Reviews (941)

OaMXpHHH8UlE · 28 April 2016 · Chapter 22: Ingwë at Formenos

Yup, that shluod defo do the trick!

Amony · 17 September 2014 · Chapter 0: Lehta Mandostello

Just a question, what would Melkor wear???? I mean he is supposedly the "DARK" lord, but Namo already claimed the black colour :D :D :D but you said before that Namo and Melkor's auras were violet except that Melkor's was a litte reddish, :D :D and I have have to assume that Melkor's hair is black, :D but this time Namo's is a little blueish :D :D so does that mean that he will wear black as well,??? :D :D :D But I would like to think that Vaire will weave him "pink" and "yellow" clothes as a punishment :D :D :D after all black works great on pink :D :D :D :D ............................... though it wont work on Namo :D . As lovely a story as ever Fiondil :D

Sunny · 1 September 2014 · Chapter 47: The Feast of Thanksgiving Commences

I'm rereading this story, and I wonder if Elemmacar is the Elf known as Gilvagor in Elf Interrupted?

Amna Abou Elela · 23 July 2014 · Chapter 12: Family Council

I rather don't understand what Namo should learn from them ????? :D

AmazingWriter123 · 20 October 2013 · Chapter 114: A Collision of Fates

I found this here and so decided to leave a review. What did poor Ingil do that he had to die!!!! (It isn't fair that he should die and Ingoldo should live)

Imhiriel · 9 July 2013 · Chapter 129: Epilogue: A New Age Begins

Metta! *leans back smiling and with a satisfied sigh* That was a worthy epilogue to yet one more of your wonderful stories! I was entertained, it made me smile and laugh, and cry and angry, and tense and bibber, and think and ponder. It was dark in places, as it should be considering the time period covered. And it was a wonderful combination of close adherence to canon where such exists, believable extrapolation from hints and snippets Tolkien gave us, and your marvellous original inventions. Thank you very much, Fiondil!

Imhiriel · 9 July 2013 · Chapter 128: The Noldóran Restored

Various things you could have heard from my room as I was reading this chapter: Juhu! Huzzah! The Eagles are coming! (well, that one is tradition ;-)...) And once again a beautiful description of the rising of the new light, just as I had hoped (and was sure you would provide). I really like the idea of Isil and Anar as signs of the covenant between the Valar and the Children of Eru. It reminds me of the Old Testament, when God made the rainbow a sign of his covenant with Men to never again send a Flood. Oh, Aranfinwë, you're too funny! On balance, I liked the to and fro between the splendour of the ceremony and the rising of Anar, and OTOH those little touches of humour and the personal details. I also have some rather unformed ideas about the lovely poignancy of the rising of the sun in the middle of Aranfinwë's coronation linking to his son Finrod "Friend of Men" linking to the Awakening of Men as the Sun rose over Hildórien.

Imhiriel · 9 July 2013 · Chapter 126: Moonrise

What an awesome (in the true sense of the word) first sight of Ithil! And I loved the symbolism tied to Ingwion. I've been trying to wrap my mind around just how new this light is. And thinking ahead, how even more new Anar will be. Imagine all you knew is the dark only illumated with stars. Then come the trees, and I wonder just how bright the light was during the Minglings. But then sun - daylight - daybright. Just how bright will everything be? How different will everything look, the colours, the shadows, the shadings, the perspectives? I remember reading a story a long time ago that described the rising of moon and sun from the perspective of people in Elu Thingol's court, who wouldn't even have seen the light of the Trees to have any comparison. I wish I could remember what that story was and re-read it, because apparently it left quite the impression on me for years afterwards. "Something for the loremasters to argue over," Arafinwë said with a wicked grin. "And all the while, some elfling will call it something out of the simplicity of his or her vocabulary and everyone else will pick up on it and when the loremasters finally trot out their perfect name for the orb, it will be ignored for the child’s word." Hehehe! Seems that loremaster won't change much in all that time from here until Aragorn complains about the same thing in the Houses of Healing... That was a lovely way to end the chapter, with its echo to its opening.

