Reviews For ~ Dark Blood ~
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 19:43 · For: Chapter 36 ~ Before The Nightfall Comes ~
I know why thou must die. And when. It fits. Glorfindel, thou wilt have to hold the Haven.
Oh, I see now...I think...
A lovely ending, and you've woven in the openings for a new beginning :) this has been a joy to read, as always!
Author's Response: Narya, I don't know why I did not get these reviews in June, but thank-you very much! Hugs!!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 19:36 · For: Chapter 1 ~ The Moth And The Flame ~
Hmm, the site scoffed part of my last review. Well, it wasn't anything desperately important - I was just wondering what Van had seen, but I suppose all will be revealed in due course ;)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 19:32 · For: Chapter 35 ~ Epiphany ~
His expression showed, for a fleeting instant, shock, a shadow of fear before the barriers went up. He accepted the vision, and gently spread his fingers on the child's skull. The eyes, which shone fire-diamond, opened, silently considering him.
We will meet again in years to come, but this... Carefully he placed the vision in the infant mind and walled it off. This thou must know only later. Thou wilt be needed, Fëanor.
Let us hope he loves enough to balance the dark, for he treads a very narrow path.
Indeed...
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 19:13 · For: Chapter 33 ~ The Prince And The Peredhil ~
"And," Elrohir said. "Elgalad is dying."
:'(
You know how to write a cliffhanger! Can't wait to see how all this knits together :)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 19:06 · For: Chapter 32 ~ Of Duty And Desire ~
Ah, Eldarion's arrived - I wonder what new tensions this might cause? And Sathari seems an intriguing customer, though no wonder she's feeling awkward at the moment!!!
Author's Response: I never wrote much about Sathari, but a few years ago, Anwyn was going to write of Aragorn's daughter Gilraen who goes to Tanith, and her life there. I like to leave things that can be written of. :)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 18:46 · For: Chapter 30 ~ Storm-rise In The South ~
Oh...poor Elgalad! So close And poor Van, though it often seems like it's Elgalad who suffers most from the nature of their relationship; Van seems able to rationalise it better.
Author's Response: Elgalad does suffer the most - I suppose because of what he is, and *why* he is. :(
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 18:24 · For: Chapter 27 ~ Sorrow And Sweetness ~
*Snorts*
Poor Khanad. I can imagine Van is a difficult house guest!
The funeral was touching, and I'm glad Hamir will have a father figure...and speaking of father figures, the conversation between Fanari and Maglor was brilliant. You're so good at writing these complex, multi-faceted relationships :)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 17:58 · For: Chapter 25 ~ Apotheosis ~
Awesome climax there :D who'd have thought, Fëanor and Van, quite literally united against Morgoth?
But...hold on, what's happened to Sauron...?
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 17:49 · For: Chapter 23 ~ Even The Strong Can Weep ~
Something once beautiful looked out of a withered face, and did not understand what the years had done to it.
Fabulous description :) I can see her perfectly.
''Angband...Oh, blessed Eru. Thou art Elf !''
*Jaw drops*
Well, I was way off with my guesses! I guess that's what comes from reading things in the wrong order!!
Mothers looked around, fearfully drawing their offspring close, some men shuffled, older women with hard, pinched faces glared accusingly.
Ugh. Mob mentality. I guess some things never change...
I like the way you handled Yanie's guilt - or rather, lack thereof. It was an interesting and startling glimpse into the human psyche.
''B-B-br-brother. K-kill m-me.''
*Jaw drops again*
Oh, no :'( that's just too sad! But how did she get so withered? Was it because of the torture in Angband?
Note to self: in future, definitely, DEFINITELY read in order!
Author's Response: Vanya's life is still a mystery that I haven't yet written, though I do know it; I think Morgoth cursed her so that she would age and never die, but that is not the whole story; I will get to that in the last one. Thank-you for reading and reviewing, Narya. I will answer the others, but I have vertigo today, and can't sit at the comp for long. Hugs!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 13:48 · For: Chapter 21 ~ Bonfires ~
Ah, I should have guessed Pallando was behind this...will we be seeing anything of Alatar?
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 13:39 · For: Chapter 20 ~ Sleepless ~
Ooh! Intriguing :) I wonder what they're after? And what had spooked the mare? Or had she just heard the riders?
