Reviews (376)

runnerbeast · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Oh this is so heart wrenchingly wonderful. You wrote the grief and pain Elrond experienced through his and Celebrian's bond while Celebrian was being attacked just beautifully. I mean it was horrifically great. Does that make sense? And my heart just goes out now to Elrohir... and Elladan especially, now experiencing the guilt over this. Oh what will happen next... and then "poof" the next half of the chapter appeared. yay! Great wonderful writing!

meckinock · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 5: The Lord of Abomination Part II

I can't tell you how relieved I was that they did NOT ride straight through. Three cheers for the eagle! Elladan is an unmanned rocket on the launch pad. He's not even back to Imladris yet and he's already blaming himself and anyone who gets within ten feet of him for everything from their shoe size to their choice of dinner entree. You're messing him up but good! It's OK, though. He has 500 years to get back to "fair and noble." His reaction to the role reversal - suddenly being given the role of rescuee instead of the rescuer - was picture perfect. There were so many great moments. I loved this transition: Elladan did not think he could sleep...... ....."Elladan, wake up." The image of Elrond waiting helplessly, knowing his wife was in agony and unable to do anything about it, was gut-wrenching, as was his reunion with her. Elrond seeing her wounds and imagining her in chains was somehow worse than the twins actually seeing her, I think, maybe because there was something they could do about it. I really liked the healers gathered around her, singing. Elrohir's simple anguish is just as heartbreaking as Elladan's...whatever is going on with Elladan. It was touching when Elrond forced him to submit to healing. Would not be gainsaid. No, I should think not! This sounds very ominous: Elrond found a comfortable position from which he could hold Celebrían’s hand. He had no idea how many frustrating days and nights he would spend there. Now, to the fun part (well, fun in comparison!) Yay, Aragorn, Gandalf, and the hobbits! (And Glorfindel, of course.) I liked seeing their arrival from Elrond's POV - the hobbits were completely interchangeable at that point. I liked how to him, it was just "one of the hobbits" who disapproved of Frodo being taken from his presence. I know who my money's on! I love the little gapfilling moments. Canon tells us that Sam wouldn't leave Frodo's side, but it's fun to see him insert himself in between Elrond and Frodo! I liked Elrond's premonition that Frodo would need him to succeed. And the cameo by Bilbo was sweet. The Temptation of Elrond was chilling. I never thought about what his reaction to seeing the Ring would be. I liked his conversation with Aragorn about the Ring's power, too, as well as the gentle comfort that Elrond provided Aragorn. Well, this chapter was a doozy. After reading HLII and seeing Elrond, Celebrian, and the family together and happy, it's hard to see the end of that. It's hard to see what this is doing to Elrond and E2. But you're doing it wonderfully.

French Pony · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 5: The Lord of Abomination Part II

I had some unexpected time today, and I am now caught up with this story. I am enjoying it muchly. I really like the way you write the relationships between different family members. Especially the twins -- I love that they really have two separate personalities and have their quarrels as well as their closeness. In fact, it looks like their closeness makes their quarrels that much more intense, and that really works well for the story.

daw the minstrel · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 5: The Lord of Abomination Part II

You really did such a nice job with Elladan's POV. We get insight into his suffering, which tells us about the impact of what's been done to Celebrian on everyone around her. And yet through Elladan's eyes, we see other people's reactions too. That's tricky to do and you do it well. The hobbits' arrival was also great. Switching voices for all these characters is fun. I particularly liked seeing Bilbo worried about Frodo.

shirebound · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 5: The Lord of Abomination Part II

“I have never seen Glorfindel as I saw him today. Had I known what he could become, I would have crossed him less as a child.” What a wonderful detail. I've often wondered how *every* person at the Ford saw Glorfindel. Actually, your chapter has me thinking a lot about Glorfindel, and what the Ring might have 'promised' him had *he* accompanied the Fellowship south. There are so many infinite stories in the Professor's Tale. (Of course you know I'm ecstatic that hobbits have entered HL at last, Nilmandra! Elrond is very kind and respectful to them, which is nice. I'm glad he got to know Bilbo over the past 17 years.)

