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In Darkness Bound by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 3/2/2011
Sorry for pestering. “grin” I almost forgot something in my overwhelming urge to chop the Valar’s heads off. I’m attributing my highly increased level of aggresiveness to a nasty enough case of pneumonia, you know. It must be the antibiotic. The Silmarils and Fëanáro’s overly spoken obssession with them. Well, if I may say it, his reaction when the Valar asked for the Silmarils was nowhere near the typical behavior of an obssessed person. I mean, how would a truly obssessed person react when asked for the object of his obssession by his enemies no less? It would send them …to the Void in a flash. Yet Fëanáro didn’t do that. He took his time to think about their request, albeit the Valar didn’t even try to appeal to his feelings for his family and his people. They didn’t say “Think about your father, your wife and sons, your people who are going to suffer without Light!” , they said “Help Yavanna!” Very smart move. As if Fëanáro would have had any reason in this world to help Yavanna, especially about his falling-out with Aulë having to do with Nerdanel. He took his time to think instead of outright rejecting them or saying something along the lines “I won’t give them for any league or friendship!” That would be another’s line, a person not in slightest obssessed with the work of its heart, obviously. So, in my opinion, what Fëanáro said in respect to his jewels and, bearing in mind his canon musings when he felt as surrounded by thieves or something like that, I’d say that Fëanáro rather refused to give the Silmarils to the Valar instead of refusing to give them up to whomever would have asked for them. Sorry for rambling. I’m sick and crazy with pain and therefore allowed to do so. This time. “grin” Author Reply: Sorry to hear that you are so sick, Sitara. I hope you get better soon. Pneumonia is no fun at all as anyone who's had it can testify. There are probably many levels of obsession and perhaps Fëanáro's not so far gone at this point as he was later. I do think his answer to the Valar was based partly in response to Yavanna saying that she could never do what she had done before in creating the Trees and partly pure hyperbole on his part about being slain if the Silmarils were broken. That, to me, speaks purely of selfishness (and who among us hasn't been selfish?) on his part. He wasn't really thinking about anything or anyone but himself or he might have spoken differently. Tolkien himself says in the Silmarillion that if Fëanáro had consented to Yavanna's wish, even if ultimately that consent proved useless because the Silmarils were already stolen, things may have turned out differently simply because of Fëanáro's willingness to release the Silmarils to the Valar for the good of all. We'll never know. Thanks for reading and reviewing in spite of your illness, Sitara. Get better soon.

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 2/28/2011
Was that the first time when the Valar found shattered their source of light and themselves in need to craft a new one? I didn't saw them trying to gather the broken pieces of the Lamps; on the contrary, they managed to grow another source of Light, the Trees. What about now? Now it seems that all they cared for is to see the Silmarils out of Fëanáro's hands as soon as possible. It was no secret that the Valar had always wanted to have the Silmarils in their keeping. Why? Why would they want to possess a spark of the Light of the Trees when they were out there in full blossom and their Light was much more impressive than the one contained inside three gems? Because, as I think, the guardians of Arda could never accept to see its fates adorning the brow of an unbalanced Elf. This is the name of the game, in my opinion. How would have the Elder King felt to realize that Eru had placed the fates of Arda forever out of his reach and in the hands of Fëanáro? I'm bringing an extremely serious accusation against the Valar and somehow I don't think Tolkien ever intended to have the things playing out this way. "grin" But this accusation is a viable one and this is how the Valar could be even more underhanded than their fallen Brother. "evil grin" How else should I explain their haste to ask Fëanáro for his gems, Tulkas acting like a common bully and even Námo throwing in Fëanáro's face a thing that might have meant that he knew what Melkor was about to do and did nothing at all to stop him? What if Fëanáro or any other Elf would have taken in his head after hearing those words that either the Valar were in league with Melkor and lured him from Formenos so that Melkor would do their dirty work, or that they were aware of the fact that Melkor was planning to kill Finwë and did nothing about that? Moreover, the Valar were perfectly aware of the fact that within the Silmarils lay locked something of great importance for the whole Arda, not only for Aman. So how did they dare to ask the Silmarils only to rekindle their Trees and have back only their cosy place? I found the reaction of Finwë's younger sons to be very impressive. As it was Maedhros and Maglor's tale. Poor of them...to be forced to see their grandfather in such state and then to run after their father to stop him from slaying himself...And the fact driving me crazy in all this is that, at least in the published Silmarillion, the Valar never accepted to take any responsibility for what happened here! The Powers of Arda, indeed. Author Reply: I'm sure there are others who feel the same as you about the Valar, Sitara. As for what Tolkien ultimately intended or didn't intend, that's something none of us will ever know this side of the grave, if ever. We can only work with what has been given to us to the best of our abilities and hope others find it acceptable. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 2/23/2011
Somehow the fact Manwe knew of the tunnel is heartening, as is the fact the residents of Formenos were allowed to continue in its excavation unhindered. But the grief at the loss both of the King of the Noldor and the Trees, not to mention that of the Silmarils, is overwhelming. I am glad that Olwe arrived when he was needed to offer comfort. Alas that Feanor felt that his life was so desperately linked to the Silmarils themselves. Author Reply: That is a heartening thought, isn't it? grin It shows, I think, that the Valar are more accommodating than the Elves give them credit for. Unfortunately, the grief is very overwhelming for many and much sorrow follows from it as we will eventually see. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Larner. I appreciate it greatly.

