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Tales from Vairë's Loom by Fiondil	9 Review(s)
Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 12/26/2011
I think I have reviewed everything up to the last chapter earlier, though I remember reading some of the later chapters as well, including this one, so let's just try to catch up from here. That rocking horse sounds like a great toy for young boys, particularly with the removable leather gear. Admittedly, I was imagining Denethor's face if he could see Aragorn and Faramir carry it themselves instead of sending servants to do the job. He wouldn't be pleased, no doubt, but I liked it, that's how I always saw these two – more the "do it yourself" type, if possible. Seems to be a common trait to name stuffed toys after blonde elves ;) As you can probably imagine, this story was rather special for me. Almiel's disability was quite a surprise for me, but I can relate to many of her statements. That yelling reminded me of a former colleague who just wouldn't understand that yelling doesn't get him anywhere, no matter how many times I – and the others – told him. In the end we just let him yell – that at least forced him to talk slowly ;) Poor woman, Legolas must have frightened her quite a bit when she touched him unexpectedly and he reacted so violently. That should have been her job! I know I don't like being surprised from behind. But all in all, he's doing a good job on making communication easy for her. Oh, if she was a musician, it must have been especially hard for her to lose her hearing. Though I like it how Legolas reacted to her humming, making it clear for her that she still can work with the music. And it was great how he in the end encouraged her to take up her old work again. I am sure that with his help, she will be able to not only find the courage to try, but convince the guild masters that she can do it! And I am sure Aragorn will be very pleased. That was a lovely story! Author Reply: Hi Kitty. I based much of this on my own background, having been born hard-of-hearing. I suffered some of the same things as deaf people go through with people shouting at you or turning away so you can't read their lips, that sort of thing. Plus, my contact with the Deaf Community through my sister-in-law whose parents were both deaf. I learned a lot from her and incorporated it into this story. I'm glad you like this story. Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it.

obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 2/26/2011
This is a beautiful story. It is heartwarming, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. I love the description of the family life with the missing toy, and Aragorn and Faramir carrying the wooden horse through the palace. My favorite is Almiel. She is quite a character. Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed this tale, obsidianj. Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it.

Kaylee Arafinwiel	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/27/2010
Atar Fiondil, this was beautiful! I loved the interaction between Legolas and the deaf woman, and that hopefully now she's been inspired to resume her dream. I hope she will do well. :) "We lost Legolas" had to be my favorite part though. And to find "Legolas" ending up WITH Legolas...now, that put me in mind of a pair of twins and their warrior rabbit Glorfi. grin hugs Atar Fiondil I loved it! Tye-melin, Kaylee Author Reply: Hi Kaylee. I'm so glad you liked this one. I enjoyed writing it as it's a bit different from my usual fare. I have every confidence that with Legolas and Aragorn supporting her, Almiel will do very well. The "We lost Legolas" scene is one of my favorites, too. grin Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/26/2010
Excellent! Some years ago one of the greatest photographers of hummingbirds was a totally blind man who managed to hook up a special switch to a camera so as to capture the birds he could hear but not see. Beethoven's Ninth Symphony was composed after he was deaf, and there have been several painters who have worked with brushes held in their mouths or between their toes. Nice to see this woman's gift will once again be allowed to grow and be properly nurtured and appreciated! Author Reply: Thank you, Larner. I think I should have probably waited until October to post this story, as October is Disability Awareness Month, but any time is a good time to make people aware of the fact that someone's disability is usually not the problem; it's other people's attitudes about it that is. A lesson for us all.

Elentarri	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/24/2010
Really good story. The missing Legolas bunny was funny! Is there more? :D Author Reply: Thank you so much, Elentarri. I am so glad you enjoyed the story, especially the missing Legolas bunny. As far as I know, this is a one-shot and the implication at the end is that Almiel will indeed be admitted into the Bards' Guild. With both Legolas and Aragorn sponsoring her, I don't think she will have too much trouble being accepted. grin Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/23/2010
This why Legolas is my favorite Elf. He is turning Almiel's pain into joy by showing her how she can still use her gift to bring joys to other, whether she can hear or not. I assumed this is a one chapter tale, so I decided to believe that she will in fact become a valued member of the bard's guild. Author Reply: Hi Tari. I am glad you enjoyed this story. Yes, it is a one-shot, so it is safe to assume that Almiel did indeed win her mastership in the Bards' Guild. While Glorfindel and Finrod will always be my favorite Elves, Legolas holds a soft spot in my heart as well and so I'm happy to write about him whenever the Muse allows. Thank you for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/23/2010
What a beautiful, compassional tale, Fiondil. It is a fact that disabilities were not kindly treated in old times, even now. She really could have afuture, with someone help. Good that Legolas is there. The great Bethoven was deaf and it didn't stop him to compose and become one of the greater composers of our world. Thank you Author Reply: Hi Fantasia. I'm so glad you found this a beautiful and compassionate tale. That is why I wrote it, as a reminder perhaps that we should never let our disabilities (whatever they may be) dictate what we can or cannnot accomplish in life (or allow others to so dictate to us). Hopefully, with Legolas and Aragorn helping her, Almiel will have her future restored to her and the Bards' Guild will be given a valuable lesson. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/23/2010
Hm, this was good, had a differant flavour to some of your other work but I liked it any way. Poor Almiel what a thing to happen to a musician, to loose your hearing. I am trying to remeber if it was Beethoven who lost his or somebody else, he had to put his head on the piano to feel the vibrations. Good one Fiondil, Lynda Author Reply: I'm glad you liked this, Lynda. It is a bit different from my usual fare but that was the fun of the challenge. While Beethoven is the best known of composers who went deaf, he is the the onl one. I know Dvorak did as well and there were others. It just shows that one's disabilities should not be a barrier to one's abilities. If Beethoven had given up composing once he went deaf we would never have such beautiful music as his Seventh or the Ninth or anything else he composed and that is true for others. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Sunny. I appreciate it.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 8/23/2010
I suppose Almiel is going to be the Beethoven of your 'verse. In his fifth Symphony he described fate knocking on his door - but his most beautiful music he composed when he was stone deaf - his ninth Symphony is imho one of the loveliest pieces of music ever written. Author Reply: I don't know if Almiel will become Middle-earth's Beethoven, but certainly with Legolas and Aragorn in her corner, she will have the future she always wanted. Beethove's Ninth is certainly one of the greatest pieces of music ever written and the fact that its composer never heard a single note of it except in his head makes one take pause. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Sunny. I greatly appreciate it.

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