Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Golden Bell of Greenleaf  by lwarren 9 Review(s)
Nieriel RainaReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/18/2006
I am really enjoying this story so far! Very well written. I LOVED your description of the song and how you went into the Simarillion (I am really beginning to enjoy Sil fics). Very nice take on the sea longing as well. I LOVE this. I do worry about the elf, though elves can take much greater hurt than humans and are not easily hurt by poison, so I have hope he will be ok. Your horsey info the last several chapters has been wonderful. I love the body language. It's perfect!
NiRi

Author Reply: YAY! I'm so relieved the horses have been handled right, finally! *g* As for the Song and the sea-longing, well, I can only hope I used the right words to describe what I felt. The information in the Silmarillion was so interesting and I love how music was used as a creative force by Eru, and later the the Valar! Thanks again, NiRi, for taking the time to read and review.

Linda

Silivren TinuReviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/30/2006
Hm, the first sentence doesn't sound very reassuring. *starts worrying* After the last chapter I had already begun to fear that the sea-longing would affect Legolas again soon. If she doesn't want LEgolas, that horse must be crazy - or perhaps she values her freedom too much. *sigh* Poor elf, his heart has obviously already made the decision. I fear it will be very painful for him if he has to let her go. I really liked Arod feeling insulted on Legolas' behalf. *pats horse* The story about Legolas and the stallion is fascinating, I can understand that he wants the mare so much now. Uh-oh, that's not good. It seems Strider has said the wrong thing. I wish Legolas would come back, I have a bad feeling about this...

The description of the conversation between Legolas and the mare was wonderful, I could nearly hear her voice in my mind - and it seems to me she has not yet decided whether she will leave or come back. I feel so sorry for Legolas, he is obviously convinced that all his hopes have been crushed once again. *sigh* I wish he would allow his friends to help him, instead of hiding away. Stubborn pointy-eared princeling. *grumbles* Wait a moment - what watcher? Oh no! Worrying for that wayward elf is going to kill me - will you STAY AWAY FROM THESE ORCS??? *tries to drag Legolas back to the camp and gets dragged through the trees instead*

*sigh* Alright, apart from being worried I really like Legolas in warrior mode, and your battle scene is great. I knew it! NO! Legolas must not fall into the hands of orcs! I want to see an irate ranger and dwarf right now! How will Legolas be able to handle this on top of the sea-longing and everything else? I really didn't expect that turn of events - it seems you have found a wonderful new way to torture your characters and readers. ;-) I'm so glad I don't have to wait for the next chapter...

Hurry up! Yes, go and look for him, and be quick about it, before the orcs hurt Legolas even more! "Ai, Legolas, could you not trust me?" - Indeed! *glares at stubborn unconscious elf* If they don't hurry up I'll have to hop in there and... well, do something. Good that they have Aravir with them who can communicate with the trees.

"His voice broke. "They have Legolas."
He felt a strong hand clasp his arm and tug him up to his feet with inexorable strength. "Not for long, lad," a gruff, implacable voice said and he looked down into the dark eyes of an enraged dwarf." - I loved that! *huggles man and dwarf* I also loved the mare coming back and leading them to Legolas. I'm so glad they found him! I love it how gentle and concerned they all are towards Legolas, I think he really needs some care now. I like rescue-and-comfort scenes. :)

Poison, too? Oh dear, the poor elf.

"Closing his eyes, he allowed the sweet song of healing he had learned at the side of the Lord of Imladris to sing through him and flow into the suffering body of his friend.
We are here, Legolas. You are safe. I have not the skill of my Adar, but take my strength now and rest." - That was so beautiful! I loved the idea with the "song of healing". Well, this chapter leaves me very, very worried. Boy, I LOVE your writing! :)

Tinu



Author Reply: Suildad, Tinu! (You were really busy reading and reviewing yesterday!) *bows and sends you a big hug...and maybe some chocolate to help keep your energy up* LOL Yes, Legolas is on a veritable roller-coaster right now...up one minute and down the next! He was so excited to catch a horse that reminded him so much of the Sun Stallion of his very young youth, and now she won't cooperate and give him the time of day! You are right, he has his heart set on her and he was so sure he could reach her. Now that it seems he has failed, the strong disappointment is really affecting him (and not helped much because, right again, the sea-longing is also sneaking up on him once more.) Arod, bless him, tries to help, but to no avail and Strider just pushes the WRONG button!

