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| The Journey Home by Fiondil | 648 Review(s) |
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| Lizzy50 | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/17/2023 |
| this is a wonderfully moving epic and I have enjoyed it immensely. It seemed so realistic that I lost a fair amount of sleep by staying up way too late reading because i couldn't put it down! I only wish we could see the reunion of Maglor with his mother and brothers. I have a soft spot for this family and absolutely love a redemption story. Thank you for writing - this is brilliant! | |
| Red Squirrel | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 10/5/2014 |
| This was AMAZING! Makalaurë is probably my favorite character and I think you really did him justice! Once I started I couldn't stop! By the end I felt as though I had taken that 500 year journey with him and watched as he grew and evolved from an exiled Noldor prince waiting for Death to take him to a loving husband and father returning home to the land of his birth, free from that terrible Oath. What more could I ask for? Thank you for sharing this wonderful story! Author Reply: Hello Red Squirrel. I'm so glad you enjoyed this story. Maglor has always been a favorite of mine as well and it was nice to give him a happy ending. Thanks for reading and letting me know how much enjoyed the story. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Eruherdiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 7/1/2014 |
| Great story. I was kinda wondering if Maglor was going to show up in the Elf Academy series. I guess not. I did recognize several names, though... ~Eruherdiriel Author Reply: Hi Eruherdiriel. I know a lot of people wondered if Maglor would show up in the Alaska, but I prefer him in Valinor reunited with his family once again. Color me a romantic in that respect. *grin* I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it. | |
| MikoNoNyte | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 6/20/2014 |
| I have to admit up front, I never liked Feanor or his sons. I found Feanor just too self centered and self righteous for my taste and his sons as insane as he was. It made having any sort of positive feelings for Maglor and his kin difficult. Yet in spite of that, I always wondered at Maglor; he never truly seemed to "run with the pack" even though he went along with Maedhros's bad behaviour and supported him. He HAD to know it was wrong yet did it anyway. What's with that? LOL And of course, there's his whole "fate", being left "forever" to walk along the shores mad, in pain and desolate. Tolkien almost screamed for fanfiction with that! I have read a small handful of fic dealing with Maglor's fate, what he did, where he went, and while they were good for the most part they never had the courage to face the ultimate test: What happened to Maglor and where did he go? I like how you handled that. A little teasing at the beginning, then seeing what happened to some of those elves who remained before those chosen to "save Maglor" rose out of the lethargy. And that, Fiondil, that was another thing that caught me up with this almost immediately. The realization that those who remained were "fading"; the very concept of which has always bothered me, mostly as I do not have a precept that allows for the "superiority of Man" and his subsequent 'dominion': a very bad word by the way. I was really intrigued with the Harthadrim and while most of the 30 odd were faceless and nameless, there were thankfully a handful whom I really liked and applauded when they rose above the level mean of the rest of the group. Watching these intrepid elves deal with ice age conditions, and you did a very good job by-the-way in describing both those conditions and the lands so effected. Not quite on the scale as Jane Auel but a lot less tedious! I admit to frissons reading about the Great Cats; I assume like the ones in Elf Redux that they were possibly the smilodon (saber tooth) or the European Jaguar (neither of which are really European so go figure)? Either would be prime candidates however, for scaring the bejeebers outta me I tell ya! Maglor's finally coming to terms with his Oath and rectifying it was very, very moving. One of those tear-jerker moments that I find so rare. And to follow that up, 500 years later, with the crossing and coming to Valinor: very satisfying! I also like how you did not leave out the impressions of the other elves, especially the children. Like most of us, they found the whole life-changing trip too much to deal with. "I want to go home!" indeed! And doggone it! I had to look up a couple of words in your text. You've done it again, adding to my vocabulary! haha I think I need a bigger dictionary. All together a very good story and one I've put on my "re-read" list. Thank you Fiondil for such a "happy ending" for one who wandered lost and now is found. And just for you: http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27907358 Real world Elfs. Author Reply: Hi MikoNoNyte. I'm glad you enjoyed this story. I tried to keep it as realistic as I could in terms of geography, climate and even what Maglor and the others had to endure. I felt it important that he deal with the Oath before he was able to continue to Valinor. And I always felt Maglor deserved a happy ending. After all, all his siblings are in Mandos, while he's left holding the bag, metaphorically speaking. Thanks for the link. A very interesting article. And thanks for taking the time to read and review. I hope when you re-read this story you will find it equally satisfying the second go-around. | |
| Parmalokwen | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 2/10/2014 |