Erulisse (one L)	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 2/22/2011
So, things are now set in motion that will define the subcategories of elves from this point on. Now there will not only be Vanyar, Teleri, Sindar and Noldor, but also Amaneldi, Tol Eressean, Native, Immigrant, Returnee and Reborn. The society under the Valar is now starting to fracture and the echoes of Feanor's "No" will echo for ages to come. Throughout Elf Interrupted there were references to the Darkness and what happened. Now we are starting to get to the meat of the matter and I, for one, can hardly wait to finally find out what happened during the Darkness in your view. I look forward to Mondays and Fridays knowing that I'll have my next chapter in the saga, and I love walking the path that you are tracking throughout Arda. - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: Hi Erulisse. I suspect many people wondered why it took me so long to get to this point in the story, but I felt I needed to set up the parameters of what follows, so it makes sense to people. Most are familiar with the broad outline of what happened with the Noldor who left, but what happened to those who remained behind, especially the Vanyar and to a lesser extent the Teleri, is pretty much terra incognita for us all. Hopefully, how I portray the events, both canon and non-canon, dealing with the aftermath of the actual Darkening will not disappoint. I'm glad you are looking forward to the rest of the story. Thanks for reading and reviewing and letting me know. I appreciate it very much.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 2/21/2011
Wow! I can only say: poor everybody, from the Valars to the last creature in Middle Earth, because Melkor started in Valinor but it will end in ME, making everybody life miserable. Well, the darkness and the madness have just got loose, waiting to see them in all their glory in part three. Author Reply: Hi Fantasia. Yes, Melkor will make many lives miserable before he's finally taken and thrown off the island, so to speak. grin Glad you're looking forward to the next part of the story. Hopefully it won't disappoint. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 2/21/2011
Well that was intense for a Monday morning, and before my morning cuppa too! Poor Feanaro, poor Nolofinwe, poor Finwe, poor Elves, poor Valar, poor Arda! I think Manwe knew that Feanaro would not give up the Silmarills but he had to ask and now they are gone and the question is moot. You tend to forget that Finwe had other sons, since so much emphasis is made of his connection to Feanaro and his sons. Waiting till Friday for the Part Three, knowing that things are going to go from bad to worse! Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Sorry about the intensity of the chapter. I'm afraid that many of the chapters that follow this one are a bit intense for one reason or another. It's the nature of the beast. And I think a lot of people tend to forget the Finwë not only had other sons, but daughters as well. Even I tend to forget about them and haven't really written them into this story except as mentions or very vaguely. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 50 on 2/21/2011
In a way, I can understand Fëanáro snapping. He has been exiled for what he undoubtedly considers unfair reasons, and his detested younger brother Nolofinwë has (in his opinion) usurped his father's crown, since Finwë decided to go with his eldest son into exile. Then came Melkor's first visit, and now he had been ordered to attend a festivasl and strong-armed into reconciling with Nolofinwë. And Fëanáro is a proud and stubborn ellon, and this was probably seen as the Valar rubbing his nose in what he considers a humiliating situation. Then the Trees die, and Fëanáro is asked to give over his Silmarils, which are an obsession for him. And then he learns that his father has been killed my Melkor - utterly unnatural for an immortal, and the Silmarils were stolen. No, I am not at all surprised that Fëanor went more than a little crazy. Author Reply: Fëanáro had a lot happening all at once and I think his atar's death was the telling blow. After that, he just didn't care, which is why I think he uttered the Oath as he did. It is truly an act of despair. So yes, no one should be surprised that he goes a little bonkers there at the end. Thanks for reading and reviewing Sunny. I appreciate it very much.

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