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| A Fire Long Kindled by Nilmandra | 57 Review(s) |
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| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/16/2005 |
| So. Wow. Go Elrond! No wonder you want to be Celebrían. Ok, with great difficulty I’ll drag myself back to the beginning of the chapter… :-) I really like the fact that Celebrían doesn’t start this day with any hint of nerves. She’s excited but there’s also almost a serenity to her as she finally becomes what she has longed for. Of course, she had the best of the best organising her wedding! The dress sounds beautiful. I laughed when I read the bit about it having very few clasps, having an inkling of what was to come later!! I’m always fascinated to see Galadriel as a mother. There’s actually something very special about her relationship with Celebrían, even though it’s completely different to the magic between Celebrían and Celeborn. I love what she says about Elrond, and the insight she gives her daughter. It’s a nice glimpse into what Galadriel feels for Elrond too that she knows that the thing he needs most is to be loved. It also shows the respect Celebrían has for her mother as well as Elrond that she is willing to listen to this, rather than just expect Elrond to be told to look after her. I’m trying to imagine the conversation between Finrod and Celeborn! For all that she speaks so casually about that now, I’d love to know what Galadriel made of his words at the time. And for whose sake Finrod said it… Of course, I highly doubt Celeborn disagreed with his words, but like Galadriel says, it must have been a bit of a shock! I thought the little hints about Celeborn and Galadriel’s relationship was a great touch. As well as being intriguing, it proves that no matter how much love is there, everyone needs to work at a relationship, that there’s give and take, good times and bad – and yet the love will endure and grow stronger over the years. Er, centuries. Actually, it’s a nice foreshadowing of the trouble between Elrond and Celebrían in HL2. I nearly melted at the image of Celebrían twirling under her father’s hand! Celeborn is doing quite well, actually, for the father of the bride. But I suppose it helps that he and Galadriel are so fond of Elrond too. I’m afraid I had great difficulty in giving poor Círdan my attention after reading about the “resplendent Lord of Imladris”… I thought it was one of the funniest moments of the whole chapter, though, when Celebrían actually whimpers when he steps between her and Elrond :-D There’s something very sweet about both Círdan and Celeborn trying to mind Celebrían’s outfit. I do love your happy!Círdan. I’m almost as glad to see him experience such joy as I am for Elrond. He’s obviously waited a long time for this day. And his gift is very generous and fitting. It has so much meaning for Elrond and represents so much history. I think Círdan really likes Celebrían too! Perhaps because she has such a childlike spirit. LOL at her touching the beard! I thought you did a great job with the wedding, creating a sense of the day and of the atmosphere rather than telling us everything in detail - we share Elrond and Celebrían’s experience of knowing the joy and beauty and celebration happening around them but being too distracted to give anything their full attention. One of the most beautiful images is of the little circle of family against the setting sun as the vows are exchanged and blessings spoken. I love the idea of a very intimate moment in the midst of the celebrations for those who care so much about each other. How lovely of Galadriel and Erestor to do up the rooms for them. I think if I needed something done efficiently around the house, it’s these two I’d want! You know what I love most about the whole love-making scene? How Elrond seems to know exactly what to do. This is new for both of them, but he seems to instinctively know what will tease her and give her pleasure and I just love seeing him so unselfconsciously take control. Equally, it was fun to see her explorations. I don’t blame her for fainting. I nearly did just reading it. I laughed when Elrond answered her private musings! He can be very wicked sometimes. But I like the little reminders that for them, this is more than just about joining of the body. I’m sure there’s probably something more intelligent I could be saying if I could just get past how hot this is! Wow! You say you’ve never written anything like this before? Hmm. Well, thank you for letting us share And it seems Celebrían has learned something by the next morning. Oh yeah, she’s going to be good at de-stressing her husband. I love seeing these two so playful and happy. And I can just imagine the knowing grins everyone else was wearing when they turned up for lunch! Right, onwards… Something tells me there could be children in their future… :-) Author Reply: So. Wow. Go Elrond! No wonder you want to be Celebrían That obvious, huh? LOL, I do love them together. I love Elrond happy like this. I enjoyed writing the mother-daughter scene. I have wondered what kind of mother Galadriel was, and its hard for me to imagine her as a bad mother. She has grown wise and seen much. Also, her relationship with her daughter is one of those things that makes her just like everyone else. She is not this Queenly figure, this super powerful elf, the object of wrath and desire by various males who either hate her or fall in love with her -she is just Galadriel, Celebrian's mother. I did have to think about the concept of the wedding and how uptight everyone might be. I didn't want it to be too modern in that sense, of how we make weddings into these affairs where quite often we forget what really is important. Brides so worried about the table decorations are not thinking about their husband to be. I like it when the wedding is a stepping stone to a big life change and that is the focus - its the two becoming one that is important. I thought you did a great job with the wedding, creating a sense of the day and of the atmosphere rather than telling us everything in detail Cool... if she had noticed every detail, then Elrond faded behind those details and I wanted him to fill her thoughts. And if you thought it was romantic and a little erotic, I am pleased! I hope you meet and marry someone who becomes your Elrond and fills your thoughts and desires. Marriage should be wonderful - work, and filled with trying times and so on.. but the actual committment between husband and wife is something sacred. I love that they were virgins, that the two becoming one was a joinng of not just bodies, but minds and souls. As it should be, I think. My fantasy encompasses all of that, I admit! I was well pleased at the end of this. Thanks as always for your wonderful reviews. :>) | |
