Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

They Did Not Take Root In That Land  by perelleth 5 Review(s)
elliskaReviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/3/2007
This is outstanding! I was enjoying the beginning part--an overworked King buried in maps and paperwork, his thoughts on begetting days and his youth and the surprise everyone had for him...that was great!

But I absolutely loved the part with the mallorn seeds. I have been looking forward to that through the whole story and I absolutely loved that scene and everything after it. I love the relationship Oropher and Gil-galad have in your stories. Perfect! Great story!

Author Reply: Thank-you, elliska! The image of the mellyrn ailingin Lindon and then thriving in Lorien under the power of Galadriel is what inspired the tale. The awe with which LEgolas spoke of the mellyrn in Lorien always made me think that they would be something of great reverence for the wood elves...a special token for them of what awaited them beyond the waters... Even if we know they never got to grow outside lorien, :-(

I am glad that you like my take on the relationship between Oropher and Ereinion. I always read Oropher's reckless charge in Dagorlad as forced by the independent temperament of his own warriors, and he bedning to his people's ways, not out of spite towards Gil-galad. I don't think there woud be a particular high esteem between them, but a healthy and wise respect built through the long years. Glad that you enjoyed this!

erunyauveReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/17/2007
>>Oropher had to laugh at that, watching the assorted gathering and conceding the point, although he was not sure that a Dwarf, or a Druadan, or even a Man, would ever make it to the heart of his forest.

He's obviously reckoned without his grandson.

The gift turned out wonderfully - I can only imagine the kind of detail and perfection elves could put into something like that. I think part of its significance is the way Gil-galad's childhood was interrupted - he has a lot of unfinished memories in Beleriand.

>>The End

::cries::

Author Reply: LOLOL! Thank you Erunyauve, I ma glad hat you enjoyed this tale. It came out a bit darker than New Beginnings, but as the age advanced thimes obsiouly got darker.

And yes, Oropher was not taking into account his own grandson, who would be firends with a dwarf and with a man! :-)...But hey, his son was but recently married!

Thank you very much again for your encouraging words.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2007
I do love your Oropher, Perelleth. You've captured his orneriness and his softness and his conflict over the world he lived in.

I'm so jealous of the map gift. GRRM was here yesterday, saying he remembered when the Tolkien craze hit when he was in college. People wore "Frodo lives" buttons, for instance. And they had posters in their dorm rooms. And what was on that poster? A map of ME, because what Tolkien had done was make it a place people wanted to go.

Author Reply: Thank you, daw! I would have said that you were busy writing! :-)

Oropher is definitely an entertaining character to write! :-)

I though tof it as a 3D model made out of clay, with relief, and rivers and buildings and forests, rather than a map... but it is the same feeling, I suspect, that we get when looking at ictures or watching videos of the holidays... being reminded of people and places. I would love as well to have such a thing! :-) YEs, Tolkien did create a place where we all want to go..and meet the people who lived there!:-)

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/15/2007
A happy conclusion! Which is what I, at least, was hoping for. ;)

I am glad we got to go to the party and see how much Gil-galad appreciated his special gift. But, surprisingly (or maybe not) the celebration was practically a stag party. Aside from Miluinn, Gil-galad seems to have few close relationships with women. Hmm, have the females around him been too often predatory instead of nurturing? Or has Cirdan's seemingly bachelor lifestyle influenced him? You make me wonder...

There are two points in particular I do want to spotlight, though.

One is how you brought back the mellyrn seeds as a symbol of the ideals of quendi kind in Ennor. And, how those ideals might be meant to flourish elsewhere than staid Lindon. That was very nice.

Two was the presenting of the arrow as a outward symbol of alliance. I know it could be considered a standard medieval gesture, however I prefer to think this was the beginning of the ritual, an explaination to the same kind of exchange between Gondor, the older settled kingdom of men, and Rohan, the kingdom of a different simpler sort of men who had once wandered and still lived closer to the land.

In all, this has been a good historical-interlude gap-filler. Very enjoyable! Although, we always hate to see the end. But, that is what come with a beginning and middle. And, something with a beginning, middle, and end is the only way to make any long history into many wonderful stories. imho

So, please keep at it?


Author Reply: Thank you, Redheredh! As always, your thoughtful reviews make me ponder and consider! :-)

Yes, weapons exchanging is far more ancient than middle ages! And since Gil-galad was giving him his beloved trees from beyond the seas, I thought that Oropher would as well gift him with a piece of the forest he loved... trees for trees, although of course, it was as well a token of alliance between realms as war brewed in the horizon... ;-)

This tale flourished about forests: Mellyrn and the sentnce of the title, and te picture of the mellyrn in distant lorien and the raveged forests of southern Eriador... Given the wistsfulness with which both Haldir and Legolas refer to the mellyrn in Lorien in LOTR, I guessed they did cause an impression among the Wood elves, and that made me wonder how they had reached there. So I thought they would have been a good signal for the Wood elves of the hope and wonders that awaited them beyond the waters... so that they would not forget that they as well belonged there. It was only fair, as Ereinion discovered, that those living inland would as well have a reminder of Valinor. I am glad that you liked that! :-)

And regarding women... whatever my thoughts, honestly I think this had all the markings of a true bachelor party! :-)

I will keep at it. It gives me pleasure, the chance of refelcting on stories and characters that I like and to interact with good friends.

Thanks again, adn take care.


eilujReviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/14/2007
An interesting and complex story. I loved Ereinion's present and his reaction to it.

"And without awaiting Gil-galad’s signal" -- that line just made me howl. Oropher was one contrary, contrary elf!

Author Reply: Oropher was one contrary, contrary elf! Independent? Self-willed? :-)
Thank you, eiluj. I believe the story could have done with a bit more editing, but Rl intruded and I was left without time or inspiration enough. I am glad that you liked it, though.

Return to Chapter List