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In Darkness Bound  by Fiondil 10 Review(s)
SunnyReviewed Chapter: 47 on 9/1/2014
I'm rereading this story, and I wonder if Elemmacar is the Elf known as Gilvagor in Elf Interrupted?

Author Reply: Hi Sunny. I'm rereading this story as well, though I haven't gotten as far as you. I believe if you look at the Author's Note at the end of the chapter you will see that I do indeed state that Elemmacar will be later known as Gilvagor. Perhaps you just didn't bother to read that far. *grin*

TariReviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/14/2011
Bless Findaráto for his compassion to Lord Namo. I'm sure it will not go unrewarded. In addition, the rest are learning to overcome their fear of the Vala.

Author Reply: Yes, Findaráto is very compassionate, and I'm sure his compassion will not go unrewarded. And of course, we know that some of these people will become intimately acquainted with Námo in the future. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Tari. I really appreciate it.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/14/2011
Aha! Caught up again!

Interesting to see these two brothers-in-spirit together, first enjoying the hospitality of Namo and Vaire. I find myself wondering just how much Namo already knows of their fates.

Author Reply: That's an interesting quetion, isn't it, Larner? Just how much does Námo know and when did he know it? *grin* We'll never really know the answer to that one, unfortunately, but it is an intriguing thought. Thanks for reading and reviewing and I'm glad you're caught up.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/13/2011
Ah, thankyou! Looks like Feanor is not the only Noldo to like 'Shinies'!
Huggs,
Lynda

Author Reply: You're welcome and no, Fëanáro was not unique among the Nolodor for liking 'shinies'. *LOL*

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/12/2011
I almost felt sorry for Námo here. But, as I'm sure he knows, he cannot have all. He's the Doomsman of Arda and regardless of who made him such and at whom behest he speaks one's Doom, he's the one who'll be always viewed by Elves and Men alike as a sort of a Grim Reaper, scythe and all.

As for Indis...you know, I have a neutral view towards the canon Indis, but this one...I find her positively despicable. And a hypocrite to boot, on top of that. All I would like to say in respect to this is no matter how fine people would hers and Finwë's offspring prove themselves to be (debatable, in my opinion) and how nice would Arda shine because of their glorious deeds, what had she, Finwë and Miriel done was wrong. And nothing would make it right, ever. In my view, the greatest minds could never call a wrong as it were right, nor could easily accept a compromise and its consequences. This is how I explain Fëanáro's behavior towards his stepmother and half-brothers. They are no Mortals. The bond of matrimony should have been indestructible for the Firstborn and I'd acknowledge Finwë and Miriel's parting as what it was: a paradigm shift. In my opinion, at least. "grin"

Well, I suppose by now Melkor and his friend would be well on their way to the Trees. After all, it wasn't the first time when Melkor caught the Valar unawares and destroyed their source of Light. Some people never learn....

Author Reply: I never liked or disliked Indis, myself, but this is the way she came across as I was writing this story. Obviously not everyone is going to be sympathetic. And you are correct that they were all at fault, though I think the greater blames lies with Finwë for not remaining constant, and I even blame the Valar for allowing Míriel to get away with it and for not telling FInwë to suck it up and be a man. That was clearly a mistake on their part. *grin*

Thanks for reading and reviewing, Sitara.

Erulisse (one L)Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/12/2011
My dear Fiondil -

It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. We are two days away from Darkness, two days away from changes that will radically change and reshape Arda, and here we have the populace feasting, singing and dancing. It's rather like the musicians on the Titanic as the ship went down.

I love Finderato's compassion. His perception, which held firm for him throughout his life, is strong here, and his sense of the "proper" and "appropriate" action comes through in shining colors. Your portrayals of Lord Namo are always loving, and once again he comes through as a caring and compassionate Vala. To reconcile that love with the Doomsman that he will be portraying in just a few days is sorrowful.

I read this yesterday, and would have commented then. But I really loved this chapter, and I wanted to give myself an excuse to read it again. So I decided to hold off on my review until today just to have the opportunity to once again read it. And I loved it as much the 2nd and 3rd times that I read it, as the 1st.

- Erulisse (one L)
(Who is busy reading through EI 1 again, for the upteenth time. Like good wine, it just is better every time.)


Author Reply: Hi Erulisse. I have no objections to people taking their time to read and re-read a particular chapter before reviewing. Obviously, this chapter spoke to you on many levels and it's always wise to wait and digest what one has read before making a comment on it. It is rather hard to watch these people celebrate, knowing what's about to happen and the disconnect has to be unsettling for anyone reading this chapter no matter how much they may love it. *grin*

And we see in this chapter why Findaráto is such a beloved character and why I like Námo so much. He's the one Vala that is really intriguing to me and that's why I like writing about him in all his many and varied aspects.

Thanks for reading and reviewing and I'm glad you are enjoying your umpteenth time re-reading EI1. I appreciate you letting me know.

FantasiaReviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/11/2011
What a beautiful chapter! Good for Finrod, he almost made me cry for his compassion towards Namo. Thank to you I really like Namo.

I feel so sorry for Namo, that he has to proclaim the Doom to the Noldors that are leaving, I'm sure that it broke his heart. Also, to those leaving, seeing some one that was their friend and Lord rejecting them must have been so hard. What a mess. I remember in GI1 you wrote about that, from Glorfindel POV.

I wonder how the dinamic in Finwe’s house with the stepmother was. Feanor was the only elf that I'm aware to be in that situation, should had been so strange, probably no one knew how to handle that. I had a stepmother, a real evil stepmother, believe me. Luckily for me, I didn't have to live with her, but it was not a pleasant experience. I'm prejudiced against stepmothers, no offense intended to all the wonderful ones out there, but when I read Indis comments about Feanor and sons, I didn't like her.
AS I said before, I’m all anticipation


Author Reply: Hi Fantasia. I'm glad you found this to be such a beautiful chaper and I'm glad you like Námo because of how I've presented him. I think he's always gotten a bad rap for being who he is and it's undeserved.

I'm sure Indis did try her best to be a good friend to Fëanáro, especially for Finwë's sake, but he would have none of it, so the blame is more his than hers for any tensions that might have occurred within the family. And Finwë's own doting on his eldest son at the expense of his other children didn't help.

Glad you are still looking forward to more of the story. Thanks for letting me know and for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/11/2011
Oh, there is nothing worse than giving a party and nobody shows up. Poor Namo, I know just how he feels. I was so happy to see that Findarato had the grace and compassion to see his delemma and act on it!
Just what did Findarato do when presented, I know Ingwion had a screaming fit, I hope Findarato did not embarras his parents and do the same?
It was nice to see Glorfindel and the other Ellyn of our aquantance before they took off for Endore.
Huggs,
Lynda


Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Yes, you really have to feel sorry for poor Námo. He's one of the good guys but no one believes him. Re-read chapter 25 of this story to find out what Findaráto did at his presentation. And I thought it would be fun for the readers to get a glimpse of Glorfindel and some others in their innocence before the Darkening changed them.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/11/2011
What _did_ Findaráto do at his presentation?? There must be a story here! ;-)

How nice of Findaráto to get some of the others to join him at the dread Lord of the Dead for the partying. But in a millennium or two I think Námo's place will be _the_ most popular place to be - certainly so for the Reborn and their families. And how nice to get the first glimpse of the one who will be the other half of the Dynamic Duo that will be the bane of Namo's - and his maiar's - existence (for a while, at least)

Author Reply: Hi Sunny. Yes, Findaráto is very good at persuasion, isn't he? And I thought it would be fun to give people a glimpse of some of our favorite characters from 'Elf, Interrupted' before they left Aman (and returned), unaware that their lives will become tightly interwoven with one another in the future, unaware that some would become intimately acquainted with the dread Lord of Mandos and would even consider him a friend. There's a bit of irony in this, don't you think? *grin*

As for Findaráto's presentation... you will find the answer to that in chapter 25 of this story towards the end of the chapter after Findaráto's interview with Aulë.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

Lady EdlynReviewed Chapter: 47 on 2/11/2011
Eru bless Findaráto! What a kind and generous thing he did by returning to Lord Námo and Lady Vairë's for the feast. I loved Ingwion and Ingalaurë's comments about why they were there. I actually laughed out loud after reading them. I also snickered at the references to Ingwion and Findaráto's presentations as the descriptions of them still linger in my memory from your other writings.

I can't help but sympathize with Námo's situation of being distanced from the Eldar due to his job. I feel that even though he's had all these millenia (googlennia?) to find himself in his place according to Eru's design, there is still a part of him who feels insecure and needs confirmation of his worth. However, this need may be why he is so very good at what he does, especially in his role of the Consoler. He's been there and understands the kinds ofhurts that get inflicted on one's fëa.

I know that the physical manifestation of Darkness is coming all too soon, and the psychological and spiritual Darkness has been insidiously creeping into Eldamar and it's people over the past years, but this chapter (despite the political comments regarding Finwë and Fëanáro early on) was so Light, it filled my heart with joy. Thank you, meldonya!

May Thy Path Be Blessed,

Edlyn

Author Reply: Yes, Findaráro is very generous and compassionate, Edlyn, which is why he's one of my favorite Elves. We can see here the king he will someday become who gives up a crown for the sake of an oath to a Mortal.

Námo has always been my favorite of the Valar and I enjoy writing him in all his facets. He's the most interesting of them all as far as I'm concerned because he wears several different hats and, as you say, he's been there, done that and so can more relate to what the fëar that come before him suffered.

I'm glad this chapter filled your heart with joy, Edlyn, in spite of the Darkeness that we know is coming even if they do not. That was my intent. These people do not know just how short a time they have before disaster strikes. I don't think even Námo knows or if he does he's not telling anyone and is probably the greatest poker player of all time. *LOL*

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it. And may thy path be blessed as well.

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