Reviews (90)

demeter d · 17 February 2006 · Chapter 10: Part 10

Lovely reflections here on the -perhaps dubious blessing- of mortality. I like your exploration of how Legolas has grown and changed through his time among his mortal friends. It will be interesting to see how they will be received in Lorien. Celeborn and the Lady have, after all, met Gimli. perhaps Celeborn could smooth the way for him with Thranduil.Looking forward to your next part.

Idhreniel · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Part 9

Wonderful, Soledad. One of your best chapters so far. Thank you for the update.

Mum's the Word · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Part 9

Oh, I just love your Thranduil! Such a fatherly father. And for a mere gap-filler, you've packed this chapter full! What progress Enadar is making -- food, vocabulary, sight, speech, reasoning, goals, determination! TEARS! This is wonderful. I'm amazed by his strong reaction to the smell and feel of grass and flowers (love your description of the flowers and his "savage joy"); smells are so effective at inducing memories, but I suppose he'd gotten used to the "tree-smell" of the flet and was no longer overwhelmed by it. Perhaps the healer will realize the need to begin widening his horizons a bit -- or at least more frequent visits to the forest floor and the spring. This new experience has certainly awakened a great desire for healing -- a fabulous sign to any parent or healer. I'm a bit surprised that Cordophel couldn't explain his reaction, although his joy was less visual and more emotional. I'm looking forward to seeing him grow in verbal communication. Another great chapter, Soledad. Thanks for the quick update. Blessings and more brownies, Mum

Bodkin · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Part 9

Oh, this is beautiful! I love seeing Enadar begin to widen the world around him - grass and flowers and the smell of the living forest. And warm water and being clean. He might not be able to eat much yet and be confronted by bursts of unexpected dread, but after an age - an age - of imprisonment, it's going to take more than a few months to get him back on his feet. And he has found people to trust and others to wonder about - he'll make it as long as he has them. And a little thread of hope is beginning to twine itself round his heart. I'm so very glad you have returned to writing Enadar's story. It's one of my favourites.

demeter d · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Part 9

No, not just a gap-filler. You allow us to see how far he has come. Another lovely piece of the painting.

demeter d · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 7: Part 7

Another lovely bit of the painting! Elrond once again is faced with a body he can help, and a spirit which will have to be strengthened to find its own way. His Celebrian and Frodo sought their healing in the West. Your challenge now, I quess, will be to see if those who love him can help Enadar find his healing there with them. Oh, I read the review where you said you really only liked movie Sam, Boromir and Gollum. I like them too! but I will say about the movie Elrond and Faramir; to me they seem to be small bits of what the characters might have been at times in their lives. For Elrond, I believe his grave guardedness reflects what you have the Amme see in him, someone who has grown very tired of fighting and being strong for everyone else. And to me, movie Faramir is a glimpse of the journey that he, Boromir and Denethor all faced in dealing with the Elves, Wizards and other people who were in their world but beyond their control. Not to mention hidden heirs to the kingdom who seemed more threat than help! In the book, of course, Faramir was always open and accepting. I see movie Faramir as going part of the way on his brother's road, and allowing us to watch him choose the way that in the book he had chosen all of his life. Boromir found acceptance in the end, and nobly sacrificed himself for others. Denethor in the book lived for others, but lost himself in the end. Make any sense?

demeter d · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 6: Part 6

I am new to reading Tolkien,(for good or ill the movies led me in, even though i was born the year after the Lord of the Rings was published and all my friends were reading the boxed set in the Seventies) so there is a lot i do not know yet about many of his peoples. You have given me a lovely education about Sylvan Elves in the chapter. So nice to see Thranduil being loving and fatherly. Some writers write him as rather hard, which I could never see. As you have him put it, he had to maintain his realm without the help of a Noldorian trinket, so he would have to be strong and wary. But he raised Legolas, whom we know to be loving and open. So He can't have been too bad! i like your development of Galion in the previous chapter. The poor fellow comes off rather badly where Bilbo fools him in the Hobbit to aid in the Dwarves escape. Good to see the faithful friend of the family he might have been. I also have enjoyed the glimpses of the kind of person Legolas's mother might have been. Since Tolkien does not say much, it leaves a blank canvvas for fan-fiction authors to paint on.

demeter d · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 1: Part 1

So nice to meet you, as it were through your work.This is a rich, detailed chapter. I can feel the cold damp dungeon, feel the despair as the poor prisoner slowly looses what he is. You told us Dol Guldur, and give us glimpses like his memory of trees and his people's ability to will their own death, which clue us he is an elf. But everything else is as tantilizingly bank as his own tortured mind. I shall be anxious to read more. i have put you in my author alert.

French Pony · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Part 9

Enadar has made a great deal of progress if he is able to be happy for Arwen. He's able to connect with her and see her as a real person rather than just a shadow flitting around his head. Getting him out of the tree seems to have done wonders fo his state of mind. He seems like he's ready to start seeing other surroundings and reacquainting himself, slowly, with the world beyond his little bedroom.

daw the minstrel · 6 February 2006 · Chapter 9: Part 9

Now that's progress. And as makes sense, it comes because Enadar touches grass, sees the trees and the stars. So he has a goal. That's such a good sign. Lovely chapter, Soledad.

