Comments on The Small and Secret Things

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Oh, Dawn. You challenge me. I love your characterization of Arafinwë and Eärwen—that could give you kind of a jump start on the drabble since I already <i>know</i> them and brought that information with me. But, in fact, it would have worked without that knowledge. It still means more to me with it. Maybe I can try to do some with you—I am working on my Feanor thing today though! Soon, very soon, it will be done!

I just posted something about it to the Yahoo! list as well! :^D I used to have a few crazy people drabbling with me every day when I did it on LiveJournal. Even if you don\'t write one every day ... hey, it\'s a fun diversion when the inspiration is there! (And in all honesty, I can never keep up every day either. Some days, there\'s just no inspiration. Or I get a really stupid Word of the Day. Or--Eru help us all!--I actually have to do *work* at my job. o.O)

I\'m about half-finished the Curufin thing. Eru, who knew that there was so much about freakin\' Curufin in the HoMe?? Anyway, we\'re at a good place: only three left to go once you finish Feanor and I finish Curufin. I\'d say we\'re ahead of the game. And I\'ve gotten more stories and artwork in too, w00t! So things are still going better than planned ... in other words, take all the time you need. There\'s still more than two weeks before Feanor is up.

Hi, Rhapsody!
Thanks for all the reviews in the past few days. I really appreciate it! :)

I do double (or triple, quadruple, series, drabunculi ... ;) as well as single drabbles, yes. I suppose it\'s whatever people want to do. I do fixed-length because of my tendency to *ahem* go on a bit. I\'d end up writing 10K-word stories every day, so I limit myself to a fixed length. Some topics just seem worthy of more words. Like this one: I really wanted to convey two ideas here. Celegorm\'s loyalty (and desertion of) Orome, but also, how compelled he and the rest of the Noldor are to Feanor. And I wanted to capture a bit of the scene as well: the torchlight on the faces of the Noldor, creating shadows they\'ve never seen before, the air alive with firelight. So I chose a double.

And I agree with you on Celegorm ... well, you know! :) It\'s interesting to look at his character, how different he is from his father in some regards yet like to him in others. It makes him complex ... and deserving of more stories than he gets, for sure! :)

Cool! I always like seeing different aspects of that night/event, since - if I recall correctly - the Silm says only that all of the sons swore the Oath, but doesn't give any hint as to how each felt about it/their individual motivations at the time. (Plus, we can probably bet that a certain Pengolod might have a biased view of things...)

Very interesting. Very effective. I should have noticed this drabble earlier since I recently spent a good deal of time thinking about how Maedhros and Maglor each must have thought about not attempting a rescue. I am gratified that it is at very least compatible with how I had thought of it. (I shortened the canon time in my own mind that he was held--I could not wrap my mind around so many years in captivity nor so many years hanging by one hand. So I have chosen to take those numbers as literary/poetic hyperbole.) The concept in your drabble of the counting being part of the torture rang true for me. Don't know if I ever mentioned that my brother-in-law was held in Pinochet's prisons in Chile as a teenager. He told that the waiting for the inevitable next round was so much worse than enduring it when it came. His recounting his experiences to me very much influenced my own perceptions of Maedhros's ordeal and survival, that and things my mother-in-law told me who is a WWII concentration camp survivor.

Oh my, no, I never knew either about your brother-in-law or mother-in-law! How awful! My area of study in university was post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of political violence, particularly children. Hubby studied terrorism. Between the two of us, we were a real bundle of fun ... but I did learn a lot (too much, sometimes) about such things. Luckily, my own experiences--and those of my family--are so far confined to books.

On the time issue, I tend to favor shorter times myself. I've seen stories that portray Maedhros as having hung for 50 years, and I just have trouble wrapping my brain around this idea. Both physically and psychologically, I don't think this would have been possible.

In my personal view (not to be mistaken for anything resembling canon ;) he was in captivity for many years while Maglor and Morgoth pretty much played political games with each other (and there is an osanwe connection with Maedhros and Caranthir as well; I did a series about this last Christmas). Finally, their combined "intelligence" forces Maglor to realize that rescue will not be possible, nor diplomacy with Morgoth. He knows that Maedhros will be killed (though he's no idea how), but he makes the heartbreaking decision to send final word that he will not be seeking to have his brother returned to him. At which point, Morgoth puts Maedhros up on Thangorodrim.

