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| A Fire Long Kindled by Nilmandra | 24 Review(s) |
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| Bejai | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Glorious, Nilmandra, as always. I have a soft spot in my heart for Elrond and Celebrian, and count you as one of my favorite writers (fanfic and regular fic alike). Any opportunity to get a glimpse into Imladris through you artful prose is cause for celebration. This was breathtakingly sensual while being blessedly tasteful, a masterful interpretation of elven love and childbearing. Bravo! Author Reply: Thanks Bejai. I am glad you liked it - and it was fun to write. This was breathtakingly sensual while being blessedly tasteful I am so glad to know this! Tasteful is important... yet I wanted their passion to come through. All great loves stories should be those things. Thank you. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Loved all of the concern of Elrond's. It's interesting to see him in a position of not knowing what to do and watching him handle it - even if he handles it badly. Loved Glorfindel's surprise at discovering the news and the bet at the end. The sensing of the new llife/lives was beautiful to read. Very well done! Author Reply: Thanks, Ellie, I'm glad you liked it! | |
| Mandy | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Once again, Nilmandra has surprised me. I never thought to be interested in the First or Second Ages, nor the courtship of Elrond and Celebrian (I'm more of a Legolas/Aragorn fan), but knowing how her writing has pulled me in before, I thought I'd give it a shot. This is a wonderful little story. In the film, Celeborn came across as rather one-dimensional; it's nice to see him portrayed as a real person. And to think that at one time Elrond was actually happy. Now, if she could only finish "History Lessons: Third Age," I'd have a new reason to logon. Thanks for this one, and all the others I've read and not reviewed. I especially liked the side plot with Elrohir and Arwen. Author Reply: Now, if she could only finish "History Lessons: Third Age," I'd have a new reason to logon Ack, I got stuck, but the next chapter is half done! Thanks for the kind words. :D | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| That must be weird, to be able to feel all the goings-on of pregnancy so early. Just the thought of that poor confused little fëa, only a couple of days old and already suffering the great shock of twinning. It kind of makes me feel sorry for Elves who miscarry, though, if they can feel the fëa so early. It must be a horrible loss, and so many pregnancies miscarry so early. You'd think they'd be more on the lookout for twins, though. Twins tend to run in families, and Elrond's family has a habit of producing them. Author Reply: I admit that this really got me thinking, as if I haven't thought enough about elves before. If they choose to conceive, I wonder what part of conception they have control over. Can they pick the sex? Is the guy remote control driving a particular sperm while the female is coaxing out an egg? Or is it a little more chancey than that? And if they can control certain factors, do miscarriages really happen? Tolkien wrote that there was no 'fall' for the elves as there was for men. So does that mean their childbearing (the curse for the fall) is not as painful? Ne deaths in childbirth? No miscarriages? And if a person is a soul that has a body, which seems to be the belief Tolkien had in line with the Judeo-Christian teaching, then what exists first? Does the zygote need to merely form.. then it gets a fea? Or does it need to implant? and if so, then what happens if there are twins ... the twinning happens 4-12 days post fertilization.. so does one fea split or two exist in the same zygote until then? If yes, then it implies someone (Eru?) knows that twins are meant to exist and the 'twinning' is under control, not chance. Or perhaps its some predetestined thing. Twins seem very uncommon in elves.. the only twins are in the Line of Feanor and the twins of Luthien's descendents. Tolkien made it seem like a big deal, I think even wrote some theories about the strenght of spirit of the fea or one fea needing two distinct bodies to fulfill some purpose. As for them not thinking about the twins ... those twins did exist but over 3000 years ago! Elwing's brothers were lost/died so young and Elros didn't have twins. Out of sight, out of mind! The whole thing was fascinating and I really had to remind myself that no one but me cared and answering all these questions was not needed for the story. The story was supposed to end with the begetting... until I realized I had to know at least a little of when they knew there were twins ... and well, you see how my mind works. I have enough education to be dangerous. I'll shut up now. | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Poor Elrond, then Poor Celebrian, and then even Poor Glorfindel. It was all very entertaining to read though! :-) Author Reply: Angst snuck in there unexpected.. but, on the other hand, they had a lot of un with the pre-begetting and actual begetting, so that sort of makes up for it :D | |
| dkp Alaska | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Thank you for another wonderful story, Nilmandra! I have been enjoying all of your writing that I've worked through so far (mostly the History Lessons series), but this one struck a special chord. I love how you portray Elrond and Celebrian's marriage as so full of love and passion. And, my husband and mine's anniversary is at the end of December, so I had plenty of personal joy in this, too. :) This is a marvelous testimony to the joy that can exist in married life - thanks for giving it voice for us! Author Reply: Thank you for your kinds words.. and definitely you need to claim this story too! I am not married and children are no longer a possibility, but this to me is the fantasy or ideal of what marriage and parenthood should be like. I am glad you enjoyed it. | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Just wanted you to know I loved this story.Sorry I didnt review the rest of the chapters. Have a Merry Xmas! Author Reply: Thank you and Merry Christmas to you too! | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| I really liked Celebrían's conviction that *this* was the right time to conceive an elfling (or two). I also liked Elrond's uncertainty when he couldn't connect with the embryo - because we know it works out in the end! As you may have noticed, I rather like the twins. I just hope that if you ever write their birth, it's a little less traumatic than when I wrote it! Jay Author Reply: This was the most fun to write, I admit. I enjoyed it. I have written the birth (I think I posted part of it in my LJ around Father's Day).. it will be in HLIII at the right time. And yes, less traumatic, definitely! | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| I was reading the beautiful account of Elladan and Elrohir's conception and thinking what a great gift that would be - for conception to always be a conscious and purposeful act, and for the parents to be aware of the new life from the moment of its conception. But then I decided that what works for Elves, probably wouldn't work for humans. We need accidents and even mistakes, because discovering their meaning and rising above them is part of who we are. But your account of the twins' conception made me regret the callousness and ambivalence with which humnans often regard procreation. Author Reply: Everything you said is so true... yet I think if we had this level of control, we would also miss out on some wonderful gifts in life. I have four siblings... and neither of the girls were planned (and I wasn't really 'wanted' - third kid in three years was too much). I am glad abortions were not easily obtained, as I would perhaps not be here. We beget callously and thoughtlessly and dispose of any who are inconvenient. :( | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Celebrían can’t keep anything from Elrond, can’t she? It’s intriguing how well he knew what she wanted. Maybe he could feel it because he is a healer? Or is that something every married elf knows? It must have been very worrying for them not to be able to connect with their child at first. What a luck Celebrían’s parents came! Of course, they are among the few who knew the other twin parents. I loved the part with Celebrían and Glorfindel at breakfast and Elrond’s question about misbehaving! And of course the bets at the end! (Interesting way to bring the younger elves to learn of the history of Doriath and Sirion – especially as Erestor didn’t truly look for this information *grin*) Thank you for a wonderful story! Author Reply: I think he new the state of her body because of his healing skills and what she was thinking because of his bond with her as mate. At least, that was my thinking. IT sure was fun though, to have him know she is up to something and come prepared to play. I also liked advancing their relationsihp to this kind of playfullness. They know each other well and still enjoy the physical/mental components of their bond. | |