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Celebrian, Sell i Nos Galadhad   by Redheredh 4 Review(s)
Kitt OtterReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/5/2008
Aurthon and his lady are still delightful. To Celeborn and Hrassa's discourse - No, I do not feel as though I was hit over the head, *grins* more as though I ate a lot of cheesecake. I'm happily satisfied.
I like the moment they all see each other.
"Tall fellow standing next to Galadriel"; oddly enough I only just read the joke of that today. Oh, but it is sadly true...
Galadriel's hmm, forebodings for Celebrian gives at least a peak into her character: the fretful mother. But will we be seeing the Lady soon? *squirms* Such anticipation!
-Kitt



Author Reply: LOL! Good! One thing great about reading is that, sans snacks, it is non-caloric.
But, watch out for those cups!
The pity is for years, readers have missed clues about many characters that would have given them a better experience of the story. Things have changed only somewhat. The movies did not help Denethor either...
The Lady will show up, but it will take a few more chapters. *sorry!*

Thank you for letting me know you find this an enjoyable story! :D

perellethReviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/28/2006
Well... sleep has been elusive so I sat back here and began catching up...

"But if you cannot abide our business, Hrassa... stand by your choice and stay out it.” I loved this sentence. This Celeborn is perfectly built up in his convictions, his wide sight, his calm acceptance that he's underestimated more often than not, and his persistence in pursuing his goals. And I like to think that, despite his plans going "a bit" awry, he did feel proud of Celebrian's sons.

Now, Laerlínath surprised me in the beginning with her trembling and general nervous state, when she allowed Aurthôn comfort her and protect her, but soon she returned to herself. This relationship reminds me of something I am now too tired to remember, but their roles seem quite familiar. And the master scribe can now, by a hit of luck, earn a point with his master...or so he hopes. Poor Aurthon, anyway, he's no match for Hrassa's dry wit... :-)

Good point to have Celeborn and Hrassa finding them such way. As we know, Hrassa shall spend some time telling tales to Celebrìan, but, shall he have an opinion about who should be those sons' father? :-)

Author Reply: Well... I'm glad you did... ;)

It definitely was a clear statement. Of course, Celeborn will love Elohir and Elladan and be proud of them for who they are! And he better be grateful that he has them at all!

Poor Laerlinath was unexpectedly overwhelmed, I think. Probably because Galadriel understood her fears a little too well. I mean, look how she affected Boromir, brave man that he was. Hmm, the couple both have pretty regular pesonalities for their character types and that may be why they seem familiar. Hrassa's first impression of Laerlinath is that she is much like Galadriel. But, Aurthon is a very decent sort of guy, just like Hrassa. I think they will get along ok together. Unless, one of them is asked to do something entirely dishonest...

Laerlinath will be a better person for is all, I think. And I really think that who is a little too far in the future for Hrassa to consider the possibilities yet.

Thank you very much for the review!

BejaiReviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/24/2006
Ah! So delighted to see you continuing this story! I know you had to take a step back and decide what direction the story was going to go. What a treat to get the author alert in my inbox.

Heh. Poor Laerlínath. Galadriel's "test" are rather ... trying, I would think. Yikes, I certainly wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of one.

So good to see her and Aurthôn making up. There was some mistrust going on between them in earlier chapters. I wasn't sure I liked Laerlínath at all, but I think I'm understanding her better. She's been a little afraid and off balance the entire time, I think. Seeing the love the two of them truly share does a lot to improve my opinion of her. Sneaky of you, convincing me to embrace her after all ;) Getting caught in the corridor ... too good. I love how neither Celeborn nor Hrassa comments on it. They wouldn't see it as odd at all, would they?

Well, this just killed me: Hrassa says: “As you have said, ‘tis a new age, one without the Enemy." Ooof. Not so much. No Morgoth, maybe, but Sauron is lurking out there. I think Celeborn and Galadriel suspect that there is an enemy out there--that's a part of the reasons for the alliances that Hrassa is suspicious of. Tough to swallow, though.

This was such a great paragraph: "In the previous age, Gil-galad and Celeborn both had come too late to Sirion to save its people from slaughter. Oropher had earlier been driven away. Eärendil was always at sea. Elros and Elrond had been too young. In this age, Gil-galad had again failed to provide protection to his dependent country and Orophe.r would not. If called, Amdir would have to cross the mountains and come too late. Would Celeborn and Galadriel be long gone as had been Tuor and Idril? What if Celebrian’s yet-to-be-born sons did not arrive in time either and were unready to take up arms against a fell foe? What would happen to this princess?" It covers so much history, so much about the concerns that Hrassa is having. With that thought in his head, methinks that Hrassa will stay, despite his misgivings.

