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The Wars of the Valar by Fiondil	559 Review(s)
Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 5/17/2009
Wonderful idea of Yavanna re: the construction of the mound. I've always had a soft spot for stories of small things that are meaningful to people for whatever reason. I expecially liked that you "mixed it up" a lot, not always going with what might be the most obvious thing for each Valar. And the intangible gifts Yavanna receives from Tulkas, Námo and Vairë - well, you had me quite weepy when I read that passage... It had never occured to me that the thrones might be made for each Valar's individual tastes - I like the idea. But if I imagine a gemstone - for example a sapphire - the size of a throne for a Valar: wow, I want to look at that! Oooh, a double wedding! What better way to celebrate the coming of the Two Trees with their intermingling Lights. Author Reply: Glad you liked the imagery of how the Trees were created. I think it was important for all the Valar to contribute something of themselves into their creation, not just Yavanna. The thrones of the Valar in Ilmarin are all the same but when the Ring of Doom was being constructed I felt each Vala whould have a throne that symbolized him or her in some manner, thus each throne is unique and individual in design, shape, and materials. And now with this double wedding there is only one couple left to marry! grin

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 5/17/2009
And the Lights of the Two Lamps were forever extinguished. So sad. And the way you set this sentence apart makes it very poignant, like a drumroll of doom. I feel so very sorry Aulë at Aulendil's betrayal (and knowing what is yet in store re: Curumo). What could it be that he couldn't see it? Does he immerse himself so much in his many works that he doesn't have enough concentration to spare to leading his people? Can't he imagine that anyone devoted to working as he himself is would want to destroy? Is it such a "hands-on", directly manifest power that it tempts more than other kinds of power? However weak the light of Amanaphelun was, it was more than the rest of the planet received, for the Ayanumuz spent all their energies in beautifying their own continent and paid little heed to anything else for a time. I'm curious to read on and see whether you plan to explore this topic any further! Go, Uinen! I liked the insight in the scene between Manwë and Tulkas. Author Reply: Aule seems to have no luck with his Maiar, but whether the fault lies with him or with them, is something no one, not even I, can safely say. I think it's sad that Aule suffers betrayal, not just once, but twice, though, we know that he is not the only one, since the Blue Wizards also apparently betrayed the Valar. I'm glad you liked the insight between Manwe and Tulkas (the eldest and the youngest of the Valar).

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 39 on 5/17/2009
I see that right at the start of the chapter my concerns from the previous one were wrong. Well, wrong at least for now. I've always found the dynamic among Ulmo-Ossë-Uinen very interesting and am always glad when it is explored somewhat. All three strike me as very wild, unbound, temperamental (appropriate for the deep sea), and it's fascinating to ask how they would manoeuver their relationships, loyalties and duties (which also, not to forget, include care for the calmer waters on land). but the record of the oaths uttered by ye who are from my first Thoughts shall be closed to all except me. Not even Manwë, who is my vice-gerent in Eä, will have the right to view these oaths. Hmmmm. Intriguing. Author Reply: The dynamics between Ulmo and these two Maiar have always been interesting for me so I was glad of the opportunity to explore it here. Many people, I know, automatically assign Osse as Ulmo's chief Maia, but given his wildness I could never see that, which is why I have another Maia, Salmar, who is mentioned as the Maia who constructed Ulmo's conches, as his Chief Maia, at least in my Valar-verse. And Eonwe has a very heavy burden to bear, but one that he is fully capable of bearing, else Atar would never have given him the task of being His Oathkeeper.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 5/17/2009
The descriptions at the beginning this chapter are beautiful. I like how the mystery of this "wrong" slowly creeps into the chapter, and so makes the beauty described all that more poignant in contrast to the rottenness. The Children will not come into a world full of grief and sorrow but full of joy and wonderment. If only. And yet you ask yourself if there were not grief and sorrow, if we could fully appreciate - and keep appreciating - joy and wonderment. Aulendil and Curumo to go check the Lamps + Ulmo and Aulë incommunicado = oh-oh. Author Reply: I'm glad you liked how the mystery of the 'wrong' slowly creeps into the chapter. I wanted the reader to learn of it in the same manner as the Valar, thus making the revelation of what is happening that much worse. As much as we would like it to be otherwise, I think we can only define joy and wonderment in contrast to the grief and sorrow that come into our lives, thereby making our joy and wonderment all the more precious.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 5/17/2009
"I think it would be more fun to serve than to be served, don’t you?" I don't know quite if I express this the way I want to, but I love the fact that I can read something like this which in "normal life" would be all too often be doubted or not meant honestly, or generally expressed very seldomly, and have here not the slightest doubt that Námo means it sincerely and with his full heart - and furthermore nothing to especially comment on, because it's just the way it is. This natural humility, paired with their awesome powers, is one of the most intriguing aspects you have developed (or focussed on, or interpreted) for the the Valar. Tulkas' wedding vows - Awwwww! Do I remember correctly that the only pair of Valar not yet married after this chapter are Námo and Vairë? Author Reply: Our own history gives Namo's words the lie, unfortunately. Most people don't believe that serving is more fun than being served, yet it is in service to others that we show our love for them and this is what Namo is saying here. The Valar are flawed, just as we are, but they never totally forget that they are the servants of Eru and not the other way around (something many humans today have forgotten). Glad you liked the wedding. grin. And no, there are two other couples who have yet to 'tie the knot': Orome and Vana, Irmo and Este. Since in the Silmarillion, only Tulkas and Nessa's wedding is specifically mentioned, I decided to keep their wedding sepearte from anyone else's. Stay tuned... more weddings to come. grin

