Really, to be perfectly honest, you had me from the summary; "flagrant slander" did it for me.

"after the big row when Father found out about what had happened in Uncle Olwë’s city" -- oh, my. Shame on you!

Another priceless line: "There was just something so terribly innocent about Finrod, that he’d wound up taking part in a rebellion was hard to believe." I have been working very hard on characterization in my current series about the Noldor to try to create a characterization for Finrod that moves away from that one! Too funny for words.

"They say the Sindar are better singers, but the Noldor have much more amusing tricks with language." --love the way you use canon to make your points. (You're not a closet Noldor fancier are you?)

Another great bit of description: "it wasn’t until I’d got him cleaned up a bit I realised he was really very dishy in a haggard sort of way."

"I wouldn’t have put it past Daeron to steal my underwear." --now that is just not fair; but I must admit I always thought of him exactly in that way until I did some rather extensive research on him earlier this year!

"Beren had gone and got himself caught by Sauron.

Oh, dear."

I agree that was a rough moment. Really rotten luck.

"I couldn’t speak Dog (Celegorm could, I think)" --another memorable line and, again, true to canon.

I could go on and on in this fashion, but I will stop here. Great story. Very entertaining.

I love this much less romantic picture of Luthien. :) It makes her seem more approachable. The idea she was friends with Aegnor is unique; especially since it was Aegnor who was the first elf(we know) who fell in love with a mortal. Also, I'm glad somebody else thinks Orodreth was too timid to not even stand up for his uncle/brother(Depends on which theory you take as canon)! Thanks for writing!

Oh dear, I had fits of giggles! Your Luthien is excellent - much better than the original :D

I never did have the heart to tell him I was singing one of Beleg’s Orc songs.  With gestures.

*Goes off in fits of giggles again*

Your Luthien together with Dawn's "An Ordinary Woman" show how much more interesting the character and the whole story can be. And much more fun. Really very good.

I've never really thought much of Luthien, but you really made me like her more. This is a really funny story. :)

*happy sigh* I love this story. It had me laughing from pretty much start to finish - so many witty, accurate (if unconventional) observations of the characters and situations. I like that Luthien starts out slightly bratty, and ends happy and wiser... such a realistic, relatable depiction of one of my favourite tales of the Silm.

Thank you for this! :D

I've just finished rereading Of Beren and Luthien, and as much as I like Beren this is a refreshing change from the Silm itself, where she's perfection personified. Actually, now I think about it, it makes sense that she'd lack any kind of worldly experience whatsoever. And I tend to see Melian and Thingol as pretty loving parents, but it certainly is plausible that they'd be well-intentioned but off with the fairies (so to speak) and leave her to languish in Doriath.

I liked the way she went from spoiled, sheltered princess to a wife and mother, having to hunt and subsisting on game and/or fruit.

One thing, though - Ainu is the singular, so you'd say "being part Ainu" rather than "part Ainur". If you want an example in English, "being part Elf" makes more sense than "being part Elves".