I love this fic to bits. If only canon would have gone a bit like that...
I think perhaps Finrod could have struggled a bit more with forgiveness, since he seems to go from hatred to acceptance with very little internal turmoil or conscious thought. I realise, as was pointed out by another review, that he's already gone through his own healing, but perhaps some reluctance on his part would have made the story even better. On the other hand, I do believe that forgiveness and mercy (and perhaps pity) are by definition things granted whether the recipient is deserving of them or not, especially mercy. Even in Silmarillion, I feel like Sauron could have still come around after Melkor's fall if he weren't left to his own devices... And I'm always a sucker for redemption '
Well done!

So... the Maiar get bestowed with the usual elvish death as well? I was wondering between that and exile to the Void. This feel preferable. Granted that the Valar don't get fooled again and betrayed. But I can hardly imagine just Sauron/Mairon doing that a second time without a seriously strong reason.
At first, I was quite wary when you had Sauron's described, when he had been degraded by Tar Calion, because I assumed would were trying to make the reader pity the Maia. And well, that was frankly difficult given how many more benevolent elves and men he surely had tortured to the same level and worse (at least, apparently Sauron hasn't been raped and Men could hardly to anything to their soul or sawne contrarily to what he helped Melkor do to make Orcs). So, yeah, it felt basely wrong that a mortal Man could make a Maia into such a state, but Sauron deserved worse. So it was fitting-fair and I felt both sad, hurt and relieved that Namo still finished him off instead of just forgiving and healing him. Oh my. Now that everything has been done, though, Mairon sure feels like a nice guy. Err...spirit? Maia? Little thing?

That was awesome! And little bit about rugs was hilarious. I accidentally cut off my review to "Darkness" I meant to say thanks so much to dmichelle312 for telling me about these! :D

I really love this fanfic too, AzureSkye23.

And on the topic of immortality, that the Numenoreans have committed such violent and atrocious acts to gain immortality (the attack on Valinor) is beyond my understanding, that has to be the most stupid thing the Numenoreans ever did. Humans who wish to be immortal are blind imbeciles (that includes Tar-Calion). And most people who want immortality wouldn't really want it. No one in their right mind would. The elves with a very few exceptions didn't choose to be immortal, they were made thus and they had no choice in the matter (and who in their right mind would want to be bounded and chained to the circles of the world? Thus in Tolkien's world, immortality is not only a curse, it's also eternal entrapment, at least until the remaking of Arda). Given the choice, they wouldn't choose immortality (as for the Maiar and Valar, they don't really have physical or bodily immortality, they can disincarnate whenever they want to and it is stated in the Silmarillion that they could take on physical bodies, but that putting these on, taking them off, and thus also changing them, was more like putting on and taking off clothing. The physical body did not "need" to be there for their spirit to function and endure. They are Light Beings). Think about that, folks. Mortality is a gift, immortality is a curse.

"Like a fool, I still have hope that I will meet my Creator again. And if I do, I will tell her just one thing: I wish you had created me so that I could die." — The Bag, Plastic Bag

"The worst fate possible might well be immortality. Sure, you might like the idea that you get to live forever and see what the world's like hundreds of years from now, but what's eternal life compared to the pain of life in general? From eventual boredom to eternal entrapment, torture and trauma to the emotional anguish of seeing your loved ones die, one by one, as you stay fixed in time."

"Eventually you'll even see your civilization (maybe even species) die out and make you a Living Relic. And then there's the fact that the memories of things that the world will never see again, one of the few rewards of immortality, may also one day vanish from your mind by sheer dint of memory capacity. Senility will be a blessing because you won't remember that you've done the same thing ten million times."

"And what about injuries? Did you remember to ask for a Healing Factor? Good luck to you if you didn't, because now you are at a daily risk of obtaining some really crippling injuries that will stay with you forever. Count yourself lucky if it ends with only going comatose, because you may very well get crippled to a degree where you cannot even move, cannot even speak, but still going on, forever and ever (also, the body remembers traumas just like the mind). Or maybe you will fall into a deep pit or sink into the ocean, or get thrown into a Torture Cellar from whence you can not escape. Or worse, Room 101. A different person would starve and die, but you will have to wait there often for centuries — and that's even assuming that someone will eventually find you. No wonder so many immortals end up crazy. Any characters who initially jump for joy at the prospect of living forever will find within a few centuries' time that immortality maybe isn't all it's cracked up to be. Their quest will become a search to find a way to return to a normal life. Sometimes they'll even allow themselves to be killed outright by supernatural means to be able to rejoin the natural life cycle at last. Sometimes the ones who can be killed but not age are rather picky; they won't commit direct suicide, they just want to be able to grow old and eventually die of organ failure. Or they slowly forget things over time. (Real-life senile dementia sort of says otherwise, but this is fantasy we're talking about)."

