Droplets by perelleth
Nariel · 17 June 2007 · Chapter 2: The Mirror of Galadriel
Ya know, I never really thought of Galadriel becoming what her brother was in the First Age centuries ago. I just thought that that was her own original personality. Now i know she was inspired by the brother who died young. I love your droplets by the way. (Still having hard time narrowing choices down!) Namarie!
Author's reply
Thank you, Nariel, adn apologies for the dely in answering. I am glad that you are enjoying! :-)
French Pony · 14 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
So, here I am at last. I've been letting my reading slide, and I do apologize for that. But what a nifty little story to come back to! I like the way the focus starts out so narrow, right on Elladan, then gradually widens to include his "mystery opponent," and finally reveals that Elladan got his trouncing in front of a cheering audience. That was clever, and Estel certainly did make his point.
Author's reply
I hope you took a well deserved rest! I am particularly thrilled that you liked the tale! At times I stopeed and wondered "what is FP going to say about this? Does it rin true?" Well, I assume that at least I did not stray too much!
grumpy · 10 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
Great story. Loved Elladan's reaction to being finally beaten by Estel in a sword fight. Baby brothers do grow up! Liked that part about not going out again for a few more years.
Author's reply
THank you, grumpy. Big brother's do have a hard time admitting that baby brothers do grow up! (says one who knows :-))
Dot · 10 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
I swear you always put me to shame. I couldn’t write a swordfight like that in a million years and English is my native language! This is wonderful. The fight itself was enthralling – there’s such skill and beauty in it even as it’s clearly deadly. But mostly I loved being in Elladan’s head during it as he tries to figure out the moves before they’re made and berates himself for doing this when he’s tired. I guessed who the opponent might be so even though I was becoming rather worried as the fight became more vicious, I admit I grinned when Elladan found himself unexpectedly defeated. How am I going to explain this to Adar? Ooh, I like that! There’s more than mortification there. Elladan’s got himself into something he can’t get out of. And so he has. Well that’s what he gets for being cocky! I’m glad for Aragorn, though. I hadn’t realised they were being watched! LOL. Poor Elladan. I bet they all enjoyed seeing him beat young Estel. I’m laughing at the thought that it was Glorfindel’s idea that Estel “play to his advantages.” Heh. And it turns out that Estel is clever as well as a good swordsman. I love that moment when Elladan becomes aware of Estel’s dignity and his readiness to become who he needs to be. It was very moving. Glorfindel is right – Estel is becoming a man worthy of everything he will be called to do only because of those who have given him their time and their wisdom. How could Elladan be anything but proud? Estel deserves what he just won. “Well-done, Estel […] although I regret to inform you that...” Even if he has to wait a few years :-D Excellent, Perelleth. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Author's reply
THank you, DOt! Truth be told, I would have never thought myself capable of writing that in my own language, but this was a case of last-minute pressure working out! FOr some reason suddenly the whole scene appeared before me clearly, so I only had to follow it and tell the tale. A clear case of inspiration! :-)
Nilmandra · 3 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
I enjoyed this, Perelleth - Elladan handled his defeat well, though really, silly half-elf - fighting when he has just returned tired from a long time away! You convey a lot in this short piece - I easily felt like I was there.
Author's reply
THank you, NIlmandra, glad that you enjoyed and that it was believable! Of course Estel had to search for an advantage to beat Elladan, and he was sneaky enough to challenge his pride! :-)
Redheredh · 3 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
LOL! Clever Estel working out every advantage to get what he wanted. And Elladan for all his mind's inner workings. :) But, a good final exam of little brother's skill, competence, and intelligence. I am sure everyone, especially his Adar and brothers, will feel better now about the young man going out into the wider world. Good episode! Yay for Mechinock having another birthday!
Author's reply
Thank you, Redheredh! Being taught by Iladris' finest, it couldn't be a surpirse for Elladan that sneakiness was among his talents! :-) So it was only naturla that one day he would be ready to go away, as you say, although it must have been only too early for his family, as it always is! :-)
elliska · 3 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
Hehehe! I loved seeing young Estel's first victory! I think Elladan will have some explaining to do to Elrond, but it is his own fault. :-) And the sword battle was really well written. Those are so hard to write without becomeing repetitive and hard to follow. But this one was perfect. Great job!
Author's reply
Thank you, elliska! Sword fighting is very difficult, I find, so I am doubly glad that this one came out properly! And Estel was actually ready to step into the wide world, but surely he needed a great feat to show the family that he was ready indeed!
