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Left Behind  by Bodkin 12 Review(s)
elliskaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 12/18/2008
I am just amazed at the number of stories you wrote that I have completely missed. I loved this one too. Wonderful that Idherien had Laerwen. And I love the line about Oropher being restored in Aman. But this is a really well written view of how it must have been for so many families in Greenwood. It might really be better to have the weight of governance to give you something else to think about.

mistry89Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/9/2008
This is really inspiring - private grief and wishes balanced against the greater good and the needs of others. I have always felt vaguely sorry for the lot of the elves, so much time and so many partings. Putting my own fondness for stories of the elves of the Greenwood aside, this was wonderful to read.
Thank you!

SoledadReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/23/2008
Beautifully done, Bodkin. Most beautifully.

And the comment about Oropher returning to life among all those Noldor - just perfect.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
Two incredible phrases: 'How many would be lost because they were left alone to endure this sudden feeling of emptiness?' and 'Family – and family was needed to coax the widowed to keep their hearts beating in time with the forest’s pulse.'

I loved the unexpected comb... brilliant!

I absolutely ADORED this line.... ‘Can you imagine,’ she said gleefully, ‘how Oropher will react to finding himself restored to life in the Blessed Realm, among all the conceited, self-satisfied Noldor he loves so dearly? He will be beside himself with fury!’

Absolutely gorgeous moment - once again, your writing astounds me. Thank you for sharing these tidbits..... *shivers*

Author Reply: Thank you, Agape ... and I am sorry for being so terrible at answering reviews these days.

Grief is very odd ... fragmented. Moments of complete collapse, interspersed with cool practicality, reminiscence, unexpected calm, revulsion ... - all within the space of a few hours!

And the thought of Oropher returning to spend his new life in Tirion ... it can't help but be entertaining, even at a time like this.

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
Very moving...

"How can I live, knowing the he will not come back to me?" Doubly meaningful - come back in life and perhaps not after death? What might he have said to his wife about Mandos. Although, both ladies here assume that is his and all others' destination. Once again, you make me ponder the alternative...

I loved the wry reminiscences amidst the turmoil of helpless emotions. *suddenly humming strains from The King and I... ~~some~thing~won~~der~ful~~ *

Two warriors out of every three that went. More than one left behind for each one gone. Still an uplifting note is sounded in the aftermath.

Oh, you do birthdays gifts so well! Fortunate Daw and lucky us!


Author Reply: The Greenwood must have been a mess. So many bereaved - and how would that have changed the social dynamics of a people? So many women, who had temporarily taken on traditionally male roles, would have found themselves needing to continue. Young people would have grown with strong female role models - many girls would never marry. Would it tease the Greenwood further away from the other elven realms?

Laerwen (in my version) is the least likely to look on Mandos and Aman as the ultimate destination. She is the one who is, blood and bone, part of the forest. Idherien and Oropher are elves of Doriath - Elu's people. (Although, in the absence of any definitive evidence, I have arbitrarily decided that Oropher's father was Denethor's kin.) And then, I think that, with death in battle, those killed didn't necessarily get any time to think about what their fea was to do in the unexpected afterwards - and Namo might well have simply netted them all and taken them into his halls before they even realised they were dead.

Thank you, Redheredh. Birthdays are a great opportunity for writing!

ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
Just beautiful ia all I can say, it was so very sad but I am glad she found the strength to go on for her people. Hugs Deb

Author Reply: Thank you, Deb! It was a terrible time for the Greenwood, and, once she had weathered the first shock, Idherien could not let herself give in to her despair. Oropher would have expected her to fight back and protect his people, and so she did.

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
I really like the bond you show between husband and wife, and the devastating loss when one dies. Poor Idherien - but she is Oropher's Queen, and Queen of the Greenwood. I love how she addresses the practicalities of summoning the council and opening those final instructions.

Laerwen's fears for Thranduil make me wonder how he coped with her death :(

(PS - I'm glad you've got internet connection again!)


Jay


Author Reply: In some ways, the demands of being Queen of the Greenwood will probably be what help Idherien through the worst agonies of the next few days / weeks / months. She needs to protect Oropher's legacy - and that will keep her going through the days. The nights, though, will be hard.

I've gone with the general idea of Thranduil's wife dying when Legolas is very young - and that would have forced Thranduil to deal with his loss. The kingdom needed him, his child needed him - ergo, he coped.

Late Tuesday night, the phone rang. T'internet was back! It was too long.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
Oh my! That's so beautiful and sad and true!

Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
Oh, Bodkin, thank you. This story raises some elfy issues that are so hard to take in. When I read about Dagorlad, I'm not even sure then Oropher's charge took place. Tolkien says the first charge, I think. Is that right? But when was that battle in the long course of the war? At the start? At the end? When?

And if elves are linked in marriage, then did those at home know when their warriors died? That's just chilling.

I loved two images in here in particular in this story. One was the image of Idherien hugging herself like a mother comforting a child. That rang true to me as she turns her own maternal instinct in on herself. The other was the funeral pyres in Mordor.

Author Reply: Um. When it comes to knowing the actual background, Redheredh would be the one to know! I just picture Oropher's charge as being part of the final battle - a giant Battle of Waterloo type battle, fought, perhaps, over several days - the culmination of which was Sauron's fall.

People in long marriages seem to develop a feel for each other - with elves, how much stronger must that be! Oropher and Idherien would have been married for over two ages. And if they have that bond, then surely the wives would have known when they became widows ...

Grief is a strange thing. Moments of complete despair interspersed with numb practicality. At least Idherien has a lot to do - and by the time Thranduil is back and ready to take charge, she will have become accustomed to living.

Happy birthday and many of them, daw.

perellethReviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2008
What a long night for these two strong women. I liked the transition from the dark , desperate night into the timidly hopeful, or at least pratical morning, with thea, and porridge and tasks to do and leters to be openede.. and life to be lived. A sad moment beautifully captured.

Author Reply: You just don't feel you should eat and drink - the world should stop ... but it doesn't. Idherien had to come back - she had Laerwen to draw her and, deep down, the knowledge that Oropher would expect her to carry on.

Thank you, perelleth.

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