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In Darkness Bound by Fiondil	6 Review(s)
Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 8/9/2011
Well, I’m positive you didn’t miss my comments but I did miss this story. And I’m pretty angry too so I thought it’d be nice to know the Valar forewarned. “grin” So, Findaráto and his cousin have just come back from their little…hunting trip and found everyone changing his/her mind about leaving for Middle-earth. For example, Ñolofinwë just remembered that he gave his oath to Fëanáro to follow him wherever would he lead. How convenient. And Arafinwë was adamant to not let his people to fall prey to his half-brother’s excesses. A most noble decision and I’m sure he did protect them as his best on the road from Tirion to Araman. As for Findaráto…he’s displaying here the behavior of an Elfling of two. For as much as he wanted to know the wide and magic world, he was willing to stay back as bounded by his duty to Aulë, to Aman and Tirion. Now, because everyone was leaving, he decided to leave too only to not be left behind! Beyond childish, in my opinion, but not more childish than Ingwion’s reaction. And this one was supposed to older than Fëanáro….huh. What in the Middle-earth did he do until this age, I wonder? Findaráto of all people (the rest could have gone to rot for all he cared) shouldn’t leave Aman only because he’d lose his beloved cousin! Not a thought about their reasons to undertake this journey, not a spark of understanding for their feelings and longings. He only thought about how would be he affected by their departure. Maybe it’s understandable because, for the first time in his life, he does realize that life isn’t always rosy. And…if the leaving Noldor would indeed die, just as he said, he’ll be the one to seek his death one day, without being able to find such a blessing. I’m being cruel but unfortunately I cannot muster up enough feeling to be sorry for it. Maybe next time… I'll be very interested to read through this tale (I missed an awful lot of chapters) and to see how far the things have gone until now. Somehow I know I won't be dissapointed by the progress of your story. "smile" Author Reply: Thanks for your comments, Sitara. I'm sorry you have no compassion for Ingwion or anyone else in the story (except possibly Fëanáro, who, at best is a minor character).

Erulisse	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 4/12/2011
I can't help but wonder how dramatically the history of both Aman and Middle Earth would have been altered had Finderato agreed to stay behind and take the throne. Arafinwe may not have turned back. There would certainly have been no ring of Barahir, therefore no Luthien and Beren, or at least certainly not within the same story parameters and likely without the same success. It totally boggles the mind how one small decision can start this total domino effect with ripples going 1000's of years away. - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: And of course, the same can be said to be true for us as well: a single small decision, the consequences of which are unknown and unforeseen, nevertheless has deep ramifications for many. What would have happened if Dorothy had gone left instead of right when the yellow brick road branched? Such are the stuff of AU stories and nightmares. grin An astute observation, Erulisse. Thanks for sharing. I appreciate it very much.

