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| Oak and Willow by Marnie | 74 Review(s) |
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| Nariel | Reviewed 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! | |
| L*M | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 12/3/2006 |
| Okay, I've read the first twelve chapters and now I'm going to put down my thoughts so far. It may get long and a little disjointed. First off, as with your other work I've read, it was well-written and well-conceived. You create a vivid Doriath and make such characters as Galadriel, Daeron, Celeborn, and Thingol distinctive. Finrod, the All Around Nice Guy of the Noldor princes, is well-captured, with his generosity of mind and spirit. I enjoyed the Sindar view of things. To name a few - the Sun and Moon. Okay, no big deal for the Noldor, maybe even a letdown after the Trees. But for the Sindar it was altogether new and terrifying. I had never thought anyone could consider the moon bright. No wonder the Elves had wonderful eyesight: They needed it, living in a world lit only by stars. (The comment that Celeborn's archers were training on the Noldor from 800 yards really struck me. 800 yards! Without scopes!) Also, writing. A small thing, but it was an interesting scene. And the Valar. It actually reminds me of a view Men would be more likely to take. The Feanorians could certainly hear criticism of the Valar, but considering how Finrod slapped down Andreth, I don't think he would have tolerated much from Celeborn. One of the biggest things was the reaction to the Noldor. If Finwe hadn't died, it would have been much better for the Sindar and the Noldor. They should have been allies against Morgoth and to a degree they were, but the alliance was never easy. I enjoyed the little culture clash when Celeborn first met Angrod. They must have seemed very strange to each other, with much the other party didn't understand. On the Noldor's side, of course, was their lack of understanding and regard for the "primitive" Elves. Celeborn understands in a way they (initially, at least) don't. But it's curious that when Men - a race more unskilled and unwise - enter the scene, they meet hostility from the Sindar and Green-elves but friendship from the Noldor. Even Caranthir was quicker to see their value than Thingol. I also found your take on Celeborn and Galadriel's romance well-done. Both Celeborn and Galadriel seem strong, fiery, sometimes foolishly so. Their marriage might not be the smoothest, but it could be strong. And I found the whole concept of the unshadowed Sindar protecting the cursed Noldor interesting. Didn't work for Finrod. "And so we are all ensnared." Thingol got sucked in, too clever by half with Beren and then becoming possessive of the Silmaril and not giving it to the Feanorians who, all sentiment aside, had the right of ownership. But maybe it worked for Celeborn and Galadriel. The saddest thing about the Doom of Mandos is the thousands of people who were, simply, collateral damage. Nothing personal, but that's the cost of casting your fortunes with people doomed by the Valar. But that's sometimes hard, especially with the Men who stumbled into the mess fleeing from Morgoth. Bereg and Amlach had a much better point than the Silmarillion seems to want to admit. There were a few small things in the story I'd disagree with. One, that Nerdanel was "tamed" by Feanor. She stayed in Valinor and was one of the few people who kept her head and was not swept off by Feanor. It's probably one of the reasons Tolkien calls her, like Celeborn, "the wise". Two, the analogy between Galadriel and Maedhros at the end of Chapter 9. As unpleasant as Galadriel's situation was, it bears little resemblance to being tortured by Morgoth and then hung to a cliff by your wrist. Last, the line about "the twins" - I presume Amrod and Amras - "who preferred not to dine off silverware if they could get gold". Now, according to Tolkien, the woods of East Beleriand were wild but fair, and the Noldor went there only to hunt. But Amrod and Amras lived there and "came seldom North while the the Seige lasted". Turning amenities into luxuries seems incongruous with boycotting the great cities to live in a wild forest. Well, I'll close now. I'm looking forward to finishing your story. Author Reply: Thanks so much for a great review! I'm glad you've enjoyed the story so far, both on a romance level and on a canonical-speculation level :) I have to admit that I know very little about the Feanorians as I tend not to read about them in the Silm - it's a book where I only tend to re read the bits I liked. So I take your advice about the twins. Galadriel's using that metaphor is really more of a measure of her own tendancy to be melodramatic, rather than me thinking it was *really* equivalent :) As for Nerdanel, she probably just grew up, but Galadriel saw it as her changing from this wide-travelling, adventurous woman to someone who was mainly taken up by trying to control her family - and she saw that as a diminishment, because she herself is still at the 'but I want to go everywhere and rule the world' stage. I do think that Thingol's dream about Men is given too little weight in explaining the reaction of the elves of Doriath to Men. With the Green-elves it was clearly a competition for resources, which struck me as fair enough :) Celeborn and Galadriel seem to fall foul of the Doom of Mandos on a lot of occasions, it's just that after everything has gone to pieces on them they keep trying again and again (and losing everything again and again), until finally Galadriel leaves. After which Celeborn only has to cope with the increasing humanization of the world :) He would have been wiser, perhaps, not to marry her at all! Thanks again! | |
| Allacaya | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 2/2/2006 |
| Hi, I love your story of Galadriel and Celeborn!!! It is awesome. I couldn't put it down and wrested the internet connection out of my internet provider's arms to continue to read it. (The tiring connection, likes to desert me when it is most unhelpful.) Will you write a sequel? I would so like to know what happens now. Their view of Luthien and Beren's story and the Fall of Gondolin and Doriath. I really like your writing style and how you portray the characters. Love to read more Allacaya Author Reply: Hello! Thanks for the review, Allacaya! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sadly, I did start doing a sequel but ran out of inspiration when I realized that it had to cover all the misery of the First Age. I found I simply couldn't bear to write about Luthien and Beren, and I couldn't manage the First Age without them. I can highly recommend Bejai's stuff for the Second Age though! And then I pick up the story again in the Third age with 'Battle of the Golden Wood.' Thanks again! Marnie :-) | |
