News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Deific Flame by Bejai | 61 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Ladybird | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/27/2004 |
| Yes, they made up! can't wait to see more reconsiliation between them. Lovely chapter, how could you think of leaving it out?! I loved the language you used for their reunion, exactly how it should be, they know each other very well, but are also afraid of each other's reaction to the long separation. I also enjoyed Galadriel's little talk with her daughter, who of course doesn't yet realise all that you can deeply disagree with some one over many issues and be seprated willingly and still love them very much. She seems a bit of a romatic with all her talk of Amroth being content to stand beside his love always and thinking that is what it is all about. I've never been sure what to make of Amroth himself, he's a very shadowy character and you have done very well in bringing him alive. I also found your Amdir a well written charcter, although I felt very indignant on Celeborn's behalf that he and the children had become so close as to be like parents and children-even though Amdir does remind himself that he is not their father and seems a good sort. Ah well sign of a well written story I suppose! For some weird reason, I like to think that Celebrian would have been less close than Amroth becomes to him- not sure why, but something to do with her never forgetting Celeborn I suppose, even though you can see that Amroth never really does either. Can't wait for the next update, carry on the great work! Author Reply: Hi Ladybird! Thanks for both of your kind review today. It always makes my day. I'm so glad you're enjoying this story. I really did consider leaving this chapter out -- and it was a strangely difficult one to write -- but I'm pleased with how it came out. I'm glad you're enjoying Amroth. I'd seen so few stories about him at all, much less as the son of Celeborn and Galadriel, that I just had to try it. As for Amdir and Celeborn, there might just be a confrontation between the two of them one of these days. I do agree that Celebrian probably wasn't as close to Amdir as Amroth was. Just a feeling, like you say. I think part of it is just that even the little we know about Celebrian ties her to her parents -- after all, she was attacked by orc on the way to Lothlorien. But Amroth is willing to turn away from Middle Earth entirely, which includes turning away from his parents. It's part of what I'm trying to develop, so I'm glad the story has got you thinking about it! Stay tuned. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/24/2004 |
| I love this first meeting of Celebrian and Elrond, especially after the previous conversation between Galadriel and Celebrian. I also was deeply appreciative of the many nuances underscoring the reunion of Celeborn and Galadriel. There was passion, there was power, they were parents, lovers and people who deeply hurt each other, all mixed into a terrible and wonderful package. I can't say it enough - I am in awe. Author Reply: Thanks for your reviews, Nilmandra! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. This last chapter was truly a struggle for me, and it is a relief to hear that it came across well. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/24/2004 |
| I scarcely know what to say. Amroth is a great character, young and untried, not wise, perhaps, but teachable. But your Elrond and Celeborn are truly superb. Elrond's use of ironic speech and the way he reacted to an injured Celeborn "Celeborn," Elrond said wearily, "your tendency to drift away is not inspiring confidence in me." Several times you had me laughing. Celeborn is ornery and I like his complaints about the Valar. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/24/2004 |
| Bejai, I have put off reading this until I had my own view of the second age and the role of Galadriel and Celeborn more in hand. Thank goodness I did, or I would be shamelessly borrowing and having to slap my own hand and apologize. You awe me with your ability to write so powerfully. Celebrimbor and Annatar are masterful. | |
| Sphinx | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/21/2004 |
| *happy grin* Thank you. And I'm so very glad I insisted on it. Imagine, you would have left it out. Nice intro of Limnen, btw. I wasnt expecting Galadriel to learn of the battle like that. He seems calm, rational, balanced. Very Sindar. By the time you reached to 'What am I, next to this?', I was floored. Seriously. What a brilliantly well done scene. And although I do have a different view on how that particular reunion would have happened, I was extremely gald to see a gentler version. ;) But now I shall ask for streetfights. And half-clothed Celeborn. Girl, how can you do that? Now there are Images In My Head. If this is what I get, I have much more insisting to do. :D | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/20/2004 |
| Sigh. I am afraid my first reaction to this was very self-centered. I thought I was learning to write fiction and then I read this and realized I was barely beginning. This was a painfully real picture of a husband and wife who are estranged but still love. And equally painful is the hint of Celebrian's future, when she will indeed learn that sometimes lovers have to part. Author Reply: Thank you for all your kind reviews today, Daw! I'm delighted that my story was your "reward" for reading through 200 pages of work. I often do the same thing :) My condolences for the 200 pages, though. I'm glad you're enjoying the story, and you picked up on some things I've been hoping I've managed to get across. Thanks for taking the time to tell me so. You made my ears turn pink with that last compliment, though! I'm just a word-wench doing my thing. And I happen to know that you are one of the great writers of the fandom; while I'm not the world's greatest fan of Legolas, I'm always in awe of your productivity and high quality in writing about him. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/20/2004 |
