Reviews (22)

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H'mm. Imladris was established in 1697 of the Second Age when Appendix B says - 'Eregion laid waste. Death of Celebrimbor. The gates of Moria are shut. Elrond retreats with remnant of the Noldor and founds the refuge of Imladris.' The Second Age then goes on until 3441. Elrond marries Celebrian in 109 of the Third Age with the twins arriving in 130 and Arwen in 241. Elrond certainly wasn't a Herald in the sense of being a chap with a trumpet who announced guests. I wonder if Tolkien meant it to be more the voice of Gil-galad - one who would go forth and speak for his king. Or then there is the College of Heralds - who are more (to my mind) the record-keepers for the aristocracy. I could see Elrond as the one who kept the written record of his people. Elrond was desperately young at the time of the War of Wrath, and any role he had then would have been, I suspect, symbolic, but by the Last Alliance he was 3500+ years old, scholarly and wise and he had been running Imladris for about 1500 years. He would have been far more than a figurehead. He was (I think without checking the family tree) Gil-galad's closest male relative and (probably) the person most likely to take up the kingship of the Noldor after Gil-galad's death. Gil-galad was - again probably - Fingon's son, while Elrond was Turgon's great-grandson. (Just talking Noldor bloodlines here.) Fingon and Turgon were Fingolfin's sons and Finwe's grandsons - and first cousins to Galadriel. In addition to his descent from the Noldor kings, Elrond is also the only elven descendant of Elu Thingol and Melian - through Luthien, Dior and Elwing. And that is ignoring his descent from the three houses of Men. His father, Earendil, was Lord of Sirion - before taking up his night job as Gil-estel. Elrond is more than qualified for being a Lord - although he is frequently referred to as Master Elrond. I do think Elrond needed Celebrian - she has had a fairly secure life with two strong parents protecting her and has grown up very secure, while Elrond was 'orphaned' very young and has already had a lot of abandonment and loneliness to deal with. And that makes knowing what happened to Celebrian very sad - but they did have 2500 years or so together before she had to sail - and they were reunited, even if their children did not sail and Arwen's choice meant that she never would. And at the moment they are fairly newly-wed and very happy. And Celebrian is determined to make Elrond relax and enjoy the little moments instead of concentrating on the big picture and his duty all the time. I think she'll succeed! He will have some very happy times to look back on when sadness comes.

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I do feel some things are best suggested - the imagination can fill in the rest quite easily! Celebrian is a delightful character - and I love the way Nilmandra portrays her - she is warm and outgoing and mischievous and yet an absolute rock for an elf who needed that more than anything. And although tragedy comes, they do have about 2500 years of happiness to bolster them against the bad times to come. Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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Thank you, Karen. I'm glad you liked it. I keep reminding myself that Elrond and Celebrian had 2500 years or so of happiness - and that they will be reunited (when I suspect their passion for each other will be even more intense - for a time, at least!) Elrond and Celebrian could relish the pleasure of being shallow together - because they both knew that underneath the shallow, they had depth like the Mariana Trench. And the opportunity to play must have been a revelation to Elrond, who (I think) was probably sober beyond his years from the time he was four. Possibly even before, if foresight struck him young. The dramatic irony of knowing that their love won't last - undamaged, anyway - is one of those things that makes their happiness now so very important and heart-rending. It takes me a while to get round to replying sometimes! (Some days just are !!!) I'm just happy you enjoyed the tale. These birthday stories are rather fun. ... I shall have to poke around and see if I can discover yours to add to the list!

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Well - that's surely a sign of good taste! Only to be compared to slightly-rougher-at-the-edges, half-naked, soaking wet, hair-unbound, playfully lustful Rangers! Elrond must have been giddy in the early years of marriage to Celebrian - unable to believe his luck and bemused that he had suddenly come home. I reckon he would have done his best to be dignified in public, but it wouldn't have taken Celebrian more than a touch to have turned him to jelly. Which could have been bad, I suppose, if she hadn't been as strong and loving and generous as he was. A dozen elflings seems a bit of an undertaking - but I do love to thing that, perhaps, once the twins returned to them, they might have gifted the Blessed Realm with an elfling or two who could grow up in peace and safety, without having to face the difficulties of the choice. Thanks, meckinock. I'm glad you liked it.

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Thank you! I think Elrond would be slightly astounded at his capacity for play - and have a tiny detached part of himself looking down and marvelling. Both at the play and at the sheer fantastic wonderfulness of having Celebrian devote herself to him. He had been without family for a long time - and having her twining her fea with his must have been heady stuff! I think they were joking about the dozen elflings though - more's the pity! A better birthday present than Gollum's? Less life-changing, certainly!