| Nerdanel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 1/15/2005 |
| Oh, I absolutely love this chapter! I had never really thought about what the Sindar would think upon first seeing the Moon and Sun rise. This was an (I think) accurate and beautiful description of that event. It reminds me, actually, of a short story by George MacDonald called "The Day Boy and the Night Girl" about a boy who had never seen the night time, and a girl who had always lived underground inside a castle, and had never seen the Moon or Sun, nor even knew what they were, never having read books. He has a chapter on when she first emerges outside at age 16 and sees the Moon (full) for the first time, and he describes all her emotions and ideas. It is beautiful. This reminded me of that. Wonderful job! Author Reply: Thanks for the review Nerdanel! I'm immensely flattered to be compared with George MacDonald, despite having never read anything of his - I just know that he was an influence on Tolkien and that's good enough for me ;) I don't know why more people don't write about the first rising of the Sun - it seems like an inherantly dramatic and awe-inspiring thing to me. But there's no accounting for taste! Glad you liked it so much. Thanks! | |
| Aurendil | Reviewed 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 :-) | |
| Eruanneth_Luin | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/22/2004 |
Involuntarily she took a step forward, drawn, her mood lightened merely by looking on him. He was elegant even in disorder, long limbs sprawled. His hair, like water in starlight, trailed across cheek and chest, glimmering as he breathed. Tendrils pooled in the hollow of his throat, leading her eye to the fair skin shadowed by the open neck of his tunic. > Ah, the vision of this powerful, regal elflord, Celeborn, so vulnerable and helpless before the fire of his love, resigned to dispair, yet such beauty and innocence. Of course, elves are endlessly appealing; facets of their personalities sparkling like gems, some blinding like Anor, others muted as starlight. Thank you for the enduring vision of the Lord Celeborn. Author Reply: Thanks, Eruanneth! It was one of those moments when I let my inner fangirl slip :) Normally he tells me he can't be having with any of that stuff, and forbids me to write him as beautiful as he really is. This time I sneaked it in while he was asleep ;) | |
| Aislynn Crowdaughter | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/16/2004 |
| Hi! What a beautiful description of the first rising of the sun out of the view of the Sindar! This is a great image, how the first sunrays tint the world into light and giving colors to everything and the Sindar marvel at it and fear it the same. Greatly written! I like! Aislynn | |
| Aislynn Crowdaughter | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 10/16/2004 |
| Hi, Marnie! I came about this story late and only after I had finished to read "Seeds of Old Trees", because at first I was not so deeply interested in reading a Silmarillion-centered fic; but after "Seeds" I hae developed a liking to both celeborn and your delightful view of his and galadriels relationship. Now I am sorry I did not start reading it sooner! What a delightful, insightful view of the troublesome reaquaintance of the Noldor and the Sindar you write here! I love the slow development of galadriels and Celeborns love for each other, and now, just as they are about to plight their throth openly, this! Adn what a great picture you paint of Thingol, declaring his judgement! "He breathed again, deliberately, preparing to give judgement. Authority settled on him as he stood. Tall and beautiful and terrible as a Lord of the Maia in wrath he seemed to Celeborn, but with a heart hot with love for his folk. He had not forgotten, nor would ever forget, that the Teleri of Aman were once his people too. "Hearken to my words," he said. "In all my realm I forbid the open use of Quenya. Never again will my people speak, or answer to, the tongue of those who slew our kin in Alqualondë. All who use it shall be held slayers of kin, and betrayers of kin, unrepentant. Let the Golodhrim learn to speak and think - aye, even to dream - in the language of the Lindar. Let them remember those they murdered every time they open their mouths. Now, go!"" WOW! What a great description of this moment, of Thingols majesty while declaring his sentence, and the part about the oldhrim having to remember their deeds each time they open their mouth to speak gives it more depth; I had not thought about the sense of the edict like that, but of course it gies the whole judgement even deeper meaning. Beutifully written! Thank you for this great story! Aislynn Author Reply: Many thanks for the reviews, Aislynn! I'm very happy to have got you involved with the Silmarillion elves (who are a bunch of fun compared with the LotR ones, IMO) especially if it lead you to Oak and Willow :) Thingol is something of a favourite of mine, who - like Celeborn - is unfairly dissed by the rest of the fandom as far as I can see. I wanted to get across something of the feeling that this is the sort of elf with whom a demi-goddess might fall in love. He must have had something pretty special about him after all for Melian to fall for him like that ;) I'd also been in too many on-list arguments about how mean he was in imposing the language ban, and thought '*mean*? Since when was getting someone to change their language a mean punishment for murder?' So I wanted to get something of that across too. I'm delighted to have entertained you with my revisionist Noldor-bashing version of the Silm :) Thank you again for the review. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed 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. | |
| Lois | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/13/2004 |
| Some very pretty writing. But... the moon rises in the east and sets in the west, same as the sun. Even in Middle-earth. Do please fix this... Ta, L. | |