Shemyaza
· 26 September 2008
· Chapter 31: COURTEOUS: Lack of Manners
Oh you did Cirdan! Wonderful. Next to Eonwe and Namo he is one of my most favourite characters. When writers usually write about him, he is nearly always an addendum to Gil-galad (another favourite character of mine) or Elrond, which is a shame because there are a wealth of possibilities around him.
Isn't it strange that Elu Thingol always coms across as proud, bombastic and arrogant, no matter who writes him? And of course it was those qualities that effectively ended his life. It's so difficult to write him with any kind of sympathy.
I wonder if it was the fact that he married a Maia which perhaps made him think that his realm was utterly invulnerable behind that girdle? However, even lessened in power as Morgoth was, he was still a fallen Vala which I guess would make him a tad more powerful than a Maia and once he turned his eye upon the realm he would and did find some way around the protection Melian wove around it.
I get the impression that although he obviously loved his daughter, he seemed to think of her as a beautiful possession, therefore she was doomed at the outset to love someone her father would deem unsuitable. Someone like an aftercomer. Yet, like any other parent, his grief must have been enormous when he realised that Luthien had gone into the lion's den with her lover. I wonder if Meliajn felt like slapping him silly sometimes!
Author's reply
Hi, Shemyaza. I'm glad you like Círdan in this. I don't think he gets enough good scenes from fanfic writers. Like you say, he seems to be always an addendum to Gil-galad or Elrond.
In one of my othe Tapestry fics, "HOLLOW: Founding Nargothrond" I portray Elu Thingol very sympathetically, showing him the wise and concerned king that he must have been all those long years before Beren showed up. No doubt he relied on Melian's powers to keep Doriath safe, but the Dwarves were already inside Doriath when they killed him and then Melian departed for Aman after his death, leaving the kingdom vulnerable to attack from outside.
I have the feeling that Melian did indeed want to slap him silly sometimes and in fact, according to the Silmarillion, she withheld her wisdom and counsel from him after this, stating that the doom which Thingol had set in motion had to play itself out.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and insights into these characters. I appreciate it.
Larner
· 25 September 2008
· Chapter 31: COURTEOUS: Lack of Manners
Alas for the grief of Elu Thingol. It does indeed seem he is realizing his own time is nearing. Foolish Elf! I find myself right now in greater sympathy for Cirdan.
Author's reply
Elu Thingol was indeed foolish. Círdan I think can see the writing on the wall and knows that there is nothing more he can do to save Thingol and his people except to offer them a haven when the time comes, which he eventually does on Tol Balar at the mouths of the Sirion. Thanks for reading and reviewing, Larner. I appreciate it.
Ellie
· 25 September 2008
· Chapter 31: COURTEOUS: Lack of Manners
I enjoyed this very much! Love seeing an indignant Cirdan! Thingol was pitiful and very well protrayed in all of his anger and guilt. I like seeing Cirdan as teh messenger of Ulmo, but what a sorrowful message to have to send!
As always, well done and a most enjoyable read!
Author's reply
Thanks, Ellie. I thought it was time to do something with Círdan. He is an intriguing character and little is written about him except as a cameo in other stories. I'm glad you liked the way I portrayed Thingol as well. He is a traqic figure, a king Lear type I think, though he does reconcile with his daughter at the end. Still, lust for the Silmarili has tainted his soul and he doomed himself and his kingdom the moment he sent Beren on his quest, though he did not know it.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 25 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Glorfi is a rabbit??
I love it!
I remember my own son, also around three, being unable to sleep - until he found the laundry basket and pulled out the tatty old quilt cover he loved!
This is a lovely twins story. Thank you!
Jay
Author's reply
Hi Jay! Glad you liked this story. I think all three-year-olds are alike. I remember my youngest brother wouldn't go anywhere without 'Fwoggy' and my mother resorted to cutting his favorite blankey in two so she could wash one half while he hung on to the other half. *lol* Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.
artistic sprite
· 25 September 2008
· Chapter 31: COURTEOUS: Lack of Manners
Ooh, angsty!