Imhiriel · 9 July 2013 · Chapter 124: The High King’s Justice

I was snickering all through the opening scenes of the chapter because of the black humour with which Námo reacts to his skewering. I could so hear his exasperated, dry voice! This struck me as particularly funny: "If you move, I will do terrible things to you," the Lord of Mandos threatened and Ingoldo gulped. "And don’t even think about fainting, either." Ingoldo shook his head. Because the threat is soooo vague and yet effective. And then the warning against fainting as if it's just another way to move forbidden to Ingoldo. re: Ingoldo being sent to the mines: "Unfortunately, I don’t think my nobles would allow it." So is there a difference between justice for the common man and justice for nobles in the Elves' court? It's odd that my first thought when reading about Tol Eressëa as the place of exile was, "It's too good for him." Although you remind us of the fact that the island is completely deserted at this point in time, I guess I still think so. Mostly perhaps for symbolic reasons, for what Tol Eressëa stood for in the Elves' past history as well as for what it is going to become in the future. re: Tulcaner: We have no real evidence that he did anything other than to obey your commands and he was very careful not to exceed them or be caught doing something contrary to law I don't think that's right. He did something unlawful because he was the leader of the group who abducted the king, he imprisoned others of the royal family in Vanyamar, and he beat up Tamurilon. He also quite clearly wasn't one of the Elves who were blackmailed into complying with Ingoldo's orders like the ones swearing fealty in the previous chapter. You could say he was following the orders of his lord, but even if you posit that that's an excuse (and at least we now generally perceive that it isn't), it still doesn't negate the unlawfulness of the action itself. So Ingwë's argument here is at least curtailed, and not up to scratch. OTOH, I'm not quite comfortable with the open-endedness of Ingoldo's exile. IMO, it would be better that, if there is to be no set time of the exile, Ingwë should at least name some terms under which he decides that it is ended. Otherwise it depends too much on the king's whim, even if I don't think Ingwë would abuse his power in this way. Typo alert: "And who’s bright idea was it to let you carry a sword, Ingwion?" - "whose" Námo had a sudden urge to slap the Elder King up side his head. - "upside"

Imhiriel · 8 July 2013 · Chapter 119: Return to Vanyamar

Right up to the evil cliffhanger, this chapter left me feeling very quiet and solemn, very appropriate considering what it entails. I also asked myself how many of the Vanyar lining the streets to watch the hearse go by and later on to pay their respects to Ingalaurë were at least partially motivated by curiosity. How many of them had ever bevor seen a dead body? An empty hröa, without the fëa that enlivens it? I don't necessarily mean prurience, although I can imagine it was that for some, but just - how can you wrap your mind around such a totally alien concept, and here is the example to what they only know is possible in theory. Oh, and before I forget it again, I've long wanted to compliment you on how you convey the Elves' (and also Valar's) utter unfamiliarity with certain concepts (that to us are completely normal), how they don't even have words to describe those concepts, which is especially poignant considering they call themselves the Quendi, and the crucial role language has in Tolkien. And that's a very tense cliffhanger. At first when it was revealed that Ingwion is missing, I thought he might be hiding in his childhood hidey-hole. But this - uh oh.. Now we'll learn just why Ingoldo is so afraid of Ingwion.

Imhiriel · 8 July 2013 · Chapter 115: Ingwion Furioso

I could say something reasonable and pertinent about the excellent writing in this chapter, particularly the first half, vividly portraying grief in its many facettes. Vacillating between absolute numbness and incomprehension, and sudden hyperaware flashes where everything grinds itself all the more into the soul. Where the famous "stages of grief" seem to crash on one all at once, all jumbled together. Or I could just say, I'm having a bit of trouble writing this review, because my sight is blurry. It was this: "I c-c-can’t feel him," that did it for me.

Imhiriel · 8 July 2013 · Chapter 103: The Making of the Great Lights and Other Matters

The scenes among the Valar in this chapter may be my favourite scenes of the story overall so far. I like the sense of community and purpose.The way you combine the mythological and the astronomical about re: Sun and Moon in a way that it makes sense. And including that lovely - and educational - quotation in the author's notes. I liked the tender scene between brother and sister; it's good to know the Consoler can also help "She who weeps". I was also intrigued by this: "You are one of our greatest strategists, Námo," Oromë said before Manwë could reply. "You could teach him what he needs to know to be a good leader and commander." A role we have Námo seldom seen take on, and perhaps at first sight incongruous. And yet, his foresight gives him insight and oversight (pun intended) over the bigger picture. And how interesting that so early on there was already a discussion about Ingwion as Námo's apprentice. Two things I wanted to add from remarks in the comments: 1) If I recall correctly, Tolkien modelled the "gender" of Sun and Moon from German custom; here, it's indeed "die Sonne & der Mond". 2) I nearly threw my Laptop on the floor when I burst out laughing at the image of Námo having a hairdresser! I can just see him, all prim and proper, flitting about the Lord of Mandos with his scissors, round and round, cutting one hair at a time one millimetre at a time, all the while going "hmmm, hmmm, hmmmmmmm...", and "tsk, tsk, tsk...", with his head held to the side in an earnestly assessing and disapproving manner at what atrocities Námo has managed to do this time to "his" oeuvre.

