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| History Lessons: The Third Age by Nilmandra | 376 Review(s) |
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| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/8/2005 |
| Wow! What a wonderful chapter and story, Nilmandra! I mean, I love gapfillers above all, unexpected povs, and even if your treading apparently well-known places here, the change of pov is lovely! We know that part of the third age through Bilbo and Frodo's pov, and your take on Imladris' life through it all is very interesting! The dwarves' sojourn in Imladris and the need for secrecy are perfect. The characterization is perfect with what we know of them. Elrohir's bow! I didn't remember that particular incident, but it was wonderful to have that piece of background story to look at! I laughed at the fact that Glorfindel had been reminded of the same memory. That's why we love to keep things, I suppose, and pass them down to younger siblings or our children. Lovely. And the twins' antics are great! No wonder Elrond was happy to have them home instead of hunting orcs! Estel semes to have been a good therapy for them! And the tense atmosphere in those last days of Septembre, that's something I loved seeing from the point of view of Elrond and Imladris. Thanks, it was worth waiting for the story to begin! :-) Author Reply: Thanks, Perelleth...this chapter was fun to write, because it was lighthearted despite the real threats of danger hanging over their heads. I had reread the parts of The Hobbit and was inspired by the elves teasing the dwarves and hobbit at the Ford. I figured the twins behavior had its basis in canon! Elrohir's bow story I have never told, only alluded to in several stories. Perphas one day the twins will tell it to us in its entirety! I for one would like to know what Celebrian said to Elladan. :) | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/8/2005 |
| This is very nice! I enjoyed the visit of Bilbo and the Dwarves very much--especially the twins and Estel's little prank on the balcony, LOL! I was sorry not to see a meeting between young Estel and Bilbo, which would have been fun, but after looking at your reasoning, I thoroughly agree with you about the secrecy. It makes perfect sense! I am liking your Glorfindel very much. I loved the bit about the chair, and his determination to engage the Ringwraiths is breathtaking. That is one spectacular Elf! Author Reply: Thanks, Dreamflower. Glorfindel is my also my muse, so he provides lots of entertainment and mirthful recall when needed. It would be fun to write the first meeting of hobbit and ranger - perhaps see Biblo write and give the verses to the Dunadan that we see quoted in LotR. And it was fun to write merry elves - I reread the quote in The Hobbit about how the elves liked to tease and poke fun at the dwarves beard, and decided the twins behaviour had good basis in canon! | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/8/2005 |
| O hurrah! History lessons about the age that fascinates me the most. So glad! But my eyes are closing of themselves, so I will have to come back later and read and leave a coherent review. Thanks! Author Reply: Thanks, Lindelea. There will even be hobbits! I am interested particularly in Frodo and such things as how permission was granted for him to sail. Seeing hobbits through the eyes of the elves will be fun. | |
| LOTR lover | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/7/2005 |
| Ah, bliss! Another "History Lessons." Have I ever mentioned how much I love the way you write Glorfindel? Not to mention Elrond, and the twins, and Celebrian...well, everybody. This story is a gapfiller in the best sense of the word, helping the reader to see the intertwining events that surround the basic story of "The Hobbit." I'm so glad you're continuing this series into the Third Age. Oops, I forgot to mention how much I appreciated your adding the backstory of the bow that Estel is now learning to use. It gives such dimension to the present story to have characters remember events in previous stories that the reader "experienced" right along with them. And I love the way you wove the mundane parts of Glorfindel's life with the otherworldly. You offset his insistence on keeping his own not-to-be-touched chair in Elrond's study, and his fidgeting (and snorting his wine) during the (hilarious) dinner scene with Bilbo and the dwarves, with the inner light that shines from him at the end of the race with Elrond and his fiery eagerness to engage the Ringwraiths at the end of the chapter. Wonderful. I'm waiting happily for the next chapter. Author Reply: I am glad you like my Glorfindel. From the keeper of the original, that is high praise! I have to say it really is fun to try and look at these events through the eyes of the elves, particularly Elrond, and to think of how much he has witnessed or known. I find even my flashbacks have flashbacks, because everything must remind him of something. There is so much history, and yet the perfect recall of the elves must make it all seem almost present in its clarity. Thank you for reading. | |
| Pernauriel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/6/2005 |
| I love this story already, this is the one I wanted to read when you first started writing the History Lessons with Legolas. I love all the other stories in the series. A little estel and Aragorn all grown up. I was very happy when I saw this come up in my inbox. I was thinking the other day that I wanted to read a new Nilmandra story, and when I went to my inbox there it was. Can't wait to read the rest of it. I won't review every chapter but I will read them all and let you know, but I know it will be a great read. I am going to stop rambling and repeating myself now. Author Reply: Thanks, Pernauriel! I am glad you liked the start. There is a lot to cover, good times and bad times, and I enjoyed writing these early chapters - a child in the house is a good thing. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/6/2005 |
| Oh, I think I am really going to *like* this. You know me, mostly I only read hobbits, but sometimes a Man and/or Elf story comes along that is just exceptional. This looks like it may very well be one of those. I loved the mingling of present and flashbacks, and the glimpses of the child Aragorn. The sweet affection between the members of Elrond's family and household is just beautiful. I am looking forward to more. Author Reply: There be hobbits in this story! I have long meant to rewrite 'Refuge' and continue it, and that will happen in this story. The pov will be Elrond's, most likely, but I have learned its fun to look at certain races through the eyes of another, so hopefully it will work out well. Stay dry! Thank you for reading. | |
| Kathleen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/6/2005 |
