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| Neath Anor, Ithil, and Gil by Larner | 10 Review(s) |
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| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 8/3/2009 |
| Snippits like this make me realise that I MUST read more about the first and second Age. Author Reply: It's hard to get through parts of the Silmarillion; but what happened in the Alkallabeth did lead to the return of Elros's heirs to Middle Earth and the founding of Gondor and Arnor after all. In the Sil it appears that the marriage between the last queen of Numenor and her cousin was possibly forced by him; in Christopher's reports on the evolution of his father's writing it appears that Miriel and Pharazon might have married at her request. Hard to say, huh? Anyway, this seemed to need to be written, I found. Thanks for the feedback! | |
| curiouswombat | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/31/2009 |
| This one gives me shivers down my spine. Well done. Author Reply: Am like it works for you. It's the first time I've tried writing Amandil and Ar-Pharazon. Thank you. | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/19/2009 |
| *muffled squee* Sorry, I have a thing for Numenor fic. And the kind that draws on the idea from earlier drafts that Amandil might have been a mentor for Pharazon? Amazing! And also lovely was the "if not, then whom?" way of looking for potential alliances. This was really well written and got me thinking. Author Reply: Oh, am so glad that this has caught at your fancy so! I don't write much in the way of Sil-fic, but now and then I do, and it was asked for a birthday, after all. And again, when someone says a story got them thinking it is so nice--just what I, as a teacher, want to hear! Thank you so! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/9/2009 |
| Oh, so maybe Amandil gave Ar-Pharazôn the idea? Though he'd probably have done it anyway. What he did would be bad enough even without knowing that he in the end caused the drowning of Númenor and the death of so many people *sigh* Author Reply: Oh, I agree, Kitty--Pharazon managed to do so much wrong to his land in the end! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/6/2009 |
| A vivid glimpse of one of those if only moments in history.Maybe Numenor would still be here if Miriel had been queen regnant. Author Reply: Yes, indeed an if-only moment. And I think you may be right about different consequences had Pharazon not forced himself both on Miriel and the island. Thanks again, Linda. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/5/2009 |
| I've always felt sorry for Miriel - Pharazon was such a jerk, and a weak-willed, greedy one to boot. She deserved a better life, not to mention a better end. Here, you portray the genesis of disaster well, seen from the POV of Amandil, another figure caught up in the tragedy. Author Reply: Pharazon apparently tried to hide his fear of dissolution behind attempts to gather more and more power to himself, as if in so doing he would somehow manage to protect himself against the very death he was drawing to himself more swiftly and with lessened blessing. A tragedy, really. Any woman would deserve better, and particularly Miriel, I think. Thank you so, Raksha. | |
| Inzilbeth | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/5/2009 |
| Oh I loved this. I find Amandil and his relationship with his cousin quite fascinating. I can't help but have a certain sympathy for Ar Pharazon who, for all his faults, was still another of Sauron's victims. I also noted the skilful way you hedged around the question of Miriel's consent! Author Reply: Ar-Pharazon was indeed another of Sauron's victims, yet at the same time he knew he was pushing the envelope and kept doing it anyway. And I think he'd be a good one at rationalizing his own actions. Thanks so much, Inzilbeth. | |
| Fiondil | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/5/2009 |
| A very interesting glimpse into the minds of two Men, one counted among the Faithful and the other whose arrogance will bring about the eventual destruction of Númenor, and the first step towards that downfall is Ar-Pharazôn marrying his first cousin: Tar-Palantir married late and had no son, and his daughter he named Míriel in the Elven-tongue. But when the King died she was taken to wife by Pharazôn son of Gimilkhâd (who also was dead) against her will, and against the law of Númenor since she was the child of his father's brother. And he then seized the sceptre into his own hand, taking the title of Ar-Pharazôn (Tar-Calion); and Míriel was named Ar-Zimraphel. This passage is taken from "The Line of Elros: The Kings of Númenor" which can be found in Unfinished Tales, in case anyone is curious. Author Reply: Oh, indeed, Fiondil. Apparently Amandil and Pharazon were close at one time, but grew estranged over time. Pharazon's insistence on breaking law and tradition must have distressed Amandil greatly, and his growing pattern of more and more destructive and anti-social behavior, which grew to epic proportions once he brought Sauron back to Numenor and accepted him as his primary advisor, must have almost driven his cousin to distraction. And thanks so much for the heads up--made the correction. Thank you so! | |
| Sunny | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/4/2009 |
| *Raises eyebrow at author* Well, I suppose _this_ is one method by which the future King of Númenor might have decided that his suit might be semi-welcome. Or at least less unpalatable than the possible alternatives - legal definition of incest be d***ed Author Reply: We know that the marriage laws there forbade marriages closer than cousins of the second degree, so Pharazon must have been close kindred indeed. It appears he was given to rationalizing his decisions, so this seemed as good a scenario leading to his revolt as any other. Yes, definitions of incest be d***ed! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 52 on 5/4/2009 |
| O my. Where specifically would I read more about the background to this story? I can snatch a snippet, a few pages here and there, perhaps even a chapter (if it's short) but no more than that at present. I just found my old copy of the Sil but don't have time to re-read it at the moment... (has it really been 20 years?) besides which Middlest has swooped down and claimed the book and is in the process of devouring it. Perhaps she will abandon writing Hobbits for Men and Elves... don't know yet. The package arrived and I am so looking forward to a free moment to explore its delights! *hugs* Author Reply: This is in the Alkallabeth and hinted at in the Appendices, that Ar-Pharazon was too close a cousin to be allowed to marry Tar-Palantir's daughter, but that he staged a revolt and married her by force, changed her name, and took the Sceptre of Numenor for himself. In the Alkallabeth it also tells that Amandil was a close friend and advisor to Pharazon, but that in time they were estranged as Amandil remained one of the Faithful. The actual marriage offers from lords of Middle Earth are my own invention, however. And am glad the little package arrived safely. I picked up a new copy of the BBC version of The Hobbit, and at the end it has excerpts from interviews with the Master himself. I find I like it better now than I remember liking it before the Kid took my original copy and it was stolen from his vehicle. That was about fifteen years ago. Am still working on the Passover story. | |