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| The Dwellings of the Dead by Nilmandra | 23 Review(s) |
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| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/23/2006 |
| Okay, maybe I should not have read this chapter at 4 am, in the dark... *warily peers over the edge of the bed, then decides to scoot toward the middle* This story is really creepy, Nilmandra! I love how you set up the atmosphere so clearly that the reader can't help but shiver with an overwhelming sense of foreboding. I was especially intrigued by how you showed Elrohir's gift of healing, and the extraordinary compassion he showed for the dying villager... especially since he was at the same time uneasy about his own safety. (I wrote a drabble with a similar theme, portraying one of the twins helping an Eorling to die peacefully after the Battle of the Field of Celebrant -- only it was from the dying man's POV, so he didn't know who this Elf was, only that he felt comforted by his presence, though they didn't even speak the same language.) And I always enjoy it when authors weave obscure bits of canon into their stories: the Dúnedain of Cardolan perishing in the Great Plague (which always reminds me of the bubonic plague or the 1918 flu pandemics), the Barrow-downs being the tombs of ancient kings, the Old Forest and its confoundingly mobile and communicative trees... I am always thankful that Tolkien left us with so much material to mine and then elaborate upon... And you do it so well! ;-) I really expected the beech tree to be unfriendly, not protective -- the Old Forest doesn't have a sterling reputation -- but it was a (fleeting) pleasure to meet a being that was not evil in that oppressive environment. The evil spirit was frighteningly real and threatening... but the entry of Glorfindel aglow was such a refreshing way to scare the spirit away! Okay, now I'm shivering for a different reason... *goes all dreamy-eyed at the thought of a gorgeous blond hunk of an Elf* *Ahem* Where were we? Oh, right, I was just about to tell you that I can't wait to find out more about what this spirit is... Very nice work, Nilmandra! And please update soon... - Barbara Author Reply: The passage that this story is based upon is just a sentence or two long, but frightening indeed. And the beech may have had less than noble intentions, but perhaps it remembered that Elves awakened them once, and saw a contrast in good and evil. Hard to know. I shouldn't admit that I don't always know they why.. i just write what I 'see'. LOL, glad Glorfindel got you shivering. He does that for me too. :D | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/23/2006 |
| Ah, the end of another unpleasant day for Elrohir. Where would we be without those unpleasant days? It can't be an easy thing for him to walk among plague victims, even though he's probably immune to the disease. The germs might not get him, but the survivor's guilt might. He strikes me as very young here, and it's a good thing he has Glorfindel around to steady him. Especially with an evil ghost coming after his body. Author Reply: My version of Elrohir is a little more senstive to the spirit too - which might have made him more susceptible to the spirit world as well. We'll see what Elrond says. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/23/2006 |
| Oh ... wow. This was wonderful, Nilmandra. The spirit is so evil and malevolent, and the way it's targetting Elrohir is terrifying. Does it want him because he's an elf, or because of *who* he is? The descriptions of the plague village and the forest are very atmospheric, but the spirit ... *shivers*. I'm glad that Elrohir retained his wit and sense and was able to fight back against the spirit on his own, but I'm very glad that Glorfindel turned up when he did! Jay Author Reply: I was glad Glorfindel showed up when he did too. Elrohir might think he could have fought off the spirit, but the whole atmosphere has to be wearing heavily upon him. It is definitely a place where he should not be alone. | |
| Gwynhyffar | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/23/2006 |
| Wow, that was amazing, Nilmandra. Glorfindel in all his glory, and I could feel Elrohir's concern in the village as well as his fear in the forest. I really enjoyed this and will definitely read it again and again. Author Reply: Glorfindel in his glory is a very nice visual image, isn't it? But what a time.. this whole period of the age is so dark and heavy. Now Glorfindel is telling me a thing or too. | |
| Peredhil lover | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2006 |
| Your writing is wonderful and I enjoyed this chapter very much. You paint a wonderfully eerie and suspenseful picture with your words and I was drawn right into the story. Elrohir is one of my favourites and I love your depiction of Glorfindel. This is an excellent beginning and I am looking forward to seeing where this will lead. peredhil lover Author Reply: I am glad you enjoyed it. I can't help but wonder if the mixed blood of these peredhil was not an interesting draw to spirits of evil. Tolkien certainly gave us some dark things to explore, that is for sure. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2006 |
