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Heart's Ease by Bodkin	7 Review(s)
Sphinx	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/4/2004
Very quiet, and surprisingly gentle. I liked it very much. I have tried to write Celeborn in Valinor myself, and it usually never turns out to be quite so serene. Chap tends to be edgy, I suppose. :) The little touch with Elrond and the tree was excellent. Humanized the story to a great extent, as did Celebrian's healed calmness. Nice work. Author Reply: Thank you. Yes, I can see him edgy when it comes to dealing with others - on the defensive perhaps and rather resentful. But I suppose with his nuclear family, he would be more content - especially Celebrian. And if elves can communicate with trees, why shouldn't they play back? (Actually that bit just came - I hung on to the keyboard and typed it!)

Bejai	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2004
Ah! Lovely, as ever. It is so nice to see a happy ending every once in a while! And yet, not an ending ... new beginnings. Loved the moments between father and daughter. And Elrond and the tree cracked me up. I simply adore these gentle, poetic tales you weave. Author Reply: Thank you very much - I'm flattered. I'm afraid I much prefer happy endings - and why not! It seems to me that Celeborn and Celebrian would be very close - apart from just father/daughter stuff - because Galadriel is rather less mumsy than the average. I had written Elrond and the tree almost before I realised what was happening - do you think these characters could be taking over my brain?

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/12/2004
You’re so gifted. I love your work and I can’t tell you how bad I feel that I never got around to letting you know that before. This was a work of art. You write dialogue with such a sense of ease and of true understanding of the characters. I thought you really brought Celebrian to life. She seems so vivacious and yet is also sensitive to those around her. I really felt for Elrond. It must be painful for him to see such love between father and child when he never really had that, and also there’s a sense that he struggled with self-doubt, almost feeling that he needed to compete with Celeborn but he knows deep down that Celebrian has enough love for them all and Elrond is her soul-mate. Galadriel is portrayed wonderfully too – wise as ever but somehow softer. I like the way she understands Elrond and knows his sorrow because it is hers too. She seems to know too how complicated her relationship with her husband is and I like that she accepts his pain at how the ring once affected her, but I guess they have loved each other before the ring, despite it and will forever after it is gone. As for Celeborn… ah Celeborn! You brought him to life with such care. What a heartfelt picture of the special bond between father and daughter. I felt such sympathy for him. It’s so understandable that it would take time for him to adjust to his new life. Apart from having a new home and being reunited with a wife who must be different than the one who left Middle-earth, how overwhelming it must be for him to see his daughter’s spirit renewed again. I can completely feel the love they have for each other, and I love the little touches like the story from Celebrian’s childhood. I really like the fact that he’s so honest with his daughter and allows her to see the pain and anger he still feels. I think I gasped aloud at “You nurtured the growing children and your spirit was unsullied”! Apart from giving amazing insight into these characters, you created a wonderful sense of them having to find their feet as it were in their new life in the Blessed Realm. Oh, and I loved the idea of the trees playing with and being entertained by poor old Elrond! Hmmn… I could have sworn there was more I wanted to mention but suffice to say, I really loved this!:) Author Reply: Thank you so much - I am speechless. Good thing I'm typing. I love doing dialogue - it seems to suit elves, who have so much time to discuss everything. Elrond could be such a sad character - so much happens to him and with perfect elven memory, it would all be vivid in his mind even over however many thousand years. Celebrian is good for him - it must have lightened the hearts of both Elrond and Celeborn when they arrived to find her herself again. With Galadriel - the Ring of Adamant - it is so hard, isn't it? It must have changed her - and all Celeborn could do was watch and refuse to yield. Must have strained their relationship, but as you say, they had weathered bad times before - and to be together so long they must have a true understanding of each other. Father / daughter relationships - such a potential for special and deep love. (Which is why Elrond / Arwen seems so tragic to me - not her death, not her love for Aragorn, but their eternal division.) The trees just jumped out at me - I didn't even know that was coming until it was on the page. But then I could see it was true! Thanks for such a comprehensive review. It's true - reviews do make you want to keep writing!

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/12/2004
It is nice to see healed and happy Celebrian in Valinor, and I also am glad to see Celeborn's insight into what Galadriel must have felt at times too. I am confident that he will adjust quite well to his new home. I am also quite sure that the glade should probably have a little 'occupied' sign hung on the approach path :-) Go Elrond and Celebrian! She is good for him. Nicely written - the elves are captured well. Author Reply: Thank you. I think Celeborn will be all right - but he needs something to do that is his. He wouldn't be any happier sitting round being Galadriel's husband than she could stand to be thought of as nothing more than Celeborn's wife. They must have a strong bond and understand each other very well - no partnership could last 7000 years or so if they hadn't got something pretty good going on between them. The 'occupied' sign would be a good idea. They had better move themselves somewhere there are plenty of interesting glades and pools or they will end up with queues or a ticket system! (I hope Elrond and Celebrian had fun - they deserved a good time!)

Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/11/2004
A lovely piece. I liked that you brought them all to Valinor -- Thranduil and the twins, as well. :-) Author Reply: My take on the matter is that they would come. The twins would want to see their mother too much to remain for ever - unless they found the kind of love that Arwen did. And Thranduil would want to be with Legolas in the end. After all - it was now the Age of Men, and I think Middle Earth would have become impossible for elves to endure. (Besides, I like happy endings.)

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/11/2004
"We are both inclined to be somewhat high-handed and a trifle obstinate" -- Gee, do you think? ‘I want you to make him like you. I know it is next to impossible, but you have never shied away from a task because nobody believes it has a hope of success.’ -- And that made me laugh too! I really like the Celebrian you show us. She and Elrond seem to be a good match. And I like seeing this softer Galadriel too. Author Reply: She would have to be glad to see Celeborn arrive, wouldn't she? Either that, or be totally hostile. They have survived so much together that I can't see that. And then, there's that ring - adamant - so hard and crystalline, all sharp planes - take that away and would she not soften? Anyway - I want her to! Yet I can't see either of them becoming a doormat: their whole relationship seems to involve challenge - each other, the world around them, people's preconceptions. I think the fight would continue. Thank you for liking Celebrian. Elrond deserves to be happy, too.

rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/11/2004
That was a moving tale. Though the story is more dialog than action that would portray the changes of settling in Valinor, you have still shown how each of the characters have been changed by what has happened. One thing you used in your story, Elrond's trouble with the trees was funny but true in a thoughtful way. If he is going to spend time in the branches with Celebrian, he is going to have to give up those robes. Good story! Author Reply: Mind you, Galadriel seems to cope with trees in long white gowns with draped sleeves! Though I can't see the trees messing with her. Yes, robes are definitely not good climbing wear. I like dialogue. (You probably guessed.) And I think elves would talk a lot before they got around to doing much - after all, they have the time.

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