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Sapphire Aurae  by Bejai 7 Review(s)
SphinxReviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/26/2020
I've been on a strange fandom loop of late. Read Deific Flame a few months ago and marvelled. Then the world went topsy turvy. I hope you are safe and sound.

This is such an excellent story, Bejai. Everything about it - Elrond's characterisation, the deconstruction of what the rings do, how the ring bearers both long for and fight it and what their partners are bound to in the process.

I was so happy to read it again, and it produced the same *squee, I wish there was more*. Like all the many elves in it, truly ageless.


garrettReviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/21/2005
This was beautiful. Just how I imagined the end would be, thankyou.

Author Reply: Thanks, Garrett! I'm so pleased you enjoyed it. I certainly had a fantastic time writing it.

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/26/2004
I found this story on the Mithril Awards page and read it all at a sitting. Goodness, where do I begin? Your characterizations of the elves were amazing. I don't think I've ever read a story in which their age and long experience was so deftly woven into every sentence.The private travail of the ringbearers and those close to them was fascinating. Your descriptions of the intimate relationships of the married elves was both sensual and romantic, and yet was accomplished with great subtlety. I could go on and on. Glorfindel, Celebrian and Celeborn really came to life for me for the first time in this story; Elrond and Galadriel gained a great deal of depth. This was an excellent rendering of Celebrian's story in my opinion. As a reader of fanfic this was like striking gold. As a little gnat of a writer I am inspired and instructed...and how! What a wonderful read! Thanks for sharing. TF

Author Reply: TF

Thank you so much for the lovely and unexpected review! Since this story has been done for some time, I don't often hear from anyone about it any more. Good to know people are still reading it an enjoying it. I'm especially pleased that I helped bring some obscure characters to life for you. I'm quite fond of them, and think that they have some wonderful stories to tell.

Thank you again for taking the time to leave me a review. It really made my day. Take care! BJ

Marta (aure_enteluva)Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/16/2004
Hi Bejai,

I just finished your marvellous story. My name is Marta, and I write mostly Ring War-era Gondor and the Hobbits, so stories about Elves, and especially stories beginning in the mists of time before _The Hobbit_ and _The Lord of the Rings_, usually do not interest me. But recently I have been bitten by a story idea for a vignette: Celeborn's reaction to Galadriel accepting Nenya. I was also discussing with Marnie her story "Those Who Remain" (about an encounter between Sam and Celeborn). I mentioned the story idea to her, and she pointed me to your work.

Boy am I glad she did! I have thoroughly enjoyed this piece, as well as "Of Entwives and the Sundering Seas" and "The End of Days", the other two pieces of yours that I've read. The writing is rich, the writing is engrossing, the tales are told or retold well, the imagery is above comparison... wow. That's the one word that I came away thinking.

I'm not sure I can be much more explicit than that. Except that you have made the times before the Ring War come alive for me like no one else - including Professor Tolkien - has been able to do. Know this: I will be looking forward to more of your stuff. And for what it's worth, I think your Bilbo and Frodo were right on in the last chapter.

I'm afraid I really do have a beta reader's mind, and in reading I noticed a few typos. In work of a lesser calibre (including my own!) I probably would not have noticed them. And they do not by any means ruin the tale. But if you would like me to, I would be happy to go back through the stories and point them out for you. Feel free to contact me privately at MartaL0712 at netscape dot net

Thanks again for sharing your vision with me. It was a most enjoyable ride.

Marta

Author Reply: Marta

Thank you for your kind (and unexpected!) review. This story has been done for quite some time, so new reviews are a rare treat. Thank you so much for taking the time.

I must admit, I didn't get into this fandom intending to become obsessed by elves. I was just looking to read some stories about Frodo, but you can see the result ;) I am honored by your compliment. I have tried to fill in what seemed to me like facinating gaps in the Good Professor's original. If I can make those times come alive for you, then I feel I am making a difference with this labor of love. And good to hear I got the hobbits right! I'm not deep into the characterization of hobbits, but that scene simply wrote itself.

I do apologise for the typos, and thank you for pointing out the problem. I am a fairly solid writer, and even do it semi-professionally from time to time, but I have a very difficult time proofreading my own work; I always read what it is supposed to say instead of what I actually wrote. I can read the chapter a hundred times, but completely miss the typo until I look at it again a year later. This story does exist in several other incarnations; the version at Henneth Annun, for example, is an newer, cleaner version, while the version at fanfiction.net is worse. From time to time I do go back through my work, and it really is about time to face this story again. If you have the time and inclination, I would welcome another eye.

Thank you again for your review! And I do hope that you write that story about Celeborn, Galadriel, and Nenya; I would love to read it. Although I warn you that if you give them an inch, they might take over your life ;)

Very kind regards

Bejai

SphinxReviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/3/2004
There is brilliance. And then there is brilliance. And then there is this.

What an end.

I can do nothing but repeat those words to myself.

I only hope that one day I will be able to characterize and write as well yas you.

A more gushing review in mail. Am I allowed?

Author Reply: Wow, thanks Sphinx. Every story should have a reviewer like you :) Glad you enjoyed it; I certainly enjoyed writing it.

And don't sell your writing short; you're no slouch yourself, and your stories are among my very favorite.

Thanks for all your kind reviews throughout. I treasured each one.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/1/2004
A beautiful ending to a beautiful tale. No easy endings but there is still joy.

Author Reply: Thank you, daw! An easy ending wouldn't be possible in Tolkien's universe, but I like to hope that there was happiness in the end. Thank you for all your kind reviews.

NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/1/2004
Once again, I am nearly speechless. I am almost glad that is all we see of Elrond and Celebrian's reunion, for I would be weeping uncontrollably if we saw more.

But Celeborn and Galadriel's pain is palpable. To not be able to sense the other after thousands of years....my heart breaks.

And Celeborn stays....and you leave Glorfindel in Middle earth too. I guess I will go with my version of canon that says that they wait for the end of the reign of a certain King and the passing of his Queen, and then her brethren and grandfather and their 'keeper' will also be reunited with their loved ones. If I were to believe less, I do not think I could write anymore.

Author Reply: Thanks so much, Nilmandra. High praise from one of my favorite authors is precious indeed.

I thought about taking Elrond all the way to Valinor -- in fact, that was my intention when I started writing the darn story-- but it just didn't fit with the tone and emphasis of everything else I'd done. I think I showed the more important reunion, with the next one left to imagination ;)

Personally, I like your version of canon regarding the ultimate fate of Celeborn et al, though I've played with it in other directions just to see how it would come out. But in my head, what "really" happens is as you suggested.

Glad you enjoyed the story, and thank you so much for all your kind reviews.

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