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The Golden Bell of Greenleaf by lwarren	8 Review(s)
Silivren Tinu	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/30/2006
I love seeing Arod and Legolas so happy together, though I have a feeling that the poor elf has no chance against a playful Arod. g "that braid is not removable" - giggle Something tells me that Legolas might look a bit disheveled this morning. I really like the idea that Arod will stay with Legolas, a separation would have been so hard for both of them - I was curious whether Arod would really be willing to leave Legolas and go back to the herds, it seems I have my answer. ;-) I can't believe Eomer told Legolas about Aragorn's "trees and rope and singing" remark, lol! It seems Legolas does not have much trust in his friend's talents as a singer. giggle Did I already mention somewhere that I love your sense of humour?! I'm really curious now what kind of new horse you have in mind for Legolas. It is wonderful to see Legolas well and happy again, and I am glad that he is so well-loved and worried over. If his friends would not care about him so much, that stubborn elf would probably succeed in killing himself while trying to suffer through his problems alone one day. shakes head I love your descriptions of Rohan and nature - I always enjoy it when the beauty of nature shines through in a story, and your images are so peaceful and beautiful. I'm glad Legolas did not choose the black horse - somehow I can't see him riding a black horse, the contrast would be so strong. Well, I would probably have gotten used to it, but I'm already looking forward to the search, and this would have spoilt it. ;-) "When sleep claimed him, his dreams led him down the shady paths of Eryn Lasgalen, his father’s strong hand resting on his shoulder and his beautiful voice blending in song with his son’s." - I really liked that! :) This mare sounds truly beautiful, though poor Legolas will obviously be teased relentlessly because of his choice. g It sounds like just the right horse for an elven prince. I wonder if Arod will approve. I loved the descriptions, the horses and the humour in this chapter! :) Tinu Author Reply: Hi there! You picked out some of my favorite scenes in this chapter - the great chase scene between Arod and Legolas being one of them. LOL And poor Legolas was so guilt-ridden about Arod's injury, it didn't even occur to him to ask Arod what he would prefer. He just figured freedom would be the answer. NOT! Ah yes, the trees and rope and singing threat - I really must see what that is all about! :-) Amen to the stubborn elf - the ellon needs a keeper! Any volunteers? ;-) Thank you for liking the descriptions of nature - sometimes they feel awfully wordy, but they keep sneaking in, as you will discover as you read further. g Storm belongs to Elfwine, heart and hoof - Legolas wouldn't dream of trying to come between the boy and horse! Another favorite part of mine - Legolas walking the elven path of dreams with his Adar, singing a little duet with him! Yes, the golden mare - a girl, and bound to be lots of trouble, according to Master Gimli! snicker But I am CERTAIN that our Prince can handle her! Right???? Thank you, Tinu, for taking the time to review...(the elf says 'hannon le' also...along with 'I am NOT stubborn!') I say "HA!" :-) Linda

Eruanneth_Luin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/30/2005
What fun to see Legolas and Arod playing together. 'You roll nicely' had me laughing again. You are adept at that talent. "Ropes, trees and songs". Again a treat to imagine the horror of such treatment, in particular the singing of Aragorn. Gimili lecturing an elf! Never heedful of his tongue and often a much needed voice to clear the air. Now will you reveal the 'nature' of those rowdy elven songs? My curiousity is peaked. I love your color descriptions and would also have falling for the golden mare or dare I say it, a golden elf. (sigh) Author Reply: This was a fun chapter to write after all the serious stuff of the previous one! Can't you just see Arod nosing Legolas all over that field! Of course, Legolas was not amused, but I thought it was very funny! LOL And the way to "persuade" a stubborn elf would, of necessity, involve ropes and torturous singing by humans! ;-) Gimli has now planted some seeds in Aravir's mind about the nature of friendship which will take some time, but eventually bear fruit. Aravir is so duty-oriented he has trouble seeing the obvious, poor elf! :-) Ah yes, rowdy Mirkwood songs...weeellllll, I will consider it! :-0 As for my color descriptions, all things considered, I would certainly fall for a golden elf! You and I are most definitely in agreement here, Eruanneth! :-)sigh sigh sigh Thank you for reviewing!!!!! linda

