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In Darkness Bound  by Fiondil 12 Review(s)
TariReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/28/2011
Morcocáno got just what he deserved, though whether he learns to control his temper remains to be seen. I do not have much hope there because of who he will be with.

Ingil being under the possible influence of Ingoldo is very disturbing indeed. He should be staying as far away from that one as possible.

Nolofinwe is getting stronger and wiser in his position every day. Good for him.

Author Reply: Hi Tari. I'm sure Morcocáno doesn't agree with you, and of course, we know he went to Middle-earth, so he was obviously influenced by the Noldor at Formenos.

Ingil's problems are only just beginning, I'm afraid, and how it works out remains to be seen.

And yes, Nolofinwe is indeed getting stronger and wiser and more confident in his role.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2011
I am another who hopes that the Muse will decide to adopt the Reborn Nolofinwë plotbunny. :-)

Author Reply: LOL! Well, in that case I'll put it in my 'plot bunny' file for future reference and who knows, you-all just may get your wish someday.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2011
In response to your reply to Ellie's offer of another Plot Bunny. By the time Nolofinwe makes it out of the Halls Arafinwe should have dealing with Re-born down pat, if he can survive Finrod, Glorfindel and Sador having an older brother acting like a twenty year old will be nothing new. The one he will be most pleased to not have to reraise would be Galadrial, having to deal with her again would have both he and Earwen running for the Halls, plus half of Tirion!
Huggs,
Lynda


Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Luckily for Arafinwë and Eärwen, not to mention the good people of Tirion, Galadriel didn't die so she was never reborn. *grin*

bladweddReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2011
Thanks.

"And quite frankly, what you quote is of the future. Finwë at this point in my story is still very much alive and Ñolofinwë has no reason to think of himself as king in his father's place or suspect that at the end of the exile period he won't step down as Regent"

Future? I will repeat...
The History of Middle-earth», Volume X, «The Later Quenta Silmarillion»:
"By this name he also became generally
known; though after the rule of the Noldor was committed to
him by Manwe (in the place of his elder brother and his father)
he took the name of Finwe, and was in fact usually called
Ingoldo-finwe."

Rule of the Noldor was committed to
Nolofinwe by Manwe. Íe took the name of Finwe, and was in fact usually called
Ingoldo-finwe. This was in pursuance of his claim to be the chieftain of all the Noldor. He was not regent.


"Ñolofinwë, indeed all the Noldor, are not the major characters in my story. My focus is on the Vanyar and their reactions to all that is happening because of the Noldor."

I am understand. I have specified. Vanyar:
"I have no doubt that he will prove a better ruler than Fëanáro could ever be, perhaps even better than Finwë."
No doubt Vanyar would prefer to have Nolofinwë in the King's seat.

Author Reply: Bladwedd, while I appreciate you taking the time to point out some of these references from the Histories, I don't appreciate you attempting to rewrite my story to suit yourself. In writing this story I have taken as my primary and, in most cases, sole authority the Silmarillion AS PUBLISHED. While your references to Manwë giving Ñolofinwë the kingship of the Noldor in place of Finwë and Fëanáro prior to the Darkening is interesting, it is immaterial. Nowhere in the published Silmarillon does it state that this is what happened. Naturally, if it had appeared in the Silmarillion I would be obligated to incorporate that particular plotline into my own story (unless I wanted to make my story AU), but since it does not appear in the Silmarillion, I am not obligated to use it, since it isn't officially canon. Certainly I have used the Histories and other of Tolkien's writings to fill in details that may be lacking in the published version of the Silmarillion, but I haven't used them to inform my plotline, so please do not read into my story any more than what is there. As far as I'm concerned, Ñolofinwë is Regent only. If you object to that fact and to the fact that I don't incorporate the bit about Manwë giving Ñolofinwë the crown into my story line please feel free to write your own version and share it with the Tolkien fanfiction community.

And that, as far as I'm concerned, is the end of the discussion.

