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| History Lessons: The Second Age by Nilmandra | 13 Review(s) |
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| LKK | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 5/7/2004 |
| One thing I didn't understand in this chapter. When Erestor said, “I understand two bags of feathers are being plucked from the reeds to make bird nests south of Tharbad,” where was he going with that statement? Author Reply: Erestor was also jumping on Elrond for second guessing himself. when they sent supplies over, in this case feathers for the featherbed, some of the baskets of items were lost. Caught in the wind or hit by debris - and carried away downstream - exactly the fear Elrond had of Celebrian's fate had she crossed. My apologies - I know I am *too* subtle sometimes! LOL -- no, sometimes I'm too imaginative for my own good. I knew that Erestor was chiding Elrond for second-guessing himself, but I couldn't figure out how his comment about the feathers was going to accomplish this. See, I missed or had forgotten that some of the mattress feathers didn't make it across the river. What I imagined from Erestor's description was this .... I pictured farmers with satchel-like bags slung over their shoulders wading through the shores of the river, walking among the reeds growing at the river's edge, and harvesting those feather-like plumes that grow at the top of the reed stalks. Now why the farmers would want to take the reed plumes and make birds' nests out of them was beyond me. And even more beyond me was why Erestor was using this image to chide Elrond! Like I said sometimes I'm *too* imaginative. Or maybe I've watched too many documentaries on ancient Eygpt. :) LKK | |
| LKK | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 5/4/2004 |
| Poor Celebrian. She must have felt like dirt after seeing her children's expressions. My heart went out to her. But she handled the situation like the true lady she is. Her apologies were very touching. (Nice writing!) I think this time Elrohir might be on the real road to recovery! Yay!! I liked the scene between Erestor and Glorfindel. Not many authors would have thought to include that. But I'm glad you did. Thank you for the history lesson. One thing I didn't understand in this chapter. When Erestor said, “I understand two bags of feathers are being plucked from the reeds to make bird nests south of Tharbad,” where was he going with that statement? Author Reply: I am glad you liked how Celebrian handled things - I wanted her to come across as classy and unselfish. And yes, our dear Elrohir I think will recover well now - such lessons he has had to learn too! Erestor and Glorfindel are already misbehaving, I might forewarn you. I never know what will happen when they are together. Erestor was also jumping on Elrond for second guessing himself. when they sent supplies over, in this case feathers for the featherbed, some of the baskets of items were lost. Caught in the wind or hit by debris - and carried away downstream - exactly the fear Elrond had of Celebrian's fate had she crossed. My apologies - I know I am *too* subtle sometimes! | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 5/3/2004 |
| The arrival and acceptance of Annatar by Celebrimbor and the brotherhood was most ~creepy~. I have always found it unnerving the way Prof. Tolkien made Sauron, the Deceiver, a creature of light and beauty, just like Melkor/Morgoth started out (and the meaning of his name...how appropriate!), but then evil has always been that way, I guess. What a terrific addition to the story! It had a little bit of everything, starting with Celebrian's realization of the damage her anger caused to everyone, the reconciliation, and the healing/improvement of Elrohir. But I especially loved the little bits of humor you threw in off and on .... I found myself giggling throughout the chapter :). The Silvan cook was great - everyone grinning at Elrond "the morning after" was great, and Celebrian's "If their mothers did not teach them to cover their ears, there is naught I can do"... priceless!!! Another well-done...need a thesaurus to find some other synonymns for great, terrific, etc. ;) linda (gasp!!!! I have become a History Lessons junkie! next fix, please?) Author Reply: Thanks, Linda. I am glad you like the little bits of humor. I am weaving together an interpretation for the rings of power right now and I am really excited. Getting in the heads of both Annatar and Celebrimbor might be scary! I am glad you need a fix :D | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 5/2/2004 |
| Nilmandra, Another good chapter. I'm glad to see Elrond and Celebrian have put aside their quarrel with a sweet little time to 'make up'. I'm sure they were very quiet, but you know those elf ears! Elrond has witnessed and asked about the close bond of the twins. Elrohir is showing improvement. Arwen is happy as a clam in her daernana's lap. I hope it's time for a few good tales. I'm really looking forward to that! I'm still in awe of the last "History Lessons" and how elegantly and clearly you explained some of Tolkien's most complex writing. I'm seated, have my cup of coffee, and I'm ready when you are. Wonderful as always. Carry on, Karen Author Reply: Oh, Karen, I am busy learning about ring mythology and I hope I have a good story to weave around the forging of the rings. I hope the story comes off as well as it is forming in my head! | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/30/2004 |
| I'm so glad you've got back to this story with regular updates - I missed them, despite the other tale. Thank God Celebrian realised the harm she'd done, and at least she did exactly the right thing to put things right. The way Elladan stood was so touching, and so heartbreaking - that he felt the need to protect his brother and sister from their own mother. So Elrohir is finally beginning to heal in spirit as well as in body, and Elrond and Celebrian have made up - I loved the way the whole camp knew as well! Great stuff, Nilmandra, as always. Jay Author Reply: Thanks, Jay. I feel back on top of this story now too, now that I am not working 16 hour days any more :/. I hope Celebrian across well here - she has done harm, but I think she is very unselfish to put aside all of her own feelings and take care of the children and Elrond first. I think most mothers are everyday heroes for how they do that. And Elrohir should begin to improve now - having Naneth and Adar near certainly helps, and that featherbed too :-) | |
| Bejai | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/30/2004 |
