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Oak and Willow  by Marnie 20 Review(s)
Walker-skyeReviewed Chapter: 16 on 12/1/2019
Thoroughly enjoyable, enriching to the characters. Thank you for a lovely tale.

green.laochReviewed Chapter: 16 on 9/23/2009
I am amazed at the story you told and with such insight. Brought new ways to look at their relationship. So rich in detail and great connection with the cultural backgrounds.

Loved it!!

PipMerReviewed Chapter: 16 on 1/19/2008
Hello! I have read both this story, and 'Battle of the Golden Wood', and just wanted to mention how I throroughly enjoyed both. I love how you portray Celeborn and Galadriel, and I also got hooked on all of the history of the Noldor. I learned a lot reading this story!

I will read more of your stories in the future!

NarielReviewed Chapter: 16 on 7/27/2007
I have already read your story on FF.net a looonng time ago but decided to post my review here though. I really love how you portray the romance between Galadriel and Celeborn. Especially Celeborn! You made him seem more than a decoration for Galadriel. You gave him a 3-D feeling to him. I also do really adore how Galadriel is like a sort of warrior princess. Thanks though also for including Finrod and a bit how he felt on their relationship!

I do hope you will continue writing more stories on Celeborn and Galadriel soon!

Namarie!

AurendilReviewed Chapter: 16 on 1/14/2005
I decree (:P) This is canon.
It fits perfectly with the 1st age history. It explains the subtle political situation and discribes the feelings of both sides much better then I imagined.
Celeborn is given his well deserved place; Nerwen is the most powerful Noldo but too proud and dommed to be wise yet; Luthien, Finrod and many others are very well drawn.
I only wished to see Fingolfin's host more distant to Fëanorians except maybe Maedhros and Maglor. But then since Curufin and Celegorm were accepted later by Finrod in Norgothrond, maybe there is no reason for Fingolfin to avoid them at all. It's because I like the Noldor. It's a shame they all ended up lost; but it was predicted, wasn't it?

Author Reply: Many thanks for the review Aurendil! I'm terribly flattered that you think it's pseudo-canon :) I did my best to fit it in with what I knew about the facts.

Sadly I don't think Fingolfin had the option of being distant to the Feanorians - not after Fingon had gone and rescued Maedhros, and Maedhros had responded by giving the kingship to Fingolfin. They'd officially made up, so to speak, and were now back to being all members of the same family together; however uncomfortable that might have been.

It is a shame - the Doom of Mandos seems like a very cruel thing indeed to me. Not only to the Noldor but to all the other people they came across.

Anyway... Many thanks again!

Marnie :-)

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/14/2004
I think C and G work as a couple to play with because they are not Mills and Boon - they challenge each other constantly and neither will let the other get away with mushiness. C can let G be independent and forceful - and she can let him be himself. Getting to their level of maturity must have been an interesting and, at times, noisy process. They also interact with others on a real level. Whereas B and L are just . . . self-centred yet insubstantial and only approach credibility if everyone around them is a cardboard cutout

I love the idea of the short stories you have in your head.

melianReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004
It's finished already? Waaah! It's such a lovely story that I want it to go on forever! =)

By the way, just to let you know: A few days ago, I got a notification that Oak & Willow had a new chapter up, so I clicked on it and was brought to "Those Who Loved Tinuviel", which was within the O&W page. Today it seems to have been corrected. Just fyi.

You're my favorite fanfic writer and I hope you have more stories (especially about Celeborn!) to give us. My best regards to you.

Author Reply: Thanks, Melian! It doesn't seem like 'already' to me. It seems like this damn story has been hanging over my head for years, making life miserable for me. When did it turn into a romance? I *hate* romance - and here I was writing one. I'm very pleased indeed that people liked it, but I'm also very glad it's over.

Yes, everything's in its right order now, thank goodness :) And now I can get down to writing that story about how Celeborn finally finds his grandfather that I wanted to tell.

I'm very flattered that you like my stuff so much. I hope I have one or two things left to tell. Thanks again!

BejaiReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004
Well, 17 was a good chapter, but I completely understand your exhaustion. I couldn't help but snerk everytime I saw your description of this story: a "short telling" of the First Age. Ha. And Luthien and Beren ... As bad as Amroth and Nimrodel or Romeo and Juliet, who I always want to scream at to GET A GRIP. It would have been interesting to see it from the point of view of those around them, but I fear it would have been quite the grind to write. I had one chapter of that here a few weeks ago, and couldn't imagine going on for 10, just to wade through to get the stuff you're interested in.

I do think you should publish 17 as a short, perhaps tweaked just a bit so it is a one-shot. There were some breathtaking images!

I hope to see you write the more interesting parts as the First Age starts to wind down, and maybe some of the other nontraditional ideas you've mentioned. A fresh start is always a good thing! I would much rather have you cheerful and interested in what you're doing than burned out.

Author Reply: LOL! Well it was meant to be short! It also wasn't meant to be a romance - but Galadriel shoved her oar in there. You know, I think she's a secret Mills and Boon reader. I have a muse who has a secret fluffy pink side :)

Yes, it was the prospect of Mary-Sue Luthien and characterless Beren, and their delightful traipse through Beleriand spreading doom and disfortune in a quest for true love, which finally made me throw in the towel. Celeborn and Galadriel are about bearable as a couple, but B+L? I know it seems heretical to Tolkien, but no, I can't stand them.

As you see, chapter 17 has now been reposted as a stand alone - that was a good idea, thanks!

And I am keen to do the Elmo story. After that, I don't know, we'll have to see :) Thanks for the sympathy - it's quite needed. I do feel rather guilty, but on the other hand also rather liberated!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004
Chapter 17 has gone! It was there one minute and gone the next! So decisive of you. I'm glad I got to read it.

SphinxReviewed Chapter: 16 on 10/13/2004
*quiet panic*

It's over?

*confused*

Hope everything's well.

Author Reply: Sorry about that! I did write what was going to be the first chapter of the next section, and posted it here and at FF.net. Then I checked my synopsis and realized I had 10 chapters of Beren and Luthien to get through before I could get back to the interesting stuff with Celeborn in it.

I couldn't face it. I just couldn't. So eventually I decided to cut my losses.

The position with O+W was that it was always intended to be the story of the First Age, from the Sindar POV. In order for it to flow chronologically from the bit we've just had, to the other interesting bit (with the dwarves, the war of wrath, and C+G finally getting married) it *had to* pass through the Beren and Luthien bit.

But I couldn't bear the Beren and Luthien bit. Therefore what I decided to do instead was end O+W with C+G getting betrothed (which is a natural end, after all), and then (hopefully) start a new story with the Silmaril and dwarf + marriage stuff. Thus neatly getting rid of what was going to be ten chapters of ghastliness in the middle of the story.

I will post the missing chapter under the title 'Those who Loved Luthien', on the faint premise that one day I might like to tell that story too - so you can see what it was like. But I like the idea that I could get rid of all that stuff and go straight to Celeborn versus Carcharoth ;)

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