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| Neath Anor, Ithil, and Gil by Larner | 14 Review(s) |
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| Virtuella | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/27/2008 |
| I find myself greatly charmed by this story. The concept is a fascinating one, to think that such a wide variety of items made it trough the ages in Middle-earth and finally arrived where they were most needed. Because there were so many of them, and so many recipients, the narrative could heve become rather disjointed, but I felt each section was just the right length and it was easy enough to follow. I also greatly approve of the female smith and her considerable creative power! | |
| Alassante | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 6/24/2008 |
| Here is a copy of the MEFA review I wrote - I really enjoyed Larner's tale of Nerdanel creating more things that were passed on to Middle Earth, things that in the future generations would help to aid and heal rather than destroy as her husband and sons had done. I have always thought that Nerdanel's tale was so tragic. To suffer through what all of Valinor did with the knowledge that it was YOUR husband and children that started the kinslaying. Then to lose them all, lose everything, in such a sudden and painful way, never to return. How much hatred she must have felt for the Simarils and all that Feanor had done. But it was nice to see a tale of her pulling herself up from the ashes rather than playing a victim. Plus the Valar are hard characters to write and I think Larner did a great job showing them as powerful, wise, and compassionate. Very well done! Author Reply: And I thank you so again. If anyone deserves to know healing through fulfilling her profession, I figure it was Nerdanel! Thank you so very much! | |
| Queen Galadriel | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/22/2007 |
| Wow! I don’t know everyone you mention in this story, having still so much of Tolkien’s literature to catch up on, but I know most of the names and I love how you bring them to life. As always, your giving such wonderfully real personalities to those higher powers which too often seem vague and in the background is marvelous and believable. And I love seeing first how all these things were made and then, one after the other, what became of them! God bless, Galadriel Author Reply: This was the one I'd hoped you'd read. Now to get some rest and read YOUR story. Feanor created the three Silmarils; and when they were stolen by Melkor and his father murdered, he chose to abandon Aman and defy the Valar, seeking to appropriate the ships of the Teleri Elves who were mariners and leading to a horrible slaughter of those who sought to protect their ships; then heading across the ice bridge toward the mortal lands, leading his Noldor kindred to Middle Earth. Feanor didn't make it--Melkor had him killed not that far along his way; the vow he and his seven sons made to recover the Silmarils at any cost led to much of the heartbreak of the First Age of Middle Earth. Only one of his sons survived--Maglor, who was a bard of note; and he is said to haunt the coastlines of Middle Earth, bound by his father's oath and the doom pronounced on the eight of them from returning to Aman. But his wife remained there, having refused to be part of her husband's rebellion. There is a part of me, I must suppose, that is somewhat of a feminist; and the idea that Nerdanel has spent the ages since haunting the coastline of Aman as her remaining son is said to do on this side of the Straight Path I find repugnant. Would the Valar not wish to offer her what aid they could, and would not all, including Nerdanel herself, wish to see the balance restored? She also was said to have been an Elven smith, after all! Anyway, I wanted for Nerdanel to find some purpose and to see the Valar seeking aid from her to help counter the destruction her husband's pride caused. Now, I REALLY need some sleep! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/3/2007 |
| I loved this. how appropriate Nerdanel should craft the jewels that help heal.The Valar are wise indeed.I loved the histories you created. Author Reply: I admit to building on stories others have told previously, including the opals wrought by Feanor for his wife to signify their seven sons. But what she might have done as she realized each died is interesting to imagine. Yes, the Valar are wise; and she needs to know she's actively able to make things better. Thanks so much for the comments, Linda. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 12/2/2007 |
| Nerdanel is a rather tragic figure, having to come to terms with what her husband and sons did. She needed healing badly, and I get the feeling it helped her to make these things. And it was fascinating to watch where her tools and jewels ended up later on and how they were used, what an impact they had on the history of Middle-earth. Lovely, Larner! Author Reply: Yes, a tragic figure, but one who has the chance now to make a difference for the better. After looking at several stories in which Feanor is presented as an individual whose unweening pride was so destructive, I felt that there needed to be a countering image and influence somewhere; and I found myself unwlling to believe the Valar would allow Nerdanel to sink totally to one whose wanderings of the shores of Aman would mirror those of her one remaining son in Ennor. Thanks so for the comments. I don't usually write Silmarillion-fiction, but this one was begging to be written, complete with the chance all might be readied for proper healing through the receipt of Nerdanel's creations. | |
| Tigger | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/29/2007 |
| Wow!! What a wonderful and lovely story this is. I also love how Nerdanel achieved her own healing through using her own gifts to help heal the scars on Middle Earth left by her husband. A very lovely and beautiful story. :o) Author Reply: I find the idea that Nerdanel would be expected to wander the shores of Aman grieving for her lost family just grates on me, I find; that she would find some level of healing in the work of her hands serving to help heal what is being done in Middle Earth just felt right! Thank you so much, Tigger. | |
| Andrea | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/29/2007 |
