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History Lessons  by Nilmandra 19 Review(s)
LKKReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/27/2003
Beautiful, simply beautiful, Nilmandra.
I have truly enjoyed sitting beside Elladan and Elrohir at Elrond's knee as his instructed us younglings about the First Age. I hope we will have the chance to sit at his knee to learn more about the Second Age. I'm sure those stories will be just as wonderfully done as these have been.

LKK

Author Reply: Thanks, LKK. My feverish brain is busy outlining facts and plots for the second age, even as I write this. Thanks for your support and encouragement. :-)

Camp6311Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/27/2003
What an enjoyable story this was! I liked learning my "history lessons" along side the twins. I've slogged through "The Silmarillion" a couple of times, but it such a tragic and distressing story to read. I loved reading your interpretation and seeing the First Age through the eyes of people who lived it. That even in those tragic times, lives were lived, children grew, and love flourished.

Thinking back on the story, I think I enjoyed the latter part of the story best, as Elrond and Elros became young adults and began to go their separate ways. (Although, I still laugh when I remember Glorfindel pulling out that pink gown on the camping trip) Another part that stands out in my mind is Elrond trying to teach the leader of the men about faith. "we trust the one who bore the message, for he knows the one who sent the message.” The ships were built, and both peoples survived the turbulent ending of the First Age.

I've never really thought about Elrond as a tragic character before, but reading about his losses in the First age, and knowing what awaits him in the Second and Third Ages, he truly is. His parting with Arwen at the end of ROTK must have been bitter indeed.

Looking forward to reading more of your work.




Author Reply: Thanks, Camp6311. I think that was a key thing, that despite the terrors and tragedies in the first age, people did still live and learn and love. The latter part of the story was the most difficult to write, yet the most satisfying too. Thanks for your comments and support.

mpfanReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/27/2003
Excellent story--easily going into my favorite stories list.

Please, please continue with the Second Age, if you can. I understand if you don't have the time or the energy, but if you do, I would so like to see all those events you mentioned. I have become completely hooked on learning the history of Middle Earth as seen through Elrond's eyes, and the return of Glorfindel, as you would tell it, is the one I would most look forward to.

Thank you for a great story.

Author Reply: Thanks MPFan. My brain is actively planning and plotting how we might learn the second age, and I like the idea of continuing it from Elrond's POV - with perhaps a little Celebrian POV too. It'll take me a bit of time to get this all outlined and worked out...but soon, I hope to have something ready to start. Thanks again. :D

FadesintothewestReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/26/2003
My heart was breaking even more, as I read Elrond and Celebrian's love, and I couldn't help but want to yell out, no, he cannot loose Celebrian. This is the best character development I have read of Elrond, digging deep into his psyche, his pains, his sorrows, his joys, and it makes him come to life in such a way. I do look forward to the next installment!

Author Reply: Thanks Fades - do you know, I am not sure I will be able to write about that, if and when I get to the third age! Poor Elrond - to lose his Celebrian.... I am glad you liked the story and the portrayal of Elrond.

DollyReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/26/2003
Wonderful story from the beginning to the end, I am sorry that it has ended as it has been so good, but I agree with you that it is a good place to finish. I loved the way the Elves all got along, helping in the upbringing of the twins and sharing good and bad memories. I will really miss this story.
Best Wishes
Dolly

Author Reply: Thanks Dolly. I actually miss the story too! I am contemplating the second age and how I might tell that story next. :D

The KarenatorReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/25/2003
Nilmandra,
What a wonderful ending....though I am sorry that this story has come to an end. It seems Elrond still has trouble with revealing his emotions to others, but he has found some closure to the pain of losing his brother through the stories and in tallking to his wife. When he talked about feeling the emptiness when Elros died and how it would never go away, but new threads had woven around that space...well..it was just such a indication of his strength and perseverance. While Elros seemed to be more emotionally open than he did, he was, still, able to love.
Elladan and Elrohir were absolutly delightful as little bundles of joy, compassion and youthful questions. They and, of course, Celebrian, were the balm that soothed and opened Elrond's heart. He was right when he thought of all the wonderful support he had been gifted with throughout his life. It's obvious Elrond was well loved and his past experiences had helped him become such an elf that was worthy of this devotion. You painted this trail with vibrant strokes, minute detail and rich colors. The portrait of Elrond!
My favorite line was what Celeborn said of our golden balrog slayer: “Who knew that a mighty Balrog slayer would make such a fine nanny?” mused Celeborn. I loved this. It was a simple statement meant in jest, but revealed the quality of those who surrounded Elrond and his family.
The entire story was such a wonderful gift to your readers. You wove a very interesting and informative story. We got a view that even Tolkien could not offer in such understandable, yet, beautiful language.
We got to know Elros. I found him likeable, loving and full of a bright energy that seeded the best of what man would become. However as the ages passed and the further man drifted from the light that led them, they fell into darkness. As testament to the strength of Elros' blood, the light did not go out completely as we found when his descendent, Aragorn, brought that seed back to Middle Earth. Elrond's cost was high in this, as well.
I will not accept that Elladan and Elrohir stayed behind in Middle Earth.I believe that they traveled to Valinor on the last ship. After Arwen's death and all the other elves had left...AND there were no more orcs to slay, there was nothing for them in Arda. But there was a lot for them in Valinor. I can't see them seeking revenge on orcs for the harm they caused their mother and then not going to her when the time came. There is nothing on earth that would compare to seeing her again! Now see what's happened! You've got me tying up lose ends everywhere. I'm hoping that you will help me in this valiant quest by exploring the remainder of the second age and maybe the third.
Again, this was such a wonderful piece of work. I can't tell you how impressed I am with the completeness of it and the detail of character you expounded on and created. This is one of the most beautiful writings I've encountered in the fanfiction genre and in the traditional publishing world. Please...carry on. :>) Karen


Author Reply: Thank you, Karen, for this wonderful wrap-up review. I love that phrase - the Portrait of Elrond! And you are absolutely right about the twins - in my mind, they stayed to see their sister and little 'brother' through to the end of their lives, and then sailed west with their grandfather. Obviously Celeborn stayed for them :D I cannot see there being much left in ME for them after that point. I have decided anything else is AU and I don't read AU :D Thanks for your wonderful words - they made my day - and now I need to work on plotting out the second age :D

ElemmireReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/25/2003
Now I need to go mop up my tears...thank you for the lovely story!


Elemmire

Author Reply: You are welcome, Elemmire. Making people cry is a good thing, I hope :D

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/25/2003
This chapter is a wonderful finish to a wonderful story. You brought so much of The Silmarillion alive for me in a way I don't think I could have done for myself. And you have given Elrond a depth that is so enriching. It colors my view of him now. What a tragic and yet deeply good person he is. This is just an amazing achievement. I am honored to have beta read it.

Author Reply: Thanks for your nice words - bringing the Sil to life was exactly the intent as was delving into the character of Elrond........and you are officially hired for the second age :-)

BejaiReviewed Chapter: 24 on 10/25/2003
I was just sitting here, drowning in US Federal Income Tax (don't ask), when your author alert popped up in my inbox. Much to my joy!

This was another beautiful chapter. I was glad to see that Albast recovered, and that you didn't take us down that road. You're right; the time is not yet right for the twins to have to deal with that sadness.

And I loved how you described Elros' end. It was a continuation of what you have been doing all along -- gently pulling them apart until one day their link faded away. What a difficult day that must have been for Elrond. I don't know if it was made easier by being apart, or harder.

This story was so brilliant. From concept to detail it was beautifully wrought, intelligently researched, well paced, and emotionally true. One of my all time favorites, just behind Tolkien's original version.

Thank you for writing this story. It was the epic I'd always wished for. When I introduce my own children to Tolkien's world, I think I will print off this story was well and read it to them.

Now, in case you're out of plot bunnies, I have a wish list :)

-- the return of the Númenorians
-- History Lessons: the Second Age
-- a story about Galadriel and her father meeting while he was in Middle Earth.

Bravo, Nilmandra, Bravo.

Author Reply: Thanks Bejai (and I am self employed and know more than I ever wanted to about tax forms too!).

Your words mean a lot - this was a challenge, but a very rewarding one, and I have to admit I am plotting out the second age....and I hope it comes together as well. ~Nilmandra


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