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Fiondil's Tapestry  by Fiondil 14 Review(s)
LisselindeReviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/27/2008
Ah, another brief look into Gandalf's history! This was very well done. We see the two istari about whom we know very little. We see Radagast, whose part is small, yet important, and we see Saruman, snobbish, high-handed, arrogant right from the start. Then, we see Gandalf the Grey, compassionate, thoughtful, and, as you said, the wisest of the five.
I do have to wonder why Manwe made Saruman the head of the order when Gandalf was clearly the wisest. Was it because he was the eldest, or was Manwe simply not using good judgement? Now, what details will I next see in this tapestry?

Author Reply: I thought it would be interesting to show just how the selection of the Istari came about and Gandalf's role in it. I have a feeling that leadership was determined by seniority rather than by merit. Or perhaps the Valar suspected that Saruman would not have accepted anyone else as the head of the Order and so gave him the job. Or perhaps Manwe thought that giving the leadership role to Saruman would be a way of assuaging Aule who's already lost one of his Maiar to Melkor and pitting Saruman against Sauron would be a way of expiating any blame Aule might have about it... or who knows why? Only that that's how it came about.

Nieriel RainaReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/30/2008
I don't think I reviewed this one yet either. I liked very much how you showed the different personality of the Istari by how they clothed themselves. As always, Olórin shines. I think he's make a great grandpa, don't you? Or adopted uncle. *grin*

Author Reply: I think Olórin would make an excellent great-grandpa or adopted uncle. *grin* Glad you liked this. Thanks for letting me know.

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/27/2008
I really enjoyed this... it was interesting seeing how they might have come to the decision on what form they should take and I loved seeing Olorin going through several different ideas before settling on the older men. I love his sense of humor and the love that shines through him... just the way you portray him.

I always wondered what was up with the Blue Wizards... where they disappeared to and if it was something Tolkien intended to write about someday or if it was something that he just put in there and purposefully left vague because we don't always know what happened to people in real life...

Anyway, very enjoyable tale.

Author Reply: Thanks, Radbooks. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. Tolkien, himself, was rather vague about the Blue Wizards and somewhere, perhaps in one of his letters, he states that he thinks that they failed in their mission and took on the roles of demidivine rulers which we read about from our own histories and legends and myths. I think he might be right. Certainly, they were never heard from again.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2008
An interesting look at how they came to the shapes they were to take! And with our dear Curumo--had Olorin indeed chosen the shape of the horse, I suspect you know what part of the animal's anatomy I think would be most predominant for Saruman! Heh!



Author Reply: No guess there. LOL Olórin (and Námo) sort of took over the story. I think they make a good team.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/24/2008
You gave Isildur very interesting dreams, Fiondil - a look three thousand years into the future. That not even the Valar know that he saw hobbits is fun. When do we get to know more than them? ;-)

It's not so surprising that Námo wasn't entirely comfortable with Curumo chosen. I can certainly see him as haughty, if not downright arrogant, from the beginning. Luckily Manwë didn't disregard Námo's feelings and agreed to send Olórin, too - we know that was what helped to save Middle-earth in the end. Without Gandalf and his interest in hobbits, his doubt about Bilbo's ring and finding out just *what* Bilbo had found, without him breaking Wormtongue's hold over Théoden and his rallying the forces of Gondor things would have turned out differently. Of course Frodo and Sam deserve the main praise, but I sometimes think Gandalf is a bit underrated.

Ah, so Curumo brought it on himself that he had to appear as an old man instead of an elven prince or the like? Very good! *evil grin* Somehow it seems logical that it was the humble Olórin who not only found the right disguise, but who suggested that they feel hunger etc., though of course most of the others weren't overly fond of the idea.

Author Reply: According to the Tale of Years, Hobbits don't appear in Eriador until 1500 years after the Wizards arrive in Middle-earth, so I thought it would be logical to assume that perhaps not even the Valar knew about them initially and certainly Isildur wouldn't have recognized them for what they were in his dreams.

It's also possible that the Valar would've insisted that the Istari suffer from the same physical conditions as Elves and Mortals would, such as hunger and fatigue, but Olórin beat them to the punch, which is why none of them argued to the contrary even though Olórin's fellow Istari (with the exceptio of Aiwendil) found the idea unappealing.

And I agree that Gandalf's role is sometimes underrated by others, though not by Atar. *grin*

Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/24/2008
I love your writing, your stories are some of my favorites and I love seeing updates posted. This chapter was great and it made me really want to read about what happens when Gandalf daies after the Balrog and then later when Saruman dies. I wonder how the Valar dealt with them, though obviously much better with Olorin than Curinur(sp). Anyways thanks for another wonderful story that will have me imagining many other posibilities for the next few days.