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 3/17/2005
A deliciously long chapter. This was much more upbeat, although with a very well-written sense of foreboding for things to come I really enjoyed the opening, with both Legolas and Arod able to forget all their troubles for a while. And I’m so, so glad that Arod finally made Legolas realise that all he wanted was to go back to Ithilien with his elf, that there was never any need to release him back to the herd. The relief of Legoals’ friends was a joy to witness as well. In fact, relief seems to be making them all a little giddy, I think!! I loved, loved, loved the part where Gimli growls at poor Aravir and tells him to just be Legolas’ friend. He’s absolutely right and this is probably what Aravir needed. His friendship for Legolas has been more than clear and I had been really feeling bad for him that he didn’t think he could just freely treat Legolas as anything other than his prince. Mirkwood songs, eh? I learn something new about elves every day! That Legolas feels the need to seek solitude makes me afraid for him. But for now he seems to be able to control that which must always be at the edges of his mind. I was glad he helped Eomer to realise how much Elfwine loves the horse. And it was very moving to see how hurt Eomer was that he didn’t realise this himself or that his son would keep it from him, but is willing to trust in Legolas’ perceptiveness and is grateful to him. I’ve never seen friendship between these two characters done so well before. The ending of this chapter was perfect, with them joking about Legolas choosing a female. So he’s found the perfect horse? Well, we’ll wait and see what Arod thinks. And indeed, what the mare herself thinks. Sorry this review is a bit rushed – it’s late here so I’ll leave it at that for today. I’ll try and get back tomorrow after work. Take care, Linda. :-) Author Reply: Thank you for such a wonderful, long review! I know it takes a while to comment on the little things you do, but I have to tell you, Dot, I appreciate it so much! I've gone back to reread every chapter so I'll remember what you are commenting on, and it's fun to recall writing this story...especially this particular chapter. I enjoyed visualizing the games Arod and a light-footed, agile elf would play! LOL I'm glad you did, too...and Legolas certainly needed a little break from all the seriousness of the past days. He hasn't been thinking clearly either, where Arod is concerned...so consumed with guilt over Arod's injury that he saw as his fault. Arod, however, had ideas of his own and was just waiting for the "opportune moment"! :-) I'm glad he has set the elf straight! And yes, everyone in the camp is giddy with relief! I am so glad you are noticing Aravir's dilemma...he has some very rigid ideas of his "place" in the grand scheme of things. He has made some promises to the King and has set himself on a path of duty that, to his eyes, would never include friendship with the Crown Prince of Lasgalen. Gimli, however, is not impressed...what foolishness to let Legolas make a decision that would obviously hurt him and not tell him about it. He blames himself, too...a friend should speak up, after all. Poor Aravir...a whole new mindset...this may take awhile... Well, you know those wood-elves are free-spirits! Stands to reason some of their songs would reflect that! LOL Yes, Legolas was hoping for a longer period of respite from the sea...however, he can feel it growing within him and he is really concentrating on keeping calm and focused. Hence, the need for solitude. I really enjoyed Elfwine and Eomer...Legolas sees things between the father and son that Eomer misses just because he's the King and busy...Elfwine doesn't tell his father because he feels like he's too young for such a valuable horse. I guess it takes one Prince to know what the other younger Prince is going through. Been there, done that...ya know? :-) Besides, Legolas would never interfere in a bond already formed between a horse and another. I had more fun writing the end of this chapter...Gimli is not sure at all about this new horse to begin with...and a girl? Ha! No way! And Legolas is just having fun messing with all of them...besides the fact that he's found "the horse of his dreams"! Talk about your GIDDY elf! Thank you again for taking the time to review, Dot! I am glad you're enjoying the story! linda

