Haleth
· 25 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
Finrod must grow to maturity very, very quickly and this is just the beginning of his trials. Finarfin, the stern father, can only guess what is in store for his children. The characterizations are completely in keeping with Tolkien's depictions of them. The sadness, diappointment and confusion are palpable.
It makes me wonder what they would say to each other when they met again after Finrod was released from Mandos?
Author's reply
Thank-you, Haleth.
I think all of the Noldor lost their inocence somehow at that time -as well as the Teleri- Safe and protected and quite unconcerned about external dangers, relying on the overpowerful Valar, they were suddenly confronted with the defeat of their "heros" and each reacted different to that loss, I think.
It makes me wonder what they would say to each other when they met again after Finrod was released from Mandos? A good point! :-) Personally I believe they both had reached a level of understanding and enlightenment that made it unnecesary talking about it. But that's my humble opinion... :-)
Ellie
· 8 January 2007
· Chapter 2: The Mirror of Galadriel
I like that Finrod gave her the ring to keep instead of taking it back. Nice resolution to three ages of oath. Well done!
Author's reply
He was a generous, caring big brother to the end, wasn't he? THank-you again.
Ellie
· 8 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
I love Finarfin fics and this one is excellent. I like the way you portray him and Finrod both in this most uncomfortable of circumstances. Well done!
Author's reply
Thank-you, Ellie. IT is true, there are few stories starring Finarfin, and this was a hard moment for father and son. I believe that remaining in Valinor tok a great deal of courage, even more than departing, I'd say, but he was a worthy son of FInwe after all...
Ellie
· 8 January 2007
· Chapter 1: The Ring Goes West
This is wonderful! Love the emotion it evokes from the Lady. I can only imagine what it will be like be her to return the ring to Finrod. Well done!
Author's reply
Thank-you Ellie. This surely was a powerful moment for the Lady...
Bodkin
· 4 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
Wonderful scene - one on which I've thought from time to time. I reckon it took far more courage for Finarfin to go back than for him to follow his family and go on. But, little though he wanted to, Finarfin recognised that Finrod had to go on - and the ring that ties Aragorn to his elven ancestors and binds him to Galadriel even before he was betrothed to Arwen.
What a completely dreadful time this must have been. A sort of nuclear winter, really - dropped from light and joy to almost total devastation and misery. I wonder if many elves gave up and faded. Seems quite likely.
But not Finrod - who was a child no more - or Finarfin who had the courage to choose a path that divided him from all his family.
At least we know that Finrod walks again with his father in Eldamar. Or words to that effect.
Author's reply
Thank-you, Bodkin. I hope you are having a good week.
I have also thought about this parting many times, and I had drafted the scene in different moments along the way, but in the end it was simply a crude sad parting that could not have been happy, nor hopeful. And I agree with you. Finarfin's decision took great courage.
Redheredh
· 3 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
Oh, the ending was powerful. ...dispossessed of his innocence... Both of them.
I liked how you used the two rings to illustrated Finrod's understanding of his responsibilities. And what would come of them. Also, that his father would not bless him in either case and it hurt. With the first he was forced back into childhood and second forced out of it. Very intriguing...
You ask if Finrod would give his father's ring to Barahir. I would say even more likely, if as you have depicted it, it does represent Finrod's kingship. Besides being a pledge of honor, his setting aside his crown for the sake of that honor is foreshadowed by giving the ring away.
Author's reply
I'm glad that you liked it... IT was a parting that always made me wonder. The eagerness for adventure and the unknown against the wisdom of one who does not fool himself. Poor Finarfin.
I too thought that Finrod would give it away, even if that was his father´s ring. It had more of a sentimental value than political, I suspect, and , as you suggest, it would mean a very powerful promise on his part.
I had trouble with Finarfin not blessing his son, but in the end I thought that would have been too much to ask from a father indeed, so he gives him his loving and kind wishes but not a blessing.