Author Reply: You're welcome. I'm glad my stories are firing your imagination in wondering what might happen next. Perhaps I will have an opportunity to write about what happened to Gandalf after he dies but before he's sent back to Middle-earth to complete his mission. As for Saruman, I'm afraid even the Valar rejected him and he went the way of Sauron into the Void. Thanks for reviewing.

ellieReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/24/2008
cool! I love it! The personalties of the 5 you show here are so filled with foreboding and foreshadowing of what they will becopme later when put to the test. well done! love olorin...

Author Reply: Thanks ellie. I tried to show that even from the beginning these five exhibited certain characteristics that would affect their roles as Istari once they arrived in Middle-earth. I'm glad you think I succeeded.

EdlynReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/24/2008
Hee! I loved this, particularly Olórin's line : "Actually, my lord, I was almost ready to go with the Dwarf, instead." I now have a mental image of Saruman as a dwarf trying desparately to see over the balcony of his room in Orthanc when he's trying to convince Theoden to turn around and go home.

Hearing about Isildur's dreams made me shiver. Atar definitely has plans and designs far beyond that of anyone's kenning, even the Children of His Thought.

Curumo is an arrogant (mumblety-mumble) isn't he? He definitely reminds me of Aulendil/Sauron. Aiwendil was sweet (I'd love to be able to tramp around with him and learn about birds and plants and things) and Pallando and Alatar... well, they are quite ambiguous characters aren't they? It was interesting seeing what Námo's opinion on the Maiar/soon-to-be Istari's characters.

Olórin's sense of humour really shows in this as well as his wisdom and compassion. His gentle ragging of Curumo in regards to incarnating was fun to read about. He has a perfect sense of proportion in regards to how far to go in his teasing. I think you really captured the essence of Olórin's personality in your description of how he accepted the mission: humilty and delight. Of course, there is a lot more to him than that but I think these are the key aspects of his personality which permitted him to succeed whilst Curumo, Palandro and Alatar's personalities, hindered them in the fulfillment of he mission's goals (although I think that Atar certainly used Curumo's eventual disobedience and corruption to good effect in regards to preparing Merry and Pippin for the tasks they would have to do later on in the War). Aiwendil is usually depicted (in fanfic anyway) as a clueless cipher so it made me very happy to see him as a being of power and even if he has a rough time dealing with Curumo (something which I think was due more to Curumo than Aiwendil as far instigating arguments and insults) he's got the right mindset for being a real help to the Eruhini.

Námo was right on form all through this story in the way he interacted with everyone and his observations of the Maiar.

Something that caught my attention was Aulë not taking his servant to task for his attitude and rudeness (he hasn't seemed the sort to stand for that kind of thing, IMO). I got the feeling that he was about to deliver a sharp set down but Atar prevented him from doing so.

Altogether this was a wonderful read and your talent for description (as well as characterization) really shows. I loved the way you showed Olórin's appearance changing to that of Gandalf the Grey. Great job, meldonya!

Edlyn

P.S. Oh, I noted a couple of typos as I read: '"Disguised as what?" Námo asked with an amused looked'--you need to drop the "ed" from looked--and 'He, in fact, became quite ugly in features from his former beauty...'--is there a word missing here or perhaps you could change "from" to "compared to".

Author Reply: Thanks for pointing out the typos. I've gone in and corrected them.

I now have a mental image of Saruman as a dwarf trying desparately to see over the balcony of his room in Orthanc when he's trying to convince Theoden to turn around and go home.

That would've been too funny.LOL

I'm glad you liked my characterization of Olórin and Námo in this story. As for Aulë, I have a feeling Manwë, Námo AND Atar clamped down on the poor Vala and confinced him to let it go. Obviously, we know that Saruman got his in the end so that's okay.

I'm glad you enjoyed this little fic. Thanks for reviewing.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/24/2008
Hm, so Saruman was an arrogant S.O.B., with apologies to Atar, from the very beginning and the others were as they appear in the books, Pallando and Alatar a little vauge, Awendil a little immature and Olorin a little on the mischievous side but still a very smart Istari!:<) I still think he would have been the best choice for Head of the Order but Atar has his own agenda! Going as Dwarfs would have pleased Aule though.
More please,
Lynda

Author Reply: I tried to show that even from the beginning each of the Istari exhibited the characteristics that are shown or alluded to in the books. I have to admit I had fun with Olórin though showing off a bit to his so-called betters. *grin* Námo at least appreciated the joke if no one else did.

KayleeReviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/24/2008


"Neither here nor there," Námo said coldly. "I do not think Isildur was ever meant to destroy the Ring. I think Atar had something else in mind from the very beginning, a part of the Third Theme we never heard."

(Ohhh...very interesting!!!!! Yay, I love Atar's brilliant ideas ^_^)

Námo shook his head. "I have not, but I spoke with Isildur briefly before I sent him on his way and he told me he had been plagued by dreams for several nights before the final battle."

(O_o Wow. *hugs Isildur*)

"What sort of dreams?" Irmo asked in curiosity.

Námo gave his younger brother a wry look. "Let me guess. You never sent them."

Irmo shook his head. "I did not."

(WHAT?! How could Irmo not send them...)

Estë gave her spouse a look of surprise. "Well, if you didn’t send the dreams, then who... oh."

(Oh? Does that mean...Atar?)

Námo nodded, his smile grimly amused. "Exactly. Isildur was not too clear about them and much of what he described made no sense, even to me, but one thing stood out: in every dream he saw three small figures trudging across the plateau of Gorgoroth towards Orodruin and one of them bore around his neck the One Ring."


They all sat in silence for a time, digesting this bit of information and coming to no conclusions. "That makes no sense," Oromë finally said. "Surely these creatures had to belong to one of the sentient races of Middle-earth."

(Yes yes yes...they left Hobbits out! Or...Did the Valar not even know of Hobbits? *Puzzled*)


"Their numbers will have to be few," Varda explained, "and they will not be sent to lord it over the Children

(Really, Saruman ought to have heard that.)

but to encourage and teach them to work together against a common foe. Already, Elves and Men are drifting apart and there is even discord between Men so that bonds of kinship and fellowship are loosening and unraveling to their detriment."

(*sobs* so true :( )


That idea intrigued them all. "Disguised as what?" Námo asked with an amused looked.

(Disguised as...Dumbledore! Oh, wait, wrong fandom *grin* Merlin! Oh, still wrong. *chuckle*)

"Let us first decide who we will send and then go from there," Manwë suggested and to that they all agreed. For a time there was much debate, some of it heated, as to who would be the most appropriate and many names were offered until finally four were selected: Curumo

(*growl* Mean, bad Curumo)

and Aiwendil

(I like Aiwendil! *Hugs Him* But I think he didn't exactly complete his mission.)

from the People of Aulë and Yavanna

(I. LOVE. Aule and Yavanna. Especially in that one part of EI when they interact with the Master Potter. She makes such a sweet elfling *grin*)

and from the People of Nienna, Pallando, who, when informed of his selection, asked that his friend Alatar of the People of Oromë and Nessa be allowed to accompany him and the Valar acquiesced to the Maia’s request.

(BlueWizards! *squeal* But whatever happened to them, meldonya?)

During the debate, Námo remained aloof and neither agreed nor disagreed with the choices that were made. Yet he was uneasy in his mind about three of them. He glanced at Curumo, Aulë’s servant. There was a haughtiness to this particular Maia that reminded him too much of Aulendil

(Gee, no surprises there...)

who had styled himself ‘Mairon’ but had eventually become Sauron. Pallando and Alatar appeared competent, but the Vala detected a weakness of resolve in them that might prevent them from remaining true to their mission should they become enamored of power. Aiwendil only seemed to be a proper choice, yet the antagonism between him and Curumo did not go unnoticed by the Lord of Mandos and he feared that could spell trouble.

(Huh. Aiwendil, trouble? Nah. He's too much fun. This is Radagast we speak of, yes?)

He sent a private thought to Manwë, voicing his concerns and was pleased when Manwë did not dismiss them out of hand but accepted them and admitted that he too had certain reservations. Then Námo made one small suggestion and Manwë smiled.

"I think we should send one more," the Elder King said suddenly, taking the rest of them by surprise.

(YAY!)

"Who do you have in mind?" Varda asked.

"Olórin," Manwë replied, looking pointedly at Námo.

(*grin* I love Gandalf! Gandalf...Mithrandir...Olórin. I love him. He's almost as much fun as Námo!!!)

"He has been serving me for some time," Námo said with a faint smile,

(A faint smile?)

"when he is not with Nienna. He has learnt much from us both and I think he will be ideal." He watched Curumo’s expression darken while Pallando and Alatar looked on with disinterest. Olórin was not one with whom they interacted much so they did not know him well. Aiwendil, however, actually looked relieved and Námo hid a smile. Of the four, he was the youngest in Atar’s Thought, and the least sure of himself, yet there was a gentleness about him that warmed Námo. That the Maia was a friend of Olórin’s was obvious from his reaction.

