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| Of Balrogs and Battles by Jay of Lasgalen | 19 Review(s) |
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| Alassiel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/23/2004 |
| This was a delightful and chilling tale, which I read twice. The delight was in the depiction of family life and of how it would be as a child in Imladris. The chills came from the recounting of the fall of Gondolin, Glorfindel's sacrifice, and especially the ending. Thank you indeed. Author Reply: Thank you, as well. I think the twins' childhood in Imladris would be idyllic, with no dark shadows for them to fear. The terrors - so they thought - were safely in the past. | |
| Elendiari22 | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Wow, what a great ending! The poor twins, to be frightened so badly. And talk about foreboding at the end! It's sad to think that they're playing at Celebrian being captured by orcs, when we know it really happened. Truly tragic, but lovely. Thank you! Author Reply: I'm glad you liked the end - I wonder if any of them will remember this game in later years? The twins were scared by the dream, but it was more down to their imaginations than what Glorfindel actually said - he loves them too much to frighten them deliberately. | |
| Lianna | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Well, THAT was an unexpected ending! I hope you will decide to tell us Celebrian's story some day -- even though it is sad. But for now, thank you for the elfling story. And I think I may be falling in love with Glorfindel. Author Reply: I think the ending startled a lot of readers! I may do Celebrian's story, but several others have already - I prefer uncharted territory. In the meantime, I have a few more short elfling stories planned. You like Glorfindel? Join the queque! | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Terrific job, Jay! The twins were adorably mischevious to the very last word and the nightmares were wonderful done. I am working on (*she laughs as shy types knowing how many stories she has in her bin that are started by likely never to be finished*) a story that starts around the fall of Gondolin. I may have to use this as a cheat sheet for it. ;-) Author Reply: Thanks! You're welcome to use anything you like. I like the twins like this - mischievious, but caring and sensible at the same time. I'm glad you liked the nightmares too. I'm looking forward to reading your story some day! | |
| Brazgirl | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Very nice. Poor Glorfindel. The twins dreamt about it... poor ones! I hate nightmares. The end was very nice though the twins couldn't predict their playtime would be their mother's destiny... Nice fic!!! Glorfindel and Elrohir are cute. Author Reply: Thank you! I must admit that Elrohir is my favourite twin for some reason. Their nightmares were inevitable after the story, but there was no premonition about the new game, was there? | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Well, they do say that play is the way that kids learn how to do what they'll do when they grow up. . . you do take child development literally, don't you? I like the way Glorfindel told the story -- partially from a child's-eye view, which is appropriate for telling a story to children, and partially from his own perspective. Of course, that's easy when you're telling kids a story about their own family. It's also a sharp observation that the kids know that Glorfindel is lying about his death being painless. It's a fiction they all have to maintain for the sake of the story, but the kids know better. And, of course, there will be nightmares. It must be nice to have another twin there to comfort you when you wake up with a nightmare. This was a very finely observed story. Everyone acted and reacted very much as one would expect for an extended family of protected Elves related to the great actors in history, from the dead-and-reborn hero right down to the little kids, pride and joy of everyone in the household. By the way, the review box accepts HTML tags. So I put italics in reviews by just typing < i > texttexttext < / i > , only without the spaces, and it comes out italic. It's a neat trick. I still don't know if the review box accepts links. Maybe I'll try it sometime. Author Reply: I decided that Glorfindel wouldn't be so irresponsible that he terrified the twins with graphic descriptions, but their own imaginations and atavistic memories did it. At least they could comfort each other. I'm glad you liked everyone's reactions, I try hard to get characterisations believable. Who would have thought that the new game would turn out the way it did? I wonder if any of them remembered it? And thank you, I worked out how to do italics by experimenting with HTML a couple of days ago! | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Oh, Jay! There I was enjoying the story and then I get to the last line… I think my heart actually stopped for a moment… Your description of Gondolin is breathtaking. It sounds so peaceful, yet full of life and song, which makes it all the more heartbreaking to think of what happened. “As Glorfindel spoke, the brushstrokes of his words painted vivid pictures on the impressionable canvas of their minds.” What a beautiful sentence. I love the way Glorfindel tells them that Eärendil was indeed scared – and thus it’s o.k. to be frightened – but also reassures them that, like his grandsons, he was also very brave. You know, I know very well what happened in that story and yet your descriptions bring it so completely to life that I was literally on the edge of my seat as I read. I still feel kind of tense, actually! You really brought us close to the people who were there so that we could see how very difficult this journey was for them, even apart from the appearance of Orcs and the Balrog. How sad to think that Glorfindel’s last thought was that he had failed. I had never thought before either of how he had helped lead the people that far and yet didn’t live to know the outcome. The nightmare was fascinating. I feel bad for them because it was horrifically vivid but I suppose in some ways it’s a gift too to see this part of their heritage through the eyes of the grandfather they never knew. They have such compassion for Glorfindel. It’s amazing the way this helps them to forget their own fear. They’re lucky too to have each other, in whom they can find comfort and strength. I can’t believe now that I actually laughed at the antics of Erestor and Celebrian. Poor Elrond must have been totally bewildered. Like I said, the end completely startled me. All along they’ve been acting out real events, who knew that this game would also come true? It makes it all the more poignant because you’ve given Celebrian such a playful spirit and shown her so happy. Even Erestor seems to approve of this game, which shows that he doesn’t think for a second that any such thing might actually happen. I thought it was interesting that Elladan and Elrohir seemed to know that their father wouldn’t like this game. I can only imagine what he felt when it actually happened. I hope that the twins don’t remember this game when that time comes. *sigh* I guess it goes to show that the worst really can happen. This was a really great story and very cleverly told. :-) Author Reply: Another wonderful review, thank you again! I took the descriptions of Gondolin and the battle from The Silmarillion, then added a few more details, like Earendil's part in it, and tried to see it from the POV of the elves who were there. I've referred to this event in a couple of other stories - the nightmares, Elrohir waking up crying, the two of them so scared they share a bed. I had to go through and check each reference to make sure I didn't contradict myself! And poor Celebrian. None of them realised that a game where the twins could be brave warriors would become so horrifically real. (BTW, the only reason they didn't tell Elrond first was because they wanted to announce that they'd rescued her and surprise him.) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| I love the 'It was Glorfindel and he died. It doesn't seem suitable.' What sweet little elflings they are. The point about Elrohir being happy to have his name first occasionally is well thought of. It doesn't just apply to twins either - children are virtually always put in birth order when you name them - but it must be worse for twins who are hardly ever apart. The irony of Elrohir and Elladan rescuing Celebrian from Orc-Erestor! I imagine, if they ever think back to it, they would have been happier playing Balrogs. Author Reply: Pretending to be dead heroes is one thing, but when it's someone they know and love it's another, I think. I always write the twins as 'Elladan and Elrohir' - then I thought Elrohir might get fed up with that sometimes. You're right, it's the same for all brothers and sisters though. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/22/2004 |
| Omigod, Jay, I thought I was going to get a soothing ending and you gave me that! I'm still reeling a little. I feel like I've been sucker punched. The twins' nightmare was vivid and I liked the hint of the magical in their seeing what Earendil saw. I suppose there's that same hint in the play about their mother. Author Reply: I thought about what other games the twins would play, and sadly, rescuing their mother would seem a good game to them. I wonder if they remembered it in later years? | |