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The Wars of the Valar by Fiondil	10 Review(s)
Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 8/4/2008
This was such fun to read. However, I would like to know how the Valar finally found Namo. Author Reply: They followed the butterflies of course....

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 1/28/2008
Why do I get the feeling I know where you got the chapter title from? grin Very fitting! This has to be very distressing for Irmo; it’s difficult for him to understand why Námo fled even from his rescuers, particularly as he doesn’t know what Námo went through. ‚Totally pissed off’? Well, that’s not an expression I’d expected from the Valar, but it seems rather fitting here! I’m so glad Eru took care of Námo; I don’t want to think about how this would turn out otherwise. Somehow I doubt Manwë and the others would have been able to calm him down so fast. Author Reply: I just couldn't resist the title, though I never saw the movie. grin I think it was very distressing for them all, not understanding why Námo fled from them when they were trying to rescue him. They little understand that they would not have been able to help Námo, they would have done everything wrong, not knowing what they should be doing. Námo going to Atar was the only real solution. From Atar Námo will learn how best to deal with the damaged fëar under his care once he becomes the Lord of Mandos in truth.

Radbooks	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/12/2007
Ah, a very nice and most satisfying chapter. I knew that Namo would recover... well, get well started on his recovery when he was with his atar, I'm sure he'll need some time to feel comfortable around the others. I just knew Namo had shut himself off from his atar because of course God won't ever leave us... he is everywhere. As I was reading this Namo's reactions to his atar reminded me strongly of Glorfindel's response to Namo and I can see where Namo gets his empathy and compassion. It's much easier to be empathetic if you've experienced loss... or similar situations yourself. Very nicely done. Oh, the chapter title made me giggle. It was too much like the movie, Finding Nemo! :) By the way, I posted another chapter of my story about a week ago. Author Reply: Thanks, Radbooks. I'm glad you found this such a satisfying chapter. You are the not the first person to compare Námo's attitude toward Atar here with Glorfindel's response to Námo. It's probably why Námo finds Glorfindel so amusing, as the ellon reminds him so much of himself when he was... er... younger. grin Thanks for letting me know you've posted a new chapter. I saw it and read it and enjoyed it very much. I'm looking forward to seeing how that story ends probably as much as you're looking forward to seeing how this one (and my other stories) end. grin Thanks again for reviewing.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/11/2007
Ah, royally pissed off, is she? Yeah, guess it works for me, too! Heh! And they at last thought to ask the butterflies? Took them long enough! Poor Namo, having to work through the terror to find healing! But in the end he finds it and is restored not only to communion with Atar, but with his siblings as well. Poor red dwarf, coming to its fulfillment a bit sooner to bring healing to Namo. And the title! Hee! Author Reply: Hi Larner! You know how I love tongue-in-cheek titles, if you've ever read some of my other stories. grin and who could resist this one? Anyway, Námo's experience with Atar and healing will help him deal with the fëar of the Firstborn (and even the Secondborn) when they come to Mandos. He'll have "been there, done that" himself and will be in a better position to help them and to understand where they are coming from. And I'm sure the red dwarf thought it was "an acceptable sacrifice". Sorry, I couldn't resist. I've just finished reading your story for I think the third time and it's still as gripping as ever. Thanks for reviewing.

