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Farrod a Orë în by Redheredh	8 Review(s)
Kitt Otter	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/12/2008
That was scary! You did so well at invoking horror, and rounding it with fluff at the end. I loved Oropher – I always imagined him the hunter-type. I liked how he thought of Ivrellas, that her information saved him, and how that half of the story ended with his betrothal announcement. You described well Oropher’s lingering guilt, and his moment of possession. shivers Werewolves are… ugh. I am glad I did not read this at night; you too vibrantly showed him prowling, lunging, and, yeah. more shivers Really, I never thought very hard on werewolves before. Trust it to Celebrian to eavesdrop on a most un-children’s story. “Celebrían’s parents were amongst the very few who could meet the daunting challenge of raising offspring as intrepid as they themselves” Too true. Her parents’ affection was wonderful. (And I am happy to see Galadriel, though she was not in such a dignified situation as seems to be her norm.) Celeborn’s vivid admonish was a most effective in dealing with his daughter’s wandering. It was good method to tie both stories together, as well. laughs Perfect ending: when-shall-we-get-one-from-you… - Kitt :) Author Reply: Hmm, you have read this first, before Farrod a Rodwen? That story actually comes first and is where Ivrellas and Oropher get betrothed. Thank you! I am happy you liked it. :) I am tickled that it gave you some shivers. ];} Don't read about Finrod getting killed on the Isle of Werewolves then, if this was too scary! The child is not brave so much as bold. She had the adventure genes that will take her away from home, that is for sure. She will live in many places during her life. Just like most of her close kin. Well now, "norm" for who and under what circumstances? There is no dignified way to eat ribs... or get sloshed... or birth a baby... etc. and I am sure she did all that and a lot more ahem undignified things when visitors were not looking. Kid around at a party? Get teary over her child? Of course, she would. I do try to be a less than obvious with the connections between the two parts. But, don't always get there... Thranduil was quite content with the outcome on several levels, me thinks. Thank you for this review, too.

ziggy	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/12/2007
This was really intriguing. I really found the differences between the elves fascinating- and the OCs excellent. Alagastor is interesting- I'd like to read more about him. I suspect you need to have read your other fics to really get everything that is going on so that's my next step. I'm hooked!!! Author Reply: ziggy, thank you so much for the kind review! I am very glad you enjoyed these elements of the story! To me, OCs are important people in their own lives, and I try to treat them as such. The Nandor are interesting! I hope you find some of the previous stories entertaining as well. Although, you will find them a bit 'slower' reading than this, I am sure. ;)

