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To Follow an Elf by Etharei	7 Review(s)
Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/15/2005
SQUEEE! There are even two more chapters here than on ff.net! happy It is really quite easy to remember why I love your stories so much. Your language is incredibly beautiful and your characters are just perfect. Nasseryn is fascinating, I love her. There is a lot of tragedy and sadness in this chapter, but it also highlights the strength and beauty of this special friendship and the other relationships. I loved Gimli and Nasseryn together, they should have no problems to get along. ;-) The light banter between them and between Gimli and Legolas was priceless. I also liked Gimli's continued concern for Legolas' well-being, and his sudden realization in the end that he needs healing himself and will likely not be able to find it as well. "that he, too, would never be healed in all his days on Middle-Earth." sniff This is so sad. You truly make the characters come alive for me again. And I also loved your description of Thranduil, the differences between him and the other elven rulers and his character. You manage to both show him as suspicious and loveable and strong. I think he would be kind of reserved, but I also imagine him to be very strong, after all, his realm had to fight for survival all the time without a ring to protect them. Now, that the age of rings has passed, I think he would perhaps appear less drained and more alive than the other elven rulers. Oh dear, I'm rambling! Well, in short, I loved this chapter! Tinu :) Author Reply: Rambling is good! So glad you found me on LJ, sweets :-D Thank you very, very much, your words have soothed my rather uncertain sense of self esteem, and I shall certainly go and write some more. The theme of friendship (especially unlikely ones) is very central to this story, and I hope to explore every aspect of it in this fic. Nasseryn was a character who grew as I wrote the scene, and as OCs are often trickiest for me, it's a relief to hear that you like her character. And I think that Tolkien's work is, in many important ways, a tragedy, so an element of that needed to be in here too in order to fully appreciate the significance of Legolas and Gimli's relationship.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/28/2005
And here is another lovely chapter. Nasseryn is a marvelous OC--what a wonderful sister for Legolas to have. And Gimli's eloquence once more proves just what a singular Dwarf he is. I like your way of solving the Arod problem--very clever and humorous! And one more thing I want to say about your story: I love also the references to the hobbits, to their part in things, and most especially to Frodo. The Fellowship, in my mind, became a family, due in the most part to the hobbity heart of the group. I cannot imagine that the others--especially Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli, ever went for very long without thinking in fondness of their absent friends. Gandalf of course, got to take a couple of hobbits with him when he left. I occasionally wonder if that was not his reward for faithful service, as well as a gift of healing for the Ringbearers... sigh It's so lovely to be back and catching up with what I missed... Author Reply: watches the plotbunnies hatch and bounce around her cranium And it's great to see you back in action once more, though I must confess that you've put up so many new fics that I haven't had the time to read them all yet blushes In any case, thank you for taking the time to comment on my story. Generally I prefer to minimize OCs in a story, but Nasseryn was someone who just appeared and refused to be cut out, despite my misgivings about spending an entire chapter on her. And Arod (well, the absence thereof) was quite an embarassing realisation, which has left me with the rather tedious task of updating the chapters on FF.Net as well. And I completely agree with your view of the Hobbits, though of course I've been influenced by wonderful writing from your esteemed self, as well as Larner and Lindelea. I mean, these tall, hardened warriors had to escort their furry-footed companions half-way across Middle-Earth! Oooh, another plotbunny! Thank you once again!

ponypetter	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/23/2005
Nasseryn is a wonderful character. I can definitely see her as Legolas' sister. She has the same fire, while still being a kind-hearted elf. And Gimli sure is one for the sweet-talking! First Galadriel, now Nasseryn. Legolas better watch out, or Gimli will steal all the ladies right from under his nose. I think I'm just as unsure about Thranduil as Gimli is. I can see that he's uncomfortable around Gimli, but he admires Gimli's devotion to Legolas and kindness to Nasseryn. Poor Gimli though. I can only imagine how utterly uncomfortable he feels sitting in a room full of elves while his two greatest allies go off to catch up. I'd want to escape to my room too. Author Reply: LOL, for some reason that never occured to me, though TF did call Gimli an Elf-charmer! Yes, poor Gimli, though of course he will have a number of conversations with Thranduil to survive through before I let him out of Mirkwood. And I guess Nasseryn was inspired by Eowyn, which will bring up some interesting elements later on. Thank you!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/21/2005
I love this. Gimli is such a star - and so good at slicing through all the elven delicacies. I like Nasseryn. I can imagine elves being uncomfortable with permanent damage - and yet, considering how many fought and over how long, there must have been a fair few elves around who had suffered injuries that even elven healing powers couldn't touch. And Thranduil came over most impressively. Good story. Author Reply: suddenly envisions Legolas as a big Green Onion being chased by Gimli the Scalpel Thank you for your kind words. I was uncertain about Nasseryn, but I couldn't imagine cutting her out either. And I don't know which would be more the case- seeing evidence of wounds that they cannot heal, or being themselves injured and imagining the discomfort of others around them. We'll certainly see more of her later, and I'm heartened that you approve of my Thranduil, though I intend to develop his character a lot more later. He is, after all, the Onion King.

TithenFeredir	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/20/2005
I love your Nasseryn. She seems like a caged eagle. The bit where Legolas goes to his knees before her was very touching. I think she must be his older sister. After this chapter perhaps Gimli needs a new title in addition to elvellon. What is the Sindarin for elf-charmer? This chapter was very enjoyable. It had a wonderful gravity to it, with he undercurrent of pain left by war, and it felt very authentic. Your dialog was the most Tolkienesque I have read in a long time. I look forward to the next. ~TF Author Reply: Wow, you've given me a number of new ideas there! Thank you very much, I hadn't intended for her to take up a whole scene, especially because I'm always uneasy about suddenly introducing OCs to a story, but once I got the interaction between them going the rest just flowed out. And Elf-charmer? Don't let Gimli hear you say that g though I'm sure I can get hold of someone with sufficient knowledge of Sindarin to cook up a title. And Tolkienesque is the highest compliment to any canon attempt, so I must thank you once again bows Author Reply: Sorry, I forgot to add that yes, she is his older sister. Will give a cast list later of Thranduil's brood, once we've seen more of them. But Legolas is the youngest, and Nasseryn is actually the eldest of the females, though not the oldest overall. And the metaphor of an eagle is very appropriate; would you mind if I used it?

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/20/2005
Very nice--I liked Gimli's interactions with Legolas's sister. He is doing very well. But I particularly like the end conversation between Gimli and Thranduil and the characterization of Thranduil--and the reference to the 'gold' that Gimli treasured. I am enjoying this story. :-) Author Reply: Thank you! I've actually written an even longer conversation between them, but then realised that the chapter was getting far too long, and have saved it for another scene. I hope I continue to depict a believable Thranduil.

Rose Sared	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/20/2005
Oh, I am enjoying this, somehow you have conveyed the fey nature of the elves and at the same time made them live and be troubled and triumphant so that I want to hear more and more. What great characters. And Gimli, just love him, so wise and so kind, and, as you say, so wounded. So pleased to see more of this tale, looking forward to the next ch. Rose Author Reply: Thanks! It's getting difficult now to keep from Elf-isizing Gimli's character, so I'm relieved that you still find him endearing. Ironically (or perhaps not) his 'wounds' are actually stated by Tolkien, whereas with Legolas one feels almost like grasping at straws.

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