So one last try with the mare - and he lets her go. The sea's call is very strong - ah, yes let's hit the trees and hide for awhile! That always helps! He is really hurting, but finds something to take his mind off his trouble! (Do you think if we tell his Ada that Legolas is making some really poor choices that he might be able to keep up with his wayward son? I know I'm tired!) :-)

Trust me, Tinu, glaring at unconscious elves doesn't help at all! LOL I am glad the fight scene and the following scenes with Gimli and Strider and the others looking for our captive elf were ok...I remember when I wrote this I had a hard time (my first battle and hurt-Legolas scene) with it. Yes, Gimli won't stand around and wring his hands...he's an all-out, go-get-'em dwarf! And the mare sensed trouble as she was leaving and turned back into the forest to see how her elf fared. I don't think she'll be leaving any time soon. So Strider and Gimli and Eomer finally reclaim their friend, who is not in the best of shape. *sigh* Strider (aka Elessar)I have always thought really came into his full power as a healer once he came to the throne. He'll need every bit of it now, I fear. Gee, I'm so sorry you are worried about the Prince!*g*
Once again, thank you for taking time out of your day to read and review!

Linda

Eruanneth_LuinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/30/2005
Ah, Legolas freeing the horse he desires to meet her needs before his. One spirit freed, the other bound by his sworn word.

Orcs in the woods! Outnumbered, but valiant against his foes of old, that he passed unscathed through greater perils to be brought down by a much-reduced band of enemies in the wake of his tenuous hold on reality seems dreadfully unjust, but such is the way of violent times.

On to the next chapter. This is a tense time.

Author Reply: "One spirit freed, the other bound by his sworn word." You are quite poetic, did you know that? He had promised not to hold her against her will and it just about did him in to let her walk out of that corral. She was so tied up with important memories of the past in his mind, and he really wanted this second chance with a golden horse.

Orcs...yeah, they've been lurking about! I liked how you noted he had made it through greater dangers and battles only to be brought down by a remnant of an old enemy. Unjust...you said it!

If you're feeling a little tense, then maybe this chapter came across better than I hoped! Thank you for reviewing! :-)

linda

DotReviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/19/2005
Exciting!

Bitterness does not sit well with Legolas. It’s awful to see him in such turmoil but I don’t blame him for feeling like the whole world is conspiring against him. So the mare hasn’t responded to him, eh? Legolas’ frustration is palpable. I was glad he was able to confide in Arod – horses seem to make good listeners! But I was hoping that Arod would be able to get through to the mare. It would seem that it won’t be that easy, though…

Legolas is very lucky in his friends. I imagine they must be starting to pity him, though, in his attempts to get through to this new horse. I suppose too that the way Legolas tries to do it must be so strange to them. I loved the childhood memories that Legolas shares with Aragorn. Thranduil is wise indeed and it seems the lesson in humility that he learned from the stallion remains with him still.

You also long for something. Well! I nearly fell of my chair at that! I absolutely loved that moment of connection between them. You wrote it with such compassion. My heart went out to Legolas, not only because he had to do such a difficult thing but because in allowing himself to feel the grief at letting her go, he’s opened his heart and the sea-longing has finally crashed through the barriers.

I’m still tense from reading the passage with the orcs! Legolas fought so well; I almost cried when he was defeated in the end. You did a fantastic job too in showing the worry of his friends, the dawning realisation that something was very wrong, and it was so fascinating to watch them piece things together.

Thank heavens for that mare. I couldn’t have coped if Legolas hadn’t been found for another few chapters! The elf and the horse have obviously made some deeper connection than anyone thought. And I had tears in my eyes when I saw how tenderly Legolas’ friends took care of him. You’ve done an excellent job with Aravir as well. His growing friendship and affection for Legolas have been increasingly evident and it nearly broke my heart to see his despair here.

Poison? Poison?? No!! :-)




Author Reply: Hey Dot! This was my "sweat it out" chapter...I wasn't sure how it would come across. There were some good moments, but there were also parts that I struggled with and finally just threw up my hands and threw the chapter on the mercy of the readers. You were very kind! LOL

Legolas thought that since he had had such a virulent attack of the sea-longing, he was ok for a while; that it would be some time before it bothered him again. NOT! He can feel it...he's really fighting to keep focused and controlled as he's beginning to see that strong emotions leave him open and vulnerable, but the problem with the mare is playing havoc with him. And he hates this weakness, and the thought of the others seeing him...well, it's not to be borne. (Princely mentality, maybe?) I see the mare a representative of a happier time...she reminds him so much of the Sun Stallion and he failed miserably with that one. She is his second chance, ya know?

