Reviews (24)

Adrianne · 19 April 2007 · Chapter 1: Arwen's Portion

This is perhaps my favorite of all the pieces you have done, this little glimpse into Arwen's heart. I cry everytime I read it, my friend. Everytime. And as I have told you before, you channel Tolkien so brilliantly in this brief few paragraphs it is as if this were some little tidbit that the Professor had penned in haste to include at some future time in his appendices, but then it was lost and forgotten. I have so many favorite parts it would be impossible to quote them all without quoting the entire story. But these are a few: "Duty, it seems, is a merciful burden, full of meaningless gestures that wear down the sharp edges of new grief." What an amazing observation and an even more amazing way to express it. And the sorrow of Arwen and Legolas' shared grief: "“I have a ship,” he offers, his eyes glimmering with grief and with a bleak, fragile hope. It matters not how gently I speak, my answer will surely break it. “I cannot alter my choice, nin muindor, I will not. You know this.” With a small nod he seems to crumble; he is suddenly closer, holding on tightly, his face hidden in my hair. “I would not see you perish…” His voice is a soft, broken wisp of melody in my ear. Here speaks a lord and a warrior of renown but now I am reminded of my little ones, when indeed they were yet small, beset by evil dreams or some childish fear no words of comfort could dispel. This sound is the same." I don't see this as being in with Tolkien at all, certainly not AU. I can see Legolas making this desperate offer even knowing it will not be accepted, and it isn't. She knows she can't change her mind, even if she wants to. I think Legolas knows this too, but in his grief he is grasping at straws, so to speak. It makes for an amazingly heart rending moment. Sigh. I so envy your talent. But you already know that too. Love, Adrianne

Adrianne · 19 April 2007 · Chapter 0

I don't know what else I can say that I haven't already told you personally about this exquisitely heartbreaking little insight into Legolas' feelings on the death of Aragorn. Nor can I elaborate on what others have said here. I have said it so many times before, I know, but it simply astounds me the way you can evoke such deep and heartfelt emotion in just a few but eloquently written words. Your writing is like a song without a melody, until the words are spoken aloud and then their power is even greater. This needs nothing, not fleshing out, nor elaboration. It is not thin, it is as lithe and elegant as Legolas himself. It makes my throat ache and my eyes burn just to read it. "Little did I think on them for my eyes looked ever forward to follow you. I never knew it would be thus." "It would seem that I still follow you after all, gwador, if only to leave this shore for another." These two lines say all that needs to be said about Legolas' feelings of brotherhood, devotion and love towards Aragorn. And then this: "You have gone beyond my reach and will never return." The finality of that line makes my heart rebel, for I cannot believe that it is meant to be ever so. For as Finrod Felegund said: "If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of Estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End: of all His designs the issue must be for His Children's joy." Quoted from the Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth or the Debate of Finrod and Andreth; "Morgoth's Ring"; Volume Ten of "The History of Middle-earth" How can His Children have joy unless they are able to mingle one with another, even if that time be beyond the breaking of the world? That is my hope within the tale that you have set here. That perhaps beyond this world these 'brothers' will be reunited in joy. And if I may paraphrase the last words that Finrod spoke to Andreth: "But you are not for Arda (meaning Aragorn). Whither you go may you find light. Await me there...my brother." And in this hope, I soften the hurt in my own heart for Legolas. Love, Adrianne

Larner · 20 May 2006 · Chapter 1: Arwen's Portion

The peace will follow. And she will follow him and find that peace. Lovely image of Legolas and Arwen seeking at the end to comfort one another, and the offer she cannot accept. I always felt that the reason Gimli was granted his grace was for the comfort of Legolas once this time had come.

French Pony · 20 May 2006 · Chapter 1: Arwen's Portion

What a lovely, poetic voice Arwen has. I like the sense that Aragorn is still a presence in her life, that she is still speaking to him rather than to a general audience. She seems like a woman who is coming to terms with the joys and sorrows of her choices and has matured enough to accept both with open arms.

French Pony · 20 May 2006 · Chapter 0

This is nicely intense, with some striking images. My favorite is this one: You and I, we smiled and clasped hands and uttered bold words today, empty words. I cannot remember them now.

