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| The Jewels of his Existence by Orophins Dottir | 30 Review(s) |
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| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/24/2003 |
| Now that's sobering. What an awful picture of Legolas's suffering. I was struck by Haldir's claim that Thranduil could demand Eldarion in payment if Legolas dies. I know it's consistent with medieval practice but it just seems so barbaric and foreign. I also liked the almost poetic way you present Arwen's hiding place and the anguish of Rumil. So what's wrong with Legolas's wounds? What is happening? Author Reply: This is a dark tale and we are smack up against barbarism. The elves of Ithilien have tried ignoring it out of love for Arwen and their own courtesy, which can be a curse to them as well as a blessing. I hope that Thranduil will not claim Eldarion, but it must be known that this is his option. What has befallen Legolas is beyond Gondor. Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/24/2003 |
| Ah! Haldir is pretty ticked off. He doesn't even have anything nice to say to his old friend Estel. Interesting bit about Thranduil demanding restitution if Legolas dies...possible in the form of Eldarion. That could be chilling, too....yes, precious, it could. Haldir is studying up on fried turkey and has set the bird to marinate. He says he can do it. Legolas is armed and ready...we leave for our journey in moments. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, my lady. All your BLOND elves are well cared for. I look forward to reading more when I get home. Very good chapter. Karen Author Reply: As I recall my history, the wergeld first started to substitute for the family being able to demand an atoning death for the loss of one of their own. They could take money instead, but I don't believe that they had to do so. Thranny has enough gold of his own,and we all know his temper. Safe journey! Tell Legolas to watch well along the route, or he shall answer to me! *tiptoes off to ignite the tapers to guide your path home* Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/23/2003 |
| Frightening moment. I can understand that the elves don't want to give Aragorn pain, but surely he needs to know what is happening in his city? The evils that he's ignorant of are the ones that can really hurt, I think. Legolas's luck certainly was bad here. Everything came together to create the worst possible circumstances. Author Reply: I fear Aragorn must abide in darkness until he can pass the judgement of Haldir. Although he has not yet "trod the boards" in either story to any great extent, Haldir is definitely the Power Elf in these two tales. The Warrior-Healer begins to suspect that more than ignorance is at work in Gondor. Thanks for the review! | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/22/2003 |
| Wow! That was lovely! And finally, an explanation for the Fair One's injuries. Gimli is such a strong friend even though he finds Elves to be well...different. But he just shakes his head in amusement where the ignorant of men fear what they don't understand. This was such a plausible depliction and an all too true trait of some men...(I won't mention any names). Gimli...poor Gimli...he feels so guilty about Legolas's injuries. No wonder he refuses to leave the elf's side. The birds were a nice touch. I'm glad the feathered friends came down for a visit. Kinda like Snow White in the forest...as they break into song...or was she just yodeling then? Anyway....this was truly a beautifully written piece. I love these angsty little power moments. Excellent my dear lady and scribe....just excellent. Karen Author Reply: *hauls back and slaps the Karenator silly for recalling Snow White yodeling; it hath been stuck in my mind now and is most annoying* Keep your eye on that cave, Lady, there is more to it than a whacked-out Gondorian peasant. Ponder the source of the expolsion, Fair One. *tiptoes away after dropping a broad hint which the Dottir hopes will be as annoying as the yodels yet stuck in her head* Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/22/2003 |
| Oh, my, so we have people scared of elves and thinking they harm children? How crazy is that? So poor Legolas has blast injuries and burns....but I hope he saved the children he flung himself over. I hope that tale is spread far and wide that an elf sacrificed to save their children.......my poor elf. I do think someone needs to speak to the Gondorian cooks though. Arwen is queen and she is wise and fair - she should tell them. :D Author Reply: The children for whom Legolas made his sacrifice still have a role to play. They will be "back-burner" for a few chapters I think, but they are important. Arwen is having her own problems with everything that is happening. She is in that classic position of being between the two worlds of elves and men, and, in not wanting to hurt either, she is failing both of them. For all of his vaunted being "raised in Rivendell", Aragorn doesn't have the same ambivalence. He is clearly "of men". I have hope for Arwen though. Ah, well, in the next chapter Rosie, bless her heart, will assume the role of "chef to the elves" but for a more important reason than they don't like "Beef a la Gondor"! Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil P.S.--Hope you and the Golden One suffered no ill effects from the eggnog! | |
| Patty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/2/2003 |
