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New beginnings  by perelleth 10 Review(s)
AldwenReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 9/7/2023
Fantastic story! The events, the humour, the characterizations!
And the ending... "...a land that was now free of evil..." Oh, this was heartbreaking!
Thank you so much for this!

Author Reply: Sorry I had not seen this. Thanks for letting me know. I am particularly fond of this story, I was at a time in which levity came naturally to me, although as you noticed, the future was not as promising or happy as I made it be. But still they kept on going. I am happy that you enjoyed it!

KloseReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 4/8/2010
It seems I never reviewed the last chapters of this story, which is odd and terrible since I know I read them, and loved them.

I'm really quite in awe of how much you've accomplished with this story - there's political maneveuring, diplomatic issues, family, friendship and so much more. The little details - like Ingil's new friend - truly make this story (and the little post-War of Wrath encampment) come to life.

This is definitely one of those stories I'll come back to re-read every now and again, and having just done so, I know it will be as funny, heart-warming and engaging as it was the first time I read it! Thank you so much for writing this, and sharing your wonderful portrayals of these great characters with us!

Author Reply: Well, seems like I never answered this review, so I apologize for that! Thank you very much again for all those kind words. I really had a great time in this story, it's good to see that readers did too.

EllieReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/31/2005
I have been reading this story in bits and pieces for months now and finally got around to reading the conclusion. Nicely done. I like the way Ingil turned out and what was awaiting Finarfin at Mandos. The scene with Erenion. Elros and Elrond all having to go one to something new was well done. I loved the Curdan bit about Fingon's most valiant undertaking was sending his son to the Havens. Nicely done!

Author Reply: Thank you Ellie! it is good to know that you enjoyed the story! I myself had a great time writing it, and all of the characters grew in me as the story progressed, and it is so nice to hear from other readers!

Surely Finarfin agrees with you that the surprise outside Mandos was great

Thanks again for your kind words!

BetanSurveyReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/23/2005
Wow. This is a fantastic story. Funny without being silly, and at least for me a very satisfying version of what the early Second Age was like. It's an often-neglected period.

I do wonder how long it took Ingil to get his seagull to stop dropping fish on him, though.

Author Reply: I do wonder how long it took Ingil to get his seagull to stop dropping fish on him, though LOL! AS soon as she had her wown fledlgings to feed, she lost all interest in feeding her platonic love! :-)
Thanks for taking time to let me know that you enjoyed the story! Funny though not silly is a great complment, for it is exactly what I meant, so I'm glad hat you found it thus!
Thanks again.

elliskaReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/22/2005
Oh I am sorry to see this end (and sorry to be so long in reviewing its last chapter). I really enjoyed this one and all the little explored characters in it.

The scene in Valinor was great. I particularly like the part between Finarfin and Ingil--especially this: Only when I managed to overcome my fear and listen intently to what the rocks and trees and waters had to say was I able to understand that it is the same song that runs trough the veins of Arda, Finarfin, and we, “elves of the light” as we proudly call ourselves, know but one of its many chords…” Great line!

And the departure of Elros was very well done and very sad.

But my favorite part was Gil-galad's memory of Elrond's earlier words, his plee that Elrond return and Elrond's promise to do so. I love the relationship between these two that you showed.

And the ending was great! You did a wonderful job showing Gil-galad's development into the High King.

Great story!

Author Reply: I'm glad that you enjoyed the story, elliska, I, too had a great time writing it and reading your entertaining reviews... and I'm sure i'm going to miss them!
Ingil ended up being wiser than we thought, didn't he? and he, too has learned a lot.
I started the story trying to explore how Gil-galad managed to become the king of that sad ballad, which is about all what we know about him, and it soon was full of many other characters which, now I see, must have been important in his shaping, either, so it was very entertaining, and a great challenge for me, to write down a multichaptered story with so many characters in it...
Thanks for following and sharing your comments! :-)

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/18/2005
Oh, what a very amusing beginning to this long epilogue!
Ingwe discomboblated! Indris smirking(although in a most lady-like way)!
Finarfin going blank-faced with disinterest and gloriously agape!

Ingil sent down from Lorien! LOL!

But, I did love seeing Ingil like this, so naively taken with the *native* style and yet clearly wise. A happy sidhartta. Your portrayal of him and the Vanyar in general was one of the more appealling I have read. Very spot on, imho.
How perfect that his faithful feathered fan has been blessed, has progressed with her life, and has become a good friend - and gossip. ;)

Very kind of you to have Finrod come back to his family now and not way later.
And everyone else is satisfiyingly squared away too.

I am really glad that you left Gil-galad with high hopes about the new age. Having the sure knowledge that things can get better and be made good will sustain him in the darker times to come.

Thanks for writing this and letting us all read it. This was pratically another chapter - which was most welcomed.



Author Reply: A happy sidhartta. I'm going to miss him, you know? I'm still wondering where did he come from... This almost "hippy" ending was clear to me since the beginning, anyway, inspired by that place in the Lost Tales when it says that Ingwë's son had sojourned in Eressëa when returning from Middle Earth. Lórien was simply inspired by my wicked sense of humour. YEt on the whole, the Vanyar seem to me as those enlightened people, a bit in the socratic way, with all that calmness born of a deep understanding and knowledge that gives you (well, not me, not yet,) the ability to be curious, and surprised and open to all new things, and be not afraid of learning new things. I'm glad that you found them "on the spot", despites Ingwë's momentary loss of composure! :-)

Yes, it came as a whole chapter, but I myself enjoyed it so much that found it a pity to cut it shorter. SO what's another hugepick ayway? LOL

Veeeeeery biig thanks for your kind help and support and your insightful interesting and warm reviews!


NilmandraReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/17/2005
Oh, a very find ending, Perelleth. I love Ingil's change - the clothing and hairstyles and all of it. The bird, too! I loved that she followed him! Rearranging Lorien's garden? I was laughing throughout. It was both hilarious and yet profound, as he showed Finarfin. I especially like that Finarfin regained his oldest son at the end of that part. How fitting that one who had lost all was given someone back in return.

Elros all grown up and going off was grand and glorious, and I liked the pride that Gil-galad and Cirdan took in him, as well as the promises of alliance for so long as their descendents lived, but I think I was (predictably) most touched by Gil-galad's wish that Elrond see him as family... and I am glad Elrond did. Both young peredhil were well shaped by the young king.



Author Reply: I love Ingil's change - the clothing and hairstyles and all of it :-) This, inspired by a favourite quote. " a man departs on a journey, and a different man returns..." The ability to be changed by experience is something I truly value... and Ingil really grew on me as the story progressed.

I'm glad that you laughed. The sense of humour is to me the sixth senses, and one who allows to see hidden things...

How Finarfin dealt with his own personal tragedy, his decision and that of his children is something that truly interests me, and somehow it seemed right, as you put it, that he who had lost everything would at least have something back...and something so special for him...

I'm so glad that you endured till the end of this story, and particularly that Elrond found your approval ! :-) Thanks again for your reviews, Nilmandra.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/17/2005
Yay! Hooray!

You write nice endings. There's a lovely sense of wrapping-up and tying off loose ends, even as the story continues in Middle Earth. I love that the seagull has a happy ending all of her own. And the wonderful scene of Elros sailing off into the sunset, ready to begin his own adventure, is both sad and exciting at the same time.

Author Reply: You write nice endings LOL, Why, thanks! The truth is that muses attack me with endings! Right now there are two stories sleeping in my computer's hard disks, both stuck at chapter three, but with ending chapters already written.. strange, isn't it?

And the wonderful scene of Elros sailing off into the sunset, ready to begin his own adventure, is both sad and exciting at the same time As one more accustomed to depart than to remain, that's how I see it: excitement from the part of those departing, and sadness, melancholy for those remaining...

Thanks for your amusing and entertaining reviews FP!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/17/2005
And so this finishes with people letting go of those they love, who have grown in ways they might not have wished for. But they come back too.

Nice job, Perelleth.

Author Reply: But they come back too At least that's what we hope... Thanks for reading, daw, it's been very encouraging to read your comments!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 10/17/2005
Poor Finarfin! What he did to Ingwe's son indeed! Remained patient and remarkably tolerant, really. But Ingil has come on a lot - he seems to see a lot more deeply into things now. And, of course, he has his feathered admirer.

Ingwe isn't going to be happy to have his son go off to Eressea. But I rather think he is going to have to put up with it. I love the gleam of wisdom in his eyes - and the comfort he offered Finarfin.

And I LOVE the return of Finrod. Finarfin deserves it - and so does Finrod. Not to mention Earwen.

Elros has grown into kingship then. And Mariner-ing. And Elrond has been coaxed into a role of his own, so that he won't miss his brother as much as he might have done - I'm glad he sees Ereinion as family. And then there's great-uncle Celeborn. Also known as Lord of Harlindon. Ereinion's sense of humour is delightful. I am glad to see him settling into his role. Probably greatly helped by the absence of Oropher.

This is a lovely story - I have enjoyed all the twists and turns and I'm so pleased that Ereinion is balancing carefully at the top of the pyramid. (And that Finarfin's oldest son has returned to his family.)

Now what do you have planned for a follow-up?



Author Reply: Thanks bodkin, I so much enjoy your reviews!

Ingil grew on me as the story progressed, and I truly believe that in fact he already was so wise and profound since the very beginning. He simply looked at Middle earth with the eyes of a child, it was something oh so new that he wasn't sure how to confront it, and he simply explored all its edges without prejudice, while the rest (me included) looked at him with sort of smug superiority...

His moving to eressëa was planned since the beginnig.. Have you read the Book of LOst Tales, when Eorl arrives at Eressea and is received at MEril's house, and she's said to be descended from Ingwë's son, who sojourned in the isle when returned form Middle Earth? that brought the whole idea of bringing Ingil into the story. This, and a favourite quote of mine " a man departs on a journey, and a different man returns" Surely it could apply to elves! :-)

And Finrod just walked in all of his own and knocked at the door.. from the very beginning, too! :-) You're right, Finarfin and Earwen deserved it, (not to mention Amarië..:-)

I'm glad you liked Ereinon's sense of humour. He'd surely need it...

It's been a pleasure to have such wonderful and encouraging feedback! I have two stories stuck at chapter three ( both endings already written though!LOL ) but I'm not sure whether to begin posting any of them, for RL is so hectic that I fear I'd begin to feel guilty for not updating regularly... we´ll see :-)

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