Imhiriel · 8 July 2013 · Chapter 102: An Audience with Lord Manwë

What an interesting, poignant, haunting twist to have the Teleri be the ones to start the actual kinslaying! It adds a whole other layer to that whole tragic mess. I wonder if that will change the attitude the Teleri will have towards the Noldor. I'm afraid not too much - nobody wants to be reminded of their own fault when it's easier to bear grievances against others. But I suspect at least Olwë will use that fact to keep a lide on too extreme reactions, e.g. by Ainairos and others of a like mindset, smart politician as the king has shown himself so far. But still, I'm with Olwë. It's the Noldor's own fault for attacking the havens and wanting to steal the ships - people have a right to defend themselves and their property, and if the aggressor and thief gets hurt, well, he put himself at risk by impinging on another person's rights unlawfully. And I also think he is right that the Valar owe him... hm, something... Before, the Valar immediately acted when the Peace was breached, when Fëanáro "merely" threatened his brother, when no actual harm bar a fright had been done. And while I do see their wisdom in what they tell the Elves here about the need to stand on their own feet, why do they decide to change their politics in the face of wholesale slaughter? As I said before, a forewarning would only have been fair for the Elves to adjust to the new circumstances, particularly the Teleri who had only sparse news of what went on beyond the Pélori. I like how you have structured these last several chapters. They go quite a bit back in time to catch the several key players up to the present, and by framing it as a narrative by the Valar to Arafinwë, you give it a nice coherency.

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 95: Ingalaurë Alone

I admit it: Almáriel impressed me here, and I cheered when she spoke as the first, and revealed how shrewd she was. I may yet forgive her her excessive mother-henning ;-)... And good for Ingalaurë, too. In fact, I loved the whole council scene, and how quickly Ingoldo was reduced to slinking away with his metaphorical tail between his legs. Although I suppose that might have been a front, and he quickly rallies again, nonetheless, a victory for justice was struck. And at the least, his full perfidy is laid open, and nobody believes his lies and insinuations, which I had feared might have been more successful. I would have liked to learn more about what was going through his head when he decided to personally beat his nephew blue and black. His lack of any reaction - hesitation; realisation that he was actually doing bodily harm against a fellow elf and moreover against his own nephew, that he had dared step over that line; even any show of satisfaction - would have been somehow more understandable as his cold, unfeeling, calculated action. It frightened me. I wonder just how he came to amass so much power that he was able to convince so many of the guards to go over to him. You mentioned that there are some who he is blackmailing, but even then he has to have the manpower - or at least the appearance of manpower - to be able to convince them of the validity of his threats. Seems the rot is (almost?) as deep in Vanyarin society as in Noldorin. It's just that the latter go out and spread it, whereas the former contain it among themselves. Perhaps reflective of the typical temperament of their respective people.

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 91: Noldóran

Aaaand I've once more forgotten to add something in my review *blushes*, but I have a question: Tiutalion expressly stated that the book he gave Arafinwë was for him alone, and no one would know what was in it unless he chose to share it. And yet, several Valar quite unabashedly took it without him knowing, much less consenting, and read what was written there, several times. And as someone who had to censor her own diary as a teenager because her mother kept reading it and complaining how I wrote about my parents - that seriously upset and disconcerted me. Do you have an explanation for the Valars' actions?

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 91: Noldóran

What a satisfying end of the chapter and this episode in the overall story! And now I hope Arafinwë can take on a more active role in helping his own folk in picking up the pieces, and helping the rightful rulers of the Vanyar out of the mess Ingoldo made of things. I always squirm uncomfortably while reading those scenes of "thralldom" in your work, everything rebelling in me against witnessing those acts and expectations of willing subservience. But they always make me think, and weigh my opinions, and ponder, and be more aware of my own spiritual and philosophical stances. And while I still may not agree with everything presented here, I think it help me grow as a person, even as a middle-aged adult. And I sincerely thank you for that, Fiondil!

