Reviews (2,009)

UTfrog · 26 December 2014 · Chapter 104: Descent into Darkness

Poor Alex! He is a hero, but just can't seem to grasp that. Loved that the boy he rescued sees it. I am thoroughly enjoying these chapters with the arrivals from Aman. Everyone has so much to learn and everyone (but Turgon) seems eager to do so. Thanks so much. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes always.

obsidianj · 24 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

Nice demonstration of Vorondur's work. His sons are a handful in true Reborn fashion. I think they need a nice talk with the other Reborns. Maybe then some of their misconceptions will be put to rest and they won't feel quite so alone in their way of seeing the world. They also need an attitude adjustment. But with Vorondur as father they are in the best of hands. The grand-parents probably will be relieved to see them gone. It seems like they weren't the grandsons they were hoping to get.

FV_Whisper · 24 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

The thought of Fëanor and those around him been under psychiatric care is most amusing. I think most psychiatrists would have had a field day with him! What Glorfindel told about Celebrían was heartbreaking. Good to hear Ron was able to help Dearon and it seems Celeborn has gotten the message not to press him anymore now. I was thinking earlier on how Alex was doing quite well, but if both Ron and Derek are worried, there's more going on than can been seen at the surface. Let's hope he can keep himself under control with the wedding coming up. Had to grin at Amroth's ‘The Wizard Is In’ comment (which is not a good thing when you're eating at the same moment lol) Cani and Dar must have had a hard time in Valinor, with no real family known to them, only their grandparents they never knew and on their turn were still missing their son. It's a funny thing the sons were tying to do the same thing as their parents and no wonder Manwë did not want a repeat. But I'm pretty sure he will silently be rejoicing when hearing the kids want to stay. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed the movie. I was rather pleased with it overall as well (sure, there are things that could have been better or different, but enough to make up for that). I had to laugh about your fan fiction comment, that's just how I;ve seen the movies as well! Hope you Christmas will be blessed!

Larner · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

Nothing like a practical demonstration of his skills to get his sons to understand what he does. Heh! And it does appear that these apples didn't fall particularly far from the tree. As for Daeron and Celeborn, well that's going to take some learning on Celeborn's side to fulfill, although he was once considered one of the wisest of counselors in Middle Earth. I doubt he will have much trouble in learning what he needs to know without further upsetting anyone.

Ora · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

Those were two hectic weeks, but I at last had an hour to continue reading your amazing story. I was surprised how quickly some of the characters developped and situations changed. It perfectly reflects real life :) I can't wait for Friday, Ora

Kevana · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

I'm so happy that Vorondur and Ercassë's boys are staying! I can't imagine the Valar forcing any of the Visitors with family members in Wiseman to return if they want to stay. It was cute how Manwë made Cani and Dar promise not to run off and hide, though, and Ron's admission that he and his wife did exactly that was amusing. I do wonder what might have happened if both Finwë and Fëanor had had some grief counseling after Miriel faded. Just in my view, that's where it all started, though of course Morgoth's manipulations certainly didn't help. But everybody from the Valar on down were so shocked and confused that I don't think anybody knew what to do or how to help. Anyway, it's an interesting point to consider. Silly admission: one of my favorite things about your writings are the way the "awake" trees behave. The idea of being friends with trees just tickles me. Like, how do you befriend a tree? Give it fertilizer and talk to it a lot like you would a house plant? I don't know, it's one of those little tidbits in your stories that makes me happy though. Worried Derek? I hope that's not anything serious. I'm glad that Glorfindel gets to be part of the wedding party, it's only right after being a surrogate dad to the twins for so long. Thanks so much for the update! Hope it's a beautiful Christmas and New Year's for you and for everyone. It's going to be a rainy and ridiculously warm Christmas for us. I hope someday I get to live in a place where it snows more often so maybe I can see a white Christmas someday (I can -hear- eyes rolling from cold climate dwellers, LOL.) Anyway, may your dinner rolls not burn and no family members call for bail money. *grin* -Kevana

Eruherdiriel · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

I loved the scene with Vorondur and his sons. I reminds me of interactions at various family reunions I've witnessed. ~Eruherdiriel

Sunny · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

I'm sure Glorfindel is not the only one who has wondered what a good shrink would have made of Fëanor. And Finwë and Míriel Serindë, too, for that matter. Hmm. Vorondur is worried about Alex? not a good sign! Hopefully he won't do anything to make the Wedding ... Interesting, though I'm if there is the slightest whiff of Agency-ish skulduggery afoot, Secret Agent Meriwether will be there in a trice. But let's hope he won't show up. Hehehe, I see Vorondur and Ercasse are already in cahoots with their sons about staying in Wiseman! I'm sure tha Valar will be going all, "Curses, foiled again!" to their faces while secretly cheering at the situation. And there are probably some minor bets being settled among the Maiar as well.

