Reviews (446)

Larner · 25 August 2009 · Chapter 8: Mavoinë

Now, this is definitely sad. Poor child, to lose the blessing given him to become covetous instead. And I understand everyone's concern about Minastir.

Ellie · 25 August 2009 · Chapter 8: Mavoinë

How very sad. You captured the longing and discontent very well.

njomo · 22 August 2009 · Chapter 7: The Ban of the Valar

Hi Fiondil, I quite enjoyed the interplay between Námo and Manwë. There is great respect shown between them, and great trust. And it must have been exceedingly frustrating for Námo to know such foreboding but to not be able to pinpoint anything exact. I really like how you have developed the character of Eönwë. Even though later generations prove him wrong, his trust and admiration for Elros and his family is admirable. I was reminded after reading this story about having a conversation with an aquaintance many years ago who said that our expectations have quite a lot of effect on the outcome of situations and especially on people's actions. In other words, if we believe in a person's goodwill, we can have some reasonable expectation of that person acting the same, and just the opposite if we expect some kind of malice from them. I know in my own experience this doesn't always happen, but I do think that "positive" energy is never misspent, and I'm glad to see Eönwë acting accordingly. Of course, I've also known those who would advise one to expect the worst; one might end up being pleasantly surprised! And I'd really rather have the Valar a wee bit vulnerable. After all, they also misread the situation before the rebellion. Perfect knowledge of the reactions of Elves and Edain would make a world much too predictable. I can just hear Námo and Irmo especially saying, "And where's the fun in that?" Thanks for this Fiondil. I quite enjoyed the opportunity to be an eyewitness at this debate. Joanne

Sitara · 20 August 2009 · Chapter 7: The Ban of the Valar

While I ever agreed with the Valar’s decision to bring the Eldar to live with them in Aman, I think the Faithful and Elros’ descendants should have been left to live in Middle-earth, close to the rest of Men (who became a sort of savages if I’m not mistaken) and the Elves who chose to remain. Giving them those lands, somewhere in-between Middle-earth and Valinor, being not quite Mortals but neither Immortals, was only a way to tempt fate and, why not? to dangle in front of their noses the forbidden fruit. To get only a glimpse of something that you’ll never have or, more to the point, you won’t have as long as Arda stands. A real pity that this point wasn’t emphasized a bit more, in my opinion, leaving instead the Numenoreans to ask themselves and the Valar more and more loudly something like :”Why was it possible in the case of Earendil and Tuor and in our case is not?” “Honorable and trustworthy” …Honestly, for being Manwe’s herald, Eonwe seems to be a tad naïve. For how long did he think they will remain “honorable and trustworthy”? As it seems, another Valarin endeavour meant to fail sooner or later. Of course, to see Namo pulling faces is always worth, in my opinion. “grin”

Larner · 18 August 2009 · Chapter 7: The Ban of the Valar

Ah, if only all of those of Elros's descent had been as honorable as he! And when the ban was broken, look what followed!

Tari · 17 August 2009 · Chapter 7: The Ban of the Valar

We all know how that ends. I really can't blame the Númenóreans though. Were I in their shoes, I'd want to go the Undying Lands with the Elves too. I love the Elves.

6336 · 17 August 2009 · Chapter 7: The Ban of the Valar

Well for the first several generations the Ban worked, Elros and his immidiate ancestors were honorable men. It was after they started returning to M.E. that the trouble started, as the people they met tainted them with Morgoths malice. Had they remained on Numenor and not returned to M.E. I doubt if they would have yearned for eternal life. As it was they were like children reaching for a prize on a high shelf and and falling in their attempt to reach it. Lynda

Vilwarin · 17 August 2009 · Chapter 7: The Ban of the Valar

Uh oh, don't they know that the forbidden fruit tastes twice as good?

