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| Arwen's Heart by Bodkin | 18 Review(s) |
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| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/23/2005 |
| Very beautiful and atmospheric.I am pleased that you have Aragorn hold true to Arwen and not play the field in Gondor as many fanfic writers do,which I think totally out of character for him. I love the way you explore the attitudes of the different Elves and Arwen's determination to pledge herself to her one true love. Author Reply: Aragorn was brought up elven - and with Gilraen as his mother, who, widowed very young, still maintained her faith with Arathorn throughout her life. He would have found the idea of casual sex distasteful at best, I suspect - and, having devoted himself to Arwen before he left Imladris, I think he would have held to that. He would have known that she would have expected it of him and it would be part of proving himself worthy of her. I can't see Aragorn taking this step at this time without Arwen making the first move. He's too self-disciplined and far too far from his goal. But she, on the other hand, would know that he needed to strengthen the wire drawing him towards his goal. A distant and very abstract hope of winning her might not be enough - but a betrothal gives his something in which he can trust. Lothlorien elves are a bit more isolated from the world than others - I can't imagine many non-elven visitors make it into the Wood - and I'm sure they would resent the idea of a man coming and taking their Evenstar from them. Galadriel knows it will happen - Elrond fears it is inevitable - but Celeborn would rather be like King Canute at the moment. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/23/2005 |
| Ah, yes--this is my Aragorn here, seeing the gift given him and accepting it, but never asking for it, regretting the grief it will bring. Bless them. Author Reply: When I started this particular tale it was intended to present a strong and capable Arwen, who was more than simply a bone being fought over by two alpha males. Aragorn, aged 20, was young enough to fall in love and not see the problems the relationship would cause, but Aragorn, aged almost 50, had too much experience and wisdom not to understand. I think he would see Arwen as a guiding light - but not see himself able ever to reach it. Arwen, on the other hand, knew that he needed something more in order to maintain his strength - and was prepared to make the first move. They still have a long wait, but he knows now that she will be waiting for him. | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2005 |
| That was a really wonderful chapter I didnt review the last one . It was great too. I loved the ending on this chapter you are a very good writer Author Reply: Thank you very much - I'm glad you are enjoying this story. It helps to have such good material to work with - and Tolkien left such delightful gaps for our imaginations. | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2005 |
| I loved this...I don't have time for a coherent review (the killer bees are swarming!) but I will leave one later. Just wanted to say briefly how great this was! linda Author Reply: Thank you. You want to watch those killer bees - they can be dangerous if not watched! I'm glad you liked this. It was great fun to write - some chapters just are and others don't seem to care if you bother or not. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2005 |
| Oddly enough, one of the things I like here is the passive voice in the last part of this beautiful sentence: as he had loved her at sight in the glades of Imladris, so she loved him and her choice was made. It's as if she could not act differently. A wonderful chapter, Bodkin. Particularly the last part. Author Reply: Thank you. Much of the last part was Appendix A - although not quoted directly, except in the odd phrase, I think. I do think inevitability is a large part of this relationship (- well, and lots of other things, too). I loved writing this chapter - it just assembled itself and marched onto the the page. I was going to hang onto it for a little longer and tweak bits - and enjoy having it to myself - but this morning I just impulsively went and posted it. And now I shall have to finish the next one! | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2005 |
| Wow, Bodkin. I promise to come back and leave a more coherent review later, but this was terrific. Author Reply: Thank you. After bogging down rather in the last chapter, this one just demanded to be written. As is the next - at the moment at least. And it's changed direction slightly in its desire not to be too like Nilmandra's wonderful chapter! | |
| Amy | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2005 |
| Oh, oh, oh! All the details that Tolkien never wrote, beautifully realized. After so many years imagining this, I'm really happy with your version. I love the way you worked out Aragorn getting the flowers, which I could never figure out a smooth way to do. And Arwen's laughing less and having her turn to be spellbound: beautifully done. The reactions of Celeborn and Galadriel and the Lothlorien elves also quite believable. And Aragorn growing his beard back as he stayed, but he must have shaved before Arwen saw him or he wouldn't have resembled an elf lord. Will be back to reread, but must go to work. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Author Reply: Thank you - I found that writing this chapter just flowed and I'm so pleased you liked it. Most of what happened is already there in Appendix A - and it is so much fun to extend it and add to it. I think that Galadriel was more fatalistic about the whole business - but I can see Celeborn wishing he could hold back the tide. And Lothlorien is rather cut off and distant - which must affect the attitude of the elves to outsiders. Aragorn would have kept his beard pretty short, I would think. Too much elf in his upbringing to let it get shaggy - and, yes, I can think that, in the pleasure of being able to clean the grime of the wild from him, he would remove the beard - but I also think he would let it regrow. It is probably important to him by now to stand up for the fact that he is a man and no elf - and facial hair could well be part of the statement - a way of showing that he accepts himself. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2005 |
| I like the idea that Aragorn sees Earendil as a reminder of his faith to Arwen - and the mariner is, of course, a distant ancestor of Aragorn's, as well as Arwen's grandfather. The ranger's warning that orcs watch Elladan and Elrohir is interesting - they are more noticable than most, and the orcs' leaders aren't stupid in working out that the twins could lead them to Aragorn and/or Imladris. They'd better be careful. Author Reply: Parts of this just write themselves. It's quite remarkable - no thought is apparently involved. And the part about orcs watching the twins was one of them - and one that, once it's there, you just think 'of course'. And individual orcs were of so little importance to their leaders that they would happily sacrifice patrols here and there to catch bigger prey. Imladris, I suppose, under Vilya's protection, would be reasonably safe - but Aragorn . . . quite a different matter. And what about Mithrandir? Although I suppose he is both wizard and ringbearer - but he travelled alone most of the time and enough orcs could overwhelm anyone. There's an extra relevance to looking to the stars when you're talking about Elrond's family - and Aragorn spends a lot of time in the wild with little but the stars to keep him company over the years. (It's quite funny to think that Arwen and Aragorn are actually first cousins - rather a lot of times removed.) | |