Henneth Annûn Story Archive

Hi Gwynnyd!

Interesting set of drabbles. I had not read them before and I like them very much.

I am so sorry I missed this story before.

Ah, another person who believes in copious author's notes. Kindred spirit!

Thank you so much for your encouraging comments! They are a real treat to see, because the muse had deserted me, so I hadn't been able to work on this series for over a year.

I'm especially pleased that you dared to look at the Author's Notes -- so far, this series is 70% comments and 30% drabbles... LOL!

The muse is back (finally!), so maybe I'll have more drabbles to add soon.... wish me luck!

- Barbara

This is wonderful! I love the idea of a series of drabbles from different POVs before, during, and after the battle. You chose such unusual characters, too - the widow, the wolf, and the warg for instance, which make this so interesting.

Most of all I love the legend of the Grey Ghostriders sweeping to the rescue before riding off again. A pity they weren't there for Eomund.

Jay

Hi Jay!

Thank you so much for your comment! I so enjoy giving voice to Tolkien's lesser-known characters and races -- the ones that most writers don't choose to explore.

Some have accused me of having a special affinity with creatures of the Dark, but I'm just a very good listener... *vbg*

If the muse continues to cooperate, I hope to have some more drabbles soon, at least some from... less customary points of view... Who knows, maybe I'll even writes some drabbles about the battle itself!

- Barbara

"She is our grandmother."

*Grin*

I wish I could have seen Eorl's face at that!

I love this collection of drabbles - and the subject matter.  I really liked the twins' appearance described from the horse's POV.

Jay

Hi Jay!

"She is our grandmother."
*Grin*
I wish I could have seen Eorl's face at that!

LOL! Don't we all? I envision it turning white, with a definite "Oh, Béma!" kind of expression.... And his wise old second-in-command is gritting his teeth and trying hard not to roll his eyes at his blasted young lord's gaffe....

I love this collection of drabbles - and the subject matter. I really liked the twins' appearance described from the horse's POV.

Yeah, I definitely go for the more unusual POVs.... Though, in his defense, Felaróf paid far more attention to the twins' magnificent horses than their Riders....

Thank you so much for your kind words, Jay!

- Barbara

These drabbles were a pleasure to read and good luck with MEFAs!

I LOVE the balance of POVs--everything from the expected characters, the Elves and Men, to the villains and the beasts.  IMO more people need to write about the Easterlings.  Those were some of my favorite drabbles, especially the really sad one about the Balchoth widow!

AFriedman 

Hi AFriedman!

These drabbles were a pleasure to read and good luck with MEFAs!

Thank you so much! It is such a thrill to hear from readers who enjoy my drabbles... ;) And I need to start doing my MEFA reviews right away - where have the last few months gone???

I LOVE the balance of POVs--everything from the expected characters, the Elves and Men, to the villains and the beasts.

Ah, thank you! *blushes* I love to write from more.... unexpected PoVs LOLOL!

IMO more people need to write about the Easterlings. Those were some of my favorite drabbles, especially the really sad one about the Balchoth widow!

Ah, I'm so glad you liked them! Tolkien wrote so little about Easterlings, so these are purely figments of my imagination. Unfortunately, they didn't come out well in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant, so any Balchoth drabbles in this series will tend to be sad....

I have 16 more drabbles (this is turning into the drabble equivalent of a novel LOL!) that I haven't posted yet (working on the author's notes...), and three of them are from the Balchoth PoV. I'll try to post them next, since you aren't the only one who has told me they especially like "my" Balchoth.

Thank you for such a pleasant surprise - it really brightened my day!

- Barbara

Wonderful, as always!  The newest additions are a joy to read - yet Arwen's is so sad.  I love the image of her brothers sewing her shroud and digging the grave, then standing vigil.

And of course I love Elrohir's melancholy as he contemplates all there is to lose.  Glorfindel is a wonderful support.

Jay

Hi Jay!

Have I not answered your comment yet? Please excuse me for being so late!

Wonderful, as always!  The newest additions are a joy to read....

