Weird but good.

Very chilling - Idril outgrowing her shoes, Elenwe thinking her daughter would be better in Mandos, Fingon the only one left sleeping alone... The only criticism I have is that Galadriel wouldn't be called Galadriel yet, Celeborn gives her that name. Her original name was Artanis or Nerwen.

Very nice. I like how both Fingon and Galadriel are portrayed in this.

I usually don't read stories that involve slash, as I believe that the relationships Tolkien wrote as deep friendships were intended to be just that, and that alone.

However... this was so artfully done. I loved it. The brutality of the cold, the hopelessness of Elenwe, Fingon's confession of love for a Kinslayer, and lastly, Galadriel's stark statement: "What am I that I love you?"

Galadriel must have gathered strength to cross the Helcaraxe from somewhere, and it's believable that she would love such an Elf as Fingon. Beautiful piece.

Sad, beautiful, haunting. This one is going to stay in my mind and shimmer to the surface when I least expect.

Augustine would have loved Valinor, you're quite right.

"Fingon's teacher is none other than Augustine of Hippo, and the quote is from Confessions 13:10. I have no idea how he got to Valinor but I rather think he would have liked it there."

LOL! Sounded like a genuine Valinorian to me! I also loved the detail about Idril's shoes - it brought to mind her name Celebrindal.

Good story. Very serious.

Oh boy. This was so cool, I don't even know if I can put my review in words. I'm just glad I came back to your site and saw this up. _ It's nice to get a story of the crossing of the Helacaraxe. I like Fingolfin's attempt at propriety that lasted not very long at all. I'm sure he's keeping warm with his children since his wife didn't come with him. But it's a nice contrast to see that _everyone_ is keeping warm with _someone_ except Fingon. It makes him all the more unusual. I like the idea that his fire is burning so very strongly, and wouldn't you know it? It's because, despite being betrayed and left at Araman, he's sad that he's not fighting beside Maedhros. Gods, that makes his love feel so very strong. Fingon's strength of character is amazing, and it's no wonder that Galadriel would like him. Um, I don't know about first cousins, I thought no one ever wanted to wed so close from what is said in the tale of Eol and Aradhel. I don't think Galadriel and Celeborn are first cousins. I thought somewhere it said Celeborn was the grandson of Elwe's brother Elmo (tickle me Elmo), and Galadriel's the granddaughter of Olwe, but I must admit from there I don't know if they're called second cousins or first cousins. I thought first cousins were more immediate, like Fingon and Galadriel, children of brothers. Sorry, I ramble. I didn't care diddly squat in this story that they were first cousins and wouldn't have thought about it for a second if not for the note at the bottom. At such a time of despair, it seemed natural to me that Galadriel would gravitate towards someone who is being so strong. I really love Fingon here, I wish I was able to elaborate. He's the one who pushed Fingolfin into going forth with Feanor, and at this moment, when he sees people suffering from his decision, he still can't help but to think about how he'd like to see Maedhros again. Fingon always has been a sweet guy. Great story.

Oh, this is gorgeous! Galadriel young but still very much Galadriel - still very bold, very determined, and really very self-assured. And, oh, poor Fingon! Choosing the damnedest person to fall for.

One thing I really love here is your depiction of Elenwe and Turgon's family. No surprise that Elenwe is the one to do, as failure is already clearly in her heart. Was Idril really that young?

The most notable thing about this, though, is the atmosphere you create here, & the way you bring it to life - the mix of hopelessness and determination. Really is very heart-breaking and very haunting, & I love it.

Ah, sorry, I didn't review this earlier; didn't even have the time to read it. May evil homework accompaign the Fëanorians into Mandos! (I've got nothing against the Fëanorians.) I love the beggining most of all: how the cousins take turn to walk in the front or rear, singing to keep the walkers on their feet, picking up those who are too weary... and you actually made Idril grow out of her shoes, like you said earlier. Incredible descriptions. The idea that Fingon would sleep alone despite the threat of freezing to death is so terribly sad... and just imagine what a blow in the stomach it was to Galadriel to learn that her love interest loves someone else already, and that that someone would be Maedhros. Another masterpiece for you; you're giving me a hard time trying to decide which of your stories I like best.

cool story(no pun intended)

You do like to have your heroes walk on a very twisted path of love, don't you? (On the other hand who am I to complain? I've done worse.) I found it an interesting plot twist that Galadriel thinks Fongon would reject her because of Amarië - only to learn that it's because of Maedhros. That must have been some blow in her face!

Great writing, as always.

A lovely and disquieting story. The details break your heart - poor Idril outgrowing her shoes, her mother reflecting that perhaps her young daughter would be better off in Mandos, "sleep" and "walking" periods because there is yet no night or day. I wonder - how much of Galadriel's desire for Fingon is real love, and how much is simply a desperate desire for warmth and life again? (I am reminded of the very quick marriages that happened between Nazi concentration camp survivors after the war - they were so eager to resume "normal" lives that many almost immediately married and had children). I'm also saddened by Fingon's fear that his love for Maedhros somehow means that he's in some way just as evil as the Feanorians (of course, at this point, he doesn't know that his beloved played no part in the betrayal), and feeling he has to hide his love because it won't be accepted by his family (and he's probably right, given the suffering they're experiencing because of Feanor). A beautiful story, as always.

My, what a story! Saddest passage of all: Elenwe wishing her daughter in Mandos; how far do you have to be gone?

To those who share Erunyauve's question: read Deborah's Fingon/Maedhros story 'What flesh Remembers' to find the answer.

I'm curious whether you see Fingon's love for Maedhros as one-sided or mutual. But I rather like the dimension of Galadriel's love for Fingon - perhaps inspired more by desperate circumstances than anything else. She very much wanted to be her own person, and I think that's why she ended up among the Sindar and with Celeborn. She was certainly as capable, if not more so, of ruling her people as her cousins and brothers, yet would always have been a forgotten sister (or, with Fingon, a forgotten wife) among the Noldor.

I like your description on Helcaraxe since I never read one before. Feanor was truly heartless, Kinslaying is one thing. But burned the ship of his kindred? And we can all see how Celegorm and curufin became! I like it that in your story, Maglor was not like that.

I love your Galadriel, makes me like her more. She is so strong, comforting her people through her own anguish and worry. I like her as not the type of “Oh my heart is broken, let me die” like other Mary sueish persons, even among the Tolkien characters. Well, without endurance such as hers, she would have been wither by grief and disaster during first age.

Yea, she might have been in love with Fingon. I could imagine that, maybe I would too, though I like Finrod more. Its natural I think to fall in love more than once.

Reading this story is really an enjoyable for me through my once-in-one-minute sneeze.

Thanks for such great writing.

Btw, Tolkien WILL BE proud of you. ( imagine him frowning at the REAL misuse of the character he invented. hmm.. those ppl better preppare garlics. and maybe I should too. _)