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| History Lessons: The Third Age by Nilmandra | 24 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| paranoidangel | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/2/2005 |
| Poor Elrond (although this is how I like him!). At least he has Glorfindel, but he really does need a hug. Author Reply: Poor Elrond, indeed. And more pain to come.. It isn't easy being peredhel, that is for sure. :/ | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/16/2005 |
| Now this was wonderful to find waiting for me. I hope this review ends up being intelligible. Elrond felt a slight shiver of anticipation run through him, as often happened now that he considered their reunion imminent. I liked this line. It seemed both happy and sad to me. Nice that he knew their reunion would be soon and sad because he likewise knew he was coming to his end on M-e. That must have been hard for these elves that dated from the First Age. As always, there are so many layers to this--I loved the discussion of Bilbo; the Ring's lack of influence on Frodo; and the twins' discover of Boromir's approach/their discussion of it and what it meant/and the 'elfling' comment by Glorfindel. Mischievous squirrels! Great! And the 'history' in this was great--the moment Elrond had to confront what had been done. He was perfect and so was Aragorn. I loved it. And I loved that Elrond had already felt the loss. That was powerful. The sword fight between Elrond and Glorfindel did not hurt any either. ;-) Pity we can't make video, but my imagination is pretty good. as he watched Arwen loosen the filaments and prepare to weave them into a story of the Secondborn Awesome line! This was a great chapter! Author Reply: Thanks, Elliska, I am glad your imagination was able to picture Glorfindel taking the half-elf down a notch or two. He needed it ( and knew it). :>) This really is melancholy to write about though - when success mean loss and the beginning means the end. The sorrows of the elves are great - and somehow that makes Arwen's choice even more poignant. Glad to have had soemthing for you to read. Take care. | |
| Elenluin | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/15/2005 |
| Again I loved this chapter! How you can make us feel what your characters feel in so little well chosen words is wonderful. I'll be very sorry when this story has ended :-) Author Reply: Thank you, Elenluin - I will be both glad and sad when this is done! I want Elrond back in the arms of a loving and healed wife, but that will also mean the end of the time of the story we love. I am glad you feel as if you had stood in these characters' shoes. | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/14/2005 |
| Finally got to read this chapter! And once again impressed beyond belief. It's hard to pick out any one thing to praise! This chapter and the entire story (and the series too) are wonderful. I so much admire how you blend together your characterizations and the text creating real people out of what could termed remote history. You make me feel that the 'sorrow of the elves' was indeed rooted in individual loss. You singing a powerful spell here and I am enthralled. Author Reply: You make me feel that the 'sorrow of the elves' was indeed rooted in individual loss. That is a very poetic way of saying it. I know what I want to show sometimes, even if I can't summarize it well - but I think you just did very nicely. Thank you. | |
| RS | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/14/2005 |
| What a beautiful chapter. I love the way you expanded the Tale of Arwen and Aragorn and the feast for the Ringbearer. It read as if Tolkien wrote it himself. The bit with Aragorn being jostled between the twins was really needed in this emotional chapter. Glorfindel is such a wonderful friend. I love the sparring bit. As usual you conveyed Aragorn and Arwens love for each other so well. The conversation between Arwen and Elrond just broke my heart!! I have waited for so long for this update and believe me I am not disappointed. It was worth the wait. BRILLIANT!!! Author Reply: Thanks, RS, there are so many layers in this, trying to understand how these elves withstood so much sorrow and how their lives were quietly entwined with the fate of middle earth. Hopefully the chapters that follow won't take so long! | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2005 |
| Excellent and very powerful chapter. Had to read it twice it was so good! Can't wait for more! Author Reply: Thanks, Ellie, I am glad you liked it! I figured it was a love it or hate it kind of chapter. :/ | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2005 |
| Wonderful, Nilmandra, and I'm truly glad that you centered in on Elrond's reactions. The whole backstory of how he must have suffered all those years, the fact that even victory would prove bitter for him is elegantly understated in Tolkien's epilogue, and you draw it here with more detail, yet equally elegantly presented. A more than serious sparring match whith his long-time friend was all the emotional outburst the lord allowed himself, and I'm thrilled to see this self-contained emotion, even if he was getting a bit more loose than what we are used to see in him... Wonderful. I believe that his conversation with Arwen was what moved me most. I'm glad that you spared us the reactions of the rest of the house, the twins' and Gilraen's. And I'm so glad that he considers his reunion with Celebrìan "inminent". HE did have