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

The Road Not Taken  by Jay of Lasgalen 10 Review(s)
cutiebeeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/18/2008
Opting for the best road has always been a very difficult matter in life.

DayeeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/18/2008
i really enjoy it, keep it up!!

Nieriel RainaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/17/2008
Oh, Jay, what a fabulous twin tale! Elrohir's letter nearly had me in tears. I'm so glad he decided to choose whatever Elladan chose. I have a hard time accepting them separated, as much as I want to write it! I really liked Elladan in this. Nicely done!

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/17/2008
Very nice.

Elladan is so worried, if he would have just talked to his brother, but that fear was in the way.

I love the ending to this.

"You know I'll be seasick all the way."

very nice, and just like Elladan.

EllieReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/16/2008
YAY! Perfect! I love the way you handled this AND the choice they made. The emotion and the guilt and fears are so fitting and so well portrayed. Nicely done!

I love your stories...

ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/16/2008
Very good Jay! it has always been my fondest wish that they both sailed to Valinor together, after all Elrond and Celebrain deseve at least to be reunited with two of their children and the twins I thought should always stay together no matter what! Hugs The Imp

KittyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/16/2008
Ah yes, I had hoped for this after the letter! Thank you for writing it!

What a nightmare for Elladan! There could be nothing worse than being separated forever from his twin. But at least the nightmare forced him to face the problem, and the beginning of Elrohir's letter was quite a shock. Though Elrohir's choice to stay with him, no matter what Elladan choses, even if he himself wants to sail - that must have touched Elladan deeply. I was so glad he then went to his brother at once! And the last line made me laugh - what a way to tell Elrohir he will go with him to Valinor!

Author Reply: I knew I had to finish it off which Elladan's response to the letter. The nightmare - and the letter - gave him the wake-up call he needed.

I mentioned in another story that Elladan gets sea-sick, so it seemed a good way to end :>) The last line is often the hardest.

EdlynReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/16/2008
This was absolutely PERFECT! The last line was my favourite bit.

Author Reply: I once wrote a story where the twins went sailing for the first time - Elladan was seasick, Elrohir wasn't!


daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/16/2008
Oh, good choice, Elladan.

The fate of Elrond's children always makes me stop and think. In some ways, it's like "Elf" is the default setting for them unless they choose otherwise. If it weren't, they wouldn't be several thousand years old. And yet, they're not really elves until they make the choice. You can see that in the Passage of the Dead, when Legolas is the only one not troubled by the dead. He's the only real elf there.

It's all very confusing. :-)

Author Reply: Tolkien shows them as distinct from both elves and men in several places - the Paths of the Dead, and also in the minstrel's introduction at the field of Cormallen (he mentions Rohan and Gondor, elf and dwarf, and 'ye sons of Elrond'). Yet at the Hornberg they are described as 'two tall men'.

As you say, it's confusing!

CesReviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/16/2008
I've always felt that those two sailed eventually. There would have been nothing left for them had they stayed. As each generation passed, it would have taken them farther and farther away from Arwen and Aragorn. Mortals are meant to live for a few years, then depart. Elves are meant to live forever. They could never have lived fully in ME.

Besides, Valinor and Legolas await them. And that means more escapades for the three of them to get into! More (even if invisible) grey hairs for Elrond and Thranduil!

Loved it!

Ces

Author Reply: Yes, I've always been sure that they both sailed - but how and when did they reach that decision? Did they sit down and discuss it, or just assume that's what would happen?

It's one of the (many) things Tolkien wasn't clear on.

Return to Chapter List