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Stewards of Arda by perelleth	10 Review(s)
elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/16/2008
I am catching up on reading: I love what priest says to Maglor here. I always felt for poor Maglor, and I can see him still wondering the world in modern times and I like the idea of him finding some comfort in the old priest's words. And the priest is a great character. Author Reply: I'm sorry that it took me long as well to get back to you. THank-you for commenting,elliska. I am prticularly fond of this chapter for many reasons...and it was meant to be somehow a breaking point for MAglor, or at least something that gave him pause enough to start reconsidering... There used to be a catholic priest in Casamance helping the Jola. I recently heard that he died not long ago...I just hope someone else took his place.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/6/2008
I'd hoped to see Maglor here, and was not disappointed. A wonderful thing, to see him accepting the comfort of Father Nino and Insa, and seeing the young man readied for his coming duties. Peace finds those who seek it, even a lost Elven bard.... Author Reply: Of those left behind, Maglor seemed to me the saddest, banished form valinor rather than remainig on his own will... but even a lost elven bard can find comfort in the end.. Thank you for reading. This story belongs to a universe with "many fruitless victories and "chance meeting"

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/13/2007
Hi! It's in the middle of Exam Week here, so I haven't been able to remember to read and review things as often as usual. But I did want to let you know that I read this and that I enjoyed it. Author Reply: Hope everything went well. THis was not the most approrpiate story to have a good time between papes, but I hope you enjoyed the distraction, thanks for letting me know FP, I hope youenjoy the following break.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/10/2007
This is incredible, Perelleth! I love these stories. The modern setting and the elves in it--you are the only author I have read that can pull it off. Maybe because of the details you include, certainly because of how well you capture the elves. I love it. And of course I love the themes. Wonderful! Author Reply: THank you, elliska! It is a challenge to TOlkien readers, I suppose. I for one do not read Elves in modern times, yet I have become slave of my own creation and keep seeing them almost everywhere.. I am glad that you like it!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/6/2007
I just love this, perelleth. Father Nino is a great character - a real selfless priest whose faith gives him sight beyond the everyday - and a genuine philanthropist, too - to whom others are more important than himself. I love what he is doing for the people of the village. And his kindness even extends to the doctor (little though the doctor realises it). And he's right - Insa can do far more for his people as a lawyer than as a rice farmer. And then - the Bakin. Powerful, strong, elemental - and vulnerable. I love the way the old priest can spare his last moments to reassure the tormented elf ... “And I know of guilt, and shame, and forgiveness and redemption…and the deep mysteries of creation. A creator capable of bringing to life a being of light like yourself...cannot fail to take your grief…and shame…and remorse…and turn them into blessing and forgiveness…no matter your deeds,” So what Maglor needs to hear. And he sings ... I hope they do meet again. Eventually. Author Reply: Thank you Bodkin. I was amazed to realizae how may different names of otherworldy spirits would fit with mAglor' identity: a houseless, a doomed king, a forest spirit... the legends and alternative beliefs in this world so fit with Tollien's characters that it is easy to confound Elves with spirits and the other way. And in the middle of it all, a slefless persona, a true steward really to offer him what he needed. A troubled elf finding comofrt in the lesser humans seemed dsomehow fitting. I am so glad that you liked it.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/5/2007
What an absolutely wonderful character is Father Nino. Right off, he made me think of Dr. F. and his life's work on behalf of others. What I like best was Father's deep-rooted faith, which I think, gave him the ability to see the supernatural for what it was. But, he certainly had Maglor's number. I really really really like how to the last he performed his role as priest, including giving the elf absolution - which was not a gift but earned by contrition and penance and restitution. Just as it should be... Maglor flew to them, like a moth to a night fire, hoping to drink their strength and find the source of their courage, their invulnerability against despair that he so badly needed. That was an very enlightening paragraph. Maglor fit well as a Bakin. Oddly, I thought of how the elves become pixies in Western culture and wondered if that was the ultimate fate of the Jola's legends - to diminish and become local color. That almost happened to many Native American beliefs. Will the messenger dolls become trinkets and be made for sale one day? I could not help but feel a parallel between the son of the old friend who continued to send wine and Insa, the heir to his family's business, carrying on for the sake of tradition and the honor that commitment represented. I am glad that you did not entirely remove the deadlier conflicts in these people's lives in favor of the dangerous jungle setting alone. For me, the egret that appeared was not just a feathered honor guard for his tomb, but the spirit of Nino allowed to linger for a while and watch over his village. A beautifully written tale - as always! A touching story of young and old, youth and elder, faith and knowing... Man, I love this series. Author Reply: Thank you Redheredh. THere are many eople out there like Dr. Feldman and Father NIno, thankfully, but it is so easy to forget because those who are not make themselves heard more loudly..but there are always stewards around us, I hope, or at least people wh can inspire us to look at life in a different, more conscious way. The fetish dolls are already being sold as souvenirs, yet it is curious to see how despite all, many african cultures are deeply resilient in the face of westernization. YOu can esaily find people like INsa, with a western background and learning and yet a firm belief in otherworldy, supernatural forces. BUt not everywhere, sadly. External pressures and conflicts slowly and unavoidably make themselves felt in thse most fragile cultures as well. I also believe that the egret was the priest's soul. IT came out of nothng and I was not really sure what for, but he seemed intent to stay and there he remained. I am so thanful for your kind support Redhered, and so glad that you continue to enjoy this series, THere is still one more chapter and an Epilogue to go, and at this pace, I fear I might reach your birthday yet again! :-)