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 5/17/2009
You can't help thinking, "With Aulendil and Curumo working on the Lamps, no wonder something has to go wrong with it". Although that is to a certain extent unfair, as I don't think the two of them are at this time sabotaging the endeavour or anything of the sort... "They will pierce the atmosphere," Tulkas said. "It seems almost silly to bother with the pillars at all. Why don’t we just put them in a circumpolar orbit instead?" Hee. Indeed. That's why it's called learning by "trial and error". Although if what Oromë says it's true and they wanted to put out the Lamps anyways after they had awoken plants and such, his explanation makes a certain amount of sense. But Tulkas' objections are duly noted. I continue to like a great deal the little indications of the Ayamunuz and the Mayar showing their inclinations towards their later "portfolios". (not to mention the fact that it helps keeping all those names straight in my mind, ;-)...) Author Reply: Well, perhaps with Aulendil there might be some justification for your concerns, but Curumo remained faithful to the Valar for mamy ages. It was only in the latter part of the Third Age that he became corrupt. As we come closer to 'real' time, the Valar are beginning to take on the characteristics by which we know them from the Silmarillion, as they begin to learn what their 'jobs' are in relation to the Children.

Imhiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/17/2009
I had to re-read the last couple of chapters to refresh my memory and catch up with the thread of the story, so now I can finally start on chapters I hadn't read before. I loved the scene of healing and recovery. Very wise of Námo to recognise that the sick Mayar needed a purpose and encouragement, not only commiseration (as needful as that is, too). Very discerning how he could pick out one of her specific strengths and apply it to his immediate plans for his temporary secondments. And I wager that in this way, Ancalequirindë and the three can help each other. Author Reply: Wow! after all this time! I'm glad you've been able to come back to this story and finish it. I'll try to get through all your reviews as quickly as possible, but it'll still take me some time to catch up with you. grn Anyway.... Namo is beginning to show his 'softer' side here, being the Comforter and Consoler rather than the Judge and Doomsman. It's a role he prefers over the others that are his to play.

Aiwen	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 2/21/2009
I very much enjoyed your story and this is a very appropriate place to end it although I will miss reading it. It was definitely one of the most original stories based on the Silmarillion that I have ever read. Thank you very much for writing it. It seems to me that the best decision regarding the firstborn might've been for the valar to go to them rather than asking the elves to come to valinor, but hindsight is always 20/20. And amidst all the arguing about what would've been best for the elves and mankind, what of the dwarves? We really don't know much about their fate and they seem for the most part to have been ignored - although part of that may simply have been that Tolkein did not work it out. That seems a loss when one is confronted by someone like Gimli who is as much a person as any elf or man. Author Reply: Hello, Aiwen. Thank you so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed this story from beginning to end. I know that its uniqueness in terms of story turned off some people (no hobbits!)and fascinated others and I'm always glad to hear from someone who enjoyed it. One of the interesting things about Tolkien's works is there is alwyas room for speculation as to 'what if'. And of course there are plenty of gaps in the stories that allow for fanfic writers to fill them from their own imaginings. This is how "Wars" came about. As I've pointed out to others, while it would have been better (perhaps) if the Valar had left the Firstborn alone, there probably wouldn't have been any story otherwise if everything had gone according to Eru's original plan. So, I guess on one level it's a good thing that it didn't. grin I'm sure that if Tolkien had lived long enough he would've gotten around to the Dwarves and what their ultimate fate might have been. He left things (perhaps on purpose) somewhat up in the air about the ultimate fates of the other races as well. We'll never know. That's why the rest of us are busy writing these stories and so I suppose we should all be thankful that he didn't answer all the questions, or else I would need to find a different hobby. lol Thanks again for your review. I very much appreciate it.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 2/8/2009
"So it is doomed." And this is truly "Metta", "The End", for the Valar dwelling alone. Now they will have the Children to amuse (and bemuse) them whichever way they turn. Also, they shall be as gardeners, caring for the fear of the Children as best they can. And so it begins; the rest of the fate of Arda has begun to weave itself in a tapestry partially from the choice of the Valar. ~Kaylee! Author Reply: Yes, this it truly 'metta'... no longer will the Valar and Maiar dwell alone in Arda. And yes, they will be gardeners, caring for the Children as best they can. Very good point and a nice cross-over from "Elf, Interrupted" grin. And so it begins; the rest of the fate of Arda has begun to weave itself in a tapestry partially from the choice of the Valar. I couldn't have said it better myself. Thank you.

Jancy	Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 2/4/2009
Hey! Long time no review, I know. Sorry about that. But, wow--you've been busy when I was away. Lots of updates. :-D this story is really unique and awesome. I think I better understand the Silmarillion and the Valar with this story. thanks a bunch for writing this, Fiondil!!!! Author Reply: Hi, Jancy. Well, at least you finished the story. grin Glad you enjoyed it and that it helped you understand the Silmarillion and the Valar better. That's always a plus. Thanks for taking the time to let me know your thoughts about this tale. I appreciate it.

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