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In Darkness Bound by Fiondil	11 Review(s)
Siiw	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 10/14/2011
Oops, looks like I muat have missed this reply. I meant that Manwe had only been in Mandos once before, and thought that this must be that one visit. Author Reply: Ah, of course. And this would have been the one time before. Thanks for the clarification.

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/15/2011
The reuniting of Finwë and Miriel was very touching. What will happen when they are reimboded at the end should be interesting, especially with Indis involved. It's best that he doesn't know what his son and grandson's are up to. Author Reply: I'm glad you thought this reunion touching, Tari. Thanks for taking the time to read and let me know. I appreciate it very much.

Erulisse (one L)	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/29/2011
Sorry I'm late with this review. I'm usually a bit more timely, but I had to read this chapter several times. You packed so much into this, things that will richochet through the ages until the Final Battle. These decisions - those made by the Eldar as well as those made by the Valar, will be the start of the greatest pain to be felt in Arda. I understand that Eru believes in free choice, but this was badly played by the Valar, and their emphasis and focus was misguided. But then, we all know that. After all, this is a retelling up to this point. I found Miriel to be very interesting. Asking to be re-embodied and to take up her craft again, yet to be locked away, in essence, never to be out among the people until the Final Days, rough! I don't think I could do it without becoming yet one more raving lunatic in Valinor. Well done, as always :-) - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: No problem, Erulisse. I think you are correct that the Valar miscalculated and had no real clue about what was really happening, which points up their own naive and one could say innocent nature. I don't think they ever saw it coming and that made it all the more shocking for them. And Miriel is a strange bird, no mistake. You really have to wonder about her priorities. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
All too often coddling a child goes against the child's development, as obviously happened with Feanor. And now Finwe will know the results of that unwarranted coddling and spoiling, and be helpless to see it all set to rights. Author Reply: Very true, Larner. A cautionary tale that is relevant even today. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
Oddly enough, most of Tolkien’s females are portrayed as sorry excuses for mothers but this one certainly is the sorriest of all. I think you captured pretty well her essence. This is Miriel “Hold me blameless” Serindë, the one who yelled to be left alone and vowed to never return to life every time Finwë went to Lórien and begged her to come back to her family, the one who , after all this, would candidly wish to go back to her life only to resume her weaving . And she would call herself a mother…. Eh…I would say much more about her wasn’t for the fact that this “mercy” offered her by the Valar would prove itself in time much like the one Melkor granted to Húrin. She’ll have her flesh and blood killing and be killed under her eyes and for the lifetime of Arda she’ll be left to ponder “what if” scenarios. And the “Hold me blameless thing wouldn’t work anymore, not even for her own conscience.Don’t really see what good may come out from this, though. In my opinion, this mess won’t be sorted out even after the Remaking. I feel very sorry for Finwë. He deserves to have at least a bit of peace and to start his healing for he bears such grievous wounds. To be denied this it would be cruel. So I hope the Valar wouldn’t leave him to suffer for too much time. Even Melkor was given a chance after three Ages. I cannot let myself to believe they wouldn’t take steps to ensure the strengthening and counseling of the houseless fear. Loved the overall reaction to the Oath (I suppose that was what triggered it) . Though I wonder why the Valar would be so angered by this fact. I hope they would explain themselves further in the next chapters thus not letting me to start speculating. “grin” Author Reply: Well, I doubt Míriel would ever win the "Best Mom of the Year" award, Sitara. LOL She at least recognized her fault in not returning to her body once she was recovered, so she has some redeeming qualities. And I'm sure Námo will do all that he can to help Finwë find healing. He, at least, hates to see anyone suffering. We will see in the next chapter how the Valar respond to the Oath and why and what they do about it, though keep in mind that I'm limited by what Tolkien himself wrote, so I'm not able to have them do what I would have liked to see them do at this point, more's the pity. grin Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.

