News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| In the Deep Places by Lamiel | 81 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 2/12/2005 |
| Oh my! Galadriel's temptation of the Fellowship has drawn a number of fanfics. This one is particularly well-done. I love Gimli's reaction to climbing up to the Lord and Lady, and his surprise on his welcome there. And the description of his finally succumbing to Galadriel, her beauty and kindness, is brilliant. And the exchange between Legolas and Galadriel was also brilliant, and shows exactly what was faced by one who wielded one of the Three. It was very interesting. I find myself wishing that you would have tackled the POV of the other six members of the Fellowship, although I know that would not have fit into the framework of this story, I think your interpretation of their various temptations would have been interesting to know. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/8/2005 |
| This is a story I have read straight through this afternoon without stopping. It is riveting; my favorite sort of gap-filler--the kind that gets inside the characters' minds. JRRT did that rarely. He so seldom told us what a character was thinking, that when he did, it had a major impact. But it left so many fascinating uspoken questions, which we can explore in fanfic. The friendship of Legolas and Gimli is one of those unspoken questions. It was something momentous and profound, yet he told us precious little about how the two went from antagonism to dearest friendship--we get to use our imaginations. And your imagination is so detailed and the depth of your knowledge and research into the history of Elves and Dwarves, that I can easily think of your story as just the way it *did* happen. You have a lovely grasp not only of your two main characters, but the rest of the Fellowship as well, and as one who is primarily a hobbit-fancier, I have to say that you have done very well by the four of them. I loved Legolas' perceptiveness of Frodo's abilities, and Gimli's sweet attempt to assuage Pippin's guilt, and I laughed out loud at Legolas' remark about if Haldir let the hobbits go hungry... I am seeing in this story not only the forging of a lasting friendship between Elf and Dwarf, but in the cementing of the Fellowship as a family. I definitely look forward to more of this story. And I think that JRRT would not be ashamed of your attempts to honor him with this exploration of his world. Author Reply: You read it all in one afternoon? That's dedication! Thank you so much for your review, Dreamflower, you really made my week. I can't tell you how thrilled I am that you enjoyed this gap-filler, and even more so that you liked it despite the focus on the Big Folk. I love the Hobbits, of course, and I try to treat them with respect. I'm glad you liked their portrayal here. | |
| Galimeril | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/8/2005 |
| Hehehe! I love that last comment about more tree houses fo Gimli! You can see the characters come alive in this story. Your style of writing is wonderful and I am looking foreward to the next update! Author Reply: Thank you Galimeril! I try to treat Tolkien's characters with the authenticity that they deserve. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/8/2005 |
| I love the bond that is growing between Legolas and Gimli. All that's needed now is for them to admit that they like each other. (I wonder if anybody ever told the dwarf about the Mirkwood children's songs, or whether they respected his dignity.) Author Reply: Well, I for one would not tell Gimli about the children's songs, unless I had a fast horse and a guaranteed half hour head start. It isn't respect for his dignity so much as respect for his axe. | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/7/2005 |
| Well, my bias will stick out a mile, but I have to say I really enjoyed Legolas' teasing Aragorn. That entire comic passage was a great relief from the tension before. Boromir's little problem was a brilliant bit of subtle humor, and the comment about the hands of a king was priceless. So many stories make Legolas out to be overly innocent; it's so refreshing to see him reveal a mildly vulgar sense of humor. Your description of Lothlorien here was very lyrical...beautiful, so evocative of the place and its magic. I loved Legolas' sort of visceral reaction to it, especially in the moment when they removed his blindfold. It was also very fitting to include Sam's comment from the book--that was a lovely touch. The confrontation between Aragorn and Legolas was quite impressive in its intensity,the two formidable powers nearly coming to blows, and in the midst of it an interesting discussion of the seductive pull of the Ring. Great chapter! TF Author Reply: It was a lot of fun to escape the angst for a bit, wasn't it? And although the main theme of this story is the devoloping friendship between Gimli and Legolas, I'm a huge Legolas/Aragorn friendship fan myself. So I'm very glad that you liked that. Oh, and Boromir would like it known that there was nothing "little" about his problem. | |
| Faith | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/7/2005 |
