Vigil by TithenFeredir

Reviews (14)

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Semmley · 25 December 2011 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Such a beautifully crafted story TithenFeredir. All the bases covered: Legolas' selfless defence of Estel to Thranduil making deals with the Valar for the life of his son. Each sentence building to that single word that conjures such emotion in the reader. I wondered if the stunning reality of emotion in this story came from your own experience. No matter. This story rises above simply a fanfic. Change the names and there is a sensitive story of anguish and love. Wonderful.

Rose Sared · 13 July 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Having now read your stories posted here - and they are wonderful, luminous, full of life and pathos. Stop reading my drivel and hie thee to your word processor, you have a real talent for reflecting feelings and your prose reads effortlessly. The last paragraph as Thranduil realises he is breathing is nothing short of stunning. Just love your writing - do it more! Rose

Author's reply

Rose, thanks so much for taking the time to read my stuff and for all your encouragement. I am working on something long at the moment, though I'm not sure it is appropriate to post at SOA. As for your comment that I should stop reading your story, I'm sorry but I'm enjoying it too much to stop now! ~TF

mistry89 · 11 June 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

I am a huge fan of Thranduil as a fully-fleshed (non-Greedy) character, so I would be pre-disposed towards kindly thoughts of this piece. However, kind thoughts aside, it is the way you wrote the emotions that come across that gives the story strength. Thank you, a powerful story (and it has a happy ending too!)

Author's reply

Thank you for your review, mistry89. It's very helpful to learn when a story works and why. (I love to read about Thranduil too when he is written in a balanced way.) ~TF

Haleth · 17 March 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

This is a wonderful piece. It truly captures the gambit of emotions experienced by any parent whose child had been grievously injured, from the initial shock and disbelief through to acceptance. Beautifully written.

Author's reply

Thanks for the encouraging review, Haleth. I think that in that situation Thranduil would be like any other parent. I'm glad you liked the story. TF

Stephanie · 27 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Beautiful! This was so wonderfully told! I loved every moment of it. Thank you so much for sharing! :-)

Author's reply

Thank you for the review, Stephanie. I'm glad you liked it. :-) -TF

JastaElf · 25 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

What a gorgeous piece of work. Your characterizations are powerful; even the motionless Legolas, by his very lack of action and interaction, comes across as a very strong, well-drawn character. And Thranduil is just magnificent.... I am always impressed when injury and recovery are handled in a realistic manner in fanfics, because all too often writers gloss over it and fail to see the possibilities inherent in such angst. :-) You have not only handled it realistically--you have made it the centrepiece of the work, and that is just brilliant. I am glad it has a happy ending--and Ai, what a wonderful one! Legolas calls him Ada, and Thranduil has not heard that in years.... beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing this exquisite jewel of a tale.

Author's reply

JastaElf, thank you for your comments. All the characters were strongly present in my mind when I wrote this; it is a wonderful surprise to me that they came across to readers as well. I agree with you that there is a great deal of dramatic potential in injury and recovery. Even though it has been covered a lot in fanfic I think there are nuances still to be explored. It's also a big challenge to weave clinical accuracy into a story in a way that it informs the action rather than takes over. As for the ending...I imagined Legolas waking up a bit befuddled and off guard, pleasantly surprised to find Ada there and having no idea what he just put poor Thranduil through. Thanks again for the review! -TF

Templa Otmena · 25 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

That was absolutely stunning. The prose, the characterisations... /Thranduil/, all executed beautifully. The small details regarding how everyone ended up in this situation were sparse yet so informative and I marvel at how we learned all that we needed to and how you concentrated on Thranduil's fierce devotion to his son and the shift in his moods as anyone in that position might experience. Excellent!

Author's reply

Thank you, Templa Otmena. I imagined this as Thranduil either telling someone the story or just remembering the event himself. In either case I thought the details of the accident would not have been described in any great detail. Thanks agian for our kind words, they are very encouraging! -TF

Lamiel · 25 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

This is beautiful. Outwardly a simple tale, not much different than what one might find in any of a dozen fanfics. But the style! My word, the clear, simple, absolutely stunning prose of it! Thranduil's voice is so perfect, so strong and fiercely devoted to his son. I am amazed by the easy grace in this story, its flow is so gentle and smooth, and at the end, without knowing how I got there, I found myself at an epiphany. And when I looked back I saw the path laid out behind me, so clear and yet so subtle that it takes my breath away. Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Author's reply

Lamiel, I'm overwhelmed by your review. I so wanted to capture Thranduil's point of view and his emotional journey in language he might use. Your comments encourage me to think I may have succeeded. Thank you! TF

Deana · 24 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Oh wow! That was beautiful! That was fantastic! Will there be anymore chapters? You did a great job on this! :)

Author's reply

Thanks Deana! No, I don't plan to write more. But thank you for asking! -TF

Karri · 24 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

That was beautiful! :-)

Author's reply

Thanks, Karri. :-) I'm glad you liked it. -TF

Ginger Rich · 24 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Whoa... I don't know why, but that was really touching to me. It was beautiful and wonderfully vivid. I just watched Troy, and there's so much death in the movie. I guess I needed some quiet faith-driven story to lift my spirits. Plus I love sweet stories about the wonderful Prince and King. Simply Briliant!

Author's reply

Thanks, Ginger Rich. That you found the story touching is graatifying to read. Thranduil is so often written as being at odds with Legolas. I wanted to show him as a loving father as well. -TF

Brazgirl · 24 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Delightful! I love it! Very sad but the end was warmed my heart!!!

Author's reply

Thanks, Brazgirl! I was hoping the end would leave a good feeling. -TF

Jay of Lasgalen · 24 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

This is beautifully done. Thranduil's thoughts and fears are so vividly written. For some reason I particularly liked this line: 'the invasions and small cruelties' - the healers don't have time for niceties. I thought at first Thranduil was witnessing his father's death at Dagorlad, and the vigil was to be a vigil over his body. I'm glad that your tale had a happier ending! Jay

Author's reply

Thank you, Jay. To get inside Thranduil's head was part of the goal in writing this. ~ I imagined Legolas' injury as a heroic gesture with a brutal result, and the treatment of trauma is also often brutal. BTW, thank you for your review on the drabble as well. I don't think it's possible for me to repond directly to those reviews. I was just thrilled that Thundera Tiger chose to post it. TF

Ailin · 24 February 2005 · Chapter 1: Vigil

Excellent! Flawless !

Author's reply

Thanks, Ailin! I'm glad you liked it. --TF