Thank-you for finding time. :-)
French Pony
· 3 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
Nice job. Both Finrod and Finarfin come across as distinct, real people who have seen the same horrors, but have interpreted them in very distinct ways. There's a real sense of separation growing between them, from the beginning to the end. Finarfin seems as though he's spent his time slowly realizing that he must be the King of the Noldor, primarily because no one else seems to want to do it, and he will do what it takes to grow into the job. I loved Finrod's horror at the thought that his father might abandon the people on the journey. He takes it personally and sees it as an abandonment of himself. Yet the reality is at once so much harsher and so much kinder, as Finarfin makes him a Lord in his own right, stripping him of anything he could lean on, while making it clear that Finrod is still his beloved son.
Author's reply
Thank-you, FP.
I like what you say, that they interpreted the same events under different lights, for it is very true, I think.
Finrod was moved from the very beginning by Feanor's words, and he dreamed of distant lands, mainly due to his Telerin side, while Finarfin could see the futility of it all, from the "legal" practical pov and his half Vanyarin mind, and could not understand that his children could actually fall for Feanor's high words. It was a tough rite of passage for Finrod, but not wholly deprived of love, despite the grief and bitterness between father and son. And I think that Finarfin proved himself a worthy son of Finwë when he decided to remain. It was a tough decision, I suspect.
daw the minstrel
· 2 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
Your stories are always so insightful, Perelleth. You see these moments when people must have had to struggle to decide what was right and then live with their choices, and you give them to your readers so convincingly. Both father and son are suffering here. You show them well.
Author's reply
Thank-you, Daw. I fear I'm becoming monotonous! But that is what hooks me in Tolkien, hope, choices, consequences, price to pay, endurance and strength to stick to decisions. Mainly when I find myself in difficult situations.
This parting must have been so grievious to witness, mostly for the father, I fear.
Nilmandra
· 2 January 2007
· Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
This was really well done, Perelleth. I have often wondered what it was like for Finarfin to decide to repent and return, and have none of his children follow him. This shows the depth of the conflict going on in their hearts and I really like the sundering as you show it - that Finarfin would not give his blessing, only his ring and leadership of his house in exile. Finrod's youth comes through well too - he is full of adventure and misplaced pride and sadly, must make his own choices and live with the consequences.
I assume Finarfin could have commanded his children or any of his house to stay. He shows great strength of character in letting them go. And his hope that Mandos be gentle with his son at the end... that was tough.
Author's reply
Thank-you, Nilmandra, I'm so glad you found it fitting!
This parting also had me wondering. There must have been sadness and bitterness. Obviously Finarfin would have expected his childrenn, at least some of them- to follow him, to see things as he did, and it must have been tough for him, though he reacted as a true son of Finwë, seeing his duty and sticking to it, despite all. While allowing his children the freedom to make msitakes. Tough.
I was doubtful about the blessing. I'm not a mother, but I cannot imagine Finarfin blessing his son when he felt he could not agree with a choice that would bring so much grief to all. HE could not know what good would arise from Finrod's choice, but at that moment I believe he had reached his limit. Poor father. Remaining is much harder than departing, I have found at times.
Larner
· 2 January 2007
· Chapter 2: The Mirror of Galadriel
Love to see this reunion, and to know that Finrod so honors Frodo.
Author's reply
Thank-you! I'm tickled pink that you picked up that! No other reader chose that small part, and it was one I particularly liked. I like to think that, wonderful elf as he is, Finrod would have been thrilled to meet the one who had saved Middle-earth from Sauron's sway, and eager to honour him.
Larner
· 2 January 2007
· Chapter 1: The Ring Goes West
Ah, a wonderful disposition for that particular ring. And the love of the Elves for the mortal lands and their inhabitants shall never truly end, not as long as Finwe's descendants remain in them.
Author's reply
Thank-you Larner! I am glad that you liked it! The long line reunited in Aragorn and Arwen is impressive, as are the hopes that their union borught to Middle-earth.
Redheredh
· 26 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
What a great moment you have depicted here! I love that you used Elfhelm in it as a member in good stead with her family! You captured Eowyn actual youth, yet showed her real courage. You created a tender and stern story, just like they themselves would have to be.