Author's reply
Glad you think so. *grin*
Kitty
· 24 September 2008
· Chapter 31: COURTEOUS: Lack of Manners
My first thought at reading the title was ‚What did Glorfindel do *this time*? *grin* Could it be that I am reading too much EI?
*shakes head* Elu should take lessons in manners from his brothers. To refuse to receive Círdan was unexcusable rude, mourning or not.
Celebor said it perfectly when he called him a fool, IMO, and I was glad he had the courage to tell that Elu to his face. Elu was – and is - behaving like an elfling, not like the wise King he is – or should be. We all know his arrogance will be his downfall, and this story illustrates that very well.
And now the best and the brightest of them is dead, thanks to you. Círdan’s right here *sigh* Really, sometimes I am wondering how Elves like Turgon and Elu Thingol felt after they were reborn and regained their memories. Rebirth might give them a new sight on things, like it probably did with Celepharn/Artelemnar, and to live with the guilt they heaped on themselves in their first lifes must be difficult.
Author's reply
No, this one definitely is not about Glorfindel. *grin* Elu Thingol is an interesting character who is usually portrayed as arrogant and down-right mean, and there is some justification for that, but he is more complex than that as I've tried to show here and in other fics where he is featured, such as the one where he aids Finrod in founding Nargothrond.
Círdan, I think, doesn't get enough press, so I wsa happy enough to showcase him here as more than just a good builder of ships but a lord in his own right, no less puissant than any of the other lords of Beleriand.
Hopefully, people like Elu and Turgon, upon being re-embodied and regaining their memories are able to put them into perspective and move on. At least that's the theory.
Thanks for reviewing, Kitty.
6336
· 24 September 2008
· Chapter 31: COURTEOUS: Lack of Manners
Elu is not the first father to try to prevent a marriage between his daughter and, to him at any rate, an unsuitable man! He obviously has a lot of faith in his wifes girdle of protection but a wise man would back it up with his own forces and not rely on it entirely. I will have to go bck and read the Sill' again as I am not sure what brought down Doriath, though I think Dwarfs had some thing to do with it and a necklace and a Silmarill!
I wonder how much longer Beleriand would have lasted if people had used their heads and not their hearts, stubborn, blooming Noldor!
Tolkien does have some of the best lines, doesn't he!
I do like 'farn', such a strong word and not one to get Eonwe pulling his Book out!
More please,
Lynda
Author's reply
Elu is like many fathers with daughters, I fear.
His death was indeed brought about by Dwarves when he and they argued over the Nauglamir in which Thingol had commissioned the Dwarves to set the silmaril that Beren won for him. We see in this little fic the beginnings of the corruption of Thingol's heart, tainted by lust for something he has never seen. A sad and tragic thing.
And Thingol of course wasn't a Noldo, but a Teler or Sinda. I doubt Beleriand would have survived too much longer even if everyone had kept their heads. Fëanor's curse and the Valar's doom (not to mention Morgoth) were too strong to withstand forever.
"Farn" is a good word. *grin* I like it myself.
Thanks for reviewing, Lynda.
grumpy
· 14 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Poor Elrond, to be seen as someone who takes care of boo-boo's, and not someone who can deal with monsters under the bed. I love it, that the monster slayer is a stuffed rabbit.
Author's reply
Children tend to categorize the adults around them quite strictly and can't imagine them able to work "outside the box", as it were. I thought a stuffed rabbit as a monster slayer an amusing left-handed nod to Monty Python's 'killer rabbit'. *grin*
Edlyn
· 14 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
You made me laugh with this one, meldonya! I can't stop smiling. You, know you're very good at doing that...
Author's reply
Hi, Edlyn. I'm glad you liked this story. Thanks for letting me know.
