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The Wars of the Valar by Fiondil	8 Review(s)
Aiwen	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/27/2008
I am enjoying this very much. Thank you. Author Reply: You're welcome. I'm glad you are enjoying this. I appreciate you telling me.

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/20/2008
A nursery of baby stars. I love it. It might possibly resemble the Milky Way. I see a definite resemblance between Melkor and Sauroman. Creepy and yet understandable. Yuk. Author Reply: Well, there are star nurseries all over the universe according to the astrophysicists... and of course the Children's galaxy is indeed the Milky Way. Melkor and Saruman (and Sauron) are creepy indeed, though I'm not sure I can ever understand them or their motiviations.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/9/2007
Rather disturbing for Námo to know Melkor is spying on him, particularly as he’s still lacking the confidence we know he has gained in later ages. And this new encounter between them was frightening. Thank godness Oromë was able to prevent any further harm! And what did Melkor do with Varda’s stars? I'm rather worried now. Author Reply: I'm sure Námo was less than pleased to realize that Melkor was targeting him specifically. Oromë is a handy Ayanuz to have in a sticky situation and I'm sure Námo was glad to have him by him at the time considering how frightening the enocunter with Melkor was.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/30/2007
"Sorry. I don’t know why he keeps hounding me while he leaves the rest of you alone." "Are you so sure of that, Little Brother?" Oromë asked quietly and Námo startled at that. Oromë nodded. "We have all been tempted, even Manwë, and more than once. You are not as unique as you think you are." Oromë is surely right, but I can't help but that think Melkor has a special interest in Námo, due to his particular gifts. Someone in charge of death would certainly be a wonderful asset to Melkor... Fascinating detail of the various wavelengths of the Valars' auras. And again, Melkor the seducer ... darkly intoxicating, yes, that's it. The caresses were so different from Melkor’s, soothing and healing where Melkor’s had been just the opposite. It took long moments before Námo could even think straight and he clung to Oromë as if to a lifeline. I had to grin at your choice of words: "straight", in this context, seems rather... fraught... with double meaning. Author Reply: Certainly Melkor may have a special interest in Námo at this time for the reasons you give, but it does not preclude the fact that all are tempted to one degree or another and no one is unique in that regard. This is a lesson that both Námo and we need to learn. Too often, I know, I feel isolated from others believing that my particular situation is unique and no one else could possibly understand or appreciate what I'm going through. And on one level, I'm correct, since my experiences and my reactions to thenm are unique to myself, but that is not to say others have not had similar experiences. To believe I'm the only one is a form of arrogance and pride that can lead to darker emotions if not checked. If "straight" seems fraught with double meaning here, that is your problem, not mine. grin Here it means simply what it means. It's unfortunate that our society has corrupted two perfectly good English words to the point that we can;t use them in their original context without everyone else climbing the walls over it.

eiluj	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/8/2007
Vardium is a hoot! And Aulë’s collection is perfect for him. “I think he wants to set a trap of some kind to expose those who are sympathizers of Melkor” -- That’ll be interesting. Good for Oromë, pointing out that Melkor’s after all of them, not just Námo. Very clever about how Melkor’s aura changed. For all that the words sounded light and amusing there was an undercurrent of power that neither of the younger Ayanumuz could fully resist -- Ick. Author Reply: I had a lot of fun coming up with "Vardium" as a plausible name for what we now call plutonium and what self-respecting smith isn't interested in collecting different kinds of ores for smithying? grin As another reviewer pointed out, the young are self-centered enough to think that they're the only ones suffering. Oromë pointing out that Melkor's after them all, not just Námo, is a necessary wake-up-call for the younger Ayanuz to realize that his situation is not as unique as he thinks. All are tempted, if not in the same mode or degree, and none are free of doubts. With regards to the change in Melkor's aura... we know that at some point his ïncarnate shape is "frozen" into one of horror, as is true with many of his servants, such as the balrogs. This is the beginning of the process, though it will take eons before it is complete. And Melkor's greatest power, I think, was in his voice. It is how he lured so many of the Ainur to him.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/25/2007
Sorry it's taken me several days to review this but I had to gather my thoughts - not that I'll be any clearer today than I would have been the first time I read this chapter a couple of days ago. Like one of your other reviewers I had to read it several times and the only words I can come up with are... brilliant and revolting. Brilliant because it was as wonderful written as your other chapters and stories. I could just see Namo and Orome searching for Melkor across the universe, I loved the colors of the Valar and how Namo's violet was soothing which so fit his future role as comforter. I was as startled as Namo and Orome were when Melkor appeared above them, I thought they were going to confront him and I was wishing they'd call for back-up. I absolutely loved Manwe's embrace and love that he gave to a very frightened and embarrassed Namo... that whole scene was great. You know what the revolting part was, don't you? :) It was also brilliant or it wouldn't be revolting! When Melkor was seducing Namo it made my skin crawl. I felt so sorry for Namo and was so glad when Orome rescued him from Melkor. I do hope that Namo remembers that he is NOT the only one that has been tempted otherwise he'll really start doubting himself. Very well done! Author Reply: I told my beta-reader that even as I was writing that seduction scene I felt as if something slimy were slithering across my soul, leaving me feeling slightly soiled. But that's what evil does (and why I upped the rating because I have a feeling this won't be the last such scene with Melkor). Luckily, Oromë kept his head and was able to effect a rescue and call for help. Whether Námo remembers that he's NOT the only one so tempted by Melkor remains to be seen. His self-confidence has been shattered and it will take some time for him to regain it. In spite of the revolting part, I'm glad you found the chapter brilliant otherwise. Thanks for reviewing.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/23/2007
A horrible confrontation, and I, too, am glad Orome was there to draw Namo away before Melkor could take from the young Vala what he wished of him. Now, where indeed are the guards? Author Reply: Where indeed? We will discover that and what trouble Manwë must see to in the next chapter. Stay tuned.