(*Huggles Aiwendil*)

Olórin, in the meantime, was summoned and informed of the mission, which he accepted with humility and delight. "I am thy servant in all things, my lord," the Maia said to Manwë with a bow.

(Awww. *hugs Gandalf*)


"I have worn this shape for so long, my lord," Curumo interjected somewhat petulantly, "I doubt me that I could easily exchange it for another."

(Oh, get over yourself, Curumo. *grin*)

Curumo sneered at his fellow Maia. "Well, since you’re the expert in shape-shifting, perhaps our Masters should let you decide on our disguises, though I refuse to go as a Dwarf."

(*snort* Funny, you just slighted your Master's children.)

Aulë frowned at his servant at that

(See? Bad idea.)

but said nothing. Námo smiled. "I think that’s an excellent suggestion."

Olórin shrugged. "The Firstborn would accept us I think whatever our guise, for there are still some amongst them who remembered us from former times and would welcome us howsoever we appeared. That cannot be said of the younger Children. They would look upon us and either fear us or worship us and that is not our goal.

(Huh, sounds good to Curumo.)

Nay, if we appear humble and more like elderly Men we will be more respected. Men especially revere the elderly amongst them for the wisdom they have achieved."

"I doubt if any Secondborn has achieved any amount of wisdom, seeing how short their lives are," Alatar said somewhat disdainfully.

(What? *frown*)

"Then perhaps you should spend some time in my Halls, Alatar," Námo offered coldly, "and listen to the wisdom of those who have suffered death in all its agonies before you make such unthinking statements concerning any of Atar’s Children."

(Yay Námo! He's being all...Námo-ish!)

The Maia visibly paled and gave the Lord of Mandos his obeisance and apology, which Námo accepted without speaking further. Manwë raised an eyebrow at Námo but otherwise did not reprimand the younger Vala.

(Did Námo say something wrong?)

"Why should we do that?" Aiwendil asked, not in belligerence, but in actual curiosity.

"How can we truly understand them and help them and win their trust if we do not suffer with them, both in joy and sorrow?" Olórin answered.

"In other words," Námo said gravely, "you wish to suffer the possibility of bodily death."

(...You know, I wonder what Námo said to Olórin about the Moria Incident...)

"It seems only fair that we take the same risks as they do simply by being born as Incarnates," Olórin replied with a shrug.

Curumo looked appalled at the idea, while Pallando and Alatar seemed uneasy. Aiwendil merely looked thoughtful, then gave his friend a brief sunny grin. "Sounds rather exciting when you put it that way."

(*laughs*)

Olórin laughed and gave Aiwendil a hug. "Just don’t go falling out of trees and breaking your neck."

(Yeah, that would be bad)

The Maiar nodded their understanding, though, again, Námo noticed Curumo grimacing at the thought of no longer having the range of powers he presently enjoyed.

(*whacks Saruman with his own stick*)

One by one they made the transformation. Aiwendil adopted brown robes and a dark green cloak, befitting one who was a servant of Yavanna. Pallando’s robes were a deep blue for some reason, but did not look out of character. True to form, his friend Alatar copied him, though he adopted a blue that was several shades lighter. Finally, Curumo made the transformation and Námo frowned at the pristine white robes but did not otherwise comment. Of the five, Curumo still looked too regal and haughty but there was nothing any of them could or would do about it.

(He needs to get over himself.)

One by one, beginning with Curumo, they all received the blessings of the Valar before filing out. Olórin was the last and when it came Námo’s turn to give him a blessing he smiled at his former servant, his eyes bright with merriment. "I wonder what Curumo would have said if you had decided on the horse."

(*snicker*)

Olórin burst out laughing, then bowed to the Lord of Mandos, giving him a wink. "Actually, my lord, I was almost ready to go with the Dwarf, instead."

(*bursts out laughing, too*)

Laughter followed the Maia out of the throne room as the humblest and wisest of the Istari joined his fellow Wizards to begin their journey to Middle-earth.

(YAY!!!!!!!!! Perfect perfect perfect!!!!!!!!! I didn't copy the...whole entire chapter into my review, promise. Just...a lot of it. *Blush*)

~KAYLEE!!!!!!!!!

*who finally made good on her promise to review properly*



Author Reply: Well you may not have copied the entire story into your review but it's very close! *LOL* I'm glad though that you enjoyed it so much and got so much out of it. At the time that the Istari are sent to Middle-earth, Hobbits are still an unknown. They will not begin to enter Eriador for another 1500 years. Certainly, Isildur did not know of their existence which is why his dreams are so confusing to him (and Námo). And speaking of Námo and Olórin, perhaps one day we will actually find out just what Námo said to Olórin about the Moria incident.... *grin*

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