Jay of Lasgalen · 2 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
Wonderful, Perelleth! I loved this - I like anything with well-written twins, and Elladan was perfect in this. You kept me guessing who his opponent was - it could have been another elf, until the word 'man' narrowed it down to Aragorn or Halbarad. Young Estel did very well to beat his brother - and to challenge him when he did, when he knew Elladan was tired after a long patrol. Sneaky! Jay
Author's reply
THank you, Jay! :-) I suspect that sneakiness must have been in Estel's trainig program, so Elladan had no right to complain! :-) I intended to keep the identity hidden for a bit longer but I tired of alternating "opponent", "the other" and "adversary"...so man it was! :-)
meckinock · 2 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
Thank you so much, Perelleth! This was absolutely delightful. Elladan's expert blow-by-blow assessment of his opponent's skill and strategy lent excitement and realism (and humor) to the scene, especially after his identity was revealed. I wanted to cheer for Estel along with half of Imladris. You portray him so beautifully here as a confident, competent warrior just stepped over the brink of manhood. Don't take this the wrong way, but he reminds me of my dog the other day. He slipped out of the house and had a nice run around the neighborhood with me trying to catch him. When he had had enough he just came back to the house and waited for me to show up. When I saw him, he was wagging his tail like he'd just ridden the biggest roller coaster at the amusement park. He's a year and a half old, and male, and just full of himself, and I couldn't even get mad at him. Estel is like that here - full of himself and deserving it, and still free of all the worries and burdens that he will carry for so many long years. may you find time to tell us more about certain lost ring! Er... I'm trying. You know what it's like. Thanks for even remembering it, though!
Author's reply
LOLOL! I had to laugh at the picture of your dog coming back from his adventure and eager to share the excitement as if nothing had happened...:-) that's exactly the feeling, I suspect, you cannot get angered at that! :-) I am glad that you liked it. OUt of inspiration as I am am lately, this came out directly from the void,, and thankfully not too late. Hapy birthday again, and let us hpe that the year brings some more spare time for self and pets and pastimes, :-)
Bodkin · 2 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
Oh, devious Elladan ... and even more devious Estel. There's nothing like being brought up by elves to ensure that a man is ready for the pressures that result from being the heir of Isildur!! Wonderful piece. I loved every step of it - and the insight into the mental processes of Elrond's firstborn. Lovely.
Author's reply
THank you! :-) It is always great fun to see the twins' tacticts somehow backfiring...
daw the minstrel · 2 June 2007 · Chapter 10: Not The Blade, But What It Defends
Nicely done, Perelleth. I enjoyed the fierceness of both swordsmen, and then Elladan's dismay and Estel's triumph and glee. The motivations and emotions were mixed enough to be believable and interesting.
Author's reply
Thank-you, daw. Sword fighting is not one of my strngths, so I am glad that it came through well...
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
Short vignettes of longer tales don't always come sequentially. Lovely image of Galadriel and her silver tree.
Author's reply
Thank you, LArner, I am glad that you enjoyed, despite the jumps in time.
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 8: The Ring Goes East
It must indeed have been a bitter parting, and one relieved alone by the reunion to come only at the release of Finrod from the Halls. Well pictured, I think. Are you from Europe?
Author's reply
Thank you, Larner. I think it took a lot of courage from Finarfin to choose between what he thought was right and his own children. Yes,I am from Europe... and not native speaker, as you surely guessed.
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 7: If it is punishment indeed
Very nice to see this first meeting between the two.
Author's reply
Thank you...they did have things to sort out!
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 6: Echoes
I very much doubt Dante is offended. And certain types of dreams do bring back the grief all too easily. I'd be right beside her facing Lorien for THAT particular dream.
Author's reply
OH yes. She would make it clear that those dreams were not welcome. WHat could a Vala understand, anyway? :-) Thank you again, LArner, for taking the time of reviewing each piece!
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 5: Refractions (from the Paradise of Elves)
This almost sounds as if it belongs in that collection. Poor Legolas, and the twins' continuing being the butt of a Dwarvish joke so many yeni after its inception! Nice moment here. Felt I was caught in a meshing of the Undying Lands and A Midsummer's Night Dream.
Author's reply
LOLOL! Felt I was caught in a meshing of the Undying Lands and A Midsummer's Night Dream. I always felt that way when reading the series! :-) that is a great compliment, thank you!
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 4: Advice from a tree
A young Treebeard, perhaps? Lovely to see the family choose to found its new realm, and Thranduil's part in it.
Author's reply
Ah, but Treebeard was old even back then! :-)
Larner · 28 March 2007 · Chapter 3: "In Vino Veritas" (Truth in Wine)
Namo would undoubtedly find such conversations diverting as well as difficult. And between the Firstborn and the Edain--with a good deal of grace, they do win through in the end--if again at great cost and loss.