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/5/2007
Father Nino is truly a steward, isn't he? He loves his adopted people and embraces their culture, even when they don't conform to his own ideology. His faith is utter faith and lack of fear in the face of death is inspiring - exactly what Tolkien would have hoped for. I loved how at home he had become with the Jola, and how death for them is just a part of life - and a welcome part. It was nice to imagine a departing spirit carrying away their messages to their departed loved ones. I absolutely loved how the Jola saw Maglor as a forest spirit, but Father Nino saw him as he truly was. I loved his absolution of Maglor, and the revelation that Maglor has been searching, always searching for answers, and sometimes finding them in these fragile mortals. Your use of language is amazing. What a lonely image of Maglor, "stranded on the shore of hither." This story is truly beautiful, Perelleth. Author Reply: Father Nino is truly a steward, isn't he? That is the premise, yes.. :-) THat there are also many people who are true stewrds, caring for the others and for their environment and seeing beyond self as well as any elf would do. IT was comofrting to Maglor to have a mortal offering forgiveness to him... and that from a man he respected. I was comforted while writing it, and I am glad that you enjoyed it as well, thank you.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/4/2007
Let me add: I just read Daw's review and I agree you had some outstanding wordsmithing going on here. Hope was unnecessary when confronted with more reassuring certainties, but hope, he reminded himself, was also the truth of youth; and youth was the only disease that was actually cured by time. I also love that line. It was perfect for where Father Nino was at the time, taking pills he knew offered little other than making a young doctor feel as if he were making a difference. I must have read it three or four times when I came to it in the story. However, I would beg to differ with the good priest. He had not been completely cured of hope, just of youth. :>) Author Reply: That sentence has been with me for more than twenty years... yet it came out naturally! :-) This priest was a very humble man, to the point that he insisted on losing the capital F! :-)

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/4/2007
Perelleth, that was beautiful. Even as the priest realized his time had come and he fought to finish a last bit of business, there was a peace about him and a sense that all was as it should be. He had the chance to take one last survey of his life's love, the people and the village, the children, and the opportunities he had been able to help offer them. Maglor was, of course, wonderful. Father Nino didn't know who or what Maglor was, but he did know him well. The priest's words of forgiveness gave me chills. A few simple words went deep, penetrating through several layers. They connected man and elf, creation and destruction, and the hope all things hinge on. I suppose little is more powerful than love and forgiveness, though there are other things that make more noise. I'm glad Insa will go back and complete his degree. There are more ways than one to be a defender of your people. I'm also glad he was granted his mask. He's set now to come fully into his own and help his people. And, much to Maglor's pleasure, I'm sure, he got a good glass of current-age Dorwinion. Author Reply: Thank you KAren. YOu know this was going to be your birthday present, so you can take it as a belated one. A life reaching its end in peace and fulfilment is something that makes me wonder, and one who even had the time and strength left to comfort a hurting one seemed so moving to me. The fact that death was a gift of Eru to the Second Born is something that always strikes a chord within me. I?m glad that you enjoyed i. YOu are mostly to blame for this ongoing, pparently neverending bit of therapy, so I thank you doubly... :-)

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/4/2007
I am officially blown away. This is just stunning, Perelleth. You weave legends, knowledge of the jungle, Tolkien, and a compassionate sense of character together in a way that I can only envy. I started trying to quote the lines I like best, but I think there might be too many of them. Hope was unnecessary when confronted with more reassuring certainties, but hope, he reminded himself, was also the truth of youth; and youth was the only disease that was actually cured by time. That's a great line, Perelleth. Sometimes I think medicine does so badly in dealing with age because so many of the praticioners are still young. I also really liked the "flighty" autumn sun. Every once in a while, you come out with these terrifically innovative uses of words. keeping the secret of the jungle’s affairs. Wow. Wow throughout. This was wonderful. Author Reply: Thank you Daw! I'm so pleased and proud that you approve of the flighty autimn sun! I borrowed it form another, unfinished story, because it really sounded accurate as well as playful enough to me.. :-) I have found - I knew it but writing I jhave found out- that legends really fit anywhere. The other day I was totally blown away when reading meckinock's chapter and when Denthor compares Aragorn with a changeling left in the place of a child... and i found it so fitting, more than if she had written a cuckoos egg in a robin´s nest. There are all these things that have made humans wonder and reflect cross the world, time, ages and cultures and that are deeply woven in the same feeligns and events. So I think that TOlkine´s depth ad mastery os also proven in the sense that his world does fit in our deep mythical imagination. THanks again. I am glad that you liked it.

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