TreeHugger
· 16 August 2003
· Chapter 17: Of Elves and Men
This was an excellent chapter. I was ROFL at the beginning. Glorfindel was "got good" with that one. I would have loved to see the look on his face! I am still chuckling over that one. It seems that the women have won that round! :D
I love the twins interaction with Albast. They can learn about their mortal 'kin' that way first hand. I think they have played a big part in his healing whether they know it or not.
The history section was beautiful and heartbreaking at times. I love the way you write Gil-galad - he seems very patient and very strong. He has indeed been shaped by his own past and experiences and shines forth like a glowing gem. He is wonderfully done.
I loved the part when Elrond merely wanted to help him, placing his hand over Gil-galad's. He was a born healer I believe. He certainly has the heart for it and I think that is what makes a healer, the desire to help and to give a measure of strength to someone who is hurting, whether it is physical or emotional.
ELrond and Elros are wonderful. They each have such different personalities and callings in life. I enjoyed the picture of Elros and the ship. Yes, he is born to sail away. :( I like that he "wouldn't let Elrond fall". That is a very telling statement about their relationship.
You wrote the frenzy of the battle very well. I can only imagine how terrifying this would be. :( Elrond's talent as a healer will come in very handy I fear.
Wonderful! :) You do this so very well!
Elenath sila am le!
Dragon-of-the-North
· 15 August 2003
· Chapter 17: Of Elves and Men
Hopefully, this review will not get swallowed by the evil demons on the web... But this site seems to be more reliable than ff.net, so there is still hope...
I liked this chapter very well! :-)
The beginning was so incredibly hilarious! LOL - wicked Celebrian! Wicked maidservant! And poor Glorfindel - of course, he must be embarrassed in such a situation! Oh, and how terrible... *Ladies* have pulled that wicked prank on him, so it would be vvery impolite to take revenge... *snickers*
But the more serious part of the chapter was also wonderful! Albast is a great character to show the differences between men and elves - I like him quite well, and he seems to be very good with children!
I loved Elrond's realization that "in these Men Elros still lived" - no, his brother is not gone completely, although he has died long before... That was a beautiful thought!
I also liked the history part very well - you really manage to stuff more and more of the most important information about the First Age into this tale... Just brilliant! Your portrayal of Elros and Elrond is wonderful - yes, they are very different from each other, but it is wonderful that they still love each other well and have a good relationship... The conversation between Gil-Galad and Elrond was very beautiful and moving as well!
So: Once again a very good chapter! I am looking forward to the next one immensely! :-)
daw the minstrel
· 15 August 2003
· Chapter 17: Of Elves and Men
I loved the relationship of Elrond and Elros in this chapter. They are so different and yet loving. You can see pain ahead for Elrond in Elros's choice. And it's interesting to see their different development. Elrond is plainly at an earlier stage than Elros - which fits since they will be elf and man respectively. But Elrond is still brave and smart and loving.
I also liked the interaction with Gil-gilad. I find your Gil-Gilad very attractive. He's a charismatic young king who can draw all these followers to him, including Elrond.
Levade
· 14 August 2003
· Chapter 17: Of Elves and Men
Oooooooh!! End? End? That's just the worst word in the world, you know. But you realize we'll hound you if you don't write more, so...we shall wait patiently, yessssss, preciousssss....
*snerk* That set-up with Glorfindel was beautiful! Celebrian...SO devious! Does Elrond realize this? ;) And Glor getting flustered was well worth it.
Elrond telling the story to Albast is touching, as is the man wanting to hear it...and his reasons.
The twins, great as always. Love Elrond falling asleep in the crows nest.
I cannot! Believe! You! Ended! It! There!!!
*taps foot* I'll be waiting... ;)
Levade
who had more to say, but forgot in loggin in
Coriandra
· 11 August 2003
· Chapter 1: A Boring History Lesson
This is looks good, the opening grabbed my interest right away. Poor Elladan and Elrohir! That history lesson sounds boring to me too, but I'm sure Glorifindel will make teach them interesting things from now on. I'm surprise Elrond and Glorifidel didn't think of that of earlier.
I'll be reading more when I get the chance. Great story, thank you!
Levade
· 6 August 2003
· Chapter 16: Things Learned in the Library
Where to start. There is a great deal to love in this chapter.
Elrohir's reaction to his parent's affection versus Elladan is hilarious. Not surprising, seeing that Elrohir learns things from watching and reading where Elladan is a "doer". I expect those lessons will be a bit down the road!
The affection between Elrond & Celebrian is wonderful. It's so nice to see them as loving. Sometimes writers totally forget the twins did have a mother!
Galadriel's words to Elrond were wrenching. It would be hard to be a seer, and see the possible futures. Harder yet to allow them to unfold as they must when it involves your only daughter. You can see why Galadriel is so strong and rather...aloof. Getting too close would only mean more pain.
Elros and Elrond are wonderful, as always. I love seeing the differences, and though the gap between them is widening and sad, even as children, you could see they were going to be quite different.
Cirdan, one of my favourite elves! Love that he gently prods Ereinion to see ...perhaps what he doesn't want to.
All in all, Nilmandra, still a wonderfully detailed tapesty of a family you're unfolding for us. :) Looking forward to more!
Peace,
Levade
Gayalondiel
· 4 August 2003
· Chapter 2: The Silmarillion for Elflings
What a brilliant summary of the Beginnings! I particularly love the passage with Elladan and Elrohir's ancestry, that was beautifully put together!
