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| Interlude by JeannieMac | 9 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Gyreflight | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/20/2013 |
| This is very probably my favourite Arwen-and-Aragorn story, for all its brevity. Arwen is something of a cipher, playing little part in the tale of the ring, and yet she is part of the hope that when the ages of wonder and terror are done, something special will remain – and /choose/ to remain. It’s worth the reminder that she is more than a prize to be won (and that she would be perfectly aware of the insult implicit in such an assumption), equally worthy of note (for all it seems obvious) is that Aragorn loves her. Aragorn, who’s one of the most self controlled and duty bound of men, who understands probably better than any other just what it means to be an elf, with all the impossibilities a relationship would entail – and who dares it anyway. It seems a little unfair that she be forever defined by what she must give up, so for once here's a moment to show why she might choose to stay, while acknowledging what she will have to pay to do so (I liked the thoughts on Frodo and the new understanding of a mortal’s perception of death). She and Aragorn have little enough time together, and this is a rare chance to maybe share a little in what each can give the other. This is a partnership. It is courage and comfort, laughter and tears, and the love of two people who choose to be together knowing that the joy outweighs the pain. This is just what it says, a brief interlude, a reminder to believe in love, even when it walks different roads. Lastly, I really like some of your phrasings: "…but still Arwen felt the split second when their eyes met as a clash of swords, one that rang through her whole body." "…his eyes answered hers, likewise a little dazed" – a reminder that what they feel is entirely mutual. "Beauty like a knife’s edge…with a sheen of power over it, like frost in winter," (because Arwen, daughter of Elrond, grand-daughter of Galadriel, is hardly the least of elves). Thanks for the read. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/13/2004 |
| This was a very sweet scene, intimate and real. You can see the problems the two of them have, but also can see the joy they take in one another. Author Reply: Thank you very much for your comments on all three chapters. I'm glad the story lived up to its advance billing for you (and thanks to Nilmandra for the recommendation!). ;) I'm glad the interaction between Arwen and Aragorn seemed real to you - I have a ghastly fear of schmaltzy, formulaic love scenes, and was really trying to avoid that with this one. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/13/2004 |
| Arwen's thoughts about her father are so painful! I suppose that from his POV, he has a reason to shut her out of his mind, but from hers, it must feel like rejection. And then, she has to take her own way. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/13/2004 |
| Nilmandra recommended this story to me, and I have been promising myself ever since that I would get back to it and read it. I'm glad I finally did. You've picked a fascinating moment to examine from Arwen's POV. I was interested in her thinking that Elrond had insulted her and Aragorn, and also in her eagerness for Aragorn to appear. Your interpretation of Lindir's remark is plausible and very intriguing. | |
| jules | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/12/2004 |
| Jeannie, I loved this story when I saw it on HASA and was delighted to see it here. Everything about the interaction between Aragorn and Arwen just seems so real and true to how I have always imagined them. It is lovely in particular to see an Arwen who is not a beautiful but vacant mary sue like many stories, or cold and removed like many others. There must have been so much more to her to have won (and kept) Aragorn's love. I've always visualised her just as you wrote her - flesh and blood - emotional, passionate, fearful, brave, loving. Please share more of your writing with us. Author Reply: So glad you liked it - thank you for taking the time to tell me so. I have always been fascinated by Arwen, and have chosen to regard Tolkien's lack of attention to her as a challenge rather than a limitation (heheheh). You are very kind to ask for more...unfortunately "Interlude" is my one and only published fanfic at the moment. I have lots of others sitting half-finished on my hard drive and in my head, though - and there is nothing like feedback to kick-start the muse...so thanks again. :) | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/12/2004 |
| I do like your Arwen. She has the depth I think Tolkien only hinted at - she is a very strong, smart and accomplished elf-woman. I think of the courage it took for her to leave her people and choose mortality to love Aragorn and have wondered how people could say she was just window dressing. Her emotions are complex and very real - and I love her taking Lindir down a peg. He was arrogant! Her relationship with her father is also shown complex - love that is deep and love that can cause unfathomable depths of pain. Very nicely done. Author Reply: Thank you! I am thrilled that you and others see my characterization of Arwen as being complex and real...that was the one thing I was really aiming to do with this story. It has no plot to speak of, and I'm not much of a poet as far as style goes, so doing something interesting and plausible with the characters was really my only hope. ;) | |
| Ms. Whatsit | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/12/2004 |
| Interesting study of Arwen--everything you have here seems like a natural outgrowth from canon. I liked her complex feelings towards Elrond--resentful, yet trying to understand, and I especially liked the idea that it was insulting of Elrond to insist on Aragorn's kingship before his marriage because there was really no need to remind Aragorn and Arwen of it. I liked the weaving metaphor you used at the beginning. It was very Arwen-ish. I'm glad you incorporated Lindir's comment--people sometimes forget, I think, how unusual Arwen is in being able to see a mortal as a worthy mate, and in standing up to her people's scorn because of it. Author Reply: Thank you for the review! I'm especially glad to hear that the story doesn't jar, canon-wise...I was aiming for something that would seem a plausible gap-filler, and yet give the characters (Arwen especially) a bit more emotional complexity than Tolkien does. Also glad you liked the weaving metaphor...I wanted to use that more throughout the story, but it didn't really work out. Maybe in another Arwen fic (I have lots, sitting half-formed n my head - the problem is getting them out onto the screen!)... | |
| maya_ar | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/12/2004 |
| Hi, I enjoyed this little interlude. We do see far too little of Arwen, and she seemed like a nicely rounded person in this piece. One tiny nitpick - in Chapter one, you mention that Earendil sailed away in a ship of mithril, never to see his sons again. That's not strictly accurate - he sailed away in Vingilot: made of "timber felled". It was the Valar who made the mithril ship for him to sail the heavens in. Not a major issue in any way, it just stood out to my eye, that's all. Author Reply: Oh dear, my ignorance of the Silmarillion is showing. ;) I did check up on the story of Earendil when I was writing, but I suspect I just got carried away with the image of the mithril ship...also "sailed away in a ship of mithril" sounds so much nicer than "sailed away in a ship of timber" to my ears! ;) I'll have to come up with something else there, though...now that I know it's not quite right, it's going to bug me till I figure out a way to fix it. Thanks for pointing it out...such nitpicks are *always* appreciated... And I'm glad you liked the story otherwise! :) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/12/2004 |
| Thank you for this story, I really enjoyed it. It is lovely to see Arwen and Aragorn together and observe the depth of their love mixed with humour as well as pain. Their love story always seems rather unfair to me - eternal division from her family and his surrogate family are a high price to pay, not just for them, but for Elrond, who has always done his best to support the his brother's line and lost so many. Author Reply: You're welcome - and thank *you* for taking the time to comment. I've always been fascinated by the Arwen-Aragorn-Elrond dynamic - it is very tragic, as you say...which makes it more interesting to write - heheheh. ;) | |