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Vigil  by TithenFeredir 14 Review(s)
SemmleyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/25/2011
Such a beautifully crafted story TithenFeredir. All the bases covered: Legolas' selfless defence of Estel to Thranduil making deals with the Valar for the life of his son. Each sentence building to that single word that conjures such emotion in the reader. I wondered if the stunning reality of emotion in this story came from your own experience. No matter. This story rises above simply a fanfic. Change the names and there is a sensitive story of anguish and love. Wonderful.

Rose SaredReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/13/2005
Having now read your stories posted here - and they are wonderful, luminous, full of life and pathos. Stop reading my drivel and hie thee to your word processor, you have a real talent for reflecting feelings and your prose reads effortlessly.

The last paragraph as Thranduil realises he is breathing is nothing short of stunning. Just love your writing - do it more!
Rose

Author Reply: Rose, thanks so much for taking the time to read my stuff and for all your encouragement. I am working on something long at the moment, though I'm not sure it is appropriate to post at SOA. As for your comment that I should stop reading your story, I'm sorry but I'm enjoying it too much to stop now! ~TF

mistry89Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/11/2005
I am a huge fan of Thranduil as a fully-fleshed (non-Greedy) character, so I would be pre-disposed towards kindly thoughts of this piece. However, kind thoughts aside, it is the way you wrote the emotions that come across that gives the story strength. Thank you, a powerful story (and it has a happy ending too!)

Author Reply: Thank you for your review, mistry89. It's very helpful to learn when a story works and why. (I love to read about Thranduil too when he is written in a balanced way.) ~TF

HalethReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/17/2005
This is a wonderful piece. It truly captures the gambit of emotions experienced by any parent whose child had been grievously injured, from the initial shock and disbelief through to acceptance.

Beautifully written.

Author Reply: Thanks for the encouraging review, Haleth. I think that in that situation Thranduil would be like any other parent. I'm glad you liked the story. TF

StephanieReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/27/2005
Beautiful! This was so wonderfully told! I loved every moment of it. Thank you so much for sharing! :-)

Author Reply: Thank you for the review, Stephanie. I'm glad you liked it. :-) -TF

JastaElfReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/25/2005
What a gorgeous piece of work. Your characterizations are powerful; even the motionless Legolas, by his very lack of action and interaction, comes across as a very strong, well-drawn character. And Thranduil is just magnificent....

I am always impressed when injury and recovery are handled in a realistic manner in fanfics, because all too often writers gloss over it and fail to see the possibilities inherent in such angst. :-) You have not only handled it realistically--you have made it the centrepiece of the work, and that is just brilliant.

I am glad it has a happy ending--and Ai, what a wonderful one! Legolas calls him Ada, and Thranduil has not heard that in years.... beautiful, just beautiful.

Thank you so much for sharing this exquisite jewel of a tale.

Author Reply: JastaElf, thank you for your comments. All the characters were strongly present in my mind when I wrote this; it is a wonderful surprise to me that they came across to readers as well. I agree with you that there is a great deal of dramatic potential in injury and recovery. Even though it has been covered a lot in fanfic I think there are nuances still to be explored. It's also a big challenge to weave clinical accuracy into a story in a way that it informs the action rather than takes over. As for the ending...I imagined Legolas waking up a bit befuddled and off guard, pleasantly surprised to find Ada there and having no idea what he just put poor Thranduil through. Thanks again for the review! -TF

Templa OtmenaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/25/2005
That was absolutely stunning. The prose, the characterisations... /Thranduil/, all executed beautifully. The small details regarding how everyone ended up in this situation were sparse yet so informative and I marvel at how we learned all that we needed to and how you concentrated on Thranduil's fierce devotion to his son and the shift in his moods as anyone in that position might experience.
Excellent!

Author Reply: Thank you, Templa Otmena. I imagined this as Thranduil either telling someone the story or just remembering the event himself. In either case I thought the details of the accident would not have been described in any great detail. Thanks agian for our kind words, they are very encouraging! -TF

LamielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/25/2005
This is beautiful. Outwardly a simple tale, not much different than what one might find in any of a dozen fanfics. But the style! My word, the clear, simple, absolutely stunning prose of it! Thranduil's voice is so perfect, so strong and fiercely devoted to his son. I am amazed by the easy grace in this story, its flow is so gentle and smooth, and at the end, without knowing how I got there, I found myself at an epiphany. And when I looked back I saw the path laid out behind me, so clear and yet so subtle that it takes my breath away. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Author Reply: Lamiel, I'm overwhelmed by your review. I so wanted to capture Thranduil's point of view and his emotional journey in language he might use. Your comments encourage me to think I may have succeeded. Thank you! TF

DeanaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/24/2005
Oh wow! That was beautiful! That was fantastic! Will there be anymore chapters? You did a great job on this! :)

Author Reply: Thanks Deana! No, I don't plan to write more. But thank you for asking! -TF

KarriReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/24/2005
That was beautiful! :-)

Author Reply: Thanks, Karri. :-) I'm glad you liked it. -TF

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