| Very nice! There's nothing quite so heartwarming as a true friendship. Author Reply: Uh, oh! I have offended against elven courtesy. We are pleading vacation, upcoming holiday and general insanity in addition to the constant fight against evil. A MUCH belated thank you for your review. The story continues if you care to join us. | |
| Tinnuial | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/1/2003 |
| That was so very beautiful...it truly goes beyond all the other Gimli-Legolas friendship fics I've read. I also love the natural affection displayed between the elves. Please do say you will continue with this story? Thanks for posting this. Tinnuial Author Reply: Thank you. I had some concerns posting this as it treats of a friendship so deep that I worried it might be misinterpreted. I am currently not a little caught up in my "Revenge of the Wood-Elf" and the wonderments of its paths. (I have no idea where this particular story is going to take me, but it sure is fune!) However, the friendship between one of the beautiful ones of Tolkien's Weltanschau and that world's seeming misbegotten ones, the dwarves, fascinates me. I believe that I cannot help but continue this tale in some way. For I, as well as Legolas, love Gimli the Dwarf. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/1/2003 |
| Oh, my - and I thought I might cry over roses? Or over an elf and a dwarf? I love how you show their differences - and the respect they have for those differences - and the willingness to go beyond what makes them comfortable to what makes their friend comfortable and happy. Beautiful vignette. Author Reply: The friendship between a member of the most beautiful of Tolkien's folk and a dwarf, one which Tolkien allows not to even leave the Halls of Mandos if they be allowed in at all, has always fascinated me. At times one gets the impression that dwarves are considered as but a half-step beyond orcs and then Tolkien hits you with the fact that the one being that his beautiful elf must bring with him when he sails is Gimli, the Dwarf. A creature of air and light cannot exist without his friend of the earth and the caves' darkness. It is utterly captivating to me. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/1/2003 |
| This was quite beautiful. We don't often see the friendship between Legolas and Gimli so vividly portrayed. Writers seem not to believe in it and to prefer to think that Legolas and Aragorn were life long close friends. A nice effect of seeing through Gimli's eyes is that Legolas is very elfy in this, very fey and foreign. Author Reply: Thank you. To me, the friendship of the elf and the dwarf has always seemed extremely important to understanding Tolkien. I've always been moved by the fact that the one that Tolkien seemed to say Legolas could not lose, the one he took with him when he sailed was Gimli, the dwarf. As I said to the Karenator, I feel that Gimli would somehow be unsettled by the idea that one of the beautiful ones should so love him, a dwarf. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/1/2003 |
| What a sweet and intimate glimpse into the solid relationship of these two friends. Tolkien's world of nearly an all male cast has left many grappling for an explanation as to how men can be so close and it not have a sexual aspect. I think his world and his view was quite different than how the present mainstream public view closeness among same sex people. Certainly, homosexuality was around then as it has been since the beginning of time and it was often kept very quiet, but, I don't think the close relationships of men was so suspect as it is now. It was a different era with different definitions of acceptable displays of friendships. The Elves were, it seems, a touch feely group and in reality it is probably a much healthier way to live. Think about the studies done with infants and how the physical relationship with their caretaker was important to development. Babies that were not "handled' were failure to thrive. I think that's true of any of us. We fail to thrive when all physical sensory input is denied by absence of touch or by society labeling it as somehow perverted. What a sick society that holds such displays in contempt. (Of course, the rampant abuse in our society makes it even harder. Maybe if touching wasn't so taboo, then there might be a lessening of abusive people. I don't know. I imagine it's far more complicated than just that.) This was a bit different than your other stories, but still well done and it did get me to thinking....so that's what all this smoke in here is! BTW...what was Legolas recovering from? What happened? Very good, my Lady and Scribe. I'm off to read more...for a few minutes...I'm Halloweened out and it's late. My last little chick is back in the coop for the night and I can go to bed.....:>) Karen Author Reply: Curse Halloween! The Dottir is sitting here with a major sugar rush and inability to sleep. You mirror my thoughts when I was writing this. I've changed the story description to be very spare with the idea that readers should be given an idea to understand on their own. I'll be interested to see if I get any reaction. Elf Boy's injuries are probably due to his rescue of a child although I haven't written that yet. I'm quite tired of his always having to pull Aragorn out of the fire! I seem to be drawn to the idea of the relationship between the elves and the innocent, as children. I also was always struck with the idea that one of the "beautiful people" of Tolkien's world would choose as his best friend a dwarf (metaphorical outcast as it were) and the dwarf's struggle almost to accept that someone like that would love him. | |