Tapestry of Dreams, Part 2 Discussion

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, now what?

[mark12_30]

I'm actually listening to the whole thing... starting waaaaayyyy back in the first posts: snowball fight and all. Ædegard just got mad because Mellon is acting like some great elf-lord..

THe tought part of listening to it in Microsoft Reader is, it doesna always pronounce TOlkien. FOr instance "Ædegard" -- it can't pronounce Æ, so it kinda just skips that, and then spells out d-e-g-a-r-d. Lorien comes out Loreen. Morien comes out Moreen. And Raefindan comes out Rae- FINE-dan instead of Rae-fin-dan.

Every now and then I can ignore things, but I've got to fix Raefindan and Ædegard.

GLobal changes coming. I wonder if I spell it Aedegard if it will pronounce it properly. Kinda hate to do that, but... ANd how do I fix Raefindan? Hyphenate it? Rae-fin-dan?

So.. what'snext. I'm remembering things. SHould I continue listening to the whole thing? Or should I skip ahead to the second book (but I'm having FUN listening to the whole thing...)

[mark12_30]

Your next post is gonna be 6000.

Dude.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, so here it is. Listen to the whole thing. Enjoy it. Then let us know how you want to proceed. There. So much for post # 6000. That was anti-climactic.

[mark12_30]

Aw, now I feel guilty for wasting your 6000th post.

[littlemanpoet]

How did YOU waste my 6,000th post? That's my job, not yours. Do away with false guilt - it does you no good.

[mark12_30]

Elempi-- Listening to your own writings is COOL. You should all try it with Tapstry. And lmp-- Try it with TID!

[littlemanpoet]

That sounds like a great idea! I just need to figure out the technology for it, and figure out how to get my &#(_D speakers on my new computer to work.

[mark12_30]

Do you have a headphone jack? Does it work? Have you fussed at the volume control in your system tray?

As far as the Microsoft Reader -- I can talk you through that.

[littlemanpoet]

No, I don't have a headphone jack. My volume control is not that simple a problem. It's this new Vista computer.

Actually, every single sentence of TID has been read aloud in my writers' group; it is indeed a rather revealing exercise. Much good has come of it. So thanks for the offer, but I guess I'll pass for now. Let us know when you're ready to proceed with Tapestry.

[mark12_30]

And softly with a squish flap flip they sidle to the door.
Beyond the merlock mountains....

Ewww. Merlocks are Eeermy.
The Entwash chapters are pageturners, folks. You know what? We can write... Ædegard just turned back to look for Argeleafa, and I had to go and cook dinner, and it was TOUGH to put the book down. Even though I know what happens!

Mellonin is still captive, and has been joined now by Bella... And Amroth has submerged, and resurfaced... and Raefindan has no idea how to ride a horse. And those good elves are Dangerous, and the bad elf is slime slime slime!

[mark12_30]

Was reading a web page on Stonehenge and came across this :

...4000.... to 2000 BC...

"...more trhan 40, 000 megalithic sites have survived in the British Isles, this number exceeding the number of modern towns and villages, and yet ony a small percentage of these have been thoroughly studied."

Seems obvious, to me on the surface, that all them Numenorean monuments-- Orthanc, Minas Ithil and Minas Anor, and the big statues (what are they called again?) on the Anduin... and wasn't the Morannon (Black Gate) built by Numenoreans, and then cheerfully taken over by Sauron...? Anyway, it all seems to connect somehow. But hare there already threads about that? I was going to start a new one but decided I'd check with trusty friends first.... comments?

[littlemanpoet]

You're thinking of the Argonath.

I don't know if there are any threads on it. I haven't been involved in any forum discussions for about a year.

Might want to check with Estelyn.

[mark12_30]

Okay, I finished reading both books. I'm feeling ready, but no posts yet; I'm going on vacatoin over Christmas, and maybe that's the block. How about mid-January, or February, we buckle down and finish this?

You know I hate to.

Anybody that also wants to write an epilog for your character(s), I've found it cleans things up very well. Appendices can be added to the book proper or can be put in the discussion thread.

For The Lonely Star, I put in appendix for Phura and Gamba, and it pulled the book into the legendarium and (I thought) into The Fairy Wife as well. So: lmp, it seems to me you would want to do that for Roy Edwards Raefindan. Please feel free in the appendix to tie it clearly to wherever it goes, including TID or whatever other works you have.

I suspect a few of my characters will need it, although I won't know which ones til it's over. I suspect Mellonin and Ravion won't need much more; I'll make their future plan as part of the story.

Liornung, Ædegard, Leafa, Bella, Nethwador-- what hapens to them? Do we put that in the story or in an appendix?

Erebemlin definitely needs his happily ever after. I'd like to see that for Taitheneb, too. And of course, Indil must have a good home.

Heh. Maybe she goes to live with Erebemlin and Marigold.

[littlemanpoet]

Hmmm... everything seems right except that Raefindan and Mithrellas already intend to adopt Indil, seeing as she's already a part of their family though many generations removed, not to mention Angela's connection to Roy.