Lady Saruman · 20 May 2006 · Chapter 1: Arwen's Portion

Again, another tear-jerking chapter. Arwen's grief is of the most above all others, and yet she can feel things no other can. I liked the fact that Legolas offered to take her to Valinor with him even he knows she will refuse. She finally understands why her father had refused her marriage to Aragorn at first, because of the bitterness of mortality she will face, just as Elrond had when Elros had died. Now she will wait for her time to come...when she can see her beloved again.

Lady Saruman · 20 May 2006 · Chapter 0

Yes, this chapter is told from Legolas's POV. He has seen plenty of death, but now the death of his best friend is the first time he actually feels the grief that the Elves feel--joy greater than the happiest man, grief worse than the most grievous. It is a very heartbreaking, bittersweet, chapter. But he is not the only one in pain.

Linda Hoyland · 20 May 2006 · Chapter 1: Arwen's Portion

This is so sad and beautiful.I liked the idea that Legolas offered to take Arwen.

Larner · 19 May 2006 · Chapter 0

You were right to leave it as it is, TF. Lovely thoughts here from Legolas, and wonderful thoughts on how grief would hit such as he. And his sight of Arwen as emptied is much as my own when it was my turn to write version of Aragorn's death and Arwen's following.

vampfan30 · 19 May 2006 · Chapter 0

I agree with Haleth, it couldn't have been a more perfect piece....what else can I say?

Haleth · 12 March 2006 · Chapter 0

For what it's worth, I don't think this is thin. Grief numbs the senses and the mind and you get this across quite clearly. It would be all the worse for an elf as the parting would be final. What could be added? That Legolas had seen Aragorn growing older but had refused to acknowledge that he would die? That he was such a strong king and leader that it had seemed impossible for him to die so soon (from an elf's perspective.) I'm not sure. Including more could ruin the mood you've established. This isn't very helpful, is it? "The sky is flat and black and the stars are naught but cold, glittering shards scattered upon it. They do not speak to me." An elf who cannot take comfort in the stars is very out of sorts indeed.

Rose Sared · 13 July 2005 · Chapter 0

"I put out my hand to leaf and blossom, I touch them, but it is as in a dream. I look out across the dark land to fair Ithilien, that work of love. I look to the north, to my home of old under the green wood where memories lie as thick as the leaves of many seasons. How is it that they no longer seem to be mine? The world has no more substance now than strokes of a brush on paper. " Bwha wa wa - sniff, I sometimes think that almost all of my output so far is written in order to avoid confronting this scene, or for finding some meaning in it. Luminous writing, I am so jealous. Rose

Legolass · 12 June 2005 · Chapter 0

Hi, TF ~ I have been keeping very focused on finishing my own tale, but I had to stop and read this. Very, very poignant. And no wonder you wrote about sailing being like death in your review - it must have felt that way to Legolas. Lovely use of metaphors.

docmon · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

Oh, my. This is breathtakingly beautiful. Don't you worry about fleshing it out! Perhaps you think it thin because it is bare-bones emotion, but the starkness and rawness of the emotions come across crystal clear and leave you filled with the same grief Legolas is experiencing. Rarely have I read such a moving description of this scene. And your grasp of the "Tolkienesque" style of writing is wonderful. I particularly liked when you said: "What has become of you, Aragorn? How fare you now? Is there a blessed realm for you beyond the circles of this world? I am only an elf. I know naught but that you are gone." Your choice of words made the emotions so vivid you could not read this without going through them yourself. The way "It plucks and snatches at my spirit with sharp, cold fingers... It is like the deep bite of a blade, like falling without end, like a black shadow welling up within me to drown out all light. There is a suffocating silence in my soul." Even your description of his numbness is noteworthy. "The garden where I stand is silent." For an elf, this is a profound statement of his grief. When did he last not hear the song of the trees? As he goes on, you can see how his disconnection with Middle-earth grows, and the Anduin is the only place he can now look to. "At last I find my voice, and it is as the sound of rending." That's enough to break my heart. amazing!