Looking forward to where you take us next, as always.

Author Reply:
I am so happy to see your review! Yes, I did back-step from what you had read previously and have progressed forward again. Hrassa wanted things to be a little more true-to-*his*-life.

Poor Laerlinath, indeed. Galadriel obviously pinpointed her greatest fear and did not hesitate to use it. Perhaps Galadriel got so close to it, just as she does later with Boromir, because she shares the same fears. The two ladies are much alike.

Yes, Laerlinath has been off-kilter - Ost-in-Edhil is not Forlond. But, I really do not mean for everyone to *like* Laerlinath, just understand her. Heh! Caught kissing! Celeborn and Hrassa have not said anything yet...

Hmmm, you think they should know about Sauron already? I don't. Yes, there is always the threat of an evil dictator, but how substantial is it at this point? And, do you possibly give away your best advantage by letting the opposition know that you know he's up to something and cause him to hide his movements from you? Do you panic people and cause even more nationalism and polarization? Difficult calls to make... especially if it is only vague premonition, a shadow of evil rising far away somewhere... However, you, and Hrassa in his own way, perceive the situation.

We know Hrassa will stay for a while. He's been telling stories to Celebrian. But, for how long? I really do think Celeborn will protest against him wasting his special talents just babysitting.

I started this story to introduce Hrassa and have him educate Celebrian about her heritage. And I hope to get a few more of those tales done as this one progresses. Doggone if HAN hasn't turned to only the outline for all of these stories!

Thank you so much for letting me know you are reading. :D

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/23/2006
Poor Laerlínath. Galadriel must have been truly scary to shake her this badly! And then to get caught smooching in the private rooms by Celeborn - her face will take a fair while to resume its normal complexion. Aurthôn is feeling pretty gleeful - with a that'll-show-'em nod towards his in-laws!

(“You cannot risk termination over me!” This sounds a pretty serious reaction to standing up for your wife!)

It's rather entertaining to picture them stuck there by an inability to find the private door. (And a desire to smooch.)

Hrassa and Celeborn are being so veiled with each other - but hackles are rising - they will have to be a little plainer with each other, I think, or risk division through incomprehension. Celebrian and her sons, huh? Foresight? Or a really rather premature idea of marrying her off?

And Celeborn probably already has a scheme in mind involving Hrassa - his arrival might have been a surprise, but his prince has already shuffled and recut his card to include this trump. Good to see Aurthôn congratulating himself on his good fortune in encountering Hrassa. Don't know if he's quite up to the game - but really look forward to finding out.

This is all one giant political bouillabaisse.

Author Reply:
Poor Laerlinath was taken by surprise, me thinks. Galadriel's ire might just be up, as well. Aurthon does seem to have a slight esteem problem with the wife's relatives. But, he is happy for 'dearest comrade' too. :)

(Does it? Well, I think everyone knows Celeborn will stand up for his wife, too. And she is "Ceasar's wife" almost literally. Someone complaining to her husband - the only one who may actually judge her - that she is abusive to her minions had better have irrefutable proof.)

Of course, they could always leave by the regular doors. But, I think L knew A would be too curious and also want to try to avoid the crowds. That ringing toast may have encouraged the smooching. ;)

Celeborn had said before that there would a new northrim springing from Nos Galadhad to watch over the Lindar. ... Hrassa said here that he sees what is going on now - Morgoth's evil will return in some form. The elves must be ready to face it together (with Men and Dwarves) or they will lose everything sooner rather than later to the humans. And what kind of people would they be, what kind of world would they make under the dominion of an evil dictator? C&G have a plan to thwart that rising evil in the east, but they need time for it to work. BTW, the Naugrim are being included because Galadriel sees them as an vital addition to their forces, just like Tolkien mentions, not because Celeborn really trusts them all that much. He just wants access to the route through the mountains and not have to go over them.

Yep. You got it. You don't let a friend's talents go to waste. Aurthon is another talented guy. Believe it or not, he is a principled person, as is Hrassa. They should get along well together. But, you are right; we'll have to wait and see if Celebrimbor is right about Aurthon.

Hmmm, like bouillabaisse... is that good or bad?

Thank you so much for reviewing!

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