| Hi Nilmandra, I am so excited to see another History Lesson story. Chapter one was brilliant, I cannot wait to read more. Slainte, Kathleen Author Reply: Thank you, Kathleen! | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/5/2005 |
| I was so excited to see this here yesterday! So excited, in fact, that I read through it all with a huge grin on my face at lunchtime only to realise later that I hadn’t actually taken any of it in. I had to read it all again when I managed to stop myself from bouncing around in glee ;-) What a perfect opening! I love how comfort is offered to Aragorn in different ways – Elrond soothing him, Arwen staying by his side and anticipating his needs, and even Cook providing his favourite foods. It’s so clear that this is really home to Aragorn. I also really like the way Elrond and Arwen are willing to just wait for Aragorn to tell them about his experiences and won’t push him. The love they have for this man really comes through and is wonderful to witness. My heart went out to Elrond when he thinks about what the discovery of the One Ring will mean: “They would rise up against Shadow one last time; if they were defeated all would be lost for Men and Elves and all the free peoples of Middle-earth. Yet if they won, he would lose his daughter.” It’s going to be so fascinating seeing this tale through Elrond’s eyes. All parts of it! I can’t tell you how much I love the part where Arwen and Elrond massage the twins and try to relax them. What a truly heart-warming picture. I just adore seeing such closeness between them all. The little part of the tale about Arathorn was very interesting. I like the sense that something was about to happen, the idea that evil things were drawn to his patrol, that Elrond was uneasy. And you very movingly convey what it meant for Elrohir to have Arathorn die in his arms. The conversation about what would happen to Aragorn now was just heartbreaking. What brave people the Dúnedain are. They have such strength and their sense of identity runs so deep that they would sacrifice everything to keep it. I like your Halbarad even in the little we see of him here. I also just love your depiction of Gilraen. Her grief, shock and weariness all come across so well but underneath we can already sense her strength. She’s just lost her husband and now she has had to leave everything she knew behind. It’s so final, really, because her life is in Imladris now at least until her son is fully grown. It must have been really facing the unknown for her. She doesn’t ever seem to have considered not staying there herself and just leaving her son there. In some ways it must have been harder to participate in the secrecy and in hiding her son’s identity. But she’s just amazing. The determination and acceptance she shows in that moment when Elrond calls her son ‘Estel’ is incredible. Estel is adorable! He’s certainly captured the hearts of everyone straight away! He’s such a bright child, and I think his curiosity is a very realistic reaction. I love the way he pulls on Glorfindel’s hair!! Elrond is wonderful. He makes Estel feel safe and loved immediately and his tactics for helping the child learn his new name are very clever. I love that he let Estel sleep in his bed – and the bedwetting was priceless! Whoever changes Elrond’s sheets will get a good giggle. One of my favourite things about this chapter, actually, is the way everyone helps out – the females making Gilraen more comfortable and sitting with her throughout the night, Erestor providing toys and clothes, etc. The whole house has welcomed them with love and understanding. I also particularly liked the end of this chapter. After what we’ve just read, the terms “father” and “Aragorn, son of Arathorn” spoken by these people have so much more meaning. I’m so glad to see the love between them, and the complete faith that Elrond has in Aragorn. I really can’t wait to read more of this. It’s got off to such a great start and you’re doing a tremendous job with Elrond. We see his power and wisdom, the weight of experience, the knowledge that even he isn’t safe from pain and loss, the love for his daughter and love for Aragorn, the attempt to understand what must happen without trying to change anything…Ack. I’m getting all excited again! This is great, Nilmandra. I’m very much looking forward to more :-) Author Reply: Dot, you know how to make an author feel great :) You really do have a good eye for picking out what is important, and you hit on all of the themes I was focusing on. In particular at the end were Elrond's use of 'Aragorn son of Arathorn' - a reminder to his son of who he was...and Aragorn's use of 'my father' - a reminder to Elrond of who he was to him. Its a relationship brought full circle, from Elrond taking Aragorn's identity, then giving it back, and in the end Aragorn really is a mixture of Arathorn's son and Elrond's son. Gilraen is inspiring to me. The courage and valor of women in times of crisis and war is usually not in arms, but on the homefront, doing what needs to be done to survive, and they are seldom lauded or recognized for it. This is what Eowyn feared...and perhaps Aragorn could speak of valour without reknown because it was modeled for him. Thank you for your lovely wonderful comments. The timing is so perfect - its my first day back to work and I am exhausted. I hope the rest of the story lives up to your expectations. | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/5/2005 |
| As always your stories are the greatest! I cant wait for this one to read more I finally understand from your stories how everyone was related and lots of other details even though I read the books I still didnt connect alot of things and events. As always as I said your stories are most interesting Thanks Author Reply: I am really glad if relationships and events make more sense now! That was sort of my goal, to make these times more understandable. The information about who knew what, when, how they knew it, where they were - it really is all over in the books. Thank you for reading! | |
| runnerbeast | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/5/2005 |
| So very good. =) I love Gilraen here. How young she was, yet knowing her duty. How you get her grief and confusion across SO WELL, and how caring the elves were to her and Estel. I so love how you write Elrond, Aragorn, Elrohir and Elladan. I can't WAIT to meet your Gandalf! =D I missed out on your History Lessons I and II (bad me), it is my goal to go back someday. I'm SO GLAD I'm catching this one right from the start (happy me)! Author Reply: Thank you for your kind words! There are a few family jokes that carry over from story to story, but each story should stand alone. I am having fun learning some other voices for this story - hobbits and dwarves and Gandalf! Should be challenging, I think. Thank you for reading. | |