I think I really need to stock up on the tissues, Clodia!
Smart of Glorfindel to have the doors to the Hall of fire locked - seeing Melinna would probably have had Erestor going off the deep end - and who says he still won't go a bit crazy? At least a friend was there with him when he finally did see the body - and what had been done to it.
Author's reply
Glorfindel's had more practice handling bereavement than most Elves, at least those still around in Imladris; and sometimes it's easier to hold up if other people need you, I think, so he was putting off the moment too. Sorry to drive you to tissues! The story will get less messy and less intense as things unwind, I expect. Thanks once again for reading and for taking the time to review.
Larner
· 18 April 2012
· Chapter 2: Dragonfly
No wonder Glorfindel barred and locked the doors! What a horrible thing to learn! I'm glad that the rescuers did what they could for her head before he saw it, although it's horrible enough knowing what might have happened.
He and Lindir both have so much reason to grieve, as do the rest of the inhabitants of Imladris.
Author's reply
Yes, everyone in Imladris must have been grieving at this point. And it's worse when disaster strikes in peacetime - at least when there's a war on, you can be prepared for the worst to happen. Thank you again for reading and commenting!
FantasyFan
· 17 April 2012
· Chapter 2: Dragonfly
What a well written story on such a dark subject! The language is poetic and evocative - Erestor's emotions are so strongly drawn. I have not read any of your past work, since I don't often read elves, but now I'll have to go seek it out.
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy anything else you read - Erestor's a key figure in all my stories, but they are almost all about elves and rather heavily First Age and prior.
UTfrog
· 17 April 2012
· Chapter 2: Dragonfly
Very powerful chapter that well recalls those moments in time of great grief where memories spill in and out of your head.
Author's reply
Thank you! I did hope it would work that way; it's great to hear it does.
6336
· 17 April 2012
· Chapter 2: Dragonfly
Oh, Erestor! Poor Melinna! The Orcs knew who she was.
I am not happy reading this, but I find I can't not read it. Does that make sense? You write so well it is scary!
Huggs,
Lynda
Author's reply
I wasn't happy writing this, so I know what you mean. I am very glad you're still reading anyway! Thank you so much for commenting.
Agape4Gondor
· 16 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
Poetically beautiful - yet so fraught with typical Tolkienesque angst.
My goodness. You capture such beauty and peace and joy and then rip it out ruthlessly.
I'm with Jay. I hadn't thought of the other 'victims' of this story.
Nicely done. Can't wait for more.
Author's reply
Thank you! I think that quiet, sunny day by the waterfall is my personal idea of heaven - it was sad to break it up like this, but necessary. I hope the rest of the story is satisfactory!
walkerskye
· 16 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
I love Melinna stories, but had always wondered what could have happened to take her out of the later stories. You gave a fully plausible answer. As to this tale being 'dark' so is the LOTR canon. I look forward to the rest of this saga, eagerly.
Author's reply
Thank you! It's great to hear you like Melinna stories - I always had this as in mind as an end-point, so I'm very glad it's plausible. And I hope the rest of the story is satisfactory!
6336
· 11 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
Nooo! You killed Melinna!? I liked her! Poor Erestor, poor Elrond, poor Imlardris!
In case you didn't realise it, I do like this!
Lynda
Author's reply
I'm very glad you like this! I don't write concentrated misery all that often, so I hesitated rather before posting it. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
BeeGee
· 11 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
Sigh....beautiful and terrible and heart-wrenching. Erestor has been through so many ages of pain, but Melinna has always had his back. I feel as lost as he does! I'll try to formulate a review, but really there is nothing to add. Your writing is exquisite, as always. I applaud your courage in posting this. In all the years I've been reading Tolkien fanfic, I've only known one author who killed off a main character OC; and it caused such an outcry from readers that the OC was resurrected (with original author's permission) in another author's series! Anyway, I'm awaiting another chapter! Peace, BeeGee
Author's reply
This is such a lovely review - thank you so much for taking the time to write it! I definitely hesitated before starting to post this (in fact, I hesitated for several weeks). In the end I decided that fanfic is meant to be shared - and also that since I always intended to end up here, I was certainly going to post it, having finally managed to write it. I hope the rest of the story continues to satisfy!
Jay of Lasgalen
· 11 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
I love the stark contrast between the golden afternoon and Erestor's whimsical daydreams with the terrible news that Glorfindel brings. Most fanfic I've read about Celebrían's capture concentrate on the reactions of Elrond, the twins or Arwen - it's easy to forget that others suffered as well.
Poor, poor Erestor :(
Author's reply
Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! I'm glad the contrast works - I enjoyed setting it up, although it's a very stark one, a bit of a right-angle tonal shift. And I hope to cover the reactions of others too; but I did hope for that slightly different perspective to be an interesting one!
Sunny
· 10 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
When I had read this chapter, I felt the need to review - but I have had trouble doing so. This was almost _too well_ written - you evoked the feelings _I_ had when my father was diagnosed with cancer, and later died. There was the same feeling of the world ripping apart that your Erestor is experiencing here.
Well done.
Author's reply
That's really so much more than I could ever have expected to have achieved with this story. My condolences on your father - a friend of mine died of cancer last year, so I know from that couple-of-steps-removed perspective the long, slow horror of diagnosis and treatment and more treatment and finally failure. (Or recovery, then eventual recurrence several years later, as in my friend's case.) I'm sorry to have brought it back! And thank you so much for taking the time to review anyway.
Larner
· 10 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
So painfully, so well, you have caught the shock of that dreadful moment in time, from the idle, whimsical story Erestor had been weaving in his imagination to the terrible realization that in his terrible grief he's broken the strings of the nightengale harp, even as his own heart is bereft of its love and life with Melinna gone.
This is too, too perfectly written.
Author's reply
Thank you so much! I was, and still am, nervous about posting this story; grief is hard to do and I was afraid I might not pull it off. You reassure me, though.
UTfrog
· 10 April 2012
· Chapter 1: Leaf
I did not plan to read this story because I knew it would be so sad and painful. However, you write so well that I went ahead. This is very strong writing, painful, as expected, but very high quality work. I cannot say I am looking forward to the next chapter, but be assured that I will read it.
Author's reply
That's the highest compliment you could pay me! Thank you very much. I hope you don't regret reading this story in the end.