Every Wish by Independence1776
Fanwork Notes
Nits picked by the Lizard Council.
Fanwork Information
Summary: Mestië, a Faithful commoner, prepares for her wedding while dealing with Ar-Gimilzôr’s new laws forbidding the speaking of Elvish. Major Characters: Original Character(s) Major Relationships: Genre: General Challenges: Akallabêth in August Rating: General Warnings: This fanwork belongs to the series |
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Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 271 |
Posted on 10 August 2009 | Updated on 10 August 2009 |
This fanwork is complete. |
Every Wish
Read Every Wish
“Are you sure that’s a wise thing, Mestië?”
“Ar-Gimilzôr may have prohibited the speaking of Eldarin, but he hasn’t forbidden the Elves from coming.”
“Yet,” she said, sitting back on her heels and looking up at me. “Take the dress off. Still, Alagos--”
“Has been a dear friend since I was a gangly teenager. I don’t see the problem.” I hopped off the stool, ignoring the soft smile on Mother’s face, slid off my wedding dress, and then pulled my everyday dress on over my shift. I turned to face her and smiled. “I’ll be fine, Mother. The fabric shop will be a wonderful distraction from Táratecil’s shipping voyages. Olostë and I will be here for each other, so don’t you worry about us after you and Father move to Lond Daer.”
“With the king acting as he is, I cannot help but fear.” She stood up and kissed my forehead. “If necessary, leave Númenor and move near us. It’s safer there.”
I nodded and Mother left the room, carrying the dress over her left arm. I looked around the room, trying to imagine my husband living with me in the apartment my sister Olostë and I had been raised in, and then followed Mother downstairs to manage the shop while she hemmed. I began sorting our latest fabrics, letting my mind wander to my wedding that was only two weeks away. Maybe I could convince Táratecil to say our vows in Sindarin once we were alone? He hated the new law just as much as I did.
(1) Comment by Lady_Roisin for Every Wish
Hi Indy! I confess, I couldn't wait, so I read it myself. :-) I absolutely love this perspective you have taken with this. I wasn't sure how you would go about it, but I really like that you took the perspective of a member of the Faithful right before her wedding day. I loved the conversation bewteen Mestie and her mother. I imagine it must have been very difficult for the Faithful during the rule of Ar-Gimilzor, and I love how you illustrated that struggle throuh Mestie as she prepared for her big day. I do hope she and her husband will exchange the Sindarin vows in private. :-)
I really like Mestie, and I hope you will write her more. I also loved that you picked the family business being a fabric store. I was grinning over that. Yes, I would love to see more of Mestie.
This was wonderful, short, but very potent and raises lots of questions about how fr is too far for a leader to go.
Great job! "hugs"
Re: (1) Comment by Lady_Roisin for Every Wish
*grins* I\'m flattered.
I\'m really glad you like the perspective. It\'s always a risk writing a fic consisting solely of OCs, and even more risky when the point-of-view character is a woman.
I think the only time it was worse was during Pharazôn\'s reign, and that\'s because they had to worry about being sacrificed.
They did. :)
This is the first of a duology, and the second one should be posted tomorrow. *laughs* I picked something that could be easily have been in the family for generations and could be for generations more. Since people will always need fabric, it seemed logical.
Yes, it does indeed raise uncomfortable questions.
Thank you!
(2) Comment by SurgicalSteel for Every Wish
This is short, but you've crammed quite a lot into a short piece. You've got the Faithful trying to adjust to the new laws and trying to sort out what's allowed and what's forbidden (is it okay for an elf to be at the wedding or not?), some of them leaving Numenor to seek safer/friendlier homes (Lond Daer), and finally a bride-to-be feeling as if her wedding somehow isn't quite right if the vows aren't spoken in the correct language.
That last point almost calls to mind some of the feelings of long time Catholics after Vatican II, when the altar was suddenly turned around and the Latin Mass went away.
Nicely done, Indy, I enjoyed this!
Re: (2) Comment by SurgicalSteel for Every Wish
I\'m glad you caught the significance of all the little details. When I saw it posted last night, I nearly panicked, because I\'d forgotten how much I\'d actually put in.
I hadn\'t even thought of the Vatican II parallel! But it fits.
Thank you!
(3) Comment by Fireworks for Every Wish
That was a lovely--and fun-- piece. Rebellious young people are awesome! ;-) It must have been so frustratring for the Faithful to see their way of life so altered, and I really eenjoyed this glimpse into how they went about it. Great job!
Re: (3) Comment by Fireworks for Every Wish
I\'m glad you enjoyed it! I wrote it focusing on OCs instead of the court because we know why Ar-Gimilzôr did it, and I found it more interesting to see how people reacted to it. Thank you!
(4) Comment by Fireworks for Every Wish
That was a lovely--and fun-- piece. Rebellious young people are awesome! ;-) It must have been so frustratring for the Faithful to see their way of life so altered, and I really eenjoyed this glimpse into how they went about it. Great job!
(5) Comment by Rhapsody for Every Wish
What a wonderful brief glimpse in the life of a 'normal' Numenorean with her hopes, dreams and worries. A new law is in place and yet she tries to see if there is a way around it, it feels as if we'd also do if we can.
This bit:
“With the king acting as he is, I cannot help but fear.” She stood up and kissed my forehead. “If necessary, leave Númenor and move near us. It’s safer there.”
It leaves me wishing for more! Very concisely written with an impact!
Re: (5) Comment by Rhapsody for Every Wish
The normality of her life is what really makes this story: too many Númenorean fics focus on the court and/or the nobility, and I wanted to do something different. I\'m glad you think it had an impact, because I was worried about that with such a short piece.\r\n\r\nAs for wishing for more, this is the first in a duology. :)
(6) Comment by pandemonium_213 for Every Wish
An excellent tidbit, Indy. I love fics with OCs of any sort really and those that take a look at the 'common folk' of Middle-earth cultures are particularly appealing. This certainly fits the bill. I also like the implication that Númenóreans are leaving their homeland and fleeing persecution and an increasingly tumultuous society.
I'm hoping that this little gem might just be the seed crystal for a larger work. :^)
Re: (6) Comment by pandemonium_213 for Every Wish
Thank you! I\'m glad you like the \"common folk\" OCs, because I haven\'t seen too many of them, which is a shame. I can\'t imagine that Númenóreans wouldn\'t flee, Faithful and not. Civil unrest has always caused it, for those who can afford to leave.
Not unless you count \"Falling Stars.\" I have no desire to further work with these characters-- I\'ve told their story. :)
(7) Comment by Robinka for Every Wish
Indeed, a very thought-provoking and well written glimpse at the everyday life of young people that were carefree and sometimes rebellious, but most of all they wanted to be happy and live their lives as they wished. Thank you for sharing :)
Re: (7) Comment by Robinka for Every Wish
I\'m glad you think it\'s well-written! What you wrote is a perfect summation of Mestië. Thank you for reading!