Beyond This World by Thundera Tiger
Galathil · 13 February 2021 · Chapter 1: The Death of One
Wow! You had me in tears from the the third line. It is powerful and poignant. I wonder what Thranduil would make of his son's decision? Hope he understands. I love the twist at the end. Now the fellowship will always be together. Galathil
Meg · 26 December 2009 · Chapter 1: The Death of One
Jesus Christ, I sobbed through about 90% of that story. It was SO well-written, every single character was crafted to perfection and those little anecdotes Gimli and Legolas shared made the whole story that much more believable. WELL. FREAKING. DONE.
Author's reply
Hey Meg, Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you liked it, though I apologize about the tears. Still, I'll take that as a compliment, if you don't mind. :) After all, it isn't supposed to be a happy story. Not outright, at least. Thank you again!
Arya · 13 January 2006 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
Wow Thundera! This story really touched me! To tell you the truth, I cried about four times while I read. Especially when Legolas died. Though I wish he could have lived, I do not deny that the ending was very intersting. I tought he was going to get over it. But then again, they were really good friends. I guess this just proves that the mind is very powerful.
Author's reply
Glad you were touched. This piece stretches Tolkien's canon further than any of my other stories, so I'm always a bit nervuos when people read it. But I'm happier you liked it and even happier that you took time to send me a review. Thank you very much!
TahiriRocks · 17 November 2005 · Chapter 99999
....Are there actually any words to describe this story? I don't think there are. It seems that you're the only one who can put into words the incredible depth of feeling this story evokes. I have never read anything more beautiful or moving in my whole life. Fanfiction somehow a 'lesser' form of writing? Pah! This is the only thing I have ever read, published fiction or otherwise, that has ever made me cry, and it does it *every* time I read it. Yet, somehow, it leaves me feeling uplifted, not depressed. If I am feeling really down, all I have to do is read this story. It makes me cry, yes, but they are good tears. And then I can go back to life with a lighter heart. What gets me the most is the incredible courage shown by Legolas in choosing to follow Gimli. It may seem that Gimli gave up much to follow Legolas to Valinor, but whatever he gave up, Legolas gave up far more. Gimli gave up Middle Earth, but Valinor, while different, is not totally alien. He could not *know* Valinor before arriving there, but he could *imagine* it. The difference was one of degree, not kind, as Valinor was still a land of Arda. Legolas is giving up literally *everything* that ever defined him as a being. Their immortality and eternal link to Arda are the core of what it means to be an elf. For Legolas, more so than for Gimli, following his friend truly is a leap into the unknown. As you spent the entire story showing so eloquently, elves simply cannot comprehend mortal death, any more than we could really understand all that it would mean to be immortal. For Legolas to choose that path shows, even more powerfully than the rest of the story in my opinion, the true depth of the friendship they shared. That friendship is at the heart of any story about Legolas and Gimli, but I do not believe that it has *ever* been expressed more poignantly than in this story.
Elfling-Imp · 23 August 2005 · Chapter 99999
I really liked this story it was very well done, I always wanted to read things like what happened after they died,I also would like to see a story like this involving Arwin and Aragorn,its so neat to imagine her dying and then meeting him after somehow. Anyway Thanks for the nice story
Author's reply
You're very welcome. I'm glad you liked the story. As for one involving Arwen and Aragorn, I do know that there are some very good ones out there. You just have to look for them.
Estel_Mi_Olor · 11 March 2005 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
My goodness, Thundera Tiger, I believe you are the only person other than Tolkien himself who could do justice to the death of Gimli and Legolas's subsequent choice. I have never read anything so poignant or beautifully writter, either fanfiction or published, in my life. I am totally moved, in fact there are still tears in my eyes. How absolutely fitting that Gimli would know that Legolas would choose death. How beatiful to have the Fellowship reunited in death, except Gandalf of course. The last chapter was the perfect ending. My favorite part however, is that Legolas conquered death by choosing it. I don't know if you meant this to be a profound metaphor, but I think this is exactly what Jesus Christ meant for the second coming. If you are Christian or have any idea what I am talking about...ok I'll stop that tangent. Anyways, thank you so very much for articulating this moment. I know many of us, myself included, have pondered the events that occured after the two friends sailed to Valinor, but I believe you have done the best job at expressing this thoughts. I do not know enough adjectives to praise this work, so I'll stop wasting your time. But I am sincerely grateful.