| Ariel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/16/2005 |
| Being as I am a sucker for a good romance, I had to read this. I may not be an elfy type but this is sweetly done and not too esoteric for those of the hobbit persuasion to understand. I am looking forward to the rest of it. Author Reply: Thanks, Ariel, I hope you enjoy it. Its a change for me, but a good love story hopefully transcends a lot of boundaries. | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/15/2005 |
| Oh my, that was good! Such a sweet, romantic story... Work has delayed all holiday fun these two weeks. ;( I did not like having to wait til today to read even the first chapter. But then, I got to read it all in one sitting. *mmmm-boy* 'twas Very Enjoyable for not having to suspend the pleasure by the necessity of waiting for the next chapter to be posted. ;) Anticipation is over-rated sometimes. Poor Elrond and Celebrian getting such a late start. Thank goodness for a valiant friend to propel him forward. Celebrian has a lot more patience than I would have in her place! But then, she is a lady. Weddings and wedding nights are meant to be special! Big, beautiful, and bountiful! Drinking and dancing! Shivaree! woops, not elves, I guess. It was really lovely how their House was home to not only an extended family, but a close community. An ideal setting for raising a family. The ideas about conception and souls were very interesting - and harrowing. I felt so sorry for both nervous parents and so pleased when the older more experienced parents calmed their qualms. Just one of many *appreciated* realistic touches. I certainly hope you do more of these side-stories from HL. I just love this sort of tasteful historical romance. No ripped bodices necessary. Thanks for sharing this! Author Reply: LOL, glad you liked it. My beta told me I couldn't post it all at once, it was too long... so you'll have to tell daw about anticipation :D. No ripped bodices necessary. That is always the fear, that romance/love scenes become just another bodice ripper, which is not what I wanted, but certainly what I feared. I hope it did come through as a love story. Thank you for your kind words. :) | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/15/2005 |
| This should come with a " Do not read at work" warning, NIlmandra! I was reading it early this morning while waiting for the printer to spit out my last reports and I feared it would go in flmaes! It's good to see that you're enjoying yourself.. and sharing with the rest of us. I bet the twins never received this piece of History LEsson... and it was good to read about a lighthearted...Elrond. GLorfindel was superb in his preparations, a hundred-years' old permission to marry the lady! It was very fun and wonderfully hot... surely the snow melted around your home! I apologize for being so late in reviewing this, yet it was a very welcome surprise! Author Reply: This should come with a " Do not read at work" warning, NIlmandra! LOLOL... we don't want Beliond to ask why you are fanning yourself :D. No, the twins never learned this in their History Lessons, and Elrond is so weary by the end of the story that he remembers her love, but not so much the passion. What better reason to write from Celebrian's POV? I love her version of events! | |
| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/15/2005 |
| Ah, Nilmandra, this is just delightful! As far as I'm concerned, you write the definitive Elrond and Celebrían, and this story just increases the pleasure.... Thank you for sharing it with us! - Barbara Author Reply: Thanks Barbara - I am glad you liked it. I enjoyed writing them during this time of peace, happy and contented. :>) | |
| Hotaru9 | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 12/14/2005 |
| Twins!!! Yay!! And now the family has been extended. I love the portrayal of Glorfindel. He is such a guardian for the family. Yet I'm sure he has to put up with little bits of stress here and there. Again, the chapter was just as nice as the last two. Now I get to look forward to History Lessons:3rd Age. ^_^ Author Reply: LOL, the begetting was fun to write. I liked them playful like this while making a decision of great joy. Yes,now back to HLIII and angst :/ I have to write Elrond happy to deal with all the sorrow of that story. | |
| 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! | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/14/2005 |
| THis is great! I've never seen you write something this steamy before. Well done! Author Reply: Oh, I'm glad you think so. The bonding of the elves was more than physical, it was also of the mind and spirit, which seemd to me an intense thing. The joy they must have felt in marrying for love and for all time... if its the right person, it must be wonderful. Thank you. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/14/2005 |
| This is beautifully done. The forbidden sensuality is nicely combined with the presence of the chaperones. Loved the comment about "old elves". Very nice. Author Reply: Thanks, Ellie... I like this group of elves 'managing' Elrond so well. And Celebrian deserves sainthood for her patience! | |