Coriel
· 13 January 2004
· Chapter 18: A Turning Point
Another wonderful, wonderful chapter! Your depth continues to amaze me.
I see a flicker of hope for Orophin! But Oswy is in some serious trouble. Still, your handling of the Celeborn/Galadriel dynamic was breathtaking yet again. The moment the Ring was destroyed was amazing, and needless to say, when she came to with Celeborn ready to slit her throat I sat a bit stiffer in my chair. And I can just imagine him lighting up like a kid at Christmas to know that horrid ring-fiasco was over and done with! NOW we can get back to things he understands! And then he leaves Galadriel all by herself in the cold! Here is illustrated again the difference between men and women. ;)
I only hope I can do Lasgalen justice after what you've done for Lorien. :)
Coriel
· 13 January 2004
· Chapter 17: Many Injuries
Poor, poor Orophin! I had always imagined Haldir would be the most likely to be picked off, but now it seems he'll be the one left with the regrets. A great bit of verse there at the end, by the way. Orophin seems ever the considerate one, even while he's dying.
:`)
Coriel
· 10 January 2004
· Chapter 16: Some Successes
Now we have gentle Celeborn just after furious and cold Celeborn. As cool as the first two were, I especially like the last one, rational in the face of maddness, telling poor Oswy "you really don't want to do this."
OK, I get the feeling Khamul was not exactly the one I thought he was. But I have another question. I know about Celebrian, but did she have a sibling? That would be news to me, but I haven't exactly made a study of that family. Another great chapter overall.
Coriel
· 10 January 2004
· Chapter 15: The Challenge
Whoa, a rather decisive battle sequence there. Perhaps I'm not wholly clear on my ringwraiths, but it seems to me Khamul had better get his things back together soon if he wants to attend the siege of Minas Tirith and do the whole thing again. Another fell beast bites the dust.
I see Celeborn keeps his cool under fire, at least once he gets back in the game. Was this bit by any chance inspired by Eowyn? That seems a popular scene for re-adaptation to whomsoever is a favorite, from one who is admittedly guilty of trying the same thing. :)
So now Oswy and Celeborn have both saved each other's lives for one day, though the boy may have to think a while about his close-call. Typical of Celeborn not to mince words. Some considerable food for thought.
Coriel
· 9 January 2004
· Chapter 14: Downfall
Oh no! Haldir is certainly in a bad way, but since I've already seen a non-canonical death for him, it won't surprise me if he goes that way here. But now Calandil has followed Beleg; it seems that my new favorite characters get picked off fairly quickly!
Anyway, besides all that, you are turning me absolutely green with all these great and cool descriptions of Celeborn. I particularly like that bit, "At that Celeborn smiled, like the gleam on the edge of a sword." Aaa! I simply HAVE to keep that theme in mind and see if I can't do much the same for Thranduil without being a copycat. ;)
Unfortunately, time presses, and I can't go read the next chapter yet. If only this weren't a school day!
Coriel
· 8 January 2004
· Chapter 13: Without Hope
Ah, not Celeborn the Wise for nothing! A Sindarin warrior-lord with a lot of good sense, and a strong faith besides. Galadriel's blessed to have him around. :)
Keep your wits about you next time, Haldir. Things certainly don't look good from this point. Thankfully for everyone, Sauron is so spread out trying to conquer every other realm at once that he can't be quite as overwhelming as he should like in any one place. And if it is this ugly already, it staggers the imagination to wonder what it would have been like to have them trounced one at a time and with full force.
Coriel
· 8 January 2004
· Chapter 11: Vulnerability Discovered
I like Calandil too! Optimistic Elves are always nice to have around in a crisis.
Again, another great scene of these two alone together. You bring out their complementary differences very well, where others would be tempted to lump them together into one Celeborn&Galadriel entity. And what a very clear and thoughtful description of Celeborn's reticence to "surrender" to the West; now I'll understand his position much better when I have to illustrate it later. Paradice for one is not necessarily Paradice for all.
And here we also see the mixed blessing of foresight, or whatever you want to call it. Sometimes it is better not to see and risk misinterpreting what is seen, as the others learned by Denethor's sordid example. Thankfully, the Elves kept their heads longer than he did regardless of what they thought had happened.
Coriel
· 7 January 2004
· Chapter 10: The Sortie
Now how impressive was that! Celeborn on warhorseback was cool enough, but you painted a very vivid picture of a rampant elf-lord, just about my favorite thing in M-e. And the charge itself was beautiful. I was relieved to see they accomplished their end after all, and Galadriel can breathe easier now for, oh, a few minutes at least until something else happens. ;)
Orcs as cockroaches always makes a wonderfully creepy analogy, enough to get any elf's dander up. Poor Elian didn't last long, but she certainly went for a worthy cause.
Coriel
· 6 January 2004
· Chapter 9: All Ablaze
And so here they are at loggerheads again! I can see where they may have trouble seeing eye to eye regarding what was important, coming from different backgrounds. What a impressive image of Celeborn arming himself! Now you have succeeded in bringing him alongside Thranduil in my mind as a tough-guy-at-need who will not be ridden roughshod over, not just someone who sits back and gives orders; the stark opposites of, shall we say, the "Denethor-type". The two of them together must be a barrel of fun; if Oropher was rather a sourpuss where Celeborn and Galadriel were concerned, I like to think that Thranduil at least understood Celeborn better than that.
Coriel
· 31 December 2003
· Chapter 8: Recovery and Threat
What a nice elven tension breaker! My elven parties seem to lack certain somethings, so I'll try to remember the lesson. :)
And yes, very rude of Khamul to turn up without an invite. So far Sauron's airborne division hasn't had much luck, what with being shot down and fended off at every turn. ;)
Coriel
· 27 December 2003
· Chapter 7: New Understandings
So Oswy finally has a job to do. We'll see how he likes it.
