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Stewards of Arda by perelleth	9 Review(s)
elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 5/16/2008
I am definitely going to have to have to go read the chapters in Lost Tales with Ainu. I can't believe I don't remember him. This is really great! Author Reply: HEhehe, don't worry, the lord of time is almost a side note in those tales..but I did love the idea of him sending his children day, month and year to weave the rope that would tie the sun to MAnwë's hand...and to the earth. Tying the sun down to a rock during the solstice is a widespread ancestral habit that can be found among different cultures, so of course it rang a chord when I read it and stood until I found how to put it ot use!

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/12/2008
Well gee, I think I am going to take a lesson from Bodkin and respond in a second review! ;) g You do not have to repeat disclaims for any element in your story. You selected from the many bits that Tolkien thought up and combined them beautifully on a plate of your own design. The same with the natural settings you chose. My comments about those things I enjoyed were to say that you did a good job of packaging it all up and catering to many tastes and that I appreciated particular tidbits, Tolkien's and your's, you included in the lovely meal. Please you deserve the credit and praise your readers have given you for this entire feast of words. Really, I did not mean to burden you about the hair color thing. Such details are my vice, not yours. My apologies for setting you off over a nit-picky quibble, because I think we are in agreement about a lusterous, light grey - a sort of platinum blonde, a polished mithril - color. lol! Maybe it is a cultural or generational thing about calling someone older "silver-haired" and to what degree we mean their hair is lighter than the usual grey associated with age. Not exactly snowy-white or we would have said that instead. Personal associations seem to be the real point. Tolkien seems to associate particular grey-elves with Telperion (telpe silver), just as certain light-elves are associated with Laurelin (laure gold). Like the Silvery Moon and Golden Sun. Celeborn and Galadriel. The descriptive words he uses for the White Tree and its scions are shining and white, never grey. Galadriel's hair was described as a combination of the luster of the Trees, which certainly did not include grey. The Lady would have a fit. ;) hehe!My own associations of "silver-haired" tend towards the very, very pale. Such as the Lone Ranger's white horse, Silver. And, depending on the movie, Richard Gere's lusterous silver locks. See, just a silly quibble... apparantly one I cannot seem to let go of either. sheesh God is Love and Love of Life Oh yes, just write some more, and I will oblige! Just write some more, please! After you've rested up and feel restored, of course! Author Reply: hehehe, I chose to follow the silver thing and explore my own mental associations!:-) It was a welcome distraction from the useless and stupid day to day nit-picks, so I really enjoyed the chase, absolutely! There is a one last chapter being polished.Provided that there is no other mosquito involved, and that the right mood hits, it will take shorter to show up, I hope.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/10/2008
Ah, Perelleth, this story is so moving, well, written, and intricately layered, it's taken me so long to review because I don't feel I can do it justice. But I can't let it go any longer without letting you know how much I enjoyed it. Your command of language is stunning, the imagery and settings are so beautiful, and the very Tolkien-esque sense of great doom was splendid. I'll try to be back with something more coherent later, but really, this is spectacular. Author Reply: You are more than welcome, meckinock! I am glad to know that you liked it. At times I fear I am frying my kind readers' brains -as well as mine- on the process, since long, intricate stories and chapters are as difficult to read as they are to write. So thanks for taking the time to reviewing as well!

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/7/2008
Alrighty then! A bit delayed, but here we go! First off, I want to say the descriptions and images used throughout are quite poetic. Lovely storytelling and a lovely comment on what ‘noble failure’ truly means besides. "Sometimes a noble failure serves the world as faithfully as a distinguished success." Edward Dowden - and an Irishman might know better than most. ;) I loved this prequel to “Many Fruitless Victories”. Ah, Fate and Free Will! One of my favorite themes, as you know! On this earth, gravity is an irrefutable law of physics – everything will fall to the ground. At lease, until this planet is unmade. But in the meantime, mankind can fly - even without wings - because there were those who met the challenge to defy gravity. That opening scene was so much fun! Yay! Ingil made an appearance! It had the heartwarming irony you do so well. Finarfin, worried and harassed, was a fun focus. The formal rituals of respect you retained, a lord father’s request and a faithful son’s leave-taking, were pleasing to see. I think, Finarfin might almost insist on such paternal manners as a way to connect with the son he feels distanced from. Galadriel’s going with Gandalf got me to wondering whether all of her brother’s previous attempts were meant on her behalf. ;) Also, another “grey-cloaked figure” is mentioned! Galadriel was someone I thought might have been the figure on the eagle, come to help out, ya know. I really like that she was not a helper ‘goddess’ but “curious and intrigued as an elfling”. That felt a bit more real for her character during this adventure. Although , she was still the perfect means to help accomplish Manwe’s intention! Her hopes and pleas would certainly be more heartfelt than almost any other’s, and thus influence even by Aluin. As well, a component of the theme I really like was not robbing someone of a choice by denying it to them. Being given choices is integral to the idea that free will actually exists. I thought it lyrical that in the Silm measuring time began with the waxing and waning of the Trees. However, I really like this idea that Time itself started earlier and represents a gift, in the same vein that death does for Men. It is mortality for the Ainur, which is the same gift but suited to their nature. I really like that “hawser” and “Ship of Time” image, too. Loved seeing the return of the lynx and hearing the Song. That was interesting comparing mankind to mistletoe. Being American, I really liked the white bison (buffalo), where usually would be a white stag. Ack, a quibble… I couldn’t go without absolutely any, now could I? You have been describing Celeborn as “grey-haired”. He was not; that was Thingol, who has steely hair. Cirdan and Celelborn have silver hair; that means white-haired. Celeborn’s vow had me cheering! Here is an elf that gets things done! It fit will how he thought about the greater role of the Firstborn and then got down to a more individual role. Think Globally, but Act Locally, eh? ;) His return and conversation with Thomas and Maria had a rather, enjoyable, surreal feel to it. Or maybe, a portent feel. And a lezsi! Well, of course!! I like how you brought back the ritual respect used earlier and invoked the continued sense of noblesse oblige - not only between king and subject, prince and cause, father and son, but gods and mortals. I also like how you had Manwe admit that he also had choices and limitations. And he too would place his faith in others to do what he could not by his own hand. He has the courage and wisdom to delegate, that is to give tasks to the capable and trust their judgment as much as his own. The trait and talent of true leaders. The subjects of God is Love and Love of Life I think I will leave for another time. Lastly, back to the humour you do so well! :D Ha! Look out for Eager!Eonwe. Gosh, I enjoyed this chapter, the whole story as well. Can’t you tell? Thank you again for this present – thank you very much. Oh dear, one last quibble. I think you meant to have Ingil shouting instead of shooting at poor Finarfin. ...shooing? Author Reply: THank you Redheredh! This long story is becoming almost a torture to complete, but I am greatly encouraged knowing that you enjoy it so much. Fate and Free Will are what the song is about in the end, I suppose, and even if I know my own thoughts about this, it was more difficult than anticipated to put it down through storytelling... and the interludes in valinor took longer than i had thought. I figured that Finrod would try somehow to get back to Celeborn and the othres and bring them back, while Manwe might thought that their remaining there had a meaning for Arda's ulitmate fate... Aluin is directly borrowed from the Book of Lost tales, in which it says that it was Aluin's children who tied the ships of Arien and Tilion to the rock in taniquetil, and brought TIme measurement in arda for the first time, and that it somehow disturbed the valar. YAvanna's trees marked differences and shedules, as if to say, but time measuring towards Doom began with Aluin, and i really like the depth of that veresion, something good as well coming out from the death of the trees and the flight of the Noldor, and the apparent ruin of Valinor's blessing: the true promise that Arda unmarred was actaully on its way, as Time ticked off by the courses of the new lights. All I did was introducing that into the story... I am not good at inventing!!! :-) And I am so grateful for yuor long and thoughful reviews, for you always make me think, and questions and reflections from others is what feeds my inspiration. YOu got me thinking for a whole week about the silver, grey or white haired thing, and here comes my answer. First i thought it was my mistake, since in