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| Arwen's Heart by Bodkin | 14 Review(s) |
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| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/3/2005 |
| I love the Rock of Galadriel. Although Celeborn telling Arwen and Aragorn to get their behinds back to Imladris to face Elrond was pretty strong stuff, too. Aragorn's statement that he would have never married Arwen as long as he had only the life of a homeless vagabond to offer her is so true, isn't it? Even if Elrond had not placed conditions on his marriage, reality would have. Aragorn isn't the type of guy to marry the image of Luthien and give her a timber hovel to live in. He wants a queen as much as Elrond wants a king. I never had a chance of changing her mind. It must have brought Elrond peace to realize and accept this at last. The conversation about Elrond sailing was interesting because I've often pondered his decision to sail soon after the Ring War instead of staying to help Arwen through the trials ahead of her (and see his grandchildren.) Your explanation is as plausible as anything is going to get, I think. Gilraen's foresight that she won't live to see her son achieve his destiny, or to see her granchildren, was sad. Killing off parents is standard literary fare, but so often it's only the effect on the survivors that's considered - it was nice to pause for a moment to consider how much Gilraen would have loved to hear a little child call her "Grandma." Author Reply: Elves might be more equal in their treatment of the genders - but they still seem to have quite a patriarchal society. Celeborn is angry. What he doesn't realise, is that he doesn't scare either his wife or his granddaughter. I imagine that, inside, Aragorn was cringing rather. Not least because he probably agreed with Celeborn. He is not the kind of man to want to offer less than perfection to the girl of his dreams - and he would probably put the same limitations on their betrothal as Elrond. From choice. But Arwen will let him get away with it, because I think her intention here was to stake her claim and offer him hope of success. At least, now the decision is made, Elrond can let it be. It will cause him grief, certainly, but he can put off thinking about that for now. And Elrond sailing while Arwen lives is one of those irritating things (sorry, Tolkien). An elf who has endured so much would surely strive to endure another couple of centuries - how long would that be to someone who has lived since the First Age? Same with Galadriel, really. Aragorn's reign would be no more than a blink of time to her. However much the failure of their Rings told on them, they could surely have lasted a little longer. But it had to be the End, didn't it. Elves gone / Men in charge. Transition. So they had to sail - without seeing that Arwen was happy, without seeing her children, without helping her endure her last days. The elven equivalent of killing off parents. But Elrond won't have seen it as a literary device! Next chapter is flowing quite well at the moment, too. | |
| ElflingImp | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/3/2005 |
| I so love this story,its like I am right there with them and I feel all the emotions too. You are a very talented writer and you paint the picture so clearly. I admire you. Thanks for writing this and sharing it! Author Reply: Thank you. I am enjoying writing this and if I can make anyone feel they're there then I am delighted! I'm glad you like it. The next chapter is partly done, so more fairly soon! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/3/2005 |
| I think you've showed the pain of everyone involved, Bodkin. It's interesting to see how tranquil Arwen is, despite her pain. She's made her choice and she knows it's the right one. I particularly enjoyed the scene between Arwen and Gilraen at the end. Gilraen is so often forgotten in fanfic that this was a scene I've never thought about before. Well done. Author Reply: Too much pain, perhaps? I think Arwen came to terms with this outcome long since. Didn't know it would be Aragorn, perhaps. She probably had lots of experience of being adored by assorted heirs of the Dunedain. But when it came to it, she knew. Gilraen lives a good few years yet - but I think she might well have felt that handing her son to his betrothed removed the obligation on her to fight to the end. He no longer needs her in the same way to provide him with emotional stability. He has the Evenstar for that. Thank you. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/3/2005 |
| Of this whole chapter, the final part is my favourite: 'they both knew that Aragorn’s naneth had handed to Elrond’s daughter the care of her son, and that she would not endure to see him succeed or fail.' This is very poignant. It seems as if Gilraen knew she was dying. What an interesting scene on the banks of the Brandywine! If the twins had been just a little closer, or had a little more luck in their search, events would have been very different. Frodo wouldn't have been adopted, Bilbo probably wouldn't have left him the Ring - and the fate of Middle Earth could have been utterly changed. Very thought provoking. Author Reply: Gilraen will last a good few years yet - until 3007, I think. But I don't think she wanted to survive to the end. There's the 'I gave hope....' bit that seems to me to suggest that she felt useless after Aragorn grew up, even though she lived another fifty odd years after he went off into the wild - and possibly that she sank into depression. The banks of the Brandywine incident. Yes. Happened the same year as the Aragorn/Arwen betrothal - which is what put this section into my head. And so many things do seem to twine round each other. Glad it provoked thought! | |