Is it a coincidence that the toy rabbit's name is Glorfi? *grin*
Author's reply
I doubt it. *grin*
Antane
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
This was a fun tale! Poor Elrond and Celebrian but love Glorfindel's solving the mystery of all the nightmares and crying.
Namarie, God bless, Antane :)
Time for another of my drive-by revews, lol...I have to admit that you got me, too...thinking it was Glorfindel they wanted. I had such fun picturing Elrond and Celebrian dropping their heads back on the pillows and staring at the ceiling when the "alarms" went off. Wonderful little vignette into everyday life in Imladris, things like this are always among my favorites. Glorfindel was totally charming, riding to the "rescue". Guarding comes in all shapes and sizes, lol
Author's reply
I wanted everyone to think it was Glorfindel they were crying for, so that in the end there would be the surprise of the toy rabbit. *grin* And indeed, guarding does come in all shaptes and sizes. Glad you enjoyed this one, Cat. Thanks for reviewing.
harrowcat
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Thank you for a lovely story to go to bed with after a very long day. *huddles under the duvet with teddy standing guard!*
Author's reply
You are most welcome. Sleep tight! *grin*
Kitty
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Don't know for whom to feel more sorry - the twins, missing their Glorfi, or their parents, kept awake by crying elflings.
Otherwise, this was just hilarious - no wonder it didn't help that the warriors looked under the bed when the twins didn't want Glorfindel the balrog-slayer, but Glorfi the stuffed toy! How embarassing that no one of the adults knew what truly was behind their screaming!
It is sweet that they named the toy after their hero and even gave it to him to protect him. And of course they do sleep better now while cuddling with their protector *grin*
Thank you, Fiondil, that was lovely!
Author's reply
Thanks, Kitty. I'm glad you found this story hilarious as well as lovely. It's a bit of a departure from my usual writing but I really enjoyed showing the twins as small little tykes and we see Glorfindel as the mature ellon we all know and love.
6336
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Oh, I do feel for Elrond, upstaged by a toy rabbit! Snicker!!!
I think Elrond needs to master twinspeak and ask to be introduced to the Twins toys when a new one is added to the toynagerie!
Lynda,
Who is so glad I did not have that problem with my elflings!
Author's reply
You're probably correct about Elrond... poor ellon... a (relatively) new ada and feeling inadequate to the task. Hopefully by the time Arwen makes an entrance he will have gotten parenthood down somewhat.
Larner
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
The protective toy rabbit? Heh! Sword in hand to take care of the monsters under the bed! Heh!
Author's reply
Hey! Why not? Just shows that Celeborn has a twisted sense of humor even if the twins are too young to appreciate it. *grin*
Rhyselle
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Oh, this was sooooo sweet! And very funny too, although obviously not to the elflings!
Poor Elrond and Celebrian. Having tried to soothe my younglings through night terrors and being up all night, I can truly empathize with them.
I thought the twins giving "Glorfi" to Glorfindel to protect him on his patrol was absolutely darling. Although I think that had Celeborn given them each a warrior rabbit, the situation wouldn't have been so very dire when the night terrors came creeping in.
Wonderful visual of Elladan and Elrohir curled up with "Glorfi" at the end. Well done! :)
Author's reply
Thanks, Rhyselle. I'm glad you enjoyed this little tale. I have the feeling that Celeborn deliberately only gave them the one toy in an attempt to teach them to share. Well, they did but not the way I think their grandfather imagined. *grin*
Kaylee
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
*laughs hysterically* Oh, meldonya! Ai...All this for a stuffed toy? I wouldn't be surprised if Elrond demotes Glorfi...ndel...for...well, maybe forever. *snicker* Some Captain of the Guard he is, taking away the twins' stuffed toy. But then again, you'd think that Elrond would know about his sons' stuffed toys. *shakes head* Poor little elflings.
~Kaylee!!