TithenFeredir · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Wow, what an amazing chapter. You certainly pulled no punches and the effect was very powerful. To begin it with Elrond and Celebrian's lovemaking the night before her departure made it even more jarring when he was assailed by her distress. I think you portrayed their connection and his reaction extremely well. I also like the way Glorfindel took charge and enlisted Erestor to manage things in Imladris. There was such a feeling of urgency to that scene. When at last we find Celebrian her situation is just sickening. You didn't soft sell the brutality of the orcs and it heightened the horror of the scene so much. The terrible anguish of the twins was just as affecting as Elrond's but in a different way. I think you did a marvelous job of showing the magnitude of this event for everyone involved. The way you wrote this it all seemed very immediate and real. I was transported; it was truly gut-wrenching. Wow. Just...wow. ~TF

meckinock · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Wow. I know this one took a lot out of you, but it was worth it. Very powerful. I loved the beginning; getting to see Elrond and Gandalf working together to call down the flood was really a thrill. And I liked Elrond's knowledge that someone was coming with an evil wound. It was a nice segue into the attack on Celebrian. The love scene with Elrond and Celebrian was almost too hard to read, knowing what was about to happen and what they were about to lose. Elrond's reaction to Celebrian's distress was agonizing to watch, but I loved take-charge Glorfindel and good soldier Erestor. I liked the way E2 supported each other. Their frantic gathering of arrows in anticipation of going after the orcs was a nice touch; they know that they'll need them. The horror of hearing their mother screaming was, well, horrible, and it spiked the tense of tension and urgency to an unbearable level. I was so relieved when Celeborn showed up, even though it was terrible for him to see what had been done to his daughter. I don't know if I can bear to read any more, but on the other hand I can't wait to...

Nikara · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Wow. What a chapter. You really capture the thoughts and voice of the characters. I can't wait til the next section!

perelleth · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Mmm, reading won over laundry and now I'm wondering whether I packed the machine properly... as I was busy mulling over this chapter.:-) It is very well done, and I'm very interested in your choices, since this is a situation canon deals with in one or two lines... I had never considered that the twins were with the escort, nor that Celeborn would be waiting for them at the Pass, but everything seemed perfectly in place to me, and the fact that the twins were there only adds more pain and suffering to their wandering and revenge- seeking lives after that. I dread to think how Elladan's going to cope with guilt.. The ambush and the battle were vividly detailed, as well as the deaths of the guards. Wasn't Garthon the one who was with Elladan, Elrohir and Glorfindel in the trip to Mithlond in HLII? Celeborn was superb here! go you! I shudder to think how much that cost him! It is funny to wonder what Tolkien thought of ELrond, considering that he turned back to rewrite the Silm when he finished writing LOTR, and seeing what a pivotal role Elrond had been given in the unfolding of the events of the third age, after so much sacrifice, bereavement and struggle. Such a decisive character and so little told about him. The perfect mix, I believe, for now he is coming alive thanks to your skill!

TithenFeredir · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Man of Skill

Again, the warmth among the elves in Elrond's house was wonderful. I loved the twins' insisting on bringing tea to Gilraen's room, (two deadly elven warriors serving an aging woman...probably very gently), and Glorfindel yelping when she tweaked his ear. I hadn't really thought about it being a sacrifice for Elrond to open his heart to Aragorn or the pain he would feel upon revealing Estel's true identity to him. "He embraced him, holding him close for a moment, for he knew it was the last time he would hold Estel." That bit was so poignant and beautifully understated. This is a wonderful story. ~TF

shirebound · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Oh Nilmandra, this must have been agonizingly difficult to write! What a dreadful, dark time for all of Imladris, and now Elrond must work on Frodo with these memories assailing him. I really like the way you equated both the Nazgul and the Ring as "evil cloaked". And oh my goodness, this was amazing: Glorfindel grasped his hand, and then placed Erestor’s hand over it, ensuring that Erestor felt the invisible ring. “This is of great benefit to Imladris, and right now to Celebrían. It must not fall into the hands of the enemy, nor Elrond while he bears it – at any cost. You bear my duty in my absence.”

