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The Wars of the Valar by Fiondil	9 Review(s)
Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 5/17/2009
Nahar is a Máya? Hm. Never thought of it that way. But you explain it well. I see you largely gloss over the part where the Valar neglect Middle-Earth. I'm dissatisfied with an explanation that it should be simple neglect or forgetfulness. Do you have any theories yourself which you merely didn't want to include here in the story? “What’s wrong is that my wife and Vána’s husband are missing and have been for some time,” Aulë retorted. “Don’t you think we should be just a little concerned?” Is it a sign of these prurient times that the way this passage is written made a specific explanation pop into my mind that had nothing to do with what actually happened ;-)? Aha, my question from the previous chapter is answered regarding the seals - thanks, Fiondil! It's interesting that many of the seals are of things that don't yet even exist or have just been invented. Oromë and Yavanna have it exactly right at the Council and it was high time that something was being done! The counterarguments have always looked (and still look) very unpersuasive and weak to me. In fact, it's one of the areas where I get rather incensed with the Valar, I freely admit :-)... Author Reply: Well, I wanted to explain how it is that Orome rides the same horse throughout the ages and the only real answer is that Nahar is one of the Maiar who has chosen this form rather than some other form. As for why the Valar 'ignored' Middle-earth... I think elsewhere I mention that they were so devastated by the destruction of Almaren that they sort of 'hid under the covers' for a while. Not all the Valar felt that this was right: Yavanna, Orome and Tulkas were against this laissez-faire policy. And one can't really blame the Valar for their reluctance after all that has happened to them, but luckily they listen to the others and begin the task of preparing Arda for the coming of the Children.

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/17/2008
So that is how the lord of horses came into being. The Valar and the Maiar should know better than to let their guard down when Melkor is in the picture. Evil never sleeps. It seems Oromë and Yavanna had enough foresight to wander through the outer lands keeping their eyes on Melkor and his minions while trying to undo some of the damage he had done. The time of the Elves approaches. I can't wait. Author Reply: I think the Valar were just so weary of the fighting and having to restore the world that they couldn't face Melkor again as soon as they should have. At least some of them were willing to brave the outer darkness of Middle-earth and do what they could to heal the wounds.

Independence1776	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/14/2008
Your explanation of why Oromë’s horse is immortal makes sense. I'd've never thought of it that way. “'He means watch where you tread,' Námo said with a straight face. 'We don’t want you accidently stepping on any of the Children in your haste to pursue Melkor’s get.'” snorts I love your Námo. ~ Indy Author Reply: I'm sure many people haven't really thought about Nahar being as immortal as Oromë when even though the animals in Aman would live longer they would necessarily die eventually. It just made sense to me that one of the Maiar chose that physical form for himself. T'm delighted that you like my Námo. grin Thanks for letting me know.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/14/2008
Ah, so that was how Nahar came to be? Had never even thought it could be a Maia; somehow I had thought it possible that the Valar have immortal horses. Though I was always wondering about the Elven horses - how long do they live? Aulë was behaving rather odd - first looking seemingly worried for Yavanna, then being rather disinterested in the answer about her whereabouts. And as he was knowing where she was all along, it doesn't make much sense. Was that his way to tell the other Ayanumuz that they have to do more for the Outer Lands? Anyway, it is good that Oromë and Yavanna at least try to do something for the world of the Children. Even if they don't know the exact time when they will appear, I don't like the idea to leave a world devastated by Melkor for them to come into being. Darkness is bad enough, but a destroyed world would be a bit much. Author Reply: I think Aulë and Vána both knew what their respective spouses were up to and why and this was their way of alerting the othe Ayanumuz to the situation in Middle-earth and the need to address the situation with Melkor sooner rather than later. I don't think the world was so much devestated as it was being corrupted. And certainly it would not have been good for the Elves to waken to corruption. Of course we know that some of the elves were taken by Melkor, so the Ayanumuz didn't protect them as they should have.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/13/2008
Why, oh, why did the Valar just leave the rest of the world for Melkor and his minions to take over and destroy? I know they must have been tired and stuff, but the cost was so dear in the end - for the Children and the land itself. sigh. I am glad that Orome and Yavanna were at least looking over the land, though I shudder to think what might have happened to them if they had been caught! Looking forward to the next chapter! Author Reply: The cost was indeed dear, but we will never know if it would have been dearer still had they gone after Melkor sooner. Certainly there was a failure in trust in Atar by the Valar at one point and the Children especially suffered for it. We'll never know for sure if things would've been better rather than worse if they had done other than they did.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/13/2008
'To everything there is a season and a time and purpose under heaven'! Just remember the bigger they are the harder they fall! It is just not the right time to go after Morgoth, have patience, give Atar's plans time to come to fruition. He does know what he is doing! More please, Lynda Author Reply: Well, there are some who think they should have gone after Morgoth sooner rather than later, but certainly Námo and Manwë felt the time wasn't right. We'll never know for sure, will we?

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/13/2008
This waiting must have been difficult, although it was not perhaps wise to allow Melkor so much leeway in those times. Author Reply: I always thought the Valar allowed Melkor more leeway than they should have myself, but of course it's different when you're right there in the midst of things rather than looking back from our perspective.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/13/2008
Tulukhedelgorus was coming into full bloom even as Tulukhedelgorus was fading when all the Ayanumuz met at the Mahananashkad. I think that's a typo, meldonya. wry grin I don't see how the same tree can bloom and fade at the same time. lol Other than that, I thought the chapter was absolutely wonderful! My favorite part I think was Naehaerra's becoming Nahar, and his words to his lord: I find that I like this form better than my previous one. If thou wouldst allow it, lord, I would keep it and think me not as a beast of burden but rather thy boon companion as we hunt together the fell creatures that haunt the Outer Lands still.” Of course Orome allowed it! Yay for Nahar ^_^ I love the idea of him being a Maia! Oh, and by the way, why did my first thought when Aule asked where Yavanna and Orome went have to be that they were sneaking off together to talk some of the trees into becoming Ents? After all, Aule got his Dwarves, lol! ~Kaylee! Author Reply:* Hi Kaylee. I can't believe I or my beta missed that! lol Thanks for the heads-up... it's been corrected. I'm glad you liked the part about Nahar. To me it just made sense that Nahar would have to be a Maia since any other horse born of Aman would necessarily be mortal if longer lived than usual.

Thalanee	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 11/13/2008
Again, I very much enjoyed reading this chapter. I was already wondering just when Vaire would take up her weaving. The light of the trees being stored in wells like water is taken from Christopher Tolkiens History of Middle Earth, isn't it? Or from the Silmarillion? Sometimes I forget where I read certain details... The idea of one of Orome's Maiar taking the form of a horse is a bit strange but endearing at the same time. And logical too if you stop to think about it. I'm already looking forward to the next chapter! Greetings, Thalanee Author Reply: The description of the vats or wells of light is found in the Silmarillion. As for the Maiar, and the Valar, remember that they are, in their normal state, incorporeal. Therefore, bodies are to them like clothes to us. Just something that they put on to make themselves visible to the rest of us. The type of body matters not to them. They could just as easily take the form of a tree or animal and it would not make much difference to them. Bodies are a mere convenience to them though over time they become habitual, but in the end, they are still and foremost spirits.

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