But ah! There is also that lovely sense of humor you never fail to tap. Extra food for Merry! :D
Wonderful little filler scene, this.
Author's reply
Thank-you Redheredh!
I am quite fond of Elfhelm. He comes across as a very competent, agreeable and brave officer of quite high rank. He was the Captain of the muster of Edoras, so he, and Theodred and Hama must have felt the full weight of Theoden's decline. And I suppose that he must have known Eomer and Eowyn since they wre born, and more closely since they moved to Edoras...Eowyn placed him in a difficult position and I was sure he had something to tell her...
And he was not very kind to Merry, so he had to make up for that as well, and what better present fo a hobit than food? ;-)
I'm glad to hear form you. I hope you had a happy Thanksgiving.
harrowcat
· 25 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
This is brilliant Perelleth! I haven't read too many fics where Eowym is taken to task for her decision and this mixture of censure and forgiving comradship is great. And not enough food for Merry! *g*
Author's reply
Thank-you, Harrowcat!
Elfhelm was relieved that it was not his task to judge Eowyn's deeds, but still he had some *words* to exchange with her as a friend. I'm glad that it came out believably. And he was kind to think of the poor Merry starving in the Houses;-)
Larner
· 23 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
To see the healing begun is itself a blessing, for healing begins when one can first begin seeking it for others.
Author's reply
Yes, it was a first step for Eowyn, first meeting the steward and then confronting the consequences of her deeds. Glad that you liked this, Larner, and thank-you for your kind words.
Linda Hoyland
· 23 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
Very well written about a part of Eowyn's story that tends to be overlooked.
Author's reply
Thank-you, Linda. Glad that you liked it.
Bodkin
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
I'm glad that Elfhelm came to bring Eowyn to some realisation that things were going on beyond her own personal angst. And that not everyone can be one of the Death-or-Glory boys - there is great worth in other forms of service. Elhelm seems a source of strength in her life, too - one to whom she looks for approval, whether she knows it or not. She could do with a bit of an ... uncle-figure at the moment. I daresay those tears were very therapeutic! And now she can shrug on the role of the last of her House working with the residual Rohirrim to prepare a last defence.
And get to know a certain Steward. (Which has always been one of my favourite parts of the book.)
A great encounter. I love Elfhelm here.
Author's reply
Thank-you, Bodkin.
I think I have given Eowyn a hard day. First she encounters the Steward and complains because of her chambers and then confronts the marshall and sees the whole extent of her "deed"...
Elfhelm was for long the Captain of Edoras muster. I really like that character, who comes out, if briefly, as an efficient and practical man, who must have stood very hard times seeing his lord under Grima's will, and seeing Theodred being displaced, then killed, and seeing Eowyn going through all that... so I assumed that he had a certain moral authority over her, and thus he had to help her see all that was involved in her rash decision.
Glad that you enjoyed it.
The Karenator
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
Perelleth, this is wonderful. Eowyn was in a such a difficult time and place. Here was a woman of strength and intelligence who saw her people struggling under the burdens of war. She felt driven to 'do something'. And she did, but along the way, she disobeyed Theoden, put her own needs above the charge she had been given, then in the end, accomplished the great deeds of valor she craved. Complex woman. You captured that complexity well here. And so beautifully written.
Elfhelm was wonderful. Even in his rebuke of her, his affection and respect for her was there. He only needed to give her a little nudge in the right direction.
Lovely story. Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your thoughtfulness. You're a good egg. :>)
Karen
Author's reply
I had a ghost story half way, but was not fast enough. I am tickled that you liked this one! I seldom write other than Elves, but this conflict intriged me, since Eowyn had not obly disobeyed, but involved others in disobedience -poor Elfhelm, who must have known her since she was a baby, and what could he do, the poor man?