Thank you! *beams*

Arwen's is so sad.  I love the image of her brothers sewing her shroud and digging the grave, then standing vigil.

Thank you, Jay, I'm so glad the burial scene touched you emotionally. It was wrenching to write... I cried throughout the numerous revisions of each drabble.

And of course I love Elrohir's melancholy as he contemplates all there is to lose.  Glorfindel is a wonderful support.

Jay

Ah, I hoped you would enjoy seeing this scene again.  Sorry it took me so long after your birthday to compile the author's notes and post it.

And thank you — as I mentioned in the notes, not only was this scene written for your birthday, but your story may very well have been responsible for first envisioning Elrohir climbing the walls.

Glorfindel may be a secondary character, but  I really love him (as does my muse ) and like to portray him as a pillar of support for the family of the Peredhel who made him so welcome in his home.

Thank you for your very kind comments, Jay!

- Barbara

Cirdan also knows such foresight, then?  Interesting!

And this has to have been among the hardest of Elrond's many losses--knowing it will be so many centuries before he will be reunited with the woman he loves.

Now, that would have been a spectacle!  Heh!

"Man-dappled blood"--what a wonderful turn of phrase, at so many levels!

Cheers--

Adaneth

Hi Adaneth!

Thank you so much! Your comment did indeed cheer me, tremendously!

The word limits on drabbles can be a challenge. We must find ways to say a lot in few words, rather than many -- but I find that sometimes this is liberating, rather than constraining... Thank you for recognizing this!

- Barbara

Thank you for this wonderful update!  There are two parts I particularly love - Galadriel's musings on the fate of the males in her family, destined to be warriors; and Elrohir's thoughts as they cross the Anduin that all their training was focused on that moment.  It's a chilling thought.

I love the lembas blessing too - the qualities and strengths it confers seem to sum up the twins so well!

Jay

Hi Jay!

Thank you for this wonderful update!

You're very welcome! I actually wrote the new drabbles a couple of months ago, but Real Life got in the way... I really had to force myself to polish them and finish the Author's Notes.

There are two parts I particularly love - Galadriel's musings on the fate of the males in her family, destined to be warriors; and Elrohir's thoughts as they cross the Anduin that all their training was focused on that moment.  It's a chilling thought.

Thank you! Yes, the twins come from a long line of warriors who mostly didn't live out their full lives... and who were obsessed with protecting what they value, for good or bad. I am trying to show how the twins became obsessed with protecting all Free Peoples; which I think is considerably more honorable than protecting jewels....

I love the lembas blessing too - the qualities and strengths it confers seem to sum up the twins so well!

Thanks! I really struggled with that blessing, and it doesn't really sound all that Elven to my ear... but I think it suits the occasion well enough.

Jay, I so appreciate hearing that you enjoyed the drabbles, and especially which parts pleased you most. Your comments have really made my day... Thank you!

- Barbara

(SHUDDERS!)  Very orclike!

The lie of invincibility appears to be too well regarded by these.  And now--defeat unforeseen, tragedy that by decree may not be mourned, losses compounded by lies and denial and gross exaggeration.

I mourn for the widow.

And too soon does she follow him, leaving their children orphaned....

At least the stories continue, and he did not die a coward.

Wonderful spin on the resurfacing of old tales, Elena Tiriel! The eye-witness account would have been a boon for any Rohirric tale-teller, but I particularly love the young, stammering, newly-enlightened bard.

And the twins: marvelous as always. Their interactions with each other and the Rohirrim are funny, delightful and true-feeling. I do love Elladan's "denseness", and:

"...you have got to stop shocking mortals like that."

Hee! But it's so much fun - as are these drabbles! Thanks for the update, ET.

Denise

Beautiful. 

Although Tolkien never mentioned Elladan and Elrohir being there as their father sailed, I'm certain that they were!

I love the memory of Maglor, too - it would be wonderful if one day he met Elrond's sons.  I know he'd have loved them as he did their father.

Jay

Hi Jay!

Beautiful.

Thank you! *beams*

Although Tolkien never mentioned Elladan and Elrohir being there as their father sailed, I'm certain that they were!

