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| The Apology of Elrond by Canafinwe | 16 Review(s) |
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| Lexilooper | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2026 |
| Now was the place in the conversation where it was appropriate to tell him that when he was older there would be time enough to give these answers – but something slew the words upon Elrond's tongue. It struck him that this was not the question that was truly preying on the youth's mind. Something else was haunting Estel, something much more troubling than the name of a father he had never known. Ooooh he is wise <3 'I did not...' Estel whispered. His hands were clasped in his lap now, and he stared down at them. 'Master, I do not understand. Why do you love me?' Ah, thought Elrond. Here it was. OH wow that is a pained question from a young boy 'The first thing that I loved about you was the way you twined your arms about my neck when I held you,' Elrond told him. 'You were such a little child, and you were desperate for affection to anchor you safely in your world. You were very fond of my embraces.' AKSJDDJ <333 the sweetest Estel swallowed raggedly and nodded. He looked rather like he would have liked such an embrace right now, but his fourteen-year-old dignity would not allow it. He waited for Elrond to continue. <:(( allow it 'Quickly I learned that you were extraordinarily intelligent for one so young,' the Elf-lord said. 'You were better-spoken than any mortal child of your age that I had ever seen. I learned to love your precocious nature. After a time, when you felt safe in your new home you grew fearless. I loved your bold spirit and your boundless courage that did not flag even when harm came to you because of it.' 'I broke my arm climbing the walnut tree,' Estel remembered. Elrond nodded. 'You were five years old. You walked all the way back to the house, holding your dangling limb. Though you wept you did not cry out when I set the bones.' He stroked his chin thoughtfully. 'Your passion for learning delighted me: that, too, I grew swiftly to love. I love the joy that you take in story and song. I love your skilful tongue that allows you to gather languages to you like flowers in a meadow. I love your logical mind. I love your piercing questions and your well-considered answers. I love your merry laugh and your sombre musings. I love the way you run through the valley with wings upon your feet, and I love the way that you can sit still for hours with a captivating book. I love your compassion and your generosity and your growing wisdom. I love even your fearsome temper – and better than that do I love your careful control over it. I love your eyes and your hands and your dauntless soul. I love you in your parts and in your entirety. I love you always.' SKAJSJDJFKSKDKD this sweet sweet detailing of his love <33 and that last and most important sentence: “I love you always”. For a long time, Estel sat silent, staring at the Elven lord with wonder and astonishment in his eyes. At last he spoke. 'I understand,' he said softly. He got to his feet and stepped forward. For a moment he paused, then he reached out his arms. Elrond accepted the supplication – or the invitation – and drew him gently into a tight embrace. Estel bent to rest his head on his guardian's shoulder, his arms twining tightly about Elrond's chest. When at last he drew back he did so gently, and his hands slipped into Elrond's. Much of the torment was gone from his face, but a certain uneasiness still lingered. AKSJDJDKDKDK HE DID IT HE ASKED FOR AN EMBRACE AND GOT ONE THANK YOU <333 When at last we reached our destination in the forests west of the Ered Luin, my brother and I were wild and frightened creatures, less like children and more like woodland animals, skittish and fearful and slow to trust.' Ohhhh this is so sad <:( Elrond has had so many hardships in his life 'It was in that place, in an encampment of our enemies, that we came to the attention of Maglor, son of Fëanor. He took pity upon us, and we came into his care. He bathed us and clothed us in fresh garments, and he laid us to sleep in his own narrow bed. When we cried out in the night he comforted us with gentle words and with fair songs. When we were angry and petulant he had patience with us. When we laughed, he rejoiced in our laughter. He was a Kinslayer. He and his folk had murdered our grandfather and our grandmother, and left our uncles in the woods to starve, and razed our home and driven our mother into the Sea with the Silmaril upon her breast. Yet we came to love him with the love we could no longer give to our parents, and he came to love us as sons of his own. Skajsjdjdjsj this sweet description of Maglor <3 (along with reminders of what he had done before) 'Explain,' prompted Elrond. As ever, the youth had insight into the hearts of others beyond the ken of ordinary Men. <33 indeed. I love Elrond’s simple prompt expecting him to have reasons 'Sadness, for it was a reminder of what you had lost and the parents you would never see again,' Estel ventured; 'and remorse, because you loved another with the love you owed to your father, whose light you saw in the heavens.' <333 indeed 'Yes,' Elrond whispered, holding Estel closer to him. Aksjdjd <33 the whisper Holding him closer 'The sadness did not pass, but the remorse did. As I pondered the matter I came to realize that I did not give Maglor the love I owed my father, but the love that I owed Maglor. I loved him as the one who had been kind to me in my hour of need. I loved him as the one who sang to me and played upon his harp for me. The one who taught me how to ride a horse and how to shoot a bow. The love I gave him was love that belonged to him, and it did not diminish my love for the father I could scarcely recall, nor did it mean I was not loyal to Eärendil. YESSSS BEAUTIFUL <3 wonderfully said Our love is not limited to a certain amount of people. He need not only owe either Earendil or Maglor love, but both, for both have done things for him and both hold a great love for him Who had been kind to me in my hour of need <333 'This also I realized: Maglor loved me not out of pity or obligation, but because I fulfilled a need deep within his soul. He needed me as much as I needed him, and I brought peace and happiness into his life that he would not otherwise have had. We were not kin: the barest of blood ties bound us. Yet we were family.' Skajdjdj yesssss Indeed he also needed that deep in his soul <3 'And we are a family,' Estel said. There was serenity in his eyes as he leaned back his head to look at Elrond. 