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In Darkness Bound by Fiondil	11 Review(s)
Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 7/5/2013
It's been a while that I've read much of any Tolkien fanfiction, and I'm currently enjoying catching up on what you've been gifting us with in the meantime. Although I don't know if "enjoying" is quite the right word for this story, is it? There is a constant cloud of dread hanging over it, coming ever closer, and with this chapter you can't ignore it any longer if you haven even just a smidgen of SILM knowledge. I admit it's uncomfortable (in a good way, good reads should put you through a wringer of emotions), and I'll be glad once this cloud bursts and we no longer have to contrast what we know is going to happening with the false hope and attempts to make things better on the side of the characters that makes it that much more tragic. I'm surfacing on this chapter specifically because I just have to get a rant against Finwë off my chest, else I'm going to eat my keyboard, so please bear with me. That ellon is such a self-indulgent, mindless, ill-considering excuse for a ruler and a father as there is! It's been mentioned several times, but I really do wonder why he bothered to go to the lengths he did to be able to marry Indis with the ostensible reason that he wanted to have more children if he continuously ignores and dismisses them! And it seems he care not one whit that this is not merely a personal family problem, but a public, political problem - and not "merely" for his own Noldor, but for all the Eldar. And he isn't doing Fëanáro any favours either with obviously favouring him and spoiling and indulging him so much. No wonder the "spirit of fire" never showed much self-restraint when he was never much checked or curbed from infancy onwards through what should be adult responsibilities. And no wonder the Valar had to put matters into their own hands when they exiled Fëanáro. I suspect Finwë would have more or less dismissed the incident, and what would that have been as an example for how to deal with a breach of the peace of Valinor? He really put Ñolofinwë in an untenable position. Not only is his being regent a self-fulfilling prophecy that only hightens Fëanáro's doubts and resentments against his brother, but Ñolofinwë is also not undisputed Noldoran in his absence, because of that second "colony" in Formenos. And what Finwë did in this chapter just broke the camel's back as far as I'm concerned, even though it seems a relatively minor detail all things considered. It seems to me almost unforgiveable when he overruled his son's decree. Either he is thoughtless and shortsighted to not see the ramifications on his family and on his people, or he is passively or actively spiteful towards his son and regent - and either way, he should never be ruling again so much as a colony of tumbleweed. woooooh Sorry for that ;-)! Anyway, I think I will close my diatribe with saying that it's good in a way what happens next to him, as the dignified manner of his death is the only way he redeemed himself for me at least part-way. Please don't stop writing such immersing plots and characters, Fiondi! And now onwards to the doom-laden, doomful days of doom... Author Reply: Hi Imhiriel. You have a lot of catching up to do. LOL! But that's the beauty of the internet. The stories are there when you need them. Anyway, You're pretty much preaching to the choir as far as Finwë is concerned. He is not the best ruler the Elves have ever had and it's unfortunate that he acted as he did toward his children and his (second) wife. Well, he died well, as they say, and that's about all one can say about him. At any rate, I have no intention of stopping writing as you will see if you glance at what stories I've written since this one. I am glad you are finally able to return to reading fanfiction, especially mine. Thanks for "surfacing" long enough to let me know. I appreciate it very much.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/12/2011
A sad thing that Feanor must be commanded. The plans are good; but Melkor has seen his seeds of discord well tended. Author Reply: Very sad, indeed, Larner. And while the plans are good, we know that they are futile and that makes the Valar's hopefulness so poignant, doesn't it? Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

bladwedd	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/1/2011
Manwe: "I command to you, Feanaro. You must be healed and reconciled." Manwe is a fool or a criminal. Author Reply: Whatever.