Author's reply
Hey there! I'm very glad you liked this story. I went out on several limbs for it (and broke a few canon limbs altogether) but I like the end results. And the idea of conquering death by choosing it is something that's stuck with me ever since reading about the Numenorean kings. They didn't start to decline until after they began refusing death, which is a fascinating concept for me. Incidentally, I am a Christian, and I understood your comments about Christ. I never thought of this story as referencing that at all, but it's an interesting take. I'll have to think about that a bit more. Anyway, glad you liked this story and thanks for giving me some food for thought as well! Many thanks for the review!
Estel_Mi_Olor · 7 March 2005 · Chapter 1: The Death of One
I believe this is your best yet, Thundera. It is absolutely beautiful.
Author's reply
Thank you! I'm rather fond of this story, and I'm glad you liked it, too.
docmon · 8 November 2004 · Chapter 99999
oh, Thundera, what to say about this story! I can't believe I hadn't read it until now! So moving, so intense. An unlikely story/ending, I thought, and yet, after reading it, completley fitting. I'll try to make that make sense later. But I will say, after reading your AN, I see your point a bit more about how lost Legolas would be after Gimli's death. Legolas and Gimli were wonderfully written. Gimli is exactly how I would expect him to be, and their dialogue when together, is in perfect tune. I liked the repetition of Gimli asking if Legolas had found hope in the sunrise. Legolas's inability to find it was disheartening; I started worrying for him then! I could feel his struggle, as an immortal, to understand mortals' acceptance of death, and knew it was futile. Gimli's death scene really choked me up, even as i could see it coming. And when Legolas asked him, even then, to tarry, it broke my heart. I was so happy that he called him brother, and told him he loved him. You know they never said the 'L' word before! It was a beautiful send off by Elrond, Galadriel, and Gandalf! And I was so glad he really was at the funeral. I really regretted him missing it and felt he wouldn't have done that (although his denial would have kept him away). You showed Legolas's 'breaking' very effectively. I could see him fading, losing his grip on life. His constant looking back to Middle-Earth was a poignant detail. I thought at first it was looking to the past, but I got that he was so bound to Arda, and to mortals, that the break was too painful. I didn't really expect the ending, nor would I have thought he would choose that, but by the time I got there, I saw it fitting. I was relieved and even happy for him, when he told Gimli he was coming. And Elrond's interpretration - that the friendship was not destined to end in this world - gave me more conviction that it was right. The idea that all the fellowship, save Gandalf, were then reunited, b/c of their bond, was so touching! *Loved* the epilogue. I hadn't expected that he would reunite with everyone - that made it so much more joyous! The way you wrote it was perfect: without context, or description. For one, trying to describe 'heaven'? good luck. But it's the after life, a place beyond this world. It's not material. therefore there isn't likely much more than their words. I don't know if that makes sense, but the pure dialogue strenghtened the sense that they were in another realm, a place beyond, for me. Beautiful ending lines as well. you rock, TT! monica
Author's reply
I was rather fond of the sunrise analogies myself. Perhaps a trifle overused, but the sun does rise from direction of Middle-earth, so Legolas is watching for both it and a glimpse of mortal lands. To a lesser extent, so was Gimli in the very end. I'm not sure how well that came across, but they they both kept looking back to mortals, and ultimately, that's how the cookie crumbled. The ending was a huge risk and a giant canon breach. I'll freely admit to that. But it was the only ending that made sense to me. At least, with my characterization of Legolas. Others don't have him bound so tightly to mortals. But for me, I couldn't separate him from Gimli. Not when Gimli was willing to cross the sea so he wouldn't be separated from Legolas. There's parallels and similarities throughout Tolkien's work, and I figured I might be able to get away with adding one more on Legolas's behalf. That's my defense, anyway. ;) Take it for what you will. I'm also glad you liked the epilogue. I struggled over that for a while and then chose to do only dialogue because the setting just didn't matter. They didn't care where they were so long as they were together, so why should anyone else? At that point, it's the characters that matter, so I let them get the final say. Thanks so much for such a wonderful review, docmon! I'm really flattered!
