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| Sad But True by Ecthelion of the fountain | 17 Review(s) |
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| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/5/2007 |
| For so long he feared the unevitable, losing her to another, knowing she would marry one day, but still his heart was bound to hers. I wonder what he would rather have wanted: her throwing ice bergs at her or piercing his heart so cruelly. His reaction to Maeglin: "you should not have existed", it leave syou wondering what indeed he could have stayed her and ride home directly once he knew she was on his lands. Since I know HOME quite well and what you are referring too (although much more about Celegorm can be found in other parts of HOME), in the way you wrote Curufin so far, his reaction later on to Eöl makes a lot of sense. One sidenote, this chapter needs the touch of a beta, I noticed several points where an esl writer-mistakes pop up (being one myself makes it a lot easier to find them, it's word order, punctuation and such), so please don't feel rushed to unlock chapters in a rapid succession (although reading this story is such a treat!). This being said, if you want someone to go over it, let me know. Author Reply: Oh Rhapsody, I would be more than happy to know about those grammatical mistakes! Sometimes it is simply impossible for myself to catch them...any beta reading would be most appreciated! I could not fully explain why Aredhel went to find him. Most likely it was a mixture of feelings. Somehow I'm convinced that she did have some affection towards him, but something in him made her always keep her distance. She was conflicted too. Yikes. It's really painful to see people misunderstand and misbehave - all the trouble seems to rise there, and all they have to say is: this is what I truly want, what does it take for you to feel comfortable to grant it to me? (I just realized his courtship words were "I don't mind giving you another [oath]"... what a pity, *stunned*) | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/5/2007 |
| Oh my goodness, this was a good read. The dream was just so beautifully written, the meaning of the swan was so well woven into it: I immediately knew what it meant for him and why she didn't understood it. But of the end, the sundering and him feeling how Eöl claimed her (well that's my interpretation, the sudden darkness, a shield as if he was experiencing the darkness of Nan Elmoth), that was so devastating and I can only imagine, in this story what impact it will have on him and how this will determine the course of his action. I do have to admit that I would love to see the sword fight between Caranthir and Celegorm fully written, but the dialogue, observations, the conversations of the brothers: fantastic! Author Reply: The dream was the best way I could come up with at the time of writing to express some ambiguity. - Did Aredhel love him? Did she not? Why would she come? Why would she go? Not only Celegorm could not work out, - even if he could have been wiser, - but also Aredhel herself. When forced to face a feeling she might not fully understand, her choice was a simple 'no'. Just like when he was rejected he would not beg her to change her mind. These two were compatible in many ways, but they were the same stubborn and proud, and thus neither of them would step forward to explore the possibilities. - Or, she finally did try, but he misinterpreted it based on what he had known about her before. *sigh* | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 5/4/2007 |
| Even though my interpretation of Maglor's character and actions is completely different from mine (but that makes reading Tolkien fan fic so much fun, to read the takes of others on it), I really like how you weave in the questions asked by Lúthien in the first chapter into this one as well. The dynamics between the brothers, their reasoning on why they did not act, but oh, what really took my breath away was reading this: Under the first-rising young sun he stood in front of the camp of the House of Fëanor near the Lake of Mithrim, gazing at the banner of blue and silver flying afar in the golden sunlight, and suddenly realized that the most difficult part for him was not facing the rage of their father's half brother. This is a stunning and evocative piece of narrative, besides the gems of (inner) dialogue. The way you pace the telling of the events during the first battles, the death of Fëanor, the oath taking again ect ect: it reads very natural. Personally I wonder what will happen, in your words and view, if Maedhros and Celegorm really have an argument. I'd probably buy first row tickets for that. Author Reply: In this story I weakened Maglor, because it is Celegorm's POV. Somehow I got the feeling that Celegorm, Caranthir, and Curufin were never truly willing to listen to their elder brothers' commands, especially Maglor. But as Tolkien wrote in Narn i Hin Hurin, many a man of arms misreads patience and quiet. Maglor, in my mind, is actually a typical Noldo. Unbending, proud, although artistic, but no less strong-willed than his brothers. He did not choose to die but continue to stay as a singer, which fulfilled his father's words - 'and this doom I add: the deeds that we shall do shall be the matter of song until the last days of Arda.' Singers do not die; and singers do not allow themselves to die. Maglor, the last of the sons of Feanor, chose a path harder than death: to live; for he bore the responsibility of reflecting and recollecting. How many songs and lays in Middle-earth were probably from him? Do we really know? | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/4/2007 |
| I will admit it straight away, while reading this chapter I was so curious how you would use the statement of Tolkien that to none of the Fëanorians, Aredhel's heart was given. Given chapter one, I was more than curious how this would be explored. I really like the way how you applied this by means of a dream. I laughed at their first meeting, it felt so typical Aredhel to me: two strong minds, both loving their freedom so much. But the end, of that was so perfect: the way how Celegorm and Maedhros exchange a glance, Celegorm's thoughts: My brother, don't try to fool me or even yourself. Your so-called friendship only triggered your weak words; in fact you have never tried to change anything. Words or action. In this sense, you are no better than me. I am looking forward to chapter three, this is such an excellent story! | |
| Rhapsody | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/4/2007 |
| Oh yes, this is just as I hoped: excellent written thoughts & the character Celegorm. I have been writing him for some years now and he's a fascinating character to write & explore, still I sometimes dive into parts of him that surprise me. In this opening chapter you do not hold back, nor make up excuses for him how he came to be, yet you offer the reader shards of 'human' motivations of why he has come so far, even though after so many years, the Oath has formed him into something he might never have considered himself to become. Since when has betrayal turned into something so ordinary? Since when has killing ceased to be so disgusting? Since when has even biting the hand that feeds become something acceptable, actually quite natural? Simply superb! It makes sense in his train of thoughts and it sometimes makes it so hard to explain to people who smack a label of evil on the Fëanorians. Oh and this bit: If Finrod wanted to die for his own stupid oath, let him be, - but not for the Silmarils, their Silmarils. The Silmarils they vowed to take back at a stake of Everlasting Dark. The Silmarils they would never allow others to take, have or keep. Finrod knew this. When they took their oath, was he not present? - But he still made such an unbelievable decision. If the sons of Fëanor could allow this to happen, would there be anything else on Arda that could not be allowed? Spot on! I recently had the pleasure of exploriing how Curufin considers this, so yes great writing. Now quickly onto chapter two! And thanks for re-publishing this story again! Author Reply: You know what? Now after so much about Celegorm, I'm kind of inclined to learn more about Curufin's path too. If Celegorm had fallen so low, I'm pretty sure that Curufin would not have been any better. And again, - why? how? The ultimate motivation of fanfic writers like us. :) | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/4/2007 |
| I admit, I also found that line "to none was her heart's love given" rather interesting; it implies that one, possibly more of them, expected her heart's love, and no one was unduly shocked by this. But what you've done with her here is great -- very much in character, both the willfulness and the compelling attractiveness. Poor Celegorm, perpetually pwned by all the women he loves. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/3/2007 |
| This is definitely interesting. Lúthien is certainly more than a match for Celegorm; he just hasn't figured that out yet. He strikes me as someone who has never had any trouble getting what he wants, and he can't fathom the possibility that he might not get Lúthien. She, of course, knows exactly how to hit him where it hurts. Author Reply: Thank you, French Pony. Yeah, I intended to frame Luthien this way - sharp, calm, independent, strong-willed, and compassionate. For Celegorm, his problem (in my story) had always been that he deemed compassion a weakness and an insult. | |