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Sweet Woodbine by Bodkin	18 Review(s)
mystarlight	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/26/2018
I really love your story thank you for writing and sharing

Dinledhwen	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/2/2006
I have just finished reading the first chapter and found it delightful! I also skipped ahead and did a quick scan of the other chapters and have found that you too have put our beloved elf through much angst which I have done also. Poor elf! I hope he doesn't think we are ganging up on him! ; ) Author Reply: Poor Legolas! I sort of set out the prolonged torture in Reflections - and then the poor elf just had to endure the longest and most painful courtship. But he is elf enough to cope! And king's son / Lord of Ithilien enough to deal with the political pressures, too. But I admit it was very pleasant writing the end - he deserved some gratification! Thank you - I hope you enjoy the story!

Inglor	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/2/2006
Just started reading this story and had to put this line in a review: This will stop,’ Finrod assured them both. ‘We have seen what comes of elf set against elf – and I will not have it happen here.’ What a crusher... And spoken by one who was there magnifies the weight of this line ten fold. That line has the subtlety of a thunderclap. A Flash of light and BOOM. This Silgeek is happy. Author Reply: Thank you! I love Finrod. He is such a charmer - but strong, too, and wise. I'm glad you liked it.

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/17/2006
If I thought I would have survived it, I would have done a happy dance when I first saw this and realized it was a story of the years that Legolas spent in the BR before his father and E2 and others sailed! I think I have read and reread it several times since you started and it is so interesting, what with the politics and prejudices involved, but...what can I say? It's about L, and you wrote it, so it's WONDERFUL! LOL Can you tell who my favorite character is?? I had to laugh at Legolas and Elerinna's first encounter - what with his intense study of the bird and all! She took his mind right off his loneliness, though - good for her! :-) The incidents with the Wood Elves and the Noldor nobles (nobles?...I don't think so) was well done and I felt very sorry for Lidtheredh - I would imagine he was pretty desperate for anyone at all to listen to his story and offer some sort of solution...though he didn't seem hopeful. So Legolas is about to become VERY involved in matters that he probably didn't ever consider happening in the BR. I know I never considered them ... although it is logical, that given the Noldor and their past, there are bound to be problems in paradise! I thought Legolas' solution was very clever and put together in a way to get the maximum reaction and help from those best suited to his cause! BTW, I am becoming very fond of Finrod as your stories unfold... :-) I howled at the scenes at the ball and L's conversation with Galadriel. Poor elf! He can only stomach so much of the giddy, silly ones...and the one he'd like to become better acquainted with seems to be less than receptive of his advances! And sad thing is, I know it doesn't get any better any time soon. sniff Anyway this was so interesting to further meet Camentur (who I thought was a pretty decent elf in Far Horizons) and also get a sense of exactly what kind of elleth ends up capturing L's heart! folds arms, tapping toe and frowning You must convince me she is good enough for him, Bodkin... A wonderful beginning to a story I know I am going to just gobble up! LoL linda Author Reply: A Queen Bee type happy dance? I have rather avoided stories where Legolas is centre stage - especially since this involves the early stages of his relationship with Elerrina. I mean - Legolas plus romance upsets a lot of people! And then, how do you occupy 300-400 years? I mean, that takes us back to the Great Fire of London... It's actually quite difficult to imagine passing that much time getting to know someone. I do think that the sons of a lot of the Noldor nobles would not have a great deal to do with their time. It's not as if they had to learn to take over from daddy - and the more generations that built up, the less there would be for them to do. And they would be spoilt brats, I think. Indulged and not able to see why they can't just have what they want when they want it. Finarfin's solution of making them work and earn their place in society is a wise one. I reckon they would be quite anti-immigrant, too - looking on them as inferior and infesting lands that belonged to said brats. Having Finrod and Orodreth witness their activities made them real in a way that reported actions wouldn't have been. (I like Finrod - he is a complete charmer. Poor Orodreth got to be younger brother to a Golden Boy and older brother to Artanis. Tough on him.) It is going to take a good long while before Legolas ... and Elerrina, come to that ... overcome their reluctance to admit that they like each other. They're not, I'm glad to say, morons like Romeo and Juliet. They can see the difficulties that would need to be overcome. Camentur is a decent elf - rather more open than his father, but then not having shared his father's experiences. Elerrina - well, she's pretty and talented, but she's not perfect. She's a little too inclined to bow to her father's wisdom - but she does live in a patriarchal society. On the other hand, Legolas does end up loving her! I hope you find her worthy of his affections! Thank you. I hope the story continues to please!

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/15/2006
This chapter makes me think that the Blessed Realm is not such a bright idea after all. Too many high-achieving, dominant elves in way too small an area. At least in ME they could spread out and get a buffer zone between competing egos. I feel for Legolas! Author Reply: The Blessed Realm is one of those things that sounds a terrific place - until you really start thinking about the likes of Galadriel and Thranduil and Celeborn all stuck together with a bunch of Calaquendi-are-the-Valars'-own-people types in the same place for ever with nowhere else to go. And then add in the possibility of re-embodied figures such as Maeglin and Fingolfin and Turgon - and all the kings and lords left with no-one to rule and no-one to fight. The Blessed Realm has the potential for being anything but, I think! And Legolas is about the only natural leader of the Silvan - since the only way that most of them get there is via Namo's Halls. And he is, of course, several millennia younger than most of the rest - and sorely inexperienced in political manoeuvring. Still. It'll stop him from getting bored!