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2011
Well, at least, I am learning to rant less, am I not? “grin” However, this Ñolofinwë is the one about Tolkien says that he was jealous about his half-brother’s rights and possessions. As I couldn’t think he’d have wanted the Silmarils or anything else of that nature, I was only forced to gather that he wished to be Finwë’s heir. After all, what else was there to be desired, concerning “rights” and “possessions”?

Okay, okay, I got it. I’m going to shut up. “grin”


Author Reply: Perhaps, but as I keep pointing out, Ñolofinwë is not the focus of the story and we see him through Ingwion's eyes, who can only take his cousin at face value. I'm sure there was sibling rivalry and being the second son always sucks when one is dealing with "rigts" and "posessions". And certainly that plays into what happens later. But at the moment, Ñolofinwë is not thinking of these things, at least not outloud, so Ingwion is unaware of any hidden motives his cousin might have and that is what needs to be remembered here: the story is about the Vanyar and not the Noldor. Tolkien already wrote about them. No need to reinvent the wheel where they are concerned. *grin*

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2011
I agree. Nolofinwë has indeed the makings of a great king, greater than any other of his family, including Arafinwë’s line, except for Ereinion. Which is why I never had anything ill to say about his wish to become one, as I still think it was the case, for certain reasons. As for the sentence passed out to Morcocáno, it was the best way out of a sticky situation, although I believe that if his half-brother would have had any intention to kill, not to get his point of view across, Nolofinwë would have been dead and buried. Anyway, it was certainly a kingly behaviour. Not to mention that he didn’t have any other…means and facilities at hand, for cases like this. “grin”

It would also seem that the Valar could actually learn from their mistakes, at least from certain ones. Finally something positive to be said about them. “grin” As for the rest of the family, including Ingwion…they certainly have a lot of growing-up to do and I’m afraid that would be about the nicest thing I can say for now in respect to them.

I mean it. If you had them portrayed as pillars of wisdom and nobility , the Valar included, it would have been a complete AU, in my opinion, considering HoME 1. And if I didn’t say so far, I liked very much Nolofinwë and his actions in this chapter.”grin”


Author Reply: Hi Sitara. Please read my reply to Bladwedd as I don't plan to repeat myself.

Ñolfinwë is beginning (and I stress that word) to act as a king should. He's not there yet though future circumstances will force him to be the king. However, projecting into the future I think does a disservice to the story as it is presently written. Future motives are not in play here and readers need to take characters at face value and forget what they know or think they know about a particular canon character with regards to what they will do sometime after these events. Those events do not dictate present motives. It's just the opposite. Present circumstances will eventually dictate future motives and that is what needs to be remembered.

And yes, even the Valar can learn from their mistakes. *grin*

As for Ingwion and the other Elves, including the Noldor, they all need growing up. They have lived in the bliss of Valinor where nothing bad has ever really happened. They are complacent in their innocence and part of this story is an exploration of how that complacency is destroyed and how certain Elves mature (or don't) because of what happens. So, naturally they are not all paragons of wisdom and nobility, nor should they be.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

bladweddReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2011
"A careful reading of the Silmarillion shows that Ñolfinwë was not ambitious to be king, and had no intention originally to leave Aman, but was persuaded to do so because "greater love as given to Fingolfin and his sons, and his household and the most part of the dweller of Tirion refused to renounce him, if he would go with them". That 'if' is the deciding word here. Of course, in the end, he did become king but that was not why he originally left Aman. He became king because of circumstances unforeseen by any of them."

The name Fingolfin itself speaks to the ambition of Finwë's second son.