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/9/2007
I really doubt she was a fragile flower under constant protection. How else did she travel so much and survive the attack? I do not see Celebrian as a fragile flower either, but I was reminded of Bejai's story in which at the very beginning she has Annatar in Eregion somehow dooming Amroth and Celebrían to suffer from weakeness..that point really impresssed me in a sense of certain failure, certain marring in Celebrían, beyond her own personal individual strength to overcome when she confrotned that difficult moment. Even if in the end all that Tolkien wanted was a good explanation of why there was not a Lady elrond in IMladris, :-) They did not wed until after Gil-galad was long dead. And then waited again to have children. Why? He was in love with her well, a hundred years is not long in elven time...nor is thirty years before having children, Rather, according to Lace :-) it is quite early for the first son... :-) As a whole i think I agree with you, that they did have their lives before them and were not in any particular hurry. After all, Elves do not marry in times of war and Sauron's first defeat was not such a thprough one that they thought middl-earth was free from evil again. I really like the way they deal with time, so unhurriedly. Author Reply: Ah, you're back! How sweet of you! With references and quotes, no less! ;) Oh, I remember that scene! I thought it was very clever implying a curse being laid upon the family, considering the tragedies of both children. I would like to think Celebrian overcame that adversty by her own strength. And yes, the Professor was just working at his story. ;) Part of the thrill though of writing is rationalizing and shaping events to fit into 'reality'. Exactly what fanfic writers do all the time! :D g I really do not think war stopped most elves from getting wed. Those carrying more responsibility did have to be wiser about taking a mate who would have to bear many more burdens than most. And, the difficulty of raising children when one is entirely distracted from that task by their job. But, you do actually clarify one point about having children. The Peredhil and Men usually wedded and had their children quickly, especially in a time of war. Elves could let the courtship linger. Now, Elrond did choose to be Elf. And personally, after waiting (courting most of that time) so long to have a family, you would think both he and Celebrian would want to get started right away when things were finally calm enough to take the plunge. However, they waited three decades. Why? They had a home and security and influence and connections and power. I think Celebrian must have hung out at Imladris quite a bit, if only periodically, since the first time she came there in the SA. The people who lived there knew who and what she was. She had to have helped out during her long visits and established a relationship with many there. No problems fitting in or getting adjusted as Lady of Imladris. There was peace all around. You would think a decade would be enough time to prepare the nursery. I definitely have a less awed attitude about elves in general. In my mind, they are talented people. But, just as I am in awe of some humans, I am greatly impressed with some of the Eldar, who use their gifts better than others. Also, those that do not require those gifts for their goodness to prevail.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/8/2007
Personally, I do not like the idea that Celebrian lived only because Elrond healed her. shades of reanimation... Don't you think that, although Elrond would have striven desperately to heal her physical injuries, it was his love and anguish at the prospect of losing her that would have made her choose to remain - even knowing that she would find it difficult to endure life in Middle-earth? Celebrian has a pretty good grasp of the power of love - and she knows how much Elrond has suffered from what has happened to everyone he ever cared about. I see it as her choice to refuse to die and leave him ... even if, later, she had to sail, she still remained in this world and waiting for him. Author Reply: Shades of reanimation... was just residual creepy frame-of-mind stuff from the Oropher story. I never meant to imply that Elrond was practicing necromancy of any sort! Goodness no! Actually, I agree with you! Certainly, Celebrian would strive to survive for the sake of love and loyalty. I just do not like the idea that Elrond healed her - brought her back from the edge of death - solely because of emotionally dependency. I don't like the idea of him being not just the one who healed her physical wounds, but the almighty force behind her survival. "...refuse to die and leave him." Yes, I think, she refused to die and leave her life unfinished. She would have succumb to her wounds and Elrond healed those. She just could not get past her subsequent depression. Something he could not heal. A vicious cycle of feeling ineffectual causing more feelings of being ineffectual. I can see where that would very rapidly became debilitating for someone like her. She did not marry Elrond until she was ready to start a family. She had a life before him and had no problem going about their family business without him by her side. That is the impression I get from the timing of events and what locations people were at during those events. The implication from Tolkien is that Elrond was not there when she was attacked. Galadriel and she went to Imladris looking for Celeborn after the War. And that is when Elrond 'saw' her for the first time. But, he held off courtship and apparently did not admit his feelings to anyone. Why? They did not wed until after Gil-galad was long dead. And then waited again to have children. Why? He was in love with her. I know she had to have loved him too. But, not enough to change what she was doing with her time? Why? Unlike Arwen, her mother had no restrictions keeping her waiting in the wings until Elrond was fit to wed. At least, I am not aware of any. Was there turmoil over who - or if - there would be another King of the Elves? See, I of course have my own ideas about Celebrian and what she was like. ];} Just like everyone else! ;)

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/8/2007
Delightful, Redheredh, just delightful. Oropher is just so purely Oropher-ish! Rushing in - he just would. It seems that nothing changes! But then managing through sheer persistence and courage and shiningness to carry off almost-impossible deeds. And he can meet people on their own ground while still being who he is. While Celebrian! She is a star. (And better suited to Elrond than Amroth, really. Especially since he ended up falling for that silly Nimrodel-chit.) I love strong Celeborn - and wifely Galadriel. It seems to shock 'em every time that Galadriel doesn't rule her husband. You'd think they'd have had a chance to realise that by now! And I just loved Celeborn ending up with the dancing master role, when he so clearly would have preferred something more martial. (Still, I expect his daughter will do his best to manage him tactfully. He might be the boss, but she's got all the talents needed to nudge him into pleasing her.) Lovely story, Redheredh. Thank you so much. I just loved it. Author Reply: "And he can meet people on their own ground while still being who he is." Ya know, I think that is one of his best 'powers'. The people who will follow him are not following a title or an office. They are following him - a person they know and trust. "...that silly Nimrodel-chit." Heh! Now, I would have thought that you would favor someone who is against warring and killing. ;) And also more respectful of the land and forest than a foreign-breed come to settle where they don't belong. ;D So what if they brought some pretty trees with them. The shock to the audience was that Celeborn was rude to his wife. Being equal partners in marriage and government, an Umanyar ruler would never tell his spouse to 'stifle it'. But, Galadriel did slough the disciplinary task off onto him... so, he should be allowed to handle it as he sees fit. Without too much contradiction (read: undermining inconsistency) from Celebrian's other parent. Plus, there is Galadriel's formidable temper... which will be seen in the next chapter of CSING...that would be readily visited upon an offender under normal circumstances. Poor Celeborn relegated to 'dancing master'! Gee, that's like having your kid tell you they don't want you to teach them to drive. (The kid is a natural when it comes to getting what she wants!) I am so pleased that you liked this! Thank you! And Happy Birthday!! Please note that I avoided the usual amount of random italics this time.... sheesh

