Agape4Gondor
· 2 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
I loved the interaction between Denethor and Maglor. And I'm glad that Ragnor and Maglor get along. When life gets difficult between M & D - it's good to have someone else you can at least sit next to and throw stones with. Though I know Ragnor would never betray Denethor. Still a friend is a friend.
As for the Shire - good grief. Hobbits have to be hiding somewhere. Tolkien said they hid away, as silent as Hobbits can be, and perhaps became little people.
Great chapter.
Author's reply
Hi Agape. I'm glad they get along, too. Denethor has some issues but hopefully Maglor will help him to see himself as the leader he is and is meant to be and Ragnor will prove very good for Maglor, as we will see.
And I doubt the Hobbits hung about the Shire while the ice covered all. Those who did not flee to the South died.
Anyway, thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.
obsidianj
· 2 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
Good that Denethor and Maglor talked about the little incident with who is leading this group and came to an understanding. Little things like this can become real problems.
Although, I'm not happy about men mixing with orcs, I feel sorry for the women and children left without their menfolk. And now the land turns against the elves and blocks their way. Let's just hope that come morning they find a way around this blockage without having another encounter with the men.
And where did they get the wood for the spears?
Author's reply
Maglor and Denethor really needed to air things out between them and settle matters to their satisfaction for the good of the group.
And it is sad to think that the women and children are without their menfolk to protect and feed them. I fear their fate is one of slow extinction.
We'll see what the Elves learn about the land in the next chapter and how they deal with what they find. And the qauestion of where the creatures got the wood for the spears will be answered as well.
Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it very much.
obsidianj
· 2 March 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
That was certainly unexpected. What are these creatures? They smell like Orc and look more like man *shudder*. Neanderthal's? Although, I'm partial to Neanderthal's, growing up very close to the Neanderthal ;-). I hate to think they have Orc in them.
Maglor cannot deny that he is a leader in his own right. Let's just hope, he and Denethor never have a bad disagreement. I loved it how Maglor deferred to Denethor, but when the crisis broke, he quite forgot.
Author's reply
Hi obsidianj. I did borrow the description of Neanderthals in describing these creatures. We know that Saruman was cross-breeding and it stands to reason that some of those strains made their way into the general human gene pool.
Maglor can't help being a leader even when he defers to others. It's too much a part of him.
Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.
Celeth
· 1 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
And here I thought it was going to be a peaceful journey on ice with nothing for miles around, not even trees! I just love action scenes...
Author's reply
Ha! What a boring story that would've been. Trust me, these foks will have lots of adventures and action before I'm through with them. LOL! Glad you enjoyed the chapter, Celeth. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.
Celeth
· 1 March 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
They discover the neanderthals?
So Darwin was wrong after all...some man came from the orcs not from the apes hahaha!
I'm glad there were the Dunedain and the Rohirrim...at least not all men came from these ;D
Author's reply
Apparently. And Darwin was wrong about a good many things. And yes, it's nice to have the membory of the Dúnedain and the Rohirrim and the Gondorians and know that some of them survived and that we could be descended from them. Thanks for reviewing, Celeth. I appreciate it.
Kevana
· 1 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
Oh, man. All I can think is that Aragorn would be so upset about all of this. I'm glad he's not around to see it.
I feel badly for the women and kids, even if they are Orkish/Neanderthals/extremely unpleasant to consider and we know they mostly, if not completely, died out (Orc-like behavior of some modern humans aside). But there's nothing the Elves could do about it but protect themselves. I hope they get out of that dead end safely. It must have been a very long night waiting for the dawn.
The stones reminded me of Stonehenge. (And this chapter reminds me of Clan of the Cave Bear.)
Author's reply
Hi Kevana. Been to Stonehenge and Avebury so, yeah, there's that influence there. Never read Clan of the Cave Bears, so I can't comment on that. I imagine lots of people would be upset to learn the fate of Annúminas. We'll see how the Elves fare in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.
Tari
· 1 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
Orcs mixing with mortals? How revolting.
Author's reply
Well, Saruman did that with the Uruk-hai, mixing orcs with Dunlenders, so as disgusting as the idea is, it's likely that some orcish strains have managed to infiltrate the human gene pool. Luckily, the Elves don't have to deal with these creatures any more than they have, as we will see. Thanks for reviewing, Tari. I appreciate it.