'You are not the father who gave life to me, but you are my father.' 'And you are not the son of my body, but you are my son,' Elrond assented. Yesssss <333 Serenity in his eyes 'Atarinya? I love you dearly,' murmured Estel, wrapping his long arms around the Elf-lord's neck as he had done when he was small. AKSJDJDJDKDK Atarinya again, but more deliberately perhaps than he has ever said it <3 Askdjfjdksj as when he was smallllll the same hug 'And I you, Estel,' said Elrond, and suddenly he had a new understanding of the peace that the Sons of Eärendil had brought to the last son of Fëanor. AKSJDKF <33 this understanding I never quite realized how Elrond was also raised by a foster father, just as he now fosters Estel They sat thus for a moment, locked in a profound embrace. Then Estel released his hold and got up off of his foster-father's lap. 'I interrupted you,' he said, blithely apologetic. 'You were composing a letter...' <3 XD leave it to him to suddenly switch to that Elrond rose and took the youth by the hand. 'Never mind the letter: it will keep 'til another day,' he said. This encounter had eased his spirit as much as any advice from Círdan, and he no longer felt the urgent need to write. 'The rain is lifting: will you walk in the apple-orchard with me?' AWW thank you <333 walk together Also I really love his writing to Cirdan about his sorrows and troubles and for advice <33 Estel looked ready to agree eagerly, but he caught himself. 'If the rain is lifting, I will be expected for my sparring lesson,' he said regretfully, recalling his duty. Of course he remembers and is true to his duty <3 'That, too, can keep 'til another day,' Elrond told him. Awwww YES there are times when fathers need to say this <3 So together they passed through the house and out into the sunlight and thence into the long decades of weary labour and strife beyond, and in after years when the Shadow grew and darkness and uncertainty separated them, each would call upon the memory of a wet spring morning long ago, and find in that recollection renewed strength and courage in their long fight. SKAJDJFJDJD GONNA MAKE ME CRY Oh how sweet this story was <33 | |
| Rowanfair | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/19/2015 |
| a song of love... . Author Reply: How beautifully put! Thank you. | |
| Sneha | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/4/2015 |
| This was exquisite! So tender and deep. I have a lump in my throat now! Your writing is beautiful, so smooth and descriptive. Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm touched to know you thought so highly of it. | |
| bookworm | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/23/2015 |
| oh gosh you just killed all my feels. Thank you, this was lovely and thoughtful and perfect. Author Reply: Thank you so much! These wonderful characters... | |
| Marianel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/9/2014 |
| Such a sensitive and insightful story of a boys and parents worries and I can understand Estels thoughts.Often when I read stories of you with a small or teenaged Estel in them I think of my own son and his worries.For a period they have been a bit of a similar character as Estels in some ways.But I assure you we dont have any secretive relatives of royal blod in my family hahaha!Thank you so much for a wonderful story! Author Reply: Thank you so much! It's always lovely to know that my interpretation of children rings true, and never moreso than with this most important child. Poor Estel: it's not easy being fourteen under any circumstances, but his bewilderment about his parentage must only add to that. I'm so glad you liked the story. | |
| tanis | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/11/2012 |
| ::insert deep sigh of awesome proportions here:: You do this to me every time I open a story of yours; steal my breath with both your prose and your wonderful insights, incite tears of joy (sometimes just over an exquisite turn of phrase, but often over the incredibly powerful emotions you evoke in each story), and leave me panting for more more more Canafinwe. I went through nearly an entire box of tissues as Elrond slowly and on-so-deliberately (and exquisitely) drew out Estel's understanding of the unfathomable depths of love in all its many incarnations. Only after reading the story did the title of it sink in. You are my hero! I was so delighted to find this story here - and posted recently, because I've been trying to track you down for permission to podcast some of your stories. It has become my new passion and I would dearly love to do this one, in addition to Beneath the Surface and Lonely Watches. If you would like a preview of something else I've done before agreeing, I'd be happy to send a snatch or two of a couple of different stories. Author Reply: What a beautiful review. I'm humbled, and absolutely delighted that you thought so highly of it. I'm afraid it was just about the last thing I posted before vanishing off the face of the internet! If you are still interested in doing the podcasts you absolutely have my permission. I would love to hear them if you do. | |
| Kassy | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2011 |
| Such a beatiful story, touching and deep. I've read it a few times by now, but I'm still amazed! Keep writing! Author Reply: Oh, you sweet thing! Thank you so much; I'm glad that it speaks to you. Author Reply: Oh, you sweet thing! Thank you so much; I'm glad that it speaks to you. | |
| Kathurien | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/1/2011 |
| Oh - what a gem! A beautiful story, having a deep impact... With no children ofmy own, it gives me a clue to one or two relationships I've marveled about-and still am in awe of, whwn I ponder them. Thank You for sharing it! Author Reply: You're so very welcome, and thank you for your kind words! I love to explore the relationship between Elrond and Aragorn, so I simply had to write this. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/11/2011 |
| A worthy exercise in logic and love! The both of them needed this talk right then! Lovely to read this again. Author Reply: Thank you so much! I'm glad you like it, and I appreciate so much that you took the time to tell me! | |
| Fantasia | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/10/2011 |
| This is so beautiful, I have no words, Thank you Author Reply: Thank you! It means so much to hear that. I'm delighted to know it spoke to you. | |