Edlyn	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/23/2007
Whew! That was a ride and a half, meldonya! I've read the chapter three times since you posted it and it STILL grabs me and won't let go! All right, here are my thoughts and comments starting with the beginning of the chapter: Brrr! I'd shiver, too, to find that Melkor was waiting for me! I definitely liked meeting Oromë and finding out more about him. I liked his explaining that he didn't disapprove of Námo riding the plasma wave but that he really would prefer not to have to hear Varda going off about it. Oromë's comment about Námo's strange tastes in entertainment and Aulë's heavy-metal collecting reminded me of hearing one of my older relatives commenting on a cousin of mine whose favourite leisure activity is skydiving and base-jumping and my youngest sister who for many years collected beer cans. So Námo is an adrenaline junkie and Aulë is a collecting geek . There are worse hobbies out there! "Vardium" LOL! I find it interesting that Námo's favourites all have to do with things that involve high degrees of energy; supernova plasma waves, very radioactive elements and the like. There's a lot of power in both of them and I wonder if part of what makes Námo so vulnerable to Melkor is his attraction towards things of high energy and therefore great power. The thrill of balancing on the very edge of life, death, disaster or whatever else is addictive, so it seems to me that Melkor is offering the ultimate thrill to Námo, feeding his addiction, so to speak. "Or perhaps he set off this supernova for the explicit reason of luring you here for your little... chat." Oh, that was an absolutely terrifying sentence. And it not only made Námo angry; it certainly had to have made him feel guilty, especially as there had been life developing on one of the destroyed planets. Which goes to show just how thoroughly nasty Melkor is. He could have chosen a system that had no burgeoning life on it to destroy if all he wanted to do was to get Námo in a particular place at a particular time. But he had to have selected this one on purpose, perhaps knowing that the guilt that Námo would feel could be used to drag him into such despair that he'd stop fighting the temptation and join with Melkor. Again, brrrr! If I needed any further proof that Námo is still a youngling, it was his surprise when Oromë told him that Melkor had tempted all of them and that more than once. Younglings are self-centered by nature and part of growing up is the realisation that others experience similar, if not the same, temptations and troubles as they do. I'm certain that each of the Ayanumuz have flaws that Melkor is using when he tempts them. Hmmm, it would be interesting to try to figure out just what Melkor was tempting each of them with... No, I shouldn't go there, I have enough plot bunnies running around bitng my ankles without letting more into the house. Oh, my! What IS Melkor doing to the stars? I'm sure we'll find out, eventually. I was surprised to find it was the elder of our two hunters who needed to be reined in from disobeying Manwë's orders, typically one would think it would be the younger who would be more likely to do that. "When you have finished discussing how you will stop me, why don’t you come out from behind that star and join me?" I about had a heart attack when Melkor said that, thank you very much! If the Ayanumuz can have heart attacks I'm sure Námo and Oromë would have just about had one, too. Melkor's attempt to take Námo and the aftermath was so emotionally overwhelming (I was literally shaking the first time I read it) that it has taken three readings to be able to get my thoughts in any sort of order regarding it. Frankly, the first thing that came to mind was that what Melkor was doing was tantamount to rape. And Námo's reactions were right in line with those of a victim of rape; shock, shame, anger, hate, withdrawal, assumption of blame, guilt, grief, residual fear... Thank Eru that Oromë was there! I shudder to think of what would have happened if Námo couldn't have gotten away from Melkor. No, I'm not going there, either. The healing of Námo's fëa was lovely and perfectly balanced the terror of the preceding paragraphs. I was crying when I read *You are my best beloved, with whom I am well pleased. Love is SO very tangible in those words. And then you gave us a little humor to lighten things up a bit though the situation they are in is serious. Námo's interaction with Vairë was sweet and I have to admit her "Do I look like moondust to you?" was absolutely priceless. I'll be emailing you privately with any further thoughts because I don't want this review to be longer than the chapter . Hugs, Edlyn Author Reply: Thank you for your comments, Edlyn. That you had to read this chapter three times in order to do write any comments stuns me, though I am grateful. I will not overburden the system by commenting on every part of your comments except to say that my beta-reader described what was happening to Námo with the same words you did: rape. Spiritual rape, yes, but rape nonetheless. Because of the intensity of this one scene and the possiblity of future scenes of a similar nature where Melkor is concerned I decided to up the rating of this story to PG-13, just to be on the safe side. Luckily Oromë was smart enough to call for help rather than try to handle Námo himself, and Vairë insisting on coming along with Manwë shows that her concern for him is more than just what one would have for a fellow Ayanuz.

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