Robert Pakish · 28 August 2004 · Chapter 99999
Dear Thundera Tiger, I did not set out looking for you writings this evening of /Beyond this World.' I had almost stumble upon it searching for different ways to further my Gimli outfit. I started reading the story knowing what was to happen not knowing if i wanted to to finish it or not, but as i continued i know that i had to. Constantly wiping the tears from my eyes i read on. I am extremely in love with the works of Tolkien and the world of Middle Earth not able to explain what deep feelings i try to express to others. In Tolkiens writing, to their end, their was an end, but not a complete true end in my opinion. Until your writing of 'Beyond this World.' I am so pleased that someone had stayed with the life and true-ness of the story to make a more just ending as you did. And even though this ending effected me more than i could have ever thought, having more less of an ending with my enitre loving of Middle Earth, and the FellowShip, i learned that this ending should not be mine, but it was of the fellowships and that the fellowship will always live on in books, tales, and song. Your writing gave me a new outlook on death, friendship, family, and a renewed value for life and for that i will continuly thank you. I consider myself lucky this night on falling upon your story. With your consent i would like to print out this story and share with my friends. Best Regards, Robert Pakish robepaki@aol.com
Author's reply
Thank you so much for your kind words! You are more than welcome to print out this story and share it if you wish. That is quite an honor for me, and I thank you again. In writing this story, I felt that Gimli's death should be more of a beginning than an end, because death has a funny way of being both. And because it was an peaceful death at the end of a long and honorable life, it should be less about losing and more about gaining. At least, that's what I thought. Anyway, thank you again for your comments! They have really made my day brighter.
Nymh · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 99999
Wow. You're terribly skilled. For large sections of this story, I wanted to shake Legolas for his selfishness in dealing with the dying Gimli. And then to leave the world with nary so much as a parting nod to everyone else in Valinor who loved him? Maddening. And yet I was repeatedly fumbling for the tissues, particularly with the image of him stretched on Gimli's grave, and Elrond's discovery and ... back to the tissues. I'm very glad for the final interaction between Galadriel, Elrond and Gandalf, with even the trees in essence laying a benediction on Legolas's decision. Without that, the bittersweetness would have been too bitter, I think. (Now, when do we get more of LoLaS and FND? *cracks a whip* ;))
Author's reply
Yikes! Whip! *hides* Um...well, LoLaS is kind of near the bottom of the rotation sheet, but I have worked a bit on the next chapter, if that sets your mind at ease. Anyway, as for this story, Legolas's maddening inability to deal with Gimli's passing is quite deliberate. I wanted to shake him a few times while writing it. The simple fact is that elves don't understand death by aging. This is going to come up in depeth in a story that deals with Aragorn's death, but I'll share a little of my philosophy here. It's not that elves are unfamiliar with death. The Silvan and Sindar elves fought Morgoth unaided for thousands of years. They knew very well what death was and how it worked. And the Noldor quickly become acquainted with it when they returned to Middle-earth. I think it can be argued that the elves are more familiar with death than many mortals. But here's the catch: They're familiar with death as a violent passing. Sword, poison, bolt, and spear is how they see death. Or through the very rare occurrence of mourning, such as Luthien or any elf that had to deal with rape. That someone can drift away in relative peace is a very foreign concept to them, and Legolas couldn't understand how Gimli could desire his own end. By the end of the fic, he understood a little bit better, but he's still an elf of extremes and he's willing to let everything go in order to stay with his mortal friend. That's my idea, anyway. Thanks for the review!
Lily Took · 24 April 2004 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
I read this story on a whim, much as you say you wrote it on one. I was interested about how you would handle Gimli's passing, for it was your stories that first got me fascinated by Legolas's and Gimli's friendship (hobbits composing almost all of my reading material). I do not believe I have ever cried so hard while reading fanfiction. The tears flooded out from the description of Merry and Pippin's death and did not relent until the middle of your author's notes. As I write this, I fear I am in peril of breaking down once again. The raw emotions, beautiful, Tolkien-esque dialogue, and characters completely in-character all weave together to make this story one of power. Your word choice is precise and, upon first read, I could find nothing to change (although I must admit that I was too lost in the story to view it from the perspective of an editor). The sunrise and the phrase "the speed of a wizard and the tenacity of a hobbit" were especially vivid. The use of brief humor was also effective, for it both allowed depression to diminish for a moment as I laughed through my tears at Gimli "accidentally" leaving them in the dark for an hour, and underscored the friendship and therefore the loss. Thank you so much for the privilege of being allowed both to read your work and catch a glimpse into one of the greatest friendships in Middle-earth.