Fantasia
· 1 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
Must be so disgusting for elves' sensitivities to see the Neanderthals behavior. That could be an interesting theory, that they descended from Orcs and Men. We know now that they coexisted with the Cro-Magnon but they didn't make it, or at least, that is my later updates, they keep changing every once in a while.
You can feel the tension between them, it is good that they can talk about it and let it go, they have a long way home. Also, it bound them together, I think that Maglor will need all the help he can get once he arrives to Valinor. I want to see who can insult him in from of The Harthadrim.
Author's reply
Hi Fantasia. I saw a headline just the other day asking if Neanderthals still lived among us, so who knows. Anyway, there is indeed a lot of tension and we'll see what happens to Maglor once he reaches Valinor, though that day is well into the future yet. They still have many hundreds of miles go before they even reach the sea. And I doubt if the Harthadrim will let anyone get away with insulting Maglor. *grin* Thanks for commenting. It's much appreciated.
Cairistiona
· 1 March 2013
· Chapter 8: Annúminas
Oh dear, they can't can't go directly to the Shire! Stupid uplift or glacier or whatever that tore up the land. Nothing is ever easy for this band of Elves, is it. Very nice chapter, very vivid descriptions of the topography... definitely felt I was looking at the land while standing alongside them. And the way the orcish folk behaved, yikes. There's another bad memory Maglor didn't need. I also love the name Coll Elbereth... the Milky Way definitely looks like Elbereth's cloak draped across the sky. Lovely imagery.
Author's reply
If anything was easy for this band of Elves, there wouldn't be much of a story, would there? *grin* I'm glad you found the descriptions of the topography vivid, Cairistiona. I tried hard to imaagine what might conceivabley happen to the lands they are traveling through after millennia of ice and other natural phenomnena, such as earthquakes and the like. And I think "Coll Elbereth" is way lovelier than "Milky Way" and far more Elvish. I'm sure Tolkien would agree and approve. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I really appreicate it.
Fadesintothewest
· 28 February 2013
· Chapter 2: The Choice
What a wonderful story! I have recently returned to the world of fanfic (been gone for too long) and I am delighted that yours is the first one I stumble across.
Author's reply
Welcome back to fanfic world! I'm glad you are enjoying this story. Thanks for leting me know. I appreciate it very much.
Erulisse
· 27 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
Well, my dear friend, I'm finally beginning to catch up on my reading after several months of writinb my own o-fic pieces. Of course the first thing I had to read wasthis piece which is brilliant, as I would expect. Now to catch up with other pieces of yours that I had to leave on hold. It'ssuch a joy to read your work again!
- Erulisse (one L)
Author's reply
Hi Erulissë. Glad to see you again and I'm glad you are enjoying this story. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it very much.
Cairistiona
· 26 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
I've fallen behind on leaving reviews but not in reading. The story just keeps getting better as it goes--and the orcish enemies are a twist I certainly didn't see coming. Really an interesting thought, that remnants of orc bloodlines remain in the world. But argh, I hate that they've evidently taken over King Elessar's rebuilt northern city. *sigh* It's poignant, reading about these places that are no more. Your story is giving me the same sort of emotional tug that I get when I stand in the ruins of ancient places lost to time. You're doing an excellent job at realistically "eroding" the lands we loved in Middle-earth.
Looking forward to more!
Author's reply
Hi Cairistiona. I'm glad you think the story keeps geting better and better and that I'm doing a great job in realistically "eroding" the lands of Middle-earth. I tried to think what changes in the topography the ice might have caused, basing it somewhat on my knowledge of the local topography where I live which was formed by the glaciers. Thanks for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate it.
Kevana
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
"Anyway, the very idea is horrific, yet when you look around our world you have to wonder if some Orkish strain hasn't found its way into our gene pool"
Lord, ain't that the truth.
Maybe by the same token we'd be lucky enough to have some Hobbit blood here and there to balance it out. ;) (Not to overlook Elros' contribution of course, haha.)
Author's reply
I'm sure you're right about that, Kevana. Tolkien did insist that Hobbits were a branch of humans and not a separate race altogether, like Elves or Dwarves. Too bad the Orkish strains appear to be more prevalent than the Hobbitish or Elvish strains in our society.
bookworm
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
Wait wait wait. Are those... CAVEMEN? As in Neanderthals? 0_0
Also haha oh Maglor, you can deny it all you like, but the instincts of a leader are still there. I love how he defers to Denethor though.
