artistic sprite
· 21 July 2008
· Chapter 19: Recovery
This is definately one my fav chapters in the whole story! I'm going to keep reading it till I memorise every words! :P
Sigh, reading good fanfiction is the way to relax after a taxing day of project and assignments!
Author's reply
Thanks sprite. I'm glad you liked this chapter so much. I certainly had fun writing it. *grin* And I totally agree that reading good fanfiction at the end of a tax day is a great way to relax. Thanks for reviewing.
Kaylee
· 20 July 2008
· Chapter 19: Recovery
YAY!!!!!!! Finda, Glorfi and Beleg are home and awake (despite Beleg's protests to the contrary on the latter issue)!!!!!!!
*laughs at Finda talking in his sleep*
Aw, poor Glorfi thinking he was going to be restrained again!
but I'm glad Laurendil got the respect he deserves, and that the three kings have their respective 'elflings' back (though Ara and Ingwe share Finda and Glorfi, I think *grin* but Beleg is all Olwe's...well, Finda is Olwe's too *grin* so he belongs to everyone!) Well done, meldonya...I can't wait for more!!!
~Kaylee!!
Author's reply
Yes, they are back, more or less in one piece. I think it's safe to say that all those elflings belong to everyone! And none of them would dispute that claim either. *grin*
Nieriel Raina
· 20 July 2008
· Chapter 19: Recovery
And another perfect chapter. Hilarious ending.
Manveru appeared again bearing a tray with a bowl of broth and some soft bread and a flagon of water. Finrod grimaced at what he considered poor fare but Arafinwë insisted that anything else would prove wasted. "Ingwion became violently ill after the ordeal and the other two weren’t much better off. Have this and if you are still hungry and wish for something more we will see."
This confused me. Should it be Manveru rather than Arafinwe speaking? Or maybe I'm suffering sleep deprivation.
Author's reply
Glad you liked the ending, NiRi. No, Arafinwë is speaking here, having been apprised of what happened earlier with everyone, so he's able to tell Finrod about Ingwion and why he's being given broth.
ellie
· 20 July 2008
· Chapter 19: Recovery
What a delight! Love that poor healer girl with the most unfortunate assignment. Arafinwe is wonderful with his endearing "Finda".
Okay, so i'm really tired and not entirely with it while reading...Did Finrod with his self-satisfied smile know he was miscalling the names or did he do it on purpose for the entertainment value?
Author's reply
Hi Ellie. I'm glad you enjoyed this. As for Finrod... I think he was well aware of what was going on and just acted as if he were dreaming about when he was younger and trying to keep his brothers and sister quiet in the morning so as not to disturb their parents. At any rate, it worked, didn't it? *grin*
Larner
· 20 July 2008
· Chapter 19: Recovery
Well, I would say they are back--and with a vengeance!
Author's reply
Yes, indeed. *grin*
Ellie
· 19 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
This chapter was beautiful with the unraveling of the fear. I am continualy amazed and awed by the way you depict the elves as powerful one minute and almost as little children the next and the Valar mighty as one minute and as little children playing with a fascinating toy the next. Loved Eru's Blessing "bestowed" upon Beleg and Finrod.
The deeper meanings in many of these chapters are quite awesome to behold.
For some reason the new chapter notification hasn't been working on your stories, so I've missed some updates. Hope I've got it worked out now.
Author's reply
Hi Ellie. I think it's fair to say that we are all like the Elves and Valar: adults one minute and children the next, depending on the situation. *grin*
I'm glad you found this chapter to your liking. Thanks.
Sometimes I don't get review alerts myself and will come across reviews unexpectedly. Not sure why. I hope you are able to solve the problem at your end.
A very interesting and somewhat disturbing chapter. I personally find the portrayal of Eru as female a bit uncomfortable, though I understand the fact such a being would have to have the qualities of both male and female. I think you handle it brilliantly, despite my ingrained doctrines. *grin*
I'm very glad they were untangled. I'm sure Finrod would not wish to explain to Amarie that he was accidentally bound to Beleg. *cheesy grin* Overall, a very intriguing bit of writing and characterization. I look forward to more... *glances at calendar* Will we get more before you leave? I will so be going through Fiondil withdrawal!!! *sulks*
*wink*
Author's reply
The concept of the feminine in the Divine is one that not all faith traditions share. Among Catholics you are as likely to have people describe God as Mother as well as Father. More than likely this is due to the Marian tradition which gives a feminine face to the Creator. And, in the Hebrew and Greek, the word for Spirit (ruah and pneuma, respectively) is feminine rather than masculine as it is in Latin, thus showing God's Spirit in a feminine guise is perfectly orthodox. *grin*
I should be posting at least 2 more chapters before I leave from my trip and it's possible that along the way I will have intenet so I may be able to post additional chapters of this and my other stories but I cannot guarantee it. You'll just have to hang on until I get settled again. You could always re-read EI1 while you're waiting. *grin*
Thanks for reviewing, NiRi. I really appreciate it.
