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| Taking Leave by TithenFeredir | 19 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Adrianne | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 4/19/2007 |
| 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 Author Reply: Adrianne, thank you for your kind words here. You know that without your encouragement I would never have posted any Tolkien fic nor continued writing it. You continue to be a constant supporter, an wonderful beta and an enormous help with your great knowledge on all things Tolkien. It is amazing to me that Tolkien's characters are so well drawn as to affect us such that we grieve for them and look for hope on their behalf. I hope that Finrod was right. Love, ~TF | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/20/2006 |
| 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. Author Reply: That bit was a way of illustrating the idea of Legolas and Aragorn keeping up their tough, masculine facade to the end, and afterward Legolas is left having made a meaningless farewell. Thanks for reviewing, French Pony! ~TF | |
| Lady Saruman | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/20/2006 |
| 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. Author Reply: Lady Saruman, thanks for noticing this slant on the tale! I've never bought the idea that was popularized in the movie extras that Legolas knew nothing about death. He was a warrior and would have seen a lot of it even before the quest. My idea for this story is that neither he nor Aragorn really ever acknowledged the reality that they would ever be separated by death. Thanks for the review! ~TF | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/19/2006 |
| 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. Author Reply: Thanks, Larner. I think Aragorn's death was far more tragic for the people who loved him than it was for him, and that leaves so much for all of us to examine and write about. ~TF | |
| vampfan30 | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/19/2006 |
| I agree with Haleth, it couldn't have been a more perfect piece....what else can I say? Author Reply: Thank you for the feedback, vampfan. It is very encouraging. I'm glad you liked the story. ~TF | |
| Haleth | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 3/12/2006 |
| 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. Author Reply: "This isn't very helpful, is it?" On the contrary, it is. When I wrote this thing I had set up for myself the imaginary scenario that Legolas had seen plenty of death and understood intellectually that he would see Aragorn die, but had never faced the reality of it. Then I just let it flow and this is what fell out. It seemed almost too simple, but when I tried adding to it--as you said, it ruined the mood. Yours and the other reviewers' comments seem to indicate that simple is enough on this one. Thanks so much for the feedback! ~TF | |
| Rose Sared | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 7/13/2005 |
| "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 Author Reply: I have read other versions of this scene that were just wonderful. I hope you get around to it someday. Thank you for reviewing. I take the "jealousy" comment as high praise indeed. ~TF Author Reply: I have read other versions of this scene that were just wonderful. I hope you do get around to it someday. Thank you for reviewing. I take the "jealousy" comment as high praise indeed! ~TF Author Reply: Oh heavens. do we gat a prize for messing up two replies in one day? | |
| Legolass | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 6/12/2005 |
| 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. Author Reply: Thanks Legolass. I'm glad you liked it!. I'm waiting on pins and needles for the rest of yours. :-H ~TF | |
| docmon | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 6/8/2005 |
| 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." amazing! Author Reply: docmon, wow, thank you for your comments! It is good to read that the story stands up OK as it is, and it's very gratifying that the emotions I was trying to capture came through. I'm glad you enjoyed it. ~TF | |
| Elerrína | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 6/8/2005 |
| 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 =) Author Reply: Thank you, Elerrina. I'm sure you know how scary it can be to post a story, especially when you have doubts about it. You and the other reviewers have been so generous and informative in your comments, it really is a help. ~TF | |