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| Sad But True by Ecthelion of the fountain | 17 Review(s) |
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| Leithian | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/30/2025 |
| Thanks for your response to my previous comment. The fact that this story is an interpretation of the line "but to none was her heart's love given." makes it even more interesting. I had forgotten (or perhaps never knew at all) that this is the story of the relationship between Irisse and Celegorm. The reason I worded the last comment that way is that I've noticed that Celegorm is one of the most hated characters in the Silmarillion... to the extent that I didn't think it would be safe to publicly say that he is one of my favourites. I never expected that you loved him. I feel less alone now. Will you write more on these characters? I'm eagerly waiting to read more of your masterpieces. May I ask your view on the Luthien scenario? For me, this is the absolutely worst thing Celegorm did, however, when I read about the evolution of the character I saw that Tolkien switched between Celegorm and Curufin as the one who loved Luthien. But later, I think that he decided that Curufin was Celebrimbor's father so he settled on Celegorm as the one who loved Luthien. But I also never understood how that was going to work 🙃 after all he could not force her against her will. I think Tolkien wanted to give Celegorm and Curufin a motive to keep Luthien in Nargothand but that's the best I could make out of it. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Take care Author Reply: My impression is that there are enough fans of the Fëanorians by now that it is safe to say we love every single one of them. They are not my personal favorites—I do love most, if not all, of the characters—but I am certainly motivated to keep exploring their histories and stories. :D I have just published Silhouette of Doom, a story about the kinslaying in Doriath. All the sons of Fëanor have their POVs, Celegorm included. Hope you enjoy it! Regarding the Lúthien encounter in the legendarium, my suspicion has always been that Tolkien never delved deeply into the individual characters of Celegorm and Curufin in this matter. They serve more as narrative tools to move the story forward, so it hardly mattered which son of Fëanor should have been enamored by her. (That said, the term “crafty” does suggest Curufin as the more likely villain.) And yes, they could not force her against her will, but the matter was also about power and influence, not merely the union itself. I mentioned this in Sad But True—this marriage could well have been in name only. After all, Elves do not die within this world, and their patience extends beyond mortal imagination. | |
| Leithian | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/29/2025 |
| Ecthelion! So glad to see this extra chapter and to know that you're still active on SoA. I first read your story quite a long time ago, it made me cry a bit. I fell absolutely in love with this story, and I often reread it. It's your fic that made me see Celegorm as more than a villain (he was never simple for me), I came around to like him and now he is one of my favourite characters in the Legendarium. (Yeah that's true, don't kill me lol). https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.reddit.com/r/tolkienfans/comments/1aywqb9/celegormor_the_fall_of_a_prince_charmingpart_1/&ved=2ahUKEwjX_5jCoZuLAxW69LsIHaU2AOIQFnoECBkQAQ&usg=AOvVaw09pvaM9tVAkJ2y3VXW0-MJ If you're interested, this is a link to a reddit post that explores the evolution of Celegorm's storyline in Tolkien's drafts and a lot of material didn't make it to the published Silmarillion. It is really informative and after reading this I felt that my headcanon was vindicated. Author Reply: Thanks! I certainly didn't expect anyone to remember me—it has indeed been a long time, and I’ve been inactive here because I forgot my password 😅 But at last, I managed to log in again and update the text to reflect its latest state. 😄 I'm very familiar with Celegorm's story in HoME and its evolution. 😃 This piece selectively weaves together certain elements around the enigmatic sentence in the published Silmarillion: "but to none was her heart's love given." Of course, this is just one possibility among many—I’m sure there are countless versions that take entirely different directions! And it's quite clear that I love him—how else could I write so much about a single character? In truth, I've grown to love almost all of these characters by now, and I'm exploring other possibilities in different stories. | |
| Haven of Stars | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 2/24/2022 |
| Woah! This story really made me think a lot. You made my opinion of Celegorm change considerably! How did it feel to write from his POV? | |
| Starlight and Moonlight | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 9/13/2018 |
| Your first language is not English? Wow! I couldn't even tell from your writing, it was so good! | |
| Starlight and Moonlight | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 9/12/2018 |
| Ugh, I am so disgusted with Celegorm right now! | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/6/2007 |
