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Evensong  by Rose Sared 9 Review(s)
ImrahoilReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/23/2005
Ha, nice to see Aragorn being 1.: for once the comic relief and 2.: on the wrong end of a healing and the usual obnoxious medicines, does him good, I'm sure.
O.k. two ValaR, you're right.
"Third time pays for all, Gimli." Huhu, why am I not surprised to see this sentence pop up? You're somewhat addicted to it - or do I perhaps mix you up with Larner?, hmmm, wurscht. But what does it MEAN? Is it always meant figuratively? If not what does "third time" refer to? Next review.

Author Reply: Sorry to be the writer of cliche's - but I don't think I have used it before - It is a common enough platitude.
It is used figuratively but it refers to the British? superstition that the fates are three-fold (the good, the bad and the indifferent?)implying that most things, good or bad, come in threes, therefore when you get to the third time you have come to the end of that cycle, and paid homage to the fates. (hopefully they will leave you alone after that!)
There may be a more scholarly explanation than my off the cuff one - if so I will pass it on.
Loves your reviews, they are always so interesting.
Rose

ziggyReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/22/2005
Sneaks guiltily in- having not reviewed since Ch16- grovelling apologies becasue i have read avidly each chapter as it came out, greedily, like some dreadful vampire! And then not reviewed.
But this is just getting better and better- I just can't second guess what is going to happen and my poor fevered imagination is off on some wild goose chase only to find you have done something completely diferent and utterly convincing and 'right'. Poor little stoney- I am so sad for him. I loved it when Legolas got cross with himself, but little stoney melts even the hardest of hearts- its so sad the way you have written about his mother.

Ah, and so beautifully written- the music, I could almost hear it.

And you have done it again, that smoothing away of Gimli's hair- just puts that image striaght in my head-the tenderness of that gesture says everything, you just dont need gushing hyperbole. And isnt Gimli just wonderful- first thing he blurts out to any Vala that happens to just be hanging around is to compain about Legolas carrying him around!

There was also, of course, that desparate tenderness between Celbrimbor and Narvi- so beautifully written it made me cry. That sense of the beautiful vision Celebrimbor had (even if I dont really think ME without wargs and dragons etc will be much fun and am desparetly hoping you are going to UNDO!!!! all the - OK- so it was GOOD magic, but a bit dull perhaps...what are they going to do without orcs and wargs anyway?..OK- rant over. I LIKE baddies.)Now i can go and on but HAVE to read the next chapter. ANd cant wait any longer. Thank you!!

I like Sarthor's increasing bossinees of Aragorn. He needs someone like that around who just loves him enough to insist!

Author Reply: Rose pats review on the head, fondly. The only required bit is that you read and enjoy, ziggy. I love to hear from you but (as I remind myself when I feel sad) a review is a gift, and yours a great gift as you say such nice things.
I sorry about M-e being bereft of its more florid magic, but I think I am trying to explain why the M-e I live in is bereft of magical beings (or at least the ones I might trip over and then eat me)
Never fear I have rather more of this tale to tell, of how M-e settles into its new pattern and how our heroes cope. Just trying to work it all out in my own head before I inflict it on you.
Thanks for the kind words
Rose

grumpyReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/18/2005
Love your story, and your stone trolls are wonderful. What a great chapter, Gimli has a ring of power, and a chance to stay with his elf.
I loved Aragorn, poor guy, can not get up to do what he wants to do. At his age his body does not take well to being slammed up against walls, and healers who know him too well.

Author Reply: Thank you so much for your review, it is so nice to know that people are reading and even enjoying this tale - Aragorn resents his encroaching age fiercely and that horrible choice is looming, poor guy. Perhaps now he will have someone to talk to about it since I have nastily put Gimli in much the same situation. (authorial cackle)
More soon
Rose

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/18/2005
“You always did enjoy a challenge, son of Gloin.”

It's going to be a toughie, too. No longer, 'Stay in Arda, elf', but 'Hey, I fancy being the only dwarf ever to sail to the Undying Lands - and yep, I'm sure they'll let me in rather than blasting me to bits for my presumption.'

Your images again are - just great. And the pain in that poor elf. I hope Gimli doesn't feel the need to slip him a bit of Narvi-style support over the next decade - but I wouldn't be too surprised.

I love Gimli's meeting with Mahal and Yavanna - they seem to treat him rather like a favourite godson - and that the choice is left to him. A choice that is no choice, really, given who he is and his sense of responsibility as well as his love for the elf and the ranger.