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 83: Judgment

Oooh. A very powerful chapter! And much of what I was feeling and thinking has already been mentioned in other reviews. I must say, I'm so glad I know from your other works how the Valar operate and their way of showing the true meaning of serving/thralldom, otherwise I think this chapter would have been nigh unbearable. As it is, it's still shudder-inducing, but I can appreciate the subtleties and true meanings of their doings, and can see beyond poor Arafinwë's schocked and biased experience. And that he is not truly being treated as a dog, collar, leash and all. Yes, as you say it's a kind of twisted arrogance to demand so vehemently on taking on so much guilt, both warranted and not, and practically force the Valar to damn well damn him as he insists. Still: poor Arafinwë. I'm with Shemyaza: it would perhaps have not been a bad idea to deal with Fëanáro in a similar way to show him what that word "thrall" really means he keeps bandying about so ligthtly. Although - it still wouldn't be as bad as what a thrall would be of truly evil masters as he imagines the Valar to be. Harsh lessons, but Arafinwë will not only learn humility, but also shown by Manwë's example how to be a true king and leader. And I was surprised as well that this way where his nickname came from, although in hindsight the clues were there.

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 79: Ilmarin

Wow. The Valar certainly chose a fine moment to do a complete u-turn in how they deal with the Elves! Prior to this, it was always, "we don't interfere, unless the Peace of Valinor is breached. Or unless we are actively asked for help." Now, both have happended and suddenly *crickets*. Or, not merely *crickets*, but rather a brutal dismissal of their most loyal subjects. "Wayward elf", indeed. I suppose in principle I understand their PoV, and they are right that with all that is happening, they have other concerns. But at least a little forewarning might have been nice. "Sorry, elves, from now on you're on your own. So plan accordingly." Might have saved time and the trip up the mountain, and given them time to think about other plans. Now they've run against a wall and have to start from a completely new game board. I see from your responses that the next chapter will present the Valar's PoV. I'm curious how that will change how I see it, because at the moment, I'm rather fuming at them ;-). And I worry about Ingwion. That's the second or third time that he had to scream to let out his emotions, and I feel the cracks are starting to show.

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 71: Prophecy and Doom

I forgot to add one thing (and sorry for swamping your in-box!): I teared up when you wrote that Námo wept all the while he uttered his doom. I do hope his wife and the other Valar can console him. He will need all the emotional strength he can get in the next days with his halls filling with the victims of the Kinslaying.

Imhiriel · 7 July 2013 · Chapter 71: Prophecy and Doom

And lo! Behold, this is the SILM chapter when Arafinwë became of all the Elves my most beloved! (I'm infected by the grandiose language, as you see ;-), but it's true, with only a couple of others to equal him in my esteem) He is the furthest from being a coward as you can get. To 1) recognise, 2) acknowledge and 3) seek to redress the error of his ways he shows what true bravey and wisdom is. Knowing full well what will await him: a shattered, pitiful remnant of his own people, the kinslaying with his personal ties to the Teleri, the estrangement of the Vanyar, and whatever he imagines he might expect from the Valar. I truly hopes he comes to learn that his was a most brave, honourable and heroic decision! Everytime I see Námo's speech, a shiver courses through me. I always have to read it a few times slowly and really let it sink in and let it reverberate before I continue on. I loved the small detail that he was so unmoving that the wind didn't even stir his clothes. I appreciated Eru's discussion with Manwë at the end as it puts into the record one of my perennial gripes against the Valar and their disposition of the Elves and their Stewardship of places in Arda other than Aman. I didn't know this was even part of canon, and I'm glad to hear it.

Imhiriel · 6 July 2013 · Chapter 69: A Deathness of Swans

I hadn't intended to review quite so often, but this chapter... Oh, Fiondil, what a horror to juxtapose this one with the last one. Both showing featuring familiar characters to spotlight a range of details, but what a contrast. Although over the last one already hovers the dread of what is to come, in this one you show it in stark, terrible details. Well done, but oh, my heart! I don't recall, is this the first time we actually learn something about Glorfindel's parents? Did his father recognise that he had just killed his own wife? And what happened to him - I presume he died soon, too? And this chapter was also remarkably visual - I often have a hard time really picturing scenes as more than vague outlines and nebulous figures blocked in scenes, but this I could see in my mind's eye very well. Alas!

Imhiriel · 6 July 2013 · Chapter 68: The Faring Forth

That was a beautiful chapter, using people familiar to us through your other writings to illustrate what would be happening all over Tirion. And to learn where their stories intersect "the big story" that will lead them all on such circuitous paths back towards Aman again. I have to grumble about Ingwion here. I'm quite accustomed to the inequality of gender roles in Tolkien's writing - some window dressing about Elven equality notwithstanding, it still almost always comes down to "men first" (though Númenor was better in that regard). But Ingwion's repeated show of male chauvinism and snearing at the thought of elleth ruling, whether Vanyar or Noldor, is grating.