Author's reply
Namo would surely be laughing with them, and shaking his head in certain pride, I think, that they finally found sterngth and comofrt in what they had learnt from the Valar. Thank you, LArner.
elliska · 25 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
Oooo! Galadriel is perfect in this! And such a fascinating moment and discussion. I had never thought about this confrontation. I loved it. And she is certainly bond to that doom though it will be a long time until she finds out exactly how. Great chapter. I have missed a ton of these too. Cool in a way because now I get more reading! :-)
Author's reply
LOLOL! Go and enjoy then. Since Galadriel was living in Doriath, I alwayswondered how she would have reactd to the whole Beren issue, which affected her directly! Glad that you liked it! It surely was difficult for her to accept, I think.
French Pony · 25 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
This is real nice. It's a good reminder of how often in Tolkien's stories the happiness of one set of characters is built on the grief of another set. I suppose that it only makes it worse for Galadriel that it wasn't only Beren, puny mortal, who benefited, but it was also her friend Luthien who got what she wanted, even if that was mortality.
Author's reply
Thank you, FP. I agree that it would have been very difficult for the lady to swallow that pill! So it made a good explanation for that sentence in LOTR when she tells the fellowship that they crossed the mountains before the fall of NArgothrond and GOndolin. It owuld have been difficult for her to see Luthien's happiness and being remembered of the price!
Redheredh · 25 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
Very nicely done. I especially like how you created a setting for the jewel of a scene between Galadriel and Beren. Her not accepting this offered ring was almost a foreshadowing of the next time she would chose a ring from a mortal and take the quieter path of leave-taking. Still, she got her digs in too... ;) Seems you cannot have one without the other. Whether love and hate, joy and despair, good and evil, life and death, past and future.
Author's reply
Thank-you, Redheredh! This seemed to me a good explanation for Galadriel and Celeborn´s crossing the Mountains "before the fall of Nargothornd and Gondolin" The greif must have been too much to bear for her, from the moment that Beren showed Finrod's ring and Thingol doubted not in sealing his fate together with Beren´s... Glad that you liked it.
Bodkin · 25 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
Hardly surprising that Galadriel couldn't be exactly joyful at Beren's return plus Silmaril - since his and Luthien's arrival brings exact and horrific information about just what happened to Finrod and the elves who accompanied him on his quest. Yet - she is right to leave the ring with Beren. And they are both right in seeing that their lines are intertwined, bringing both happiness and great grief. I wonder what would have happened if Finarfin's children had returned to Tirion with him. I suspect all would have ended in darkness - they were needed east of the sea. And I'm not surprised that Celeborn and Galadriel could not remain - and it turns out to be a Good Thing that they crossed the mountains. Lovely line - The elven lady sat there against the mighty, forked trunk of an old beech, held in the comforting embrace of her silver tree. She needed Celeborn's strength - but he needed her, too. Doesn't Tolkien lend himself to taking an incident and twisting the mirrors to look at it quite differently! Lovely, thought-provoking piece, Perelleth.
Author's reply
Thank you Bodkin. You know how bunnies bit! :-) Knowing how the story evolves, it is easier to find out explanations and reasons, but it must have been so painful for her at the moment... to feel also that they were but a toy of Doom. And Celeborn was thinking of Daeron, I suspect. I was laways curious about that confrontation, if it ever took place. Glad you liked it!
MithLuin · 24 March 2007 · Chapter 3: "In Vino Veritas" (Truth in Wine)
*Beautifully* done. Wonderfully, perfectly, brutally honest despair that veers away at the last second from madness and plunges on to hope. I salute you! And I am very glad that Fingon has Maedhros to drink with, even if the battle they are plotting leads to his death.
Author's reply
Thank you, MIth Luin! Brutal is a word that i think describes MAedhros attitude here. I am so glad that you liked it. It was a bitter moment between two friends who are impossibly apart and yet still close, for good and bad.
meckinock · 24 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
Ooh, cool. Beren and Galadriel. I enjoyed his premonition that their lines would be intertwined, and hers that it would only bring her grief. How right he was though, that joy and grief are seldom found apart from each other. I'm glad she let him keep the ring :-)
Author's reply
I often wondered how it would have felt to her, from the moment Beren wielded her brother's ring and Thingol sealed Finrod´s fate... It was a curious meeting, and surely it took her a lot to accept and fogive... Thank you meckinock!
daw the minstrel · 24 March 2007 · Chapter 9: Nor shall anything of my realm endure...
The thing that comes through here (as in Tolkien) is how joy and pain are intertwined. It's not just that you go through pain to reach joy; it's that even when you get the joy, it comes with pain as part of it. Very compelling, Perelleth.
Author's reply
THank-you, Daw. And also that joy to one means surely pain to another...and the other way. So sobriety both in joy and pain is explained, I think.