Beautiful Bard, like * Hearts Like The Sea * this is another very early time frame which is wonderfully written. I do like the end, very foreboding with the first thunder of doom.

Very nicely done! I can only imagine the first reaction of the Valar to creatures so small and seemingly weak and "constrained to one aspect"; now you've got the bunnies nibbling me! (Bad bunnies! ;) And those last lines are wonderful; I great conclusion to the piece.

I'll echo the 'very nicely done'! The part that strikes me most strongly is her sense of wonder (awe?) that such a thing can be.

Conversely, their awe at meeting Elentári is portrayed in - well hardly any words at all :)

'Well done' is a poor statement.

Another "well done" from me, Mike! 

I'm struck by Varda's sense of the familiar ("their strength a reflection of that of my kinsmen") and then we see the alien nature of the Valar - "forms confined to one aspect" and Varda hoping that her form will put them at ease.  With those words, you convey a great sense of The Other when considering the Valar.

Those last two sentences capture Varda's grief oh, so well.  One can see how much she cares for the Elder Children of Iluvatar, but can she - The Other - truly understand them?

Beautifully wirtten. Lovely language. I completely agree this is how Varda could veiw the elves. However, if you wanna argue about the Valar, I'm up for it! However, I don't expect they see themselves as interfering and condescending! Nor would I see them as ever being intentionally ill-willed, just think there is another side of the story! (Did I mention how I love it when you write a Silm fic?)

I wanted to leave a different note/review than I just wrote for the MEFA's, but I just read this piece twice over to take this beautiful piece in oh so slowly on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I am glad that I was able to review it on time for the MEFA's, but truly... what genre can you not write! Every time I am amazed by your skill and talents, and thanks so much for sharing this wonderful piece with us at the SWG. In a way this story woke up my muse regarding a novel set prior to the arrival of the elves (my current Nano-novel) and I really like your take on Varda, it kind of reminds me how I initially loved this Valie, but I think Vána has some dire competition now thanks to this piece. Adding this one to my fav's, oh yes!