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Lúthien's Gift  by Fiondil 1 Review(s)
lwarrenReviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/3/2006
Of course! I had suspected, but was not entirely sure! I do love your characterizations of these three Valar, who in the past have always seemed somewhat aloof. Here their compassion shows, however, and I especially enjoyed the Doomsman and his surprising wink at Melian.

Once the request is made, it is Namo and Melian who captured my interest completely. She had never forgiven Namo or Eru for her daughter, and this perhaps was the bitterness that kept her from Elu, once he was released from Mandos (not wanting to defile his new innocence with her own lingering grief and bitterness). Those tears she shed were the first steps toward her own complete healing, I suppose. I was glad for her. The entire explanation given by Namo, and then Manwe concerning Luthien and their impressions of her was wonderful.

So, Iluvatar is on the move! What a thrill I had reading that phrase! And chill bumps as Manwe asks Melian formally. ..."So I ask thee who was once Queen of Doriath: wilt thou go? Wilt thou put aside thy oath for Iluvatar's sake...and for ours?" and her answer..."Yea, Lord, I will go, for thou dost bid me."

(Mari said you had a wonderful gift of writing dialogue - I must agree wholeheartedly!) This was awesome! (And I find the use of Quenya scattered here and there very effective!)

linda

Author Reply: Alassiel always thought that Námo has gotten a bad rap for being the big party-pooper of all times, and perhaps Tolkien was at fault there in his description of this particular Vala, but no one is that simplistic in character. I wanted to show that there was more to this character than normally meets the eye and make him, if not actually more "human", then more accessible so that readers might see past the stereotypes to the "real" person Námo is, and ultimately to the real persons the other Valar are.

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