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| Letting Go by daw the minstrel | 22 Review(s) |
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| erunyauve | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
| >>"How frightening it is to watch one's child make an irrevocable decision." I think it's much harder for the parents than the betrothed couple - they're elves, so they know they've chosen rightly. >>All a father could do was trust in the goodness of the Valar and let his child go. ::sniff:: I still haven't forgiven you for killing Sinnarn, you know. Author Reply: I still haven't forgiven you for killing Sinnarn, you know You and everyone else it seems. I have to admit I was surprised by the strength of the reaction I got to that death. I'd always thought of Sinnarn as a minor character. But I think everyone felt bad for his family. Ah well. Bodkin wrote a story re-embodying him in Valinor. Have you seen it? It's called "In the West." | |
| pereleth | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
| How sweet, daw! I really liked Annael and he grew up such a wonderful elf! his memories of his own bethrotal were so beautiful! It was great fun, though, seeing him sweat as he has to engage in mall talk with Ithilden... After all, teh age gap between Sinnarn and LEgolas and Annael is nothing, less if compared with that between Ithilden and Annael.. :-) The flashbacks fitted perfectly, and went very smoothly in Sinnarn´s line of tought, I liked that. (Above all, Ithilden kickig asses so artfully! Go Ithilden! :-) Author Reply: Thanks, Perelleth. I'm very fond of Annael. He seems so normal to me, and yet how rare that normality is. I had fun fiddling to fit the flashbacks in. And yes, kickass!Ithilden is the best. Dot pointed that out to me too. | |
| Noor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
Oh how moving. It is so good to have a happy story.....especially in the light of what happens later -bad Daw! This story really emphasises the close bond between Annael and Legolas' families. Now what about the fire jumping story with Legolas and Sinnarn??? Thanks for this little excerpt! Noor Author Reply: Thanks, Noor. Let's pretend Sinnarn and Emmelin live happily ever after in the Greenwood, shall we? Now what about the fire jumping story with Legolas and Sinnarn??? You're merciless! | |
| sofia | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
| That was sweet. I love Annael. Well at least he's going to be related to Legolas through marriage. That can't be too bad. Author Reply: I love the idea of Annael being related by marriage to the royal family. He deserves it, I think. | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
| Excellent! I loved the flashbacks... very appropriate. Author Reply: Thanks, Agape. It must have taken a while for Annael to overcome all those years of seeing Ithilden as Troop Commander or Legolas's scary older brother. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
| Oh, this is lovely. Poor Emmelin. I imagine she’s nervous enough without the realisation that she’s now part of a spectacle for what must feel like every elf in Mirkwood. The anxious parents made me smile. But Elowen is nice and calm! I bet she’s quite pleased about all this – she has always had a soft spot for Legolas’s family ;-) I love Sinnarn! He’s absolutely adorable in how focused on Emmelin he is. Ithilden spoke a little more loudly than usual. "Mae govannen, all of you." Sinnarn started and flushed. "Yes, mae govannen." LOLOL! The flashbacks are great. Oh, the mortification of running into Ithilden like that! I can only I really felt for Annael as he worries that this life will be too much for Emmelin. There’s so much to learn. It was very sweet the way Sinnarn discreetly guides her. She loved Sinnarn, and Sinnarn treasured her nearly as much as she deserved. *chokes* I love that. He’s such a father. What struck me as very amusing is how the two grandparents seem to be enjoying this the most. They’re clearly so pleased to see their grandchildren so happy and in love. Wow, the scary!Ithilden scene was impressive! There’s an elf you do not want to annoy. Especially if it’s through sheer stupidity. Could Ithilden be trying to be friendly? I howled with laughter at that! Of course he’s trying to be friendly. This is Ithilden-style small-talk. The glimpse of Annael’s and Beliniel’s relationship is quite touching too. I’m so glad for him that he’s found such happiness – I’ve always been really fond of Annael. He could barely hold himself back from wiping them away, as he had done from the day she was born, any time she hurt in body or in spirit. That privilege she was placing now in the keeping of Sinnarn, who looked down at her with wonder and hope in his face. Ok, that part brought tears to my eyes. So moving. *sob* "I do not know why you are being so stubborn, Celuwen. Dol Guldur is empty. There will never be a better time for us to have a baby." LOL! He’s persistent, that Eilian. I sense Flower-Face’s arrival