Author's reply
Hi bookworm. Probably. Or certainly a branch of humanity that did not survive into our own age. We will see what they discover at Annúminas in the next chapter.
And Maglor does rock here, doesn't he? *grin*
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it.
Laer
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
hmmm perhaps this is how the Neanderthals came to be? Orcs and humans? What a creative thought process you have.
You go Maglor! You take your bad butt self and become the great protector of this tribe of hope while Denethor takes care of them like a true leader would.
Great job on this fantastic story Fiondil. :)
Author's reply
Hi Laer. Well, it does open up a lot of possiblities, doesn't it. And thank you for the compliment.
And yes, Maglor is definitely in protector-mode even as Denethor continues to lead them.
I'm glad you think I'm doing such a great job with this story. Thanks for letting me know. It really makes my day.
Kevana
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
“You mean a blending of Orc and Man?”
*hrk*... well, my gag reflex is working today. Ugh. I don't think I wanna know if he's right (but if he is, that's yet another feather in your literary cap for gap filling... even if the implications make me green around the gills.)
Was NOT expecting that and I'm sure they weren't either. Except thankfully they did. Do you think orcs would have survived to this point? Well, I guess we will see. :)
Thanks for the update, and I hope to get an email to you this week.
Author's reply
When I wrote the chapter, I had in mind how Saruman blended orcs with Men from Dunland to create the Uruk-hai. I figured even if orcs did not survive as a race, perhaps some strains were passed onto various branches of humanity. Even Tokien intimates this when he describes goblins in the Hobbit. Anyway, the very idea is horrific, yet when you look around our world you have to wonder if some Orkish strain hasn't found its way into our gene pool
Anyway, thanks for reviewing and I look forward to seeing your email when you send it.
curiouswombat
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
What an exciting chapter! That was a very realistic fight scene. I'm visualising something like Neanderthals now...
Author's reply
I'm glad you found the chaper exciting and the fight scene realistic. And yes, something like Neanderthals, though, of course, our Elves will have no knowledge about them and are making their own assumptions based on previous knowledge (which is not necessarily correct). Thanks for taking the time to leave a review, Curiouswombat. I really appreciate it.
Fantasia
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
What were they? Some subspecies of Homo sapiens? I don't think that Orcs will have survive that long. Intriguing.
Maglor, for all that he is very humble, he is a mighty leader and warrior.
Author's reply
The Elves will speculate about what they are, though they will never really know for sure. The description sounds as if these creatures may be Neanderthals. And Maglor is indeed a mighty leader and warrior. Thanks for reviewing, Fantasia. I appreciate it.
UTfrog
· 25 February 2013
· Chapter 7: Along Lake Nenuial
I was so afraid you had another cliffhanger for us with an attack at the end of the chapter. While I am guessing you are describing Neanderthal's, it will be very interesting to see what happens.
I am enjoying this story. It is quite different from your other work, but you have a great ability to create highly engaging and realistic characters. I certainly cannot see how you would fit direct angelic contact into this story, but I very much miss Fionwe and the others popping in and out. I love their wry comments.
Hope you have a great week. I am waiting Friday's chapter.
Author's reply
Hi UTfrog. Fitting in direct angelic contact would be difficult, though that does not mean that indirect angelic contact doesn't occur. This story is very different from my other stories in many respects and has been very challenging for me to provide a believable landscape and possible dangers and obstacles that could be encountered by these people. It hasn't been easy but I hope that it is at least partially successful and I am glad you are enjoying the story and looking forward to the next chapter. Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it.
obsidianj
· 23 February 2013
· Chapter 6: The Journey North
And they trudge on... Obviously they didn't get a break from the unforgiving landscape.
Denethor is a good leader, no matter what he thinks. I think more than one of the group needed to wake up to living again. Having friendships being formed is a side-effect of the travels, I didn't think about, but it makes sense. Sharing hardships makes for strong bonds and will tie them all to the living world.
I wonder how the Amanians will react to all of them. Their experience is pretty unique.