| Oh, marvelous chapter, Nilmandra! The entire thing was perfect, but these are my favorite bits: The idea that because Elrond and Celebrian are one in spirit, and their children bound to them collectively, the children suffer at the rift. What a breathtaking point! And so right. The cook. Just a great little touch with him -- he's one of those people who truly believes that a little warm food goes a long way toward healing the soul. And of course, he's right :) Making up. I mean, c'mon, who can't resist a little Elrond/Celebrian lovin'? It was great having Celeborn give Elrond a dig about it too. Elrohir's smile. That is such an apt point. There are the meaningless, polite smiles we give to people every day. And then there are smiles that are gifts, smiles that really do communicate from the depth of our souls. Elrond seconding-guessing himself. But Galadriel's got his back. The flashback. I like that Celeborn was a little hesitant at first. It would be hard to tell this story, because it ends in his own failure and mistakes. Not the kind of story you really want to be telling to your grandkids. I think it's absolutely spot-on the Annatar gets into the city before Celeborn and Galadriel notice. I think they would have heeded Gil-galad's warning if they had been given a chance, so that Annatar weazels his way in with the Mirdain first seems right to me. I loved to how you described Annatar -- beautiful, fair -- and yet, you dropped in one or two foreboding hints. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what happens next! And blushing that you would mention my story. Most kind of you. Author Reply: Oh, I am glad you liked the bonding part! I once heard a talk given by someone who said that the most important thing a father can for his children is love their mother, and vice versa. Take care of the marriage and for the most part, the family follows. Parental harmony is a great thing. I completely agree with you about Celeborn. Next I am trying to figure out what happened in Eregion for 93 years, between when Celebrimbor 'perceived' the designs of Sauron and when Saruon attacked. Clearly Eregion didn't realize he was building his armies - perhaps Celebrimbor deceived himself and others too. It is interesting to try to weave in the 'who knew what, when'. Thanks for the review - it means much coming from someone who is writing such a stunning piece about the second age! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/30/2004 |
| Love the dramatic irony - Elrond couldn't bear to lose Celebrian; the twins utterly content to be reunited with their mother. I liked seeing Celeborn tease Elrond and make him blush. Galadriel made me laugh with her, 'spouses do not always take well to being commanded'. Do we find out which of them was doing the commanding, and which one didn't take it well? Author Reply: Thanks Bodkin - these two were rather dramatic, weren't they? I like Celeborn teasing Elrond too - but I think he stays away from teasing his daughter :-) And Galadriel, well she is feisty. We will indeed find that out! | |
| Marnie | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/30/2004 |
| Very much enjoyed the 2nd Age snippet. The arrival of Annatar was a great place to start, and he made an appropriately sinister impression. I loved the description of him, so that you weren't entirely sure what he was. I hadn't thought that it might not have been clear he was a Maia. No wonder no one seemes to know what to make of him for so long. Like Arwen I'm eager to hear about the birth of Celebrian, and maybe hope to see more of Celebrimbor (who's always a bit of an enigma to me. How come he's so famous when he's such a pratt? ;) ) Many thanks for the heads up for the site. I won't burden you with my thoughts about sexist!Elrond and wimp!Celebrian, but suffice it to say I was heavily emotionally involved with this chapter and still want to shake the whole family until their teeth rattle ;) Thank goodness they're over it now! Author Reply: LOL, Marnie. Annatar and Celebrimbor will be most interesting to write, I think. We have so little to go on as to why they did what they did - or how. I keep going back and forth trying to make their motivations in line with what Tolkien said, yet make it work in the story. In particular, Tolkien said that Celebrimbor was not evil or out to cause harm - he was deceived. I certainly did not mean for Elrond to seem sexist or in particular, Celebrian wimpy! I was hoping Celebrian came across strong - she set aside her rights - her interest and anger - recognized the needs of her children and husband and acted on them. I think wives and mothers do this often, and I find it heroic in an everyday hero sort of way. Elrond's love is fierce, and his desire to protect her is selfish, perhaps, but I'm not sure if it is sexist. He might struggle as much with a child, I think. It must be wonderful to be so loved, although at times like this rather constricting. Poor Celebrian! With those parents and now this husband. . . :-) Well, they are mostly past this, but the idea was to parallel the past and foreshadow the future, both in Celebrian's departure from the family and Arwen's choice, in some ways. I hope it comes across better! | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/30/2004 |
| A beautiful chapter, Nilm. It'd good to see the family reconciled. You had me worried for Eltohir, the poor sensitive soul, but hopefully he will speed on his way back to health now. It's good, also, that Elrond finally has someone else's strength to draw from -- you had me worrying about him, as well. I thought it nice that Galadriel sided with him, very wise of her. ;-) It's sweet that Arwen is so partial to her daernanath's arms. Great chapter! Author Reply: Thanks, Karri. I am glad the family reconciled too - and I think it was Celebrian who took the lead in that. Poor Elrond and Elrohir - I agree! Glad you liked it. | |
| eokat | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 4/30/2004 |
| Hi Nilmandra, I am just getting into this. I have read part one to get into the swing of things. I do not usually read Elrond [my heart is forever Eomer, with Thranduil as a close second]But after the intervention of Elladan and Elrohir in HUNTING I have not been dissapointed. Also looking forward to your getting back[hopefully] to more Thranduil and Legolas. I must know about Rawien and Tathiel and their elfling. Eokat. Author Reply: Thanks, Eokat. I want to know about Tathiel and Rawien and their elfling too! Darn elven pregnancies last too long :D. I am glad you liked seeing the twins in Hunting - they were a fun addtiion to the Mirkwood mix. | |