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| Playing Chess With Lord Námo by Fiondil | 19 Review(s) |
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| Calenlass | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/29/2007 |
| I've poked holes in leaves in before with a stick... But never did I imagine that something like this could happen. o.o It was shocking to read. Will Legolas ever live this down, I wonder? *grin* Such a wonderful Yule fic. Nina is one lucky person this Christmas! ~Cal Author Reply: Thanks, Calenlass. I'm happy to know you enjoyed this story. Whether Legolas ever lives it down... as long as a certain dwarf doesn't hear about it, I'm sure he will. | |
| Nieriel Raina | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/29/2007 |
| I don't know what else to say that I haven't aleady told you. I so loved this fic. The concept was ingenius, Námo charming as ever, Aragorn determined as ever, and Legolas was naked! What more could a woman want? *grin* While chess is not my game at all, I really enjoyed this story. I love how you fit it into Middle-earth so seamlessly. The way the story is also told in flashback as the game is being played allows the story to flow and draw the reader along. And of course, my favorite part: Legolas...killed...by a tree... *smile* Sorry this took me so long. I'm having trouble staying online for more than a few minutes at a time. I hope to get all caught up soon, and the lap top will be fixed next week. YAY! Until then, take care! And keep writing! *hugs* NiRi Author Reply: Thanks NiRi. I'm glad you love this fic. It's perhaps one of my personal favorites as well. Nina is already requesting a "Legolas' Judgment" fic to go along with this one. *grin* I told her I'd see what I and Námo could come up with. >>And of course, my favorite part: Legolas...killed...by a tree...<< Poetic justice if there ever was any, wouldn't you say? *grin* | |
| Baggins Babe | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/28/2007 |
| I'm with Edlyn - 'He's demanding his elf back' is probably the funniest line in the story! Only Aragorn would have the nerve to show up and demand anything of Lord Namo. I love your take on Namo by the way - he is a very sympathetic character really and I enjoy his 'conversations' with the rest of the Valar. I'm glad he allowed Legolas to return and be healed, and well done to Glorfindel for arriving at the right time - and dressed like the Spirit of Yule as well! Even Asfaloth got in on the act. Author Reply: Thanks Babe, I'm glad you enjoyed this story. I think "He's demanding his elf back" a very funny line, too, though for me it's not the funniest. The funniest for me is the description of the tree's reaction to Legolas skewering himself on its branch. Even as I was writing it I was laughing out loud and it took me several minutes before I could continue writing the story. *grin* I'm glad you enjoy my take on Námo as well... he's a very sympathetic character to me and I enjoy writing him, especially his unheard 'conversations' with his fellow Valar and the observations they make about the Children with whom they interact. And as the challenge required a horse, as well as Glorfindel, it just was reasonable that Asfaloth would show up as well. *grin* Thanks for reviewing and Happy New Year. | |
| Edlyn | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/27/2007 |
| "He's demanding his elf back." For some reason that line just struck me a hysterically funny, it's still making me laugh. Maybe it's because I can hear Maranwë's voice as he says it. In fact he entire exchange between Námo and Maranwë at the beginning is priceless. It certainly took a lot of guts (courage? stupidity?) for Aragorn to challenge Lord Námo. I love the King of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor but I think this definitely beats out challenging Sauron at the Black Gate by a light-year. And as usual I love the descriptions of how Lord of Mandos has chosen to clothe himself. Námo's comment (and what he /didn't/ say regarding Thranduil was intriguing. There might even be a plot bunny in there somewhere...hmmm. Oh, right. Back to the review. Ooh, shades of Orpheus and Eurydice there (pardon the pun). I was hoping that Aragorn wouldn't make the same mistake Orpheus made on the way out of Hades. Secretary? Lord Námo has a secretary? Why wasn't I informed that there was such a job position? It has to be much more interesting than working as a secretary in the math department. Well, if the current one quits because of the interference to Lord Námo's schedule, I'll definitely submit my resume! I don't know much more about chess than the rules of how the pieces are allowed to move but the game was fascinating and I did go an look up the Immortals game as mentioned in your author's notes. Wow! I think you picked the best possible game for Námo and Aragorn to play. The commentary by the other Valar and Maiar was wonderful. For some reason when I read Tulkas' words I kept hearing them in the voice of Brian Blessed. One day I might be able to identify the voices I hear in my head when reading the other Valar; if I do I'll send my vocal cast list for your amusement. And as promised by Námo, Legolas was healed and who better than Glorfindel! At first I thought about a Victorian St. Nicholas when I read the description but then when I read about the wreath he wore on his head, the image went to the Ghost of Christmas Present from A Christmas Carol. And Glorfindel certainly was the agent of the Valar in giving Aragorn a wonderful Yule present...his best friend back. That's all I have for now but I'll probably come up with more allusions and connections when I re-read the story again. Great work and a very fun read. (There's something in regards to warrior braids and the lack thereof that is nagging at me but I can't put what I want to say in words right now. I'll let you know what it is once I can convince my brain to open its thesaurus) Hugs, Edlyn Author Reply: Well, that one line I think sets the mood of the story. I could see Maranwë's expression as dead-panned as a butler announcing unexpected and unwelcomed guests to his master's home. I think Aragorn was clutching at any straw he could find and challenging Námo was the only thing (being a warrior) he could think of at the time. His very audacity is what intrigues and amuses Námo (and the other Valar). I think it was at this point that Námo decided to