someone · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

Lots of things in the last few chapters. I was worried for the wedding, as the catering people may have already planned everything for much less amount of guests, but that seems to be in order and the new guests will get food, too. Allowing that many people come for the wedding might not be the smartest thing the Valar have done. Yes, they are relatives, but now the wedding is full of people the new couple has never met (and some of the new arrivals seem to have somewhat difficult personalities... hopefully they won't cause a scene). Will the "support personnel" have chance to come to the party, too? (What will the Amanians eat during these two weeks, as they don't have dollars to buy anything? Did they bring their own food for the visit?) I had already got used to Kyle being less than polite to some Elves, so it came as a surprise that he was actually respectful when talking to Elrond. Perhaps he is just polite to strangers? I've also been wondering why the Elves value Ron so much, but that was made clear now. They respect his ability to turn a disaster into something useful, right? I hope you will have a happy and peaceful Christmas!

Dreamflower · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

The wisdom of Vorondur indeed! I am very much enjoying the way his standing among...hmm? (I just realized we need some sort of collective name for "those who stayed". "The Wiseman Elves" doesn't really work anymore, does it?) Anyhow, as I was saying before I got sidetracked, I like the way Glorfindel emphasizes the respect they all have for him. I also got a huge kick out of seeing him bring his sons to the realization that they were only forbidden from hiding, but not from requesting to stay. *grin*

Sarah · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

This seems like great planning on your part (or perhaps a lucky coincidence) bringing all of these families back together in time for the holidays for us readers. Glad to see the things Re being smoothed over and everyone is getting on well. I hope you have a lovely Christmas holiday! Though it looks like it might be a rather green one for us Michiganders *sigh* I apologize for any grammatical errors, I stayed up much too late last night in deep discussion with my fellow nerds after *finally* working up the nerve to see Five Armies (which I see SoA folks are already busy about writing fix-its for some Most Unsatisfactory Scenes *grin* ).

Laer · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

such a happy story :) I am glad he can help his sons, and that they are staying. It might be fun for the others, but more work for their dad I am sure. LOL!

Celeth · 22 December 2014 · Chapter 103: The Wisdom of Vorondur

So that's what Vorondur does, huh? I am glad that his family will be reunited too. But I cannot help wondering what happened to Daeron to haunt him so.

Shemyaza · 21 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

Interesting and I personally found very disturbing and distressing chapter. I imagine that in a real and similar situation stern questions would be asked, because I certanly couldn't see Celeborn OR Galadriel letting it past that their grand sons were party to a massacre of innocents, because 'down to the very last child born yesterday' does rather infer that the three of them set out to commit amassacre. I can't see Elrond or his wife being sanguine about it either, especially given that Elrond was partly mortal. It's also badly out of character fir Glorfindel and therefore even more shocking. Have you ever seen a massacre of men, women and children? I have. I helped clear away the bodies at Mutla Ridge in Iraq. Perhaps I should say, body parts, because that's what they looked like. Pieces of meat, not even human and that bald statement took me right back to seeing those bodies. I don't really drink, but for a day after I couldn't bring myself to be sober. Every time I closed my eyes all I saw was that, all I smelled was that. I was also involved in a firefight in a village just over the border of Saudi and I can still see, over twenty years on, the empty eyes of the three men I shot at pointblank range. I didn't snap. So why would sneobe like Glorfindel and the twins snap and invoke the 'wrath of the Eldar'? To all intents and purposes once the War of the Ring was over, the elves were meant to leave the shores of middle earth and seek healing. So why didn't Glorfindel and the twins do that? Daeron suffered at the hands of humans. So have many other humans suffered at the hands of their fellow man, but what should make us and the eldar rise above petty and vicious revenge is the fact that not all humans would seek that type of revenge. Most of us wouldn't stoop to those levels. I didn't seek to wreak vengeance ove the US troops who smart bombed the road from Basra, killing only a few fleeing Iraqi National Guard, but annihilating every other innocent family travelling on that road. I felt sickened and traumatised, but the only person That suffered from MY PTSD was me. PTSD doesn't make you vengeful, it makes you wary, hypervigilant and over-protective. I also find it very hard to believe that the Valar or Eru would have countenanced such a thing as the massacre of children. So I wonder where you are going with this story tack because right now Glorfindel seems to have gone from someone, bright eyed, fair with wisdon on his face to literally a vicious yob and if he is there to help humans to prepare for the end days he certainly doesn't seem to have the welfare of humans at heart. If push came to shove and he had to either protect his own or a human, which would he choos? Speaking as a former professional soldier I definitely wouldn't want him watching my back. Peopke with horrendous PTSD are rarely vengeful, usually we are actually quite sad and introspective. Usually the condition manifests itself according to the personalit of the oerson affected. If you are a violent person without scruples then you react that way, only magnified. If you are at heart a calm rational person who values peace and life as I imagbe Glorfibdel and the rwins to be at heart, the last thing you woukd do is add to your already vicious and disressing nightmares by slaughtering children. I think perhaps it might be an idea to put a warning before chapters that hold such notions as massacres so that your readers can avoid unnecessary distress. For myself I certainly would avoid them. Just tiny things trigger off my PTSD. A song, a smell, reading about certain things, a movie. I can now deal with them after many years counselling but that doesn't mean that they dont upset me.

