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Take the Little Ones  by Space Weavil 4 Review(s)
RhapsodyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/6/2005
What an impressive story Space and as you know, one of my favourites. You approach this story in such a magnificent manner: it is simply breathtaking and deeply moving as well. When I read the last word, so many thoughts crossed my minds when I weighed the impact of the events you have written here. The way you describe Ost-in-Edhil, the pride and the downfall… for me it fits canon perfectly. As a reader, I feel like if I am truly there, witnessing the events through the main character’s eyes. The grief of Erestor is so tangible and yet he manages to keep himself under control. How on earth can he do that I wonder… Until the moment one of the children asks for nana, which was truly heartbreaking. In Tolkien canon, not much is known about Erestor, but the way his history is written in such a short piece is masterfully done. Every word is carefully balanced; the narrative is truly stunning This short story is well written, carefully constructed in story building, the pacing is excellent and the way you keep the tension in the story: this story is a great piece of work ... no a masterwork.

Thank you for sharing it!

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/1/2005
Somehow you slipped this one onto SoA without me noticing it. It is one of my favorites. I read it when you first posted it at OSA and it made me cry then. I knew what was coming this time and it still made me cry again. Erestor is a character I have always been very curious about. The idea of him going to Ost-in-Edhil (did I spell that right from memory? The 2nd age ain't my bag, baby.) with Celebrimbor's folk to find greatness is something I can see. I think of him as a very noble, intelligent elf, deserving of greatness. The thought of him learning the folly of pride so harshly breaks my heart. I love how you intertwined Erestor's memories, such tragic ones, with the lesson he is trying to teach the elflings. Such great works, indeed. See them lie in ruin. You have some gtreat lines here:

"Look at it," sighed Erestor. "Such great effort went into the building of this city. So many long hours I spent crafting each corner of my house, so that my children might look upon the works of their father and be proud. Still, can you see the glory beneath the mud?"

"This is the founding stone," said Erestor, brushing some snails away from the rock, whose deep carvings had been eaten by the weather. "We set this down to mark our site, and built our city round it. We were so happy to have a home at last. We did not miss the Havens or the rugged country we had left behind in Lindon. We would be happy here. We could explore our powers here. With no constraints and no rules save our own, we could make ourselves great here. Can you not see that greatness still, in this stone? Though it sits half-covered in slime and filth, can you not see that it was once a proud stone?"

Wonderful. So incredibly sad. I think this is a very powerful story. Great job Space Weavil.


DAYNAReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/28/2005
wow. That was phenominal, Space Weavil. What a price for Erestor to pay. Did you "expound on cannon" or make this up yourself? I know little beyond the LOTR books. Still trying to pick up the Simrillion (no I can't spell it lol).

That was just wonderful. Thank you for sharing. :)

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/27/2005
First, let me just say I was so deeply relieved that Erestor's children survived that I can hardly tell you about it. I had to stop myself from scrolling down to see. You built that tension very well.

Second, do you know Shelley's poem "Ozymandias"? It's about a statue that's all broken and half buried in the sand and inscribed with the king's name and a warning about how eternally powerful and wonderful he was. This reminded me of that. And yet, I wonder if Erestor isn't also teaching a bit of timidity. It's hard to balance all that, I think.

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