allow Legolas to return to Life, though I suspect that the little conversation with Manwë explaining what he wanted to do was also him getting permission from Manwë and Eru to release Legolas in that manner. Ah... you caught the Greek allusion did you? Good. I wondered if anyone would. I had better faith in Aragorn holding true to his promise than Orpheus. When I found this particular game online and saw what title had been given it, and even better that white won (as I wanted Aragorn to take the white side), I knew I had just the right game for these two to play. And being a relatively short game, it made it easier to portray in words. I suppose that Glorfindel's outfit is a combination of Victorian Father Christmas and the Ghost of Christmas Present (rather hard to separate them in my mine), so either image is correct, depending on how you want to view it. As for the warrior braids... well, Legoals' fëa isn't wearing any now that he's dead. Perhaps that's what's nagging at you. Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it. | |
| Tira | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/26/2007 |
| heehee...a wood elf...skewered on a tree...hahaha...oh my... Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed the story. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/26/2007 |
| It may have been very bold, to put it mildly, to follow Legolas to the Gates, but I can’t help but feel touched that Aragorn even challenged Lord Námo to get his friend back. Can’t decide if Námo was more wicked here or indulgent in playing with Aragorn in this way. Either way, it was very amusing, as were the silent communications between the Valar during the game. But I am so glad he sent Legolas back; Aragorn would have been eaten by his guilt if Legolas did not survive. And sending Glorfindel to sing a Song of Power was just perfect. At least this time he did not melt his sword and vanish – he’s improved since the Tournament *grin* Thank you, that was another great story! Author Reply: I think Námo was so surprised at Aragorn's challenge that he was more intrigued than anything else and perhaps that very boldness is what decided him that he would allow Legolas to return to Life even though he really had died. And it was nice that the Valar worked together to ensure that Legolas could indeed return to Life. Yes, Glorfindel has indeed improved since the Tournament, for which we can all be thankful. *grin* Thanks for reviewing, Kitty. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/26/2007 |
| I play chess, although I've never been good at the notation. My problem is that I can see the game, plan the necessary moves ahead, but as the game progresses I tend to skip ahead in the game, doing move three instead of move two, or move five instead if move three. I drive myself crazy. One time I was playing the best player in the chess club, and for once my mind was actually staying at the level of the play. When I got him into checkmate he was shocked--he'd gotten so accustomed to me skipping ahead in my moves he'd let his own mind wander from the game at hand, intending to focus only when I made the mistake he was certain, from experience, I would do. He sat looking at the board for minutes after I called mate before he admitted I'd actually beat him. As I said regarding the filet crocheting--this tendency of my mind to skip steps tends to work to my own detriment; it's part of the reason I do almost all my writing any more on the computer, as I can correct my errors before committing to print--or MOST of them, that is. I still can't believe I let Niphrodel slip by me the other day! Gads--this brain of mine can play me so falsely! Lovely story, and one I can see. That the rest of the Valar were sitting there invisible to mortal sight was marvelous. And the choice of the game played was, of course, PERFECT! Poor Legolas--will he ever live down skewering himself on a tree? Oh, I did note "peaking" when you mean "peeking." This one creeps constantly into my own writing for some reason. I must have posted at least four stories where I had to correct this particular homonym after I posted! Author Reply: The notation is different from what I learned years and years ago, but pretty straightforward once you understand what it means. I'm not very good at the game myself, but I've always enjoyed playing it even if I don't usually win. I don't know if Legolas will ever live down skewering himself on a tree... before too long I suspect he's going to wish Aragorn lost the game. LOL Thanks for pointing out the error. Can't figure out how we all missed it. *sigh* I'm glad you enjoyed this story, Larner. Thanks for reviewing. | |
| Ainu Laire | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/25/2007 |
| What a brilliant little oneshot. The thought of Aragorn's fea screaming up at the doors of Mandos is truly an amusing image, to say the least. I loved the whole premise of the situation, and the game itself- I did not understand the moves until I looked it up online. Wow, what a game. Loved the last line, too. Hope you had a very merry Christmas. Author Reply: Thanks Ainu Laire, I'm glad you enjoyed this story so much. I had a lot of fun writing it and coming up with a plausible scenario for why Legolas would be dead and how to bring him back to life. Playing chess for Legolas' fëa just seemed the right way to go. I had a very nice Christmas, thank you. I hope you had the same. | |
| Nikara | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/25/2007 |
| Awesome. In many, many ways. This was a very satisfying story. I loved getting to see Glorfindel do some of the things he was trained to during his time in Elf Interrupted. It seems that his control over the song of power is improving :) I absolutely loved the interaction between Namo and Estel. Very well played. Also, the side conversations were fun. A very good story. Thanks for such a nice Christmas gift! Author Reply: Thanks, Nikara. This story was inspired by Ingmar Bergman's classic film "The Seventh Seal" where a weary knight plays chess with Death. When I was thinking about the challenge of Legolas being hurt and needing rescue by Aragorn I asked myself what would be the ultimate rescue and this story came to light. I love to play chess though I'm not very good but I thought it would be fun to incorporate the game into the story and when I found "The Immortal Game" that was played in 1850,I knew I had my story. *grin* | |