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: June 09, 2012 13:35 · For: Chapter 19 ~ Powers and Kings ~
*Waves*
Sorry for being quiet for a while - graduation admin and so on! Hope you're feeling better today *hugs*
''What in the bloody Hells art thou doing?'' Fëanor asked in a deadly quiet voice. ''Well?''
''I thought to try him, as thou hast!''
''Try him? Is he a horse?''
*Snorts* ah, Fëanor...I loved the description of his garden, it was perfect!
This was one heck of a chapter :) all that build up, and all the erotic tension, then all of a sudden this...
Something slammed into his mind, and deluged it with malignant darkness...
And the sky over New Ciuviénen broke in blood-red light.
Onwards! :D
Author's Response: Thank-you Narya, and again congratulations on your First! /
I enjoy mentally designing gardens, I think :)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 21, 2012 13:39 · For: Chapter 18 ~ Gil-galad, My King ~
''Thank the One it is not Fëanor who is our Vala, for he would make one more dangerous than Morgoth."
Funnily enough, I'd been pondering this idea - Fëanor made Vala - and I think Gil-galad is right. He'd be more dangerous than Morgoth, because he's so much more unpredictable. Morgoth wants to control; Fëanor would do things for what sounded like the right reasons, and end up causing chaos. But I'm still on his side as far as canon goes; he's much more alive and identifiable to me than any of the Valar! Your particular Fëanor has a strength and fire that Tolkien's didn't - hence he'd be that much more dangerous.
It was good to see more of Gil-galad and Tindómion, and to see their complex relationship explored. You draw difficult love affairs so beautifully - poor Tindómion, knowing he has doomed his best friend! And Gil-galad's refusal to repent is so right for his character. It'll be fascinating to see if and how this resolves.
Author's Response: Fëanor made Vala - and I think Gil-galad is right. He'd be more dangerous than Morgoth, because he's so much more unpredictable. Morgoth wants to control; Fëanor would do things for what sounded like the right reasons, and end up causing chaos. But I'm still on his side as far as canon goes; he's much more alive and identifiable to me than any of the Valar! Your particular Fëanor has a strength and fire that Tolkien's didn't - hence he'd be that much more dangerous.
Fëanor definitely has a role to play, when I manage to get that far! But I do love him, and his 'strength and fire' :) So glad you do.
Tindómion and Gil, I also love, and it pleases me when other people do. Writing this was difficult since I had to include things happening in New Cuivienen, yet references to non-canon stories like Gil-galad's and Tindómion were tricky, since Lords of the Light was not posted, and it was clear that the readers on LOTRFF were much more LOTR fans than Silm fans, so I decided to include some flashbacks, or why would any-one care about them? Really, I should have posted Dark Prince, then Lords of the Light, but there's still the thing with people not reading Silm-fic, so I'll just let this stand as it is. People can read LotL of they want, and if not, there's enough info about Gil-galad and Tindómion to flesh out the bare-bones.
Thank-you so much for the review, Narya!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 20, 2012 21:27 · For: Chapter 17 ~ The Power Of Desire ~
''Your er...friend...?''
Vanimórë raised his brows. ''Which one, I have so many, after all. He visits for a while only.''
"I have no objection. But I did wonder if he were here under duress. From what I have heard, he seems to hate thee."
"No, I assure thee." The violet eyes laughed. "He only thinks he hates me."
This exchange just killed me :D I'm really enjoying the increase in Van/Maglor situations!
The old woman is making me nervous though...I wonder if her influence might make Zochana a danger? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Author's Response: I'm really enjoying the increase in Van/Maglor situations!
Aww, thank-you. I really love those too. I don't know...I seem to much prefer menages and complicated relationships than anything that runs smoothly; there's just no conflict for me to get my teeth into after the initail 'courtship dance'. But these two I like a lot, and enjoy it when I can write them, so thank-you very much :)
I wonder if her influence might make Zochana a danger? Or am I barking up the wrong tree?
Thankfully, you are barking up the wrong tree. All will be revealed anon. :) And thank-you again.
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 20, 2012 21:14 · For: Chapter 15 ~ The Fascination Of The Flame ~
And the intrigue continues to build...the old woman is a fascinating character, and Elgalad seems to be growing more and more powerless to resist Fëanor.
