My Shining Stars by oshun

This reader will be more than indulging!  (You can always have it beta-d later ;)).  This vividly calls to mind Catherine Karina Chmiel's illustration of Maglor and Maedhros riding off with Elrond and Elros.  I imagine it would have been difficult for Elrond to forgive his true parents, and you've made his fostering convincing. 

I love the way you've gotten inside Elrond's head here. He's a difficult character to write and you did a great job of showing how his past experiences shaped him into the kind of father and person he became. Plus your mastery of language always leaves me in awe. Beautifully done!

This is lovely, oshun, not needing the begging of indulgence, I don't think.  It reads very smoothly, both in a technical sense and more importantly, an emotional sense.  It saddens me to see the portrayal of them distanced from Earendil, but I well understand it.  And you do reflect my own beliefs that they must have been loved and caredfor, and returned that love - to the ones who did raise them.

If Elrond would live in our time, he would have been diagnosed with the Stockholm syndrome. He is quite harsh towards his own mother, is he not? I sit here thinking how easy it is for him to pass such cruel judgement over her while later in his life his own wife forsakes her own children as well. When I was reading how he thought about his father, I thought… Elrond does not understand the sea-loving drive of men here; he chose his own race wisely. It is curious to see how Elros might get that, given his choice though. The piece could use touches here and there, that is for sure, but it made a lovely read nonetheless. Although I am not sure if I loved Elrond more after I finished this piece, on the contrary even (no I don’t think Elwing’s choice was just as a mother, to chose protecting a heirloom above her kids, but it is understandable in a way).

This is very haunting. I"ve read a number of Elrond stories but few like this. His distance from his father and his cool feelings toward his closer blood relatives are understandable and sad to read. I like the respect and love he still bears for Maedhros and Maglor. Nicely done!

Great job! I did enjoy this story very much (especially because you decided to use the first-person narrative). You captured Elrond's thoughts and brought his reflections on his childhood beautifully. Very touching!

Hi, there. Nice vignette, full of conflict and emotions. I must say that your prejudices are flying their flag full out. All hail the House of Feanor! Woohoo!

Elrond's story is full of possibility, and you've just begun to plumb it. Perhaps Maglor and Maedhros were a reason for him to choose to become an Elf?

One little problem here:

When I was a young,

Either delete the a, or add man.

Children do judge their parents harshly, but if anyone is entitled to, it's Elrond and Elros. I loved how defined his voice is and how steadily he goes through his musings, how fondly he remembers Maedhros and Maglor and how his own parenting is moulded by what he lived with them.