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Jay's Drabblets  by Jay of Lasgalen 10 Review(s)
nautikaReviewed Chapter: 55 on 6/14/2006
I saw this, along with Starlight has been nominated for a MEF Award and had to take a read. Short, but nice. It gave me chills. I hope the MEF Awards people hear from you before time runs out. Good luck!

nautika

Author Reply: Thank you! It was great to be nominated for the MEFAs, and I'm glad you liked this. Poor OMW - I'd never seen him as sad and lonely before I wrote this!

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/15/2005
Oh believe it or not I absolutely burst into tears reading this. I was always very much at a loss over the Old Man Willow creature because I love trees and I just didn't like how that one was in the story--I love what you did with that character here. What a wonderful interaction. I loved this! Now I have a completely different view of the poor willow.

Author Reply: :) I love to generate that sort of emotional response in readers! It really makes me feel the writing's worked.

Something made me think about Old Man Willow, and I knew that if Legolas ever knew about him, he'd want to do something to help.

Thanks for the review!

mistry89Reviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/13/2005
Thank you - lovely to think that even wicked old trees can remember something "before", and that someone cared enough to try.

Author Reply: I'm not sure if OMW had ever met an elf before, or if he just knew Legolas instinctively - I think the latter. Of course, if anyone cared enough to heal a bad-tempered, miserable tree, it would have to be a wood-elf!

KittyReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/8/2005
A pity Legolas wasn't with the hobbits when they went through the Old Forest!

I have to admit I hadn't seen Old Man Willow as lonely and abandoned until now and maybe only because of this so dangerous and evil. Interesting new POV! The tree caressing Legolas' face is so different from the same tree trying to kill the hobbits. But of course, Legolas ist not only a wood-elf, but their prince as well, so it is not so surprising Old Man Willow reacts so different to him.

Author Reply: I wish Legolas had been with them - at least then they wouldn't have had to meet Tom Bombadil!

I must admt that I hadn't thought much about Old Man Willow before this either - but when I considered his 'motivation' I realised he was just lonely.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/7/2005
Oh, so cool! If only this had happened BEFORE four Hobbits we know went through the Old Forest. But to meet a tree-friend of this caliber must be wonderful for the lonely old soul....

Author Reply: I think it had been a very, very long time, if ever, since Old Man Willow had seen an elf - but he knew one straight away. And Legolas, of course, is one of the best!

Mum's the WordReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/7/2005
I absolutely LOVE this!

Hurrah for the healing of Old Man Willow!

He has given me nightmares for some 30 years, and now he's all better, thanks to you and Legolas. "With a sigh, the willow shivered in contentment, and slept again."

Three cheers!

Hugs and brownies,
Mum

Author Reply: Glad I cured your nightmares! I always found the Old Forest creepy, and began to wonder what Legolas would think of it.

Thanks for the brownies.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/7/2005
Aw this is wonderful Jay! I always did feel a little sorry for Old Man Willow.

Author Reply: I never really liked him, but when I reread that chapter, suddenly had the idea of Legolas healing him. Glad you liked it!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/7/2005
Very elfy! I love Legolas's cool handling of the power of enchantments - and his kindness. You have me feeling sorry for Old Man Willow. To be alone and elfless (or, I suppose, Entless) for so long must have twisted him. Legolas's touch seems like lancing a boil to let out the evil.

Author Reply: I really like it when someone says my elves seem 'elfy'. There was a lot of magic about Old Man Willow in FOTR, but it seemed that Legolas would be equal to that, being familiar with the Enchanted River and the 'magic' doors of his father's palace.

Kindness and understanding seemed the way Legolas would deal with this - though he can do tough when he needs to!

TIthenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/7/2005
Oh, I liked this. I liked it that Legolas was not afraid of that hostile tree, that he overcame the darkness in it and did so with compassion. Very nice. ~TF

Author Reply: Thanks! Old Man Willow was very nasty to the Hobbits in FOTR, so it seemed logical that it would attack even Legolas at first.

LiannaReviewed Chapter: 55 on 11/7/2005
What an interesting idea for a drabble!

It's good to see Legolas be so elfy. I think people sometimes tend to forget that he's not just an ordinary guy with a funny hairstyle.

Now you've made me wonder how the willow felt when the elves sailed away. Poor tree.

Author Reply: I find drabbles can be inspired by the most random things. Someone mentioned bonfires in LOTR (it was November 5th), I thought of the bonfire glade in the Old Forest, read that chapter again, then wondered about Legolas's reaction if he ever went there. Then I saw a request for a birthday drabble on HASA about elves and trees - and this is the result.

I like to show Legolas like this - he is a wood elf, after all!

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