One Last Spring by anthropologyarda

ooh, marvellous story ! genuinely 'rich and strange', i was bewildered by the strangeness, and envious of the spellbinding writing. 

This was fascinating and lovely.  I was worried for Nuin the whole journey, hoping that what awaited him among all the strangeness and danger would not be doom.

This really unpacks from those few little bits in the canon about how the earliest Men learned from the Dark Elves in the wild (but then all the textual love goes to the Edain who fell in love with the Noldor!).

Such an irony of the Silmarillion: the published text is so enamoured of the "civilized" Elves who chose "following the gods"/exodus/city-building/knowledge and craft . . .but there is something so compelling about the idea of those who remained in their original lands, living in ancient ways and figuring out their own path, even though the concept of their unprotectedness against Morgoth is terrifying.

What a wonderful piece - and I was completely surprised by what Nuin found, as I had no idea where the story was going. Such a fascinating glimpse of the so-called 'dark elves'.

Atmospheric, captivating, very well done! Thank you :)

Ohhh, this was really good. I loved the whole nomadic, tribal aspect of their lives  Near the end, as he travelled on and lost his animals one by one, I was on the edge of my seat (metaphorically, as I'm actually lying on the bed, lol). Wonderful writing and a unique idea. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the glimpse at Kinn-lai community (and their interactions with other Avarin groups). I wouldn't have minded reading a whole novel about them. Like other readers, I didn't grasp where this was headed, so I was feeling really anxious for Nuin (especially after the threatening start of loosing all the animals, and then the ominous mountain and the near-cataclysm Nuin experiences!), and was so relieved when he survived and discovered the Edain. Excellent descriptions and use of suspense!

This is such a great story! I can't believe how much worldbuilding you so effortlessly inserts into this piece - I want to know more! :D

Wow! I love your characters and I adore your worldbuilding. I use the Round Earth myself, but I don't try to meld it to the Silm the way you did here-- and yours works. I love Nuin's being both awed and frightened and not letting his fear overcome him. This is a wonderful, wonderful story.