Reviews (143)

TithenFeredir · 17 September 2005 · Chapter 19: 19

Sorry about the false post. Slipping fingers, darn it. Well, Aragorn makes a lousy patient, doesn't he? He's the king, and he still can't get his way, poor thing. I pity those poor souls who have to be around him right now. His healer's complete lack of sympathy was both funny and believeable. I love the way this story is tying up dangling threads. The way you have fashioned your puzzle pieces they all fall together very smoothly. My favorite bit of Gimli's time with the Vala is when they look at each other over his head. Ha! Such sneaky, subtle humor. I'm wondering why Legolas took Gimli away and not back to the camp where the healers are. Maybe he's convinced the dwarf is dead? But why even then? Something is up there. ~TF

daw the minstrel · 17 September 2005 · Chapter 19: 19

So that's why Gimli sailed! All I have to say is that that ring must have some power if it cured Celebrimbor of being stuck on a pole and used as a warbanner. Aragorn is making himself difficult, I see. It's going to make him crazy to rely on Radagast to find his friends rather than going himself.

Bodkin · 17 September 2005 · Chapter 19: 19

Oh brilliant. So neat. What a terrific solution to so many questions. I will get back to you properly, but just had to say how good this is!

lindahoyland · 15 September 2005 · Chapter 4: 4

I loved the scene for Aragorn and Eldarion.I'm afraid I've only browsed this story,But i'm curious why Cirion rather than Elboron is Steward? I must come back and read more as you are a gifted storyteller.

TithenFeredir · 15 September 2005 · Chapter 18: 18

I love your Stone-Water and Granite-Glinting. Their simple thoughts and motivations are sort of refreshing. They are beautifully executed characters. You have really created a much more believeable and well thought out characterization of cave trolls than Tolkein did. I think he saw them mainly as monsters and obstacles to his main characters. I also loved the little touches you did on Legolas in this chapter: the way his urgency to get out of the caverns leaks through his restraint, but only such that those who know him perceive it, the slight trembling as he holds his bow at full draw. Those little touches make the character come to life. Now I'm worried about Gimli and Aragorn, but also about Legolas if Gimli is gravely hurt. I suspect the elf is more brittle than he looks right now. ~TF

daw the minstrel · 15 September 2005 · Chapter 18: 18

You do such a good job on the trolls. They're sympathetic but still troll-y. This is one of those moments when I have to remind myself that Gimli sailed with Legolas. I'm glad to know that, you mean author.

Bodkin · 15 September 2005 · Chapter 18: 18

Gimli is so clever - Aragorn / Legolas etc don't really see him in his own environment often enough to see how truly magnificent and skilled he is when it comes to rocks. I love the way he can follow the trail - and feels the call of whatever is on the other side of that door. The palaver with getting the door open, though, is an absolute delight. Let kings and elves and wizards try their techniques first - and then just show them with the word in the secret language! In that rather embarrassed, sheepish way that suggests he'd really rather not let them see what he can do. And poor 'little' Stone-Water-Worn-Smooth. He's only trying to defend his mother's tomb in his own rather dense cave trollish way. I can see why Legolas holds fire. Interesting that virtually offering yourself for death is enough to persuade the one on the blunt end not to apply it. I don't know what SWWS is going to do with himself now - the last of the trolls. He's and endangered species that can't get any more endangered without becoming extinct. And Legolas is the only undamaged one there! Radagast's injury doesn't sound too serious - but Aragorn is no spring chicken and he might not be feeling too good. But Gimli!!! What has happened to the dwarf? He can't die! His task isn't finished. He has to carry out Mahal's instructions - and then sail to the Blessed Realm to extend Galadriel's education in dwarvish curses. What an enjoyable chapter - delightful. It makes me want to read a whole lot more stories which focus on Gimli. Aka Mossy Rock.

Imrahoil · 12 September 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

Rosemary dear, we are waiting. Just breathe and push, breathe and push ... You are not to vanish into your antipodean summer for months and months before you have delivered. Seriously, I will never ever review your stories again should you do your vanishing act again. ;-)

lwarren · 7 September 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

Well, Rose, here I sit, squishing Jell-o around in my mouth and feeling decidedly put-out and -upon when I thought, "I'll finally write the review for Rose's chapter 17 that I've been wanting to." So here goes - starting with my favorite parts: "...dark so deep it had personality." Creepy - you could almost feel the heavy presence of the cave pressing in on them from all sides. "...orcs became innocent rocks, rocks became the enemy..." not a good spot to be in when you can't tell the bad guys from the surroundings. Legolas: "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Gimli flashed him a grin full of teeth. Ya gotta love a happy dwarf cheerfully hacking and bashing his way through the whatever trouble comes his way. The New Dwarf Mathematics by RS Deep underground + simple choices + foe in front + friend behind = a close approximation of Dwarf Heaven :-) More Gimli frivolity - "Radagast, bring that shining stick of yours here." Then the sudden appearance of a "glamour" - and Gimli is still full of surprises! "Rising in volume the note swelled until it filled not only the air of the world but its substance. All of Middle Earth resonated to its perfect pitch; the song of Arda harmonized, and then absorbed the rightness of the music. Still the note grew, until everything that lived was sundered, stretched on the rack of the music, ravelled or unravelled depending on its nature." PURE P-O-E-T-R-Y...'nuff said. The release of the souls of the orcs to return to Iluvatar...and suddenly the magic was gone...and Morgoth's darkness still finds a way to influence the earth. How very true! *sighs through tears* Only dear Gimli's sympathetic words would begin with "Fool of an elf..." Legolas: "...and now I am...less." No wonder he was so quick to sail after Aragorn's death. And Gimli is STILL called... *clears throat...sniffs and blows nose noisily* This was one amazing piece of imaginative writing, dear Rose. Words fail me...I've read this probably 3 or 4 times, and I'm still amazed! (Ai! The poor elf! I cried right along with him!) Now, to WHAT is Gimli still called? linda

