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| The Heir Apparent by Mirkwoodmaiden | 122 Review(s) |
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| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/2/2021 |
| I loved to see what has grown between Estel and Erithain. How much respect and affection...and love. Estel might not know consciously, but he feels the bond. That was very touching. I love those emotional parts, and you seem to like writing them a lot :) Oh no, Estel got caught! Do that's where he meets Legolas, so glad to see him. And I think Estel really needs him... Although y what you hint to it is not the first time for Legolas to be at the mercy of orcs, and the previous experience(s) must have been dreadful. But Thranduil is on his way, and he is in rage, and the twins are trying to find Estel too. I hope help will reach soon. Author Reply: Nurayy!! Thanks for writing! I did really enjoy bringing Estel and Erithain together and allowing their relationship. Like I said we must consider every thing Erithain has given up almost the whole life that he had. And yes this is the chapter where a band is forged between Legolas and Aragon that I speak of in "Reunion." They will grow from this experience. Thranduil in full wroth is a quite a scene. Sorry if this doesn't make any sense I was writing late at night. Stay Safe (((hugs))) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 5/22/2021 |
| Mirkwoodmaiden, I hope you are fine! What a chapter! It is so understandable how Elrond feels to let Estel go on his first journey and into possible danger on the way. He feels as a loving, worried father feels to let his son go, to let him grow. And it speaks of love that he will let him go all the same. And Gilraen too, how high a price she pays. But Estel is ready, and it is time and they know it. I love the sword-giving ceremony. And all his loved ones were there and so proud of him. I absolutely loved the inscription in sindarin. How meaningful! It gave me shivers. I was hoping he would meet with Erithain when they travelled north. And it really happened. I'm so glad! But it is really hard for the man to not be allowed to tell him who he is and how much he missed the boy. I can only guess what intense emotions Erithain is going through. I hope a great friendship will grow between them and that one day he will be able to tell him. Have a great weekend! Author Reply: Nurayy!! So happy that you are forging ahead in this story! It is hard for Elrond to see his young charge growing up. Not only does he raise to be the Heir of Isildur but also he loves him as his own son. Which is makes everything much harder, Elrond knows he must. I labored hard and actually constructed the Sindarin inscription on Estel's blade myself! I thought about how Aragorn will eventually wield Anduril and if he should have another sword of special meaning and I decided that he did indeed a sword of his own. "Elladan, noticing the boy’s discomfiture, immediately introduced Erithain. “Estel, this is Erithain he is captain of the band of Rangers who came to our aid and has been a friend of mine for many a year.” " I don't know if you caught this but I will mention it. Elladan introducing Erithain as his friend mirrors when Erithain is introducing Elladan and Elrohir to a two-year old Aragorn. Thanks again for reading! Hope you are well! ((hugs)) MM SIDENOTE: "Estel apprehensively lifted the spoonful of broth to his mouth under the watchful eye of both twins. An indescribable taste spread across his tongue and he had to quell his first instinct to spit it out, only because his beloved, but obviously culinarily challenged, oldest brother was looking on, expectant. “Mmmm!” he managed to voice without opening his mouth and swallowed the vile concoction down in a sacrificing show of filial love." Do you recognise this description? Think Two Towers extended edition when Éowyn is giving Aragorn that dreaded stew. I couldn't help but include this little scene. Poor Aragorn! Destined to eat disgusting food as not to give offense! :-) | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/15/2021 |
| I loved to see Estel with their brothers leaning from them. But anit is with a child, they also learned something, that they have to be very careful of what they say. Fortunately for all, little Estel will recover and they will all learnt their lesson. Loved how you showed Elrond so caring and patient, and explaining so well. He is teaching such important things for life. And you show how a good father he is to Estel. Author Reply: Nurayy! It is a bit of a learning for the twins as well. They haven't had a such young one who is so impressionable around in a very long time. I definitely envision Elrond being one of those fathers who wants to yell but somehow manages to keep his temper and speak to his miscreant child to teach him...not matter how much he may have wanted to yell! :-) I don't know if you noticed but Gil-gilath was the only one who is not completely charmed by Estel. LOL! BTW. Chapter 13 of Destiny's Child is posted, should you want to peruse the chapter! Hope you are well! ((hugs)) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 5/13/2021 |
| Little Estel is adorable! I can't catch myself, so so sweet. He is enchanting them all. Awww! You have such a wonderful way of describing him. Pure cuteness :) Author Reply: Nurayy!! Thanks! I really do have fun talking about little Estel. I have a few Estel stories that happen in this timeline. I imagine him being precocious and intelligent and with the ability to charm all Imladris. Also I imagine Elrond to be an affectionate but also a cerebral sort of father. The kind that are always encouraging you to think and understand others. To see all sides of a problem and to understand there is often many right answers. So glad you are reading! and reviewing! Thank you so much! Stay Safe, mellon nin! ((hugs)) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 5/12/2021 |
