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Fiondil's Tapestry  by Fiondil 14 Review(s)
JancyReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/16/2009
there's a lot of things i wasn't familiar with in this story, but everytime I read what you write, you always sound like Tolkien. I think you're a great storyteller, or maybe a taleweaver (I think Im killing English here by trying to sound thoughtful)

The Silmarillion was a little hard for me to make through, but I suceeded twice. Now I'm trying to rembmer all the different Elvish names for the elves since they're all different in Quenya and Sindarin. I didn't read the other books (History of Middle Earth) but after this I think I'll b ready to read them with more understanding thanks to you

Author Reply: Well, I'm not sure if I sound like Tolkien, but I do try to keep in canon. The Silmarillion is hard for everyone to read but it is worth reading. Trying to keep track of all the names is of course an issue with everyone. The Histories are also interesting reads but not necessarily for everyone unless they have a specific interest in some aspect of Tolkien's Legendarium. At any rate, I'm glad that I have been able to help you to understand Tolkien's world a bit more through my own tales. Thanks for letting me know.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/16/2009
New words indeed! Yes, many new words shall be needed!

Author Reply: Many new words indeed and apparently they were quite persuasive since most of the Elves did make the long journey to Aman.

shireboundReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/14/2009
He had no words for what he was seeing. He saw colors that he never knew existed, for in the dark beneath the stars, most colors were muted to shades of grey, white and black.

"Wh-where are the stars?" Elwë asked in a quavering voice.


This is very lovely and wonderful. It's fascinating to be 'present' as the Eldar invent their language, and the Valar meet their long-awaited Children.

Author Reply: Oh Shirebound, thank you so very much. I'm so glad you enjoyed this. I always wondered what it must have been like for both the Eldar and the Valar to meet like this. The Valar must have been so nervous, wondering if their offer for the Children to come to Aman would be rejected. How relieved they must have been when the three Elves voiced their desire to bring their people to Aman to live in the Light of the Trees.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/12/2009
What an experience for the three ellyn - first the long journey into unknown territory, and then the shock of the Two Trees! After living only under starlight for so long, the difference in light must have been extreme. But I can imagine the awe at discovering all these new colours.

*grin* You know, I am quite thankful that Ingeë and the others had so many problems with Valarin that they rendered the names into Quenya. That makes things easier for me, too!

Author Reply: Hi Kitty. I'm sure many people are grateful that the Elves were able to render Valarin names into Quenya. *grin*

As I was writing this story, it suddenly occurred to me that upon entering Aman and being confronted with the Light of the Two Trees when all they've known for nearly 400 years is the dim light of the stars, the Elves were not going to just shrug and say, 'Oh, lovely'; they were going to freak. And no amount of explanation prior to the experience was ever going to prepare them. I imagine that when the rest of the Elves reached Aman, Ingwë and Finwë took pains to introduce their people a few at a time, otherwise there would probably have been a great deal of panic and a mass exodus back to Middle-earth. *grin*

RadbooksReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/11/2009
I really enjoyed this glimpse of what it might have been like for the three elves to come to Aman. It never occurred to me that they must have been totally 'blinded by the light'! *grin* I like that you had Elwe hang back the most, foreshadowing his later decision not to return to Aman. The interactions between elves and Valar were wonderful... seeing the impressions of both sides was a nice treat! Thanks so much.

Author Reply: Hi Radbooks. I'm glad you enjoyed this glimpse of what it must have been like for these three Elves to come to Aman. They were indeed 'blinded by the light!' but not for very long. *grin* And Elwë... I always felt sorry for him, never getting back to Aman, for I know how much he yearned to see the Two Trees again. Of course, he did eventually come to Aman the 'hard way' *grin* so I guess it worked out in the end. Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.

ThalaneeReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/11/2009
I absolutely loved this chapter! It´s one of my favourites so far.
I had always wondered what the first meeting between the three elven kings and the Valar would have been like and you rendered it beautifully!
For some reason it never occured to me that the light of the two trees would hurt the elves eyes the first time they saw them...though it´s pretty obvious if you stop to think about it.
I couldn´t help but smile when Ingwe stumbled over the Valarin words: I don´t think anyone could have done better (I know I nearly broke my tongue when I tried to pronounce the Valarin names of the trees).
Already looking forward to the future chapters!

Greetings, Thalanee

Author Reply: Hi Thalanee. I'm so pleased that this is one of your favorites of my Tapestry stories. Thank you for letting me know. I don't think too many people have thought about how the Light of the Two Trees might affect those who have known only the light of the stars. It must have been frightening and of course no amount of explanation would have prepared them for it, which is why Oromë decided not to say anything. And those Valarin name are real jawbreakers, aren't they, so I'm not surprised that the Elves decided to shorten them up a bit. It certainly makes it easier for us as well. *grin*

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/11/2009
I really enjoyed this, and the CARP should just go read someone else's fics if s/he doesn't like your style. It's not as if you (or anyone else s/he snipes) are going to change the way you write. *I* most certainly like the way this is written. :)

In particular, I love the characterizations of Ingwe, Elwe and Finwe. In them we can see the basis of what they become, and I particularly like the differences in their reactions to the Trees. :)

Now, however, you have me thinking about what is going on for Olwe back in Cuivienen... Hmmmm. Maybe my muse hasn't disappeared on me after all...