| love it! more please! update soon precioussss! yes precioussssss...we likes updates...yes we do precioussssss....yes we do......yes we do..... Faith, the slightly obssessed fangirl | |
| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 1/28/2005 |
| Oh, I enjoyed this thoroughly. The way you described Legolas' and Gimli's contrasting perceptions was not just a superficial exposition---it was like you really tuned in to the feel of it. Ack, I don't know how to say it. It wasn't just dry statements about how differently they saw things, it was like you touched the core of their natures to show the source of their perceptions. Anyway, I loved Legolas' singing--both times, and Gimili's thoughts about how he sang for any or no reason, like when Pippin burned the sausage. I loved Legolas' musings on the Golden Wood being free of the shadow and how strange it was for him, having always been threatened by it. I loved the way the both of them are learning to appreciate and empathise with each other. You really are building the foundation of a remarkable friendship. It seems like they are already depending on each other for comfort, though probably neither would admit it at this point. Lovely stuff. TF Author Reply: I had a creative writing teacher in college who drilled us again and again - "show," don't "tell." In other words, never say what a character is feeling if you can show it through their actions or expressions. So I will take this as a huge compliment, TF, and hope that his hard work is paying off in better fanfic. Thank you! | |
| Faith | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 1/28/2005 |
| i love it! more please! update soon! sooner than soon! sooner than sooner than sooner than soon! sooner than sooner than sooner than sooner than soon! i mean now! NOW! NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW NOW! NOW!!!! NOW!!! LOL hehehe...keep it up coming....:) Faith the slightly obsessed fangirl | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 1/27/2005 |
| Wow! Watch out for Gimli when he has worked himself up into a good froth of righteous anger! Loved the opening rant--three paragraphs of furious Gimli! And I love the contrast in the perceptions of Legolas and Gimli leading right up to: Then Legolas realized a concept so strange that he nearly stopped full in his tracks. The Dwarf could not hear the forest song. Perhaps none of the mortals could, at least not in the same way that the Elves did. That would be a shocker for a Woodelf. And I just couldn't help but sigh a big 'Ahhh' when Legolas decided to sing a song the mortals could hear to lead them through the forest. That was so cool. And so were Gimli's thoughts on Legolas' 'idiosynchrasy.' Their whole following dialogue was perfect but this interchange was my favorite part: There was a pause, and Legolas released a long breath, almost a sigh. “It was foolishness, Master Dwarf. Arrogance and foolish pride, I am certain, and now I am fey and careless, so that I seek converse with a Dwarf. Imagine what my father would say!” Gimli laughed aloud. “I expect that his reaction would be much the same as that of my father, if he knew that his son sat up through the night with an Elf. An Elvish princeling, I should say.” Legolas groaned. “Please, Master Dwarf, do not bring that up again. Haldir has finally determined that I am capable of eating without assistance, and that I can walk without flower petals scattered at my feet. I beg you; do nothing to make him think otherwise.” Another great chapter! Author Reply: Thank you elliska! Tolkien shows us how the Quest changed the Hobbits' lives and perspectives on the world, but I've always thought that the other members of the Fellowship must have been greatly affected as well. Certainly Legolas and Gimli were. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 13 on 1/27/2005 |
| Singing for Gimli - that is really such a sensitive thing to do. Not drawing attention to Gimli's tension and unfamiliarity with the forest, but just making him more comfortable without saying a word. Well - at least the situation has one plus. Gimli does not have to climb up a tree to get his sleep! I love picturing him following the sound of the elf and relying on him! Not quite sure whether to trust him totally or not, but really pretty sure that he is reliable. And the subtle signs that convince him that Legolas is as blind as he. (I just love the picture of a rank-impressed Haldir wanting to scatter flower petals for the ease of the Prince.) And do we have elven foresight? Legolas doubts whether Gimli will be happy to be shot of Lothlorien? These two are really cracking now - they are acting as each other's defender and support. Shame Middle Earth has not developed methods of recording music. I think Gimli will find it hard to go to sleep without elf-song by the time he's finished! Author Reply: I wouldn't mind the chance to hear some of that Elf song myself. With all the Mary Sues that are popping up in Middle-earth, it's a pity none of them bother to take along some recording equipment. Really I think that Legolas' song for Gimli is typical of the friendship that they eventually create. Neither one will admit to actually caring for the other, but when one is in trouble, the other looks after him. | |