Author's reply
Hi obsidianj. Well, considering that they are at the tail-end of an ice age, they'r not going to get that much of a break. And you're right that more than Maglor needed to wake up to living again, so this adventure is good for them all whatever happens. We will eventually see how some of the Amanians react to them. Thanks for commenting. I really appreciate it.
obsidianj
· 23 February 2013
· Chapter 5: The Baranduin
Someone once said LOTR is a walking story. And they walk and walk and walk. This story has the characters also walking and walking. The land is even more bleak and unforgiving than in LOTR. It is sad to see that all the familiar landmarks have gone. So far it seems they all have changed for the worse. Can't they get a break in that the landscape has changed for the better? ;-).
I can understand Maglor so well. When being alone for a long time, it takes some doing to adjust to living with others again. Denethor might not like being a leader, but he sure has a knack for it.
Author's reply
Hi obsidianj. Well, without horses or automobiles, one has no choice but to use one's one two legs to get around and I suspect that Elves more so than us Mortals find walking more enjoyable, for it brings them into greater contact with the earth. And Denethor is a natural leader, though he doesn't realize it and needs to work at it. We will see how he progresses in his role as their leader as the story continues. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated.
Tari
· 22 February 2013
· Chapter 6: The Journey North
It's sad to think of the Shire, Rohan and Gondor being gone. When the elves leave, there won't be much left.
(Is Elf Academy on vacation?)
Author's reply
Hi Tari. It is sad and when the Elves leave there won't be much left except us humans. Elf Academy 3 has not been written yet. I will get back to it once I finish another project, perhaps sometime this summer, though I don't think we'll see in here until early next year, so you'll just have to wait, but you have this story to entertain you in the meantime. *grin*
Sunny
· 22 February 2013
· Chapter 6: The Journey North
So the world is changing - hills are eroded by flowing water, rivers change their courses, and even mountains are flattened by glaciers. All of these are natural processes, and so the changing face of the world is just part of nature. Not that this makes these changes easy for the unchanging Elves to deal with.
But by now they are hopefully inured to the scenery not being like it used to. And it is something they just will have to deal with.
Denethor is truly a wise ellon, in that he regards the building of relationships - friendships, as well as possible marriages - to be at least as important as the journey itself. And it is not as if they have an appointment for tea with the Valar on a specific date. ;-)
Author's reply
Hi Sunny. And it stands to reason that the world would change all things considered. And Denethor knows that friendships and other relationships are far more important than whether they arrive at Valinor on a particular day. The Valar can certainly wait, can't they? *grin* Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much.
Fantasia
· 22 February 2013
· Chapter 6: The Journey North
Very interesting, but I will tell you that I'm stating to get cold every time that I read a chapter, luckily for them, they are elves.
Does Maglor have to apologize to the whole word? What did he do to Arvedui?
Author's reply
Hi Fantasia. I have no idea what Maglor might have done to Arvedui, but apparently he feels he failed the last king of the Northern Realm in some way, or maybe he's just hedging his bets, feeling it's best to err on the side of caution. Glad you are finding the story interesting. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.
Kevana
· 22 February 2013
· Chapter 6: The Journey North
Ohh, you faked me out there near the end. I thought it was going to be quicksand/sucking mud in that river and was practically holding my breath till they were safely across. Whew! I'm sure poor Gilgaran wasn't too pleased either. Good on Maglor for breaking the tension.
Today's lagniappe...I ran across this picture and immediately thought of Aragorn and Gandalf in the fane. Doesn't it make you want to swim in the colors? http://tinyurl.com/a4vcvob The caption said it's in Madrid but doesn't describe what it is, have you ever seen it before?
Personality typing! I've been working on it a bit. I have a few of your characters figured out, I think. You said to PM you, but for the life of me I can't figure out where the PM system is! Halp?
Thank you for the update and I hope you have a great weekend! :)
-Kevana
Author's reply
Hi Kevana. I don't recognize the photo, but I was last in Madrid in the 70s and much has probably changed in the city.
As for sending a PM, if you click on my name and then click on it again once the author page comes up, it will show you my email address. I recommend that you copy and paste the address into your preferred email provider. That way, it will show up in my personal account which is not Microsoft Outlook.
I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Maglor is great here and it shows his nobility in his solicitousness toward Gilgaran that is not arrogant or disdainful of the ellon's fears.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I really appreciate it. Hav a great weekend yourself.