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| Happily Ever After by Nilmandra | 81 Review(s) |
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| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| Just beautiful, Nilmandra, and terribly sad. Losing Aragorn was hard enough, but for Gondor and Arwen's family to witness her grief, then stand aside as she left, must have been almost too much to bear. Celeborn, Glorfindel, and her brothers had the hardest job. It was like sitting watch at a love one's deathbed. I felt their despair and the hollowness of the finality with them. Each reacted in their own way. For a few minutes there I wondered if Elladan would decide to stay. I reread the last few lines several time to reassure myself I had read correctly. I felt relieved, but I also felt bad for both twins. The struggle doesn't appear to be over, but together and with the help of friends and relatives, there's hope they'll find peace. Absolutely wonderful chapter. I look forward to more...though I don't know whether to be happy you made me cry or be mad at you that you ate my heart out first thing this morning. Author Reply: I would say I'm sorry for making you cry, but I'd be lying. :D These concepts are so moving and so deep, that I am looking forward to making a story about them. And the poor peredhil, nothing was easy for them. | |
| Elfinabottle | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| I already reviewed this on fanfiction.net but I had to tell you again how much I love this story. I always pictured Elladan and Elrohir staying with Arwen to the end. How torn they must be...to lose both their sister and their brother to mortality. What a horrible decision lies before them; I'm sure they never ever wanted to cause their parents pain and yet how could they not follow their hearts? And to leave each other if they make different choices...heartbreaking is the only word to describe it. I take some comfort from the title of your story. I truly hope all involved DO live happily ever after. Author Reply: It struck me as I considered the dual natures of the peredhil that restlessness and discontent was their fate. A part of them is tied to the earth - to their people and the land - and another part of them is always seeking beyond the circles of the world. What a fate! And to have to choose? It is one thing to choose between options where one seems wholly better than the other, but what if both choices seem good? | |
| Naledi | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| This is beautiful, but heartbreaking. I'm glad that Glorfindel and Celeborn were there, not just for Arwen, but also for the twins. Watching their sister struggle to accept her fate must have been wrenching and now I hope that they can find peace and happiness themselves in Aman. I can't bear the thought of Elrond and Celebrian being without all of their children. My heart was in my mouth at the end of the chapter - for a horrible moment I thought they were going to leave Elladan behind. Author Reply: Poor Elladan. I think he is in great turmoil. But I admit, it is for Elrond and Celebrian that my heart was really breaking. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2008 |
| Really a great piece of work. You really feel for them all as they wait for Arwen's passing. And Elrohir and his sea longing but tinged with something else which makes me curious. Elladan there seems almost a distantce between him and Elrohir. A nice piecw, can't wait to hear more. Author Reply: Thank you. There is indeed something between the twins, and I admit I was surprised when I discovered what it was. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2008 |
| Arwen's death was very moving,sad,yet hopeful. Author Reply: I always imagine Estel waiting for her, like Beren did Luthien. But oh, such pain for those who are tied to the earth... or those who must make their own choice! | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2008 |
| This was heartwrenching in so many ways, Nilmandra. You really brought out how painful and confusing the depature of Arwen must have been to the people of Gondor, still reeling from Elessar's death. I can't even imagine how hard it must have been for Eldarion and his sisters to see her go. But this story made me think about how Arwen's children, being mortal, would have always known their parents would die someday, while Celeborn and Glorfindel and her brothers would have found her passing to be much harder to come to terms with. And Arwen herself, as you illustrated so beautifully, had to be ready. What really got me, though, was the painful choice that Elladan and Elrohir had to make. Author Reply: Plus the elves don't know what happens beyond the circles of the world - Men - good Men, anyway - had a knowledge that death was a gift and there was more for them beyond, and that they would be together there. So there is a hope of eternal reunion. Not only do the elves not understand this, they know that they are sundered from mortals. So the waiting had to be hellish - they don't want her to go because it is the end of their relationship with her, either forever or until the end of time. Yet her staying as she was was tearing them apart, and her as well. All of that made me wonder - if an elf is by nature content within the bounds of the world and a man is by nature always seeking beyond the confines of the world, what would someone with both natures be like? What would they want - would they always be torn in two? | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2008 |
| I am really having a hard time putting into words how wonderful this chapter was, I have tears in my eyes, all the drama between them all was so well written I could almost feel their pain, you are masterful with your words and I loved it. Hugs Deb Author Reply: Thanks, Deb. I have been really thinking about the dual natures of the peredhil - not to mention throwing in the blood of the Ainur - and I am feeling very inspired to write aobut how 'happily ever after' may take a little work and time. Thanks for reading! | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2008 |
| I expected Arwen's end to be sad. I was prepared for that. Even for the sadness of her guardians, but not prepared for their troubles. Maybe they were not either. Feelings get put off or set aside, waiting upon events to demand decisions. Then is when we face the pain. Well at least, they are on the boat now... "... Elladan’s face was resolute as he stepped aboard the ship. Elrohir followed more slowly, and to Celeborn’s eye, he had grown more translucent. Elladan glanced at Elrohir with unguarded heart, and Celeborn read the depth of the love he bore for his twin, but also the depth of some greater sorrow." I have hope for Elrohir. The mellyrn, which had been preserved by Nenya's powers, revived with time and the proximity of grace. Hopefully, when they reach Aman, Elrohir will revive, too. But I worry for Elladan. Has he traded the sorrow of being seperated from his brother just to be burdened with another? The sea-longing can be devastating. What if he finds on reaching Eldamar, he longs to return? Can we count on him being healed of that? Is that what he is counting on? The peredhil's differences and similarities to their progenitors are fascinating. The gift of deciding to which people they will belong is as bittersweet as the gift of mortality itself. Are they blessed or would they have been better off without the choice? Beautiful beginning... although, very sad... although, I am happy this was told from Celeborn's pov ;) ... Looking forward to more. Author Reply: You know, you hit on the key thing that I think had been missing when I previously worked on this (it was for HLIII but I never used it). The peredhil troubles would not simply end when Arwen departed - and then I saw this flash and new that for the twins, this may simply have opened the door to greater troubles. Elladan is a bit of an enigma in all this - and I think his parents and those who love him will discover that! I'm glad you like Celeborn's POV. I am sure I didn't do him justice, but the emphasis will be the twins as seen through Elrond and Celeborn's eyes. Thank you for reading. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2008 |
| This is so beautifully sad. It must have been so hard for those that loved Arwen to watch her fade - but I'm glad she wasn't alone at the end. I've always felt that her brothers were there somewhere, watching and waiting. And someone had to make her grave. I'm very glad you've returned to the theme of what would happen after Vilya was destroyed - but I didn't expect it to have an effect on Elrohir so long after the event. He seems much more fragile here than Elladan - and Elladan seems to be hiding his feelings behind a mask. I'm glad there's more to come - and I'd love to know what was said between the twins in that final conversation. **Reads last two paragraphs again** They have both sailed, right??? Author Reply: They both got on the ship :>) But there is more to come and other conversations to be had. I hope this works out as well in practice as it does upon my head! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/7/2008 |
| I found this very sad. The grief of the four watchers must have been great, especially knowing that the best thing would be a quicker death. But of course, she had to be ready, had to need Aragorn more than she needed life. You were quite scary with the twins. I can't imagine Celeborn having to leave one or both of them behind. Author Reply: I like that way of saying it - Arwen did need to determine what was the greater need. I really didn't envy Celeborn or Glorfindel - they had their own grief, but also that of the twins to deal with. | |