True! I think Sam wrote that part of the Red Book, and he tended to focus on Frodo and people from the Quest (plus Círdan, since he greeted them to Mithlond).

Actually, I expanded the Author's Notes to mention this; you know me... I write short drabbles with infinitely long Author's Notes! LOLOL!

I love the memory of Maglor, too - it would be wonderful if one day he met Elrond's sons. I know he'd have loved them as he did their father.

Yes, Maglor showing up in this scene *really* surprised me... which is why I posted the chapter with only one drabble (there will be more later, I hope *gives muse stern look*). This scene just came totally out of the blue! *hugs muse*

And yes, I think Maglor would love the Twins... they would remind him of Elros and Elrond, who gave him a chance to redeem himself. He always struck me as the most tragic of the sons of Fëanor -- an artist by temperament, compelled by his oath to participate in soul-deadening deeds.

Thank you for your comments, Jay!

- Barbara

Hi Freyalyn!

So sorry for not responding to your comment earlier!

This is wonderful.  Found by accident and read with great appreciation.  Thank you.

Isn't it always an unexpected pleasure when we stumble across a story that we enjoy reading? Thank you for so kindly letting me know you liked it!

- Barbara

Ah! *rubs hands together excitedly* More than one update to savor!

This is a delightful exchange, and a beautiful characterization of Celebrian. I love the nut-cakes being called one of the more ingenious melodies in the Song (a great way to look at all the variations in chocolate!). The subtlety and sheer slyness of Ilúvatar's designs and pleasures of the flesh, indeed... *g*

Very clever banter and glorious writing. It's always hard for me to believe you are limited in your word count, because the drabbles never feel restricted.

I also love Mithrandir's reflections on the true reason behind Celebrian's long-ago departure - an unselfish one. I'd never looked at it that way, but it fits wonderfully.

DKP put up a last line about Celebrian's departure and the reason. I'm in the midst of writing a dark Celebrian tale and so was most intrigued.

I'm very glad I clicked onto these offerings... besides a thought-provoking line, they are delightful. Thanks ET. Now - to read more!

This latest addition is beautiful and moving, ET. A lovely rendition of Nienna and her ministry, and her delicate unravelling of her patient's misery.

I absolutely love the strength of Galadriel's connection to Celeborn. This segues nicely into Celeborn's thoughts in the next drabble. Now: their reunion? *makes puppy eyes*

"And Celeborn never suffered fools gladly. He had a way of... discouraging servile behavior."

Ha! I need no further encouragement to skip over to the Addendum and review Celeborn's relationship with one of his so-called minions... *g*

Barabra:

 I am so sorry I missed this story before. I like it very much.

 Gwynnyd 

These were rec'd by Eresse (I think), and I've really enjoyed the glimpses of the sons of Elrond through the various points of view.

Thank you!

Hi Mistry89!

These were rec'd by Eresse (I think), and I've really enjoyed the glimpses of the sons of Elrond through the various points of view.

Thank you! I so enjoy hearing from my readers... and thank you also to Eresse for the rec. I write these drabbles for myself -- at the promptings of an *extremely* fickle muse LOL! -- and it is so gratifying to know that there are readers who enjoy them, too!

Thank you!

You're very welcome!

- Barbara

A fair and beautiful and too often sad yet triumphant story.  And fully worthy of Tanaqui, whose own drabbles have delighted so many and so profligately!

Thank you.  Haven't commented on the last few chapters due to time constraints--must leave shortly for work.  I hope that your muse--and Liz--may move you to continue in this vein again one day.

Oh, hooray! My compliments to the tabloid!

This is a wonderful set of drabbles depicting a... legendary relationship. *g* I've never seen Celeborn treated quite like this, but love the results - and the ending. 

The insults are inspired, and this is quite the lovely image:

Glaring, he sends for his sword and slowly starts to strip.

*Denise fades into dreamland for a while...*

Also loved: The Lady would be angry if I unduly disabled him...

The Lady? You'd better worry about Celeborn's fangurls, Hirvegil.

Great job, Elena Tiriel, and a sweet Christmas present for us readers!