I can wait as long as you like, seeing as this may be that time be the only thing I'm still doing here. I'm even wrapping up my involvement at Scarburg soon.

[mark12_30]

Oh, okay. That's fine. I had forgotten.

Wait. Raefindan and Mithrellas... Whoa. now THAT's a happily ever after.

If you told me that one I didn't get it at the time.

Cool.

[mark12_30]

We have a game with a tree, a king, a singing stream, and a missing girl....

[littlemanpoet]

Wow. I wondered if/when this would start up again. Yes, I know you said February, and here it is (2/3 done). It's going to take some doing to get my mind back around this one again - it's been quite busy with TID lately (89 chapters now). So give me time and some suggestions as to what you need/want from me, and I'll see what I can do.

[mark12_30]

Wow! TID is up to 89 chapters?? Prolific Elempi!

And this-- ...did I say February... I was feeling vaguely tardy anyway.

I have a few more posts in me, so relax and read for a bit. The challenge of the 'game' is that no one knows the song of the stream but the girl, whom nobody can find (and NImrodel has yet to discover that it's her.) The song is hidden deep in Amroth's heart, but she has to choose to seek for it there and that will take a bit of trust-gaining.

Ayone can play but we especially need Indil/Mithrellas/Angela, who can mirror Nimrodel's already weary/not yet aware/ will be reunited theme. Nimrodel has gone back to 'innocent child' for the duration of the game, and I think that will be her healing, when she finds the song. However her childlikeness throws Amroth a little off kilter.

Tharonwe can cause some grief, or Jorje some comic relief.

It's been long enough since I reread/listened to the story that I'm fuzzy again. But at least the past cou-ple pages worked most everybody in at least once. That's good, I won't feel guilty if someone gets a little neglected (Aedegard, where are you?)

Alak? You out there? Feel free to run with Erebemlin, and I sent Avarien to the borders of Lorien to bring Taitheneb back into the story. He can play from Lorien, she'll connect him with what's going on at the mountainside dale. THey can hunt for the song together. Ultimately Amroth has it, but I couldn't leave Taitheneb out of the tale at its climax...

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, that helps. But it's late and the creative juices are not flowing right now. I think I'll reread the last few pages when I get a chance, and see how that helps. At the moment I'm feeling rather intimidated by Indil/Angela/Mithrellas, but maybe rereading will help.

TID? Prolific? Nah. I just can't help it. And the last three chapter I wrote, I've scrapped because they didn't work; so ch. 89 just became ch 86. Ho hum.

[alaklondewen]

I'm here, I'm here.

I need to reread a bit to get in the flow and I'll just jump in as I have time.

[littlemanpoet]

Well, I made an attempt. Let me know if I need to change anything.

[mark12_30]

I like it! Indil's fun will open Nimrodel up, til she is ready to look anywhere to find the missing song. We can hunt the song for a while longer if you like!

[littlemanpoet]

I just added three more paragraphs. Have a peek.

You know, Helen, reading the story from post to post is a different experience than reading each entry days apart as it builds. I find it quite moving, bringing tears of sympathy and joy. I'm actually finding myself in sympathy with both Nimrodel and Amroth, which I couldn't quite accomplish in the post by post build.

EDIT: I just read your most recent post. That's exactly what I thought of doing next! But now what?

[mark12_30]

Alak's turn, I think. I'm heading towards the brink more quickly than I thought! What else do we need to wrap up...?

I know what you mean about reading through it; I experienced something similar. I love how you bring Faerie in.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

I love how you bring Faerie in.

Thanks. I have to, can't help it.

Okay, Alak's turn.

There's simply nothing like collaborative writing with writers who share a vision.

[mark12_30]

Alak? AAAAAlaaaaaaaaak!

I WAS patient. For a whole workday...

[mark12_30]

Oh, hey, lmp-- LOVE the new sig!!!

[alaklondewen]

Sorry, Helen...wasn't home this evening and tomorrow evening is Ballet. If you have momentum...go, go, go, and I'll get in late tomorrow evening or Wednesday.

By the way, I love where this is going... my excitement is back.

LMP, your posts are gorgeous, as usual.

[littlemanpoet]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Oh, hey, lmp-- LOVE the new sig!!!

Thanks! I wrote a poem called "Incarnation" way back 15 years ago, and these are the four final lines of sixteen.

Here's the whole thing:

INCARNATION


When Christ, for love of splintered light,
of fallen flesh and rotted tree,
of emptied day and fear-filled night,
stooped eagerly from deity
into the blessed Virgin's womb
(enholied by that sacred Leaven),
He gloried hollow atom's tomb
with weight and depth of solid heaven.


Our flesh, now gloried, lucent shines,
as moving streams reflect the sun;
we bodied beings, in Him divine,
now dance and sing, our glory won.
Incarnate Dream! Word in flesh!
Let human words in music, laced
with gloried tongue and throat, express
all praise to Him who flesh has graced!

Yeah, it's strongly influenced by Tolkien: "splintered light" from The Silmarillion, and by Lewis: "depth of solid heaven" from The Great Divorce.

And thanks much, Alak. I'm just trying to keep up with Helen's inspired art.