hopes, didn't he? despite the darkness, he was fully confident, and I like that little insight. Great that you found your way back with this NIlmandra! and I was amused to read that you had already written his reunion with his wife! IT seems it's not only me who writes the endings first !:-) Author Reply: A more than serious sparring match whith his long-time friend was all the emotional outburst the lord allowed himself, and I'm thrilled to see this self-contained emotion, even if he was getting a bit more loose than what we are used to see in him As I was writing this, and Elrond did that (you know, I just write what I *see* and that is what played out before my eyes) all I could think was that Elrond took advantage and was unfair.... perhaps his one chance to be unfair in an arena where no one is truly hurt, more than a physical whack, that is. Its like he wanted to be knocked senseless and he knew that would push Glorfindel to do just that. Almost like a child just pushing his parents to be disciplined - he wanted someone to set that boundary for him, force the issue so he doesn't have to draw that limit, doesn't have to be in control, in charge. Sometimes its nice to have someone else be responsible and say enough. Not sure if that makes sense.. but I know the longer I am in charge, sometimes the more I want someone else to occasionally tell me what to do! I believe that his conversation with Arwen was what moved me most I am glad. Elrond's anger was gone by then, and only his hurt remained. And he had no reason to be angry with her, but how hard to separate those emotions when they are all tied up together in one situation. He did have to tell her 'no, wait' and he needed her to acquiese without driving her away. I actually wrote that discussion in plain English and then tried to 'elvish-fy' it. :/ Thanks for reading and the review :D And yeah, the ending is mostly written, though I'm sure it will be expanded on! | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2005 |
| First, I was so happy to be back in this community of long, loving relationships. As I have said before, I love the way these characters interact. They are not without conflict, and yet with so many years between them it seems they are able to navigate those conflicts without losing sight of their love for one another. The sparring match between Elrond and Glorfinel was properly impressive. I enjoy those little moments that remind you that these two are seasoned warriors, but Glorfindel is the greater. Oh, to have been a fly on the wall and just watched those two go at it for an hour. This is probably not an original idea: Elrond seems to me a lot like Frodo in that he suffers a great deal for the sake of Middle-earth, and he must remain steadfast in the midst of his losses. Unlike Frodo, Elrond goes into it knowing what he is going to lose. It's a good thing he has Erestor and Glorfindel to support him. The revelation that Arwen's choice was for Elrond like reliving the loss Elros was heartbreaking. Arwen again comes off as a force, one that is gentle and supportive, but also decisive and quietly strong. I am enjoying your elves and this story so much! ~TF Author Reply: The sparring match between Elrond and Glorfinel was properly impressive. I enjoy those little moments that remind you that these two are seasoned warriors, but Glorfindel is the greater. Elrond really needed to have someone physically exhaust him... and I liked that Glorfindel could really push him. Glorfindel is Imladris's knight in shining armor in my mind, I admit. This is probably not an original idea: Elrond seems to me a lot like Frodo in that he suffers a great deal for the sake of Middle-earth, and he must remain steadfast in the midst of his losses. I think all of the Ring-bearers share this bond to some degree. The cost of bearing a ring is great. I think Frodo in his experience grew at a spiritual level (at the level of his soul, the core of his being) beyond what most mortals ever did. His experiences made him weary to the soul in a way that elves understand clearly, and why spending his final days among them, being healed as they needed to be healed, was the right option for him. I am really looking forward to exploring that later in this story. I am glad you liked Arwen... she was a force to be reckoned with! Her love and strength of character literally helped change the course of human events. Thank you for the review! | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/13/2005 |
| Wonderful chapter and I understand why it would take so long to write such an emotional chapter. I had never, ever considered the fact that Aragorn had disobeyed Elrond's command that he not become betrothed until he had completed his task. Also Elrond cautioning him about others that might tempt him away from the way that he should go when he really knew what was right as he was in full possession of his mind and body. That was interesting. Was he not angry at Galadriel at all?? Although it still was Arwen's decision even if Galadriel had pushed them together. I so appreciated Glorfindel taking Elrond out and working out some of his anger and then just talking with him. But also then giving Aragorn his blessing and embracing him. Both were needed. And then the fact that Elrond immediately felt the reduction of the tie that bound him and Arwen together broke my heart knowing all that he had been through. Just Elrond and Arwen's whole conversation was so moving and well written. *sigh* I realized I have not said anything