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| History Lessons: The Third Age by Nilmandra | 376 Review(s) |
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| Ainu Laire | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/9/2006 |
| I have not yet had the chance to read this tale- but I am so glad that I did decide to read it! Wow, that whole scene with Estel and the twins truly made me giggle. And I love how you represent Estel's and Elrond's relationship, as well as his relationship with the twins; it is a lot as I imagined it to be. I do not want to spend too long in this review, because I still have many chapters to read! *g* I am enjoying it much! Author Reply: Thanks Laire, I hope it kept you well occupied! | |
| Mandy | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 11/18/2006 |
| Wow, this was great! Would that I could write so well. I waited until it was finished before reading it so that probably helped. I always wondered how Elrond managed through the war; he seemed so isolated from events. Great interpretation. Thanks! Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed, Mandy. Elrond is such a fascinating character - involved in the affaris of Middle-earth through three long ages. At the end he was an influencer, but it had to be hard to stay home himself. | |
| Altus | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/23/2006 |
| Thanks again Nilmandra That makes a lot of sense. I also found this bit on Tuor's Wikipedia page: In a letter Tolkien indicated that Tuor's 'conversion' was allowed by Eru as a unique exception and offset to Lúthien's assumption of a mortal fate. That seems to back up your conclusions. Thanks again | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/23/2006 |
| Thank you - what a lovely end to the story. I never thought about Earendil meeting his son again. Truly a magical tale - cheers! Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed.. this was a joy to write, but I am glad its over too. :D | |
| Altus | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/22/2006 |
| Thank You I just have an extra question however. And seeing that you are such an historical expert on Arda, you are the perfect person to ask. LOL. Did Tuor become an elf? The quote that he was counted among the eldar would seem to suggest so. But why would he be given that honour. And not say Beren or even Aragorn If he was not an elf, but just living in the West, would he still be alive, more than 5 000 years later? I have always understood that Bilbo and Frodo would live as mortals in Aman. Frodo and Bilbo would find peace from the damage the ring wrought, and would be healed. They would however die when their times came. And again, why him? I would have thought that Beren and Luthian as Melian the Maia's son-in-law and daughter, would have been saved somehow. Author Reply: LOL, I'm no expert on Tolkien. I can only offer a guess. It's hard to know how Tuor changed to have his fate changed to that of an elf. Somewhere Tolkien wrote that Elros and Elrond had the same potential for life, and I would think that Tuor had the same potential for life as other Men of his time. Somehow his process of aging was changed from that of Men to that of Arda itself, where he ages as do the Elves - with Arda. They are not immortal, just long lived. Why Tuor? I would recommend reading about Tuor in the Silmarillion. It seems he was chosen for some purpose, for Ulmo used him to send warning to Gondolin.. and put him in Idril's path. The fate of Middle-earth rested on having someone who was of both kindreds - Men and Elves - come to plead with the Valar for assistance. Earendil, son of Tuor and Idril, was that person, and through his and Elwing's children would the lines of the Half-elven come. Those two lines were tied up when Aragorn and Arwen wed, imbuing the lineage of Men one last time with the grace and beauty of the Eldar. One might say that the Half-elven had critical roles to play, and some special allowance had to be made for their fates. Luthien chose to sunder from the Elves so as to not be parted from Beren. He had already died and Luthien chose to follow him, so I don't think he could have been given a choice. Perhaps Tuor and Idril were given such a choice... and Tuor's heart was with the Noldor, not his own kind. Eru allowed the Half-Elven to choose.. and Earendil chose not to part from Elwing, for their hearts were led differently, he with Men and she with the Elves. Elros chose Men, as did Arwen. Elrond chose the Elves. It must be something of the heart, a bent or desire, that unquenched would cause great weariness. Earendil sails the skies because (I think) of his desire for the kindred of Men - a desire to always seek beyond the world and what is known. He is the only one that we know lives a fate different than what he would have chosen had his heart and soul not been tied to Elwing.. and the Valar did their best to help him accept that fate. That's my two cents worth.. hope it helps. | |
| Altus | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/22/2006 |
