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New beginnings  by perelleth 6 Review(s)
elliskaReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/10/2005
Boy Oropher is just really causing trouble in this, isn't he? Imagine that. He's in so few stories so I am enjoying seeing him here. (Although I doubt I'd enjoy him very much if I were Gil-galad or even Celeborn right now). ;-) I really like seeing the different points of view from the different cultures. I think you are doing a good job showing how complex a mess Gil-galad would indeed face now that he is trying to lead so many different people after they all lost their homes. Sorry to be so late ine reviewing.

Author Reply: YEp, Oropher is like the thorn in everybody's side, isn't he? but there are always people like him, everywhere. As you say, we don't see much of him out there, and I was curious as to explore his behaviour at this particular moment....

I've begun to understand better him while writing this story. He's following his own agenda, firmly believeing in what he does, and doing it for the sake of his own people, not for personal benefit, so...in the end you have to cope with him... and send him east the sooner the better, Gil-galald says... :-)

You're welcome anytime, elliska, :-)

ponypetterReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/7/2005
I find myself wishing Ingil would stay in Middle Earth. He seems like such a nice addition. He's a useful elf to have around, and isn't as hotblooded as some of the others.

I love that Olvárin’s poor crew is enjoying their new freedom. He deserves their disregard for his wishes after the way he treated poor Gil-Galad.

The differences between Gil-Galad's vision and Oropher's is interesting. While Oropher sees that many of the Moriquendi won't be happy under Gil-Galad's rule because their culture and beliefs are different, Gil-Galad wants to see everyone united and happy. Oropher doesn't come across as a very likeable individual though. I can't quite see how on earth he would manage to convince people to follow him into the unknown, much less crown him King of an already established people. Obviously he too has some growing to do.

Author Reply: Thanks for your kind words, ponypetter!

There are mixed opinions, about Ingil's remaining, as Círdan could tell you...:-) but i too, find him amusing, an almost exasperating contrast to Middle earth's caothic reality...

Oropher's been a difficult chracter to pinpoint. I've always seen him as rash, but a good, caring leader of his people.Yet a Doriathrim, among wood elves... His story is difficult enough, so I believe that we must give him some credit... and take into account his most probably long and winding path in life. I agree with you that this is not one of his most graceful moments, yet those who know him ( see Celeborn, Erestor's patience,) know that below that harsh, provoking, vexing surface, lies someone who truly cares for his people. Pity he has such a restricted view of whom "his people" would be! :-)

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/7/2005
'He had been glad, above all, to leave behind the strained atmosphere in camp.'

I'm not surprised! The only thing to wonder at is that Cirdan came back at all!

Elrond and Erestor are being evil. In the nicest possible way. And I hope they are getting a lot of pleasure out of their plots.

I don't blame Ereinion for being angry and hurt - and Celeborn has been played like a violin by the devious Oropher. I hope, in a way, that his kindness and desire to protect turns him to supporting Gilgalad - and that he feels mean for not being his usual high-principled self.

Poor, poor Ereinion. (Am I repeating myself?) Stuck with an impossible job, surrounded by people who won't listen to him, or have their own agendas - only his devotion to the care of his people can have kept him doggedly plugging on, instead of throwing it all in to become a beach bum in Bali.

Oropher is an infuriating little toad. 'forests where orcs have never been sighted' Is that so, Oropher? Hah!! My foresight says again Hah!! Serves you right. I'm so pleased that lots of those listening to him told him off. Good for Master Galadhond. Keep your finger on the pulse.

Step on him, Celeborn. Observe that Ereinion is a nicer person and a better king (at least now) with a greater care for his people than this self-centred, narrow-minded arrogant little snotrag. (Do you get the impression I don't like Oropher?)

I love Finarfin's desperate attempt to manage Olvarin and Ingil. (Cirdan is so funny - suggesting that Ingil might stay while had any of his people heard him say those words he might have found himself in serious trouble.) None of them will know what to do with himself once this chaos has passed.

And surely Ereinion's gallantry and courage are enough to gain the sneaking admiration and support of Celeborn. Especially in comparison . . . (Give me the dwarves over certain elves. More reliable and trustworthy any day.) And Erestor and Elrond are being very naughty to stir up this pot even more.





Author Reply: Your review made me laugh, bodkin, much as your spinoffs to reflections!:-)

First, I must say that Círdan is amusing himself imensely, so he wouldn't be away for longer than needed! :-) That's what you get when you're something like the mind behind the curtains.. nothing moves in that camp without Cirdan's knowledge, and he's simply watching the game...

