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| The Havens of Sirion by Inzilbeth | 11 Review(s) |
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| Mirach | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/20/2010 |
| I'm so glad you decided to write a story about these events, and build upon the sparse lines in the Silmarillion! All the characters and events as you describe them are absolutely believable, reading like something Tolkien himself would imagine. Author Reply: Oh thank you so much, you can't ask for better than that! I'm so glad to enjoyed it. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/17/2010 |
| Elwing's leap from the tower is a difficult action - meant to be heroic, it raises the question of whether she prized a jewel more than her children. I have always been of the opinion that she was not consciously abandoning her children; at least not for no good reason. For if she hadn't carried the jewel to Earendil, the Valar might never have brought help to Middle-earth, and Morgoth or his agents might well have eventually slaughtered Elwing's sons. Anyway, this is a well-written and plausible story. The character of the nurse also engages our sympathies. I have no sympathy for Maedhros here; since there was no reason to bind terrified six-year-olds; but Maglor is another matter; I liked his defiance of his brother and liege-lord's orders for the children's sake. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Raksha, for your review. Yes, Elwing's choice is always a difficult one. I think it comes down to not really having much choice anyway, a dash of foresight and something inherent within the Silmarils. There's no doubt that with the benefit of hindsight, she did the right thing. I'm so glad you liked the maid. She was a bit of a gamble, especially as I'm generally not that interested in writing spare women but I did need a witness! And Maglor and Maedhros were just fun to play with! | |
| Nerdanel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/6/2010 |
| This is really, really good! I've never yet read a story about Elwing and her decision at the Havens and I thought you did a good job with it, especially with your portrayal of the sons of Fëanor. I always felt so sorry for Maedhros and thought that he had a lot of redeeming qualities, he was just led astray and tormented by a Curse that made him make the wrong decisions. I guess I always wondered why Earendil was off on so many voyages abandoning his family, and then Elwing leaves her sons - although I think that segment from the Shaping of Middle-earth that you mentioned is interesting. I'm not sure why she was so reluctant to give it up, myself. Think how much misery and slaughter it would have prevented! But Tolkien does mention several times in The Silmarillion how the Silmarils have an almost other-earthly power to delight and enthrall - we can see that through the history of Middle-earth: Fëanor's hoarding them and letting no one else see them, then Morgoth and his lust for them, followed by Elu Thingol's obsession with them, for which he ultimately died - they seem to leave a streak of greed behind them. Anyway, thank you for the intersting story. I really enjoyed it. Author Reply: Thank you so much for your kind and thought provoking review, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I haven't read a story about this episode either so it was fun to consider the possibilites. Elwing is a difficult character to understand but I think you have a very good point about their being some sort of power excerted by the Silmarils over those who possess them even if this is only implied rather than stated. I wonder too how much modern day values hinder our understanding of Elwing. It's practically impossible for us to imagine abandoning our children for the sake of a jewel and yet, as the lady of her people, Elwing had responsibilities which went beyond the welfare of her own family. As you saw, I got around the problem by giving Elwing some foresight in the matter of the Silmaril and with the benefit of hindsight, hers was to prove the right decision. Without the Silmaril to guide Earendil to the Blessed Realm, Beleriand was doomed and if she had given it to Maedhros, I'm sure it would only have been a matter of time before Morgoth regained it. Then they would all have been back to square one! | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2010 |
| A fascinating account of a very disturbing time in M-e history.I'm another who wonders how could a mother set a jewel above her children? Maybe he had some sort of addictive property? I liked the maid. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Linda, for both reading and reviewing. Elwings decision is indeed so hard to understand abd I do wonder at the power of the Silmarils; they seemed to cause every bit as much trouble as the Ring! I'm so glad you liked the maid. I needed someone to witness what happened but I tend to be wary of writing OC's. | |
| Sitara | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2010 |
| Your take on those tragic events is very interesting, especially because it doesn't hasten to judge or to place blame; but rather adopts the narrative tone of an unbiased witness. Personally I've always thought that Elwing's choice to keep the Silmaril at any cost was neither right nor heroic. And, for involving their people in a war for a jewel, which was to no use to them, both Elwing and her father should be called Kinslayers, in my opinion. But, even if I'll always believe that Elwing did the wrong thing in keeping what has never been hers and all the blood spilled at the havens of Sirion also stains her hands, not only the Fëanorionnath's, she deserves compassion as much as anyone else does. Although my heart bleeds for Maedhros, I can feel for Elwing too. After all, she was as deceived and caught like a fly in a lethal web as Maedhros was. They both did what they thought that it had to be done. The wrong thing, for both of them, and, albeit I think Maedhros' suffering and burden were far greater than Elwing's , I find myself today less inclined to trash Elwing to pieces, as I used to do. "lol" Congratulations for a fine piece and for not giving into old prejudices. Author Reply: Thank you very much for your review and your kind words! I'm not surprised that Elwing isn't particularly liked as it is certainly difficult to understand her actions. But, as I said in an earlier reply, Elwing is clearly meant to be a sympathetic character so I felt I needed to at least give her a fair hearing! Also, since the 'Shaping of M-e' version stated that she only threw herself into the sea after she had seen her sons taken captive, I do wonder how much the ommission of this detail from the published 'Silmarillion' has coloured our view of her. Tolkien's heroines are generally flawed to some degree though, what with Eowyn being perpared to abandon her sworn duty so as to follow Aragorn on the Paths of the Dead, and Galadriel's disobedience obviously troubling Tolkien to the extent that he was still writing a more honourable version of her story at the time of his death. What it all means, I don't know, but it's fun trying to figure out! And I'm with you entirely in feeling a greater sympathy for Maedhros. | |