Imhiriel · 6 July 2013 · Chapter 66: Plots and Counterplots

It's funny, I was reading the scene where the four guards come upon Ingwë and as soon as the first one said his name, I thought, "Uh-oh, Tulkaner!", before he had even finished his sentence with the even more ominous revelation that he was sent by Ingoldo, and even though, although I remembered the name from GI, I couldn't recall any more details about him than a vague sense of "not good". I find Amarië's mother highly presumptous in how she deals with her daughter. She constantly harangues her and treats her like a child, and here she even goes as far as to imprison her? And it's not only an insult to her own grown-up daughter, but also a political faux-pas, I should think, depriving the sister of her king and dowager queen of the Noldor of her newest lady-in-waiting. By all rights, that shouldn't go down so well for Amáriel's "career" (although I suspect that in these troubled times, it won't have major consequences for her, and from stories later on in the timeline, she hasn't felt the need to change, poor Amarië). Seems a favourite way to deal with wayward female offspring, doesn't it *looks askance at Elu Thingol*. But now to find out what's happening with Ingwë and what Ingoldo is up to...

Imhiriel · 6 July 2013 · Chapter 51: First Sorrow

While reading about the pillars bordering Formenos acting as a barrier, I had been having the niggling sensation that this sounded somewhat familiar, and while reading this chapter I finally knew why: it reminds me of the pillars in the TV series "Lost", that IIRC "the Others" had erected on the island as a barrier. I kept waiting for someone to dare to go between two pillars and get zapped...! ;-) You captured very well the total confusion and cluelessness of the Elves in how to deal with a death, emphasised by some of the very stark, horrific yet mundane details of a what a corpse is. I wonder if Míriel had any foresight when she made that diaphanous cloth and knew it would be used as a shroud one day. I haven't read BolT except in some excerpts, so I don't know the particulars, but I find it interesting how what Fëanáro says hear sound so much like a dress rehearsal for what what he is going to say later in Tirion. One last thing: in ch. 50, you twice write "access/accessing", when I think you meant to write "assess/assessing".

Imhiriel · 5 July 2013 · Chapter 44: Further Discussions Among the Valar

It's been a while that I've read much of any Tolkien fanfiction, and I'm currently enjoying catching up on what you've been gifting us with in the meantime. Although I don't know if "enjoying" is quite the right word for this story, is it? There is a constant cloud of dread hanging over it, coming ever closer, and with this chapter you can't ignore it any longer if you haven even just a smidgen of SILM knowledge. I admit it's uncomfortable (in a good way, good reads should put you through a wringer of emotions), and I'll be glad once this cloud bursts and we no longer have to contrast what we know is going to happening with the false hope and attempts to make things better on the side of the characters that makes it that much more tragic. I'm surfacing on this chapter specifically because I just have to get a rant against Finwë off my chest, else I'm going to eat my keyboard, so please bear with me. That ellon is such a self-indulgent, mindless, ill-considering excuse for a ruler and a father as there is! It's been mentioned several times, but I really do wonder why he bothered to go to the lengths he did to be able to marry Indis with the ostensible reason that he wanted to have more children if he continuously ignores and dismisses them! And it seems he care not one whit that this is not merely a personal family problem, but a public, political problem - and not "merely" for his own Noldor, but for all the Eldar. And he isn't doing Fëanáro any favours either with obviously favouring him and spoiling and indulging him so much. No wonder the "spirit of fire" never showed much self-restraint when he was never much checked or curbed from infancy onwards through what should be adult responsibilities. And no wonder the Valar had to put matters into their own hands when they exiled Fëanáro. I suspect Finwë would have more or less dismissed the incident, and what would that have been as an example for how to deal with a breach of the peace of Valinor? He really put Ñolofinwë in an untenable position. Not only is his being regent a self-fulfilling prophecy that only hightens Fëanáro's doubts and resentments against his brother, but Ñolofinwë is also not undisputed Noldoran in his absence, because of that second "colony" in Formenos. And what Finwë did in this chapter just broke the camel's back as far as I'm concerned, even though it seems a relatively minor detail all things considered. It seems to me almost unforgiveable when he overruled his son's decree. Either he is thoughtless and shortsighted to not see the ramifications on his family and on his people, or he is passively or actively spiteful towards his son and regent - and either way, he should never be ruling again so much as a colony of tumbleweed. *woooooh* Sorry for that ;-)! Anyway, I think I will close my diatribe with saying that it's good in a way what happens next to him, as the dignified manner of his death is the only way he redeemed himself for me at least part-way. Please don't stop writing such immersing plots and characters, Fiondi! And now onwards to the doom-laden, doomful days of doom...