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| Happily Ever After by Nilmandra | 17 Review(s) |
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| Lady_Roisin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/1/2008 |
| Wow! I'm speechless! I remember when I first read The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen, and I remember how touching it was. You have done a beautiful job writing the passing of Arwen. I cried I swear! It wa that touching, the whole chapter was very well written, and lots of real emotion, color, and beauty. Author Reply: Thank you, this was a very sad chapter to write, but it had long been planned and needed to be written for my heart to move on. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/22/2008 |
| What a powerful beginning to this story. For a moment I feared that Elladan would stay back. And what is with Elrohir? What grief is he harboring? I loved the explanation you gave for Arwen's lingering. And it had to break the heart of her brothers, Glorfindel and Celeborn to watch her in her grief, not ready to go on really living, not ready to die. Now on to the next chapter. Author Reply: It had to be hard for her family to see her end as Elrond had feared. Yet I find her brave too - to change something so core of yourself after living as one of the Eldar for 3000 years had to be a shock too. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2008 |
| It had to be; and Elladan is so drawn to stay and finish his life as did his sister--and his younger brother. Author Reply: Or as Gandalf said, begin the next adventure :D | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2008 |
| 'He could see the thousands of eyes glistening with tears as they watched the only Queen they had known ride away with dignity and grace, and a grief so profound it pained all those who had dared to look upon her.' 'But his eyes had beseeched his great-grandfather and uncles, and he had relinquished her to their final care.' Oh! I love this... poor Eldarion! 'let none delay her with comfort' ... 'the gates to Caras Galadhon were open and in disrepair' ... 'The sea longing rages within him' ... 'I wish the Three had never been made!' ... 'He reminds me of Elros before he made his… choice.” Elrohir means to intervene,” said Celeborn dully.' And this paragraph was the final straw that broke my ill-made wall and brought me to tears... 'Celeborn felt rather than heard the small cry from Elladan as he went to his brother. “She will be cold,” Elrohir choked out as Elladan wrapped his arms around him. His heart nearly broke as Elrohir shook; grief, sorrow, frustration and despair radiating from him in waves so intense that Celeborn felt his mind flooded. “She will not have enough to eat soon.” ' Glorfindel kissed her brow. “Estel is waiting.” I could not post a review besides just pasting the words that moved me to tears... An incredible tale so far. Just breaks my heart and I am not an 'Elf-lover' so to speak. Well - title is definitely NOT what I would have guessed of the tale that it belongs to. I am hoping that it foreshadows the last chapter of this magnificent tale. I see Radbooks has already nominated this for the MEFA's - I've put it on my wish list to review! Author Reply: Thanks, Agape. I am pleased the story moved you. For the peredhil, it seems there are no perfectly happy endings. But then, one of the things I moved loved about Tolkien was that everyone didn't live happily ever after as the fairy tales so often end. They may find happiness, but it takes time and may not look like they once thought happiness would. But then, that is probably true for all of our lives. Thanks for reading. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2008 |
| Wow! Good to have you back! This story is so full of sentiment! It is painful to try and stand in the elves' shoes while they try to understand and support one of them going through such ordeal and not kowing what it really was for her to fight her own nature...! Glorfindel was right to send them away, or the wait would have killed the three of them, but it also cost him his strenght... Arwen's pain and suffering made me thing of FIrod's words to Adreth, something like elves kew that such uions between mortal and inmortal could oly brig great pain, ad so they shied of them out of wisdom, or something like that... And ELrond did kow, did't he? SO it as anoter part of the sacrifice, so that the three lines were united, and it seems to me that Luthien's fate and idril, must have been somehow easier than Arwenn's. I had to look twice to make sure that both had taken ship, you know... :-) Author Reply: I can't imagine what it would be for someone over 3000 years old to have to make that choice and go. She did need time and space to do it, but oh, the pain of those who had to watch! Finrod's words to Andreth were wise - there is only pain in such unions. Elves and Men are both children of Iluvatar, but they are not made for each other. Thanks for reading :>) | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2008 |
| Elrond's family is so bound up in the fate of ME, and have paid such a high price along the way, that Arwen's lot seemed to me to be the final payment (or so I hoped) to Middle Earth - of course that is a mortal view, as the elves would continue to feel that separation. I had always imagined (because I'm happier that way) that the Twins would be together (and sail), as a sort of sign of gratitude to Elrond from beyond, a gift for losing Elros and as a completion of the circle, so although I'm delighted Elladan and Elrohir are both on the ship, I'm worried/intrigued at what may follow. Arwen's last journey was heart-breaking, and Elrond and Celebrian must have felt her passing and grieved anew, so I wonder what they are feeling/thinking of the twins at this point. The delay she made always seemed "right" to me, she had lost (hopefully not forever) Aragorn, represented a Middle Earth without an obvious continued eleven presence, and mourning the loss of her family (for the last, although probably not the first, time) and going to an unknown destination. I'll stop now (it is nearly 0130). Thank you, looking forward to the next chapter! Author Reply: I am glad you were drawn into the story - there really is a lot of depth around this whole concept of the peredhil and their choices. I am intrigued too, and looking forward to where this particular path may take us. Thanks for reading! | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| Just beautiful, Nilmandra, and terribly sad. Losing Aragorn was hard enough, but for Gondor and Arwen's family to witness her grief, then stand aside as she left, must have been almost too much to bear. Celeborn, Glorfindel, and her brothers had the hardest job. It was like sitting watch at a love one's deathbed. I felt their despair and the hollowness of the finality with them. Each reacted in their own way. For a few minutes there I wondered if Elladan would decide to stay. I reread the last few lines several time to reassure myself I had read correctly. I felt relieved, but I also felt bad for both twins. The struggle doesn't appear to be over, but together and with the help of friends and relatives, there's hope they'll find peace. Absolutely wonderful chapter. I look forward to more...though I don't know whether to be happy you made me cry or be mad at you that you ate my heart out first thing this morning. Author Reply: I would say I'm sorry for making you cry, but I'd be lying. :D These concepts are so moving and so deep, that I am looking forward to making a story about them. And the poor peredhil, nothing was easy for them. | |
| Elfinabottle | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| I already reviewed this on fanfiction.net but I had to tell you again how much I love this story. I always pictured Elladan and Elrohir staying with Arwen to the end. How torn they must be...to lose both their sister and their brother to mortality. What a horrible decision lies before them; I'm sure they never ever wanted to cause their parents pain and yet how could they not follow their hearts? And to leave each other if they make different choices...heartbreaking is the only word to describe it. I take some comfort from the title of your story. I truly hope all involved DO live happily ever after. Author Reply: It struck me as I considered the dual natures of the peredhil that restlessness and discontent was their fate. A part of them is tied to the earth - to their people and the land - and another part of them is always seeking beyond the circles of the world. What a fate! And to have to choose? It is one thing to choose between options where one seems wholly better than the other, but what if both choices seem good? | |
| Naledi | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| This is beautiful, but heartbreaking. I'm glad that Glorfindel and Celeborn were there, not just for Arwen, but also for the twins. Watching their sister struggle to accept her fate must have been wrenching and now I hope that they can find peace and happiness themselves in Aman. I can't bear the thought of Elrond and Celebrian being without all of their children. My heart was in my mouth at the end of the chapter - for a horrible moment I thought they were going to leave Elladan behind. Author Reply: Poor Elladan. I think he is in great turmoil. But I admit, it is for Elrond and Celebrian that my heart was really breaking. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| Really a great piece of work. You really feel for them all as they wait for Arwen's passing. And Elrohir and his sea longing but tinged with something else which makes me curious. Elladan there seems almost a distantce between him and Elrohir. A nice piecw, can't wait to hear more. Author Reply: Thank you. There is indeed something between the twins, and I admit I was surprised when I discovered what it was. | |