[mark12_30]

Formendacil...? You there?

Are you interested in posting?

[Formendacil]

Originally Posted by mark12_30

Formendacil...? You there?

Are you interested in posting?

Erm... sort of... to both questions...

I'll have to get back to you after Ash Wednesday. The next couple days are crazy.

[mark12_30]

Don't think because I didn't reply right away I'm not still pondering it... Amazing, and food for much thought.

What did you think of the Ravion post? Did I overstep any bounds with Raefindan etc? Was it too pentecostal?

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

Thanks! I wrote a poem called "Incarnation" way back 15 years ago, and these are the four final lines of sixteen.

Here's the whole thing:

INCARNATION


When Christ, for love of splintered light,
of fallen flesh and rotted tree,
of emptied day and fear-filled night,
stooped eagerly from deity
into the blessed Virgin's womb
(enholied by that sacred Leaven),
He gloried hollow atom's tomb
with weight and depth of solid heaven.


Our flesh, now gloried, lucent shines,
as moving streams reflect the sun;
we bodied beings, in Him divine,
now dance and sing, our glory won.
Incarnate Dream! Word in flesh!
Let human words in music, laced
with gloried tongue and throat, express
all praise to Him who flesh has graced!

Yeah, it's strongly influenced by Tolkien: "splintered light" from The Silmarillion, and by Lewis: "depth of solid heaven" from The Great Divorce.

And thanks much, Alak. I'm just trying to keep up with Helen's inspired art.

[littlemanpoet]

No, not too pentecostal. Had you said that his past was redeemed, then maybe. But gone, that is just right. What a post! See, that's the kind of thing I forget that Tolkien didn't - all the names of things. Wonderful!

[littlemanpoet]

Just to let you know - I've been a little at a loss concerning Mithrellas, so I've been reading page 4 over again - and then page 5 - to get a sense of what's been happening with her and others. So I'm not gone, just rekindling.

[littlemanpoet]

I've rediscovered a couple of loose threads to pick up and tie back into the plot:

1. Bergil promised to be Indil's guardian and take her back to Minas Tirith. That serves as an interesting point of contention/conflict vis a vie Raefindan and Mithrellas being ready to adopt Indil as their child.

2. The ghosts of Indil's parents have been said to also be in this vale.

This is not a rediscovered point, but a new idea: Raefindan places Tharonwe in the alternate dell so that he can face his freed captive and she face her former captor - how might that affect Amroth's quest???

[mark12_30]

Originally Posted by littlemanpoet

I've rediscovered a couple of loose threads to pick up and tie back into the plot:

1. Bergil promised to be Indil's guardian and take her back to Minas Tirith. That serves as an interesting point of contention/conflict vis a vie Raefindan and Mithrellas being ready to adopt Indil as their child.

2. The ghosts of Indil's parents have been said to also be in this vale.

This is not a rediscovered point, but a new idea: Raefindan places Tharonwe in the alternate dell so that he can face his freed captive and she face her former captor - how might that affect Amroth's quest???

Good observations-- both Bergil and Indil's parents had been niggling at the back of my mind, but nevertheless neglected.

Tell me more about Raefindan, Tharonwe, and "the alternate dell".

She's not quite free yet-- she's a child again, but not yet a free woman. It remains for her to find that one certain song, and the only one who truly remembers it is Amroth. She has to decide to investigate him first, and trust him.

[littlemanpoet]

Okay, the Tharonwë in the "dell" thing runs in my mind like this.

Raefindan is looking at Tharonwé not only as enemy to be defeated but as fallen Elf who could repent and be restored. Not saying that will necessarily happen - that's just how Roy thinks about it. So he has motivation to make Tharonwë face the one person his life has been obssessed with for centuries. The obvious problem is that this may not be good for Nimrodel, and may not be good for Tharonwë/Maegeleb.

But it might be good for both. It's somewhat analagous to the Garden of Eden except that Eve was not separated from Adam for centuries; however there is the triangular relationship going on.

So let's say that Thar. is sent there by Rae. What does he see? He sees Nimrodel as the beautiful young maiden he had fallen for in the first place. She also sees Amroth reaching out to her. Naturally, he will fall for her again and try to win her in place of Amroth. Her reaction could go a few different ways: she could reject Thar and turn to Amroth. Or she could reject Amroth and turn to Thar. Or reject both and turn into herself.

However, the three are not alone in the dell. Indil/Angela is there. Aeron and Gwyll are there. Jorje is there. Who they know these three to be will affect the outcome.

Can Thar repent? Maybe, maybe not. But Rae sees no other way for it to be a possibility. Or at least, I don't.

There may be other dimensions to this that I haven't thought of, so what do you think?

[mark12_30]

Hmmm. Maybe Tharonwe's innate eeerminess is what drives Nimrodel to one last, desperate plunge into the mind of the blacksmith, to see if there is a stream-song there. And she discovers a golden king.

Could work.

Where's alak? We need something from Erebemlin.

[mark12_30]

Lmp, I don't know where you are going necessarily but it looks good. What do you need from me? Or from Nimrodel?

And where is aaaalaaaaak?