Sorry, I accidentally left off a review... this replaces the ballot I sent
ten minutes ago.
- Elena Tiriel
The Silmarillion
Official Voting Ballot
First Age
S1-11: Steadfast by Zimraphel
URL:
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1455502/1/
Well, this is really interesting, Zimraphel! You took a moment of history
that I was never particularly interested in and made it a compelling story.
The differences between Ossı and Ulmo alone make the story worth reading. I
was fascinated by the backstory you posited, with the fictional minor House
of the Eagle being decimated by the Battle of the Unnumbered Tears, and how
the major houses took in the widows and children, but the unwed soldiers had
to -- again -- prove their worth to be accepted, and how some Houses had
more desirable lords than others. The bits of canon that I recognized were
spot-on (as I have come to expect from you). It was interesting the way you
had Ulmo speaking through Tuor, and how Voronwı proved his worth by
believing that Turgon should have asked pardon. Really interesting!
Romance
SR4: Taming the Wildflower by Sulriel
URL:
http://www.theoriginalseries.com/wildflower.htm
Oh, my, this is such a powerful story, Sulriel! I don't often read First
Age stories, especially not having to do with the Kinslayers; and at first,
I thought their meeting was not as believable as I would have liked --
looking back, I think I reacted to her being somewhat forward in a way, yet
not protecting herself forcefully from Maedhros's advances. But as I
continued reading the story, I could see how much they loved and missed each
other, so the "love/lust at first sight" scenario became much more
acceptable. "Riding a chestnut stallion" indeed -- that made me laugh --
out of the mouths of babes with extremely sly elders! Thranduil's and
Nimloth's reactions seemed just about right to me -- good thing Nimloth is
so intelligent, to pick up the things that Rhavloth left unsaid. The
hideous monstrosity of the Fıanorean attack on Menegroth when they learned
that Dior had the Silmaril becomes much more of a fateful tragedy when
Maedhros learns that his lover and daughter and granddaughter are there and
were all likely slaughtered... Okay, I'll admit, I never before expected to
have any sense of sympathy for the Kinslayers, even though I knew that
Maedhros tried to saved Elurıd and Elurın, but you made me feel that way.
Your ending of the story in Mandos really made me feel joy and relief that
the Kinslayers' Oath was finally ended, and that Maedhros could finally take
another, more positive, oath of his own free will, one that invokes love
instead of hate -- that really bowled me over! Fine story!
_________________________________________________________________
Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! Download today - it's FREE!
http://messenger.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200471ave/direct/01/