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

The Findaráto Diaries  by Fiondil 10 Review(s)
hawkeyeReviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/30/2014
How cruel even Elves can be. I am disliking Amarië more and more, which is sad because I really want to like her. But, her behavior is awful. Finrod's response to her seems a bit better though. Rialcar is creepy. I wonder what did happen to his son. He must not be dead because the Maiar haven't told the family he is in Mandos. While he must be sad, his treatment of Finrod was horrid. People do act vengefully that way though.

I'm really enjoying Arafinwë. I especially appreciate that he seems willing to learn and genuinely interested in Finrod's stories. That is what bothers me so much about Amarië and to a certain extent, Eärwen. To love someone means that you love the whole person. Finrod's stories and memories are his only way to share what is likely the most significant part of his life. But Arafinwë seems to be the only one willing to share that with his son.

Thanks for a fun read!

Author Reply: Amarië has her own issues that won't be properly addressed until we get to "Elf, Interrupted", so at the moment she is rather dislikeable. And if you want to know what happened to Rialcar's son, Laurendil, you'll have to read "Elf, Interrupted".

Keep in mind that Arafinwë has been to Beleriand. He's seen the ruins of Nargothrond and spoke to those who remembered Finrod as a king. He's fought against Morgoth even as Finrod had. He and Finrod share a commonality between them that the women-folk don't have with him, so it's easier for Arafinwë to bond with Finrod as a "guy-thing".

Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it very much.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 19 on 7/15/2010
I have always wondered at the love between Finrod and Men. It was a beautiful thing... This is a great chapter.

Author Reply: Glad you liked this chapter, Agape. Thanks for letting me know.

njomoReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/11/2009
Hi Fiondil,

I really sympathize with Finrod at this point. First he's like a grand experiment with Amarie trying to jog his memory at every turn, and being puzzled when he doesn't automatically remember what she shows him. And then he's like a punching bag for those with issues over their sons or whoever leaving Aman. Under the circumstances, he stood up very well on this particular day, thanks in large part to Arafinwe's understanding and support.

But with the advent of Finrod's memories of his first meeting with the Edain, one possibly sees the seed for why a certain conversation with Manwe at a much later date was deemed necessary...

Now I'm just wondering where you will turn next with this tale...
Thanks Fiondil!

Joanne



Author Reply: Yes, Finrod stood up to the pressures of everyone's attention on him very well. We will see how well he continues holding up to all the pressures around him in future chapters. Some things, unfortunately, are going to get worse for him before they get better. Thanks for reviewing, Joanne. I greatly appreciate it.

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/10/2009
I liked this chapter, I truly did, Arafinwë's less-than-befitting-a-king words and manner of reasoning notwithstanding. I'm not exactly the most unbiased person when it comes to him, so I shouldn't say more on this topic. But a king cannot afford to judge on the base of "rumors" and "from what I've learned", in my opinion. As I've understand that Arafinwë's going to be one of the main characters of your upcoming story, I ought to withhold any further opinion, at least until I'll have the whole picture. "grim look"

Finrod and Rialcar..it seems to me that Finrod's gotten a taste about how it feels to be the one to make up for all the damage. Without bothering to consider Laurendil's mood and happenings in his own household on the eve of the Darkening, Rialcar vent out his frustrations on Finrod, because he was available and because this was the easiest thing to do. Hmm...an old bad habit of the Elves, I'd say.

Ilvanaráto...another one who paints everyone with the same brush. Albeit..uh..when it comes about that particular human, I've to confess that I'm as puzzled as he is. "lol" And that, speaking about races and not individuals, I like Orcs better than Men. At least, they cannot be blamed for what they are. A very good friend told me once that according to Tolkien's last letters, he'd have wanted to write a sort of a sequel for LOTR and he gave up the idea mostly because the picture would have been too dark. Sound reasoning, in this case.

Author Reply: Hi Sitara. Well, people like Rialcar and Ilvanaráto have reasons for feeling the way they do, though not necessarily good reasons. They are actually representative of many of the elves who remained behind in Aman in their attitudes about the Exiles and what they endured in Middle-earth. I'm glad you are willing to withhold judgment on Arafinwë. He really is a good guy after all and he has always had my deepest respect considering what he had to do to give back the Amanian Noldor some of the self-respect they had lost. He also had his own hard lessons to learn and learned them well, I think.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/6/2009
*Shakes head at Amarië* This is _not_ the way to go about regaining Finrod’s love. He died, dear, and he doesn’t even remember you right now. Though I suspect that unless someone presents you with a clue-by-four you will be steaming onwards on your present heading until you meet a suitable iceberg. And I suspect it will be his parents who do their best to pick up the pieces, while you stand in a corner freaking out and just making the situation worse. Probably right next to Lord Rialcar.
No wonder it took you a century to win Finrod back. I know, time doesn’t mean much to an elf. Makes me wonder just _how_ you, ahem, managed things to badly...