perelleth · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Man of Skill

Hey! you hurried up this week! less than five days away and now I'm TWO chapters behind! Great!! I liked seeing the battle through Elladan's pov. You do not write him so often, and it was good to hear his voice, so different from Elrohir's... you seem to have captured them nicely ad they both have grown up to fine adults. The way they're caring for Estel shows it. And Estel was great, composed, self assured but modest, and succeeding in the test ufailingly and with the same modesty and dignity that shall go with him his entire life. I think you've made a perfect exercise of showing how much he has learned and how ready he is to embrace his heritage. And that scene was so moving. Returning Gilraen's son to her, and to their people, must have been so hard for Elrond! But, what i'm enjoying above all in this story is the time you've devoted to recreate those missing parts in the book. What was going on in Imladris as the events took place elsewhere was somethng i had always tried to picture. I loved the beginning, the sense of uneasiness, Elrond watching from the porch, so immersed in the approaching evil that he's unable to recognize the song of MIthrandir's ring. Mithrandir, with his hat askew and tired beyond words was perfectly rendered, and their conversation was exactly as I had imagined it. The good thing about fanfiction, i believe, is that one can enjoy even more, because is aware of more things. Facing this apparent calmness and hidden tension in secluded Imladris and knowing the dread, danger and horror the hobbits and Aragorn are facing makes it all even more meaningful by contrast. Glorfindel's departure was so well managed, too. I just wonder, have you got any idea as to whom else Elrond must have sent away? I kind of remember Glorfindel saying that there are few in Imladris that can face the nine, and those Elrond sent away, or something like that...any clue? ;-) Now, on to the next cahpter, although the summary makes me cringe... Such good job Nilmandra!

LOTR lover · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

What a harrowing, god-awful chapter to read--it must have been worse to write it! Poor Celebrian, poor whole loving family now torn apart. And you wrote it so well! Harrowing but not graphic, highly emotional but not over-the-top. Kudos for your skill as a writer, Nilmandra. Amazing highlights: *Elrond's physical reactions to knowing what must have happened and his sharing of Celebrian's pain as he tries to go to her. *Glorfindel's actions, especially his putting Erestor's hand over Elrond's so he can feel the presence of Vilya, and Erestor's reaction. *The explanation of what happened to the twins, their individual responses to the losses of their friends and their mother's torment, and Elladan's extra burden of guilt that this had all happened on his watch. *Celeborn's reactions to seeing his daughter in such straits. Wow. Just wow.

Radbooks · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Incredibly moving and leaves me full of sorrow for all members of the family. Very well done, Nilmandra.

elliska · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Wow, this is really intense. Elrond's reaction was really well done. That he has such a clear feeling of what is happening to his wife is exactly as I picture an elven bond but it horrible at moments like this. It must be a very small comfort to him that he can give her strength and be a refuge for her. I liked Glorfindel's response to what was happening was excellent--it's hard to say, but that might have been my favorite part of the chapter. I really like seeing Glorfindel and Erestor as such strong leaders/friends for Imladris and for Elrond. And the whole part from the twin's POV! That was really scary, intense, horrible...it's impossible to describe adequately. You did an excellent job portraying their emotions and making us feel them too. I love that you had Celeborn appear. I think a lot of people forget him in this situation. This was his daughter. He was great here--so strong. Geez--hurry with the next chapter! I have to go try to read this again more slowly.

daw the minstrel · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

This was some very grim stuff and you did it well. Seeing it from Elladan's POV is almost too much to bear, but then I supposed anyone's POV would be. In rereading it here, I was struck by Celeborn's strength. How much he must have wanted to go with them. He must have been torn.

Mum's the Word · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

I won't duplicate here what other reviewers have said much better than I could. I do think you've chosen wisely to break the chapter where you did, to give us readers a chance to deal with this much of the blow. The title of your chapter is, as always, most appropriate: Not only is the attack and torture of Celebrian an abomination, but the Black Riders' attempt to breach the borders of Imladris is also an abomination, as Imladris is the Last Homely House, a sanctuary from the evils of Middle-earth and a place where evil is not supposed to abide. Thank you also for the strength and power you show in Arwen. Elrond may think she inherits all of this from her mother's side, but her ability to strengthen his spirit and to offer healing is a gift from him as well. It's so good that he has learned to release his pain through her; adult children can be a great support for their parents. However, that additional bond would indeed be painful to sever. I do wonder when that would have taken place; perhaps when Arwen actually wed Aragorn, or perhaps not until Elrond set sail. As for Elladan and Elrohir, although I know they did hunt orcs for many years to avenge their mother's attack, I do hope you'll help Elrond help them to forgive themselves as they would forgive others who might have been in the same situation. Bless you, Nilmandra, for your successful handling of this most difficult subject. Mum

