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| The River by Indigo Bunting | 14 Review(s) |
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| GamgeeFest | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/7/2005 |
| Cliffhanger! Nooo! hehe, at least I can go right on to the next two chapters. :) I love Sam's continued optimism, right to the very last moment, as well as his continued concern for Frodo. Every step brings him closer to Frodo and that's all he really needs to know. His determination not to appear weak in front of Legolas and to show him that hobbits can withstand hardship the same as Elves is very true to Sam's nature. He's not one to be coddled. Even so, Legolas knows just how and when to take care of him. Author Reply: Yes – Sam thinks so much of Legolas that he doesn’t want to appear weak in front of him; he’s afraid that Legolas will somehow think less of him. The two of them don’t quite see each other as equals at this point, not yet. Sam still sees Legolas as an Elf more than an individual, and Legolas, who has spent his whole life trusting to the strength of the Elves to hold back the shadow in Mirkwood, has not yet learned of the strength that hobbits possess. He’s heard of it, but seeing is believing. Legolas means to do well by Sam, but he did something in the crevice that he would not do at the end of this story, and that was wiping Sam’s tears away. It’s a gentle action and was kindly meant, but just as it shows their growing friendship, it also shows that Legolas feels the need to safeguard Sam’s heart as well as his person (at this point, at least). The action made Sam blush; it did embarrass him, although that was not what Legolas had intended to do. Eventually Legolas will come to fully respect Sam even though he is small, mortal, and untrained as a warrior. Sam is so different from everything that Legolas has ever known that it must take him some time to fully comprehend him. Likewise, Sam must eventually come to see Legolas not in a nebulous, awe-struck haze but as a single person with his own thoughts and feelings. | |
| Auntiemeesh | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/1/2005 |
| I've just come across this story and it's wonderful! You've done a great job with the interaction between all the characters, especially Legolas and Sam. You've also done a very nice job of building up the suspense. I'm dreadfully worried about Legolas and Sam in that tight little crevice with the ill-smelling men right outside. Author Reply: Hello, Auntiemeesh! Welcome to the story. I appreciate your taking the time to leave a review! I'm so glad that you approve of the characters - and the building tension. And you're not the first person to make mention of the "smelly" Men; somehow this seems to be seen as funny, although that wasn't really what I was going for. My original idea was that Legolas could sense something wrong about them, perhaps in ways that even he couldn't understand. I thought that he would even be able to smell their wrongness faintly, his senses being sharper than those of his companions. Oh, well; I've got smelly Men in the story now, and there's no getting rid of them. I hope you enjoy the rest of the story, Auntiemeesh! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/1/2005 |
| Oh my! So much effort - I really feel their pain! And such a scary ending. I can't believe those men have good intentions. More please - soon. It's too worrying. Author Reply: Hello, Bodkin - it's nice to see you again. You repeat reviewers are so awesome. It's so great to know not only that people like you (who are obviously so respected at this site) are continuing to read the story, but that you like it, too. Wouldn't it be funny if the story just kind of ended in the next chapter because the Men turned out to have good intentions? They could just give Sam and Legolas a nice, hot meal, ferry them across the river to the rest of the Fellowship, and go on their merry way.... Nah. ;-) | |
| FallenEagle | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/1/2005 |
| CLIFFIE! I love the way you write Sam, its just how I imagine him. Please update, or I think I am going to fall of your cliffie! Author Reply: Welcome, FallenEagle, and thanks for taking the time to leave a review! For a second there I thought you had reviewed before, but no, that was SilentEagle. :-) I'm glad you like the way Sam is turning out; the story's mostly about him, after all. I will update very soon! | |
| Periantari | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/1/2005 |
| nooooo not a cliff-hanger~! sorry too incoherent to post something coherent ... but i so very loved this chapter because it was in Sam's point of view mostly~ Thing that struck out most was what images made Sam calm down--lol those things mentioned like food and such were precious, lovely and so funny! pleeeeease~!!!! i beg thee for more, more!!!! (and i'll be more coherent in my next review. ;) Author Reply: Yeah… cliffhanger. It seemed like the most natural place to stop. It’s a good thing you like Sam’s POV, because most of the chapters will be his (the story is mostly about Sam, though Legolas figures in quite strongly, too). I’m glad you liked Sam’s thoughts; I thought he might dwell on the comforts of the Shire for some measure of peace. Next chapter will be up very soon. And I thought you were perfectly coherent. :-) | |