| Mysterious Jedi | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2010 |
| This is an excellent story! I hope to see more "Encounters with Elrond" soon! Author Reply: Thank you very much! I'll try and get 'Choices of the Peredhil' up fairly soon. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2010 |
| A most difficult time, to be certain. At least Maglor had repented of the ills he and his brothers had brought upon the children's people, and he saw to it they were well treated. And Maedhros also regretted the losses they'd caused. Good came of it all! Author Reply: This whole period was a very unhappy time in Middle-earth's history, but, as you say, the brothers did at least repent of their deeds. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing, Larner. | |
| Cairistiona | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/23/2010 |
| I so enjoyed this story... your take on the characters rings true with how I see this event, and the tension in this practically vibrates off the screen (or page, if I printed it out!). I like the way you write Maglor and Maedhros, with depth and sensitivity. I've always had a soft spot for those two and the tragic oath they had sworn. They can very easily be written as evil, especially Maedhros, but you avoid that pitfall nicely. And I think seeing the aftermath of Elwing's leap through Lindhwen's eyes is a nice touch. I like her spunk, and yet she doesn't come across unbelievably brave. Really a well done story! Author Reply: Writing Maedhros and Maglor was the fun part of putting together this story but I'm especially glad that they rang true. I most certainly have never seen either of them as evil so I'm relieved they didn't come across as such. Lindhen was a necessity to move the story along so, again, I'm very pleased to know she worked! Thank you so much, Cairistiona, for both reviewing and for being such a great beta! | |
| Shemyaza | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/23/2010 |
| A very sensitive depiction of how those events may have unfolded. Yet as I read it and feel for those who took part in it, I find again that I honestly have little sympathy for Elwing or Earendil. All my sympathy is directed at the people of Sirion and the two abandoned children and what for? Just for the sake of a paltry jewel. Sure it had the light of the Two Trees in it and was much desired, not just by the sons of Feanor because of their oath, but also by the Valar themselves, not to mention Morgoth, except that he didn't just desire the Silmaril, what he wanted was a lot more than that, he wanted thralldom over the whole of Middle-earth. Every time I read about his event in Tolkien's wonderful world I am struck by the same thing over and over again and that is the fact that Elwing was prepared to let her two small children face a hideous death and all for the sake of this jewel which neither of the two remaining sons of Feanor could even handle because their fear were so maimed and tarnished by their acts leading up to the sack of the havens at Sirion. I suspect that if she had handed it over the same would have happened to Maglor and Maedhros as happened when Eonwe stood aside and let them take the Silmarils the Host of the Valar had taken from Morgoth after the War of Wrath. I truly wonder sometimes at the thinking behind Tolkien's depiction of this. Did he really think that a mother of two small children would choose to leap into the sea with a jewel and leave her children to god knows what fate? I can only think that as a person Tolkien knew very little about what makes a mother tick or the extents to which a mother will go to protect her children. I have two children and I would both kill and die for them as I would for my grandson. If I was given a choice between handing over a bauble, Two Trees or not, or the certain death of my children it would be a complete no-brainer for me. I honestly wouldn't care about what had gone before and how people had lost their lives protecting this bauble. My decision would be the same - you want it, here it is, now leave us alone, and I do think that once the Silmaril had been in Maedhros's hand, he would have taken it and left. As you so rightly pointed out, he and Maglor must have been weary unto death over their oath to their father. I'm sure there will be many Tolkien scholar who will have a lofty explanation of why it was important that Elwing sacrifice herself and her two children on the altar of pride and misguided loyalty, I have read them all, but each time I read a depiction of these events and no matter how sensitive the portrayal, as yours was, I still feel the same. Elwing was an idiot and if she suffered not knowing what had happened to her children, then she deserved to suffer. Any mother worth her salt would have bartered her very soul for her children. Oops. I am now off the soapbox, but you should take it as a compliment that your wonderful piece has stirred such strong emotions in me! Nicely done. Pleasure to read. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Shemyaza, for your very kind and very thought provoking review. Yes, you have it exactly! It's impossible for us to imagine any mother abandoning her children in this way, especially one who has seen her own young brothers lost to this same foe. And it is precisely because I wanted to understand Elwing and her dilemma better that I wrote this story the way I did. Elwing is clearly a character who is meant to evoke our sympathies and yet I'm sure most people reading 'The Silmarillion' would feel the same way as you or I. I do wonder though if 'The Silmarillion' portrays the whole story. When I wrote this piece, I had completely forgotten about this additional information provided in ‘The Shaping of Middle-earth’:- ‘And yet Maidros gained not the Silmaril, for Elwing seeing that all was lost and her child Elrond taken captive, eluded the host of Maidros, and with the Nauglafring upon her breast she cast herself into the sea, and perished as folk though.’ Now, if Elwing only threw herself in the sea because she believed she had no hope of saving her sons or her people, then her actions are more understandable, as is the decision of Earendil to continue to seek the aid of the Valar and not return to the Havens. It also makes my interpretation completely wrong! Perhaps I need to have a go at writing this version too! I'm so pleased though that my story generated some debate about this fascinating period in Middle-earth's history. Thank you again for taking the trouble to share your thoughts. | |
| Laikwalâssę | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/22/2010 |
| Hello Inzilbeth, I´ve no words to describe this tale. It´s simply wonderful told; lovely, sad and terrifying. Your sons of Feanor are so realistic. I like this part of the SIL so very much and you have made it so alive. Thank you very much. Lai Author Reply: Thank you so much for your lovely, and much appreciated review, Lai. I'm so glad you particularly liked the sons of Feanor as having a stab at writing Maedhros was something I especially enjoyed doing. You've really encouraged me to try and write more of Elrond's tale! | |