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In Darkness Bound by Fiondil	9 Review(s)
obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 4/3/2011
So, what are the Valar up to now? Since reading your other stories I have a fond spot for Findarato. I feel dread building up knowing that in the end, he goes to ME and gets himself killed. I liked the discussion about the coherent light coming out of rubies. I remembered the first lasers and your notes confirmed that I was right. On to the next chapters. Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. As to what the Valar are up to, we'll find out soon enough. One of the ironies of this story is that we already know the fates of many of the characters, who lives and who dies, even though they themselves have no clue. Glad you are reading this and enjoying. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Kaylee Arafinwiel	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/29/2010
Hi Atar Fiondil! I've been reading and loving the story so far. I'm sorry I haven't commented...my computer has been having freezing issues until recently with this site. I don't know what was wrong with it, but it looks better now. Maybe it was my ISP or a slow connection or something. Anyway, my sister fiddled a bit with the router yesterday and things seem better. I loved the whole discussion about rubies and lasers best. I wonder how exactly a ruby becomes a laser? If you shine a light through it, it'll turn into a laser? ponders Hmm, I suppose I shall learn about it just like Finda. I suppose he'll use the Elder King's pendant to figure it out? Hmm, and Artanis is even forging swords. I wonder whether she'll make any that will turn out to be important someday? (I decided to comment on this chapter first because I noticed your explanation of Galadriel and Aredhel among the other comments. :) I see her very much as a tomboy, with all those brothers to keep up with. I'm writing a very short ficlet with very young Artanis and Irisse in Aman under the care of their nursemaids; Niniel, my already established OC, for Artanis, and now I can't remember what I named Irisse's caregiver...I remember it meant 'white daisy' in Quenya. Let's just say the two clashed in their ideas of how to look after Noldorin princesses. grin) Author Reply: Hi Kaylee. Well, I'm glad you're able to access SoA again. As for how rubies are turned into lasers, I'm afraid I don't really know myself. You'll have to check Wikipedia and see what it has to say about it. Whether Finda figures it out or not remains to be seen, but I think certain events will catch up with him and he'll be forced to put aside his studies. Anyway, I'm glad you are enjoying the story. Thanks for reading and reviewing when you are able. I much appreciate it.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/27/2010
An important concern for all of Aman--how the discontent inspired by Melkor affects the Peace of the Valar. And I am glad that they work to inspire Finderato in particular, although I suspect Iluvatar Himself is planning to take advantage of the ellon's disquiet to counter the destruction Melkor is seeking to cultivate. Author Reply: I suspect you are correct, Larner, and Ilúvatar Himself has certain plans for Findaráto. Certainly we know that he is meant to go to Beleriand and be the one to find the Edain, but of course none of this is foreseeable at this point in time. We will see how things go for Findaráto as time goes on. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I'm glad to know you are still enjoying this tale.

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/27/2010
My apologies for intruding again without even having Námo’s brilliant deeds as excuse, but there is something bothering me for quite a while now. As I recall, Fëanáro’s sentence was to keep himself away from Tirion, where the supposed offence had taken place. He went north and built Formenos as his new dwelling place, indeed, but the canon never gave me the impression that he would be confined to that place and never permitted to leave it for twelve years. To hear all that talk about security measures and Maiar to guard that place makes me think about a prison camp; the only thing missing in that picture being the words “Arbeit macht frei” planted somewhere at the gate. Sorry for saying this, but in my opinion, by confining Fëanáro and all those who accompanied him in exile to a small valley and setting in place such extensive security measures, the Valar broke their own doom whose lawfulness was already questionable. Between forbidding Fëanáro to come to Tirion for twelve years and practically imprisoning him for the same amount of time is a huge difference. Again, I apologize for my comments and thank you for your time. Author Reply: While your concerns are legitimate, Sitara, the security measures are explicitly stated as ensuring that none of the elflings wandered off and lose themselves in the wilderness surrounding the valley. Also, Fëanáro was allowed to choose the place of his exile, as described in an earlier chapter. I don't think that anything I've written directly contradicts what is in the Silmarillion, but is merely my interpretation of events which played out, leading up to the Darkening and beyond. Other writers may have and probably do have their own take on the story and, of course, they are free to write their version. I don't expect everyone to agree with how I've played out the scenario and there is certainly room for debate. None of the Noldor at Formenos are bound to remain there. Only Fëanáro is. All others, even his sons and his father are free to leave whenever they choose. They are there of their own free will, so to compare Formenos to a prison camp I think is stretching the point a bit. And don't forget, Manwë has to order Fëanáro to attend the feast at Ilmarin, thus give him permission to leave Formenos, so in that sense, it is a place of confinement for Fëanáro, though not for anyone else.