| Grey Wonderer | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/31/2005 |
| Uh-oh. I do believe they've been found. I wonder who these men are and if they are looking for the Fellowship or if they are out making another kind of trouble. I am loving Sam and Legolas's new friendship. I like the fact that Sam is trying his best to look out for Legoas in all of this even while Legolas is trying to protect him. I can't wait for more of this. Author Reply: I do believe you’re right, Grey. And yes, you’re so correct about Sam and Legolas each trying to look out for each other. That mutual desire to safeguard each other definitely comes into play in the future, which springs from their newfound friendship. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/31/2005 |
| The word that popped into my mind as I read the man's pronouncement is not acceptable on this board, so I will try to put it out of mind, although it clings in place a good deal. Good planning, as well as they can. Hope Aragorn is closer than they realize. Author Reply: I’m not sure what word you were thinking of, but since you can’t say it, I think I’ve got the general idea. Sometimes it’s hard to think of an appropriate descriptor. I’ve got worlds of admiration for authors who can write Legolas and Gimli sparring together, and do it well. The two of them are so good at insulting each other without ever being profane. Whew! I’m glad the planning passed muster. I may have said this before, but you seem like the kind of reader that doesn’t miss much. I feel quite sure that if anyone starts getting out of character, you’ll be the first to let me know. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/31/2005 |
| *whoosh* And another chapter to leave me breathless! This is brilliant writing--I could feel all of Sam's tension, and that of Legolas as well, and *knowing* it was inevitable they be caught, I still found myself holding my breath with them as they waited for the Men to pass them by. You know, there's been a discussion going on in the Stories of Arda yahoo!group about descriptive writing. I should point everyone in the direction of this chapter to see how it ought to be done. Not a word wasted, yet I could see the rocks and boulders and the river and the gorge and the trees--all of it! Very, very well done! Author Reply: Love the *whoosh*, Dreamflower. :-) It conveys breathlessness very well. I’ve done plenty of hiking in gorges and along riverbeds, and so the description of the gorge/trek has come pretty easily. I enjoyed writing about the treacherous fields of rock that Sam and Legolas had to navigate. It can be hard work hiking along a river when those big stones are all you have to step on, and they do often tend to wobble like see-saws. I’m very pleased that you can see the scenery in your mind. No doubt the details would differ if we painted pictures of what we imagined side by side, but hopefully the major characteristics would be similar. And if you did ever feel like recommending this story for any reason, I would be honored. I always look forward to reading your latest review. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/31/2005 |
| Wow - what a tense chapter! I loved Sam here - the way he reflects on his developing friendship with Legolas; his courage and determination. Although the chapter was from Sam's POV, Legolas's tension was very vivid as well. He's great here - strong and determined, but willing to admit his fear of discovery - and of the river - to Sam. I was *so* hoping that the men would pass them by - but knew they wouldn't, really. Brilliant writing. Jay Author Reply: Thanks, Jay! I’m glad you decided to single out Legolas’ fear. You’re right – he’s more ‘tense’ than ‘afraid’. Sam’s got a good measure of courage inside him, but Legolas has had many lifetimes of hobbits to learn to handle fear where Sam has not. All things considered, I think Sam’s doing a bang-up job of keeping himself together. I think that writing the story from varying POVs has really enriched the tale. The characters seem to develop much more fully when they can be seen from more than one angle. Looking at a character from another’s POV can tell us things that we might not learn even inside that character’s head. Looking ahead at the next chapter (which is seen through Legolas’ eyes), he doesn’t really dwell on being afraid. He’s got bigger things to worry about now that the Men have appeared, and any fear that he feels gets drowned in other emotions. It seems to take a look through Sam’s eyes – at least for now – to really show that he does feel anxious. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/31/2005 |
| Right now we are all wondering that about these men! Am loving the descriptiveness of this journey. Author Reply: Thanks for saying that you like the description, harrowcat. I know I’ve said something like this to a reviewer before, but I’ve hiked in gorges and along riverbeds before, so I’ve been drawing on those memories for the story. And you’ll find out more about those Men ASAP! | |