Ereinion on his part, has to play with all the pieces, while some of these pieces are less than willing to be played by him.. I believe Bali would suit him were he not so convinced of his role and his duty, poor thing! :-)

I suppose that Celeborn was torn between loyalties and some tiny grudges, too... and he has to mind his step carefully, but his equanimity is to be praised, as well as his loyalty...things are a bit rough right now, but we know everything will smooth out in the end...

I came to like Oropher a bit more while writing this story. HE's an arrogant elf, but he truly cares for his people. There is a difference in focus, though. While Ereinion sees all elves under his protection, Oropher is a bit more narrowly focused ( a bit? ) so it is more difficult for him to grasp -care for- the whole picture. That's the difference between leaders, I believe. Not that Oropher is not a good one, only I believe that his narrowed focus prevented him from the generosity of thinking in the bigger picture and caring for a wider people... and then he stormed out of his forest without waiting for the boy king's command and got speared through... sigh.

None of them will know what to do with himself once this chaos has passed. Now, Bodkin, confess, have you been reading my not yet posted, half written EPILOGUE? :-)

Heartfelt thanks, this, and your spin off made a wonderful closing for a busy day! I´m going home with a wide smile!:-)



NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/7/2005
Oh, geez, you have me feeling bad for poor Ereinion, who has to put up with all of these people, Celeborn for being honest and doing what he thinks is best, Finarfin - well just because. And wanting to knock a few heads together as well! I never thought the Vanyar spiteful, but who knew they could mock the music of middle-earth? Oropher is at his raucous best. I can see this Oropher racing up a hill and getting himself speared.

But Elrond and Erestor...what they are up to better not be making their king's life more difficult....

Author Reply: Yep, life's a bit difficult for everybody, isn't it? The thought of getting that crowd started into that new age, and that poor King ruling that mixed people for three thousand years and more made me shudder when I first thought of this story...!

never thought the Vanyar spiteful, but who knew they could mock the music of middle-earth Mmm, middle earth sounded *thus* to them, it was intended to show the different perceptions different people have of the same things... so it is good and well that you thought they were mocking it! :-) To these elves, used to the harmony of Valinor, the mixed voices of middle earth were an enthralling challenge, the Vanyar being the musicians above all elves, they would never mock middle earth, only had a different perception of how it sounded! :-) They are taking this very seriously, and they don't even know that the rest of the camp is suffering from their experiments! :-)

I can see this Oropher racing up a hill and getting himself speared. LOL, me too! THis story served me to better know and appreciate this elusive elf. I'm getting quite fond of his bluntness and his stubborness... even if it is Ereinon at the receing end.. :-)

Thanks for following here!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/7/2005
I love the idea of a House of Words! It seems very wood elf to me.

It sounds as if Celeborn and Gil-galad are coming to some sort of truce. You have to give Celeborn credit for recognizing the truth when he hears it.

Oropher doesn't come off too well in this, I'm sorry to say. I'm fond of the House of Oropher myself so I regret that, but he does seem to have been an elf who acted first and thought later.

Author Reply: Well, I was quite uncertain about how Oropher would come out. In all sincerity, I can see his point, something I found very difficult to do before writing this story. To me, he had each and every right to isolate himself in the north. Only, I wanted to explore different approaches to it. We know that he was brave and hasty, and I can understand that at this time, he might be worried for his people, resentful to those who had something to do with all that mess and desperately searching for a way to redress waht had been done wrong before. They were both fighting for the lives and well being of their people, it is only that one had a restricted and the other a wide view of what "their people" meant...
Anyway, I like Oropher and his house, too.. :-) Some people make themselves useful by being exasperating...

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/6/2005
I like the idea of the "house of words." It does seem to be an appropriate thing for at least one tribe of the Quendi, the speakers, to have. Oropher and his people are already showing signs of a very different culture and outlook on authority than Ereinion or Celeborn have. It looks like it will be in everyone's best interest to have Oropher and crew move away to do their own thing. Ereinion may just prove his maturity by letting them go.

And I liked the description of Cirdan's travels.

Author Reply: Ereinion may just prove his maturity by letting them go. And do a favour to his blood pressure, as well, :-)

As I say in the footnotes, the house of words is a common feature among some African cultures, and it seemed very appropriate to my conception of wood elves' culture as I've been figuring it out from what I've ben reading in fan fiction, for I must confess that I had never given much thought to that, myself. The diferent approach to authority seemed believable since they have different backgrounds and ways of living... wood elves we know used to live more scattered, while Thingol, much as the Noldor, kept an "ordered" court...









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