Reviews (19)

Rhapsody · 5 April 2005 · Chapter 6: Instruments of Recovery

Oh this was just a very beautiful chapter. You have shown me how Harmony played the cello and even more, the way you wrote Elrond gave me the shivers. I could picture him sitting there.. just playing. The tenor range of her modified cello sang to her heart the most, calling to mind the kind Dunadain ranger who had sung to her for so many nights. This is almost poetry. I love the build up of this chapter, I realise she has to go trough the pain first to recover, but I had tears standing in my eyes when I read the final lines.. Another masterpiece!

lwarren · 26 March 2005 · Chapter 6: Instruments of Recovery

I am so VERY glad you decided to go back to this story! And a fine job you did with it, too, tho' it was too short! :-) Elrond is a such a complete healer here, not only dealing with the injuries of the body but also the injuries of the mind! I like the way he helped Harmony learn all that she could, too. But the ending, where he uses the music of her home to call those buried memories back was especially affecting. Bless her heart, I hope she will eventually find perhaps (????MAYBE????) that her little brother and sister survived that awful night. As for what Harmony still has to do, according to Elrond, you won't leave me in suspense too long, will you? (Not nice, precioussss, to leave your readers hanging on an evilllll cliffffffie...even it isssss a clifffff of different kindddd...) Great job! :-) linda

Rhapsody · 8 February 2005 · Chapter 5: Instruments of Healing

“Is there time for her? With all the evil moving ever faster in this world, will there be time for a small hobbit girl to heal?” A very important question! I hope Harmony does heal. Was Elrond using his gift of foresight? His 'prediction' of I have foreseen great music in her future. She is destined to accomplish a great deed in her way. This small hobbit girl will aid in the healing of the Shire, which will in turn complete her own healing. We will heal her in mind, body and spirit in preparation for that day. That is an amazing concept! So I hope you will write more chapters with Harmony. Tharon is off to the south (along with Leaward's Tarkil & Haldon ;)), but I hope he has a cameo once the war is over! I enjoyed this tale of yours and I hope you soon get your plotbunnies on track and write a new chapter!

Rhapsody · 8 February 2005 · Chapter 4: Instruments of Despair

Yes!!!! Thank goodness. I could just hug Tharon. I am not sure if Harmony will ever heal after what she has gone through.. or if she can live with her guilt regarding her parents and siblings. One can only hope, but I have to tell you this: I was glad finally a ranger or rangers stepped in. For a moment I though she would suffer more, but they just came in time..

Rhapsody · 8 February 2005 · Chapter 3: Instruments of Pain

They actually did it... I can't believe those men actually did it. This will be a trauma that will be with the kids for life... I cling on to the hope the little ones will survive... but with this weather? War was fought on many fronts, even in the Shire. I know Gondor and Rohan had the same suffering, so I somehow hope Harmony will make those men hurt.. badly.. She does get her vengeance? Or is she able to get away from them?

Rhapsody · 8 February 2005 · Chapter 2: Instruments of Evil

Oh my goodness. Such the opposite of your first chapter. I was hoping Harmony would get away, but since she grew up so peacefully and the Shire was protected for so long by the rangers... The fear and courage of Till. Poor Cord and Flute.. I had to admit that I was hoping for some kind of rescue, but the rangers are spread so thin or in the South. I need to read further... Sorry if I am rambling.

Rhapsody · 8 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Instruments of Tranquility

The song, our song, has not changed, but simply been added to, she is like tones simultaneous sounding which enriches our song. A beautiful introduction into the Lomesdown family. At first I thought it was a story that was about Iris, but something tells me this was just a prelude to Harmony's adventures! I almost clicked on next chapter, but I thought lets drop you a note first.

lwarren · 5 February 2005 · Chapter 5: Instruments of Healing

I really liked the way you portrayed Elrond in this chapter, and the use of music in bringing Harmony back to consciousness. The fact that Tharon also took part and was so adamant about staying til she awoke speaks volumes of his character and compassion. I really like this - I know exactly what you mean about a story changing and making things difficult to continue. I'm working on a chapter now for the story I'm doing and thought it was going one way, only to have things take a complete turn in a surprisingly new direction! I had to go research something that I feel absolutely must be a part...I have no idea how it will BE a part, only that it must...(HA!)...and there I am...thoroughly stuck! But, I have found that often if I just sit and go for what I think is there, I'll get enough down to lead me in the right direction. I may have to revise 50,000 times (LOL) but it eventually comes. I hope you give this a go...it has so much promise!!!! (And I looked back and saw that I have read and reviewed your story of the little orc who loved the light...I reread it and loved it even more! My very first story sounds like that one of yours...I sat down one afternoon and the thing practically wrote itself! I wish they were all that way!) Here's hoping to see ch.6 in the future!!! :-) linda

lwarren · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 4: Instruments of Despair

Yep, heavy duty smiting, that's exactly what was needed!!!! I did SO enjoy watching the Rangers (yay!!! the Ranger calvery to the rescue!!) make pin-cushions out of those 3 evil jerks! Tharon seems the heroic type - I like him already and was elated to see Elrohir and Elladan with this group headed for Rohan. (Hey, I take my 'elf-fixes' where I can get them!) :-) This was a much easier chapter to deal with - just as good - but easier because now Harmony is in the kind hands of those who only want to help her, and she is headed for the best healer around (BTW, you did a very good job of describing Harmony's slow slide into complete despair)! I'm glad the twins and Halbarad decided to send her on to Elrond. That is just another example of their noble, caring hearts that they would take the time to send one of their men with Harmony to Imladris. Wonderful! linda (ok, I'm gonna start badgering you NOW...you absolutely MUST finish this...........PLEASEEEEEEE?!)