| Oh my! That is splendid. And eerie and horrific - and Glorfindel! Well ... That is one powerful and glorious elf. I expect Elrohir can even accept being called elfling by one who makes him feel safe after such an experience. A tireless enemy - one that can wait for the slightest chink in your defences and then steal more than your life - it can't be much worse than that. And then, that on top of finding everyone you are seeking to help dead of a disease that is gruesome and agonising. It's no wonder that Elrohir is weary and perhaps more vulnerable than he might be. I hope Elladan isn't encountering this wherever he is! Erestor is a strong and wily elf, but he doesn't pack quite the same Calaquendi, twice-born power of the Golden One. And, as a bonus, it's only part 1! There's more to look forward to! Wonderful stuff. Author Reply: I had to play on the elfling thing - its a term of affection that is used by Glorfindel to Elrohir until after the incident with Celebrian (in my stories). But in this case, Elrohir must have felt like a child again.. or perhaps wished for the innocence of childhood again, at least. And you're right - Elrohir is vulnerable. Expending his energy to the spirit made him more susceptible to a spiritual attack. Glorfindel, I think, will understand that, even if Elrohir at first does not. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2006 |
| Oh, my! Holy moly, Nilmandra. You captured the essence of fear. I've always thought the scariest stories are the ones that are subtle--no chainsaws, or stupid skimpily-dressed co-eds flouncing down to the basement to see what the noise was only to find the guy with the knife. That kind of scary story is easy. It's all visual, like slap-stick comedy. To write a really good scary tale, you have to be able to tap into silent fears, the ones we worry about or sense, like if you leave your foot out from under the covers a hand will reach up from beneath the bed and grab it. The scary part isn't the hand--even if it does show up; it's what goes on in the person's head. The experience from the character's POV is what grabs us. A unseen foe is always frightening because you can't fight it on normal terms. Boy, did you get Elrohir by the throat and make him fight! You set the scene beautifully with the 'dead' village, the dying man, and the malevolent spirit. I loved it when Elrohir recognized that the spirit was an elf. What a shock. Not only did he have to ward off the spirit, but he also had to face the truth of evil's corruption of one of his kind. That must have made him feel even more vulnerable as it tried to find a clink in his armor. And it wanted his body! (Get in line, bad spirit!) Glow-in-the-dark Glorfindel is outstanding. I mean...outstanding. I can't wait to find out what or who Glorfindel thinks this 'thing' is. Thank you so much. Really good spook tale! Karen Author Reply: I am glad you liked it - a good ghost story for your birthday. I was pleased that Tolkien gave us such dark fodder to choose from. Now we'll see where it goes. Glorfindel is patiently waiting for me to listen to his tale. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2006 |
| Oh, this is spooky/scary, but very good. :) I can't imagine how horrible it would be to walk into a village like that and look for the dead and dying. For a moment I thought that Elrohir was going to have to ease the old man's passing by using his knife, not by releasing his spirit... that was a wonderful way to go after that long, lingering time he'd lain there in pain. That evil elf spirit is... well, evil! :) Elrohir is fortunate that he's been well-trained by Elrond AND that Glorfindel is there. Did I ever tell you that Glorfindel is my favorite elf? Well, he has moved back up to the top spot after that little 'adventure' I wrote about. :) I so love the way that you write him. Looking forward to the next chapter. Author Reply: I knew I wanted to write a 'ghost' story for Karen, and as I skimmed through the Tale of Years and Appendix A, I was amazed to see all the evil stuff that happened in the Third Age.. there is something for anyone and everyone! And this is why I like elves... they were there through all of it.. and Elrond's house was involved through history. Glad you liked Glorfindel.. he is such a joy to have around. :D | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2006 |
| Elrohir and Glorfindel??? Oh Yummy! I can't wait to read this! Author Reply: I hope you like. I've been out of the loop, but I saw you were writing a scary story - I need to check it out! | |
| vampfan30 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/22/2006 |
| very interesting beginning........... Author Reply: Thanks..hopefully it will continue. :D | |