The Fëanorionnath _refused judgement_??? 8-o
(I wonder – may someone who refuses judgement get the opportunity to change their minds? What does the Muse say?)

I liked Finrod’s disapproving attitude of the farrier’s sloppy work! ;-)
(Or perhaps the prissy courtiers’ attitude, to be honest *EG*)


Author Reply: Well, you have to almost feel sorry for the elleth. She's been living on expectation for so long and now the reality does not match her fantasies and she can't quite handle it. At some point she will overstep the bounds and we'll see what happens then.

As for the Muse and the Feanorionnath.... who can say? *sly grin*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/5/2009
It appears that this lord that Finrod ran into blames Findrod for his son's choices, as if Finrod had been doing his own haranguing, which, IIRC, he did not do. Has a bit to learn, obviously. And his son is on his way back home anyway!

Author Reply: Little does Rialcar know it, too. *lol* Unlike Pelendur, though, I think he accepts his son more readily when he sees what he's made of himself. We don't see any of the hostility that Pelendur shows to Haldir in Elf, Interrupted. But at the moment, he's ready to blame Finrod for his son's choices, mainly, I think, because Finrod is there and Laurendil is not, so he makes a ready-made scapegoat.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/5/2009
Amarië can't help but rub in her former relationship with Finrod at every turn, huh? *rolls eyes* Poor Finrod.

Though Rialcar wasn't much better. That was downright rude, if you ask me. I was really glad when Arafinwë arrived. The story Finrod told then sounds very like Galadriel *grin*

You realise now we need a story about Finrod proving that he can shoe a horse much better than the work done so far?

Now I am beginning to be annoyed with too many elves for their treatment of Finrod *growls at Ilvanaráto* No manners, these so-called nobles ...

Author Reply: I doubt if Arafinwe was fooled by either Rialcar's excuse or Finrod's but let it go for the time being.

The trouble with the Amanians who never left even to participate in the War of Wrath is that they have only rumors about things and not the actual truth, so when they meet Finrod they act accordingly. Finrod, of course, is more than willing to set them straight, as is Arafinwe.

TariReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/5/2009
I don’t know what to think about Ilvanaráto. He makes me a bit nervous. I hope he isn’t going to present new problems for Finrod.

I also hope we hear more about the valley Finrod is remembering. It’s stirred up my curiosity.



Author Reply: I don't think Ilvanaráto will give Finrod any real grief. And the valley is the one where Finrod met Beor and his people. You can read about it in the Simarillion. *grin*

6336Reviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/5/2009
I have a piece of advice for Amarie, back off, let the poor ellon breathe, you can't force the memories back, they have to come on their own. You have to realise this is not the Finderato you loved all those many years ago, he may look like him, but this is the new, improved, grown up version, you will have to grow to meet him.
'Lord' Rialcar was being a bit of a pill wasn't he! Poor Finrod is still having a hard time finding his way around the palace and here's Rialcar bugging him about his son, when Finrod isn't quite sure who this guy is, let alone Laurendil!
It would be nice to see Finrod keep up the skills he learned in Lorien, especially the horse shoeing, be good to see the confrontation between him and the palace farrier!
Lynda


Author Reply: Poor Finrod, indeed. He must feel at times as if he's swimming in a pool of sharks. *lol* But we know he survives and thrives and shows that he's made of sterner stuff than the others believe. At least his parents are on his side and that is the most important thing for him right now.

Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 19 on 10/5/2009
Oh, Atar Fiondil! I loved this chapter...Amarie's been getting on my nerves all through this story, lol, and I know she'll only get worse before she gets better. (Rest assured, I am reading, but my reviews have been few and far between because RL has been so busy! I have my first tests today at Everest College *hopes I pass them*)

Ah, Artaher, is it? *makes note* I had been wondering what Orodreth's Quenya name would have been!

And here I see usage of the nicknames of the Feanorionnath, which I only remember being used before in "FAULT: The Doctor Is In". Hey, at least Finda didn't call him *Nelli* *ROFL*!

There's Glorendil's *pointedly uses Sindarin name though we usually use his Quenya one* father...I do not like him right now, he's on my list right next to Amarie of Elves Who Need To Be Dealt With By Namo.

*Grin*

Thank you for this, I'll think of it while I take my test and hopefully the good feelings from this present will help! :)

Tye-melin,

Kaylee

Author Reply: Hi Kaylee. I hope your test goes well and you pass with flying colors. And I am glad you are enjoying this story and this chapter especially. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. I really appreciate it.

Return to Chapter List