Author's reply
Thank you very much for your kind words! I was especially grateful for your comments about the use of humor. My opinion is that if you go for a complete sob story without lightening the mood at all, you go completely overboard. There has to be balance, and humor shows that it's not all tears and weeping. There's joy here, too, although it's somewhat more diminished than usual. That said, I do apologize for making you cry. I tried to write something moving, not necessarily something teary. They occasionally go hand-in-hand, though, so if the tears were a problem, I'm sorry. Anyway, thank you again, and I'm flattered that my stories got you interested in the friendship between Legolas and Gimli. It's the most fascinating aspect of the books in my opinion, and I'm so glad I managed to hook someone else into it. Thank you again!
fadagaski · 19 March 2004 · Chapter 99999
I had an interesting thought regarding this fic yesterday. Had it been the first LOTR story I ever read, I don't think I would have been touched quite so much. That's not to lessen the quality of your work, far from it! My point is, by reading your other stuff first (namely, While The Ring Went South) the animosity and friendship between Gimli and Legolas was much deeper and more vivid for me. What Tolkien left us with regarding these two was but a snippet, too busy as he was in getting the Ring to Mordor and Aragorn to Minas Tirith, but in your stories you take that snippet and expand on it, develop it, until it captures the heart of the reader. And then you go and kill Gimli off. *glares* Thus ends my theory on why BTW touched me more after I read more of your work. *nods*
Author's reply
*nods back* I very much appreciate the input, and it makes quite a bit of sense. Interesting fact: This was my second attempt at an LotR fic. I was currently midway through "While the Ring went south..." and it was an enormous stretch to go from bitter rivals to deathbed friends. But definitely an interesting exercise, and I think it gave me quite a bit of insight into the shaping of subsequent stories. Anyway, I apologize for killing Gimli, but he is mortal, after all. Offing Legolas was definitely outside the boundaries of canon, but I enjoyed it and I make no apologies for doing it. Well, at least, I make very few apologies. It seemed a fitting end to me.
fadagaski · 6 March 2004 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
I could have sworn I reviewed this! Maybe at ffnet? Anyway, here I am, with the other reviewers, come to tell you that you made me sob like ... a widow, I suppose. I've never really focused on Legolas or Gimli, yet the way you wrote their actions (and reactions) in this piece is incredible. I have never been moved so much by literature of any kind, never mind fanfic (the supposedly 'lesser' kind - HA! You've thrown that into debate). Don't know if you've ever seen this fanart, but I was browsing through deviantART when this popped up: http://www.deviantart.com/view/1199834/ It's a gorgeous picture, but the artist is right - it really doesn't do the story justice. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but a thousand of your words are priceless. I have a lump in my throat again!
Author's reply
Thanks for the link! I've actually seen that before and it's also on the Axe and Bow website, but I'm flattered you thought to send the link my way. Thanks so much! And thank you even more for your very kind words. It means so much to me when people decide that fanfic could compete with real fic as far as quality goes. Because that's what I aim for, and when someone tells me I hit the mark, it makes it all worthwhile. Thanks so much!
runaround · 11 January 2004 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
thank you for making me cry like a baby......
*~SuGaR~* · 14 December 2003 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
ok...no crying this time...*sigh*...so sweet, so sad... better stop now...might start crying again... *~SuGaR~*
*~SuGaR~* · 14 December 2003 · Chapter 2: The Choice of the Other
*sniff, sniff*...so sad...i cried through it all!!!! even though it ended with Legolas choosing and being happy with what he chose...*sniff* you have to put a tearjerker warning on this thing!!! i thought i cried a lot through the last chapter when Gimli actually died...*sniff*...i didn't even stop crying thorugh this one!!! i never really thought about what it would be like for them in Valinor, i always wondered whether they would die or not because they were in the Undying Lands even if they were mortal...*breaks into uncontrollable crying again* *sniff*...ok, next chapter... *~SuGaR~*
Orophins Dottir · 5 December 2003 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
I always had every good intention to review this story. It was one of the first I ever read, and tonight I have re-read it. Of the many I have read, this still remains the one which moved me most. I know what will happen and still I cry. Yet, the tears are joy. I believe that it was the right decision for Legolas to make. My deepest belief about these books is that the relationship between the elf and the dwarf is the most important to understanding them. The love of one of Tolkien's "beautiful people" for the despised dwarves, who only escaped destruction because Aule was forgiven their creation. The dwarves who were forced to wait until the elves lived. All those PC police who accuse Tolkien of racism, should somehow be forced to see the great love he created between two of the most disparate of his peoples. The fact that the one creature Legolas needed to take with him from Arda was a dwarf is astounding. I totally agree with you that he would choose Gimli over his own immortality. Shall I get off my soapbox now? I say to you thank you and well done. I also hope that you are well and have not given up with your stories. It has been long since you updated. Some of us yet wait upon "Land of Light and Shadows"! Humble Scribe to his Majesty Thranduil
frodo16424 · 24 August 2003 · Chapter 999: Beyond This World
What an ending! Very good. Shoukld be rated a six-kleenex story. Some friendships should survive death, and be eternal, such as this one has. Glad to have eight of nine together singing the song of Arda.