Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

An Autumn Fair in Halabor  by Soledad 3 Review(s)
DeniseReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 11/25/2008
Marvellous, bittersweet ending to another excellent portrait of the life of this little, beloved town.

Just awesome: “And never forget about your promise,” warned Erinti, kissing her brow. “May the blessings of the forest and the running and falling waters and the soaring winds be with you, child. Be brave and be strong, whatever fate may throw at you. For you have it in you to beat fate.”

Delbaeth was the only one I could bring myself to look up in "Last Yule" again; and I'd forgotten about the Elves being brought out in that previous work! It really made me appreciate even more the intertwining you've done between the two works.

Yeah: great last line.

Author Reply: Thank you. I'm glad you liked the story - I liked writing it as well. There will be more, soon.

Thanks for taking the time to review. It's much appreciated, and it inspires the muse to work harder. ;)

BodkinReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 1/3/2008
First - many apologies for not having had the time (or energy) to read and review as you posted this. And for not reviewing each chapter as they deserve. For I love your Halabor. The complexity - the detail - the interactions of the individuals (some of whom lead very realistically cruddy lives) - your sheer understanding of the town, its inhabitants and the way they live ... it's just brilliant. I'm really not sure which of the inhabitants I love most - the carter, of course, doesn't make the list - but they are real people living medieval lives, obsessed with - well, making a living, I suppose. Providing for their families and setting up successful dynasties. I can't remember all the outcomes, but I am only too (unfortunately) aware that many of them aren't happy. I loved seeing them in conjunction with the passing elves ... making a few coins, setting up a few memories. I suspect that some among the elves were only too aware of the stink of tragedy in the near future - and maybe happily handed over a few extra coins to sweeten the present.

I just love your detail. The way you know the background and destiny of all your characters. Halabor is a very real place.

Beautiful, Soledad. I loved it. (Perhaps even more for having read it all in one go.) Well done.

Author Reply: And here I thought you've gotten fed up with Halabor! *g*

Seriously, thank you. It was a very hard series to write: to come up with new things and new characters from a place that has already been explored so thoroughly, while struggling with a really bad strech of Real Life. There were times when I've nearly given up the whole thing, as barely any people seemed to be interested... until Neilia came aboard and nudged me along for the next part.

I'm glad that I've managed to write it to the end, after all - even though it's actually turned out 2 parts shorter than originally intended. But stubbornness can only carry a person so far. ;))

I'm glad you like it. I might add a short file later, revealing the fate of the characters, when I get around to do it.

NeiliaReviewed Chapter: Epilogue 2 on 12/25/2007
Waaah! *sniffle, tears tracing down cheeks* Is this canon? :-(

Author Reply: No. Halabor and all its inhabitants are entirely my creation. The whole thing started as a one-shot with "Shadows of the Past"... then I got interested, and see what has become of it!

Of course, some things stated in "Shadows of the Past" don't match the current Halabor development one hundred per cent, like the exact circumstances of the destruction and the actual size of the town, but I couldn't bring it ower my heart to change it. Perhaps one day...

Return to Chapter List