I'm glad the connection made briefly between the mare and Legolas came through - she hears him, she just doesn't want to give in. But he's made a lasting impression on her...tho' HE doesn't realize it yet.... :-/

*sigh* You really liked that battle? I'm afraid that battles are still a little beyond me - I know what I want to say but it just doesn't come out quite like I planned...oh well, I was better showing the corral detective work. As for the mare showing up...another reviewer said she was the equine version of Lassie *giggle* and that's right! She liked Legolas, she scented orcish smells (yuck!) and she decided to hang out and lead his friends in the right direction should they show up. What a girl! I'm also glad Aravir's gradual conversion from duty-bound commander to commander-friend is coming through. He's having a tough time adjusting, bless him! Yeah, poison...you know orcs...nasty things! Thank you for the lovely review! :-)

linda

SivanReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/28/2004
Sorry, honey... only have to find time to read.

Poor Legolas, so much pain. But I'm glad the horse helps to find him, and I came thinking that the horse may adopt him as he will heal.

I still love what I read, thank you!

I hope that you will update soon, very... very soon. I mean for Legolas' sake.

Keep up the PERFECT work that you are doing with your fic.

Sivan

Author Reply: Sivan, thank you for the review! I read it maybe two weeks ago but haven't had access to a computer I can login on to reply to the reviews at SoA. But I appreciate you finding the time (isn't Real Life a pain sometimes?) to read. I'm thinking the horse is having second thoughts about running out on Legolas, too. I hope to update if school ever settles down enough so I can finish the next chapter (for my sake, as well as Legolas')! Thanks again for reading and reviewing! :-)


TinnuialReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/7/2004
What a treat to come home to....new chapters!! :) (thank you!)
Somehow you just capture these characters so well! I loved that scene at the end of chapter 5... Yes...it has been a good day indeed!

Author Reply: I am so glad you enjoyed the chapters! If I can manage to capture the characters' personalities even a little, I feel successful...so thank YOU for saying so! :-) I kinda had fun with ch.5's end...Legolas loves digging at Gimli, and if he can get at Aragorn AND Eomer, all the better! What more could a pointy-eared elven princeling ask for, indeed? Thank you for the kind review, Tinnuial!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/3/2004
Lots of nice scenes in this one. I like Legolas letting the mare have her freedom. And Eomer dealing so lovingly with his son. And the horse returning for Legolas. And then Legolas's friends doing their best for him.

Author Reply: Thanks, daw. I really sweated this chapter, and am still not certain I like it all that well. At least now I know some parts of it came across halfway decently! (These reviews mean a lot, especially for the feedback and encouragement they provide!)

You've noted some of my favorite parts, too - the mare reminds Legolas so much of that earlier horse, and I guess he feels like he's getting another chance here. Elfwine is fun...if I'd let him, he'd take over here in a heartbeat! Thank you for the kind review!

linda

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/3/2004
I'm really enjoying this story. I knew that the mare would come back - I just hoped it would be in time to rescue Legolas! I liked it when she led Aragorn to where the orcs held him - I had visions of Lassie or Skippy here.

Poor Legolas, though - sea-fever AND orc poison to fight!


Jay

Author Reply: Hmmmm, you are so right! Lassie, for sure! :-) The mare doesn't quite know what to think of Legolas...she's returned for the second act to check him out! Yes, my poor elf...for some reason he's always in some sort of trouble! lol I am really glad you are enjoying the story, Jay!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/3/2004
So Legolas has piqued the horse's interest by letting her go. How female of her! I just love Legolas's chats with Arod. The horse seems to be the only one he is letting into his own private world of misery at the moment.

Not a good idea to go off - he sounds rather poorly. Fortunately, I am sure he will survive - now if he were an OC . . .

Bet Eomer is a bit worried about his lad going off to camp with only one guard. Or if he isn't, he should be!

Loving it.

Author Reply: Yes, Arod seems to be Legolas' confidant of choice, tho' I'm not certain why that has played out that way. I think I thought the sea-longing would be very private and personal, so Legolas is excluding his friends, at least for the time being.

Isn't it odd how the poor elf gets to suffer at the hands of his fans! I guess it's a good thing he's not an OC, or he'd be dead a million times over! :-0

I think I pictured others back at the camp - cooks and grooms and such - who wouldn't have answered Gimli 's call. Elfwine should be safe enough....

Thank you Bodkin for the review...glad you are enjoying it!

linda

Return to Chapter List