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In Darkness Bound by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 12/30/2011
Well, as I was thinking about giving the bodies of the dead Noldor back to their kin for a proper burial, my accusation against Olwë stands. It wasn’t like he had no other choice than to burn them. He deliberately chose to destroy them and this is a war crime. And, to be completely fair, the Teleri fought neither for their lives nor for their homes, as far as I recall. But, as the Teleri’s attitude towards the Noldor as a whole could be understandable, even by likes of me, I cannot begin to comprehend Arafinwë’s. Did he really think that it was the case to pile more guilt upon the returning Noldor’ shoulders? He said that they all were guilty because they followed Fëanáro. How is that true since the most part of the Noldor were actually following Nolofinwë whom they had chosen as their leader? Furthermore, as the Valar themselves said that everyone was free to leave Aman at will, I would ask Arafinwë which was exactly the fault of the people who returned with him. Why, but following his logic, the Valar should have forfeited their name as Ainur because of their brother’s Melkor’s deeds. And, because he was so eager to make reparations with the Teleri, I would ask him whether he thought to bring forth that long forgotten issue of the Teleri’s own debt to the Noldor for the help given when the Teleri arrived first in Valinor? As it seems, Olwë wasn’t as eager as he to pay his own debts. Was the Lindaran saying something about Finwë’s worth as Noldorán, if I’m not mistaken? As for Arafinwë and his cowardice issues….he’ll never know for sure what exactly was that prompted him to take the road back. But fear is not always a bad thing and that’s the nicest thing that I may ever say about Arafinwë. Also, I must commend the Teleri for their speedily learning of the craftmanship of weapons. Pity that, according to their king, with such skills, they couldn’t build any more Swanships but, well, the Teleri have mastered instead another fine art. Author Reply: You don't seem to allow for the fact that they're all a little insane at this point and no one is thinking straight, not Arafinwe, not Olwe, no one, so they are doing, saying and thinking things that they might not otherwise do, say or think. And obviously the Teleri continued building ships, otherwise, where did all the ships that they made available to ferry the Host of the West come from? Thanks for commenting.

Erulisse (one L)	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 5/15/2011
Olwe is much more the king than most have thought, acting in the best benefit of both his family and his people by forgiving and provisioning the Noldor who have returned. It won't be easy, but they will find a way, and without damning themselves and others to eternal thralldom (I can't quite figure out why they would be so happy to enter into enslavement - but that's just me). Now the story is starting to get very interesting. Now we are walking on territory that has only been seen in your mind thus far. And since it is your mind, I'm quite sure that I'm going to love every chapter. - Erulisse (one L) Author Reply: Hi Erulisse. I think it's a guilt thing for the Noldor, feeling they deserve not to be forgiven by anyone for what they did (or failed to do). The Valar will actually address that issue at some point. I certainly hope that you do love every chapter of the rest of the story. All that has come before is actually a prelude to what now follows, answering the question of what happened after the Noldor left. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Ellynn	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 5/14/2011
So, Arafinwe has a new child? It seems somehow appropriate and comforting; lovely last line. I am thinking about Ingwe all the time. Yes, the events about Kinslaying are tense and there were/are many cliffhangers, but I haven't forgotten about Ingwe. I can't wait to read news about him - and other Vanyar, of course. Author Reply: Hi Ellynn. I'm glad you found the last line comforting. And I haven't forgotten about Ingwë either grin and we will eventually learn of his fate, but other things need to happen before we can. We will actually be going back to Ingwion in the next chapter to see what has happened to him in the meantime as he returns to Vanyamar after the Noldor leave. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 5/13/2011
His intentions are right, I suspect, if rather too heavy handed for those who themselves took no part in the Kinslaying. But, all in all, he's done mostly well. And at least Olwe accepts that these are blameless of all but blindly following Feanor in the end. I am glad that he faced down Ainairos, although using the poor child was cruel, I fear. But at least Ainairos was forced to accept he, too, has still shreds of decency in his character. Author Reply: Arafinwë is suffering from a lot of misplaced guilt and not a little arrogance and that's going to land him into a heap of trouble soon enough. The confrontation between Olwë and Ainairos forced Olwë to use shock treatment to get through to Ainairos. No Elf would willingly harm a child, any child. I'm sure Olwë was grieved to have to use her as he did to get his point across. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Larner. I appreciate it very much.

6336	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 5/13/2011
Oh, that was so sad, sniffle, but what a king Olwe is, Arafinwe could learn a lot from him! Now to see what the Valar and Ingwe have to say, when we find him, Ingwe that is?! Waiting for Monday. Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Arafinwë could do worse than listen to Olwë and learn from him, though as we will eventually see, he ends up taking a different road. We will also see what the Valar have to say about all this soon enough. And next chapter, we will be returning to Ingwion as he returns to Vanyamar and we learn what's been happening there. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It's much appreciated.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 5/13/2011
The reparations that Arafinwë insist that the Noldor have to pay to the Teleri, will be good for both the peoples, I think. Even though those who are returning may not personally have killed any other Elves, there is bound to be guilty feelings among them - for following Fëanáro, for not continuing on, for not preventing the Kinslaying - any number of things. And for many among the Teleri, seeing that the Noldor do make reparations to them will hopefully lessen the hard feelings caused by the guilty-by-association taint of the Noldor. Fortunately, Olwë is saner and more charitable than some - those Noldor who returned were not among the killers, after all. But that Ainairos may well become a problem, I fear. I hope Olwë and his retainers are able to get enough control over him that he won't do too much damage. Olwë's shock treatment - suggesting that Ainairos kill Aldundilmë, and even suggesting the means - seems to have quieted the ellon for now, but he is no doubt going to be a problem in the future. And speaking of little Aldundilmë - I think she will be very good for her new atto and amme! Author Reply: Hi Sunny. We can thank the Valar that Olwë is indeed saner than some others or Arafinwë would have beaten his children to Mandos. There's a lot of grief and guilt on both sides, though for different reasons. We will see how Arafinwë handles his guilt in subsequent chapters. Aldundilmë was a bit of a surprise to me. I didn't originally 'see' her in this chapter. We'll see what her eventual fate is eventually as well. And you should know that your comments on Ainairos inspired another reader to send me a PM with a plot bunny involving Ainairos causing trouble for Arafinwë. So now I know who to blame. grin Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Laikwalâssê	Reviewed Chapter: 73 on 5/13/2011
another intense chapter. Even if I despise what the Noldor have done and can understand the wrath of the people of Olwe I feel pity with the homecomers. They have really lost everything. The scene where the King demanded to throw the stone at the child let me gasp. How gripping! Thank you so much for another wonderful chapter. This story makes me yearn to read my SIL again. Lai Author Reply: Hi Lai. I've had a number of people who have told me that after reading my Silmarillion-based stories they've gained a greater appreciation of the Silmarillion and have re-read it with new eyes, so to speak. It certainly isn't an easy read and there are parts I like better than others, but it's such an important part of Tolkien's Legendarium and without it LOTR is just another fantasy story rather than a window into a whole new world. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it ver much.

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