Shemyaza	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
As I understand the history behind Miriel Serinde, she was allowed to return to life after the death of Finwe on the condition that she entered the service of Lady Vaire. Her task was to weave all the deeds of the House of Finwe in the Tapestry of Time. A very sensitive depiction of the first meeting of Finwe and Miriel after his untimely death at the hands of Melkor. I would suppose that poor Finwe actually may not have known what his death would do to Feanor and in your telling of the tale he doesn't immediately find out which is probably just as well considering thr trauma to his fea from the violent death. I don't doubt for one minute that Feanor loved his father, but it was an obsessive love and seemed to be underlaid with seething resentment. When he makes the declaration about following Melkor to retrieve the Silmarils and the oath to Eru, his thoughts are not for his father's brave sacrifice but for the loss of the jewels. I doubt that knowing this would help Finwe heal all that well in Mandos. Interesting point about why didn't the Valar stop Feanor and his sons in the Kinslaying, but I suspect that even the Valar didn't think he would go that far and because they had all lived in peace in Valinor for so long and never knew anything else and in spite of Feanor already drawing a sword against a family member, they could not envisage such a savage action taken against wholly innocent people. At the point when Feanor was asking for the ships, he was no longer acting in any sane or rational way. His grief and anger had taken over and he was going to get those jewels back come hell or high water. I don't believe that the Valar or the Maia or any of the other Elves were prepared for the depths of his rage and the recklessness that would overtake him when Olwe refused him the ships. Again what can I say Fiondil, you are an inveterate story teller and the spells you weave with your stories draws people in. Author Reply: Hi Shemyaza. Your understanding is correct. Míriel's release from Mandos was conditioned on the fact that until the Remaking she would not walk among the other Elves, so actually, none of them would have been aware of the 'bargain' made by Finwë to take her place. The rest of your analysis of motives and such is pretty much how I see things as well and how I wrote the story. I think Fëanáro took everyone by surprise (except possibly Eru) and none of them, even the Valar, had a clue as to how to respond. I always thought Fëanáro dying so soon after reaching Beleriand, without having achieved any of his goals, was poetic justice and a good thing for all. I dread to think what he would have done to Thingol's realm; his sons were bad enough. Thanks for your kind words. I appreciate you letting me know that I'm doing a good job in telling this tale. It's not an easy tale to tell by any means, but I felt it was a necessary one. Thanks also for taking the time to read and review. I appreciate it more than words can adequately express.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
I wondered a bit about Finwë - Námo's standard procedure when he has a new guest, seems to be to let his guest sleep for a bit, then comes Judgement, then more sleep and forgetfulness. And we see him in _Beyond the Galvorn Door_, definitely not sleeping the Ages away. But you present both Míriel and Finwë as special cases. I wonder if the problems of Fëanáro and the Noldor are going to be upgraded a bit now that he and his sons have made that oath of theirs, and then more as they leave Valinor? I also wonder a bit if Míriel has had any contact with others who inhabit Mandos? There are all those Elves who were taken by the Dark Rider at Cuivienen, and I consider it quite likely that others have died since, bot on the Journey and in accidents and battles with Orcs and other creatures in Ennor. Are we also going to see what kind of reaction Finwë has to his "neighbors", especially any new ones - like the ones who will die at Alqualondë and in the crossing of Helcaraxë? (If we don't see it here, it is OK - it would probably not be considered part of the story after all, but perhaps the Muse might decide to adopt this idea.) Author Reply: Hi Sunny. We will see what happens now that the Oath has been uttered and the reaction and responses of the Valar to it. Of course, I was severely limited to what was presented in the Silmarillion. Personally, I think they should have squashed Fëanáro right from the start, but they are still a bit naive about the Elves and the extent to which Melkor's evil has penetrated their hröar and fëar. I have no idea if Míriel was allowed contact with any of the other residents. At any rate, none of them would have any memory of what led to their deaths, so she would be the 'odd one out' so to speak. And no, this is the last we see of Finwë. I just felt that this chapter needed to written (or rather my Muse was insisting that it be written), and it's more of a breather after the last chapter and before we get on with the rest of the Rebellion and its aftermath. As for the Muse adopting the idea.... we'll just have to wait and see. grin Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
When I read this: "Not at this time. We have other concerns and Fëanáro is, quite frankly, the least of them. We will let him go his way for now. Mayhap with the responsibility of kingship, he will become a bit less... um... excitable." I almost shout aloud to Namo. If they have paying a little more attention, maybe...or maybe not, I don't know if at this point they are able to change anything, but you never know, I think that their innocence regarding the elves is dead after these events. I'm frankly don't care what happened to Miriel and Finwe, really. Great chapter as usual. Now, to see what they will do, I always wondering why they did not stop the kinslaying? Author Reply: Hi Fantasia. While, strictly speaking, this chapter has nothing to do with the rest of the story, I felt it was a necessary one to complete the picture and to allow for certain commentary to be made. As for why the Valar didn't stop the Kinslaying.... why doesn't God stop wars in our own world? Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
Well that's Finwe neatly tucked away and Miriel on her way to Vaire's to help with her weaving. Finwe is right that you can love many people many ways. We all know what Feanaro has done, the silly chump! Waiting for Monday! Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Yes, one can love more than one person in different ways even when they are your spouses. Unfortunately, Finwë's doting on his firstborn son didn't help matters. Next chapter will see the reactions of the Valar to the Oath. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I greatly appreciate it.

Siiw	Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 3/25/2011
I remember the story about Aragorn in Mandos, where something like this was said: He has been here only once before. Was it these events Namo was referring to then? Author Reply: Hi Siiw. I think you're a bit confused. Aragorn would have had no reason to ever meet Finwë. Námo is referring to when he saved Faramir from the Black Breath.One had to assume, based on the description we are given in LoTR that Faramir was nearly at the gates of Mandos when Aragorn caught up with him and called him back to Life. Still, it's interesting that you thought of that story while reading this chapter. I suppose there are some similarities to them. Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

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