Shemyaza	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/27/2010
Out of all of the writers of the matters in the Silmarillion and the characters developed therein nobody actually deals with them as you do. Under your writing they become real, not those remote powerful creatures that most writers make them into. This is the magical part of your stories, how the characters become real people under the keystrokes and after you admitting that I wasn't the only person who had the characters jostling around in my head that I realised that to bring someone's else's work into the real world, you need to have a form of author's multiple personality disorder! I love your characterisation of those of Tolkien's world who did not have the expansion given to the characters of The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings. This is why I have taken your basic characterisation of the Maiar, Valar and people like Findarato and the other elves and expanded them into modern times in my own stories. You weave a magical, fascinating tapestry of life in the days before the Noldor left for ME. Through your stories we begin to think of how events set in motion by Feanor and Melkor develop and finally come to fruition in that final War of the Ring in the Third Age. Far from being offended at our use of his world, I think Tolkien would be delighted at how we have expanded it and taken it further. Tolkien was an inveterate story teller and I firmly believe that he would have wanted his universe to carry on and it does. It carries on the wonderful stories by yourself and the other writers..Rhyselle, Ellie, Larner and so many countless others who produce such delightful cameos, vignettes, drabbles and full stories. The story behind the rebellion and subsequent events needed to be told, for all of us, because it completes the Tolkien universe. Ingwe ceases to be a shadowy leader who follows Orome and leads his people to sit at the feet of the Valar. To often writers dismiss the Vanyar and concentrate on the Noldor and the Teleri. His and his family's story needed to be told so that we can fully understand the dynamics of events that shattered lives. I look forward to every chapter of your stories, they never cease to delight. Author Reply: Thank you, Shemyaza, for this wonderful review. Filling in the gaps, as it were, is what makes writing about Middle-earth so much fun and I appreciate you letting me know how much you enjoy my work. I try very hard to give all my characters (canon, minor canon and OC) their own voices and personalities. They are as real for me (and in some ways more real) as are the people with whom I interact on a daily basis. Tolkien himself said, "I would draw some of the great tales in fullness, and leave many only placed in the scheme, and sketched. The cylcles should be linked to a majestic whole, and yet leave scope for other minds and hands, wielding paint and music and drama" [Letter 131]. So, like you, I think Tolkien would be delighted with our efforts to expand on his stories. Certainly this is what I am trying to do here, to explain what was happening throughout Eldamar, especially with Ingwë who is conspicious by his absence in the Silmarillion when Fëanáro is causing trouble. The entire premise of "Darkness" revolves around one simple question: Where was Ingwë, who is the High King, in all of this? I hope I do him and the Vanyar justice in writing this tale. Thanks again for your encouragement and support and your lovely reviews. I appreciate them more than words can adequately express.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/26/2010
I think that Finderato being who he is, is precisely the reason why people will listen to him, as the son of Finwe's younsgest son, he will be deemed to be uninvolved with the goings on between Feanaro and his brothers. He does not apeare (sp?) to have any standing in his grandfathers court and can be supposed to have an unbiased opinion of what Feanaro did. Melkors lies are insidious and work away quietly with out any one being aware of them until it is too late, a bit like termites, you don't know they are there until the house falls down! Dose Artanis have any girl cousins, I can't remember if her uncle Nolofinwe had any daughters, maybe if she had she would not be so competative? I wonder what would have happened to her if she had not gone with her brothers, would she have ended up lonely and bitter or would she have struck out on her own to establish her own enclave in Aman? Me thinks the Valaar are wishing they had kept a closer eye on Feanaro and Formanos. Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda, I think you are correct about Findaráto, although I think he is unsure of himself at this point and does not feel he is up to the task. We will see, though, how things turn out in later chapters. Artanis does have one female cousin, Ñolofinwë's daughter, who will be known as Aredhel in Beleriand, the one who marries Eöl and has Maeglin. Perhaps she is older (or younger) than Artanis enough so that they did not grow up together and so Artanis was left to compete with her brothers. Or maybe Artanis was the elvish equivalent of a tomboy. grin I think the Valar are wishing they'd kept a closer eye on Formenos, too. Thanks for this additional review. I appreciate it very much.

Angwen	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/26/2010
Mondays & Fridays are the best days of the week: coffee, quiet, and Fiondil's updates! ^_^ I had mentioned awhile back that I'd do a Family Tree for your stories... the 'Elf Interrupted' stories are both done, working now on Findarato Diaries, then I'm going to comb Darkness. Hope you'll be pleased - I have each character listed by both Quenya and Sindarin name, by sex, by Noldor-Vanya-Teleri (which I had to fudge a bit, as some don't exactly say, and thus I made some logical assumptions), and a code for which story they first appear. So, when you recieve an email called 'Fiondil's Trees', with an attachment, that's what it is!!! See, unemployment does have benefits! Author Reply: Hello Angwen. Wow! That is certainly an ambitious project and I look forward to seeing it when you are finished with it. Thank you. And I'm glad you are reading this story, as well and that you look forward to the updates. Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it.

Erulisse (one L)	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/26/2010
Poor Finderato. Torn between wanting to obey the Elder King and wondering how best to do it. He has always been one of my favorite characters and his strength of character comes through clearly here. He wants to do the best that he can, feels obligated to follow through with his promise, but is completely unsure about how best to go about it. I love his experiments with gemstones. As someone who works with stones, I appreciate your occasional focus on these wonders and love the various definitions that you provide at the chapter ends. Of course, I remember the first ruby lasars, they were so lauded. Now they seem almost common-place and we barely think about what allows us to exist in our silicon-based secondary lives any more. We have come a long way. I am looking forward to the lesson(s) that will be given. - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: Hello, Erulisse. Yes, Findaráto is indeed torn and I think this will play a major part of his decision later on to join the Rebellion. Glad you like my use of the gemstones. Findaráto, especially, seemed to be fascinated by them, considering the number he brought with him when he fled Aman, so it's just natural that he would be studying crystallography at this point in time. As for the lesson(s)... they will be forthcoming soon enough. grin Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 11/26/2010
Darn, I was going to mention that rubies were used in the first lasers and you go and put it in your Author's Note. Once more a lot of food for thought, I think Ingwe is right, letting Feanaro take as many with him as he did is not true exile, it's more like setting up a new colony, he is not going to learn anything from his mistakes if you let him reinforce his opinion of himself, true exile would have given him the chance to ponder on his attitude and maybe learn from it. He is one very jealous ellon if you ask me, having Finwe with him away from his brothers is just what he wants. Oops, have to head for the salt mines, will continue this later. Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Beat ya! nyah! LOL I anticipated some people scratching their heads wondering what Findaráto and Aulë were talking about so I put the note in. And I think Ingwë has the right of it, too. Exile is, after all, exile, and while the Silmarillion doesn't specifically state that many of the Noldor followed Fëanáro and Finwë into exile, in early redactions of this story, the entire people of the Noldor go into exile, so I adapted that idea to my story but only made a certain porportion follow Fëanáro, those most in sympathy with him. Later in the Silmarillion when describing the Faring Forth, it states that Fingolfin and Finarfin (to give their Silmarillion names) held the allegiance of the greater part of the Noldor and these are the ones who stayed behind in Tirion. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and if you have any other comments to add, I look forward to reading them. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I greatly appreciate it.

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