Thalanee · 15 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

Sorry that I didn´t review for so long, I was occupied with preparations for a dig that is about to begin in September (I´ll work there as draftswoman). I always wondered if Elrond would have ´felt´ his twin passing away, but that would have been too horrible an experience... Poor Elrond... anyone who has read the Silmarillion and the Lord of the Rings knows that he will eventually loose Gilgalad too, and later his wife and daughter, but he will see the former two again in Valinor and I´m pretty sure that he will someday see his daughter again. There is always hope! Though it´s sometimes hard to hold on to. I´m already looking forward to the next stories! Greetings, Thalanee

Sunny · 14 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

Oh, my. The last letter from his brother, who has now been dead for more than a century. Elrond has been left behind – again! And this time it was his twin who left him. I don’t know just how close you envisage the brothers to have been, and the effect their different choices would have had on Elrond. From the small glimpses you have presented, Elros seems to have weathered this without much of a problem. Yet I suppose that they would have been psychologically quite different, resulting in different choices when they decided to which kindred they would be counted – and Elrond, being an Elf, might have found this harder – as well as the eventual inevitable death of his brother. And since they evidently didn’t part on the best of terms, the pain of his brother’s death would have struck even harder than it would otherwise have. In such circumstances there is no pain greater that that connected to the “should haves” and “could haves”. Glorfy is already back in Middle-Earth??? EI takes place around the time Elros died, which means that he has had scarcely more than a century to “grow up” again, return to Middle-Earth, and establish himself in Gil-Galad’s court! For an Elf, that must have meant he had to have been in a tearing hurry to go back to the joys of orc-hunting and similar warriorly stuff. And just how _did_ he get back anyhow? Did the Valar charter one of the Teleri’s ships for the voyage? (I suppose they could have done that – and as for the rest, I know! Wait for the story in EI to get that far!)

njomo · 12 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

Hi Fiondil, As far as I'm concerned, this story is just about perfect. I like the way you intertwine the stories of Elros writing the letter and Elrond receiving it. And I guess I'm not one that would necessarily expect Elrond to know when Elros died. Twins they might be, but they are separated by more than just distance. I don't think--at least I can't think of any instances right now--that Tolkien gave us much of an idea about how close any mental link would have been between the two, although we do have incredible stories from modern times about just that--the link between twins. But much happened, I expect, after Elros made his choice to be counted with the Edain. I don't think anyone would have been able to predict just how long Elros would live as there wasn't much of a track record to go by. So Glorfindel gets to read the letter to Elrond...nice to see them together, even if under such sad circumstances. A bittersweet tale, yes, but quite well done. Thanks Fiondil! Joanne

Midnight Promise · 11 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

That was a bittersweet shot. :_) Hmm, with them being twins, you would expect for Elrond to at least felt something the day his brother died. o-o Aw, poor Elrond. Someone give him another hug! ;_) Great job, enjoyed reading it! Hope RL is going great!

Larner · 10 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

A blessing unto the world of Arda was Elros Tar-Minyatur! And a blessing this was to Elrond, although I have always imagined him knowing of the loss when it happened, either having come to Númenor himself at one point upon one of Círdan's ships, or through the special bond so many twins, even fraternal ones, share. And I, too, have felt that in part it was Elros's insatiable curiosity to see what lay beyond the next turing of the road that lead him to choose as he did. Thanks for this one!

6336 · 10 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

Oh, this ties in very nicely with the previous tale. The beginning and the end. You do feel so very sorry for Elrond, how he did not end up in a padded room somewhere speaks a lot for his charecter and the people he had round him, Atar must have loved him so very much! More please, Lynda

Radbooks · 10 August 2009 · Chapter 6: Tenn’ Ambar-Metta

You shouldn't have made me cry on a bright and beautiful Monday morning! :) That was a very touching story - obviously - and I enjoyed it very much. I think it reminded me a little too much of my brothers who are not speaking to each other and haven't for years and years. sigh Anyway, it was very well done!!