I don't imagine that he was there long at all; no more than a few weeks. He has to be up there when Fingolfin passes by until the time it takes Fingon to 1) realize what is going on 2) decide to attempt rescue and 3) make the trip from Mithrim to Thangorodrim. This will guide my final decision on how long he hung, when the time comes to write it. In the interim, my muses tell me that some of the brothers who didn't agree with Maglor's decision attempted a rescue, but it failed horribly and they never even found their brother. But apparently, this was a point of contention in the Family Feanaro, so they're not too eager to talk about it. Yet. ;)

This is a chilling story with some beautiful contrasts, really, but quite unrelated to that, I love the line "When he came, he came alone but for his wife, who was red-haired and laughed a lot [...]." Very in-character with so few words.

With regards to Formenos - I didn't know that that was CTs assumption, and I'm not debating whether or not it is true... either could be, considering that "Formenos" doesn't just have to mean "Northern Fortress". The Ardalambion Quenya dictionary (which does translate the name that way, too) has two more relevant entries:

os (ost-) noun "house, cottage" (LT2:336; hardly valid in LotR-style Quenya - writers may use coa or mar)

osto (1) noun "a strong or fortified building or place, strong place, fortress" (MR:350, 471; WJ:414); "city, town with wall round" (OS, VT46:8)

So you may not even be wrong with your idea that there was a town before Feanor went into exile. I would consider it highly unlikely that he just settled somewhere in the wilderness.

/rant. ;)



I've always assumed it was CT's doing since the note that Formenos was built after Feanor's exile is in the Index of Names, which CT compiled. But thanks for the info from Ardalambion; that's AWESOME! :) I'm again going by the Index of Names for the meaning "northern fortress" as well. I've taken it at its word there simply because I don't possess the linguistic prowess to argue. ;)

There's another interesting quote in The Silm that has always led me to believe that Formenos was more than Feanor's own private nuthouse, Finwe and his sons only allowed. In "Of the Darkening of Valinor," it says of Feanor's summons to attend the festival in Tirion that "Finwë came not, nor any others of the Noldor of Formenos" (emphasis mine). Who are these other Noldor? His sons? Then why not, "Finwe came not, nor the sons of Feanor"? His servants and followers? But it makes pretty clear earlier that Feanor was pretty paranoid about his treasures, allowing only Finwe and his sons to handle the Silmarils. Would he trust others outside the family in such close confidence?

So it's always been my private opinion that those other Noldor lived there before Feanor was exiled and were alike to him in their talents and beliefs about the Valar. It's based on very shaky canon, yes, but I've never had anyone able to completely disprove it either. :)

First, please allow me to note that I have thoroughly enjoyed each ficlet you've written in reflection of the Word o' the Day (I have that on my iGoogle as well), but <i>The House of Unexpected Light</i> is particularly striking.  You make excellent use of your talent for evocative imagery and emotion, but from a completely different viewpoint.

The details are great, especially reading this as a one-time (and temporary) architecture major.  Feanaro's marking off measurements by steps (vs. surveying) is fabulous and smileworthy! 

Many buildings have a "presence," that is, an imprint of those who lived there. I know, atypical of rationalist me to say something like that. You captured the "presence" of Formenos beautifully.  Your description of Finwe and Morgoth's final confrontation turns a few lines of lofty myth in thr original to the palpably tragic here.

Finally, I'm wondering if Frank Gehry took inspiration from Feanaro!



Thanks so much for reading and for such a wonderful and detailed comment. :) Anglachel\'s challenge was one that grabbed me and just would not let go ... but then, I also have this fascination with writing the \"places of Arda\" and the drabble/ficlet/series seems to be a form really well suited to that. It would be hard to make a whole 5,000-word story out of capturing the \"presence\" of a place. It is my hope to one day have enough drabbles/ficlets/series about the places of Arda to make a \"drabble tour.\" That\'s on the ne\'er-diminishing w-i-p list. :)

The fight between Finwe and Morgoth ... that is one of the scenes in the book that for some reason has always been so clear to me. I even have a song that serves as a soundtrack for it! Finwe\'s death in general keeps drawing me back in, cheerful lass that I am. The idea of such a loss to a people that were never supposed to know of such things ... I imagine the grief in a \"normal\" society like ours and can\'t imagine what the Noldor (esp. Feanor) must have been feeling. Maybe that\'s why I keep coming back to it in stories. (Or maybe I am that morbid!)