| Hi Nilmandra Another fantastic chapter and so moving. This is the first review I have left even though I have read all of your stories at least once and most of them multiple times. Just one quick question: In the meeting at the docks, the King mentions a stray human waiting to claim Elrond. “There is time enough for that,” he said with twinkling eyes. “It was said once that many could claim you, and you will find that true here, Elrond Peredhel. Your lineage is traced back to each of the elven kindreds, and they along with the peredhel and even a stray human await their chance to meet you. I was just wandering, who would that be? Elros or someone else? Author Reply: Tuor, Elrond's human grandfather (father of Earendil) In those days Tuor felt old age creep upon him, and ever a longing for the deeps of the Sea grew stronger in his heart. Therefore he built a great ship, and he named it Eärrámë, which is Sea-Wing; and with Idril Celebrindal he set sail into the sunset and the West, and came no more into any tale or song. But in after days it was sung that Tuor alone of mortal Men was numbered among the elder race, and was joined with the Noldor, whom he loved; and his fate is sundered from the fate of Men. Glad you enjoyed the stories. :>) | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/2/2006 |
| Wonderful conclusion. I am so glad you followed through to Eldmar. There were so many wonderful moments on the voyage itself. The way you presented each character's reactions was well-written drama and humor. Very entertaining and satisfyingly detailed for this canon geek anyway ;D. Simply an Excellent Ending. Just like with the source saga, I did not want it to stop here with a ship sailing off into the sunset. And I am thrilled that you have more to tell! Although, it won't be another 'Lesson', it will be in your lovely and insightful mode of writing. I am just assuming you are not going to give us 'The Fourth Age'. But, maybe I am wrong? :D Congratulations on completing your epic tale of Elrond's life. I may have said it before, but I will say it again (and again and again) - this series is a masterpiece. Author Reply: I am glad you enjoyed this. I am thinking about the structure of another tale, perhaps this time from Celebrian's perspective. We could follow Elrond's time in Valinor until his sons arrive, while Celebrian looks back at her time there before he arrived. :>) | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 10/1/2006 |
| A beautiful conclusion! I love the wonder of the voyage, that was a fantastic perspective to take. :-) (Now, for some little Leg'las stories... ;-)) Author Reply: LOL, perhaps we can eek in a Legolas story. :>) | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/30/2006 |
| Love the quote you started this with. I love the walking song and it is perfect for this chapter. I love that Elrond saw Eärendil. I started crying right there. I loved Gandalf's "you have no idea how many can hardly wait to meet you." That was great. And the return of the palantir and the ring to Valinor were really very chilling to me--for some reason that seemed even more final to me than the departure of the elves themselves. Even before I read Elrond's reaction to seeing the ring, I thought the same thing myself. That was really powerful. I loved Bilbo at the bow of the ship. That seemed perfectly in character. The description of their actual passage onto the Straight Road and to Valinor was incredible. That must have been so hard to write but it was so worth it. And Frodo's dream! I don't think I ever caught that. Loved that detail! Galadriel's thoughts were also great, as was Elrond's response to them. And then their arrival in Vainor! Oh, that was just perfect. I cried my eyes out all through it. Each bit I read thinking none could be better than the last but when I got to Gil-galad I just couldn't stand it. That was so perfect and I totally didn't expect it. Great! And then I got to the arrival of the Valar and Mithrandir's transformation! Oh my gosh, Nilmandra! Incredible! And I thought this: Never did I realize how on guard we all lived until my soul was truly free. was absolutely perfect. This is exactly how I see Valinor as a place of healing for the elves from Middle Earth. I loved that. It is so wonderful to see them all safe and sound in Valinor. Is this the end of this one, Nilmandra? I thought you wrote Arwen's death and the twin's return. Are you putting that in another story (I hope)? Author Reply: This was not meant to be the end of this story, but I looked it over the next mornnig after posting and thought it really looked and felt like 'The End'. I do have more written.. several chapters worth actually, but it felt like ending after ending. I don't skip around my timelines well, so I was afraid if I wrote theose endings I wouldn't explore those years in between. So I'll see about another story instead. Besides this was so melancholy! The next story will have a different feel, I think. :D | |
| Del | Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 9/27/2006 |
| *sniffle* A worthy and wonderful effort. It definitely justified the wait. *sigh* Thank you, Del Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed! | |