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| Beneath a Gibbous Moon by Bodkin | 29 Review(s) |
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| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006 |
| A ghost story for Karen - Yay. OK, you had me fooled. I couldn't figure out who it was. Somehow I never imagined Isildur and Thranduil together, and Thranduil so wood-elfy, yet. But dangerously wood-elfy! As always your descriptions of the cold rain sent me lunging for a blanket. And of course Thranduil's characterization of Isildur would just as accurate for Aragorn: ‘You are the pivot on which the world turns, Isildur Elendil’s son.’ He smiled wryly. ‘For good or ill, I know not.’ And I liked Isildur's prescience in predicting that Thranduil would still be around to witness the ultimate outcome. Kind of ironic, since it was his actions that caused that outcome to be delayed by an Age. A wonderful story and a fitting birthday present for the Queen. Author Reply: Thranduil has definitely dangerous overtones! He's old enough and experienced enough - and in tune enough with the world around him, even here before he's had an age of being king, to pack a sort of power with which I don't think Isildur is all that familiar. Isildur is more accustomed to being about the most powerful person around. And there are interesting parallels between these two at the end of the Second Age and Aragorn/Legolas at the end of the Third. And writing replies (and I'm sorry to be so long getting around to them. It seems to have been a very busy week,) has made me begin to muse on a First Age parallel between Elros and Oropher and wonder if that might have been a possibility! I don't think Isildur would have expected to be the pivot in quite the way that it turned out. Or had any understanding of how his actions would affect the world. But then, I suppose none of them did. Even Elrond's realisation was probably more in retrospect - or he might have tried to do more to nudge Isildur over the edge. Thank you, meckinock! I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Silvae | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006 |
| Teehee! I got fooled! This was wondeful, and I really appreciated the twist at the end. Poor old Legolas never had a chance... Your depiction of (fore-)fathers was refreshingly different, and always funny. Thanks for this, it made my day! Still chuckling, Silvae Author Reply: Thank you! I hoped it would take people a while to realise it wasn't Aragorn and Legolas! It's interesting to think of a wary friendship developing between Thranduil and Isildur - and it end would certainly make Thranduil aware that man/elf friendships could be painful. I'm glad you enjoyed it. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| Oh, wow! This is just gorgeous. The imagery is breathtaking. Like everyone else, it took me a while to figure out who the two were. For a moment, I thought it might be Legolas and Aragorn, but the relationship, the way they related to one another was off. There were so many layers too.The man’s dark eyes brooded over the shadowed countryside. ‘It began in such hope,’ he said. ‘And will end in hope.’ Ahhh, estel. He was gone before the man had opened his mouth to protest. Arrogant, he thought resentfully: that was elves for you. Pleasant enough most of the time – but, when it came to a fight, they would leap into action and leave men standing. Most of them found men to be a liability in battle, he knew – slower-moving, less skilled, less observant and not so quick-thinking. And, of course, they had the experience of millennia to call on at need – as men never could. He should be used to it by now – but he still found he resented the assumption that he should keep watch while the elf took action. Resentment makes people do funny things. That, of course, was not Isildur's only motivation in deciding to keep the ring--the ring itself was a problem--but you've shown us a seed of his personality that in the end makes a difference in one form or another. ‘You are the pivot on which the world turns, Isildur Elendil’s son.’ He smiled wryly. ‘For good or ill, I know not.’ Thranduil was indeed insightful. Actually, he's right about them both. They are their father's sons and by the end of this battle, both will be king of their people. But the wraiths! Holy moly. They were wonderful. Spooky, but wonderful. Again, the descriptions were so vivid, I could see the milky apparitions that seemed like common vapor or fog, yet something about them was different, dangerous. Oh, man, Bodkin, that was great. Thank you so much for this wonderful story. It's unique and beautifully written. Most of all, thank you for your time in doing this. It's not like you have an extra box of minutes lying around that's not already earmarked. Thank you again for this most appreciated gift. Author Reply: You know I was thinking about Isildur and power - he has a whole different experience of it when compared to his descendant. He is of the royal line of Numenor (cadet branch) and saw no reason why he and his seven ship-loads of kin shouldn't just come and assume the kingships of Middle-earth. He expects to rule - and I suppose part of that is about taking advantage when it is offered to you. He's one of the Faithful - but his experience of elves is limited. Why should he accept their wisdom unquestioningly? Even if the one telling him to dump the Ring is great-great-etc-grandpappy Elros's brother. Aragorn, on the other hand, has lived a life in shadow, learning to fight to defend his people without making a show of it. (Although he can do show very well when it is demanded of him.) He was brought up by elves in Imladris and has been educated to understand matters that Isildur just didn't. Perelleth's musings make huge sense in looking at Isildur, I think. I'm glad you started by thinking they were Aragorn and Legolas - and that it didn't seem quite right. (And I was just thinking that and A/L version before the Black Gate and an Elros/Oropher one at Angband might make interesting conversations.) The Dead Marshes - perhaps were not just a result of the battle ... I'm glad you liked it, Karen. I hope you had a good birthday - and I'm very pleased to have written this as a celebratory offering. Have a good year. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| Aha--a wonderful twist, showing the son and descendant are very much like Thranduil and Isildur, including their relationship. Lovely, lovely story, Bodkin. Author Reply: You know I just wondered about a story with Elros and Oropher at the end of the First Age! I don't know if it will turn into anything - but three linking stories at the end of three ages might be very interesting to write. There are definite similarities between A / L and I / T, but there are differences, too. Isildur's life and Aragorn's have been very different - and he's more than twice Aragorn's age too. While I think there might be another level to Thranduil's power. Maybe. Thank you, Larner. I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Pearl Took | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| This was wonderful, Bodkin!! I don't think I've ever read a story from that era before. Well done!! Author Reply: Thank you, Pearl. I don't think I've read many from that period myself ... Perhaps there's an opening there for more tales! I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Armariel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| Oh tricksy, tricksy.......well, I was sure that wasn't Aragorn aat the beginning, just didn't sound like him! The elf could have been Leggy, I suppose...turns out to be his dad instead! Cool! Haven't seen many fics written about Isildur. It was nice to get to meet him. Very nice exchange between the two. As always the atmospheric details are vividly rendered, especially in the first paragraph. Could almost feel that cold rain on the back of my neck! ~~~{~@ Author Reply: I hoped you would start by thinking it would be Aragorn and Legolas - and then begin to wonder. Isildur doesn't seem to be featured in too many stories - but he was 230 years old (ish) by this time and he did a whole lot of things that should have made him a legend. And all he ever gets remembered for is that Ring! And, indirectly, I suppose, for begetting Valandil etc. Glad you liked the atmosphere - it made me very glad to huddle up in the warm and dry! | |
| Gwynhyffar | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| That was great. It took me awhile to figure out who was talking and I'm not real sure how I did - you made each of their voices so unique that even though some of the feelings being expressed were similar to Aragorn's and Legolas' they were expressed slightly different from what would be expected for them. I think it was something Thranduil said that tipped me off - or him looking off and thinking of his home in the green trees. I really enjoy how you weave your words - I know I've told you that before, but I'm telling you again. I could see everything as it was happening and that is amazing. Author Reply: Thank you, Gwynhyffar! I hoped readers would start by thinking they were Aragorn and Legolas - and then begin to wonder. Isildur and Thranduil began to insist on being more themselves, too, and refusing to pretend they were those youngsters. I'm flattered that you enjoyed the story! It was a fun one to write. | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| This was excellent! Such wonderful writing - I am always flabbergasted by your talent. I wondered who you would picked for this conversation and was so very pleased that you thought of putting Isildur and Thranduil together. Leading into that revelation was very well done. What an atmosphere you created! Humor and dread! They were more than what they seemed - even to the reader. :) Do you not know that words give life to the thought? I absolutely loved that bit! And a Happy Birthday to Karen, too! Author Reply: Thank you, Redheredh! I'm just coming up with a vision of Oropher and Elros shoulder to shoulder before the end of the First Age now. Although Elros would have been a bit young to be friendly with Oropher in quite this way. Fear of the unknown - so often humour seems to be the best weapon. And I can't imagine either of these two indulging in sentiment. I have begun to think rather about Isildur - he got a bad press due to that final hiccup, but he was pretty heroic before that. And isn't it true that you should watch what you say, just in case...? It always seems to work that way for me. | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| A great vignette about two characters not paired often, if ever, in Tolkien fanfic. The fact that it occurs right before such a crucial, and fateful battle, adds immediacy and urgency to the tale. And I loved Isildur's last line! It sounds typical of a warrior who has fought many battles... Author Reply: I started with the idea of trying to make it seem as if two people were talking - and then it proving to be two others. But Isildur and Thranduil made themselves known quite quickly - and I think they might well have been drawn into alliance. If cautiously! And they must feel as if they are - potentially - at the end of all things here. And a lack of rain is definitely a positive. I daresay warriors soon learn not to expect too much! Dry clothes and a hot breakfast - they will, I suppose, make matters seem better. At least for a while. | |
| Lady Bluejay | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/19/2006 |
| Beautiful descriptive writing - with a twist in the tail, thankyou. BTW, don't give the matching titles a thought- and Lia came up with mine, anyway. LBJ Author Reply: I tried to make it ambiguous - but bits of Thranduil and Isildur's character just insisted on sneaking in! Titles are just so hard! Sometimes they take longer to come up with than the whole story! Titles and names. | |