Wow! Loved this one. Snarky, sinister and yet not ranting. Very subtle, Great comment on Mandos and devastating reflection on both Manwe and the Vanyar. Another uniquely Dawn fic. It's hard to write a decent drabble. This one does what they are suypposed to do--actually say something of significance in a few words.

Thank you, Oshun! I love my Namo muse for this; he gives such great insights. :)

I don\'t think the Valar necessarily invited the Elves with intentions of being venerated. But I don\'t think they protested being loved like that either ... and I do think that they thought themselves \"above\" the Eldar, even as they supposedly counted themselves as friends. The notion that the Eldar could be equally/more happy in a world without the Valar, that wasn\'t manufactured by the Valar: impossible! They just couldn\'t understand this.

I have trouble with perfect drabbles. It is nearly impossible to say something of worth in just 100 words. Hence the fact that my \"daily drabbles\" usually end up much longer!

Egregious canon errors? Oh, no. The only one who perpetrates Númenor canon here is me!

This is a wonderful (triple?) drabble, and I was so very glad to receive it as a present. I´ve spent many months living with those characters, and now it was thrilling to see your view of them. Thanks!

Tar-Palantir´s visions seem quite a heavy burden to bear (a bit similar to how it will be for Míriel herself in my own version). The last of the three parts is by far the best: the way it ends is a very clever punch to the reader´s proverbial gut.

I also felt the appropriateness of the writing style, so ornate and baroque for the most ancient realm of Men.  Lastly, one thing I did not quite understand was the mention to Gimilkhâd in Drabble #2 -I found it a little confusing, but I´m sure that was the intention.



Thank you, Gadira!

I can\'t wait to start on your Numenor story ... but the site currently blocked at work. Grrr! No worries, I am working on hacking it ... >:^)

The mention of Gimilkhad in II ... that is a childhood memory on the part of Tar-Palantir where he is swimming in the sea with his brother, and his brother pretends to drown but really to yank T-P under the water. It\'s certainly not canon, just a Dawn Felagund flashback-memory-thing. :^P

I can\'t tell you how relieved I am that I did not mess up the canon too badly. I love the Numenor story but am worthless when it comes to really grasping the canon. Anyway, again, thank you for reading (and reviewing)! :)

Very beautiful. The reference to the book nearly broke my heart. "Awareness of what we will sacrifice for them." That is surely the way this young man would see it. But you are aware of my prejudices--I would argue that there has never been enough written (and that is in no way a criticism of this poignant story) about the cost of what Maedhros sacrificed for them. Loved the description of his impression of what Maedhros looked like--made me all weak-kneed and fan-girly. Love the details you imagine--the vegetable dye numbers! I would never have thought of that.

I would totally agree about what Maedhros has sacrificed. It was interesting, though, to consider the PoV of someone not as wrapped up in the war as he; maybe not even Noldorin? Of course, it was \"lose one or lose them all,\" and surely, everyone understood this in some sense, even the young OMC.

As for fangirling ... :^D I\'ve been know to do that. Sometimes.

Out of so many lovely stories I decided to review this one because I'm a hopeless Maglor fangurl it neatly describes the moment when, whatever the interpretations of his previous self, Maglor comes out as the guy who will hold power in the middle of a crisis, rule the Gap, kill Uldor and refuse to jump into the chasm (or the sea, in his case) when everything else is lost. Short, sweet and to the point.

Thank you, Angelica! I don\'t like weak, simpering Maglors in stories, and I\'m on a personal quest to restore his reputation as the strong Elf he must have been. ;) I\'m glad that you liked this one; it is always a delight to find that those pieces I didn\'t count as my best (like this one :^/) do reach people. Thank you!

I've been known to serve red wine with fish and chicken. Depends upon the sauce! LOL Maybe I am more like Finarfin than I thought to worry about it!