I hope that you had a great birthday and can recover now with a long weekend.
elliska
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
Eowyn is a character I so never understood. I really like the way you show her here. And I never thought about it, but what what Elfhelm said is true. She did desert her duty, given to her by the King. I like how Elfhelm turns her around to see her duty and helps her find purpose. This was a great--fascinating, really--conversation. Thanks so much, Perelleth!
Author's reply
Thank-you elliska! I am glad that you have some time for yourself... and for this teribly belated birthday present...
Poor Elfhelm was in a very difficult position, I think, and I would not have liked to be in his place when he had to anseer before Eomer about Eowyn's prsence there... But he owned to his decisions and then had to make her see the *whole* impact of her actions. I never quite understood Eowyn myself, but I've come to think tht she was too young at the time and so too impulsive..
elliska
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 6: Echoes
Wow, that is really powerful--a character we rarely see and her grief is well captured in this. How incredibly sad it must have been for her, truly. You showed that really well.
Author's reply
Thank-you elliska, you are a trooper!
This was a drabble in origin, one of the first I posted, and one day I had the image of Anairë illuminating manuscripts alone at night in her house of stone, trying to settle down her memories of a hapier time... Very sad, indeed.
elliska
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 5: Refractions (from the Paradise of Elves)
Oh the dialog in this is just wicked! You do such a great job with large casts of characters and their interactions. Of course my favorite was Thranduil sparring with the 'Noldor.' This was hilarious!
Author's reply
LOLOL! I must admit that I had great fun writing this. Picturing all these lords together in a danger-free environment is too much amusement, althugh Thranduil might disagree with me.. ;-)
elliska
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 4: Advice from a tree
I love this! Catching up on reading and I saw this post--I am several stories/chapters behind, I see. This tale was excellent. I love the wisdom of the Ent--it was truly wise and so in character for the Ents. And how lucky for Thranduil to have one find him. I'm jealous! ;-)
Author's reply
Good that you have some time!
I bet this was an encounter that Thranduil treasured for all his life. I am so jealous as well! ;-)
Nilmandra
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
This was lovely, Perelleth. Eowyn was indeed both a heroine and a deserter, her motives wrong and yet good came of them. You showed the dichotomy that is Eowyn here - the opposites existing within one person, a confused young woman who did both wrong and great deeds and will learn from all of it. Elfhelm is wonderful here - I have wondered how he might react to the final outcome, since he knew of her presence and allowed it. She did put him in a terrible position.
Author's reply
I'm glad that you liked it. Elfhelm's position has intrigued me as well. IT was blatant desertion what Eowyn had done, yet a great good had come from it, but he had allowed her disobedience...a tangled situation, in which friendship and duty were tested.
I hope my reasoning in his name makes some sense... ;-)
daw the minstrel
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
What a great meeting. I like the battle imagery you use for their encounter. Elfhelm comes across as stern and strong, someone who demands the best from the woman he's known from her childhood. And yet he also understands her. And you give a real sense of the sadness of the Men of Mark who lie buried far from home.
Author's reply
Thank-you Daw, I'm glad that you picked the battle imaginery. It took...some effort.
Elfhelm had been the captain of Edoras'muster for long years, he surely knew Eowyn and Eomer since their childhood and had lived the worst days of Gríma from within, so he knew what Eowyn had gone through, but yet he also knew that she had to answer for *all* her deeds. It was a sad moment for him, I bet, but neccesary.
French Pony
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
That is a sweet story. Eowyn is very lucky to have a friend like Elfhelm, who knows exactly how to knock some sense into her in a way that she'll appreciate.
Author's reply
Thank-you, FP.
Yes, Eowyn did need some good sense knocked into her at that point; she was after all the King's sister, adn thre was a whole company of Riders in the City...But she learnt quickly, apparently.
Dreamflower
· 22 November 2006
· Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
A wonderful conversation, and one that it is all too probable might have actually taken place! Very good gap-filler; I'd like to see their visit with Merry as well...
Author's reply
Thank-you, Dreamflower, I am glad that you enjoyed it. I fear hobbits are beyond my abilities to write, but if you wrote the tale I would read it gladly! ;-)