News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| History Lessons: The Third Age by Nilmandra | 23 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Del | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/8/2006 |
| I was correct. I did continue to weep. However, as I have now crept sniffling from the darkness and found that hope has not died all away, (and it has just turned on 4:15 AM) I believe I will take my rest now and dream of joyful happenstances. Thank you, Del Author Reply: Oh, sorry to make you continue to cry... but thrilled you thought this was worth giving up precious sleep to do it! Things do get better, but unfortunately there is much pain to go. :/ | |
| Vicki_Turner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/20/2005 |
| I love this whole story but the main reason i'm reviewing right now is this: Elrond has Vilya and Arwen seems to be comfortable with that fact and so I assume that Elladan and Elrohir know what their father bears it too, but to my knowledge, we don't know when Elrond's children found out about his ring. It was my impression that in HL: the Second Age, they still didn't know about where Vilya was or did I miss something? I would really like to see when Elladan and Elrohir and Arwen find out about Vilya. I'm sure that they will have some opinions of their own. Author Reply: I would really like to see when Elladan and Elrohir and Arwen find out about Vilya. That is a good question and great plot bunny! I will give that some thought and see if I can work it in. I know they do know at a certain time, but I haven't given much thought to the actual learning of it... | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/5/2005 |
| Oh it is nice to take some time to read some enjoyable fanfiction. I have been going mad knowing this was here and I couldn't get to it... Of course I loved Elrond and Arwen in all parts of this. They have such a great father/daughter relationship. I got tears in my eyes starting with the 'I promised, naneth.' line and I just kept crying. Obviously we were supposed to expect something would happen to the twins from everything in the last chapter but I think the way you just plunged us into that situation from the first moments of the 'history' part of this chapter was very powerful. Elladan's role in helping Elrond with his brother was very well done. I was so relieved by Elrond's conversations with his sons and the family's reconciliation. And impressed--you didn't miss a single opportunity with that. This was an incredibly powerful chapter. Fantastic! Author Reply: And impressed--you didn't miss a single opportunity with that. I was hoping I wasn't beating the proverbial dead horse! I wanted to walk through the experience of each one, and it was interesting how 'telling' Elladan's experience worked better than showing..and Elrohir's was better in the showing. Painful for him, the poor thing. I am glad you thought it was powerful though. Self understanding is so important, and forgiveness frees the soul. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/31/2005 |
| I have a theory on the translucense... I'm looking forward to reading about that! Author Reply: We'll hope its coherent by the end of the story!! | |
| Mum's the Word | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/31/2005 |
| Another wonderful chapter, Nilmandra! How I admire your work. These are a few of my favorite passages (my apologies for not italicizing them, due to my lack of html knowledge): "Arwen touched his face, then took his hand in both of hers, stroking his palm and rubbing each fingernail in turn." I love this habit that Arwen has had since childhood, a wonderful bit of individuality that you've given her. And speaking of that, I've been so impressed with your depiction of Elladan as having more "human" characteristics like Elros (yet still being all elf), and Elrohir having more "elf-like" characteristics like Elrond. In addition, you have shown character traits from both Celebrian and Elrond in all three of their children. And the amazing thing is that you've done it so consistently throughout your stories. Truly, the Professor would be pleased. "Elrond orchestrated the song of Elrohir’s spirit, focusing it on making new blood and knitting up tissue." No profound comment; I just loved it. "She crooned to him, stroking his cheek and to Elrond’s relief, Elrohir turned into her hand, seeking that comfort." A lovely glimpse of Arwen as healer and mother -- caregiver. I'll skip most of the forgiveness and reconciliation scenes, as they leave me speechless. But there is one passage that amazed me, sitting right in the middle of it all: “'After our task was complete, we became aware of a great movement of horsemen out of the north, riding south east of the Anduin. The Eagles said they rode to war, to the aid of Gondor, who was fighting the Balchoth and the orcs of Mordor. ... We left Glorfindel and crossed at the Old Ford, joining the Northmen in their ride south. Gondor’s need was dire and Eorl’s coming brought them relief and salvation, for all would have been loss. In honor of their aid, Cirion was to give to Eorl the land of Calenardhon.'" Again with the wider-world history! I had never realized that the founding of Rohan came in the same timeframe as the sailing of Celebrian. What a teacher you are! “'You are the lamp that lit their path and the beacon that guided them home,' corrected Arwen. 'Always you have said that Celebrían was the light of Imladris and she was the warm fire and heart that made all feel welcome. But yours is the light that guides those in need to your door and helps them to find their way.'” What an insight into Elrond and the Last Homely House! I'm so glad that you show the intact bond between Elrond and Celebrian, even though they are absent one from the other. I suspect, though you don't mention it, that she was helping to strengthen the family even from Valinor. And of course you tie the two stories together so seamlessly. Well done, dear Nilmandra! Blessings, Mum Author Reply: When I was writing the reconciliation and forgiveness scenes, I was of course thinking of how hard it is for anyone to come to those places on their own; and of course raises the question of to whom one must ultimately ask forgiveness of or be reconciled too. Hopefully an analogy serves some purpose in that light, though Eru may be distant. The elves were more fortunate then men, perhaps...since we don't know exactly what men knew, since they walked among the Valar who had contact with Eru. Thank you for your kind words. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/30/2005 |