Larner
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
"And Grace has set me free." So it proved for these two. Nice healing for the two of them.
Author's reply
Thanks, Larner. That's exactly the sentiment I wanted to convey here. Glad you liked the chapter.
6336
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
Ah, I had a feeling Atar might have to give Namo and Co., a hand to seperate them.
Oops, Finderato and Beleg were a little to close for comfort and I could see how the harder they tried to seperate the harder it would be, like tugging on a tangle!
What a beautiful name, Eru's sweetness, everyone can do with some of it now and then!
Lynda
Who is off for another nap, these meds are knocking me for a loop! Wheee!
Author's reply
What a beautiful name, Eru's sweetness, everyone can do with some of it now and then!
That they can and more often then they think. Hope you're feeling better soon. Thanks for taking the time to let me know you're still enjoying this story. I appreciate it.
Kitty
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
Ah well, Oromë got his wish – Atar help us! Do you realise that is the fourth time in what – two weeks? – that Atar had to take action? These six elves are more trouble than the whole rest of Eldamar together! But I think that is an experience neither of these two will ever forget.
No wonder Beleg was screaming. To be entangled in this manner must have been really frightening. I am glad they got out of this with no obvious harm (at least I hope they did ...). Any now they are really back at home! Yay!
Author's reply
Yes, he certainly did... Atar has certainly been busy, but as you say, with this lot it's amazing Aman is still there. lol! We will see what if any consequences of all that hss happened to these particular elves there might be later on. At least they're all home now and that's the imnportant thing at the moment.
GoldenFlower
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
Wonderful writing, as usual, and I can't wait for more :P Loved the, " Hello. Are we home?" line :D
~GS
Author's reply
Thanks GoldenFlower. I'm glad you liked this chapter. Thanks for letting me know.
Tari
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
Isn't God's grace the most precious gift we can receive next to his Son? What a lovely way of explaining it.
Tari
Author's reply
Yes it is. Thanks, Tari. I'm glad you liked this.
Edlyn
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
This was a gorgeous chapter, meldonya. And that seems to be the only thing my mind can come up with to say. I'm definitely going to have to meditate on this one before I can say anything more.
Eru bless.
Edlyn
Author's reply
Hi Edlyn. Thanks. I'm glad you found this such a lovely chapter. Feel free to let me know later when you've processed it what other thoughts come to mind.
The way you describe Beleg taking in everything in stride when he returned to his hroa is just adorable! And so is Finrod's statement: " Hello. Am I home?"
Author's reply
And hopefully they both learned something from the experience. Glad you liked this. Thanks for reviewing.
Lilandriel
· 15 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
good chapter :) *shivers* i don't want to imagine loosing 'myself'. i like being me.
hmm, intriguing concept. i suppose the One can't really be either male or female, even though Eru is always referred to as 'He'. you can't have a whole diamond without all the facets. anything else is lop-sided and incomplete. fascinatng to see this other side of the Creator
Author's reply
Hi Lilandriel. I'm glad you found this fascinating. We tend to refer to God in the masculine but even St. Paul tells us that God is neither male nor female and that has to apply to Eru as well.
Kaylee
· 14 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
Oh, meldonya!!!
It's good to know that the problem with Beleg and Finda was solved so...well, not easily, at least not for the Valar and certainly not for Beleg and Finda, but so quickly once Atar...or should I say Erulisse...*grins* got into the picture. Erulisse, hm? Interesting...^_^
~Kaylee!!!
*who supposes it only makes sense that the One would have both male and female aspects to take on, as He said we were all made in His image...if that made any sense*
Author's reply
Atar... Erulissë... one and the same really, or different aspects of the One. I'm glad you liked this. Thanks for reviewing.
Radbooks
· 14 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
I shiver thinking about that sort of thing happening... it's just, I don't know sort of spooky to me for some reason. I can just see Finrod comforting 'young' Beleg and it happening to them in that sort of horrible situation they were in. But it wasn't a good sign when the three Valar were so worried about it... that didn't set my mind at ease, even though I did know you had to rescue them somehow. *grin* You chose a beautiful way to do it... that truly was a sweet and gentle way to separate them.
Nicely done!
Author's reply
I'm glad you found my solution to untangling Finrod and Beleg to your liking, Radbooks. I think it would be truly horrifying to find myself in a similar situation. Finrod needs to be not so 'helpful'. *grin* Thanks for reviewing.
eiluj
· 14 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
"Atar help us" -- Well, they did ask....
I liked the fire-imagery of Erulissë's gown.
Apparently the fëar in Mandos don't get quite so tangled-up as this -- though the Maiar do have to disentangle them at times. Was the travel between dimensions the complicating factor here?
I wasn't expecting the Laurel and Hardy quotation (more or less Laurel and Hardy -- close enough for me to recognize it, anyway, and I have never been a fan)! [And just after reading GamgeeFest's hobbits struggling with a slew of Elvish terms, and calling the Avari "Atari" and the Moriquendi "Morkenmindi."]