Jay of Lasgalen · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

What a horrible chapter. Elrond's awareness of something wrong, then feeling Celebrían's terror and fear was wonderfully done. It's surprising how tense the whole scene is, bearing in mind we all know what happened already. From Tolkien's words that Celebrían 'was pursued and rescued by Elladan and Elrohir', I always pictured them as part of her escort. They couldn't really 'pursue' her from Imladris. The rescue is very tense and dramatic, and the twins' alternating emotions of shock, fear, numbness and blind fury very well done. Please hurry with the second half! Jay

Bejai · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Oh! My heart dropped when I realized that you were going to take us into this part of the story so soon, although I suppose it makes sense as a parallel with Frodo. Celebrian's experience gets two lines in canon, and when you stop to think about it, those two lines are full of agony for Tolkien's characters. It's just horrible and gut-wrenching, although you've written it with great skill and tact. Still, it is hard to read, particularly because of the wonderful family relationships you've written in your earlier stories. I do hope you post the next part soon, although it isn't going to get any easier. *weeps*

Bodkin · 21 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

the second part will be posted in the next few days. Before Monday, please! I'm going away and can't bear to leave Celebrian in quite this state. Horrible. Horrible, horrible. You do horrible just as well as you do light and loving. Elrond was very lucky to get anyone back from this attack - and it's hardly any surprise that they were all changed. The images of Celebrian in the hands of the orcs are frightening, and you can feel the twins' breathless desperation - and the urgency of those dashing to the rescue. And I've returned here as the best place to write about Elrond's bond with Celebrian and the effect on him of the attack on her - he's living with her pain and yet unable to help and lost to his surroundings. Just how dreadful that must have been. And yet - you can see how such a bond (even if not-Vilya enhanced in others) would lead to partners fading - unable to endure the agony of living the torment or death of those they love. Poor Elrond - sitting in Imladris with these memories visiting him. I'm so glad he has Arwen to offer him her love and strength. And I like the thought of her being heir to the courage and strength - and compassion - of Celebrian, Celeborn and Galadriel, too. I can see that. The strength to accept exile from her family because it's right. I like seeing the power of Elrond enhanced by Gandalf as they dismiss the Ulairi like the scum they are - (I wonder what it feels like to have all three rings working together?)- and Elrond's anxiety as the evil-touched Frodo approaches the heart of his power. And Celeborn - reined in and controlled and in charge. What an elf! This is so powerful. Too horrible for easy words. But good.

Dreamflower · 20 July 2005 · Chapter 4: The Lord of Abomination

Wow, this is really intense! Now I can breathe!

Radbooks · 19 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Man of Skill

Another terrific chapter, Nilmandra. You did an excellent job of showing the pain Gandalf and Elrond felt at Saurman's betrayal. The frustration of looking back and wondering, what if we had done this or that and wondering when he had turned away. I had never thought about Elrond being so intertwined with the ring that he could never go back to being as he was before. I hope and believe that that to could be healed in Valinor. The reactions of the rangers to Estel was very moving, to see their leader back after all those years and testing him out and being pleased with the job Elrond and everyone had done teaching him. And to see the joy of a young man, excited about his future, when you know that the life ahead of him is going to be full of hardship and sorrow, somehow just moved me. Then Elrond hugging 'Estel' for the last time... were you just trying to make me cry in this chapter? ;) And you haven't even gotten to the really tough things with Celebrian! But I just feel so for Elrond, knowing all the things he has gone through and here is another loss for him... even if it's just a, I don't know, a partial loss. Though, of course, he will still lose him in the end. sigh. Very well done and I eagerly await the next chapter!

Karri · 18 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Man of Skill

Excellent chapter, nilmandra! I really enjoyed Gandalf's perspective on things (always wondered what was going on elsewhere as Tolkien showed us the hobbits.) Have to admit it made me a little teary when Aragorn meets the rangers and his grandfather stays apart from the group to gather himself. Very good! :-)

Harrowcat · 17 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Man of Skill

I don't know how I missed this Nilmandra as I love seeing Elrond in fics. Your vision of him is great and I have just read all three chapters straight through. Can't wait for more!

Jay of Lasgalen · 17 July 2005 · Chapter 3: Man of Skill

Great to see an update! I liked how you showed how much Aragorn had learned from the twins and Glorfindel about strategy and battle skills - and leadership. He came up with a well thought out plan of attack, and clearly impressed Halbarad and the other rangers. It was interesting to see the battle from Elladan's POV - as he was not participating it gave us an overview that would have been missing had he been fighting himself. BTW, I like the name of the OC ranger they first encoutered! Jay