Erulisse (one L)	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
And so darkness is approaching "In Darkness Bound" and events are being initiated that will lead to the greatest changes in the lives of the Elves living in Valinor and Arda Marred that may every have happened. Reading through something like this is the equivalent of my five-year-old self screaming at the screen "Don't take the apple" to Snow White when she was offered the poison apple by her Evil Stepmother. I keep wanting to tell Feanaro to either not attend, or to take everyone in his family along with him. Yet I know that will not happen, and that darkness will indeed fall in this celebratory event. I feel like Namo - knowing what will happen, but unable to halt events that are already set into motion.... - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: Hi Erulisse. Yes, I imagine many readers are screaming the equivalent of "Don't go up into the attic alone, you fool!" LOL And that's pretty much how Námo must feel at times. Unfortunately, we know how things progress -- or do we? -- because once the Noldor leave Aman the story shifts again to those left behind and what befalls them and Tolkien remains silent on that front, which is a good thing for us as it gives us plenty of scope for our imaginations. grin Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
In all earnestness, every time I see the Valar holding council in such a dignified manner, I feel the overwhelming urge to bash their heads together. (well, twice for Námo, to be frank) Honestly! These Valar aren't fit to run a grocery store, for pity's sake, let alone the entire Arda! What kind of ruler fails to catch the enemy from under his very nose, twice for that matter, only to let him roam afterwards his territory without a care in the world, not alone of course, but accompanied by a wee little spider?! What kind of ruler doesn't even think about finding out what was that Melkor wanted from Fëanáro when visited him at Formenos?! Why would have Melkor risked his freedom and possibly his life only to visit someone who loathed him? Had they cared to find out about Melkor's goal, they might have been able to avoid the upcoming tragedy. They could have guarded the Trees at least as they never cared much about Formenos and its inhabitants. I'm simply astonished to see such stupidity from the ones appointed by Eru to rule Arda. Any human leader would have been long sacked for displaying such sheer incompetence, in my opinion. At least they don't seem to be ill-intended here, as they weren't in HoME 1 either but that's hardly enough. All that I know now for sure is that a horror story is about to start unfolding itself and for this the Valar would look everywhere for a place to lay the blame except in their own direction! Melkor is the culprit, as well as Fëanáro, the Noldor for being rebellious and corrupted by Melkor, anyone else except for themselves! Sorry for ranting again but these Valar (as well as Tolkien's) are some very frustrating beings. Well...I guess we'll have to wait and see whether your Valar would be as obnoxious as Tolkien's in HoME 1. P.S. And what in the world has poor Finwë ever done to you? "grin" Author Reply: Actually, Sitara, you may well be correct in your estimation of the Valar but if they had done everything you say they should have done, I don't think there would have been much of a story for Tolkien to write or for us to argue over. grin Which just goes to show that even the Valar are not infallible and in some respects are downright complacent and that smug complancy on their part is part of the problem. In a later chapter I will address this or rather Atar will. grin Anyway, I rarely use HOME 1 as a source. It was written when Tolkien was a young man and the writing and the concepts are rather immature. Luckily for us, his vision of Arda and its history deepened and matured and that's a good thing for us, isn't it? grin As for Finwë, I don't have anything against the ellon personally. You need to separate what I think about him from what various characters think. I do believe he abrogated his duty to his people in joining his son in exile and thereby made a bad situation worse, but I think many people think the same so I'm not alone in my beliefs. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing.

Aiwen	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
So, the Darkening is getting a lot closer now! And there are rifts opening among the eldar everywhere - with the exception of the Teleri. Is this because Melkor mostly ignored them, or are they having problems that haven't been covered in this story? Author Reply: That's true, Aiwen. We are only a few chapters away from that defining event. The Teleri haven't been as affected as the other clans because Olwë refused Melkor admittance into his realm, but that will not prevent tragedy to strike among them. Their isolationist policy will not protect them as we well know. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. I greatl appreciate it.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
I wanted to shout them not to hold the Festival. it is great to know something that the Valars don't, well, except Namo, but he is not sure. What worry me is that Ingwion will be in Tirion when the Noldors decide to part. I don't know if he will see kingslaying. We know that he survives, but what a terrible experience for him to see it. I went back to read GI II, because I was under the impression that Ingil died in the kingslaying not in the War, but you told me in the review ( I do remember that Alassiel's father died in the War)I haven't finding the scene yet. I do remember that Ingwion was still traumatized by the event, and if the nightmares are an indication, it seems that there is more than war casualty in here. Author Reply: Hi Fantasia. It is frustrating, isn't it, knowing what is to come and not being able to do anything about it. Now you know how Námo feels sometimes. grin. In "Elf, Interrupted" we never learn for whom Ingwion mourns until the very end and we never really know how Ingalaurë died. That will be revealed in this story. Neither Ingwion nor Ingalaurë go to the War of Wrath, at least in my version of events. Intarion, their cousin, goes instead and he dies there to be re-embodied at the same time as Ingalaurë. How these events play out will be revealed eventually. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate you taking the time to do both.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
I have my doubts about the feast being of any help, there are too many problems to be solved by a gathering of the clans as it were, I have a very nasty feeling that tempers will flair and things will get much worse! At least the Valar are aware of Ingalure's dreams and nightmares, it is a pity that Irmo is so scrupulous in guarding the dreams of the Elder, but, perhaps Oloremmarie will be able to pick up a few hints of what is really troubling him. So the coil is starting to tighten even more, poor Elves, poor Valar, poor Arda. Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Of course, we know that the feast is interrupted and everything goes south and any hope for peace and reconciliation goes out the window. We are really only a few chapters away from the Darkening itself and the coil is tightening more and more. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.

bladwedd	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
“It seems that no matter what Ñolofinwë does, he is unable to appease all parties,” Oromë said with a frown. “He is in an untenable position.” “It does not help that Finwë sided with Morcocáno and rescinded Ñolofinwë’s judgment,” Námo responded. “The fact that we confirmed the judgment apparently did not impress the Noldóran.” “It was rather amusing to see the expression on Morcocáno’s face when he tried to leave the valley believing that Finwë’s ruling absolved him,” Tulkas said with a booming laugh." Nolofinwe was King in the Tirion. Finwe was unkinged. Very, very good.grin Author Reply: Just so you know, Bladwedd, this chapter was written last spring, so your recent reviews about Finwë and Ñolofinwë were not a deciding factor for how this chapter was written or the conversation the Valar have concerning them. But I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Ellynn	Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 1/31/2011
I read this and I really love it, but I can't help it - I feel sad, knowing what will happen in the end. :( The tragic events that will follow are in great contrast to the hope and efforts described in this chapter. Well done. P.s. Thanks for the detailed answer last time. Author Reply: Hi Ellynn. Yes, it is very sad knowing that all their efforts will be in vain. I'm glad you liked the way the chapter contrasts the hope of the Valar against the coming tragedy. Thanks for letting me know and you're very welcome.

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