I hate to sya this, but I have the tiniest niggle. In the Sil, chapter Nine, it refer's to the name Morgoth:
"[Fëanor] cursed Melkor, naming him Morgoth... and by that name only was he known to the Eldar ever after"
While of course Glorfindel would know the name, it strikes me that the twins might know him more readily as Morgoth? It's just a thought, and I hesitate to say it, because I hate to critisise a story so well written.
Gayalondiel
· 4 August 2003
· Chapter 1: A Boring History Lesson
Oh my goodness, I cannot believe I haven't got around to reading this story before! I'm always thirsty for fics dealing with Sil-related issues and this promises to be incredible, though I've only read the first chapter. I particularly love your depiction of Elrond and Celebrían, it's perfect. One so often finds Elrond the strict loremaster in fics but rarely is anything decent written for him. This is just superb.
Ithilien
· 4 August 2003
· Chapter 15: Peredhil
Oh, this review is ssssssssssoooooooooooooo overdue, I'm ashamed to even pull it out of my pile after such a long time. But I'm going to put words to page all the same because I have to keep you apprised of just how much I have adored this fic even if I have been remiss in my reviews for it. RL has kept me from keeping up with it, but I am printing out what I have missed and will be reading it soon. For the now, what a better way to post my thoughts than here, on your new site.
Although I am charmed by the twins and all that befall them in this story, I have to say the staying power of it for me has been the history and learning of Elrond's story. Of course I have read of all of this in the Silmarillion before, but it’s a disjointed story there, not nearly all that interesting, and really worth only dozing through (IMHO). You, however, have given it life. And that is not a small thing. I have also read Silmaril fics by other fanfic writeres, and they have been okay, but truthfully, they are tainted for me because I found this bible of Tolkien's to be such a dull read I could never really get past it, and so those other fics held little interest for me. But your story is way more intriguing, and I actually feel like I am learning a thing or two from it of Elven history. I love seeing Gil-galad in this face-to-face, and Cirdan is just as rough and as loveable as I would have imagined him to be. So with that, now you know why I am here and keep returning. Hopefully I can redeem myself a little for my tardiness by fessing up this little fact, and if not promising to be more diligent in my reviews, at least promising I'll keep coming back for more.
Fadesintothewest
· 31 July 2003
· Chapter 16: Things Learned in the Library
Oh my, I must admit that my heart always aches when I read about Elrond and the choice he made and that of Elros, and then thinking of Arwen and the unknown fate of Elladan and Elrohir. This is one of the reasons I so love Tolkien's work, his world, so complex, that it touches upon the most momentous question of our times. The unknown fate of men, but yet the elves immortality seems tied to a sort of unknown as well, till the end of Arda. Those questions make the heart break with joy, sadness, pain, fear. You capture that well in this story.
Little elflings and the ways of the world. Elladan and Elrohir's curiousity is just as Elrond's sons should be. But the relationship of Elros and Elrond you portray is going to end up breaking my heart, and the way you have painted this story, Elrond's losses mean so much more to me. Elros, Gil-Galad, Celebrian, Arwen. It seems the elves lost much during these times.
Fan81981
· 29 July 2003
· Chapter 16: Things Learned in the Library
I had to bite my mouth as well to keep from laughing. Now it hurts. At least I got to finish the chapter - it is very early in the morning here and I should be asleep but I wanted to finish this. It was well worth it.
I must say that the little 2nd Age twins are caught fantastically. They are aboslutely adorable. At least Elrond family life is relatively joyful. He deserves it. The little bit with Galadriel was fantastic - one tends to foget how old she is and that she is a mother.
As for the rest of the story - the histroy bit of it. I am not sure what my feelings should be about that. The twins are very vivid and often very cute. But at the back of my mind is always the realisation that Elros is dead. This is just a memory in ELrond's mind. It is a very sobering thought. The often nostaligic tone in these sections just re-inforces the feeling. It is very well-done, the life of the twins and the Age they live in comes through. Elros' love for his brother, his concern all are very touching. I just wish there was some way you could keep him alive.
Are you going to continue this till Elros' death?
Karri
· 29 July 2003
· Chapter 16: Things Learned in the Library
Very entertaining, though bittersweet, chapter. The sons of Elrond are as delightful as ever. :)
Levade
· 27 July 2003
· Chapter 15: Peredhil
Hallo! Tried and tried to leave a review at ff.net but..bother! I can leave one here. *G*
Loved Glor's lionish tendency peeking out again for that brief moment, and them teasing him about the clothing. :D
And so it was Celebrian! I should have stayed with my first guess and instinct. *snaps fingers*
Elros trying to fly is too funny. I can so see that!
I feel a bit sorry for the wounded Ranger. It would be so hard to be around elves for long, I think. Their beauty and grace, their long lives and wisdom. It would be horribly hard not to compare yourself to them and find life wanting.
Not to say I want the muses out. ;D Another lovely chapter, Nilmandra! Something tells me Erestor and Glor are plotting though...
Peace,
Levade
Fadesintothewest
· 19 July 2003
· Chapter 15: Peredhil
Well finally I can leave a review for this story. FOr some strange reason, ff.net would not let me leave a review for this particular story. I love to read stories that bring to mind events of my own childhood and yours always do! I remember wishing my leg were broken as my sister had a cast filled with drawings and signed by friends. I was jealous. Although no jealousy here, I did find the scene where the adults and child are busily decorating the cast to be a delight!
Elros and Elrond, what a pair they were, and you know I always knew Elros was the more impetuous, of-the-moment of the two. Of course he would have to choose being of the second-born b/c with immortality comes too much patience and time doesn't it.
And Gil-Galad, another sexy elf hunk. These elf lords drive too many women crazy!
Please don't tell me this story is almost over. I will cry. First Journey's End ended, now One Year in Mirkwood by Daw is finished. I just cannot handle it :(