I'm so glad to be a mortal with a lifespawn of about 80 years. I certainly wouldn't want to live forever (not in my physical body anyway, I wouldn't want to have anything to do with physical or bodily immortality). Yes, mortality/death is indeed a gift. I would give a big, emphatic "no, thank you" to anyone who offer me an immortality that involves no aging and being stuck in a prison of flesh and bones for centuries to come.

Awww... Speechless and in love with this. Maybe next time I will find words to describe my amazement, but now I can just enjoy feelings caused by your brilliant story.

Do you know you are practically the only fanfic writer who does Sauron Redemption fics on here? It's a pity. But then, your writing does make up for the lack of quantity with high quality :D
Loved reading this!

Epiphanal stories are not uncommon. To find one that is neither preachy nor maudlin is more than refreshing, it's a joyous occasion. I think that the criticism one of the reviewers expressed about Finrod's overquick acceptance of Sauron's conversion neglects something. Finrod has himself been in the Halls of Mandos and presumably has had a similar experience, one though that would have been tailored for his own particular shortcomings. I haven't been reading Tolkien fanfiction for very long, but I've been a Middle Earth geek since 1969. This story is the closest that I've read that follows Tolkiens's concepts of sin and redemption. Thank you for having written this.

Very soulful ('scuse the pun) in the way Sauron the Maia is portrayed, rather than Sauron the Dark Lord. Probably true that he did follow Melkor out of fear.

I like it.. quick question though... while Arda has indeed been Bent, has Numenor been sunk?
if it hasn't, I assume that Tar-Miriel has taken up her rightful position as Ruling Queen. From what we know of her, she'd make a good one.

Wow, that was a wonderfully touching one-shot – I’m tearing up a little right now and smiling at the same time; too bad this couldn’t actually have been Sauron’s fate :) This was a poignant and lovely little AU and I absolutely enjoyed reading it. I loved the way you portrayed all the characters, especially my favorite Maia. It was a very different look at the characters, and while this was AU, I believe it still stuck to the spirit of the books in how you portrayed the characters.

The characters were very vivid and well written. Tar-Calion was thoroughly awful, and I could really feel his cruelty and his arrogance from the way he talked and acted. His mock pleasant tone to Sauron followed by his rage, his rudeness to Eonwe and Finrod, and the way he treats Sauron so condescendingly all showed his true character. And that moment when he is taunting Sauron and holding his face was enough to make my skin crawl. I’m sure you’ve heard that writers are supposed to show, not tell, and you certainly showed Tar-Calion’s character, rather than telling.

I also really liked how you portrayed Namo. As the Doomsman of the Valar, in most fanfictions, and even in The Silmarillion, Namo is shown as pretty much being doom and gloom incarnate, and we don’t see a softer side to him except for that brief moment with Luthien. I really liked that you showed a tender and gentle side to Namo, while still showing him strong enough to break apart chains with his bare hands, being obeyed by Eonwe and feared by Sauron, and still being in charge of Sauron’s doom. The way he deals with Sauron, the way he obviously cares deeply about him and hasn’t given up on him, was truly touching, and in a way, I don’t think it is so far from the truth of the Valar in The Silmarillion. If the Valar could pity Melkor and give him his second chance, I could definitely see Namo treating Sauron in this firm, but loving way. I also loved the comment at the end that most people wouldn’t see Sauron’s fate of going with Namo as enviable, but Finrod realizes it’s a good fate – that was very insightful, and I liked what it said about Namo.

Finrod was also well done. I liked how he began the story furious with Sauron and ended it feeling empathy for him. I liked that Finrod wants to face Sauron and refuses to back down; that certainly sounds like the courageous and steadfast elf king from The Silmarillion. I also liked his disgust over seeing what Beren’s decedents have become; I can well imagine that if Finrod was to find out what they’d become, he’d be just as angry and horrified as he is in your story. I also liked his concern for Galadriel – that was a nice touch.