"Fingolfin had prefixed the name Finwë to Nolofinwë before the Exiles reached Middle-earth. This was in pursuance of his claim to be the chieftain of all the Noldor after the death of Finwë, and so enraged Fëanor that it was no doubt one of the reasons for his treachery in abandoning Fingolfin and the stealing away with all the ships. "The shibboleth of feanor"

Fingolfin was "acting king" of the Noldor in Tirion while Feanor was exiled, and Finwe joined Feanor in exile.Íå had prefixed the name Ingoldo Finwë.
"By this name he also became generally
known; though after the rule of the Noldor was committed to
him by Manwe (in the place of his elder brother and his father)
he took the name of Finwe, and was in fact usually called
Ingoldo-finwe.
The History of Middle-earth», Volume X, «The Later Quenta Silmarillion», p.230"

A careful reading of the "Quenta Silmarillion" and "Shibboleth..." and "In Darkness Bound" shows that Ñolofinwë was ambitious to be king.
No doubt Indis, vanyar of siblings and Valar would prefer to have Nolofinwë in the High King's seat.
"Now that Ñolofinwë is asking Atto for advice, though, I think his confidence is growing. I have no doubt that he will prove a better ruler than Fëanáro could ever be, perhaps even better than Finwë."

Thanks for reading.

Author Reply: Thanks for your input, Bladwedd. However, I am afraid I must object to you lumping my story with Tolkien's in terms of your interpretation of Ñolofinwë's motives. And quite frankly, what you quote is of the future. Finwë at this point in my story is still very much alive and Ñolofinwë has no reason to think of himself as king in his father's place or suspect that at the end of the exile period he won't step down as Regent. Yes, certainly afterwards in the power struggle between Fëanáro and Ñolofinwë as they make their way to Middle-earth, that may have been the case, but not here and not now. Stick with what is being presented here and do not concern yourself with what may or may not happen in the future. Ñolofinwë, indeed all the Noldor, are not the major characters in my story. My focus is on the Vanyar and their reactions to all that is happening because of the Noldor. Even Findaráto is not a major character though he is the most visible of the Noldor as he interacts most with Ingwion and the others, but still, he is not the focus of the story. None of the Noldor are. Just try to keep that in mind as you are reading this.

ellieReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/17/2011
The close realtionship between Ingwion and Finrod is so good to see and the growth and maturity of these two throughout the story is so wonderfully portrayed. We can see Finrod growing into the position he will one day have as king of Nargothrond. Speaking from the vantage point of someone who is way ahead of everyone else in the game, it makes the future all the more tragic to consider for all of these characters.

Fingolfin is struggling with the kingship now but he holds it in such confidence and strength of character when he goes to Middle-earth. I wonder if Fingolfin will suffer from boredom and lack of purpose once he is reborn just as the former king of Nargothrond did when he came back to Tirion. There's another story for you to write, as if you don't have enough stewing on the back burner. At this rate you are going to need a bigger kitchen to accomodate all of the plot bunnies roasting on open fires and in bunny stews and bunny souffles and whatnot. LOL!

Author Reply: Hi Ellie. I'm glad you like the relationship between Finrod and Ingwion, a relationship that we see somewhat in Elf, Interrupted. And yes, knowing what is to come does make the future more tragic, but (at least in my universe) we know it ends well enough for them both. *grin*

Please! I need another plot bunny like I need more snow! *LOL* At any rate, it would be an interesting topic to write about and how does Arafinwë relate to his older brother acting like a 20-year-old elfling? The mind boggles.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate you doing so, considering how busy I know you are.

bladweddReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/17/2011
That was very good.I enjoyed reading it.
Nolofinwe is a ambitious of intriguant, really. Íe will be king.

Author Reply: Thanks Bladwedd. I'm glad you are enjoying this and I appreciate you letting me know. A careful reading of the Silmarillion shows that Ñolfinwë was not ambitious to be king, and had no intention originally to leave Aman, but was persuaded to do so because "greater love as given to Fingolfin and his sons, and his household and the most part of the dweller of Tirion refused to renounce him, if he would go with them". That 'if' is the deciding word here. Of course, in the end, he did become king but that was not why he originally left Aman. He became king because of circumstances unforeseen by any of them.

Thanks for reading and reviewing.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/17/2011
I find the growing companionship between Ingil and Ingoldo disturbs me, also. What plan is Ingoldo hatching through the younger twin?

Author Reply: It is indeed disturbing, Larner, given what we know of Ingoldo. How their relationship works out and what Ingoldo has planned will eventually be revealed. Thanks for reading and reviewing.

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