| Mirkwoodmaiden You described Gilraen's grief so well, the sense of emptiness, as her life and that of her boy is completely changing. It is so sad she cannot speak with Aragorn of their memories, remind Arathorn and get comfort in it. And Erithain, so young, left in this responsibility, and missing the one he admired and followed and loved as a brother. It is hard to bear. Author Reply: Nurayy! Thanks for getting back to this story! And yes! Gilraen will undergo a great change. Expression of her grief denied her, she gives up another whole part of herself for her people and their destiny. But she always has her son. Estel is the only person that anchors her to the world. And Erithain has his own pain and grief. I thought a little intervention from Galadriel was needed. She helps he get through to the other side so He can at least function. And Erkenbrand will be there to help. So glad you are still reading! :-) I will have Chapter 13 of Destiny's Child ready to post in the next couple of days!! woo-hoo Stay safe! ((hugs)) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/25/2021 |
| Awww, little Aragorn is just adorable. You write him so well with all the little details, his delight for the horses, his sadness, his sweet speach,... and then fortunately in the end his laughter again. No wonder they all love him, how could they not! I like how you made the bond between the brothers and their father, and that they perceive each other's thoughts and feelings. Author Reply: Nurayy! Hello! Thanks! I really wanted to convey the burgeoning intelligence and compassion within Aragorn even as a small child. I got the idea of Elves speaking to each other from PJ's films but it was backed by Tolkien's writings in the HoME Series. These chapters were hard going emotionally for everyone, for me, for the characters and the readers as well. But life will get better for the characters soon! Thanks for reading and writing! Hope this entry finds you and your family well. ((hugs)) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/24/2021 |
| Oh my I knew it that it would happen. But that doesn't make it any easier. You pulling at the emotions with your writing. Author Reply: Nurayy! Sorry that I didn't have a chance to respond earlier! That was a rough chapter to write! Such heart-rending grief. Glad that you liked this chapter. Hope you are well! ((hugs)) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 4/23/2021 |
| Mirkwoodmaiden, I got tears in my eyes. How heartbreaking! And yet it has to be done. This will be very difficult for the child, and so very difficult for the ones who love him. I am feeling so much for Arathorn who will be separated from them both. So well done, bringing forth deep emotions. I hope you are well, my friend, take care Author Reply: Nurayy! Thank you so much! These next couple of chapters will be rough...fair warning. They weren't easy to write either but I think they turned out well. As Gandalf says, "we must go through shadows to get to the dawn." Both Arathorn and Gilraen sacrificed so much. I am well. Working on another chapter! Hope you are well. ((hugs)) Stay safe! MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/17/2021 |
| Dear Mirkwoodmaiden, What absolutely touching, beautiful family moments! This is so much your writing. So heartwarming the emotions you evoke! There is so much love between them. Even as tragedy strikes their bonds hold tight. Aragorn is so sweet a child. I like the way you show him serious and pensive already, and curious and delighted by horses also, I love how Erithain makes him laugh, and I absolutely love the loving relationship with his father, the respect his father already gives to the small child in such a tender way. Loved to see Gilraen so happy and so beautiful after birth. It already pains me to think how soon the next tragedy will strike. I hope this review finds you well. Take care Author Reply: Nurayy! Thanks! I really wanted to show the relationships of love and family and to show that Arathorn, Gilraen and little Aragorn as a happy, normal family before the tragedy that must strike rips apart their lives. I also wanted to show the loving relationship between Erithain and his nephew, little Aragorn. The love that existed. Also to give Gilraen some happiness before it is all torn asunder. Hers was not a happy life. Anyone who says "Ónen i-Estel Edain, ú-chebin estel anim, meaning "I gave Hope (an obvious reference to her son's Elven name) to the Dúnedain, I have kept no hope for myself." has not had the happiest of lives. She sacrifices everything to defeating evil in Middle Earth and is left with little else. It was as feared by her parents in the earlier chapters. I am well. Hope you and yours are safe and well. ((hugs)) MM | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/25/2021 |
| Dear Mirkwoodmaiden, I hope you are well. So meaningful all this chapter. You make me love Gilraen and Arathorn very much and also their families, showing such insight. Loved the shared feelings at the sight of the city and what it means to them. I felt how it tied them together even more. They are getting to know and value each other more and more. The moment between father and daughter touched me particularly, Dirhael's tear... Usually so composed, and now... i could feel his emotions. And Ivorwen is so nervous... a loving, worrying mother who wants just the best for her child. Such beautiful images an relationships til now. Be well Author Reply: Nurayy! Thank you so much! I hope you are doing well, too! :-)) I have always have such a fascination with the Dunedain that I had to write this story. A people that survived a 1000 years (1976 TA was when Arthedain, the last of the three kingdoms of Arnor fell) with the vision and quest to assuage Isildur's error and to reinstate the Heir to the throne of Men intact. To have survived the destruction of their cities and their whole way of life and to live for the dream of restoration has always captivated me. I wanted to show what it meant to be an Heir of Isildur and how it drives Arathorn and how happy he was to see that it moved Gilraen as well. Also how Dirhael and Ivorwen are also driven by this legacy and how much they are willing to sacrifice for the good of their people. And yet they are loving parents who worry for their only daughter's happiness. The human side of what destiny costs a family. Many fanfic writers and Tolkien thinkers write that the Grey Company was the last of the Dunedain, but that couldn't be. No group of people could survive 1000 years, even those as long lived as the Dunedain without some form or way of life, If only to find wives of like mind and understanding and thereby have children to further their way of life. Which is why I loosely based their re-constructed way of life on the Chieftain/ Thane relationship of Saxon England. I really love this story and I am so glad you are reading it and enjoyed it! :-)) Be Stay, Mellon nin! ((hugs)) MM | |