Imrahoil · 31 August 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

That was beautiful, Rose. Beautifully written and very evocative. So, the good magic is gone with the bad and Middle-Earth a much poorer place, sigh. And it really would have worked? If they hadn't had a cave troll?! Arda perhaps still marred but evil wiped out and everybody - man, elf, dwarf, hobbit, ent ... - living together happily ever after? Do I have to think now about "The end DOES sometimes justify the means?! I will have a look at Valda and Gimli's mission first, before I decide. Next chapter, please!

Bodkin · 30 August 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

This is even more impressive on further reading. It is . . . like a dance created with words.

TithenFeredir · 28 August 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

That was incredible. So it seems that for the evil to go out of Middle-earth the magic must also be taken away? It's quite bittersweet. I love the spirits of the orcs gaining peace, and the rock trolls yawning and lying down to become one with the earth. The imagery of Morgoth's black thread being cut and whipping free, then falling back to mark the earth with traces of lesser evil was brilliant. What an amazing idea, executed so well. I'm almost afraid to see what comes next. ~TF

daw the minstrel · 27 August 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

Holy cow. I am completely blown away by this chapter. When I first started reading, I was thinking as I always do how beautiful your use of language is. I was vowing to go back to practicing similes and metaphors and trying to loosen up my matter-of-fact control of language in a way that would end up making it more vivid and precise. Then I got to the part where magic was ripped from Arda. I am just speechless. That was beautiful and imaginative. I could see it, and I could see the tragedy in the poor ignorant troll's interruption. One of the things that interesting about Tolkien is that in some way, Arda is earth, so what happens there matters to us. You can see that here.

Bodkin · 27 August 2005 · Chapter 17: 17

Oh my. What a moment for Granite Glinting to interfere. It seems that the working was so good, so pure and then - bam. Celebrimbor and Narvi - gone - no explanation and the world - diminished. So much lost and the elves bereft. I suppose there's a plus - the orcs have been relieved of their pain. But Morgoth's evil still exists. The story is great - the characters lovely and the description is simply ace. damp cold that felt left over from the making of the world and dark so deep that it had personality . . . And the rhythm of it - it is so poetic. The whole paragraph that starts 'In the great weave . . .' is just a wow. As is 'The black thread . . .' paragraph. I'm not surprised Legolas is a wreck. The feedback must have shattered those with the magic in them. And Gimli is still called? I can't wait to read more. (It's no wonder he ended up sailing. This is a dwarf who has practically developed elfhood.)

ziggy · 24 August 2005 · Chapter 16: 16

Having just reviewed last chapter, am trying to wait until I can give this chapter more time and proper consideration- BUT just have to say - descriptions are magical.' opal mists and twisted trunks' changing under the song- moonlit mists etc. Economical and tells you everything witout enslaving the reader's imagination to your absolute vision.

Anonymous · 24 August 2005 · Chapter 15: 15

Only you, Rose, could write cave trolls to melt the heart of the hardest elf- becasue I feel that Legolas will succumb eventually to poor little Stoney.(Of course I had to go back and read Adagio, Cadenza and Mayflies again to remind myself of his story...I LOVE your trolls) I felt then, that actually, I really don't think Celebrimbor's is a very good idea- perhaps we want a bit of diversity in ME and after all, if there were no orcs etc, how would our heroes be heroic? Yes, a very dubious idea... sort of reverse fascisim ... crumbs- I sound like a Sauron fan!!! What are you doing to me- messinig with my brain! Do you mean that it is not all black and white? That good and evil are not quite as the Prof described? But then, where is all the certainty in the world? Does this mean Celebrimbor and Narvi might actually be the baddies? Or merely misguided? You really know that stoney is just a baby - and rather dim - actually, there is pathos in the way he tries to shuffle out of the light, and holds a sack over his head ... I really go all soft at anything soppy like that- did the trick all right. I am Gimli really, even though I want to be Legolas! Whatever it is, this is a fascinating and absorbing take on ME, and as always, beaultifully written. Gimli slays me with his wonderful one liners- he has all the best lines in the movie actually, have you noticed? In fact, as I write, you have touched on an interesting difference between Gimli and Legolas- Legolas is so certain of evil... as is Celebrimbor. Now, I wonder how that will play out?Will he share the view that the healing means eradicating the trolls etc? (What he will do with himself one wonders??!!) NArvi is clearly affecting the land, drainig it of power, but you cant help feeling anxious for them- you write the relationship so deicately - Celebrimbor feels very fragile, but like steel inside.. intersting.How will Legolas deal with that conflict (if that's what is happening- I have learned never to assume I have guessed your plan!!) And Aragorn is still wonderful- so kingly and ordinary in a way- gets thrown out by Sarthor(nice to meet him again!) AND another chapter already.HOw fabulous