| I really enjoyed this. I am a total sucker for "Maglor goes home" stories, even if my personal canon says that he took the "fast way West" after getting killed by the Númenorean tsunami. There were a lot of things that I liked about this story, but I think my favorite is the very nonurgent, Elven sense of time. To start planning a ship when the timbers are seedlings is such an Elvish thing to do. Author Reply: Hello Parmalokwen. I'm a sucker for happy endings myself and am something of a romantic. I'm glad you enjoyed this story, especially the way I portray the nonurgent, Elven sense of time, which I think was a very important aspect of the story. What's 500 years waiting for trees to grow large enough to build ships out of when you're immortal anyway? Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I really appreciate it. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 12/30/2013 |
| I love how Elrond and Erestor helped Glóredhel in their own quiet, unobtrusive way to do what she enjoyed as much as they could. Sneaky. *grin* Galadriel must have driven her parents, and particularly her mother, to distraction. Never saw her as someone who was easily led by others, she was way too headstrong for that. Celeborn certainly took on a challenge when he married her, but he did just fine. They did a fine job with that aqueduct; it will be an immense help for them all year round, and most of all during the winter, when they can't leave the towers for days to go up and get water directly from the spring. With the limited means they had, that was an amazing feat. Maglor is right. Having to wait until they can build a ship is going to be hard, but then they can be proud of themselves for achieving their goal all on their own. Author Reply: Galadriel was probably every parent's nightmare growing up. LOL! And Maglor has the right idea: getting to Valinor by their own efforts is better than having the Valar do it for them. They get to keep their self-respect that way. Thanks for reading and reviewing Kitty. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 12/30/2013 |
| I'm with Maglor here, I find it strange that no one thought to take any of Gil-Galad's personal belongings with them. Sure, they couldn't take everything and had their own stuff, but they doubtless departed from Mithlond and didn't have to transport anything far, and he would surely appreciate having some mementos from his first life? Sadly now everything was destroyed by the ice. Somehow it doesn't make much sense to lock everything away and leave it behind to be lost forever. The end of the chapter was rather touching. Arthalion certainly needed it, and I am sure his brother has forgiven him. Author Reply: Hi Kitty. Who knows why Gil-galad's possessions were locked up and forgotten, but at least one thing has been saved, perhaps the most important thing and someday they'll be able to give it to him. I'm glad you found the end of the chapter touching and I have no doubt that Arthad forgave his brother from the start. Thanks for leaving a comment. It's always appreciated. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/30/2013 |
| Not sure what use all these jewels have, besides buying a ship somewhere far away if they were so inclined. At least not while they are still there; in Valinor, the jewels might give them the means to start anew, to not have to come as beggars. So it's a bit strange that Arthad felt it so important to collect them. Hm, Arthalion probably needs that chance to tell his brother everything; it might help him to get to grips with what happened since the Harthadrim discovered him, even if he doesn't know it yet. Author Reply: We will learn the reason for the jewels eventually, Kitty. And Arthalion does need to give his brother a proper farewell in order to move on. Thanks for reading and revieiwng! | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 12/30/2013 |
| *sigh* What Maglor and his brothers did because of these stupid stones and the Oath was horrible, but I feel sorry for him nonetheless. He has paid a heavy price for it, much more than any of his brothers who all had the easy way out by dying. And now that thing comes back to haunt him again. It's not going to be easy for him. Arthalion has made a big step in his development back to what he once was. Seems the discovery about Arthad was the push he needed. His explanation about Arthads last words leaves me wondering; did he have some foresight or what? Author Reply: Maglor is a tragic figure, there's no doubt about it, and, as you point out, unlike his brothers, he doesn't have the benefit of dying and being cleansed of his "sins" but must find redemption the hard way (just like the rest of us). Arthalion is making great strides, but what Arthad's last words mean, we may never learn. They may well have been foresight. Thanks for leaving a comment, Kitty. It's appreciated. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 20 on 12/30/2013 |
| At least the two parties who were abroad are back safe and sound. Though their news weren't that great. It's clear that Thurin killed his brother to spare him a prolonged, painful death, but it's horrible to imagine how guilty he must have felt afterwards. No wonder he went insane, indeed. Even more so as no one was there to tell him he's not a bad guy because of it, as Maglor and the others are now doing. The poor guy must have suffered so many years after this :( In any case, I am glad the others reacted as they did. Even if circumstances had been a bit different, the way Arthalion has suffered would be enough punishment. And as things are, it was way too much already. It would have broken the poor guy if he had to go now. The chapter certainly ended with a bang *groans* Though I know already why you did it, it seemed so cruel to Maglor. Sure, it's his way to redemption and all, but still ... Why could they not leave that damn thing where it was? He won't have any peace of mind now. Author Reply: Mercy killing is never easy, especially when it's done to a loved one. At least Thurin knows that no one condemns him for it and all sympathize and that should help him reclaim himself. And you know me, Kitty. I like cliffhangers, especially the sort with ominous organ music in the background. LOL! Thanks for the review. As always, it's appreciated. | |