Never Look Back by Independence1776

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Fanwork Notes

Thanks to the Lizard Council-- and especially Pandemonium-- for nitpicking.

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Elrond has difficulty coming to terms with Elros' choice and their impending separation.

Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Eönwë, Gil-galad, Maglor

Major Relationships:

Genre: Drama, General

Challenges: Akallabêth in August

Rating: Teens

Warnings: Expletive Language

This fanwork belongs to the series

RAFA \'verse
Chapters: 1 Word Count: 4, 671
Posted on 31 July 2009 Updated on 31 July 2009

This fanwork is complete.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Comments

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This is a wonderful story to start the month! I am so accustomed by now to super-serious!Third-Age!Elrond and Elros-the-ancestor-of-all-the-badass-Edain that seeing them as they are here--as little more than adolescents, still struggling with their place in the world and still angsty--is really an interesting change for me. And I love how you've done their characters somewhat the opposite of how fanon often has them in youth: for example, Elrond's admitted impetuosity and lack of diplomacy and Elros's sharp political mind, able to comprehend the power of so small a change as his name will make. This moves quite beyond the characterization of the twins as, respectively, bookish and impetuous, and in Elrond's case, it certainly implies a considerable evolution of character over the years to become the lord of Imladris that we will someday meet in LotR. At the same time, you show glimpses of their futures, as when Elrond heals Maglor's hand; in the end, I feel that they are intriguing and complex as you have written them.

And the ending! Indy, this made tears prickle my eyes: "He pulled me into a hug and I embraced him, memorizing what he felt like in my arms."

Again, you have written a beautiful story that will be the perfect of two bookends to Akallabeth in August--thank you! :)

It is an interesting change, because I can\'t see Elrond at this point in time going, \"Okay, have fun being a mortal\" when he\'s lost everything (and in this \'verse, is now living among virtual strangers). And that does play into his actions/reactions here. It does mean a \"considerable evolution,\" and deliberate choices to behave in certain ways. I can\'t see Elros as not having a political mind, due to both who raised him and what he\'ll become. I\'m glad you feel they\'re complex, because we have only so much to work with! :D\r\n\r\n*grins* I\'m glad. Pure extrapolation from the last time I saw my twin.\r\n\r\nThank you!

Poor Elrond. I just want to hug him. 

You portray them beautifully, the difference between Elrond and Elros, who wants different things in live. Elros was frightened by the thought of living forever watching the world change around him, a fear, which as a mortal, I identify.

I wonder after the end of Third Age when time of the Elves passed and the world waned and his daughter chose mortality as well, if Elrond ever regretted  his choice as a mortal.

Love how Gilgalad comforted Elrond in his own way. They are indeed have much in common. 

Great fic! Thanks for sharing. 

You aren\'t the only one!\r\n\r\nI\'m glad you think I portray their differences well. Wow-- I\'m glad you can identify with that, for I\'m more like Elrond! (Though obviously still mortal. :P)\r\n\r\nI don\'t think he ever regretted it, but wondered, yes.\r\n\r\nThey do indeed! Which is one of the reasons I hope to expand this someday.\r\n\r\nThank you for reading!

Indy, as noted in another venue, the interaction of Elrond and Elros rings with such authenticity: twin brothers, so much alike yet with what will grow to be a chasm of difference between them.  In a short story, you have captured nuanced and distinctive character in each young man.  Their uncertainly comes across clearly, and you have made it clear that they have not lived easy lives.  I have the privilege of seeing Elrond in a much later time, and what you have done with his younger version truly connects with the seasoned man.  And the brief interaction with Maglor is touching.  A very emotional piece without stooping to overt sentimentality.

On a technical note, kudos on the effective PoV switches!  That worked quite well!

Thank you so much! I am truly stunned at the response this fic has recieved. Rather than rewrite and expand it, I\'m going to write the story I had hoped to tell as another story entirely-- I don\'t want to mess this up.[br][br]I\'m gratified that my characterizations are believable given all the fanon about this seperation, especially in light of what you know of the \"future\" Elrond.[br][br]*laughs* Maglor just walked in and refused to leave. And he would know more than most what estrangement is.[br][br]I\'m glad it wasn\'t overly sentimental-- it\'s a fine line.[br][br]Thank you-- it\'s the major problem in first person POV story with jumping viewpoints, so I\'m glad they worked.

An interesting take on that very difficult time in Elros and Elrond’s lives.  As others have said, your young Elrond is quite different than the Third-Age Elrond I am more familiar with.  Clearly, he had a lot of growing and learning to do.  And yet, I find your characterizations of the twins to be convincing and believable.

 

This was well written and the ending, very moving.

Indy,

I can happily add my review to the chorus of superlatives: this is a splendid, very touching story. I agree with what's been said about the portrayals of Elrond and Elros; I like Maglor's appearance too. I love the allusion to the Valar's attitude toward the peoples of Beleriand, and I nodded at what Elrond mentioned about belonging to the House of Feanor (and the potential reception of it).

I really LOVE that you've given us such a thought-provoking insight into the extremely difficult choices that had to be made by the relatively young and inexperienced brothers.

One minor thing: Andor won’t be inhabitable for years, so I have time to learn.

I think you might want to change the above and have either: Andor will be inhabitable, or Andor won't be habitable.

Thank you for sharing this story with us!

Cheers,

Binka

I\'m delighted that you liked Maglor\'s appearance-- it was the part I was most worried about. And the Valar… Yes, I have problems with them.

They were hard choices, and especially in my \'verse, they had no one to talk about it with except each other.

\"Inhabitable\" was suggested to me by Pandë, and I just now double-checked in the dictionary: I\'m using it correctly. Uninhabitable is what Andor is during the story.

It was my pleasure. And thank you for reading!

"Inhabitable" was suggested to me by Pandë, and I just now double-checked in the dictionary: I'm using it correctly. Uninhabitable is what Andor is during the story.

My apologies, then. My dictionary says: "habitable" = fit for habitation; "inhabitable" = not suitable for habitation. That's why I thought you had this wrong. Well, each day once can learn something new :).

Others have praised your Elros and Elrond (who are indeed worthy of praise), so I'll just throw in a quick word to say how much I enjoyed your Gil-galad.  Yes, he would be the exact person for Elros to speak with regarding suddenly coming into kingship at a young age and with limited experience.  It's nice to see him as part of this story and imagine what influence he would have had over Elros' leadership strategies in later years.  Really nicely done.

*grins* Thank you! I think too many forget or fail to recognize how hard of a time he would have had with it, especially since he came into it just before the War of Wrath. And wars have a way of making or breaking leaders. Yet he survived it with his position intact and founded a realm. In doing so, he\'s able to help Elros learn how to do the same.

Eli read this to me while I was away, and so I think I got a special treat. I love how you write Elrond's POV. I really enjoy your Gil galad.  You did a really beautiful job with the emotional werstling, and the acceptance. This is truly a beautifully written story. Thank you for sharing it with us. It sounds every bit as wonderful read aloud as it looks on the page. "hugs"

I don't know if I ever reviewed this. It a very nice story! I loved this line: "I am a bonfire, brilliant while it lasts. You are a lampstone, steady and long-lasting.”

I am more like Elrond in your story, I'll always "rage against the dying of the light" and need more time! But you handle the differences in perspective here very well and give a better explanation for me of Elros' choice than my own.