lwarren · 1 February 2005 · Chapter 3: Instruments of Pain

A truly terrible and terrifying look at the evil men are capable of forcing on those weaker than they are. I can understand fully why Aragorn made the Shire off-limits to men in future years, even himself. Those poor babies, tied to that tree...and Harmony...and as for her parents, words fail me! Instruments of Pain is an apt title; I think I'll go cry now (it seems to be the night for sad, sad stories!) What we need now is some Rangers to do some heavy duty "smiting" when they see what's been done! Great chapter! linda

lwarren · 31 January 2005 · Chapter 2: Instruments of Evil

You just have to know that the Shire was harmed by those evil servants of Darkness if only because of Tolkien's choice of the word "Scourging" in the title...but to see it like this makes it even more terrible. That those so innocent and gentle could be so cruelly hurt, well, it's horrifying! You've done a very good job painting that picture of evil in those three big men (OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!...gee, that's kind of violent, too :-/ sorry...)and the fear that their appearance causes to the hobbits. Poor Till is just too naive and innocent to have any inkling of what these 3 are capable of, and Harmony, bless her heart, doesn't either or she would have taken to the woods and hidden until they left. Great chapter, great characterizations...but very very sad! linda

lwarren · 31 January 2005 · Chapter 1: Instruments of Tranquility

I just happened upon this story and when I read your intro I thought "Now that's not fair - I'll review it!" cause I know how I feel waiting for reviews and it is almost painful, isn't it? So I've started and I think this is great! I love music (have led praise and worship at church almost 15 years) and you have introduced such a lovely character in Iris, and a sweet, shy one in her husband. When the kids came along, I loved their names - so fitting for their mother, whom they complete (along with Till). They have such a happy life and now it looks as though the bad times are upon them. Don't be discouraged, you are a fine writer...I have all of a sudden happened on 3 different stories at this site that are non-canon character-centric (that's the long way of saying the main characters are OC's LOL) and they have turned out to be wonderful! I'm off to ch. 2.... linda :-)

Lera · 11 December 2004 · Chapter 5: Instruments of Healing

Sorry it's been so long! I've been celebrating finishing finals week at college. This is a good way to celebrate. First of all, how absolutely awful for Harmony! To ride away hearing your parents' screams, I was hoping they'd ride away fast enough for her to miss that. And she feels so guilty, I was afraid of that. Poor thing, even if she had jumped on bareback, she probably hasn't ridden enough to be able to stay on! I really like Tharon. Very cool name, very sexy, ranger-like. lol. He was so sweet with her, chasing away her bad dreams. And an excellant marksman with the bow, ahhh. lol. This is a good plot. I'm so excited she will play a part in healing the shire. Sort of a music therapist maybe? Lots of those at my school. I for one, completely believe in the practical power of music even today. I'm looking forward to seeing how you'll use it. Sometimes I think it's hard to write about a certain race without making them sound all the same, making an elf very different from a hobbit or whatever. But you write hobbits very well. They're so simple and loveable with such great strength. I was glad you didn't have Harmony immediately figure out what was going on and have her have all this "inside info" for Elrond, which would have made her very Mary Sueish. Rather, you kept to Harmony's story, which is such an interesting one in and of itself. Well, have a lovely Christmas and hope to read more soon!!!

Leaward · 27 November 2004 · Chapter 5: Instruments of Healing

I really like Tharon! But then maybe that's because I have such a fondness for Rangers. I'm glad to see Harmony arouse from her nightmares in Rivendell. And I'm glad you listened to your hubby and didn't keep her brother and sister in the fire. I'm hoping that's a good omen that she'll meet up with them again later.

Breon Briarwood · 26 November 2004 · Chapter 5: Instruments of Healing

phew! That's better! :D

Breon Briarwood · 16 November 2004 · Chapter 3: Instruments of Pain

@_@! *speechless*

Breon Briarwood · 8 November 2004 · Chapter 2: Instruments of Evil

*jawdrop!* Wow... I knew the scourging of the Shire had to start somewhere, but to think of the violence done to my favorite little people- *shudders* I do hope Harmony was able to get away!

Leaward · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 2: Instruments of Evil

I like the difference between the two chapters -- the tranquility of the first, the violence and fear of the second. And I love how you're following other hobbits' stories in their view of what's happening to their land. Poor little hobbits. Please let Harmony escape....

Lera · 26 October 2004 · Chapter 2: Instruments of Evil

Ohhh, this is so sad. I'm praying Til and Iris will be rescued, but at the same time it's more realistic if they aren't. At first I was wondering why you made a point of telling about the saddle, then I realised Harmony's probably never even been on a horse before. And now the poor girl has it in her mind that she could have saved her family if only she hadn't wasted time with that fool saddle! Poor sweatheart. Please upday quickly! This is very exciting. I'm enjoying seeing what was going on in the shire while the fellowship was away. At the end of the books, it says how the Cotton's are more concerned with getting the ruffians out than hearing about the ring war. That always frustrated me, but if things this terrible were happening, I'm given whole new insight. Their feelings are completely understandable. Hope to read more soon.