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| History Lessons: The Third Age by Nilmandra | 19 Review(s) |
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| LOTR lover | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| What a harrowing, god-awful chapter to read--it must have been worse to write it! Poor Celebrian, poor whole loving family now torn apart. And you wrote it so well! Harrowing but not graphic, highly emotional but not over-the-top. Kudos for your skill as a writer, Nilmandra. Amazing highlights: *Elrond's physical reactions to knowing what must have happened and his sharing of Celebrian's pain as he tries to go to her. *Glorfindel's actions, especially his putting Erestor's hand over Elrond's so he can feel the presence of Vilya, and Erestor's reaction. *The explanation of what happened to the twins, their individual responses to the losses of their friends and their mother's torment, and Elladan's extra burden of guilt that this had all happened on his watch. *Celeborn's reactions to seeing his daughter in such straits. Wow. Just wow. Author Reply: Thank you, LOTRLover. I am glad you found it appropriately done, as I feel like I have pried into the most private of their lives (even if they are fictional) and handling it sensitively was important to me. I am glad that Elrond has friends like Elrond and Glorfindel, for he will need them before this is through. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| Incredibly moving and leaves me full of sorrow for all members of the family. Very well done, Nilmandra. Author Reply: Thank you, Radbooks. | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| Wow, this is really intense. Elrond's reaction was really well done. That he has such a clear feeling of what is happening to his wife is exactly as I picture an elven bond but it horrible at moments like this. It must be a very small comfort to him that he can give her strength and be a refuge for her. I liked Glorfindel's response to what was happening was excellent--it's hard to say, but that might have been my favorite part of the chapter. I really like seeing Glorfindel and Erestor as such strong leaders/friends for Imladris and for Elrond. And the whole part from the twin's POV! That was really scary, intense, horrible...it's impossible to describe adequately. You did an excellent job portraying their emotions and making us feel them too. I love that you had Celeborn appear. I think a lot of people forget him in this situation. This was his daughter. He was great here--so strong. Geez--hurry with the next chapter! I have to go try to read this again more slowly. Author Reply: Thanks, Elliska. I can say hands down this was emotionally the most difficult chapter I have ever written. I am glad you thought the responses were believable and well done. Unfortunately, their pain is nowhere near over yet :( | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| This was some very grim stuff and you did it well. Seeing it from Elladan's POV is almost too much to bear, but then I supposed anyone's POV would be. In rereading it here, I was struck by Celeborn's strength. How much he must have wanted to go with them. He must have been torn. Author Reply: I actually found I couldn't do Elrohir's POV this time, and Celebrian's was out of the question. Going omniscient would have drawn us too far away, I think. :( I agree about Celeborn - I saw too many reasons why he shouldn't go with them, and I think he knew that only Elrond could help anyway. | |
| Mum's the Word | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| I won't duplicate here what other reviewers have said much better than I could. I do think you've chosen wisely to break the chapter where you did, to give us readers a chance to deal with this much of the blow. The title of your chapter is, as always, most appropriate: Not only is the attack and torture of Celebrian an abomination, but the Black Riders' attempt to breach the borders of Imladris is also an abomination, as Imladris is the Last Homely House, a sanctuary from the evils of Middle-earth and a place where evil is not supposed to abide. Thank you also for the strength and power you show in Arwen. Elrond may think she inherits all of this from her mother's side, but her ability to strengthen his spirit and to offer healing is a gift from him as well. It's so good that he has learned to release his pain through her; adult children can be a great support for their parents. However, that additional bond would indeed be painful to sever. I do wonder when that would have taken place; perhaps when Arwen actually wed Aragorn, or perhaps not until Elrond set sail. As for Elladan and Elrohir, although I know they did hunt orcs for many years to avenge their mother's attack, I do hope you'll help Elrond help them to forgive themselves as they would forgive others who might have been in the same situation. Bless you, Nilmandra, for your successful handling of this most difficult subject. Mum Author Reply: Thank you, Mum. This was horrible to write and I wanted to handle it with care, so I am glad you think I did. The other abomination is what the servants of Sauron did to Frodo, of course. All of these lives irrevocably changed. Yet out of suffering comes hope. I am glad I have also written the ending, as I needed to see Celebrian healed before I could write anymore. The twins do find healing and forgiveness too, I promise that. The sons of Elrond who rode with Aragorn on the Paths of the Dead to the Gates of the Morannon were 'fair and gallant' as well as brave and caring (I am remembering the three entering Minas Tirith to provide healing for the wounded and ill). | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| What a horrible chapter. Elrond's awareness of something wrong, then feeling Celebrķan's terror and fear was wonderfully done. It's surprising how tense the whole scene is, bearing in mind we all know what happened already. From Tolkien's words that Celebrķan 'was pursued and rescued by Elladan and Elrohir', I always pictured them as part of her escort. They couldn't really 'pursue' her from Imladris. The rescue is very tense and dramatic, and the twins' alternating emotions of shock, fear, numbness and blind fury very well done. Please hurry with the second half! Jay Author Reply: Knowing what happens really doesn't make it any easier, does it? An entry in the Tale of Years and a few lines here and there just don't do justice to the tearing apart of a family. I depressed msyelf writing it. I am glad you thought it was well done, though, as I think its important to handle such a terrible event carefully. Second half coming soon, probably Friday. | |
| Bejai | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| Oh! My heart dropped when I realized that you were going to take us into this part of the story so soon, although I suppose it makes sense as a parallel with Frodo. Celebrian's experience gets two lines in canon, and when you stop to think about it, those two lines are full of agony for Tolkien's characters. It's just horrible and gut-wrenching, although you've written it with great skill and tact. Still, it is hard to read, particularly because of the wonderful family relationships you've written in your earlier stories. I do hope you post the next part soon, although it isn't going to get any easier. *weeps* Author Reply: I had put off posting any of HL until I had written this chapter, just because it was so awful. The next part will be up tomorrow, most likely, but the Peredhel family's hard times continue, I'm afraid. I cannot really imagine the horror they lived through. I weep with you. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/21/2005 |
| the second part will be posted in the next few days. Before Monday, please! I'm going away and can't bear to leave Celebrian in quite this state. Horrible. Horrible, horrible. You do horrible just as well as you do light and loving. Elrond was very lucky to get anyone back from this attack - and it's hardly any surprise that they were all changed. The images of Celebrian in the hands of the orcs are frightening, and you can feel the twins' breathless desperation - and the urgency of those dashing to the rescue. And I've returned here as the best place to write about Elrond's bond with Celebrian and the effect on him of the attack on her - he's living with her pain and yet unable to help and lost to his surroundings. Just how dreadful that must have been. And yet - you can see how such a bond (even if not-Vilya enhanced in others) would lead to partners fading - unable to endure the agony of living the torment or death of those they love. Poor Elrond - sitting in Imladris with these memories visiting him. I'm so glad he has Arwen to offer him her love and strength. And I like the thought of her being heir to the courage and strength - and compassion - of Celebrian, Celeborn and Galadriel, too. I can see that. The strength to accept exile from her family because it's right. I like seeing the power of Elrond enhanced by Gandalf as they dismiss the Ulairi like the scum they are - (I wonder what it feels like to have all three rings working together?)- and Elrond's anxiety as the evil-touched Frodo approaches the heart of his power. And Celeborn - reined in and controlled and in charge. What an elf! This is so powerful. Too horrible for easy words. But good. Author Reply: This horrible no good chapter is what kept HLIII from being posted for so long. I knew this had to be done before I started, otherwise I didn't think i could write it. The other half will be up tomorrow most likely, not sure I'll get it up tonight. Unfortunately, Celebrian's rescue is still just the beginning of the end of her time in MIddle-earth and the Peredhel family pain isn't going to improve much for a while. :( | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/20/2005 |
| Wow, this is really intense! Now I can breathe! Author Reply: All I can say is that it was heck to write, too. :( | |