News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Long-Awaited by PSW | 40 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Erulissé | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/18/2025 |
| This is great! I love this, and I can’t wait to see Celeborn have his ‘test.’ It promises to be quite entertaining. :D It has been many centuries in the making I am sure. Author Reply: I'm happy you enjoyed! I suspect that, in the end, Celeborn's whole arrival here is his test - there will be a lot for him to learn and admit and come to terms with about life in the Undying Lands, and it will require the same kind of growth and self-understanding that Galadriel went through in her own trials ... | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/17/2025 |
| Here is the heart-to-heart conversation! Frodo's explanation is interesting. I'd never contemplated the idea before now. His word-pictures are down to earth and very illuminating. It is so good for the heart to see Frodo healed and even able to say It doesn’t make up for the loss … but life here is worth living. His humility is also endearing. (So is Sam's common-sense plain speaking.) Frodo's description of life after sailing West sounds familiar. I think I must have read some stories about the Undying Lands a decade or so ago, but in the interim I've forgotten many details of even the hobbit stories I read back then. The topic is fascinating to contemplate. The memento sounds beautiful. I wonder what confidences Galadriel has shared with the Ring-bearer...? The status says "In Progress". Is it? If so (I mean, if you plan to add to the story), you can edit the Author's Notes by renumbering it as Chapter 7 and replacing the current text with the text of the new chapter. It's possible that the deletion function has been disconnected until the site is better protected against hackers. I do know that the story-deletion function was turned off after the January hack. Several of the "test" stories I posted, I ended up replacing with new or restored (hacker-deleted) stories because I couldn't delete the test stories when I was figuring out what worked and what didn't. (In one of my previous lives I was a software test and QA person. It was so diverting to frustrate the programmers by finding ways to break their software so they had to rebuild it stronger... Tch tch.) Another question that keeps occurring to me: Why did Galadriel leave her husband behind? I've wondered that for more than a decade, actually. If there's an explanation, I don't think I've ever read it. Thank you for this lovely exploration; this story has conveyed a mix of hope, food for thought, comfort and healing throughout. Author Reply: The 'moth to a flame' analogy is almost directly from the Akallabeth - and I remember thinking that the only thing that analogy was going to do was make people mad. It was not well-worded, from Elf to Man ... The 'hardness' of the place itself was something taken a little bit from CS Lewis's 'Great Divorce' (or at least from my memory of it, it's been a while since I read that). Fortunately there were many great ideas around which to build my thoughts on this! I'm sure Frodo knows what she has planned. ;-) And a few others she would rather not have to deal with as well - in my imagination, it's kind of hard to keep a secret on Tol Eressea (although it is large with many twists and turns, I suspect the Elves coming from Middle Earth are all in each others' business ... :-P). You know ... that's a good question (why did Galadriel leave and Celeborn stay). I think the two of them have been married for a long time and have probably not spent the entire time cohabiting - as Arwen often spent decades in Lothlorien, I imagine Elves often spent a great deal of time apart from their families. Of course, this is more of a permanent separation. All three of the bearers of the Elven rings left pretty quickly after the start of the Fourth Age - I wonder if it had something to do with the loss of the power within the rings. And with Arwen and the sons of Elrond still staying, it makes sense that Celeborn might have stayed with them for a while. (??) And also he might just have not been ready. (I did just realize that if, as the LoTR prologue says, with Celeborn 'went the last living memory of the Elder-days in Middle Earth', then Cirdan would have had to have sailed before him - which may need me to tweak chapter 2. Ah well ...) That's a great idea (with changing the Author's Note to the next chapter)! I will have to give that a shot when the next chapter is ready. Thanks for your comments, I appreciate them! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/11/2025 |
| I used to know something about the origin of mallorns, but I've forgotten. Oh! It seems appropriate that the mallorn could represent a little piece of the Shire for the hobbits living in the Undying Lands. (And perhaps it will remain as a memorial of sorts after they've decided to go on?) The meal, along with the seasoning of empathy and understanding, seems wonderful. "his daughter" –> Elrond's wife? Or someone else? I've lost track for the moment. It comes of reading one chapter at a time in multiple stories within the same general time span. (I share his fierce satisfaction that the name of Sauron has lost its power to daunt the soul.) Finrod! One of my favorite Elves! Despite the great length of his years, he was accustomed to the idea of endings–violent death had always been a possibility, and the death of even an Elf in Middle Earth had been final in a very real way. As always, this kind of musing always draws my thoughts to Glorfindel. I've read very little fanfic about him, but I do have a great deal of head canon after researching him to include him in a few of my (admittedly hobbit-centric) stories. It seems a heart-to-heart talk, aimed at encouraging further healing, may be in the offing... Author Reply: Sorry for the delayed reply! I am off the internet a bit more than usual for Lent … :-) Thanks so much for your comments, I’m always so happy to get them. As you know, it’s so nice to hear that someone is enjoying the story. Yes, Elrond’s wife. I love the idea of her being friends with Sam. Honestly, I love the idea of Sam in Valinor - he’s so plain spoken and up front, and I’m sure a good number of the, don’t know what to think. He’s just what they need! Ah, Finrod. I love him too. I’m currently listening to FOTR, and I had forgotten that Gildor identifies himself and his companions with Finrod - it’s amazing how long the memories of Elves are. Anyway, I can’t imagine him not taking every opportunity to come visit Hobbits! And Aegnor - I don’t know if, having missed his opportunity with Andreth, he would have any more desire to know mortals … but I choose to think he looks back on the time fondly. With regret, perhaps, but fondly. Yes indeed, a heart to heart may be just around the corner! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/4/2025 |
