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| Arwen's Heart by Bodkin | 13 Review(s) |
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| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/24/2005 |
| For some reason I was left feeling exceedingly sorry for Celeborn in the opening to this chapter. I think it’s because while Galadriel and Elrond are focused on protecting Arwen from some future that may or may not come to pass, Celeborn wants to keep his beloved granddaughter safe from harm and from the very real dangers outside the borders of Lothlorien. I like Arwen’s determination. There’s a wonderful sense of her having made up her mind a long time ago that she would leave when she felt it was necessary and now the time has come and not even Celeborn can stop her. I also love the moment between Galadriel and Celeborn. I just adore the way you write their relationship. I’m glad they can support each other. In some ways it’s their resignation that is most poignant. Showing Arwen’s arrival from Gilraen’s point of view is very effective. And, of course, this is an important moment in her own life too. Glorfindel’s mixture of surprise, disapproval and affection was done very well and perfectly set against Arwen’s joy and disregard for any negativity. One of my favourite parts of this chapter is actually Gilraen’s thoughts about how little she knew of Arwen despite never outright being misled, how she was so carefully kept from meeting certain people. It’s a great insight into her life in Imladris and she’s obviously a very clever person. Interesting that she knew of Arwen and yet her son did not. Something obviously told Gilraen that she should not mention her to him. I thought that moment of apprehension and the sense of some nameless doom was done really well too. Great scene between Arwen and Elrond. There’s just no persuading Arwen to do something she doesn’t feel right in doing and it seems that Elrond is trying to achieve the same acceptance that Galadriel is about the way events are unfolding. I’m going to be mean and laugh at Estel’s misery in the rain. Oh well, he might as well get used to it. I think I’d rather grow old listening to Erestor lecture me on history. At least I’d be dry and warm. Nice moment between the twins when Estel talks about how his mother knowing that he must take on “adult responsibilities.” I was delighted by the scene with Arwen and Gilraen. They have much in common, I think – strength, determination, courage. Gilraen’s selflessness is very evident too. She seems to have long accepted that she will have to let her son go, more completely than other mothers. I would love to see more between these two after Aragorn and Arwen meet… ;-) “He had not expected to see Elros’s accusing eyes in his distant descendant’s face, or to hear Elendil’s voice emerging from those young lips. Or, come to that, to see in Aragorn the face of Isildur as he rejected Elrond’s advice and turned away from him.” Oh, wow. There’s something very powerful about that. I guess Elrond could never be fully prepared for this moment, no matter what wisdom he possessed. Not when he loves Estel so wholeheartedly. From what Elrond tells Glorfindel, it certainly sounds like Aragorn was rather less than understanding. Glorfindel is right, though, that he needs to be among men and find his own way. I still feel bad for Elrond, though :-/ Although, you did a truly great job getting into Aragorn’s head as well. I can’t say I’d have felt any less betrayed than he does. And on top of all that, he is feeling such self-doubt. Who can blame him when so very much is expected of him? Of course, he doesn’t know the half of it yet… And he’s worried about not being accepted as Chieftain… I was as entranced as Aragorn when he came across Arwen. You gave such life and beauty to this part of their tale. Even if I didn’t know their story, their immediate connection is so evident. I like the sense that Aragorn has already fallen in love with her, yet for her it is more a recognition of something that she was waiting for without really knowing it. “For, despite the elven light in her eyes and the wisdom of her many days, he knew at once that his heart was lost to Arwen Undómiel.” Ah, so beautiful and so magical! *sigh* I love this. Author Reply: Arwen is about 2700 years old. That might be young compared to C and G, but it's old enough to have your own mind and know when you are not prepared to be managed. She's happy to let her grandfather protect her most of the time - but when she knows it's time to be in Imladris, she can put her foot down. C and G need to support each other - and they can(!) which is a consolation that Elrond can't have - but they are one step more detached when it comes to fighting the inevitable. Much as Elrond loves Estel, he is not going to surrender on this one without a fight - but maybe he needs to realise that he just has to settle for the time he can get. Arwen is glad to be home. She has been in exile for a long time and isn't going to let little things like Glorfindel's doubt and her adar's concern stop her! It's the old advice from the elves bit - they won't lie, but they will happily mislead and divert attention. I expect it worked on Gilraen to start with, but she's spent almost half her life among elves now and her vision has sharpened. As for knowing about Arwen - Gilraen has spent her time among ellyth. The gaps in the conversation were probably more noticeable. Estel's time has been spent in education and training and with the twins - girls probably didn't feature much in his thinking. Poor Estel. He is going to be spending uncounted hours over the years muddy, malodorous, wet and alone in situations far worse than this. I'd go for the history lessons option myself - but that won't bring about the defeat of Sauron! It's just as well he can warm himself at night with the vision of elven perfection. (It's a bit of a double-edged sword really. Years of comfort with available female company might have diverted his attention - so the solitude and the mission kept him transfixed. Perhaps Elrond should send him straight off to Minas Tirith.) Gilraen is a bit of an under-rated heroine really. (Like most of the mothers and wives.) But she is as responsible for making Estel what he is as Elrond. And then she sends him off to do his heroing, while she goes home and fades. Tolkien's women do, on the whole, fulfil this self-sacrificing role without complaint. Or, in many cases, even being given names. (But it's not a demanding, butt-kicking, Vampire-slaying modern kind of heroism.) In the Book, Aragorn seems to have taken Elrond's information in his heroic mature stride - but I can't see a 20 year old, whose world has just been turned upside-down not throwing a bit of a hissy fit at how-everyone-knew-this-but-him, and it's-not-fair and how-can-he-do-this. Self-doubt is a very natural part of being young. As is the desire to blame everyone else. And there was Arwen! In the right place, at the right time to become his motivation and his muse - and to keep him on the straight and narrow when temptation offered and he could not see his way through to the end. (Although I doubt she felt quite the same way. Not being 20, in emotional chaos, or male.) The next chapter is coming on apace. It really speeds things up when the bones are written in Appendix A with chunks of inevitable dialogue! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/24/2005 |
| A big moment in the history of ME. Two big moments really -- Aragorn learns who he is, and he meets and falls in love with Arwen. And destiny is set in motion. Author Reply: I can see a 20 year old falling hopelessly in love - but a 2700ish year old would, I'm sure, be a little more doubtful. But then there's Destiny. This is all very romantic on the page. But I wouldn't want to live it! (And I suppose my age shows - I'm with Elrond and Gilraen in having my doubts about True Love. Good thing it worked out in the end. Holiday romance, huge age gap, differences in culture - it didn't promise well.) | |
| Amy | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/24/2005 |
| Who can resist a strong-willed elleth with beautiful manners? No one, apparently. She learned from the best, didn't she? Lovely staging of The Meeting, with Arwen's heart not completely clear, but Aragorn's held by her look, her word, her laugh. The background that you've given gives The Meeting real force: very well done! Gilraen is lovingly drawn as well. So nice to see her included and not characterized as clinically depressed! Aragorn's the right mix of young/old. I can see Arwen being drawn to him but also needing to wait for him to grow into his promise. Author Reply: And Aragorn is probably not the first of Isildur's heirs to be stunned by her. She is unlikely, I think, to fall besottedly for a kid on first sight - she's too old and too experienced. But it's one of those fate things, packed with inevitability. I'm glad you liked the Meeting. And I reckon that Aragorn's confusion would have made him even more likely to fall good and hard. This must be such a hard time for Gilraen - she is losing her son - giving hope to the world - and being left behind. She is being strong, but I can see her becoming depressed, perhaps, over the next half century. She did die young for a Dunedain. Thank you for reading. | |