njomo · 5 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

Hi Fiondil, This story was such a delight to read. Happy and sad and everything inbetween. I already liked your portrayal of Eönwë from Elf Interrupted, and this story just endeared him to me all the more. He has such compassion but is not afraid to speak out (even to Manwë) and be firm when he needs to--as he was with Elros. It was nice to have Elros by himself. Most stories have Elrond and Elros together or mostly Elrond when dealing with the two of them in the time before the establishment of Andórë. So it is refreshing to have this portrait of a young Elros. Quite a few things had me laughing--"Uncle Cirdan", Eönwë's Maia helpers and Eönwë's exclamation, “Curious!? Curious about what?”... Your timing was also good. The end of the paragraph: Eönwë was actually beginning to enjoy his role as a teacher. and the beginning of the next: Of course, there was that incident with the runaway horse...had me laughing before I even read what actually happened. And then there was Roimendil's demotion...but I digress! I think you handled the scene between Eönwë and Elros (after Elros imbibes the sleeping draught) very well. As you also did with the way Elros is removed from the people in Estolad for a while. That was done with compassion on all sides. It needed to happen, but had it been done otherwise it could have been disastrous for the relationship between Elros and and the Edain and for their future together. And then a bit of melancholy at the end. Just a truly enjoyable story all around. Thanks Fiondil! Joanne

Tari · 5 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

Poor Eönwë really had his hands full. This was so much fun to read. I don't think I've read anything else to date about Elros and Elrond together. It is so sad to think that Elrond might have missed giving his brother a proper farewell. And who's to say they don't get together again some day. Who knows what goes on in the Halls of Mandos or where mortals go after leaving Middle-earth.

Midnight Promise · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

YES!!! Lol. Finally, a snippet with Elros! Never realized how much I missed moments like this until after I read it. :-) Awesome job, I loved it...Especially when Elros tried his little "experiment." ;-)

Aiwen · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

I read this over on the Akallabeth site and enjoyed it very much. Fond as I am of Finrod and Glorfindel, it is nice to see you play with different characters.

Larner · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

I can imagine much particularly of the earliest parts of this process would have been painful for all concerned. Poor Elros--but he did prove most worthy in the end. Nicely done, Fiondil.

Vilwarin · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

*giggles* That's a great piece. And poor Eonwe - he's really got his hands full. Particularly with Elros. ;) I especially liked the lesson on healing plants.

Sunny · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

It was fun watching Elros ah, being enthusiastic, and as curious as any cat. Good for Eönwe that he is fast on his feet :-) So Elros is trying to prove to his brother that he won’t regret his choice to be counted among the Edain. But the _how_ seemed rather illogical to me, I am afraid. He – and the rest of the Edain – are coming out of a war – they wouldn’t have known much else – and I feel that they would have been much less playful than Elros here – certainly in matters actually touching on war. Which healing the use of medicinal plants would be. And if Elrond or Elros had been injured some time during the war – not an unlikely proposition, I would think – Elros should have been even less likely to play fast and loose with drugs. I am rather curious about how you see the effect of their mixed heritages on Elrond’s and Elros’ development – physically and mentally. It appears that you – for the sake of this fic have let the Elven side dominate, without much input from the Edain side. I suppose this would be hard for you to address in such a short piece, especially since you mostly have Elves as main characters. Despite his, I _did_ rather enjoy this fic. Nitpick: “a natural flare for leadership”. That would be _flair_, I would think.

Radbooks · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

I really enjoyed this glimpse of the beginnings of the Second Age. It always tears my heart at the thought of Elrond and Elros separating and you almost always see things only from Elrond's perspective, so it was interesting to read something from Elros point of view. Well, Eonwe's, but to at least 'hear' what Elros was thinking about becoming mortal, etc. Nicely done!!

6336 · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

Oh, poor Eonwe! The things Manwe and Atar have him do! Atleast he has the other Valar and Maia to call on when he needs help! Elros is just trying too hard to be what he thinks his people want him to be. He needs to learn how to let others do the day to day running of the realm and concentrate on learning how to guide his people! One wonders if Elrond is just a little envious of his brother and his future as a king of men and not just bitter at his Choice. More please, Lynda

ellie · 4 August 2009 · Chapter 5: Eönwë Among the Edain

This was delightful! Poor Eonwe and all that he was having to teach! I thought it amusing that Elros kept getting in the way of others learning and that his own folk conspired to send him away. The peredhil really did have it tough not knowing what to expect of themselves and not really fitting anyone else's expectations either. No wonder Elrond comes across as so melancholy so often.