And then there’s Sauron, whom I’m guessing you have a soft spot for, as I do. Your Sauron was probably the most three dimensional of all the characters in the story. At the beginning, his defiance and fiery anger, and also despairing arrogance, with Tar-Calion seemed exactly in character for him. But then afterwards, we got to see a totally different side of Sauron, but one that was not too far-fetched in my opinion. I think a lot of people see Sauron as a weak person from The Silmarillion, but I don’t think he’s weak at all, and you showed that. You certainly showed it in the first half, and in the second half, he still proved to be strong. The fact that he is terrified of dying (which I think is very true to his character) and of Namo cleansing him, but faces his fear and submits to both of his own free will, shows just how strong he is. His initial doubt of Namo was in character as well – him not trusting anyone or anything was a believable reaction after he’s been used to people like Melkor and Tar-Calion, and he’s used to lying himself. Yes, your Sauron was portrayed in a decidedly sympathetic manner, but he was still a great character, and I’m a sucker for a sympathetic Sauron anyway.

I loved your description of Sauron’s fea. It was very cool and original, I thought, and I liked how vividly you described it, especially when Finrod touches him. Your descriptions gave me very vivid mental pictures, and I thought it was a neat way to show the spirit state. The part about Sauron’s fea being part dark, part light was quite interesting, as well.

There were a lot of good moments throughout the one-shot. I loved when Sauron taunted Tar-Calion back by saying he was immortal – it was a great, intense moment and the perfect haughtily despairing response for Sauron to Tar-Calion’s threat. It was a wonderfully climactic moment before Tar-Calion and his men are buried. I also loved the moment where Finrod sees the duel through Sauron’s eyes – that was a cool idea and a great moment of interaction between them. And I loved that Sauron starts humming when he is content – it was a perfect reminder of who and what he once was, and what he could be again possibly. And that moment of warm humor between Sauron and Finrod when they joke over Sauron’s sanity was fabulous and made me smile. It was a great way to lighten the mood after the horror and intensity of seeing Sauron suffering through the beginning of the story.

I have only one piece of constructive criticism to offer, and it concerns Finrod’s developing relationship with Sauron through the story. For me, it felt a little too simple, a little too easy. Yes, I know this is AU and that Sauron is much more sympathetic in this than in the real story, but I think the story would have been even stronger if it had been more of a struggle for Finrod to forgive Sauron. After all, getting eaten by a werewolf after watching all your friends die has got to be an unpleasant way to go. At the beginning, I really felt Finrod’s anger and hate for Sauron, but it just seemed to dissolve instead of being resolved. I think I wanted to really see a moment where Finrod actively decides to forgive Sauron, which I don’t currently see here. I think he could still feel horror at what Tar-Calion has done to Sauron and still feel antagonistic toward Sauron, at least for a while. I said I really liked the scene where Finrod sees Sauron’s memories, and I think that is a very key scene to what I’m talking about. Currently, you don’t really show what Finrod thinks or feels when he sees Sauron’s memories. I think if you engaged Finrod’s emotions and showed the readers what Finrod is feeling as he’s seeing and feeling Sauron’s experiences, it would make that scene more powerful. I also think if you overall showed more of what Finrod is thinking and feeling as he’s watching Namo, Este, and Sauron, and show his feelings toward Sauron changing, it would make the whole story more moving, more powerful, and more effective.

Overall, this was a great piece. I loved reading it, and really enjoyed seeing your take on Sauron’s character. Thanks for sharing! Keep on writing!

-Sauron Gorthaur

I enjoyed every moment of this story, very well done!

I've been looking forward to this one ever since you first mentioned it, and it didn't at all disappoint! You ran a full gamut of events and ideas very fluidly in this one, depicted perfectly as we follow Finrod's shifting thoughts and attitude toward the Maia he thought he hated.

The interaction between Sauron and Pharazon was wonderfully executed, as well! Once again, the "shift" comes into play excellently as we see Pharazon''s attempts to intimidate Sauron at first fall on seemingly deaf ears, and then as the tables turn when Sauron defies him.

Seeing the Namo-Sauron interaction from Finrod's perspective was very powerful, and I especially loved your vivid descriptions of Sauron's battered fea. You ended things well with the humorous exchange between Finrod and Sauron, too! Oh, a rug... ;D

And these lines:
"It's entirely possible. I have never claimed sanity.

'Which is a good thing, as I doubt it would claim you.'" I burst out laughing.

All in all, excellent work!
-Crackers

This AU is quite interesting. I have to agree with Sauron, do not worry about claiming sanity. As I like to say, "sanity is overrated", lol. Plus, the way he defied Tar-Calion was amazing. Tar-Calion should have realized, if Sauron could survive torment by Morgoth, he could certainly deal with and still lie after anything Tar-Calion could dish out.

Great story!

I wish that this had happened. Sauron is my favourite characters and he got such a raw deal! I almost cried towards the end.

I really like your stories but this one has to be one of your best