And poor Aragorn. He might be doing quite well for his age - about 198, isn't he? - (we should all be doing so well at that age!) - but he's no spring chicken. It must be a torture to him to have to repose helplessly on his bed while sending Radagast to seek Legolas and Gimli. And he doesn't respond well to 'helpless'. I wouldn't want to be Dervoron. Best if they keep him under the influence of healing potions for a while. (Balrog's balls - good expression!)

(If Valda can keep Narvi embodied for the whole of the Third Age - and piece together a rather badly damaged Celebrimbor - has Gimli just obtained a possible immortality? And is he now landed with the Numenorian king problem of deciding when it is right for him to die? Or does he just hand it over when he reached the BR? And pop his clogs shortly afterwards?)

I love the way you have worked this all out. Such a great story - and getting even better by the chapter.

Author Reply: Thank you Bod, you do the nicest reviews - this story often takes me by surprise as things work out in ways I certainly did not plan when I first came up with the idea.
I suspect that Gimli is going to indeed be landed with the that really nasty Numenorian ability to choose. Talk about never wanting the gifts of the gods, what a decision. And as for how much he might use the ring - more later , evil cackle. heh!
Rose

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/17/2005
I figure with a magic ring, anything is possible!

Author Reply: Yep, and wasn't there some poor elf who was hung on a meat hook for a rather long time by Morgoth - tough these immortals. Sigh. I figure Narvi scooped him up when they were through using him as a symbol and sorta put him back together - Not entirely successfully as you can see by the fact that she had to keep on using the ring to keep him going. Ah me. Why do I write?
grins anyway
Rose

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/17/2005
Me again. From the Unfinished Tales:

Sauron could learn nothing from Celebrimbor; and he had him put to death. But he guessed the truth, that the Three had been committed to Elvish guardians: and that must mean to Galadriel and Gil-galad.

In black anger he turned back to battle; and bearing as a banner Celebrimbor's body hung upon a pole, shot through with Orc-arrows, he turned upon the forces of Elrond.


Author Reply: Just goes to show - I should read the Unfinished Tales - hah! You could have let me in on that little gem about ten chapters ago daw! Never mind, breathe deeply and say to myself - this is fiction, this is fiction, none of these people actually lived! (or for that matter made elf kebab in front of an army)
Sorry for the lack of research or resource or whatever - think of him as a ghost or something.( ermm)
Rose

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/17/2005
Sorry about the false post. Slipping fingers, darn it.
Well, Aragorn makes a lousy patient, doesn't he? He's the king, and he still can't get his way, poor thing. I pity those poor souls who have to be around him right now. His healer's complete lack of sympathy was both funny and believeable.
I love the way this story is tying up dangling threads. The way you have fashioned your puzzle pieces they all fall together very smoothly. My favorite bit of Gimli's time with the Vala is when they look at each other over his head. Ha! Such sneaky, subtle humor.
I'm wondering why Legolas took Gimli away and not back to the camp where the healers are. Maybe he's convinced the dwarf is dead? But why even then? Something is up there. ~TF

Author Reply: Quite a lot of why is revealed next ch, poor old Legs - first the caves, then the troll then Gimli out of action. Nasty author rubs her hands in nasty glee.
Glad you liked the Valar - it always seems a little presumptous to write them - but heh, if I can torture the cast why not be cheeky to the gods?
Rose

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/17/2005
So that's why Gimli sailed! All I have to say is that that ring must have some power if it cured Celebrimbor of being stuck on a pole and used as a warbanner.

Aragorn is making himself difficult, I see. It's going to make him crazy to rely on Radagast to find his friends rather than going himself.

Author Reply: Umm, not stuck on a pole in my copy of LOTR or in my copy of Silm or in encyclopedia of arda online - which is the extent of my sources - It just says Celebrimbor was killed and the doors of moria shut. Mind you made me laugh out loud! and scurry back to my books to check!

My Aragorn hates anything that smacks of debility even more than Gimli does,and he doesn't get a get out of jail free token. He's allowed to get stroppy! Throughout this fic I have had the voice of doom going 'Ten years to go' tolling in my head. At least the characters don't know I suppose.

Thanks for the kind words, daw.
Rose

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/17/2005
Oh brilliant. So neat. What a terrific solution to so many questions. I will get back to you properly, but just had to say how good this is!

Author Reply: Thanks Bod, nice to know you're reading. Rose

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