Sorry my reviews and comments have slowed down; I'm trying (and failing) to study. I'm still following!
Author's Response: No worried, Narya. I am ecstatic to get any reviews. :) Thank-you for taking the time. :)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 18, 2012 0:24 · For: Chapter 14 ~ Fell Fires ~
AHHHH!!!! IT'S A BLUE WIZARD!!!
Totally awesome, though I should have figured you'd use them, given where some of these stories are set. But still, major excitement :D
Author's Response: Thank-you Narya; all we really know is the Blue Wizards went east, so because I was over that way it seemed a good idea to use one of them. :)
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 18, 2012 0:07 · For: Chapter 12 ~ To The Brink Of The Chasm ~
"What in the Hells is happening now?" Maedhros kept his voice low.
''Thy father is happening, Maedhros,'' Glorfindel responded.
Haha. Love it.
You ratchet up the tension brilliantly in this scene - though I really want to slap Curufin! :P
Fëanor felt an icy touch at the back of his neck, and Fingolfin said: ''I love thee, brother, but thou wilt not threaten my son.''
:D I like your Fingolfin a lot; he's the perfect foil for Fëanor, but of course he wouldn't allow his own son to be threatened.
Author's Response: Heeh Fëanor 'happens' a lot. :D
I like your Fingolfin a lot; he's the perfect foil for Fëanor, but of course he wouldn't allow his own son to be threatened.
No. And Fëanor knows it really; he is just inclined, as we know from the Silm, to let temper overrule him.
Thank-you, Narya!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 16, 2012 22:29 · For: Chapter 11 ~ Magnificent Obsessions ~
Things are going well thanks :) reading and writing fanfic counts as Tolkien revision, right?! ;)
I love that even though Van is darker than before, he hasn't lost his compassion - and of course Fëanor and Fingolfin were as magnificently written as ever.
Author's Response: reading and writing fanfic counts as Tolkien revision, right?! ;)
:D It would for me :)
he hasn't lost his compassion - and of course Fëanor and Fingolfin were as magnificently written as ever.
Thank-you. Sadly Van does become darker, but that is just the way it's meant to be. And I do always love writing Fëanor and Fingolfin. Hugs!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 16, 2012 20:02 · For: Chapter 10 ~ Passionate Impasse ~
''No. It was a strange one. On the inside of her wrist. I saw it when her sleeve slipped down. A crown, three jewels in it – black, like iron. An Iron Crown...''
Dramatic drum roll...
I loved the scene with Van and Maglor. You explore the nuances of their mutual attraction and not-so-mutual hatred beautifully.
Author's Response: Dramatic drum roll...
Dun dun duuun!
Sometimes I forget this story, or indeed anything older than a couple of years ago. But this was important. O.o.
You explore the nuances of their mutual attraction and not-so-mutual hatred beautifully.
I do love exploring that :) Thank-you, Narya. Hope all is going well.
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 16, 2012 19:39 · For: Chapter 7 ~ Well Met, Old Friend ~
Haha, good trick, Van ;)
I always find it so sad when mortals distrust the Elves to such an extent :(
Author's Response: good trick, Van ;)
*Snort*
I think these particular Men would only have filtered-down stories of Elves, unlike the people of Gondor. Even Eomer was rather distrustful of the 'White Lady' and the Rohirrim lived far closer to any Elven settlements.
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 14, 2012 23:25 · For: Chapter 6 ~ An Ancient Burning ~
''I wanted to feel something...'' He swallowed. ''And I did, and he w-will know I was n-not....unwilling. He was gone, and I t-turned to another; that is wh-what it will seem like. And th-there is truth to it.''
Oh, poor Elgalad. I feel so sorry for him here, but what else could he do? I guess trying to resist Fëanor is about as pointless as...well...trying to resist Van.
''I murdered my mother? Is that not what the Valar said? That I drained her of life in the womb, that I was ill-begotten? That I should never have been born?'' There was something terrifyingly flat in the words.
Oh heavens. This is a gut-wrenching chapter.
I love the relationship you write between the brothers; this might actually be my second-favourite pairing in your 'verse (Van and Elgalad snag the top spot, obviously).
