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Fiondil's Tapestry  by Fiondil 9 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/15/2009
For most of the ficlet I tought the man was Aragorn. You tricked me neatly ;)

That was an anxious wait for Elendil, yes. But Gil-Galad came! It's only sad they both died in the end.




Author Reply: As I meant you (and all the other readers) to be tricked. *lol* Yes, a glad moment for them both, but also a sad one (in retrospect).

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/14/2009
Just absolutely beautiful. :) I can't explain why this particular piece has stirred my soul, but I'm sitting here, waiting for a cake to cool enough to frost for my son's baptism tomorrow afternoon, and I'm feeling uplifted and joyful along with Elendil.

Lovely moment to contemplate. Well done!

Author Reply: Thanks, Rhyselle. I'm glad you liked this one and that it has uplifted your soul. My congratulations on your son's baptism. I know that is a very special day for him and for the family. Eru bless.

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
This time, a ficlet depicting a moment of solemn and somewhat tragic beauty, taking into account what happenend shortly after with both Ereinion Gil-galad and Elendil. And as Elendil's get and legacy would still remain, through his sons, the last High King of the Noldor would die and with him all that the Eldar sought once to achieve on Middle-Earth would be turned to ashes.

A beautiful yet sad moment. True indeed, this lonely watcher's identity was a tad difficult to guess (I was beginning to ask myself what business had Tuor in this story "laughing")but you may have left us a clue, if I'm not mistaken. "The stars in the North were different from those in the South", have you said. That South...could be the island of Numenor? Or someone might say Aragorn had too spent some years in the South in his "youth" as a Ranger...although having already a wife and children, this would have been a far too distant memory. "smile"

What I liked best? Well, as usual "grin".....Gil-Estel and Valacirca. Whatever will happen tommorrow with both Elendil and Gil-galad and their people, whatever Sauron would do, Gil-Estel and Valacirca are the symbol of that day when the Evil will be once again defeated. For good this time. "happy smile" It's very meaningful, I believe, that Elendil saw Gil-galad's army coming after contemplating the Star of Hope.

You know, I think those two little piece of puzzle begin to fall back in their proper place only in the light of the Second Prophecy of Mandos. Somehow, I'm always coming to that, it seems. Sorry for boring you, but this is a key element in the Tolkien's world, in my opinion. Only in the light of this prophecy, all those battles, this one included, were worth to be fought.


Author Reply: You're right that the 'stars of the south' referred to those over Númenor, Sitara, though I'm sure everyone immediately thought of Gondor (which is what I wanted them to think *grin*). Until the Last Alliance, Elendil had never gone to Gondor. Most readers I think assumed this was Aragorn returning to Gondor after visiting Arnor some 15 years after the Ring War.

For the Elves and Edain, the Valacirca and Gil-Estel would always be signs of hope that whatever happens good would eventually prevail over evil. It's a pity that today we do not look up into the night sky and have that same sense of hope. The stars are just the stars and nothing more. Those of us who are steeped in the lore of Middle-earth, though, can reclaim that sense of hope by seeing, not Venus, but Eärendil's Star; not the Big Dipper, but the Sickle of the Valar.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
That was very inspiring and well written. I wasn't sure who it was until the very end, and then of course it was obvious! What a glorious moment that must have been for the king.

Author Reply: Hi, Shirebound. Thank you so much! I'm so glad you found this so inspiring and well written. I think it was indeed a glorious moment for them both, and very poignant in retrospect, knowing that neither of them would ever return to their homes. Their friendship, I think, was very special.

CairistionaReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
I like stories that make the reader guess who the protagonist is... and then it all clicks together at the end. I have to say I thought it was Aragorn at first, but was puzzled by the idea he was looking for someone, and puzzled still more by the name Voronwë. Then I kicked myself when he cried out, "Gil-galad comes!" I should have known it was Elendil. You drew the parallels between Elessar and Elendil very craftily. Nicely done!

Author Reply: Thank you Cairistiona. I really appreciate you taking the time to leave me this lovely review. Fooling the reader as to who the king is was the whole point of the story and I wanted to draw attention to the similarities between Elendil and Aragorn, both of whom had to rebuild their lives and the lives of their people -- Elendil after the drowning of Númenor and Aragorn after the Ring War. The clues are subtly there (Voronwë is one) for any to see, but the aha! factor is what I was aiming for. *grin*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
Elendil sees his ally and friend come ere they must away to Mordor, never either to return again to their own folk, giving their all to bring Sauron down.

Yes!

Author Reply: Exactly, Larner. When this prompt came up the image of Elendil waiting at Amon Sûl for Gil-galad came to me and thus this little gap-filler was born. I'm glad you liked this. Thanks for letting me know.

MarethielReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
Beautifully done. Many thanks for your sharing of your talent.

~Marethiel

Author Reply: Thank you Marethiel. I appreciate you letting me know how much you liked this.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
Ah! Elendil waiting for Gil-Galad, should have caught it when his guard was named. Later names seem to be less Elvish, if you know what I mean!
Another of your fill in ficlets!
Very good,
More please,
Lynda

Author Reply: *grin* Well, not so much less Elvish but simply not Quenya. In Gondor, the kings all had names in Quenya, unlike the kings (and then the Chieftains) of Arnor who switched to Sindarin names early on. The Ruling Stewards who later took over the governing of Gondor had names that were either Sindarin or were a blend of Quenya or Sindarin. Voronwë, of course, is purely Quenya and that's one clue as to which king we're talking about here.

At any rate, I'm glad you liked this one, Lynda. Thanks for letting me know.

ellieReviewed Chapter: 55 on 3/13/2009
Cool. I wodnered which king you were talking about. I could feel and see everythign around hi, nicely written!

Author Reply: Hi, Ellie. I purposely wrote this in such a way as to leave the king's identity in doubt until the very end. I'm glad you liked this one. Thanks for letting me know.

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