Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Letters  by Jay of Lasgalen 9 Review(s)
BodkinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/30/2008
Poor Elrohir. He did well to put a positive spin on that first draft. Imladris must have been a desolate place over those first years. I'm not surprised Arwen took refuge with her grandparents. At least the twins could get out and kill things.

Author Reply: I suppose the fact that Elrohir realised he needed to put a positive spin on things is good. He's not so far gone he can't see how grim things are.

While thinking and writing about this I felt very sorry for Arwen. Her brothers had each other, and killed orcs as a release, and her father shut himself away with his books. She must have felt very isolated. No wonder she fled to Lórien.


LarnerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/25/2008
Definitely a case of being all too able to read between the lines. What was truly being felt is being so diplomatically hidden beneath platitudes. I grieve with them.

Author Reply: I think it helped Elrohir to put his true feelings into words here - even though he knows no-one will never read them.

The challenge for me was to contrast his emotions with what he actually told Celebrían.


Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/24/2008
Oh my! *shivers in sadness*

I do love the feel of the strike-outs, though I'm sure Elrohir rewrote the whole thing before sending it off to Cirdan.

Very well written - I wonder how much of the 'hidden' message I would have gleaned if you had only shared the 'revised' letter.

Thank you for sharing this poignant insight into the confines of Rivendell after Celebrian's sailing.

Author Reply: Like the letter to Elladan, this version was never meant to be read. The one eventually sent to Celebrían was the edited, bland rewrite.

I think readers would have been able to read between the lines a bit, but the strikeouts show the depth of Elrohir's sense of pain and loss.

Thank you for reviewing these letters - I have four more to go!

Elena TirielReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/24/2008
Another thought: one of the things that is most eloquent about these letters is what is not said... it's unusual to actually see the missing text in this one!

Well done, Jay!

- Barbara

Author Reply: Thanks - I wanted to show the contrast between the pain he feels, and what he felt able to tell Celebrían. He wouldn't want to burden her further with the weight of their grief. The strikethrough font was very useful here.


Jay



Elena TirielReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/24/2008
Oh, how heart-rending, Jay! *sniffles*

- Barbara

Author Reply: Poor Elrohir. His pain is very raw here.




KittyReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/24/2008
Poor Elrohir. The parts he crossed out tell their own tale - much more than what he left. But it is touching that he is writing to his mother, even if he can't sent the letter (save some elves who are sailing take it with them). Maybe it helps him a little.

Belated Happy Easter!

Author Reply: Oh, he did send the letter - at least, the sanitised version. I think there would have been travellers and traders going to the Grey Havens who would take letters for Cirdan to pass on.

I think it helped to write his true feelings down, even though that part was never sent.

Happy Easter to you too!


EllieReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/23/2008
very powerfully written. the crossed out lines are so much more telling and full of pain than what he ends up saying in the more euphemistic version.
well done.

Author Reply: Elrohir is revealing his true feelings here, and I think it helps him to write them - even though they will never be sent. Celebrían doesn't need to know how damaged the family is :(


docmonReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/23/2008
You deftly portrayed the many emotions the family must have endured after the departure of Celebrian. You put the strikeout to good use!

Author Reply:
:>) It's a useful font at times!!

It must have been a terrible time for all of them - and it had a lasting effect, because the twins never did stop hunting orcs :(



6336Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/23/2008
I expect, that being a mother and being Clebrian, she will read between the lines. A very sweet, poingant (sp) note.
Lynda)

Author Reply: She might read what Elrohir has not said, but I think at this time she is still too lost and fragile to realise. Her healing would have taken a long time.

Thank you, Lynda!


Return to Chapter List