Gwynhyffar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/5/2007
I loved Oropher in this story (well I love him in every story). Still young, but learning. What a horrifying encounter! Celebrian was adorable, and now I have to go read your other stories featuring her! Author Reply: Gwynhyffar! Thank you so much for the review! I am glad you enjoyed a youthful Oropher. :) Although, this was a dark episode. And, I hope you find some entertainment in the other stories as well! But, I warn you, you will have to dredge through a lot of self-indulgent prose to discover the bits of gold...eh, silver in my stories. ;)

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/4/2007
Well, I'm back. The education of Celebrían is proving a daunting task for both her parents and the rest of people involved, even occasional audience. YEt I can see the wilful, stubborn and also resilient elf woman who survived the vicious attack, or else the fragile, somehow inmature one that could not overcome her marring and had to sail away to find healing...both in this lively, stubborn, eager-to-learn to fight, intelligent and honest child. And there are plenty of stories here, from the shape-shifter to the cause of celebrian´s nightmares and Galadriel´s fears to Glamien's memory "If Hrassa had not been around that night" We want all those stories! And I really loved the ending, once she regained her father's approval, she is really a lovely little imp! Too much for Celeborn, as Thranduil notes! An extraordinary tale, again, thanks! Author Reply: Celebrian had to have been a strong lady. I really doubt she was a fragile flower under constant protection. How else did she travel so much and survive the attack? Her simple loss of 'joy in life' when (as LACE implies) she would have succumbed to death - from the shock - tells me somthing about her. Nilmandra wss wise in her depiction of that tragedy. Personally, I do not like the idea that Celebrian lived only because Elrond healed her. shades of reanimation... shiver She was strong and loving elf-queen. She survived her test and was diminished by it and went into the West shortly thereafter. Separated from Elrond, who stayed in Middle-earth to see his duty to his people done. Now, what adult examples do you think they might have been following? Yes, heavy sigh I know, so many stories... I mean to get to them all eventually. Ha! The lass is in an impish phase, at that! :) Instead of terrible twos, would it be the terrible teens for an elfling? Thank you so much for letting me know that you enjoyed this! Maybe next year, I can do something a little more personal for you than just a dedication.

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/4/2007
Wow, Rederedh, there is so much depth in this! I am stunned, seriously! I really love the pace of the hunt, and the wonderful descriptions, and how you throw in the details of rank and relationship between the hunters and their habits so effortlessly. The werewolf's nervousness is extraordinarily well depicted! I can see it pacing up and down, knowing its being chased, awaiting the hunt... that was impressive. And then the fight, and the awful, sad truth. There are two things that really impressed me here. First that it was about werewolves and Houseless ones, because I have been myself toying with that lately. Oropher's impotence at the thought that the farmer's soul was destroyed really hit me. The long years of twilight in Beleriand were surely full of dangers and dark things, and the horror -and the fear of destruction- of this powerful spirit is sickening and also pitiable at the same time And then there is your careful eye for detail. I think I have never commented, but boy how I bow to some of your language findings and expressions. "Turn of the rim" is wonderful, I have been looking for such an expression for ages and as I saw it here I was like, well head desking myself silly. Masterful, so perfectly logiacal for a people who had lived ages under the stars! I also love Glaeru! For a world in which we are told that there are not expletives, this one rings as true to me as Gimli's Hammer and anvil! But, at a more personal level, I was blown away by this: For the price was certainly less than it might otherwise have been. He really should value, all the more, the good that came with his labours, rather than be burdened by his failures. From now on, I will savor the good… I, too, am in dire need of being reminded that, and it came so handly that I thank you doubly for the present and its content! :-) There is a lot more to comment, but for now I am going to re read the second part. Wonderful and, again, many thanks! :-) Author Reply: Thank you so much! I am so glad you thought it a good story! I like knowing the background facts. I think it enhances the experience of the story. An infodump may not be needed in a conteporary tale where the reader knows what's up. But, its different with historical tales and adventures in imaginary worlds. I am also glad that you liked the appearance and behaviour of the werewolf. I hope to see what happens with Gildor and Gandalf! Hmmm... I think like Oropher, I do not feel that much pity for the Houseless one. It chose its condition, and knew it was a evil choice. Tolkien says that the elves had a strong love of life. And we know that, for good or evil, love can be used against you. That is the pity. Ah, so you are impressed by those little details! :D Then, my work here is done! Hehe! Really that was the nicest thing to say. Keep encouraging me like that and you will suffer the consequences. You are so welcome. It is truly pleasing to know you found a personal note in this part of the story. Many thanks - and Happy Returns! - to you! And onward to the next...!

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