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

Mortal Memories  by LOTRFaith 11 Review(s)
TamurilReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/2/2004
I really like your story so far. I find your interpretation of Legolas to be very human and real. Truthfully, i have cried during parts of this story. You are very talented at writing. There are a couple of structural errors (nothing serious really just a little distracting from the reading). Otherwise, I really like this story, I like how you've given flesh to all of Legolas' family. Keep it up!

AnyReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/27/2004
Hello, this is Any from the MC group! *waves & smiles*. Finally I had the time to catch up with your latest chapter and I must say I absolutely love this story! Legolas' pain is so real and his siblings' concern and also their anger are so well written. I wonder if some of them (like Thalion) are really angry at Legolas for "being selfish" or rather at themselves for not being able to help their little brother. Legolas is right, Mithrandir is not really a part of "his" fellowship, he left too soon after the War of the Ring. Poor Legolas. He is like a lost little child that had never been prepared for all the pain it would have to endure. I love Thranduil for being so patient and gentle and good with his son.

I am curious to see what Elrond will do. I am sure he understands a lot of Legolas' pain - he has lost the same loved ones (Arwen and Aragorn) and maybe he and the twins will be able to help Legolas get over his loss.

This is such a wonderful and sad tale. Don't let anyone discourage you. There might be other point of views on Legolas' life in Valinor, but Tolkien left it to us, his readers, to phantasize about it. And your tale is wonderful. I can't wait to read more.

~Any

Author Reply: Thanks! Wow.. That's a thought... If Thalion (and the others) are angry at themselves for not being able to understand rather than angry at Legolas..

I think Elrond would understand a lot more than Thranduil could. I mean after all Thranduil had a reputation of not trusting humans... And here his son's best friend was one ! And yes I think Elrond and the twins will be a big help;-)

Thank you.. I will try very hard not to! :-D

lmwReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/22/2004
I was so glad to see a new chapter. When I read a story, I'm looking for entertainment,good writing and something that keeps me wanting more. I've read LotR and seen the movies, and I really don't care if the story I'm reading matches up. This story made me cry with the first chapter and eagerly await more. I have NOT been disappointed. I read a lot of LotR fiction, here and other sites, and if I don't like a story, I don't finish it or look for new chapters. Definitely finished this one (so far) and definitely looking for more.

Author Reply: Aww.. Thanks! lol.. if you cried over chapter 1, this one is bound to have you wailing! lol.. :-) I'm glad you like it.. And I will keep posting:-D

Aislynn CrowdaughterReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/20/2004
Hi! Sorry for the discouragement by saying what I think is Tolkien canon, it was not meantto discourage you or put your story down. I love the story so far! Also, since this is an AU, it's okay when it strays slightly from canon, and you write a really intense story with intense feelings. Also, you write it very well! This was a great chapter, again. So, will Elrond be there in time? will Legolas survive? What is wrong with him, is he dying of grief now? And when is he going to show Thranduil his cave-memorial, or is he ever?

Please continue this story soon, I like it a lot. Really!

Aislynn

Author Reply: Hey no hard feelings:-) I'm just glad you like my story:-) Thanks so much for continuing to read and review!

juReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/19/2004
excellent story. absolutely sob worthy and touching. loved how you weaved it together. touched a nerve within me. i completely understand the changes you made, that's the beauty of AU isn't it? keep writing!

Author Reply: Thanks! You are really going to sob over chapter 6! I had tears streaming down my face as I was writting it! lol.. Thanks! I will

treymaineReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/19/2004
Whatever negative remarks are being said to you about this story IGNORE IT.
I for one am enjoying reading this story.
I do find it believable that Legolas had a difficult time after all his mortal friends passed away.
I am interested in finding out about the blood in this chapter. Did he hurt himself? or someone else?
Please keep writing.