Shemyaza	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 4/12/2011
It does seem to me that Findarato's family underestimated him. I get the impression that they viewed him as the lovable family buffoon, certainly not one to girt himself with a sword and plunge into territory unknown. Sometimes it's the people you think you know well that surprise you. I also wonder how much of Finda's decision comes from the realisation that everyone else seems to have lost their minds and he feels that he should be there to be the voice of reason. What a shame nobody told him that reason had left the building! Believe it or not, the thing that you have managed to convey so well and with so few words is Earwen's sorrow and fear. She behaves so regally in a situation that has gone beyond madness and yet you manage to convey her emotions so brilliantly. It will be interesting to see her reaction when Arafinwe turns back and turns up on the doorstep. She must have felt betrayed by his actions and even more betrayed by her children's actions, especiallly Artanis. I imagine that poor Earwen would have wanted a far different relationship with her daughter. Ah yes, families making decisions for the absent member. There's a bit of that going on in my family at the moment. That's the trouble with everyone else thinking that they know better than anyone else. My sister and I have described ourselves as a group of individuals masquerading as a family and I think that this is a more than accurate description of the Finwians. Finwe's brood definitely put the 'd' in dysfunctional! And in the background, the darkness about to fall even harder on poor beleaguered Valinor and the Valar are damned if they do and damned if they don't. I'm sure that they would have loved to raise their hands and stop everyone dead in their tracks but they know that taking such an action will only confirm what Feanor and now many others think. Their hands are tied and the die is cast. All they can do is try to pick up the pieces...a bit like the average parents to be honest. Your kids get to a stage where they must make their own, often spectacular, mistakes and all you can do is wait and pick up the pieces when it all falls apart. I suppose one could apportion blame to the Valar for the decision over allowing Miriel to make the choice of departing her life and Finwe to remarry, but who knows what Eru was thinking at the time and what did he see in those actions that would shape matters for the rest of time. I actually feel sorry for them. I feel sorry for Earwen and I feel sorry for Ingwe. I do feel sorry for Olwe in a way, but I think that the Teleri isolationist policies are about to come and bite them in the ass. Not that they deserve bloodshed, but I do think that Olwe and his family and court, not to mention the Teleri people, are totally out of touch with matters elsewhere. Perhaps if they had involved themselves more Olwe would not have been so certain that Feanor wouldn't resort to bloodshed. Oh what a tanbled web we weave,,, Author Reply: Hi Shemyaza. Thank you for your observations concerning Earwen. I appreciate you picking up on that. We will see in later chapters just how she reacts to her husband's return. You are correct about the Valar. Because of certain earlier decisions and hesitations on their part they've pretty much dug a hole for themselves and, as you say, they're damned if they do and damned if they don't. It's a very sticky situation and no one comes out of it intact. And you are correct about Olwe and the Teleri. Their own isolationist views is what will land them in trouble they could never imagine with consequences that cannot be safely predicted even by Namo. It is indeed a tangled web that is being woven by them all. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 4/11/2011
Well, things are definitely going to hell in a handcart. :-p I wonder what they were thinking - or if they were thinking at all - when they decided, in his absence, just to make it perfect, that Findaráto should stay in Tirion and rule those Noldor who remained there, while practically all the rest of the family would leave. And I don't think any sweet words of reason would have worked at all - Finfaráto does after all have a couple of appointments in Beleriand. And where sweet words of reason are concerned - Nolofinwë really bungled that. Author Reply: Hi Sunny. You said it! LOL The incident with Findaráto and his family is something I drew from my own experiences when certain family decisions were made without my input and then after the fact, I was told what others had decided with regard to my life. I wasn't any more pleased with that than Findaráto. Unfortunately, I have the feeling that such things happening are not uncommon within families. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 4/11/2011
So this is how Nolofinwe became one of those who left. I rejoice that at the last moment Arafinwe changed his mind, at least. I can appreciate Ingwion's fear and confusion and anger, though, particularly at Finderato's apparently sudden change in attitude. Author Reply: Yes, this is how it went, and it even says as much in the Silmarillion that the majority of the Noldor came to Ñolfoinwë and begged him to lead them. As for Ingwion and Findaráto, we will see how that works out (or not) eventually. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Larner. I appreciate it very much.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 4/11/2011
And so begins Ingwion's descent into despair. I could see Finderato doing that, he is a very responsible ellon, but if all the family is going, why should he stay behind? Interesting that Earwen decided to stay, I wonder whose idea that was, hers or Arafinwe's? Ingwe is right, he needs to tell the Valar what is happening, in his own words, even if they know exactly what is happening in more detail than he does. The train is picking up speed and heading for derailment. Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Yes, so begins Ingwion's descent into despair though he still has far to go. Findaráto would have done well as king had he remained behind, but then if his atar had returned to take up the crown again, Findaráto would have become very resentful of having been left out of things and would have ended up hating his parents and Amarië and Ingwion and that wouldn't have been a good thing. So, it's probably a good thing he refused to stay behind. grin Anyway, thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

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