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The Stones' Lament  by Thevina 5 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/19/2006
Ah--what a wonderful vignette, Thevina! Yes, the surprise Gimli must have felt is well described and presented. Thank you for this!

Author Reply: Thank you so very much! I was just thumbing through the pages when I came across the fact that *Legolas* heard the stones speak, and figured that Gimli's whole world must have shifted. So glad that you enjoyed the vignette. I need to get back to my beloved Dwarf. :)

annmarwalkReviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/24/2006
*waves*

I'm working on my MEFA review for "The Stone's Lament", and wondering if you've written, or considered writing, a sequel to this? My recollection of both Elf and Dwarf in canon is sketchy at the very best, so I don't remember when they began to be friends. Would Gimli have ever revealed to Legolas how bereft he felt this night over the theft loss of his birthright?

Author Reply: Hey! Somehow I didn't get emil notification about this post!! Um, I'm planning on most of my fanfic 100 fics to be set after this story, so I suppose they're all sequels, but I'm guessing you mean about their relationship in particular? They began to be friends in Lothlorien. In fact, "Antiphon to Light" addresses their burgeoning friendship, but I do hope to continue addressing it as I step back from the HP and come back toward the Ardaverse, especially through the holidays.

ziggyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/29/2006
You write this so beautifully- I have always thuoght this bit of the book was particularly poignant - legolas seems to speak for the stones, and as you say, Gimli then speaks, and there is poetry in their words- it seems to signal that they- the two lone emembers of their races/ species - have rather more in common than it seems. looking forward to more Gimli stories.

Author Reply: Many thanks! What I've been discovering while rereading sections of LotR is that JRRT scattered these gems all through it, and honestly, I glossed over them when not looking through a more Gimli-centric lens. I couldn't believe it when I read that *Legolas* heard the stones' lament. My inner Dwarf was thunderstruck- hence this story. ;)
Again, my gratitude for your kind words. I'll be writing a lot of these as I'm participating in a 100-fic challenge of sorts. It will probably take me a while, however!

LamielReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/26/2006
Wow. This is beautiful! I particularly love the Dwarvish touches in your metaphors -- Gimli's gear feels "light as leather," and this line is just wonderful: "I was silver, struck with tuned precision and ringing with incredulity."

Beautiful. What a touching insight into our dear Dwarf. His reaction to Legolas' words about the stones of Hollin is perfect: not willing to admit it, but we can see the first little crackings of his comfortable assumptions about Elves and the world around him. Excellent work. Thank you!

Author Reply: Many thanks for your kind and generous comments! I'd hoped the descriptions weren't too over the top, because I do enjoy referencing Dwarvish qualities in stories about them. I was stunned when rereading FotR to see these hidden jewels JRRT had included, especially this, that it was Legolas who purported to hear the stones. I could only imagine that Gimli would feel somehow wronged by that.
Thank you for your review!

lwarrenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/25/2006
Ai, Gimli! "...two eternities of months surrounded by elves..." LOL And horror of horrors, he's stuck with a hot-headed elf from Mirkwood as a traveling companion for an undisclosed amount of time! Do you suppose dwarves know the term "ick"? I can just hear Gimli saying it under his breath - or some such translation - and punctuated with lots of earthy dwarvish curses!!! :-)

This was another great little tidbit of writing - once again you have caught Gimli's character perfectly, especially at the beginning of their quest, before he has had time to form any attachments to his companions. His grumpy assessment of Pippin (it was Pip he was thinking of, I guess) was hilarious.

And I loved his almost poetic reflections of the mountains ("regal rocky spires") and of the great lake ("shimmering, inky waters beckoning me to its banks") and of Narvi, the "brilliant rockwright".

But the best part was his reaction to Legolas' melancholy observations - how dare that...that...elf be able to hear the lament of the stones? I could just picture Gimli lying with his ear to the ground, struggling to hear the "sorrow" of the stones. Wonderful imagery throughout the entire story!

Linda

Author Reply: Thank you so very much! Thoughtful, meaty reviews like yours feed the Muse as though with dark chocolate and peaty scotch. :)

I am so appreciative of your comments, and your assessment of Gimli's character as seen through my eyes; he is one of my favorite three characters in LotR, and seems sadly underwritten in the fanfiction world. What is fun in going back to the canon text for inspiration for these ficlets is the astounding groundwork that JRRT posited; so many of these gorgeous jewels of moments are scattered there for me to expound upon, hopefully in a way that resonates to individuals like you.

Again, my thanks for reading, and for your enthusiastic comments.

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