed to be lost. Their family will not let that happen. This story was not about the worst coming out, but the best. Oh yes, some will respond with violence and vengence as well. But I think, only because they know there can be no justice. Looking forward to the next chapter. Author Reply: My own troubled heart found comfort in the courage of this extended-family. I am so glad to hear that! They do have very tough times ahead, but they never desert each other in their time of need. Love will pull them back together, but I do feel for the pain and grief they have yet to experience. Thank you for your comments.

Elenluin	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/4/2005
Oh I loved this chapter even more than the previous ones! But how could it be otherwise when told for a great part from Elladan's pov :-) I've always been intrigued by the twins. I could see the "homecoming" of Estel with the Dunedain straight before my eyes, the lingering grief that surfaced again when seeing a face so alike that other one that died long ago... I'll try to read the other chapters asap, whenever I have time. (oh and I've probably said this before, but you're really great in describing family relations and feelings, so recognisable!) Author Reply: Thanks, Elenluin. I really enjoyed writing this from Elladan's POV. I was imagining how he felt to have taught this young man all he knows in preparation for Estel to become Aragorn and lead his people, to one day standing beside Aragorn as Aragorn leads the free peoples of Middle-earth. To say he had to be proud seems an understatement to me. Elrond and his sons gave freely of their hearts.

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/2/2005
Aiii! I was biting my nails wating for a chance to sit and read! Thankfully it didn't come out during the week-end (european time) for I've been quite busy in the last days, and saving this for a calm moment. I'm having the strangest experience with this story. I'm terribly hooked by the third age snippets. Not that I wasn't in the previous stories, but this one I'm finding particularly engaging. Please, take it as a huge compliment, for even when you're wading deep down to your chin in canon, it is so pleasurable and well-done that at times I find myself wondering if that's a "lost Tolkien's manuscript" or something you've found and are secretly feeding us! :-). Seriously, Nilmandra, I'm not prone to exaggeration but there are parts in this story where I can actually believe that I've already read that :-)!!!! It is as if it came straight from the book, or maybe from what I used to guess it was going on in Imladris as the hobbits and Aragorn where busy on the road.Mainly Elrond, of course, but also Galadriel and Celeborn. I would be lying if I told you that the scene between Elrond and Celebrían didn't make my eyes sting, and the whole flashback was terribly painful, for it seemed as if the burden of weeks of worry and anguish were weighing upon everybody. Celebrían seems to be showing the symptoms of serious depresssion and that wears upon the family in a way few other illnesses do. The despair was very well conveyed, as it was Glorfindel and Erestor's silent but efective support, and, of course, Celeborn and Galadriel's. She was so strong even in despair, and what of Celeborn! he has not yet shown the littlest sign of weakness, and it is their daughter they're discussing!!they're great! Elrond's despair was understandable, in the face of everything, and the twins will be very difficult to deal with. And now I'm entertaining myself admiring the way you took time to build up such a wonderful structure for this story. The situations that trigger Elrond's memories are very well chosen in every chapter, but this one was perfect. We came back and forth in time around a bed and a sleeping, grieviously ill person, and it, too, helped convey that kind of disorientation and detachement from real life that comes along when you're dealing with such situations, when every thing loses importance and days are one like another, and real life loses focus and falls to the backdrop in the presence of a serious illness or a tragedy. The scene when Elrond watches the rumpled coverlets and has to remind himself -after five hundred years!- that it was himself and that Celebrían wasn't there anymore is, let me tell you, masterfully done, poignant, clever and a whole pleasure. So, many many thanks for taking the time -and the trouble- to weave your tale in such pleasant, challenging and intelligent manner! It doubles (or tenfolds) the pleasure! Author Reply: Thanks, Perelleth, for your very complimentary words. I am glad in particular that you thought the transition was well done...those are hard to make smooth sometimes, but this one practically wrote itself. We came back and forth in time around a bed and a sleeping, grieviously ill person, and it, too, helped convey that kind of disorientation and detachement from real life that comes along when you're dealing with such situations, when every thing loses importance and days are one like another, and real life loses focus and falls to the backdrop in the presence of a serious illness or a tragedy. When caring for someone who is grievously ill, or even someone in the depths of grief, all the mundane everyday tasks fall to the side and it is the dedicated loving friends who carry on and maintain a life for the person to return to. These kind of people are underappreciated and often the things they do are not noticed...but if they quit doing them, they would be sorely missed. The one doing the care and the one grieving - I think they can lose track of everything from what time of day it is to even the day or week or month or year. And for elves with their perferct recall, the Paths of Dreams had to be easy to fall on to, whether they got their intentionally or not. I am sure Elrond's memory was such that no matter how weary he was from caring for someone, when he returned to those chambers Celebrian was there for him. But also in those memories was this awful year when he returned there so weary and found only a shell of his wife...and then eventually he returned to an empty room. How sad, but it is a progressions of his memories. I am glad you are enjoying the story, though. Both parts are so interesting to write.

Creashuns	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/2/2005
Awesome Chapter! Your'e the best there is out there! Great Emotion, Very well done! Cheers! Creashuns Author Reply: Thanks, Creashuns! I am glad you liked the chapter.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/1/2005
I've been thinking about this chapter all day. What keeps coming back to me is Glorfindel's constant support, in both narratives. Between offering to do What Must Be Done, if Elrond was unable to save Frodo, to slogging through the water looking for Vilya and putting it back on Elrond's finger, he was always there. I also kept coming back to the moment when Elrond wishes he could just let someone else be in charge for once. Author Reply: I've been thinking about this chapter all day. Wow! I am glad it had that effect on you. When I think about people in positions of authority - with great power, great knowledge, but also great compassion and caring - there are always wonderful people standing all around them. The leader is surrounded by people who are unafraid to be honest with him, and who would also give anything for him. Glorfindel and Erestor are those people...but so are Elrond's children and so was Celebrian. She was his hope and his joy. I think the best leaders also take the weight of responsiblity very seriously - and when they must make tough decisions they probably do wish at times to just let someone else do it. Fortunately for Elrond, he has friends who will step up and be in charge when he really needs them to be. (Or, as we might say, Buffy the Balrog Slayer will step in for Dusty Dad when he loses it).

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