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Nerdanel's Story by Istarnië	6 Review(s)
Starlight and Moonlight	Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 9/13/2018
The Silmarillion is such a tragic story, and you captured the sadness and beauty of it perfectly.

Freja	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/18/2007
Another great chapter! Fëanor is a young man who is used to having his own way, but it's nice to see Nerdanel not bowing down to him, and also seeing behind his facade as to why he is behaving in such a manner. I feel sorry for Gaerion - he seems such a kind one, even for the short introduction we get of him. Nerdanel's destiny was certainly not one such as he. I also really like Mahtan's reluctance to let his daughter spend too much time in the company of this hot-tempered prince! Though, of course we all know he didn't have much succes keeping them apart.. Author Reply: Hello Freja, and thank you for reading and reviewing. :) I am so sorry I have not been around these last two weeks to reply to you; I hope to keep more up to date now. :) I do see Nerdanel getting worn down by her eventual inability to guide the one she loves on a wise and noble path..but as she seeks to 'understand minds, rather than to master them' ( Morgoth's Ring) ', I think she understands Fëanor better than any other Elda, and why he is as he is. I am glad you liked Gaerion. I like him, as you can probably tell. He is in this, and other of my writings on occassion. He is a sort of 'what if Nerdanel had married a calm and friendly type' contrast to Fëanor, and has a story of his own to tell. Mahtan (Urundil) is another, oft overlooked, character I like from The Silmarillion. As I see it, few save Fëanor could cross him. He would protect his daughter, and eventually his grandsons, as much as he could. Thank you again Freja, and sorry that I waffle on so much. :)

Firimar	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/10/2007
Well done! This is one of the most personal and moving depictions of Fëanáro I have ever read. They (Fëanáro and Nerdanel) really come alive, and become people, not just stand-ins for bad decisions. Please keep up the accounts of the "good years" they had together - accomplishments, good relationships with the Valar, children, etc. We know how it ends; you're adding a lot of how good it was for potentially centuries. In all reality (cough) it couldn't have ended differently. If Finwë had not remarried, if Fëanáro had not taken the Oath, if he had not led the Noldor back to Middle Earth, Melkor would have overrun the gray elves forever, and the Secondborn would have been eternal slaves. But the eventual victory came at a huge price - not just the Teleri at the Kinslaying, and almost everyone in the First Age, but small, personal costs such as Nerdanel's. Keep up the good work! Author Reply: Hello Firimar! Sorry for my delay in replying to you, and many thanks for leaving such an encouraging review. :-)I certainly feel inspired to carry on editing and posting this tale. 'Nerdanel's Story' has two sections throughout - the looking back from the Seventh Age is meant to provide a way of talking about the bad times from a more enlightened, and less immediate perspective. It will develop into a story of its own, though. The main story recounts the (mostly) good times in Nerdanel and Fëanor's early life, including their relationships with their sons. I totally agree with you that in all reality (cough), Middle Earth could only be comparitively free due to the great and small sacrifices of many. And if Fëanáro had not landed in the Firth of Drengist when he did, the Grey Elves would have been all but lost - Círdan driven by orcs to the rim of the sea, and Thingol contained in the 'safety' of the Girdle of Melian. (Both effectively prevented from giving any aid to the Secondborn. )Ironic - the kinslayer of the Teleri is also the unacknowledged hope-bringer to the Sindar and to Mortals. I had better stop there, before I get carried away. ;-) Again, very many thanks to you.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/25/2007
One of the best characterisations of Feanor, and the Feanor-Nerdanel courtship (at least its beginning)that I've seen in fanfiction. The notion of Feanor as controlled fire, self-controlled and submitting to occasional control by his mother and wife, makes poetic and psychological sense. Good use of Quenya, as always. Author Reply: Wow, Rashka..I am so very encouraged by your comments! :-) I have always picured Fëanor as being reasonably self-controlled until the last few years of his life, and then almost totally out of control after the death of his father and theft of the Silmarils. I was prompted to consider the manner of restraint the women in his life had over him by reading of Míriel in 'The Shibboleth of Fëanor'that : "While she lived she did much with gentle counsel to soften and restrain him.' and in 'Morgoth's Ring' of Nerdanel: "With her wisdom at first she restrained Fëanor when the fire of his heart burned too hot:.." But I agree with the way you have expressed the point. I can't see either mother or wife as being able to 'control' Fëanor to any degree unless he allowed them to. Very many thanks for reading and reviewing. Istarnië

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/20/2007
Interesting story; and I commend you for your extensive research into Elven history and language. Things might have been much better for all concerned, especially Nerdanel, if 'Finwion' had been taught "restraint". I assume that Miriel's gift to Nerdanel will be Feanor himself? Author Reply: Hi Raksha, thank you for your review. My research only includes the HoME books and some writings on Professor Tolkien's works. I know there is a lot of other material avaiable that I haven't yet read. I try with Quenya, but my knowledge is still rather basic. There is never enough time in the day to do all that I want. ;-) You sort of assume correctly about the gift. In a way, Míriel's gift is Fëanor, and yet it is something else. ( But it is not embroidery!):-) I figure that if Finwion had been taught restraint, we would have a very different story. (Or maybe no story at all?) Thank you again. :-) Istarnië

Freja	Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 9/15/2007
An intriguing beginning! I love Silmarillion stories, especially those that happen before the creation of the Silmarils, so I'm very happy to see your stories here. Nerdanel is such an interesting, and as she says herself, overlooked character in the history of Middle Earth. Her strength must indeed be to her both a curse and a blessing - without it, could she even have loved and lived with such a one as Fëanor and carried the seven (!!) sons, that are still the source of her joy? But now the same strenght will not allow her an easy rest, like the one Miriël chose. You leave many little interesting crumbs of stories, that I hope to read more about, as Nerdanel's story unfolds. :) Author Reply: Hello Freja, and many thanks for reading and reviewing this story as well. I have never been able to picture Nerdanel as in any way weak.'She also was firm of will' it says in Morgoth's Ring - just not quite as firm as Fëanor!But I suspect that strength of will and of body would be a mixed blessing in her case. I hope you enjoy the following chapters, where I will try to turn the 'crumbs' into things more substantial. :-) It is quite a long story, and has been re-written several times since I began it a few years ago. Again - many thanks to you. I appreciate your encouragement.

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