''Just now, this dawn! What hast thou done?''
''I am become weary of being asked that,''
*snorts* never fails to come up with a quip! He reminds me more and more of Van - though there's something hotter and fiercer about Fëanor, I feel. Not that Van's not fierce...just less impetuous, I guess, apart from where Elgalad's concerned :P
Author's Response: I love the relationship you write between the brothers; this might actually be my second-favourite pairing in your 'verse (Van and Elgalad snag the top spot, obviously).
I have to squee at that, because I am convinced this is canon. I wouldn't write it if I didn't, lol. But I do love these two; I feel there really is immense love between them. That does not stop Fëanor being Fëanor of course, with Elgalad, or any-one else. I don't think Elgalad is feeling guilty of the act itself, but that it might appear to Van that as soon as he was *gone* Elgalad turned to some-one else. Poor Elgalad by now has had years of 'almost' sleeping with Van, so I cannot say I blame him.
though there's something hotter and fiercer about Fëanor,
yes, I feel there is; it's probably Van's long life as a slave that makes him cooler-headed, perhaps, but there are also similarities between them, that are important to the plot. :) Thank-you so much for taking time out of your revision, Narya!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 14, 2012 23:08 · For: Chapter 5 ~ A Change In The Tides ~
“You deliberately disobeyed me, and you placed Anwyn in danger as well!”
Oh ye gods, I don't know if it's because I'm ill and suffering from revision brain but these days when I'm reading I can't seem to help making the most inappropriate associations. This time I was reminded of the scene in The Lion King where Mufasa tells Simba off after the elephant graveyard...
I love that Anwyn isn't afraid to speak her mind, even in front of Imrahil.
Author's Response: Awww, I am sorry to hear you are still feeling poorly Narya, I hope you are better soon. Eeee, you are right! I swear that I was not inspired by that as I have not sat through all all of the Lion King for years and years now but that association is seriously all types of fun. Elphir and Anwyn as Simba and Nala...yep, I can definitely see that. Now I can't help but imagining the rest of my story cast with lions, It's kinda fantastic, lol. I felt that as this point, after that all she has just been through, Anwyn being able to speak her mind to Imrahil would come both very easily and quickly to Anwyn as she knows what they both have been through, Imrahil does not. While of course Anwyn respects Imrahil a great deal, she simply could not just sit back and allow her husband to be shamed when she knows all too well what he has just gone through.
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 14, 2012 22:56 · For: Chapter 4 ~ Too Fell, Too Fey ~
'Fëanor courts danger as if it were a lover to be won
Squee, this is just how I see him! What a perfect description :) I can't wait for this new dynamic to unfold...
Author's Response: Squee, this is just how I see him!
Me too! :D I am glad other people see him the same way :D Thank-you, Narya. Hope the revision and everything is going well!
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 12, 2012 23:17 · For: Chapter 3 ~ In Your Arms This Night ~
This is a fantastic chapter :) I like that you didn't have their relationship go back to normal straight away; of course things would change and fluctuate. You wrote the storm brilliantly as well; I felt like I was right there on the deck with them. Love it.
Author's Response: Thank you so much Narya, This is a chapter I do remember well as as you picked up on, I really didn't want to have things between them fall back into place like nothing had ever happened as that would be unrealistic. They have been apart for weeks and in that time so much has happened that would just be completely unbelievable. I think the storm in a way was a manifestation of what was being felt between them, the rough feelings and the unsteadiness that everything already established between them felt like it was forged in another lifetime. Thank you so much for the thoughtful review, as always, it means so much.
Name: Narya (Signed) · Date: May 12, 2012 15:20 · For: Chapter 1 ~ The Moth And The Flame ~
A moth and a flame indeed...I just can't stay away!
This was gorgeous, as always - Elgalad's need, Fëanor's seductiveness, Maglor's confusion, all fantastically drawn. Cracking start, but I'll have to ration myself a bit over the next few days; I need to finish my portfolio work!
*Hugs*
Author's Response: Elgalad's need, Fëanor's seductiveness, Maglor's confusion,
Thank-you, Nary. I could not help writing this, although Fëanor would of course seduce for the sake of it, he does have reasons...
Hope your portfolio is going well, and that your stomach is better.