Above the Clouds by Himring

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Fanwork Notes

Originally written for the LOTR Community Challenge One Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, for for an image prompt that showed a lone figure in silhouette somewhere high up, next to a small tree and in front of a background of cloud formations. 

Photo with clouds and silhouettes

(The prompt was supplied by Dreamflower, who ran the challenge and stated that the image she supplied is in the common domain.)

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Berion, a captain of Fingon's guard, survives the defeat of his king in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and ends up in Gondolin.

Major Characters: Idril, Noldor, Original Character(s)

Major Relationships:

Genre: General

Challenges:

Rating: Teens

Warnings: Mature Themes
Chapters: 1 Word Count: 1, 218
Posted on 8 November 2013 Updated on 31 August 2024

This fanwork is complete.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Warning for post-traumatic stress disorder.

Comments on Above the Clouds

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Such a poignant and sad story, it sort of typifies the tragedy of the Noldor and I really like this more oblique view from a foot soldier;s pov so the personal loss and tragedy here underpins the heroic and epic nature of Tolkien's tale. I love how you do this - that intense understanding of character and how it drives a plot. As always, your writing is masterful.

Wow, I really loved this story! You treated Berion's trauma well, and didn't overdo it (but you managed to convey the seriousness quite well). Him visiting Fingolfin's grave was a great touch (him talking to Fingolfin's grave made me sad), and I loved his last conversation with Idril.

Thank you, I'm happy to hear you liked it!

I guess I made it sound sort of scientific by calling Berion's state of emotional shock PTSD, but I haven't done any real research on the subject, so I'm glad you find his reactions convincing.

That part about Fingolfin's grave was the original plot bunny--that any refugees from Hithlum that ended up in Gondolin would find that Fingolfin had got there before them, but it could never be more than a sad meeting...