Redheredh · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

Enadar's journey is both warming and wrenching. I am so glad you are continuing with the story. Oddly, he is like poor hope found at the bottome of Pandora's box after all the misery has flown out. If he can make it, then bitterness will not be the only outcome of this long conflict for the elves. On the alert for chapter 9.

Idhreniel · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

It's great to read from you again. Great chapter, as always. Thranduil and Elrond's conversation was very interesting, as were Enadar's thoughts.

French Pony · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

Enadar's slow progress is heartening as ever. Arwen is sweet and kind to him, which is just as it should be. And I love the absolute trust he has in his Ada. I liked even better the conversation between Thranduil and Elrond, and their discussion about preserving the past versus hoping for a better future. Both viewpoints make sense, especially for those particular characters. It seems to be Thranduil's sense of hope that allows him to let go of his children, let them go to do what they will do and have the experiences that will shape them. And in that letting go, he has the ability to treasure the one child he will have to keep with him, no matter how much work Enadar will be for him.

Bodkin · 29 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

Oh, so good to see this. And Enadar is getting a little better - I love the way he can focus on Undomiel and is happy in her presence. And her heart tells her they will meet again - I am afraid to suspect when that might be, there under the shade of the mellyrn. If Enadar is worrying about getting well, then maybe that is an indication that he is recovering to some extent - because if he weren't then he wouldn't worry about it. (One of those circular thoughts!) Thranduil and Elrond's conversation is interesting - I'm glad that Thranduil is realising just how much Elrond has been fighting and how much he continues to give. The Woodland King might well have been forced to become a little insular over the last age and he should know more of what has been happening outside his realm. I hope that Thranduil will be reunited not only with his children but also with Lálisin. Although Elrond doubts about justice are understandable. As to whether elves could have children in the Blessed Realm - well. I don't know that Elrond and Celebrian could, though. I think they would find it hard - it might feel as if they were giving up hope that the twins would come and they would eventually be reunited with Arwen beyond the end of days. I do like this story - I hope you are planning more chapters.

Daynawayna · 28 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

Yea!!! More of the story! What a lovely interlude for Arwen and Enadar. I do hope they meet again before she passes away. And I hope he recovers soon. How very trying for all concerned. I hope you get to write more soon!

daw the minstrel · 28 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

How nice to see an update. I like the idea of Arwen being there and inspiring Enadar to efforts he might not have made otherwise. Her beauty and kindness are balm to his soul.

Mum's the Word · 28 January 2006 · Chapter 8: Part 8

Oh, I'm so glad you've updated! I re-read this entire story just the other day, and I've enjoyed this new chapter. What a tale you're weaving! And now it includes a bit of Arwen's healing powers and kindness. It's so good to see Enadar's strength returning, along with his memory. The discussion between Elrond and Thranduil was well done and interesting. Thanks again for this update. I look forward to reading more of your fine work. Blessings and brownies, Mum

Anonymous · 5 May 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

This is such a well-written story, and I love seeing Thranduil in a protective, fatherly light. I'm looking forward to the next update.

Bodkin · 1 May 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

Is Enadar still hanging on there? Is he getting any better? It's not only his Adar who is concerned for him!

DAYNA · 20 March 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

::speechless.... again::: Soledad, I am continually amazed at the depth and breadth of your storytelling. If this were a book, I would not be able to put it down! Wonderful, wonderful story my dear! And I was enchanted by his memory of the little green leaf... I was SO hoping you'd bring his Baby Brother in to help with the healing! I can't WAIT to see how that comes along... I sense a special bond there... very very different from Ada's, and I believe that the little Greenleaf can and will succeed in helping to heal his brother. One of my favorite things you do in this story is weave his memories into his healing and reality. That is a great gift and a thing of beauty to read. I am truly adoring this story, and I need to seek out your others, to be sure!

Bodkin · 20 March 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

Well - good for Elrond. Giving of yourself when you are declining rapidly is a very generous thing to do. I can see why he is prepared to do it, though - Enadar deserves every chance to recover. And he does seem a bit better - he is a little more aware of the world outside. I love his memories of Elrond - he's moved on from childhood a little. And he wants to see the little green leaf and the silver-haired girl, but he doesn't mention his other brothers - I suspect he knows what became of them, even if he doesn't want to think about it. And Ada is being just perfect.

Brazgirl · 20 March 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

What a great glimpse of Elrond you gave us! Powerful healer, powerful elf... I like your portrait of him. And that Avari lady is very perceptive! I like her. The drescription of the Lord fading because of the call of the sea was very nice, I could almost see him in front of my eyes.

Karri · 19 March 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

An excellent chapter, Soledad. I really enjoyed your take on Elrond and sea-longing. :-)

daw the minstrel · 19 March 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

I loved this view of Elrond, especially Enadar's memory of him in the Last Alliance. That was a tantalizing glimpse you gave us! And I am cheered by Enadar's progress and his growing strength.

Mysterious Jedi · 19 March 2005 · Chapter 7: Part 7

Still excellent, I will look forward to more :)