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Thain  by Lindelea 2 Review(s)
LeithianReviewed Chapter: 45 on 4/17/2025
'Thain' is back. Yay!

Is the Galdor here, the one we meet in the FoTR? Galdor of the Grey Havens.
Can I say how happy I am so see Elves in your story? I've always wished to see your perspective of Elves.

𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘝𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘨𝘶𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨-𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘵𝘰 𝘢 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥.

That's interesting, have you addressed this in one of your stories? I'd like to know more about this.

I like your touch with the hobbit ladies who take up archery to defend their homes. After all Tookish lasses were even mentioned to have gone away on Gandalf's adventures.

A thing I have noticed is that in the Thorn chapters the atmosphere reflects the story, and the time period. It feels as if I'm in an older, almost legendary time period and it feels much more perilous, yet enchanting, almost as if I'm reading a book on myths. It is amazing the way you have created comparison and contrast in the Thain and Thorn storylines.

Author Reply: Good to hear from you! Yes, this is the Galdor from the Grey Havens, where Bucca originally met him earlier in the story. I have chosen to write Elves as "regular people" with a lot of life experience and an ability to commune closely with nature, in trying to follow the ideas that Tolkien's descriptions gave me. Certainly, his Elves had particular qualities that set them apart from other races, but that said, he endowed each of the races in Middle-earth with their own unique talents and failings. I don't see any of them as "above" any of the others, though Elves in general might act distant because of the perspective their long years has given them. (Not that they are wiser; but I wonder if they tend to distance themselves from mortals because of the pain of inevitable separation? I know I'm feeling hesitant to adopt another dog in part because the last three deaths – we lost two dogs and a cat over the past decade – tore my heart to pieces. Or felt like it, anyhow.)

Although the idea of "the Thorn" of the Fallohides (as well as the Thorns of the other two branches of Hobbitry) originated in Thain and is part of the origin story for the term "Thain" (as will be made clear in a future chapter), you'll find a much earlier Thorn (in terms of hobbit history) in the story Shire: Beginnings. I put the link below to make it easier to find. That story also includes quite a few interactions between Hobbits (the Fallohides in the mists of Hobbit history) and Elves, including Glorfindel, Elrond, and the Twins, as well as Arwen. The story also introduces the idea that the Valar were watching over Hobbits from their beginning (even though there's no record of how Hobbits began), which is how the Lady comes into that story and this one.

http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterlistview.asp?SID=1052

It makes perfect sense (in retrospect, 20-some years after I started writing fanfic) that all hobbits, not just males, would take up archery (interestingly, Tolkien seemed to imply that the Fallohides were more likely to practise archery than the other two clans). However, I didn't realise that I'd neglected the idea of female Tooks and archery skills until I read Mirkwoodmaiden's account of Éowyn learning archery, and something clicked.

I am so glad the contrast between the two eras shines clearly! That was one of the things I was aiming for: spotlighting the differences (the contrast in attitude and culture, considering the dangers hobbits faced in Bucca's time compared to the soft living of the Shire in Pippin's youth) and similarities (for hobbits are, indeed, hobbits, no matter the circumstances) between the two timelines in my attempt to weave them together in a logical as well as comprehensible way.

Many thanks for reading and taking the time to share your thoughts and questions!

Author Reply: I may have given the wrong impression in talking about how I see Elves, for there are some Elves that stand out from the rest, of course, especially those who were born early enough to see the light of the Two Trees in person. They seem to possess a greater degree of power than those who were born in a later age. Galadriel and Glorfindel come to mind. Galadriel was born during the Years of the Trees, as was Glorfindel. Thus, they both saw the light of the Two Trees, I think? Even so, they had their triumphs and tragedies and passions, very much like the "regular people" I mentioned earlier.

Galadriel had relationships with siblings and other family members that sound awfully familiar, and she clearly suffered the failing of pride. She took part in a rebellion, lived through many wars, experienced bitter losses, and was exiled. I feel as if it wouldn't be wrong to sum her up as a really stubborn person with genuine gifts who had to learn things the hard way. (I know RL people like that!)

Meanwhile, Glorfindel died (heroically, I think?) fighting a Balrog and was re-embodied. I should think his long (though interrupted) life and many experiences would have taught him wisdom and possibly compassion for "weaker" (note this does not mean the same thing as "lesser") beings. But I might be communicating all these thoughts badly since I haven't tried to organise them in a logical way (at least, not at this point). And I'm badly in need of a nap.

Ultimately, for all their powers and talents and length of years, Elves could not bring the Ring to the Fire. They had to trust, instead, to the "small hands" of the "weak". Thus, I still find myself more intrigued by the simplicity of hobbits than the larger-than-life intrigues of the "great". I've read some wonderful Elf-centric fanfic in the past (for example, Nilmandra's stories), but hobbits keep distracting me when I try to turn my thoughts elsewhere. Anyhow, though muddled and more than a little rambling, here you have a glimpse into my perspective on Elves.

Reviewed Chapter: 45 on 4/15/2025
Wonderful story! And awful cliffhanger. I soo dislike cliffhangers. Generally because most stories that I've read with cliffhangers were abandoned by their writers. Why do all the stories have to be so intriguing and then you leave all your poor readers hanging at the edge? I so want to see the end of this story.

I've read and reread the stories about the Shire's past. I especially like reading the interactions between the elves and hobbits and how the hobbits can sneak up and disappear without the elves knowing. It always sorta annoyed me that the elves were always considered superior to everyone else, but you do all the characters wonderfully.

Recently, I read the story "Yew" by Pearl Took. Could you write a story in which Pippin meets Yew again? Or somehow gets word of Yew? Something with Yew and Pippin.

Author Reply: I'm glad you like the story! If all goes well, new chapters of this story will continue to appear regularly (once or twice a week) until we reach the conclusion. Now that I'm no longer working 14- to 16-hour days, six or seven days a week, I have writing time again. I am working at finishing all the WIPs I left dangling when I went back to the workplace about a decade ago. So long as real life cooperates, I think there's a good chance. Think good thoughts, if you wouldn't mind.

I appreciate the kind words about my characters. I try to treat all of Tolkien's races with respect; I don't really consider any of them superior to the others, even though I find Hobbits, in general, more relatable somehow.

I don't remember that story by Pearl Took! I'll have to go back and find it. I may even have read it in the past (and left reviews, even, for I've made an effort to review the stories I've read). Too many times the past couple months, I've read delightful stories from my favourite authors and left a glowing review – or started to – and then found I'd actually read and reviewed a long time earlier. Oh well. The plus side of forgetfulness is I get to enjoy a story all over again if I don't remember having read it earlier.

That said, I can't promise anything, but I will seek out that story and ask the Muse if it might be possible to adopt that plot bunny. Maybe inspiration will strike. You never know.

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