| I am reading a 200-page boring document at work and have to do so attentively. I am rewarding myself by reading pieces of this story as I complete parts of the boring thing. Your prose is so beautiful and you describe what is so ugly and terrifying. Except, of course, the loyalty of father and son, or comrades in arms is not ugly at all! This piece of second age history is coming alive for me as I read. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/20/2004 |
| I was caught up in this from the first paragraph. Your scenes flowered into reality before me and your characters lived and breathed. I was horrified by Annatar, but then I had the advantage of knowing who he was. Poor Celebrimbor. He is so deceived and the folly of Feanor lives on into another generation. | |
| Sphinx | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 3/15/2004 |
| I love it when prodding is successful. :) Amdir is just what I’d thought he’s be – very father figure-ish, very Sindar, very unambitious. The way he has bonded with Galadaran and Celebrian seems genuine. And the first mention of Nimrodel….it made the exchange rather poignant. I've seen you walking the branches like a wild spirit born of the starlight, master of the wandering paths between heaven and earth. *sigh* You got Amroth there. Heart and spirit. Lovely. But this is Celeborn’s story. I *refuse* to believe otherwise. Brilliant, brilliant exchange with Elrond at the healer encampment. You brought out everything in their characters there. Many people make the mistake of writing all Elves similarly, forgetting that they have individual eccentricities and personalities, and aren’t just wordly wise all the time. Very, very well done. And Celeborn’s opinion of the Valar….*grin* Ah yes. He told me that a long time ago. Some sunny, peaceful afternoon when you are not bleeding and I am not losing we will drink tea and discuss faith and blaspheme. *cheers* There are reasons why I love Elrond. THAT is one of them. Other stuff….Galadriel’s bit with Amroth, Calandil’s sensibility, and that terrible, terrible cliffhanger you’ve left us on. All great!!! Am waiting for next. Very eagerly. ;) But I really did want to see more of Eregion. Hmm. You planning to go back to it? | |
| Marnie | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/1/2004 |
| Ooh! It's exciting! I really like the opening paragraph with the elves on fire, in a sense, in a way that Men would scarcely recognise in them - but we recognise from the Silm, which makes the transition to Celebrimbor looking and behaving just like Feanor so right. It was a great discussion :) I loved, with a great secret glee, the idea that Celeborn forbade the Mirdain to finish the Rings, and that was the last straw which convinced Annatar he had to act. Excellent idea! The introduction of Amroth as a cloaked figure whom you don't know who he is works in the story to draw you in, but also as a great symbol of who he is in canon as well. Oh, and I adored 'the last of the generals before the moon, the very fist of Elu Thingol.' I may have to use that as a subtitle for my site it's so good! Annatar is a joy (in a slimy sort of way, because you can't help liking a bad guy who's actually good at what he does.) I liked "all they touch turns to ash." Yeah, he's a fine one to be talking! But then you could argue that what he says is all entirely true. It's just that none of it *means* what he makes it mean. And the religious undercurrants are so good, because the NOldor know from their history that nothing good comes of setting themselves against the Valar... Nice to see Calandil again as a sort of mentor of the family. And I liked the way that Galadriel reacted to Celebrimbor as if she'd been waiting all along for this to happen. That sounds very likely, not only as someone foresighted, but also as someone who knew Feanor quite well and would have seen the similarities. Definately a great start! I don't deserve all the plugs though - your stuff is far too thoughtful and interesting to have managed to get anything from me. And speaking of which - could I *please* put this on the site? Author Reply: Hi Marnie I was hoping that I'd managed to invoke a Silm-like feeling in the beginning of the chapter. It would be hard for me to justify the vision of a mob of elves with the peaceful LOTR version of the elves if not for Feanor's revolt against the Valar. I'm glad it worked, because that was a key thing. And I couldn't help but suggest that Celeborn tried to stop the forging of the rings. Would make Nenya more difficult for him to deal with in addition to explaining the revolt. Glad you liked Annatar. I mean, we all know who he is, but it's fun to think about how he would come across if we didn't. Like Mithrandir, but more beautiful, more persuasive. I wanted him to come across as reasonable, as right, while still leaving that shadow lurking under everything he says. I'm so gratified that Calandil's creator approves of him :) He'll show up at least once more. And you absolutely deserve all the kudos I can give you, Marnie. There's this brilliant third age story, see, called "Battle of the Golden Wood." Don't know if you've read it, but if you like Celeborn, you've got to go check out this author ... :) As ever, I'm honored that you would want my story on your site. Feel free to do so. | |