I have no idea who is speaking. Of course, I am currently fixed on Finrod. I would guess maybe Finrod. Galadriel in my verse is too stubborn and self-centered to understand for a long, long time and the others are not clear enough in my mind as to what they might think. (Except, Orodreth seems too dumb--but that is a blind prejudice.)



I drink red wine with everything. Because I like red better than white! :^P

Now my personal thought was Galadriel. I couldn\'t see Finrod or Orodreth (esp. Orodreth) possessing that raw ambition ... and I don\'t have Angrod and Aegnor characterized that well yet! (Confessions of a lazy author.)

I nurture a secret love for this particular AU pairing. Having Unsung Heroine as a friend (who always wants more more more of Haleth/Caranthir!) and knowing every rabid Caranthir fangirl in Modern-earth besides is always a good excuse to keep writing it, even if it doesn\'t fit with my own verse.

And I love Kasiopea\'s picture too. (And there\'s another Caranthir fangirl, if you didn\'t know. ;)

Haven't commented on this one yet because I didn't know what to say. Heartwrenching for me to read both of their thoughts in this short piece. I guess I'll quote Fingon from my next chapter of A New Day, which you haven't seen yet: "Findekano carefully concealed the anguish it caused him to consider how Maitimo, in better times and before the oath, would have made such an admirable king."

Ai, you tease me! ;)

I don\'t think that my Findekano would see Maitimo as inherently flawed as Maitimo sees himself. It\'s tempting to do an \"answering\" drabble from Kano\'s PoV. In my Felakverse anyway, Kano believes that Maitimo\'s true fitness for the throne is revealed by the ease with which he gives it up. Quite the irony.

And of course, I was heavily inspired by your work with this pair and this particular time in their history when I wrote this, so thank you for that. :)

Teehee ... Mexican doorbell, I like that. ;)

The foreboding was my attempt at fluff con melancholy. Definitely one of the more difficult challenges I\'ve been given since asking people for story requests, not that I\'m complaining. I\'m glad that it shows through, though. :)

(Now that I'm over the birthday-induced squee, I'll try to keep the review as sane as can be...)

All the stories you could have written, and all the scenarios you could have developed... this. It's perfect. It fits perfectly with my idea of them, Feanor's complete obsession with his future wife, and in turn, Nerdanel's devotion to him. Youthful, foolish and in love, but with already, still, with very distinct character traits and that kind of wisdom that's so uniquely hers. 

Wonderfully crafted, and while not as melancholy as I thought it might be (which isn't a bad thing, not at all, please don't get me wrong!), there's the foreboding and knowledge of what is going to happen, and all of that in connection with the story... the result is a thing of beauty, thank you so so so much for this lovely gift! :) <3  



Hi, Elleth!

I am so glad that you liked it. :) I did my best to mix melancholy and fluff ... when I tell my friends to challenge me as much as they\'d like with the most unlikely mixes of scenarios, this is what I have in mind. ;) Someday, I\'d like t revise to do the melancholy a bit more ... though I don\'t know. Anyway, it was a great challenge, and I thank you for it. :)

You see Nerds and Feanor pretty much as I do. In fact, as I write the novel-prequel to AMC (which is basically a loooooong version of their lives from early childhood to Nelyo is born), I tell myself before each writing session: Obsession. This strong emotion that surpasses the love that most people feel (I may understand that a teensy bit *blush* :^P) and causes one to do all sorts of silly things. Of course, this makes their eventual estrangement that much more painful ... but I don\'t need to think about that while writing their happy beginnings, right? ;)

Okay, I\'ve rambled at you enough for a comment reply. :) Thanks again for the comment and I hope your birthday was fantastic, as you deserve! *hugs*

Thank you so much! I really like this piece too ... but I rarely write comedy, and it\'s so much fun! (As you have proven so well of late. ;) Btw, I got your email ... hopefully I\'ll have everything finished by tomorrow. Don\'t yell at me and tell me it doesn\'t matter either. ;) I have another beta that I promised last week and forgot about! *headdesk* That\'s the only reason I have to say \"hopefully.\"

Okay. I\'ll stop rambling in my review reply. Thanks again for both reviews; hopefully, someday, I can pick up this project again!