| Aha! Hobbits! And I detect Sam's handiwork in the window boxes... Of course his scowl redoubles his wife's mirth. A "little enclave of the Shire" – what a lovely thought! “A maia does not eavesdrop, Samwise Gamgee. Especially in a place without eaves.” Sounds just like Gandalf. comfort and cheer sound like just the things he needs. Perfect! Author Reply: Hobbits indeed! And it is such a lovely thought that there would be for a while a little enclave of the shire here. No doubt it is good for everyone involved! Cheer and comfort are things that Hobbits know best, after all…. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/26/2025 |
| PSW! I have not left a review on each chapter I was too interested see what came next in this story but suffice to say I love it. I love the conceptualization of what traveling to the Undying Lands would do one, especially one who was born in Middle Earth (like Frodo or Sam) or a Sindarin Elf such as Celeborn. I love how Celeborn still has a somewhat jaundiced view of Noldorin Elves and his circumspect view of dwarves understandable given that Thingol was close family. I love all the thinking that has clearly gone into what various reactions to Valinor and its affects upon different people. I love Celeborn's thoughts about himself in relation to those that dwell in Valinor. Such as asking Frodo not to call him "My Lord." Which of course Frodo promptly and cogently argues against. The fact that it is an reunion of family even Elladan and Elrohir. Interesting they are all there together save of course, Arwen. Happy for them all. Looking so forward to more! Is this a REPOSTED story or one that is still being written! Love it! (((hugs))) MM Author Reply: I’m so happy you’re enjoying this! It is not a reposted story - still in the works, but I’m hoping to have the next chapter up in not too long. I have always been curious about Celeborn’s arrival and how it would go - so I figured I’d better share my own take. ;-) Thx for reading and for your lovely comments! | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/25/2025 |
| PSW! Haven't finished the chapter just yet I have to dash off to work but I am loving this so far and cannot wait to read the rest. Wonderful. "to stand before them with naught but empty hands and weary heart." Ouch and so true! Love it! (((hugs))) MM Author Reply: Thank you, and hope you enjoy the tale! :-) | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/24/2025 |
| Galadriel is taking such good care of him. Depression is the pits. (At least, he sounds like someone struggling with depression.) After reading the following, I sat up straight, for I'm thinking the hosts must be Hobbits! “You will not, I think, regret it. Our hosts are both impeccable and understanding – none present shall require anything of you that you do not wish to offer. If you do nothing but sit in a chair beneath the trees of the garden, no one will think anything of it.” I guess I'll see if I'm right when I read the next chapter? But it's after midnight, so it'll have to be another day. Author Reply: He’s got a lot going on, but you’re right - it operates functionally the same as depression. Hopefully it will mostly pass in short order as he eases into his new life … but it’s not too much fun while it lasts… As for their hosts … ;-) We shall see! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/18/2025 |
| “They deserve each other, those two.” That certainly rings true! (I'm wondering if Amroth here is the same as Fiondil's Amroth? I may be mistaken in remembering the name from the Elf Academy stories, so this may be a moot question.) I read the Sil many decades ago, but it never quite caught my imagination and interest the way LOTR did. So while many of the names are familiar, I can't always put them in context. Author Reply: You know - quite possibly. The lore about him being Celeborn and Galadriel’s son was I believe from an older/earlier version of the legendarium, so even if he wasn’t related to them in Fidel’s stories he could still be the same. It’s been so long since I read those stories that I can’t be sure though! I enjoy history a lot, and since the Silmarillion is a lot like reading a book of history and legends it jumped out at me. Some of it I have less patience for than other parts, admittedly. The Akallabeth took my breath away the first time I read it - I honestly wonder sometimes if it could almost be called a bit prophetic … | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/18/2025 |
| Such a moving story. I may have read parts of this before, but I read all chapters this morning. It is beautiful. Thank you. Author Reply: Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoyed it - it was good to get back to it. Thx for your comments! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/18/2025 |
| Poor fellow, he is so very weary, he does not even realize how much healing and comfort he needs. But his wife is one of the Wise, so I have perfect confidence that all will end well. (Even though there are several chapters to get through, at the least.) Author Reply: I would expect that those coming to Valinor of necessity rather than desire would have the hardest time - but that it would be hard for everyone. I have seen several versions of this, but none that ever felt quite right to how these two characters live in my head - so I figured I would make my own version. Hopefully it’s enjoyable! | |