Author's reply
Well he didn't exactly take the toy from the twins, they gave it to him. And don't be too hard on Elrond... parents are often clueless about their children, just ask your own. *grin*
Ces
· 12 September 2008
· Chapter 30: MONSTER: Bed-Slayer
Ok, I admit it - I thought they wanted Glorfindel too! You make the twins out to be so cute - I just want to hug them and was willing to volunteer to babysit them! LOL
The bane of parents everywhere - children who can't articulate yet what exactly they want! Elflings are no different!
Wonderful little story and I enjoyed it very much!
Ces
Author's reply
Glad you fell for it the way Elrond and Celebrían did, that was the whole idea. lol. I'm also happy that you enjoyed the story. Thanks for letting me know.
Excellently woven...such incredible imagery in the "OC" parts! Thandir and Laurendil are always such a treat when they turn up as well. Enjoyed the wonderful portrayal of the much younger and less confident Finrod...again, seamless!
Cat
Author's reply
Hi Cat. I'm glad you found the imagery (even the "OC" ones) incredible. I try to give as much visual descriptions as possible so readers can be drawn right into the story. It was also fun to include Thandir and Laurendil in this piece. I wanted to show how early their relationships really were and to show Finrod before he became Finrod, so to speak.
And in time Thandir came to Thorongil's aid in Rohan, right? Nice to see these in their earliest days, and alongside such a king.
Very nice.
Author's reply
Thanks, Larner. I thought it would be nice to show these characters whom we see late in the Third Age at an earlier stage of their existence, when Beleriand is still very new to them.
So that is how Nargothrond was founded, looks like Finrod has his work cut out for him, can't remember did he get the Dwrafs to help him like Elu did?
Is this Bronweg Sador's Adar, or just another Bronweg?
Had to check the map in the back of the Sill' for this one, I do like how you make Tolkien's works come to life!
More please,
Lynda
Author's reply
Yes, the Dwarves do help Finrod construct Nargothrond. That is how he gets his name 'Felagund'; it was given him by the Dwarves whom he befriended. I had to check the maps myself as well as the descriptions given in the Silmarillion so I could make it as accurate a description as possible. I'm glad that I am able to bring Tolkien's works to life for you in providing these small details. I think it's very important for writers to do the proper research so that their tales are more realistic.
Namarie meldonya!
Thank you for this wonderful little tale! I've wondered how Finrod went from Doriath to Nargothrond. So...Bronweg, Celepharn, Thandir and Glorendil. Well, no need to ask who the last two are, as I'm absolutely certain. *grin* The first two names I have heard before, but I'm unsure if Bronweg and Celepharn are merely common names, or if those two have anything to do with Sador's family and the Reborn Celepharn in EI.
I look forward to more!
Namarie,
Kaylee!
Author's reply
Thanks, Kaylee. I'm glad you liked this little tale. Bronweg and Celepharn are rather common names and are not in any way related to any other characters in my stories. This story is very early in the history of the Noldor in Beleriand and Sador's grandparents will only just be meeting (perhaps during this very hawking expedition Lúthien mentions here).
Beleg, Mallor ... I love this sort of name-dropping that is connecting your stories together even more.
*lol* Now I’m imagining Elu walking around, trying desperately to find a place to hide Lúthien’s begetting day gifts :) But what did he expect - one is marrying a Maia at his own peril ;)
So Finrod was looking for a place to protect his people better? Well, it worked – for a time ...
At first look this cave doesn’t sound very inviting, but with enough work it’s going to improve quite a bit, of course. And it’s certainly hidden.
Oh, and I loved Glorendil’s way of making Finrod feel *not* left out!
Author's reply
I wanted to show Elu as more than the seemingly harsh king that we see in the later parts of the Silmarillion when the silmarils begin to corrupt even his kingdom.
I also wanted to show Finrod at an early period when he was less sure of himself and the growing friendship between him and Laurendil (Glorendil) and Thandir.