Author Reply: Thanks:-) I will.. Or I will try anyway... I hope the whole blood thing was answered, I will come back to it in Chapter 7... But hopefully the air will start to clear:-) Thanks! And I will

GalimerilReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/18/2004
I love your story, it's very deep, and rather meaniingful to me. I hope there is more to read soon.
Galimeril
PS, you're right, God did give you a gift.

Author Reply: Aww ! Thanks! This chapter took a little longer, but I hope you'll like it!

ShemyazaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/18/2004
I think your story is quite brave. You're exploring the notion that Valinor might not be the blissful place of restful peace which is the picture we're always asked to accept. Or that every Elf that went there would be happy to shuck the dirt of Middle Earth off their feet and step into paradise where everything is wonderful, beautiful and perfect. It is true that many people don't function well in utter perfection. It's the striving for it that keeps us balanced and alive. The notion that Legolas, Elrond, Celeborn would be absolutely at peace given that they had all lost love ones to mortality is not realistic for me personally. I think Legolas would grieve for Gimli and everyone he felt he had lost - Aragorn, Arwen and their children, all the other people he had known and felt close to. I always felt that the warning about the call of the sea which came from Galadriel has a tragedic sound to it because it was happening to someone whose roots went deep into Arda and who would feel torn when he eventually heeded the call. And who better to understand that than Thranduil who didn't go across the the sea when all the other Elves left. In fact I don't seem to remember there being any mention of when he went. Or Elrond, who went but lost so many that he loved, left behind in Arda.

Your *is* an AU story of sorts, but since Tolkien never wrote about how everyone coped with the bliss of Aman when they finally got there or with the loss of loved ones, I think it's fair comment to write that Legolas might have felt so sundered with the finality of the death of Gimli that he might well be lost in his grief. It would also seem like a very selfish grief to those around him who still lived, but then I've discovered that when one suffers a close bereavement, although most folk around are prepared to put up with a couple of weeks of mourning, thereafter there is a distinct 'For god's sake when are you going to pull yourself together and pay us some attention' attitude. That's why some many bereaved people put a brave face on, because they don't want to upset anyone else. They don't want people to believe that they are selfish.

I'm much more comfortable with writers questioning the bliss of Valinor in their stories than I am with those who paint these pretty, trite little pictures of everyone living happily ever after. Just a few thoughts from me.

Author Reply: wow... Thanks for such a great reveiw! It really helped me out :-) Thanks again!

jlmartReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/18/2004
Ignore them - I am enjoying it! Please write more. It may be far from cannon but it is well written and interesting - both qualities I insist on in any story I read.

Author Reply: lol... Thanks! I'm very glad you think so!

DuchessReviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/18/2004
I'm curious *as well as worried* about why there was blood too! What is going on with Legolas? Fading doesn't entail physical injury, last I heard, so what's wrong with our favorite Elf? With all this longing for his mortal friends, has he himself become mortal and now has some disease that is killing him? Are there memories he's blocking out? My goodness gracious you have gotten my imagination into an uproar! *vbg*

Okay, I can see Legolas as being coddled enough that he didn't really catch the part he should have learned about the Halls of Mandos OR he wanted it so badly he chose to delude himself about mortals being allowed there. It's still very sad for him though and not healthy in the slightest. *worried frown*

I am also very sorry if any of the reviews I've given you have been downers. I apologize for that because the last thing I want to do is discourage anyone from writing. Please, continue with YOUR story? :)

Author Reply: :-) Sigh... I gotta love you Duchess... Here I am ready to write about how Legolas is fading and all that.. when I get your review;-) So I changed it.. Just for you. :-D No he has not become mortal but there are memories he has been blocking :-)

People are like that... They hear things only they want to hear.. Grief is a funny thing... And no it is not healthy at all

lol... Forgiven and forgotten! It was rather hard to continue for a bit, but I've got a second wind! that is until all the reviews start pouring in and people find everything wrong as they can with my story:-P But Onward I go! :-D
Thanks for the review~

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List