| *mutters* I don't want this story to end! This means that I have read all that is out there of you! But what a finale! I really like your take of Dior awaiting for them at the other side of the bridge instead of inside Menegroth. It's sad to think that all along he fled for himself, not taking the time what he truly wanted or if he knew himself. The realisation comes at a perfect time and is well written. I especially liked this bith, so true: Is it always so ironic? What you trust will betray you in the end, while what you neglect will surprise you? Or, it is all the opposite - what you trust betrays you because you think they will not betray you whatever you do, while what you neglect surprises you because in them you never have such confidence and expectation? Thoughts to ponder about, but I surely can relate (or does that make me just as cynical as Celegorm?). Another thing I want to compliment you for is how you write the passage of time, it flows and it feels very natural. I think you found the right balance in what you wanted to convey and what not. So when shall we read how Lachodir will avenge Celegorm? Is he the one who cruelly sends Dior's sons into death? I really hope to read more of you! Author Reply: Thank you so much, Rhapsody. You've been so generous with encouragement, and your comments did trigger some thoughts on my side too. I'll try my best to respond to all of your reviews, but let me start with this one, :) Celegorm is actually not my favorite character. (Fingon is my all-time favorite, but I love him so much that I cannot write about him, for no words are sufficient when it comes to the one you love.) But I'm a logical creature, and I usually look into such people, who were once high and noble but ended up with turning into villains, and wonder: how could they have fallen so low? - It's exactly the same question I made Luthien ask Celegorm when he and Curufin did that notorious attack. To me, there is always a course for the fall, and it's interesting to see why and how. With this understanding we feel truly grateful that we never allow ourselves to tread the same road. The tragedy of the Noldor is really heart wrenching. And for the House of Feanor it is even more unbearable to see. I always feel nobody from that house is negligible. Right, nobody. And thus I tried to give Celegorm more stories - probably not something he himself would like to see, but, well, may he finally learn in the Halls of Mandos that: truth might be sad, but truth is always better than lies. | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/6/2007 |
| This was spot on and often overlooked when people say they so dislike Fëanorians: …Cowards. You dare to call us cowards. Merely by words Curufin set so great a fear into your hearts that since then you have forsaken open battles and turned to stealth and ambush, wizardry and venomed dart. Who are indeed the cowards? And have you forgotten who fought at the borders and prevented Sauron's werewolves and beasts from crossing Talath Dirnen? Instead of appreciating our efforts to spare your lives, now you want to say we are cowards? If you are so eager to die, may the evil fire of Morgoth fall upon you all! Well put and I like the way how you play out Huan's betrayal, especially after Celegorm takes him in again when Orodreth uses the hound as a testimony. After all, Huan was influenced by Luthien and did not know his master's thoughts. Greatly explored, but I am in a hurry, off to read the next chapter! | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/6/2007 |
| Well, the truth had to hit him sooner or later. Even though Aredhel is solely responsible for her own actions, Celegorm's reaction to her being taken into marriage, forced in his eyes while he struggles that she might have loved Eöl willingly: that was powerful and well written. Could he have done things differently? Should he left immediately when she came to look for him? I wonder if that would have helped him or if his course of actions would have been differently? I don't know, given the way how Aredhel passed on her arrival, it all makes so sense. This is an action and emotion packed chapter and I read it twice to let it all sink in, his pride (he's a son of Fëanor after all), his reaction to the Balrogs appearing and acting like a responsible commander: simply wonderful writing. Also, being a fan of Metallica, these three chapters I kept the songs The Unforgiven (given the two variations) in the back of my mind... it just added an extra layer to it. Author Reply: I intended to make this chapter his ultimate fall. Retaliating the one who might love him no more with death (actually death might not be his intention, but he did intend to make Eol give her and her son some trouble - I suppose this trouble turned out to be bigger than he had expected); Another kinslaying in Nan Elmoth (I'm glad that you clearly picked up my intention - yes, he killed because he wished to deny the possibility that she had loved Eol). After this he did not care any more, reflected in his thoughts in the first chapter: Finrod will not be the first who dies because of me. After this, he never felt he was wrong in all his later actions. *sigh* It is his character that determined his course...and that's why the story is doomed to be no happy ending. *sigh again* Author Reply: Oh, and I do love the Black Album of Metallica. It's great. | |
| MithLuin | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/5/2007 |
| This was indeed a much more bitter revenge than throwing all the ice of Helcaraxe on him. I am curious though...did she intend it? Had she gone to Himlad seeking him for a new beginning? Will he ever know? Author Reply: Thanks, MithLuin. Like I said in reply to Rhapsody's review, I do not know if she intended it. Probably yes, but there were other things involved too. And unfortunately Celegorm would never know why she came to Himlad...or, he'd rather work out a conclusion by himself instead of asking her directly. | |
| MithLuin | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/5/2007 |
Oh, this is so heart-wrenching! It hurts to see this dream, knowing what will be. It is an even greater wonder that he did not kill Eol after this.... Author Reply: Celegorm apparently worked out a 'better' solution for this problem...although I cannot say whether he was content with the result. ... | |