| Wow! I'm really impressed how all those tools, gems and stickpins were handed down from generation to generation to reach at last the members of the Fellowship and their closest friends. I especially loved Durin's suspicion about the strange Elf who traded him the gems (Olorin again?) and how those gems became part of Bilbo's, and later Frodo's shirt studs. You said, Frodo lost them on the stairs to Cirith Ungol. A Dwarf made those for him, taking the stones from the handle of his own battle-axe to set in them, stones he had from his father. Again Wow! It's fascinating how those gems of protection and healing found their way to the one, who needed them most. This is also true for the making of Pippin's scarf! Thank you, Larner, for another great story. Author Reply: I wrote a response earlier--JUST before the ISP from Mordor went down AGAIN. I have Frodo wearing the shirt studs he received from Esme and Sara as he starts the quest, him losing one just after he was wounded, and him wearing the diamond pair Sam brought starting while they're in Rivendell. I never said where he lost the first one of those, but the second was lost on the Stair. This pair set with opals was made for him in Minas Tirith by Gimli, set with gems he took from his battle-axe, and they will come into play in the final chapter of "Stirring Rings." I've indicated in "Stirring Rings" that Olorin had often visited the Mortal Lands in various forms before he took on the form and mission of Gandalf; that he might have been sent on such a mission as this, to see items intended for the future properly distributed for the future, just seemed natural. And that just regular folks like merchants, a farmer's wife who will be the Thain's Lady one day, a few gentlehobbits, and so on might need to pass on the magic and warmth as much as great Elven smiths and warriors and queens among Elves is just something I felt was very likely. And so many of us have loved Pippin's scarf in the movie; it demanded to have a most special beginning, I thought. Thanks so for the comments, Andrea. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/29/2007 |
| Another wow of a story Larner. What wonderful ways to protect and aid ME and those who live there. Opals are my birth stone and I love the many colours they come in so it was great to see them feature. And this is so true.... Námo smiled into her eyes. Is this not but what is asked of any of us who people Arda, child--that we do the best we can to see that all is kept properly in balance and the Light shines equally upon all? of course. Author Reply: I've always loved opals and tigereye and malachite--stones that have true depth to them, and life of a sort. And this is all we are asked, after all. I knew this would mean a good deal to you. Thank you. | |
| Fiondil | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/29/2007 |
| Lovely as usual, Larner. I liked the Valar all coming to bless Nerdanel's work and even helping out at the forge. Sounds like my kind of Valar, as I depict them in Elf, Interrupted. *grin* It was also interesting to trace where everything went and eventually found it's proper place. I'm somewhat confused, though: Gondolin was way inland surrounded by mountains so I'm not sure how "a small grey boat arrived on the shores of Middle Earth off Gondolin". I think you need to rephrase this. The nearest part of the coast of Beleriand to Gondolin would have been Nevrast and Turgon's deserted city of Vinyamar, easily several hundred miles from Gondolin. Author Reply: And where would I be without you and eiluj and the rest to remind me of spelling and basic geography of First Age ME, Fiondil? Have fixed that! And I'm glad you like how the Valar aid her, although I refuse to go into their sartorial accoutrements! Heh! Thanks for the feedback AND the corrections. | |
| eiluj | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 11/28/2007 |
| This is a wonderful, unusual story in more ways than I can adequately comment on. So I will simply say that I enjoyed your portrayal of the Valar, especially their speech in italics (very effective, whether meant to denote mindspeech, or to convey the power of their words, or both). And Nerdanel finding peace through the work the Valar gave her. I liked that she had first to make new tools (new beginnings for her). And sly Olórin on his errand(s) to Middle-earth, suitably recognized by Galadriel. And the survival of all the gems, materials, and tools through the Ages until they came to their proper place. (You don't say, but I assume the gems for the three elven-rings were in there somewhere.) And that Nerdanel was given a final vision -- so many thousands of years later! -- of Frodo with the white gem. [By the way, you want to check the spelling of her name.] I am confused about Andúril's sheath. Since Arwen is there at its commissioning, this doesn't seem to be the same sheath Galadriel had given Aragorn when the Fellowship was in Lórien. But if this sheath is a replacement made as a wedding gift, the sword's name is hardly news. Arwen's presence makes the latter much more likely, but in that case I assume this would be the same leather-worker who had made the sheath Galadriel had given Aragorn scant months earlier -- which I'd think one of them would refer to? I think you did the right thing in changing the timeline of the Elessar's creation. [A late forum acquaintance used to say that when he got to heaven (never dreaming he would be going there so young), he would read "the 5,000 page version of the Silmarillion." I wonder if he discovered a single definitive version of Galadriel's and Celeborn's histories (and the Elessar's) -- or simply *several more* differing possibilities!] Author Reply: Okay, the mistakes are fixed. How I got Nernadel instead of Nerdanel I have no idea--sometimes I'll swear I'm dyslexic or something. But for a long time I was writing Rhuadar instead of Rhudaur, as I think you know. And it IS supposed to be Galadriel and Celeborn at the commissioning of the new sheath. The Elessar stone is a difficult one, as I found when I was rereading UT last evening. If it was done in Eregion by Celebrimbor, it would almost certainly have been at almost the same time as the forging of the Three Rings. But how did it get back to Middle Earth from Aman, where it was taken by Earendil, then, if it could possibly be the original? That Olorin might have visited Middle Earth more than once is something I've felt was probably true; and of course Galadriel would recognize him, even if she wasn't certain what his purpose was. That Celebrimbor gave it to Galadriel just felt right; but not that he waited until she and Celeborn joined him in Eregion. In those stories in which I include communion with the Valar I've always written their part of the communication in italics, indicating they are above the level of the Children of Iluvatar specifically intended to people Arda. (Okay--there is one exception, in "Inequity" in "Not Gonna Happens." In that I just have Namo and Frodo conversing, but once you read it I think you'll understand why.) Tolkien had many story details he hadn't figured out by the time he died. As for Nerdanel--she needed some comfort herself; and I've been wanting SOMETHING to work into my final chapter of "Stirring Rings"--I have it outlined but not written yet, although the second-to-the-last chapter IS written and has been for some time. This gave me a chance to put into place something that will be crucial to the last chapter. Thanks for catching those two bloopers for me! I so appreciate it! Even when I let the stories sit for a time they manage to contain errors, I find. Now, to go into my last story and remove an extra apostrophe! Heh! | |