about the 'other' part of the story, but it was well done, too. How Elrond enjoyed having all 4 of his children, telling Aragorn it was his time, seeing the twins and Aragorn 'playing' on the balcony, etc. Great chapter and while it was a long time between the chapters, I understand how very difficult it must have been to write for you and it was worth the wait! :) Author Reply: Oh, I would love to hear an Elrond - Galadriel discussion of this! I think, though, that when Elrond was done with Aragorn and he found his anger mostly gone, he understood. Aragorn needed a light at the end of the tunnel, a beacon of hope, to continue on this long and uncertain journey. Trust Galadriel to do that, despite knowing that she will lose her granddaughter. She perhaps saw Luthien's fate and Melian's pain, but Galadriel has always struck me as one who could ruthlessly puch her own feelings aside for others or the greater good. She had to cause herself pain in doing this, but put Aragorn and Arwen first. The whole thing is so complicatedly painful! Elrond and Arwen's whole conversation was so moving and well written. Thank you... I wrote it in clear english and then tried to rewrite it in that objectively elvish way of using words that mean more than they look on the surface. If that came through well, I am very pleased. This chapter has been a blank in my outline, but my problem was that I went first down the path of Denethor's spies... but the real focus worked out so much better bringing it back to Elrond, I think. Thank you for sticking with this despite the long delay! | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/12/2005 |
| I don't know how many times I've read this chapter now. Each time I did, I'd tell myself I'd review after just one more read, but each time, I'd end up so numb from the emotional turmoil, I couldn't think in coherent sentences. Still can't, but time's a tickin' and if I don't tell you how much I loved this chapter, the next one will be up and I'll be even further behind than I am now. The emotion content of this chapter was unbelievable. In the course of writing all three HLs, you've done some marvelous work delving into the inner lives of your characters, but in this one, there was something different...an elegant rawness? I'm not sure how to categorize it and in fact, I wonder if trying to give it a name will somehow diminish it. It's too intimate an emotion to treat lightly. Here, we have not only the pain suffered by Elrond, his children and Aragorn, but the overlaying of how all this is not just about them. The whole of Middle-earth hangs in the balance and depends on what each one of these character's do. When Celebrian sailed, it was a heart wrenching, life crushing moment for her husband and children, but now, the stakes are higher than just one family. You did a masterful job of keeping the tone slow and rich without being sappy. I hate sappy. I'd tell you to cut it out if that were the case, but this chapter was almost climatic in how you drew together so many seen and even unseen threads. Everything was being brought together to set into motion the events Elrond had known would come eventually. There were several scenes I really liked. Bilbo reciting his verse in the Hall of Fire. Gotta love him for doing his own research the old fashion way...and in the way that seemed natural to him. It's not like you don't have eye witnesses to events that happened thousands of years ago standing around, and I'm sure Bilbo knew they were there, but it just seems right that this wasn't his way to do things. He might be a hobbit in Rivendell, but he's still on his own adventure. I liked the scene where the twins and Aragorn appear on the balcony. There's something sort of 'full circle' about that. From child to man with family framing him, supporting him to 'his time'. There's nothing like taking a good beating to clear your head. I'm embarrassed to even tell you how much I loved Glorfindel and Elrond armed and banging one another around. Really, I have no shame. I really did try to look at the big picture and not the big Elrond's discussions with Aragorn and Arwen were well done. I loved Arwen's line about the bride price. Oh, and the part about Elrond feeling his bond with Arwen weakening and his memory of Elros was perfect. For somebody who was speechless after reading this chapter, I've nearly written as many words here as the chapter itself. And I could go on, but I'll stop babbling. I'll just say one more time: I thoroughly enjoyed this chapter. It captured me and took me wholly with each sentence. Wonderful. Karen Author Reply: I am glad you have felt compelled to re-read the chapter (and doubly glad if you aren't re-reading because its not clear!). I like that term, elegant rawness, actually. The emotions felt very raw here, yet these people are not barroom brawlers, able to simply duke it out to feel better. Well, Glorfindel and Elrond sort of did and I assure I was not in the least distracted by all those sword muscles :>) There is something to be said for physical exhaustion though, very useful to wear yourself out before you confront someone. Even though these characters are not in the public eye, being watched and gossiped about, they are not free to just live their lives as they wish. I was thinking, like you, what burdens they carry and how they have to be obedient to this higher purpose without any opportunity to question why or have assurance of the outcome. I am glad you liked the chapter. Thank you for telling me :>) | |