Rebecca Ashling · 20 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

I wonder why Turgon was such a difficult Reborn? How was it that his fëa was so injured? It will be interesting to find out why. Now re the massacre perpetrated by Glorfindel and the Twins. That is so... unlike Glorfindel. It seems very much out of character for him plus there is also a hint that he, and the twins, used torture as a means of vengeance. What state had they gotten themselves into before finding Daeron? People do indeed snap but this seems like a psychotic breakdown to me. Once Celeborn and Galadriel get over their shock, I feel certain they will ask Glorfindel some pointed questions. Something seems off here.

Kevana · 20 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

Ah, thanks for the clarification! I was wondering. I did have in mind a number of the other bloody events Elves were involved in, and similar events from history- some of it recent - so I could see it happening, regardless of how I feel about it. The entire affair is really sad. I'm rather thankful that they refused to tell Celeborn!

obsidianj · 20 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

The title of this chapter sounds very light and comforting to me until I read the chapter. Revelations in the library would have been more like it ;-). Turgon's behavior makes more sense now and Glorfindel really has to deal with him. I don't think Turgon will find healing and will grow to maturity with all this unresolved history. I hadn't expected Celeborn to be so pushy, but from the little Daeron revealed his experiences must have been horrific. I just hope Glorfindel didn't mean that they literally murdered infants in revenge. Although, I think he and the twins are capable of doing it. Luckily, Vorondur is there to help and it is a great sign of trust and already healing that Daeron is able to have Vorondur help him.

obsidianj · 20 December 2014 · Chapter 101: Dancing the Night Away

A nice way to wind down after all the excitement of the evening. Dancing is a lot better than beating each other up or start screaming at all and sundry. I can see the bemusement of the Valinorean newcomers when they heard the "music" and saw what the mortals call "dancing". I don't think they have a frame of reference for this. The maiar also dancing was a nice touch and should give those who noticed a hint that there are more ways to do music and dance than what they know. Galadriel is too quiet for my taste and Turgon sounds like a petulant little kid. I liked it that the reunited families found a way to spend the rest of the night together in some form and not that everyone went home alone.

Kevana · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

Sasha - Yikes, when I first read that part, I thought Glorfindel was just saying that as a dramatic example to explain that they were very thorough in hunting down the actual culprits. I didn't think he meant they literally killed babies. Now you have me wondering. It's a deeply sad and disturbing thought, especially as much as Elves love children. Since we don't know the full story (and no idea if we ever will) it's a hard thing to even begin to guess at. Reminds me of several real stories from history, though.

Larner · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

Obviously not good memories for Daeron. I admit curiosity as well, but will grant the fellow his privacy. Alas for what we have done to one another!

rikki · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

This is a thought provoking chapter like a lot of this story has been. First, Tristan and Iseult, though they are your creations are very real in how you have written them dealing with Celeborn and Galandriel. I can imagine that the marriage contract between the two families is going to be complex and probably requiring a lot of negotiation. Then the interaction between Glorfindel and Galandriel is another instance where I had to stop and think that though we don't have a canon relationship written by Tolkien, they must have had quite a few meetings and dealings during the ages, especially after Elrond and Celebrian wed. Considering their beginnings in Aman, the interactions had to be more of old acquaintances and meetings of the same minds when dealing with the two enclaves of Elves. My final thought was how strong Ron must be. He hears all sorts of stories involving horror and heart-rending situations but he has the patience to listen and provide counseling to his patients. Though I wonder who hears his revelations when he needs to vent. Being there for Daeron is very important if Glorfindel and the twins eliminated the mortals holding Daeron down to the smallest infants. It must have been truly horrific. And I have a feeling Glorfindel is going to want to vent on Elu for having Celeborn questioning Daeron about his experiences. I hope that you have all your presents wrapped and decorations up if you celebrate the Christmas holiday. The last weekend before Christmas and our town is like a zoo with people rushing around trying to do their last minute shopping. After today, I plan to stay at home unless it is an emergency. Have a great weekend and I will be here Monday for the next chapter.