It is nice to see a few sparks of Doriath that still endure, notably the one in Lorien, and the other in Lasgalen I would point out. ;)
Certainly two elvenlords to be reckoned with.
Coriel
· 27 December 2003
· Chapter 6: Testing the Wards
Hm, a female captain; something I did not expect. I generally try to avoid that sort of thing, but that may just be me.
I can see how Celeborn might be uncomfortable with the parallels to Doriath, considering how the other fared. And the same was true of Lorien in the end. That, I guess, is the trouble with maintaining a realm by extraordinary means.
And what a vivid if brief image of Thingol!
Coriel
· 24 December 2003
· Chapter 5: It Begins
Oh. What a quandary. I'm glad I'm not in Erethon's position.
Coriel
· 24 December 2003
· Chapter 4: Coming to Rest
I like the way you've marked the Elves' love for children. It seems they would have a soft spot for such. And the bear analogy was just what I would expect from someone like Galadriel. I hate to think what would have happened if someone had laid unwelcome hands on little Celebrian. ;)
I can't see what else the Elves can do to prove their good will. Trust must come in time, I suppose. Considering their feelings toward the little ones, I can imagine the accusations against them in that regard are the worst.
Coriel
· 24 December 2003
· Chapter 3: The Lord of Lorien
Nice to see everyone getting along now. I think it was best that Oswy be introduced to Celeborn first and be acclimated gradually to what goes on around there. I suppose Galadriel will come later.
Since I think on a more elven level, I forget how disconcerting they can be for Men, especially if the latter is in the minority. Hopefully Oswy will soon admit that they're not as bad as he thought. :)
Coriel
· 24 December 2003
· Chapter 2: Into the Trees
It seems poor Oswy has a lot to learn, but no one can really blame him, considering the kind of reputation Lorien has in Rohan. Mankind has a notoriously short memory. :)
I really enjoyed your descriptions of the forest. Dang, now you've got me all excited to do a parallel type thing in Lasgalen, though the view would not be half so lovely. ;)
Ah, well, I'll have to think about that later . . .
Coriel
· 24 December 2003
· Chapter 1: The Flight of the Oshelmingas
Ooo, random refugies! How interesting. I have a feeling they're likely to be pleasantly surprised by what they find in the Golden Wood. :)
Orophins Dottir
· 23 December 2003
· Chapter 19: For the Lady!
I breathe again. You have not yet killed Orophin. I do not trust you completely, but at least I am still breathing. Go get 'em, Haldir!
I thought this was a particularly lovely turn of phrase:
"He felt as a child feels when its mother comes in at night with a candle - look, that crouching orc in his chamber is shown as a clothes chest, that glimmer of eye only a reflection of moonlight from a buckle."
Race you to Dol Guldur?
Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil
Coriel
· 23 December 2003
· Chapter 0: Many Farewells
Mmm, I like that. I need to read more of this to get to know these two better; I don't know either of them half as well as I do Thranduil, though I did like Galadriel's observation of Celeborn's occasional resemblance to him and his father.
It certainly seems that these two have their fair share of underlying problems, but so does everyone else. So nice they way they are mature enough to admit their own faults without making a huge argument out of it. I've read the latter too often.
I'll be back later for more when I have the time!
Orophins Dottir
· 11 December 2003
· Chapter 18: A Turning Point
If someone will but point me to the Sundering Seas, I shall jump into them! I have not hope left for my gentle Orophin!
"Has not our whole life together been lived on borrowed time?" Celeborn, my fair Celeborn! Galadriel! Ai, just point me to the next boat leaving! Haldir, Orophin and Rumil shall book passage with me.
Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil (who will not be best pleased at these foul developments. He had thought he had yet an appointment to meet Celeborn sometime in April?)
Orophins Dottir
· 2 December 2003
· Chapter 17: Many Injuries
Oh, Noooooooo!!! NOT Orophin. *Falls into a dead faint only to be revived by a memory of faint hope that a certain lady has given her. There is always hope!*
Despite harrowing up my soul by endangering or saddening every one of my favorites, I did love this chapter. I shall have to re-read it when calmer.
"Then a foreknowledge of his own death came over Orophin and, as the monster shuffled closer, fear and grief fell away from him, leaving him calm, alone, in a moment of utter stillness. He forgot all but the beauty of skill, the rightness of the pull of his bow and the glory of arrowflight - straight and sure."
The wren comforting an eagle. So many beautiful images.
I think I shall just tiptoe off and weep a bit.
Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil
Orophins Dottir
· 2 December 2003
· Chapter 16: Some Successes
Hooray! An update at last! I would accuse you of lateness but you are generous with two chapters (or did I miss one as I traveled?) so you are absolved.
Love Galadriel. How powerful and yet so sad. You really did break my heart with her.
Orophins Dottir
· 14 November 2003
· Chapter 15: The Challenge
I am in awe of your battle scenes for they are most difficult to write as I well know. And Orophin does well here despite his youth. For this, I am grateful for too oft is he either neglected or killed off to provide the necessary object for his brother's grief.
Now, I entreat you to update soon for I would know what happens next!
Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil
Orophins Dottir
· 14 November 2003
· Chapter 7: New Understandings
"And every time I hold it I know that Doriath yet endures, if only in me." THAT is beautiful!
I also loved Galadriel's acknowledgement that if Celeborn comes to the West after her it will be worthless unless it is his choice.
Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil
Orophins Dottir
· 14 November 2003
· Chapter 4: Coming to Rest
The Rohirrim are nicely done, suspicious but still somehow open. They make a fine counterpoint to the elves in the perspective of the story.
I like very much the "this twilight Lord" description of Celeborn.
Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil