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| By Choice or By Blood by Ellie | 9 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Aiwen | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/29/2009 |
| A nightmare situation. Did you know that one of the earlier versions of the story had Finarfin being killed attempting to stop Feanor and the Teleri from fighting each other, and Fingolfin returning home in disgust? Thank you for writing; it was very interesting. Author Reply: It was a nightmare indeed! I don't know about that earlier version with Finarfin dying in the kinslaying and Fingolfin turning back. I must go look for it. Thanks for reading and reviewing! | |
| Sitara | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/28/2009 |
| I cannot say I had a pleasant time reading your story. Feanor is too close to my (bleeding)heart as to actually be able to enjoy such a tale. But, this time, I'll refrain from making any other comment regarding what happened then in Valinor (in Alqualonde and not only), and I'll say that Finarfin does truly deserve respect and admiration, even from the one such as myself. Whatever his reasons and chosen moment to go back to Tirion, the exiled Noldor (his sons and nephews included) will have to thank the Valar and him for having still a home to return to (by the Halls of Mandos' way or not). Had Finarfin not returned to Tirion when he did, perhaps the Noldor would have ceased to exist as a people. For that, even I will bow my head and acknowledge his worth. A nicely done job, for which I congratulate you. Sitara P.S. Sorry for my grammar but I'm not an English speaker. Author Reply: It is a great compliment when a Feanorean compliments Finarfin! Thanks! I had considered that if Fianrfin hadn't turned back, then the Noldorin people might have ceased to exist as you described. That adds all the more importance to what Finarfin did! Thank you for reading and reviewing! | |
| BM | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/28/2009 |
| That was a beautiful, sad story! You did wonderful with it! Your characterizations were so rich that Finarfin and the others became real to me. I really enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing it! Author Reply: I'm pleased you enjoyed the story! Thansk for the compliments on the characters, too. It took many iterations of each scene to get thinsg just right. The hard work paid off! Thank you very much for reading and reviewing! | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/27/2009 |
| Nice continuance of this personal crisis. You covered a lot of different facets concerning courage, loyalty, and love. I really like the audience with the King! Good story, Ellie. I suppose it does seem extreme that the Teleri would kill/die for their ships. But, you answered that thought, almost off-handedly, by stating their livelihoods were being stolen. If one can understand that in the Old West stealing a man's horse was killing him through hardship and rustling livestock took the bread out of the mouths of a man's family, then one can understand why the harshest punishments were dealt out for those crimes. Their ships were that important to the Teleri. They were as irreplaceable as a horse in the desert or the Silmaril. The swanships would be lost forever if taken. Besides used in a condemned war by a madman. Olwe was obliged to refuse on many grounds. Whether or not he liked or disliked Feanor personally. Why, being deprived of the irreplaceable work of his own hands is what drove Feanor to his brutality. Although, his attachment to the jewels was admittedly extreme - and not important to his very life, only his self-satisfaction. Still with the Teleri, their attachment being discounted, themselves morally affronted on principal and emotionally assaulted through extortion, then about to be left without means to prosper. Yeah, deadly resistance is normal, right, and to be expected. Oh dear... sorry for the rant... but I'm leaving it anyway. Author Reply: I enjoy your rants. It means you care :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the story and thank you for the compliments on the scenes you mentioned, too. Thanks for reading, reviewing, and for caring passionately about the Sil. | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/26/2009 |
| VERY interesting thought - 'And when, he realized with ever increasing pain of heart, did the Teleri refuse to give aid to friends, and kill to protect the works of their hands, wonderful to them though the white ships were?' Indeed - I've always only looked at the side of the Noldor and wondered at their brutality - Finarfin is correct - why would the Teleri let boats cause them to kill............ Strange indeed. Very glad you shared this! Another perspective in my learnings of life. The more I read - the more I wanted to weep. Indeed - did weep. For him to lose his children too - all going with the madman! Excellent tale! Bravo! Author Reply: It was a very difficult time for Finarfin and the loss of his children did make it all the worse. I think that everyone affected by the kinslaying had a lot of unanswered questions and a lot of questions with unacceptable answers. I'm pleased you enjoyed this story and that you found it moving :-) Thank you so very much for reading and reviewing! | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/26/2009 |
| You capture the horror well.... I had not thought of what might have happened to the 'innocent' who happened to be in the city at the time.... Excellent writing. I have not read your tales before, but will put you on my fav author's list and hopefully get a chance to peruse your other offerings! Author Reply: I think the innocents are often overlooked in the first Kinslaying because Tolkien focused so much on the Noldor and their role in it. Thank you very much and the fav list addition :-) I'm glad you enjoyed the story so far and I hope you like the others of mine that you read | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/25/2009 |
| Ellie, I do so enjoy your romantic writing style. The language is artful. I love reading your Finarfin stories for the settings and also the situations. A couple of things that stood out for me were his abrupt doubt about the power of the Valar and his feelings of dread over the death of one of Earwen's brothers. Concerning the first point, he believes he can prevent his brothers' from could killing each other. The Valar should be able to keep elves from killing elves. I like that Earwen is the one to perpetrate a glimmer of doubt in the power of intervention. In the end, he cannot stop his brothers' quarrel, which is halted not by him but banishment by a higher power. Now, the Valar are as helpless as he to prevent mad murder. The higher power is as helpless to interfere as he. On the second point, it says in the Silm that Finarfin was friends with the sons of Olwe, and that is a reason he came to visit Alqualonde frequently, learning the language and wedding their sister. Too many people ignore this little bit of background. But, you used it very well! What a dramatic scenario and a very *nice* cliffhanger! Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoy my romantic writing style. I have fun writing romantic scenes :-) The first point you made about interevention and the Valar will figure again in the second chapter. There was so much turmoil for Finarfin to have to come to terms with. This story really made me explore the motivations of Finarfin and his attraction to the Telerin lifestyle. I can't comment too much more because much of what I want to say is brought out in chapter 2. I'm pleased you like the drama and the cliffy:-) Thanks for reading and reviewing! | |
| Aiwen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/24/2009 |
| Rather a cliffhanger you have left us with. Will there be a sequel? Author Reply: There is another chapter to be posted in a day or two. I like cliffhangers, personally- unless I'm the reader :-) Thanks for reading and reviewing! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/24/2009 |
| Unfortunately, grief can be such a destructive force, as it has been here on both sides. I can so appreciate the shock and fatalism Finarfin displays, and his horror at what has been wrought and lost on all sides. And the final question must tear deeply at him! Well done. Author Reply: No one was prepared for the horrors of the first kinslaying. It had to have been especially horrible for those with close ties to the Teleri. I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for reading and reviewing! | |