FV_Whisper · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

Looks like Finrod and Amarië are in for a tour of Finrod's bedroom. Lovebirds! It's nice to see some private talk between Glorfindel and Galadriel and she calling him hanno was a nice touch. Turgon really took away Glorfindel's status as 'most troublesome Reborn' with his behavior. It's interesting how he needed Eärendil to actually mature up himself again. Good thing by that time Eärendil had gained enough experience dealing with Reborn from Glorfindel. Things must have been bad with Turgon if Arafinwë had to order all those Death Sworn to leave Tirion, that's not a decision to take lightly, many must have left half their lives behind for that! Yes, there's going to be some long talking between Glorfindel and Turgon to make up for everything that has been hunting and standing between them since Gondolin's fall, but I think after that, things will be better. Celeborn is quite pushing things here, first with the ap Hywels, next with Daeron. He's obviously concerned about Daeron, but could have never guessed how much Daeron must have suffered and how deeply his trauma went. I feel sorry for Daeron here, one moment he's happily remembering a young Celeborn, a moment later the later is reminding him of his darkest hours. Whatever the Mortal's did to Daeron, it must have been something truly terrifying to justify the murder of a whole group of Mortal's to the youngest babe. I think it's quite saying something of Daeron he's giving in to himself and willing to let Ron come over. Glorfindel did a nice job of putting Celeborn on his place about Ron. Melyanna was sweet for Daeron here and I'm sure Ron will help make him feel better.

Lindelea · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

"Conversations" is such a quiet, tame word for all that goes on in this chapter. Alas, poor Daeron. While I am curious as to the back-story -- will it ever be written, I wonder? -- I shudder at the implications, knowing mankind's history and tendencies. Had the locals discovered his longevity, I wonder, and were they perhaps trying to use him or his blood to gain immortality themselves (though of course it wouldn't work that way... still, I can see an evil Shaman persuading his chieftain that he knew how these things worked...)? Glorfindel's and the Twins' rescue, and the consequences they dealt out to the Minstrel's captors sound like something out of the conquest of Canaan, with scorched-earth proportions. Pardon me, the teens of my acquaintance are lately deep in discussion of vampires (while they lampoon Twilight and that ilk, they are also speculating on how such a story might have been written, in a way that might make it plausible), and it colours my thinking at present. Love the easy conversation between Loren and Galadriel. And now I find myself speculating on the legalities of swearing one's life to another... does the vow cease upon one's death (after all, it is death!) or does re-Embodiment continue the commitment? Is it to death, or is it to the world's ending?

SashaHoneypalm · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 102: Conversations in the Library

>“We’ve all suffered at the hands of Mortals, Celeborn,” Glorfindel retorted, his voice and his expression absolutely frigid, “and to answer your next question, by the time I finished with the Mortals who had Daeron, they were either dead or insane, and those who were insane died soon enough. They’re all dead, Celeborn, have been dead for thousands of years and their descendants do not walk this earth because I and the Twins made sure of every last one of them down to the child born yesterday.” < Wait, WHAT? What. I'm not understanding this right, tight? You're not saying your heroes murdered babies once, just because they belonged to the wrong village? Or that genocide is something that can be glossed over because it happened in the past? Please tell me I'm misunderstanding what he's saying here. Tell me I'm an idiot for even thinking Glorfindel and the Els would commit atrocities like that. I'm okay with being an idiot, I misunderstand a lot of things.

FV_Whisper · 19 December 2014 · Chapter 101: Dancing the Night Away

Kyle knows how to care about his team, sending everyone away for the wedding. Why did I have to think about Glorfindel when Mánatamir talked about the puppy that slipped his leash? lol Well, at least Mánatamir had some fun there. Elrond is rather smug in explaining DNR to the kings. He's adjusting already here. For the kings, this talk mist all seem strange. Especially seeing how much problems the obsession with Mortals on dying, or rather not dying has caused in the past, when think about Númenor. After everything, it's no wonder the Twins are in for a lighter subject and dancing beats beating each other up. The reactions of the new arrivals to modern day music and dancing speak for themselves. It's fun to see even the Maiar where enjoying themselves. Celeborn is really in protective Ada mode here, much to Nell's dismay and he'll need some time adjusting for what is considered suitable for a young lady in this world. Much more than what he would consider so for sure. Galadriel is too quiet here. Makes you wonder on who she will explode over this first: her daughter or her husband. ON the other hand, when wanted to stay while the others are leaving, Nell has Gareth around her finger quite nicely already. And it's weird to think of Nell and Celebrían as sisters. I always pictured Celebrían as being ore like Celeborn in mood while Nell can be a younger version of her mother if she wants to. Go Tristan for having the nerve to tell Celeborn off! Either he has a lot more backbone than he has shown so far, or doesn't know who he's addressing too. Had to laugh about the reference to Arafinwë 's wedding. Olwë is such a sneak with that. And can someone please lock Turgon up before either he does something stupid or Glorfindel explodes? Whatever happens first and both options are possible as well.