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Celebrian gave Elrond someone who really belonged to him - probably for the first time since Elros chose to become mortal. (I can't decide whether their bond would have weakened then or whether he felt Elros until his twin's death.) And elven bonds being what they were, for the first time since then, he will have known that he was not alone - something that then had 2500 years or so to grow before it got put on hold for 500 more years. I don't know that they were too serious about two dozen elflings ... it seems rather an excessive number. It would make me happy to feel that they perhaps extended their family a little in the Blessed Realm in the enthusiasm of being reunited - although I think Elrond might not have wanted to... I suppose elves could, I they liked, have extended two dozen elflings over several ages... But I think they were just joking!

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Elrond spent a long time alone. Friends, certainly - Glorfindel, Gil-galad, Erestor probably - lots of people who cared about him. But no-one who belonged - he's still learning to adjust to it, I think. Having let someone in behind his defences. Celebrian is much more confident - younger and having lost far less in her life. And they are having fun! Keeping warm in spite of the cold water!! I'm glad you liked it ... if you all - and Nilmandra - enjoyed it then I'm happy.

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Thank you, Redheredh. Elrond and Celebrian deserved a day away from being sensible and responsible. I love the way Celebrian releases Elrond's inner elfling - he hasn't much experience of the total trust that exists between the two of them. And he knows that he has that level of power over her - and that's good for him, too. An afternoon to remember!

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Elrond was wary, I think. Too many bricks dropped on him. But his trust in Celebrian - and his willingness to open out to her - was very good for him. I have to keep reminding myself that they had 2500 years or so of happiness to bolster them for the events that then separated them for 500. And they were reunited. And this afternoon would have been one of the jewels on the chain of memory. (I'm only surprised they packed up and went home...)

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Thank you, Gwynhyffar. Elrond grew to be rather cautious and reserved, I think. Life didn't give him many opportunties to think that everything would always turn out for the best. Celebrian, on the other hand, was a greatly treasured child - and less concerned about what anyone outside her own circle might think. She was determined to make this a day to remember - and I like to think she stirred up Elrond's Sindar side!

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A friend of mine once worked out that you needed to have five children to make up for the financial investment in baby stuff ... she changed her mind once she had kids and realised that a) they were exhausting b) they were bottomless money pits and c) these soft, helpless little creatures managed to destroy all the expensive baby gear so that it had to be replaced at intervals. I don't know that they were that serious about the two dozen ... and twins can be a bit of a steep learning curve. I like to imagine that they might have added an elfling or two to their collection when they were reunited - but I have a feeling Elrond might have been too wary. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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I picture Glorfindel and Celebrian working hard here to persuade Elrond to go off and enjoy his Sindar side. And Elrond and Celebrian have over two thousand years together to come at this point - and three gorgeous elflings to raise. I think, without that, Elrond would have found it close to impossible to endure the last 500 years of the Third Age. Sensuous and innocent... I like that! Thank you.

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I have a suspicion that Glorfindel and Celebrian had to work quite hard to get Elrond to abandon his responsibilities and take the time to play - but they succeeded and it became a golden moment for them. They have 2.5 millennia yet - to grow together and become so much part of each other that even their 500 year division could not really break them. And at least we know they were reunited. Happy birthday, Nilmandra - even if it isn't actually until tomorrow. (Mine? Day before the Queen Mother's. Although she's not celebrating hers any more.)

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I don't think he was too bothered by the fish - not with a handy Celebrian to divest of her clothing! The Third Age is new and hopeful, they are newly wed - and they are seizing the chance to be happy. I reckon Elrond took a while to give total trust - too many bad things had happened to him - but his wife is very good for him. (Glorfindel must be hopping with glee at this time!) And children are good for him, I think. Should have had a few more.... Maybe in the Blessed Realm. Mind you, there's a possibility that his experience made him better able to cope with their eventual division - and have faith that it would end. Maybe. Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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Thank you! Elrond and Celebrian deserve a happy excursion!

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They had the better part of the Third Age together - and I think that Celebrian's constant love was very important in helping Elrond deal with the losses he had suffered. She was a strong and secure elleth herself ... until the attack, anyway. And he was reunited with her in the Blessed Realm. (And I firmly believe their sons joined them - in their own time. Elrond knew how to wait - and how to take pleasure in what was available to him.) Thank you!

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Thank you. At least Elrond and Celebrian had about two and a half thousand years - and were then separated for about 500 before they were reunited. Elrond lost so many people who were important to him, that I'm glad he could have Celebrian as an (almost) constant. I think he became a lot happier elf for his relationship with his wife! (I'm flattered. Thank you again.)

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Thank you - I'm glad you think it came off! They have two and a half millennia of happiness - but this wouldn't be Tolkien if there weren't a sting in the tail. They will be reunited!

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The sorrow is a long way off - even in elven terms. It's getting on for an age away - 2500 years. And their years together must have given Elrond the strength to endure the years until they were reunited. I think Celebrian was very good for him.

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Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it!