Elerrína · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

This was beautiful—possibly I'm just emotional tonight (goodness knows, I spent tha last hour crying in front of the TV!) but it really touched me. I liked the way you began it with a reflection on the past, and you conveyed perfectly the incomprehensibility of death and the devastation and emptiness of those left behind. Lovely work =)

Daynawayna · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

Wow. Very powerfully understated. I wouldn't call it 'thin' at all. Elven emotions are tricky creatures, ESPECIALLY for humans to write about. You've done an amazing job here. You've conveyed Legolas' pain as a "lack of emotion" of sorts until he's in the garden. I LOVE that line: At last I find my voice, and it is as the sound of rending. THAT said so much! Oh my goodness Tithen! I really, REALLY enjoyed this story. Great Job. :)

Angel · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

"How many times, gwador, did we prevail and leave the honored dead behind us? How many times did we go on while mourners remained to do their weeping and hold their quaint, savage rites? Little did I think on them for my eyes looked ever forward to follow you. I never knew it would be thus." Err if this had more flesh I'd be comforting Leggy in a most inappropriate manner to his grief lol. From Arwen's reaction to Aragorn's dy-ing, she too thought little of man's last rites until it was upon her. Very much in Elven character and the language is both melodious and melancholic. Ooh and I love her emerging from the dead halls beautiful yet empty sniff! "How is it that they no longer seem to be mine?" (My favourite line) Oh the stars how they fall cold and the trees silent. Poor poor Leggy you made me forget, it is Aragorn I should be crying for...naughty! :P BTW I think you're missing a comma in this line, it would read as more stab-my-heart-right-here with an extra comma anyway :) - "You and I, we smiled and clasped hands and uttered bold words today, empty words."

Leaward · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

You comment at the end that you think it seems thin. I don't think it is. You have a real flare for metaphors and that adds a wonderful depth to your writing, and the pain that Legolas feels at Aragorn's death is definitely captured. I also like your 'tolkienesque' way of writing: "Then did it come to me, the bitter finality of this thing we had refused to acknowledge for the sake of a warrior’s brave face. And your first paragraph is a really interesting insight ... yes, they had moved on and did not get the chance to grieve after Helms Deep and all the other battles, they did just have to keep going. I think this is a wonderfully written vignette. Well done. I look forward to reading more of your work now.

Eliza · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

Oh no, it's not thin at all. Very beautifully written. Legolass' anguish jumps out at ya. I always thought he would take Aragorns death the hardest. I think Arwen understood his mortality when she gave up her immortality to be with him and I think she believes that they will be reunited when she dies but Legolas doesn't have that comfort. Great writing, looking forward to more. E

Larner · 8 June 2005 · Chapter 0

Criticism? How can I offer criticism to this? It feels true, and is well written.

lwarren · 7 June 2005 · Chapter 0

I think, in this case, that your few words have conveyed all the grief and emptiness of this particular elven heart with cold clarity. No other words could add to the finality of his broken heart and its subsequent decision. A beautiful, heartrending story, TithenFeredir. linda

Lianna · 7 June 2005 · Chapter 0

I don't think you need to "flesh out" the story. It seems convincing to me -- despite the fact that I have always envisioned this situation in a different way. I have always thought that Legolas made a decision shortly after the War of the Ring that he would make every effort to resist the sea-longing for the length of Aragorn's life but no longer. Thus, when Aragorn's time ended, there would have been an element of relief in Legolas's reaction, along with genuine grief. The idea that Legolas made the decision to sail only after Aragorn died and in response to his own feelings about the death of his mortal friend had not occurred to me, but you made it convincing. If this was indeed the first time that Legolas experienced the death of a mortal with whom he had a strong bond (as your story seems to imply), then this could have been the way things happened. The line about Arwen's emptiness is so sad. :( I have always wished that she had a chance for another life after Aragorn's death, as Legolas does, but that's because I'm a sentimental slob with a skull full of mush. ;)

Saoirse · 7 June 2005 · Chapter 0

I usually do not read Legolas stories, but this was lovely, dear. There is no need to change anything. Very vivid, very potent. Lovely story :)

frodo16424 · 7 June 2005 · Chapter 0

There is no need to "flesh it out." The story is right just as you have written it. Well done!