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/28/2004
I just love Legolas's relationship with Arod - and I'm so glad that the horse pointed out that they could stay together. The new mare to have caught his eye seems rather attractive. I wonder if Arod and she could make baby horses! Legolas / Aravir and trees. Lovely. Also rude Mirkwood songs. I like seeing the earthy side of Elves' involvement with the natural world. Also Legolas/Elfwine - theirs is a good relationship. I do like this equi-centric story! Author Reply: Yes, the mare is very attractive :-) but I'm afraid in my M-e, poor Arod will not have any lady friends! I went with Teanna's supposition that he was a gelding (in her story that I've referenced), so Arod may possibly be a good friend, but no baby horses! (I'm almost sorry I made it this way, Bodkin! lol) Legolas and Aravir/trees - I just figured after all the wide opened spaces with few/no trees around, those two would like a little R&R. Besides, I love it when the elves talk or sing to/with the trees! :-) Rude Mirkwood songs - Ah, yes, they may look like angels, but something tells me NOT! Besides, I liked it that Legolas would join his rather proper watch commander in singing some not-so-proper songs! Thank you, Bodkin...I'm really glad you are enjoying the story!

Lianna	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/27/2004
I have found myself checking for updates to this story every day. I think I'm hooked. I love the way you portray Arod in this chapter. His practical intelligence (horse sense?) and sense of irony remind me of Gimli. I think I'm beginning to understand why Legolas is so close to both of them. Author Reply: Isn't that funny? You are absolutely right on there...Arod is much like Gimli in many ways...practical, forthright, loyal, blunt....I am really glad his character is coming across that way...I can never be sure until I hear it from someone else! I am very glad you are enjoying the story...I thoroughly enjoy getting these great reviews! I'm hooked, too! lol Thank you for reviewing, Lianna. :-)

Molly	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/26/2004
I'm enjoying this story very much. I always like seeing how authors picture Legolas' sea-longing and this is one of the best I've seen in a while. I like how Legolas's friends show him he's not alone in this battle against an invisible foe. I was also glad he and Arod decided to stay together. What a pair they make! I look forward to reading more about this new golden mare. I was delighted his new horse was female because invariably the major characters are always riding stallions. I'm glad Legolas has enough sense to know girls are just as good as boys--despite what Gimli thinks! I'm eager to read more. Author Reply: Why, thank you, Molly! I have always found the subject of the sea-longing fascinating. I love the story of the Ainulindalie and wanted to tie the sea's call to the Great Song, which Tolkien said the elves and men could hear in the ocean, making them long for something they could not name. Legolas' battle is compounded because he fights it to remain on Ennor with his mortal friends, so it would have to affect him strongly (IMHO). Yes, Legolas is going to need his friends' support and understanding if he is stay strong against the call. Let's hope he remembers that! Isn't Arod special? I hope he seems believable...I thought if Legolas could 'talk' to trees, talking to a horse would be easy! lol Yeah, I figured a little change from a stallion would be interesting, and bless Gimli, irritating to him, as well. After all, since the end of the War 16 years before, it's been just the 'guys'!!!!!! Thanks again for the review, Molly! I'm glad you are enjoying the story!

Rose Sared	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/26/2004
More lovely stuff, so touching yet so thrilling as the horses thunder in. I hope leggy's filly is good to him. Rose Author Reply: Thanks RS! I've always thought a moving herd of horses (controlled or not) was one of the most exciting things to see and hear (the charge of the Rohirrim calvery in RotK was spellbinding, and have you ever watched the wild herd in The Man From Snowy River? Awesome!). I hope the mare is good to our elf, too, but you know how females can play 'hard to get' sometimes! vbg I am so glad you are enjoying this! Thanks for the review! :-)

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/26/2004
This was so upbeat and delightful. I loved the capable Rohirrim handling the horses, with elves who talked to them taking part too. I was charmed when Legolas told Eomer that Elfwine and Storm belonged together. It would have been dreadful if Legolas had taken the black horse away. And there is that mare, looking the horse that Teanna describes Legolas falling in love with all those years ago. But a horse is not a dragon's hoard. What a wonderful lesson that was. Author Reply: Thanks, daw! Things had to be better after Arod set Legolas straight about leaving him behind, and everyone else lightened up considerably. As for that black beauty, Elfwine kind of took over Storm, and informed me 'hands off!' very firmly! :-) Yes, Legolas really wanted the Sun Stallion, and the mare has resurrected some very powerful memories, not the least of which is that lesson (so eloquently put to him by his Adar) about a dragon's hoard. Thanks again for reviewing - I do believe I am totally hooked on all these kind words from everyone! LOL Is there a cure?

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