Author's reply
Yes, Atar did indeed help. *grin*
The fëar in Mandos certainly don't get entangled in quiet the same way as Finrod and Beleg did here... in Mandos is more like a puppy pile than anything else.
I didn't intentionally set out to quote Laurel and Hardy and in fact could not remember where that line actually came from. *grin* I'll have to check out GamgeeFest... her hobbit's slaughtering Elvish sounds amusing and I bet the Elves found it hysterical as well.
Alquawende
· 14 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
I'm so relieved that Finrod and Beleg are back to normal. Just who is Erulisse though? Is she another one of the spirits, like the Ainur?
Author's reply
Ah... as to who Erulissë is... in Catholic theology 'Grace' is another name for the Holy Spirit. In both the Greek and Hebrew, the word for 'Spirit' is feminine, which is why I use a feminine figure here. Only in Latin is it masculine. Also, as other reviewers have commented Eru is neither male nor female but has attributes of both (and indeed St. Paul says the same thing). You may recall that when Ingwion met 'Atar' he could never be sure at any point in the conversation if he was speaking to a male figure or a female figure.
Agape4Gondor
· 14 July 2008
· Chapter 18: Entangled Fëar
Lovely, lovely chapter - once we got through the horror!
Author's reply
Thanks, Agape. I'm glad you enjoyed this.
Sunny
· 9 July 2008
· Chapter 16: Beleg and Butterflies
Your subconscious at work? _My_ subconscious certainly seems to find a hammer with which to hit me over the head whenever it finds something it thinks is significant. Or whatever ;-)
Author's reply
I do not deny the possibility of my subconscious working overtime with my stories. *grin* However, I draw from so many different sources when writing it's hard to point to any one thing and say "Yes, this is where I drew my inspiration from". And, like I said, the symoblism of butterflies is apparently multi-cultural... many cultures (not just the Greek one which gave the butterfly the name Psyche) see them as symbols of soul-transformation and rightly so.
Sunny
· 9 July 2008
· Chapter 16: Beleg and Butterflies
For some reason those butterflies make me think of a little jewel of a story fro Chinese classical literature:
One day about sunset, Zhuangzi dozed off and dreamed that he turned into a butterfly.
He flapped his wings and sure enough he was a butterfly...
What a joyful feeling as he fluttered about, he completely forgot that he was Zhuangzi.
Soon though, he realized that that proud butterfly was really Zhuangzi who dreamed he was a butterfly, or was it a butterfly who dreamed he was Zhuangzi!
Maybe Zhuangzi was the butterfly, and maybe the butterfly was Zhungzi? This is what is meant by the "transformation of things."
Is there a connection here?
Author's reply
While I've heard of this story, I was not thinking of it when I wrote this. Butterflies are symbols of transformation and in the West represent the soul, whether living, dying or dead. It is the only creature that changes its DNA structure completely from when its a caterpillar to when it becomes a butterfly. I think it's a very apt symbol then for the Reborn on several levels.
Thanks for pointing out the tale of Zhungzi, though. I'm sure other reviewers will find it interesting for it's connections with my story.
Tari
· 7 July 2008
· Chapter 17: Aftermath
Separating Beleg’s fëa from Findaráto’s would be such a delicate job. I have no doubt that the Valar are up to the challenge. I hope they succeed, as I am sure they will.
This was another fascinating chapter. How did you create all the names of the Maiar?
Tari
Author's reply
In creating names for any of my characters I primarily use Helge Fauskanger's Quenya-English-Quenya Wordlists or DragonFlames' Sindarin Dictionary depending on what language I want the name to be in. So I'm very careful not to 'invent' an Elvish-sounding name like some writers will do. I prefer to use the actual langauges for name formation.
I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. We'll find out in the next chapter how the two fëar fare.
harrowcat
· 7 July 2008
· Chapter 17: Aftermath
Every now and again i help my dad in his garden. lately my job has been to clear the bindweed away from the honeysuckle. Hard to do without damaging the honeysuckle. Harder still if you had to worry about damaging both plants/fear
Author's reply
Now you know what Námo and Irmo face with Finrod and Beleg. *grin*. Thanks for your comments. I'm glad you are able to find parallels between this story and real life. Makes it all the more interesting, I think.
eiluj
· 6 July 2008
· Chapter 17: Aftermath
"He could already ‘hear’ the rather clinical debate going on between Aulë and Ulmo about the method of transference of the Mirroanwi between dimensions and what that might mean for the future" -- Little do they know what lies in store, in just a couple of thousand years!
I can't believe it's not Glorfindel this time who has the problem.... [Yes, I know sometimes it's not Glorfindel -- but the incidents involving Glorfindel are just so much more memorable.... Yes, I know: you give him the best parts because it's his story....]
Loved the Maiar fighting over who got to take care of Finrod and Glorfindel.
Author's reply
Well, Glorfindel's had his fair share of causing trouble, so now it's someone else's turn. lol
Glad you liked the chapter, especially the Maiar fighting over Finrod and Glorfindel. Thanks for reviewing.