This is a beautiful piece where I fell in love with Númenor once more, especially thanks to your vivid narrative:

The path took her to the crest of a hill covered with swathes of red poppies. Wild roses bloomed along stone outcrops. Across the shallow vale, she saw a figure sitting on a rock.  Putting her fingers to her lips, she whistled and was answered by a wave and the yip of one of the small black herd-dogs.

or

They had come to this very same rock to sit, a place that allowed an expansive view: the downs rolled away to the South where the ocean lay; to the North, the cone of Meneltarma loomed; beyond lay the great city of Armenelos where the old king, Tar-Palantir, ruled. Grandmother had fixed her with eyes blue as the clear sky above the green hills.

 Simply beautiful. I really loved this peak into Elerína's past, with it's cultural and family background/politics. The conversation with her grandmother made me long for those talks I had with my own, a sage woman talking to a very young but oh so eager maiden. :) Her grandmother's gentle reminder of her position made sense to me, especially given her earlier attachment to the shepherdess.

 If I may make one small comment, you might want to look at the sensual bits for pacing. It reads a bit like that there is only action withought thought (as in the senses). It stands a bit out compared with the rest of the piece although this might be completely me (feel free to twhap me though).

Heh - I ain't going to question the Bard's gentle critique (it's not my territory anyway!) But I have to say, I really enjoy this - the joyfull sex and the complicated politics! 

I am fascinated by a Númenor so different from my take on it!

This is a story I come back to read again and gain. It really is one of my favorite on this site. As we've discussed before, the femslash genre is a small, but fascinating one. I love how you got into the deeper emotions of the characters. I really enjoyed the beginning, the interactions between Elarina and th shepherdess. I really like the idea that there were places in Numenor, and groups of women, that openly embraced the idea of lesbianisim and bisexuality. A lot of the great cultures in hstory had those elements, and it would make sense for a society, where many men were mariners, or did occupations that kept them away from long periods of tim, that he women really developed their own Numenor in a way.

 Your Elarina is fascinating, and a charactr that is tangible, and relatable. I truly adore her grandmother. I wish I had  a grandmother who was so wise and open minded. I like the way she carefully guides Elarina without trying to be overprotective.

 Your descriptions of the sights, smells, sounds, all fabulous. I really could picture everything going on in your story. Very beautifully done.

"blush" I thought I had left a review for this awhile back, but saw I hadn't. Bad Roisin!