in the not-too-distant future! I did feel bad for Sinnarn and Emmelin, though, who’ll never have a child in Mirkwood to debate the merits of where to raise him or her :-/ Oh, daw. I loved the part with just Annael and Ithilden in the garden. The flashback was so touching. How hard it must have been for Ithilden to send his son off into danger. And how good it was of Annael to reach out to the intimidating Troop Commander and try to reassure him. Now, of course, they’re both equals in their love for their children and anxiety about letting them go to make their own future. Ithilden reassuring Annael in turn all these years later was a lovely moment. As was Annael giving up the “my lord” business. Ithilden mirrored his relaxed posture, and together, they studied the stars. Annael could not read the future in them and doubted if Ithilden could either. All a father could do was trust in the goodness of the Valar and let his child go. That’s gorgeous. You can really sense the mixed emotions in the two of them – pride, joy, worry, reluctance and then that almost relieved realisation that they both share these feeling and the faith that their children will find happiness and a good life together. Note I’m ignoring what’s around the corner for them. I really enjoyed this, especially seeing it all from Annael’s POV. In fact, I’m going to read it again now. Author Reply: Thank you, Dot. Bodkin asked for a scene after the two had become fathers-in-law to one another's only children, but this was as close as I could come. As far as I can recall, I've only once written in Annael's POV before and that was a short scene in "The Warrior." So this one was fun. I love him and his whole family, and the idea of his child marrying Thranduil's grandson has always pleased me. Integrating flashbacks is tricky so I was practicing some techniques here. I think the scary!Ithilden one was my favorite too. No one kicks ass like Ithilden. As you know, I've always liked jumping around in time with these characters. And doing it has created some of the same effect for me that I get from fanfic. For me, pre-Quest stories are the most gripping because we know these characters' futures. We know where they're headed, what they will face, what they will gain and lose. And that adds depth. That we know Sinnarn's fate makes all his appearances poignant for me too. | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2007 |
| Another measure of the passing of time (and no easier for elves than men, it seems). Thank you - despite the happy occasion, it makes me want to weep. Author Reply: Thanks, Mistry. I find I want to weep whenever I write about Sinnarn now. | |
| Socket | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/2/2007 |
| Oh, absolutely splendid, Daw my friend! This tender story brought tears to my eyes. What a wonderfully old-fashioned portrait of marriage and a father's conflicted feelings as his child leaves his care. Thank you for this lovely story. Author Reply: Glad you liked it, Socket. Annael must have felt some dismay as he watched his daughter walk into the palace. With good reason as it turned out. Sinnarn did what he thought was his duty as the king's grandson, and it ended in tragedy. But there's always Valinor, thank Eru. | |
| Radbooks | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/2/2007 |
| Very, enjoyable read. I liked seeing it from Annael's point of view and the flashbacks were a nice touch... reminding me of how old these elves are and all that they've gone through over the years. Thanks for sharing! Author Reply: Thanks, Radbooks. I've hardly ever written in Annael's POV and it was fun to do it for Bodkin. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/2/2007 |
| Oh, thank you, daw! That is absolutely lovely. Annael is such a gorgeous character - I love him to bits ... (He'd make a perfect grandfather, too - he's so loving and gentle.) Despite his familiarity with the palace and its inhabitants, it's a bit different dedicating your daughter to take up such a visible role - and becoming a fellow father-in-law in Emmelin and Sinnarn's relationship must be a terrible culture shock. I wonder if he had time to get used to the change in their off-duty dealings before you-know-what. While seeing Eilian pleading with Celuwen to let him be an ada ... delicious. I loved Annael's excursions into memory - and he's so right. You have to love them and raise them and let them go. Take up their own path and face their own perils. (At least the Aftercomer and the Affianced aren't facing orcs and spiders and Dol Guldur.) A joy to read, daw. Thank you. Author Reply: You're very welcome, Bodkin. I love Annael. He's the product of a very good home, despite the way some cruel person killed his father off early. As I recall, Sinnarn and Emmelin were married around 9 years before you-know-what. Not very long in elf years. Another cruel person did that! I had a hard enough time letting my son go in a reasonably secure world. I can't imagine living in Mirkwood. | |