Like most of the other reviewers, I enjoyed the mangling of the names, and it was a great way to explain the names that the Eldar have for the Powers. I must admit, for me, even though I'm still hopeless on the grammar, the pronunciation of Quenya is much easier than Valian words.

Well done!

Author Reply: Thanks, Rhyselle. I really don't mind negative reviews but I find it very annoying that the person is too cowardly to sign their reviews. I get the feeling that whoever the person is s/he is a former friend who just likes to snipe at me from the safety of anonyminty. It's not only cowardly but very immature.

Anyway, I'm glad you liked how I wrote this and the characters of the three Elves. They are less than 400 hundred years old and are so very young. Everything is still new to them.

And I'm with you with the Quenya... much easier to pronounce than the Valarin words. *lol* Apparently the Valar agreed. Tolkien states that not only did they adopt Quenya early on in order to communicate with the Elves but used it amongst themselves in their daily speech with one another rather than speaking Valarin.

AiwenReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/10/2009
I've been wondering for a while... What does amaranthine mean? It is very interesting seeing Ingwe, Finwe, and Olwe together in the same place.

Author Reply: Well, you could always look the word up in a dictionary, *grin* but to save you the trouble, amaranthine has two basic meanings. It is used to describe a purplish color and it also means 'unfading, everlasting, undying'. The word comes from 'amaranth', a poetic word from the 16th century describing an imaginary flower whose blooms were said to never fade. This is the primary meaning I use when describing Námo's eyes, but also the first meaning is applicable because in my tale "Wars of the Valar" I describe Námo's aura as being violet or purple. Perhaps some of that 'leaks out' through his eyes even though his eye color is slate grey. They may appear purplish in some lights.

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/10/2009
Ooh, how wonderful! A moment so much filled with awe, joy and childlike innocence. Thank you so much for writing such a delightful liitle tale, Fiondil. And I suppose you would know by now that I do speak my mind and when I have something to say, I'm doing just that, even if my opinion could be...unusual, to say the least.(by the way, I didn't forget about Beren, but...later "grin")So, when I tell you that your story is making us yearn for that better world we all know it must be somewhere, for finally meeting beings which we all have felt around us at some point in our lives and for having our innocence restored to us, you may do well and believe me, is that clear? "grin"

I appreciate greatly your efort to share with us your knowledge of Tolkien's languages, especially old Quenya and I have enjoyed very much both the wording and the footnotes. Thank you for that too.

However, as joyful as this story is, the underlying pang of sorrow and pain is also clear to perceive. I personally have ever approved the Valar's decision to summon the Quendi to live with them in Aman and in my opinion, this particular action wasn't a mistake. Orome', Irmo' and Este's care for the young Elves is beyond moving.

Well, a somewhat fitting choice for the Good Friday, I suppose. "smile" Eternal Light, from the blooming Trees, indeed. And yet...someday, this Light will shine brighter than now, brighter than ever, and Arda in its entireness will be bathed in this Light. That day, even the depths of Namo's amaranthine eyes will stop holding any trace of pain. "sigh" Until that day, then.

Again, thank you and Easter full of blessings.

Author Reply: You're welcome, Sitara. I'm glad you found this to your liking. I think many Tolkien fans dream of the Two Trees and wish they could see them for real. I tried to capture (as well as I could) the sense of awe and delight the three Elves must have experienced when brought before the Trees. They must have been an awesome sight. I'm pleased that you appreciate the use of the older forms of Quenya. I wanted to give this tale a sense of an even more remote time than the Third Age is for us.

Thank you for your kind review and may you have a blessed Easter as well.


Reviewed Chapter: 59 on 4/10/2009
I was hoping this story would somehow be better than it is. It's just so flat and joyless and feels more like someone trying to show off their ability to write archaic language and their knowledge of Tolkien's languages than someone trying to tell a story. It's like I can't connect with the characters no matter how much I want to, and that leaves it lacking for me.

Author Reply: I'm sorry you feel that way and of course you're free to do so. I can't help wonder though why you feel the need to be anonymous in your review. What are you hiding or what are you afraid of? Do you really feel a burning need to leave only negative reviews? What do you gain from it other than the satisfaction of having written one without offering anything constructive.

As for the archaic language, it has nothing to do with showing off but to provide an ambiance of the times, i.e. the early period of the Elves when they are still experimenting with their language. Would you criticize me if I were writing something that takes place in the time of Shakespeare, for instance, and used idioms of that time period rather than modern slang?

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