both my first languages silvery when applied to hair (animals or people) or tree bark means light grey. But i went to the dictionary and found that, in English, too, silver has a meaning of "lustrous grey". It is a question of mental images, I suppose, i have always pictured silver as a geyish, metallic quality. In LOTR it says that Cirdan looked "old and grey" HAd he had snowy white hair and beard, Tolkien wouldn't have remarked on the "grey", I suppose. Also in "the war of the jewels" I found that Thingol had "hair as grey silver", and that was the case with his distant kin such as Cirdan. And since Celeborn is also related to Thingol and the ELmoi as well, and since silver can be lustrous grey and silver trees are not exactly snowy white but greyish white... I will hold on to my mental picture of Celeborn and Cirdan with silvery -as light grey- hair, rather than snowy white! :-) And regarding the white bison...It had to be a bison in Bialowieska, since it is one very few places in which the European bison still thrives... it used to be the lord of our northern forests, but they became almsot exctint due to hunting in the beginning of the XXth century.. And I'm going back and ask Ingil what he really intended to do to Finarfin! :-) Deep thanks again for sharing your thoughts. The subjects of God is Love and Love of Life I think I will leave for another time. I am looking forward to it.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/6/2008
I love the layer of lords, lordships, and loves here in these last two chapters. Very thought-provoking as we see what we ourselves do to damage that left to us and as we seek to set things back into balance once more. We are indeed stewards, and may we be worthy ones in the end. Author Reply: THank you, Larner. This tale took three years to complete! so I am glad that you enjoyed it. Balance is the ultimate quest for us, I think.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/5/2008
Thank you so much for this lovely conclusion! I have to get my income tax forms done and turned in before I can get back with a real review. But, I wanted to let you know now how great your talent is, and thank you for your kind unbirthday gift. :D Author Reply: good luck! :-)

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/5/2008
There are some mighty deep thoughts in this story, Perelleth! I truly enjoyed the scene in Valinor, with Finrod's escape attempts and the family around Finarfin. I loved Mithrandir being sent on this 'mission' and that Galadriel not only went, they knew she would go! Aluin as the Lord of Time is fascinating. Time is a dimension that is so far above us sometimes that it is beyond comprehension, especially the idea that Eru exists outside of time, yet entered into Time with us. The Last Battle though, and what it means and whether we can forestall it or change it.... those are deep thoughts. The contrast of fate and doom against free will. Well, it is above me this morning. I have thought much about what it would take to set a tale in both Arda marred and Valinor, with the Dagor Dagorath and the end of all that we know. I am still thinking, and may still be thinking when the end comes! Nonetheless, I applaud you for taking on these deep deep things. They are good to ponder. Author Reply: This is a prequel to the first story that I wrote, "fruitless victories" in which I wrote the "actual" ending of arda, and how Celeborn and his friends managed to "apparently" trick doom, so this was just writing back to the beginning of that race against the clock to save humankind. I find it quite difficult to imagine what the One might have in store for the Valar and the Firstborn, but I find it difficult ot imagine a world in which the Elves and Men could be togehter. That would mean such a deep change in human's nature for the two people to live together... I went with fate and doom not being written on stone. Since none of them know the ultimate will of Eru, it is free will and their inner sense of justice building up what Eru had in mind. I must believe that. But of course I am more than willing to reading your thougths... when you are fit for that. In the meantime, get well soon!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/5/2008
“Maria and I both want the same things,” he started hurriedly, before his courage dissolved away. “Only in a different manner. They are descendants of Galadriel and Celeborn! I'm glad Celeborn was able to provide a compromise. And that, after so much time apart, there is a hint of a compromise for C&G. Mind you, I think dwelling in Aman would drive me mad! Apart from the immortality, they're all surrounded by people who can see through granite and understand underlying motives beyond the comprehension of mystics. Growing up there must be awful - adolescent angst doesn't need to be understood, predicted and dealt with. Let alone ages-old stress. It would seem that the End is Nigh - in elven/cosmic terms, anyway. But Celeborn would be Celeborn if he wasn't determined to fight the long defeat until the last possible moment. It should be depressing, but somehow it's not. Not as long as the battle continues, anyway. And what a meandering comment. Author Reply: SInce there is time, an End was supposed to be... or kind of. IT was fun -once- to try and figure how the approaching end might feel to all these types of characters. THank you for reading, BOdkin.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/4/2008
How odd for the Valar to feel time closing in. I'm also interested in the way you balance the idea of the Song that's always been and the possibility of changing things. Author Reply: Thank-you daw. The end of arda is so open that it gives room for all kind of speculation!

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