Nieriel Raina	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/10/2007
YAY! I knew it! I was right! grins I just had a feeling somehow Namo would find the 10th dimension. What a wonderful chapter, beginning with the TITLE! OMG! THAT was PERFECT! I loved Irmo's reaction to Namo being missing. Though Vaire's reaction was a bit bewildering. I mean, I don't doubt she's pissed (LOL!) but I kind of felt she'd be a little fearful too, no? Or maybe the sense of anger has overridden those emotions... I just LOVED Aule's word choices... I think the inclusion of modern wording is what makes this fic so relateable. (Is that a word?) Oh, I just LOVED the parts with Atar, and actually had to step back from reviewing right away to just reflect on what Atar said about Namo was the one who had closed himself off. But Atar's reaction was so touching, I nearly cried. I also noted how Namo has learned from Atar himself about letting someone fight and scream in their embrace until it's all out. Many things he will have learned from this time of his existence. And the LULLABY! right? That is THE song, yes? Wonderful! Namo cozying up to star cores was adorable, and thankfully his being allows him to sleep or hesitate for an age as he needs. Though, he seems to be a bit ADD at times... -- Námo, Atar gently chided him, stop looking about at the stars and pay attention. -- grin it's a serious time, yet you break it up with just the right amount of humor and we need it after the last couple chapters, as I'm sure you did too! I'm glad to see Namo has started to heal, but it will surely take more time. his response to Atar at one point -- "No.... no....," Námo protested weakly, struggling to break out of Atar’s embrace. "Please, Atar, don't...don’t touch me... you don’t know... I’m not...." -- makes me wonder how he will cope with the others touching him now that he is found. I have family members who have been victimized and the way the react initially is very hard on the family because we want to hold and love and help, and they don't wish to be touched, feelign afraid and dirty. It takes much time reverse the response before the victim can react normally again, and some never do. Oh it was so wonderful to see Namo cocking an attitude with Atar! LOL! I've always felt that Namo adores Glorfindel so much because he senses in him a kindred spirit. They are much alike in many ways, and this just proved it to me! LOL! --"Hmmm. Dohnwanna." -- snickers Great wonderful marvellous chapter, Fiondil! NiRi PS... I have to tell you this. You know I'm reading EI to my daughter. Well, we just finished the part where Glorfindel is taken from Valmar and left on Taniquetil. I closed the binder and amid protestations of "But MOM! We HAVE to find out what happens to him next!" To which I calmly explained the next, oh, twenty chapters we go back and find out about Finrod and Sador. To which she replied, "He is so EVIL!" LOL! Author Reply: Hi NiRi. So I'm 'so EVIL', am I? Well, your daughter doesn't know the half of it! LOL! Vairë's reaction I think is normal. She's suffering from residual anger at Námo for putting hinself in danger for her, guilt for being duped by Acairis and allowing herself to be captured so Námo would have to come rescue her, further guilt for leaving Námo behind, and additional anger at Námo for fleeing from them, plus fear for him and wondering where he is and what state he's in. All that adds up to a lot of angst and her only means of xpressing it at this point is through anger, in order to hide the underlying fear and guilt. Much of what Námo undergoes with Atar here he will take with him as Lord of Mandos. And yes, that is THE lullaby. grin And he's not so much ADD as he is wanting to run and hide under the covers instead of listening to a "lecture" by Atar. grin I'm sure Námo still has a ways to go in his healing and it will take much patience on the part of the others to see him through the rough spots. And at this point he's pretty much feeling like a child who's "heard it all before". as he deals interacts with Atar. grin

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/9/2007
Ah ha! 'Love's embrace' - I was hoping and hope was fulfilled. Thank goodness for Eru! I loved the other Maiar's concern for Namo, but also for Irmo and each other. It was touching for these 'great' creations. And there amazement that Namo could possibly 'want' to hide from Atar. Inconceivable to them, but they had not been where Namo had been. I hope that, when they are crosses fingers in hope they are reunited, they will remember this and treat Namo with respect and compassion. As first of the Maia, I found it appropriate and beautiful to have Manwe be the one who realizes that Atar helped Namo! I love the uses of time - they are laugh-inducing - 'measurable in the half-life of decaying radioactive particles' - if I'm not mistaken, LOL, that is a very long time! And when Namo was recovering and 'several stars ... flamed in and out of existence' - I think that is even a longer time!!! I love the line - All is well between thee and me. I guess that's where Namo learned such trust and was so able and willing to share it with those who came to the Halls of Mandos. I loved that Eru gave him so much time to heal. And I LOL when I read of the reunion and Namo's 'discovery' - great! Excellent chapter, as always, Fiondil! Author Reply: Hi Agape! Thanks for your review. I'm glad you found this chapter a delight. Time, of course, is such a relative word (okay, all puns intended here LOL), especially when dealing with immortal beings like the Valar and Maiar. Nämo is experiencing what his own charges will someday experience. It will be a case of "been there, done that", so his innate sense of compassion for what those who come to Mandos must undergo is being informed by his own "Judgment"-experiences and the unconditional love that Atar has for him. The others, unfortunately, will probably not "get it" immmediately and may make mistakes in their treatment of him, wanting him to be "like before" when that is totally impossible. But they will learn....