Bodkin · 23 August 2005 · Chapter 16: 16

So Gimli is being drawn to the heart of what is going on here - probably a good thing. I think. But worrying that Legolas and Radagast were so weakened - and that Treebeard was affected. This thing 'drawing on the fabric of the world' sounds seriously dubious. One of these ideas that sounds terrific until you realise the side effects. And the side effects, I think, have the potential for being very dangerous. Even Narvi isn't totally convinced. It would seem that she will do anything for Celebrimbor - but her agenda is different from his. More to do with personal devotion than saving the world. 'They would need the digging skills of a cave-troll to interrupt them now.' They've got one, Narvi. Which might end up being the thing that holds the world together. Ironic, that. Good stuff. But what a place to leave us!

daw the minstrel · 22 August 2005 · Chapter 16: 16

The stuff about Celebrimbor and Narvi is interesting. I'm still not sure what they're doing. You connect it all nicely through sound though. That seems very Tolkien to me.

TithenFeredir · 22 August 2005 · Chapter 16: 16

As always, there are wonderfully original descriptive phrases like "the animal pleasure of movement", "opened eyes that were all pupil", "gathering Legolas and Gimli with a nod", and this sentence: "A sparkle ran down the edge of the unsheathed sword in his hand, as if the very air was charged." I love reading this stuff. Apart from that the chapter was quite intriguing. Whatever caused the air to change on the mountain, it was interesting who was affected most strongly: the elf, the wizard and the ent. I loved the way Radagast again ministered to Legolas though he was himself obviously weakened. I hope I'm not wrong in assuming that what they experienced was not the blowing of the horn. I'm thinking that will be in the next chapter and I'm really anxious to read what happens then. We'll see. Excellent story! ~TF

Imrahoil · 22 August 2005 · Chapter 16: 16

You just can't stop here. Rose, this is pure beastliness.

Imrahoil · 17 August 2005 · Chapter 15: 15

Hey, I did not want to badger you into writing e-mails to me. It was meant to be a relief should you need it not an obligation. Really. Try to be more selfish, it's good for you! But don't forget to update. ;-)

Imrahoil · 16 August 2005 · Chapter 15: 15

AHA, I knew it. Not an easy situation for the former pet. And the best friend of the pet is sooo not pc. What about a little bit more openmindedness towards another stone dweller? Stone-Water-Worn-Smooth is such a nice spawn of Morgoth and even half way to redemption, no pets for years. I hope you're not aiding and abetting Shiny Beanpole. "Here goes our last female" is quite a cruel way of getting rid of the nice cave trolls. Are there no reformation schools in M-E? Ahem, yes, rant over, it's your fault for giving them such wonderful names. Uhuh, Celebrimbor never learns, does he? And Narvi, has Valda fried her brain or what? A little bit of the usual dwarven scepticism about crazy elven schemes would come handy here. To RL: Oh my. I keep my fingers crossed that he is going to find something suitable real quick. Chin up and if you want to get a break from the Polyanna thing you know my e-mail adress. Yes, I know you won't do it anyhow, but I wanted to offer it nevertheless.

TithenFeredir · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 15: 15

I loved that cave troll story, though I believe I read it before I started doing reviews. It's a small Middle-earth then, eh? It was neat the way you described the troll in the tent hiding from the light, and his voice, "as deep as a well". The way Legolas snagged Gimli to keep him from going closer made me wonder what uncomfortable memories he must be having. I am getting very uneasy about Celebrimbor's and Narvi's little project. ~TF

Bodkin · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 15: 15

Ooooh, goodie. There's just something about seeing Gimli as Mossy Rock. It's just very appealing. As is seeing Mr Tough Dwarf getting soft and parental about the needs of the well-meaning, but generally cave-trollish Stone-Water-Worn-Smooth. While the elf is being steely. Mind you, Stone-Water-Worn-Smooth has got the basic principle right - 'We find Mother, squash grey face, and then go back home.' Aragorn is being rather majestic. Although Sarthor the healer managed to exert his authority, it would seem. And Celebrimbor's work seems - well - scary. Another case of brilliant idea not doing quite what it should? I dread finding out - I can't believe it'll be quite as simple as blow the baddies to oblivion. And then there's C&N themselves - what's about to happen to that particular double act? I can't wait to discover the answers. Good stuff. Enjoying it. More, please.

daw the minstrel · 13 August 2005 · Chapter 15: 15

I was so excited when I realized the troll was Stone-Water-Worn-Smooth. I love the way you do trolls. But Legolas is less than charmed, I think. I also like the way Aragorn is so kingly. I feel very fangirlish! The presence of Celebrimbor and Narvi is fascinating. Another ring and the song will be repaired. That's so cool.