| This ability to read minds became very useful here! Guilt is such a terrible, destructive feeling! Elrohir was lucky that his Adar not only knows him so well but that has this particular ability, or he would be completely lost! The whole family has finally undertaken the difficult path of healing.. I wonder still at that trasnlucence. Did it come from the splint? From the One Ring? From its interacion with Celebrimbor's rings? IT is a true mistery to me. I suppose not even the wise knew exatly were it came from or what it meant, but then, nobody knew everythng about hobbits, as Gandalf reminds us! Arwen is so great here! Author Reply: Guilt is awful, isn't it? Elrohir was fortunate indeed, as it seems that those who internalize their emotions like this do have the hardest time recovering. I have a theory on the translucense, a way I hope to explain it if the opportunity arises. We'll see if I can make sense of my thoughts on that! | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/30/2005 |
| This is lovely.. You can see how Elladan and Elrohir out of misguided thought thought to punish each other... You can see Elrond the healer here as he tries to confront his sons to have them hea themselves.. A great piece ...Please continue.... Author Reply: Thanks, Pipinheart. Elrond is the healer of body and mind...and Celebrian's could not be healed, I would hate to think of him losing his sons too. | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/29/2005 |
| Incredible. How do you do this? There is such emotion and meaning in this chapter (every chapter actually). The characters become so real under your ultra-talented pen. They become solid people with hearts and souls. It is difficult to remember that one is reading a fiction. And that is such a wonderful thing! I like Arwen's role in this story very much, as I am a supporter of her as a true elven-queen. However, Elrond the healer and guide, reaching out to his sons with all his courage and strength and wisdom, appreciating the aid of those around him, touched me most in this chapter. Elladan and Elrohir finally brought back from the brink was a relief. Their reconciliation was so welcome and cleansing, to see them coming back to where they should be. Returned home, but are they really the same as they were? No more than Frodo can ever be, I am tempted to think. Some wounds do not heal. The rain and stars was a magical touch, poetic and theatical. Loved it. So, Evil can be purged. But, can it ever be banished? Just a spendid episode and rewarding to read. This series is a true fanfiction masterpiece. Author Reply: These characters feel real to me, each distinct and unique in their own way. I was thinking of how strong and devastating guilt is, and how it has the power to hang over someone's life for years, or forever. They can never let go, forgive and move on. I too have always thought of Arwen as very strong, and I have never understood why people don't like her or think her weak. She has great strength of character. Many can wield a sword, but not many can shoulder the burden and make the choice that she did. Its too bad evil cannot be banished! But alas, as Gandalf says, it will rise again. Thank you for your kind words. | |
| Rose Sared | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/29/2005 |
| "You are the lamp that lit their path and the beacon that guided them home,” I simply love your take on Elrond, he is majestic and elfy and everything I want in a fanfic. Thank you so much for this series, I cannot believe how much it is adding to my appreciation of canon. Rose Author Reply: Thank you, Rose. Your words mean a lot to me, as I am trying to gap fill Tolkien's world and it helps to know if people think the story does that. | |
| Eruanneth_Luin | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 8/29/2005 |
| A delightful surprise awaited me last night; Chapter 8. These were such grievous times for the House of Elrond, I can barely endure the suspense from one chapter to the next. Do you think Elrond ‘sealing’ the wound on Frodo would have needed the aid of Vilya? That must have been a wonder to behold (at least for us mortals). The Ring ‘staking its claim’ was chilling. Lovely Arwen! More than just a pretty elf, she is now a strong voice of reason, mature and caring, in a feminine likeness of her Adar. Glorfindel so moved by an injury certainly portrayed the seriousness of the wound without any graphic details necessary. With his experience of battles he could be expected to know at a glance that Elrohir was dying. Elladan refusing to allow his twin to depart to the Halls was excellent. You could tell the healing for him was already beginning as he begged forgiveness from his brother, then embracing Elrohir’s fëa with all the love he could give. Again Arwen cares for the caregivers who have no thought of their own weakened conditions. Each member of a family has an important part in the wellness of the whole and Arwen sees this clearly. Elladan had a hard lesson to learn about anger and its resultant effects of those around him, and how difficult for him to admit his need to exact retribution for his Naneth’s torment. Ah, the gentle, loving Elrohir, so torn by guilt over each event following the ambush in the Pass, piling up a veritable mountain of pain finally forced his Adar to resort to extreme measures to get him to face his true failure; giving up his self-recrimination and accepting that the past cannot be changed. Arwen’s encouragement to Elrond was particularly evocative of the similarities and yet profound differences between Elrond and Celebrían. Author Reply: Hopefully it lived up to expectations :) IT was a good chapter to write, for the issues of guilt and forgiveness are universal, and the twins' reactions are as well. Forgiveness is such a gift when we give it - to ourselves and to others, especially when the wrong committed cannot be redressed, atoned for or paid for. Letting go is hard and yet so cleansing. I think we all at times wish we had Elrond to sift through our dark and twisted paths of memory and help us to make sense of them. Such insight is rare, as is finding one so trustworthy. | |