Tira	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/9/2007
sweet chapter, nice descriptions of the stars and all too. loving it so far! now, to settle in and await the next. Author Reply: Thanks Tira. I'm glad you enjoyed this chaspter and looking forward to reading more.

Lizzy	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/9/2007
totally pissed off. hahaha... oh dear. that made me laugh. hmmm. dohnwanna. hilarious. ;) Author Reply: Glad you liked the chapter, Lizzy. Thanks for letting me know.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/9/2007
I loved your use of "gravid" in the very first sentence - it fit perfectly, and expressed so much (ah, well, and I saw it for the first time only recently in English - I knew the Latin term -, that's why it sprang to my attention). He was unaware that he was whimpering as he fled into the heart of a nearby red giant and clung to its core. The gentle pulsing of the nuclear reaction soothed him and then he felt something stroke him reassuringly. With a sigh he curled himself around the core and fell back to sleep. The star, which was nearly depleted of its energy, heated itself up a bit more to give the Ayanuz additional comfort, joyful that its final outpouring of energy was for this lost one’s benefit. Oh, that's lovely. Such a beautiful, moving picture. I think you spoke of a "comfort blanket" in an earlier chapter, and I think I finally know what you mean (if so, I had "comfort cushions" g). The love of this fading star and the will to give comfort as long as it is able is conveyed very clearly. Aha, so Aulë is not only a world-smith, but also a word-smith Lol! The concept of time is fascinating: They have all the time in the world, so to speak, it feels like there is such an "abundance of time" that it really doesn't matter if Námo needs the time it takes for for several stars to be born and die again before he feels secure enough to open himself. Child, Melkor did nothing... it was you who closed yourself off to me. I was always there waiting for you. Oh, so my guess was right. Yes, as we see, Námo felt guilt and shame, as so many victims of abuse do, as if it was somehow his fault that he was in Melkor's captivity. He didn't feel worthy of being helped. Maybe there is even an unconscious part of him that closed himself off so he could say that nobody helped him, to be able to shift the blame to those others? Butterflies as the Song in velvet-winged form - what a lovely picture! And I was just ready to paste my review in the review box, when I took another look at your chapter title and burst out laughing! Say, shouldn't there have been some fish, instead of those butterflies ;-)...? P.S.: And thank you again for slightly altering the passage about Acairis' appearance; I appreciate it that you considered my concerns. Author Reply: Well, I'm probably one of the few people anywhere who never saw the film "Finding Nemo", but the title was too good to pass up. LOL "Time" of course is a product of mortality. For immortals, time has no actual meaning. When you are immortal, a billion years has no more intrinsic meaning for you than 1 year, it's all one and the same. The image of the fading sun giving of itself joyfully one last time and the others images of the stars singing of Self-sacrifice and giving unstinting of themselves in order for Life to exist is a nod towards the philosophical underpinnings of the New Cosmology. See, for instance, Brian Swimme's "The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos" and "The Universe Story", co-written with Thomas Berry, an eco-theologian. As for Acairis... no problem. I realized in our discussion that I had failed to show her fully as I envisioned her to be. I hope that the change in wording will eliminate any confusion or concerns of other readers.

Edlyn	Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/9/2007
Having just finished reading this chapter, I'm sitting here smiling, meldonya. Not only is Námo safe and back with his fellow Máhanumaz but he's found that tenth dimension that you've teased us with the mention of for the past several chapters. But best of all he's learned a very important lesson; one that will serve him in good stead when it comes to handling the healing of the Children who will come to his Halls. Yes, our Atar is always present and there for us. We are the ones who close our eyes and ears and prevent ourselves from finding him for whatever reason. It was wonderful seeing how Eru showed Námo that his love is completely unconditional, no matter what we do. Yes, we should repent our errors but the fact that we aren't perfect and make mistakes isn't going to change how Atar feels about us. I hope that writing this chapter made you feel better after having to deal with the difficult stuff in the past couple of chapters. May you live blessed, Edlyn (See, I can write a review that is shorter than the chapter!) Author Reply: But I LOVE your long reviews, the longer the better. LOL Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and the images it prseents of Atar's unconditional love for his Children in whatever the circumstances they find themselves. I certainly enjoyed writing it, for it was indeed a sort of catharsis for me after the last few chapters.

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