Idhreniel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/29/2006
I like your story very much! Nice plot!!! Author Reply: Thank you! Legolas had (in my version) about 350 years before the twins and his father arrived. And he must have been doing something - as well as developing an attraction for a certain elleth!

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/21/2006
And in so doing Taryatur makes his daughter that much more desirable in the eyes of a certain Prince. At last--a love for the Elven companion of Kings and Ringbearers--and Dwarf. At least this relationship will not be boringly predictable. Author Reply: There is that! Forbidden fruit always being rather more interesting. But Legolas and Elerrina take a long time to overcome their natural doubts. The Wood-elves won't be keen on a Noldo for Legolas, any more than Taryatur will welcome Oropher's grandson. Still. It'll stop him from getting bored!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
The longer I think about this question, the more I am of the opinion that it is not so easy for the elves of Arda to accomodate to the life in the Blessed Realm. Even if they are not suffering from the sea-longing or are weary, they still need a new purpose for their lifes. And particularly for warriors it is probably even more difficult – no more orcs, wargs, spiders and the like to slay. After millennia of strife against Morgoth and Sauron the peace may be restful, but boring. That may be at least part of Legolas’ problem. And he is alone, without close kin or his friends, save Elrond, Galadriel and Mithrandir, who are so much older than he. Well, I suspect he will be a bit occupied with Elerrina. She doesn’t make it easy for him – I’m not sure yet if it is mostly because of her father or if she loves to play with Legolas, who has absolutely no interest in all the ellyth who are interested in him. Well, if I remember correctly, Legolas got her hand only when the twins had arrived, and that is some centuries in the future. And other than that, it seems he has found something to keep his mind busy. Legolas’ plan worked very well, and I am glad of it. This couldn’t continue! It’s inexcusable what they did to Lidheredh with no true reason. Only a pity it’s impossible to send them to Arda – these arrogant brats would be reduced to trembling, helpless elflings if they had to face orcs instead of more or less helpless other elves. Would do them some good, I guess. It’s good to see Camentur again. In „Far Horizons“ he seemed a very decent sort, and it is good to know Legolas got to know him even before they became brothers-in-law. Maybe they can become friends, in spite of Taryatur. Anyway, I look forward to more of this and how Legolas got his Elerrina in the end! Author Reply: It can't be an easy transition - not just because they are battle-weary or displaced from their homes, but they just don't belong there. They must arrive into a world where everyone knows what they are doing and who they are and they must feel so lost. And then, the more of them there are, the more those who already live in the Blessed Realm would begin to worry about their own place in society. They could end up outnumbered in their own land. Legolas is alone - those of his immediate family who have left Arda left by way of Namo's Halls and there they remain. But, once he is feeling recovered enough to look, he can see that he is needed to be the voice of his people. Elerrina is as doubtful about Legolas as he is about her. I suspect they both felt an instant attraction - that they are now busy denying. He doesn't want to get involved with a Noldo and she doesn't want to get involved with a Wood Elf. And every time they relax a bit they get reminded of the gap between them. Still, what are about three hundred years to an elf! 'Young gentleman's pranks' is how they used to be referred to! Young lordlings with more money than sense and parents who cannot accept that their brats can be at fault - and believe that money can buy you out of anything. Well, Finarfin doesn't agree. Those particular brats will not get anywhere near resuming lives of cosseted ease until they have learned duty and responsibility! Camentur is a nice elf - and finds elves with different experiences to be very interesting. If it were possible to head east of the sea, Taryatur might well be worried about him. But he can't. The west, on the other hand... It's quite pleasant knowing the ending! Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
Now, this was really interesting. A nice look into Legolas’ character and Eldamar society. You write such beautiful descriptions of nature! That last scene was just delightful. ;) And there is intrigue – of several sorts! – going on in the High King’s court. Yay! I especially like how this story fits in with the larger story arc you have been building up. Sad that those young punks felt so confidant that they became blatant in their intimidation. Even though it did make it easier to catch them in the act and start the wheels of justice turning. Culture clash and economic pressures have been building up for quite sometime. However, as always, it takes a hateful agitator to stir up violence. Could that ‘nasty piece of work’ that broke poor Litheredh’s arm have been Minastan himself? Or is he already manipulating his friends? Having the background makes Elerinna’s and Legolas interaction all the more fun to observe too. Taryatur’s children seem to have his serious demeanor and are not nearly as frivolous as some of their friends. Actually, Legolas has acquired his seriousness in much the same way as his father-in-law-to-be. Probably another reason for the attraction between this future husband and wife; there is something there that goes beyond appearances or fate having a joke on them. I liked how you revealed that Elerinna was not just ignoring Legolas and meant to challenge him. ;) The hope that the elves of Ennor will now have a proper spokesman/leader to help address their grievances is a welcome one for them. However, from the Noldor viewpoint, the consolidation of these almost peripheral people can appear rather threatening. The shift in political influence – scattered minorities becoming a solid majority – might be more than worrisome to those have made politics their occupation. Long-held Noldor dominance might be overtaken... and by lesser elves than themselves. For though fewer in number than the Lindarin kindreds, it would seem many more Noldor have actually seen the Light of the Two Trees. All of which creates a fertile ground for feeding people’s personal prejudices. Of course, we already know that the solution will not be drastic change, but more or less peaceful movement. Much as it was in the history of our Western civilization before globalization. Still, those were tumultuous times too. I hope you plan to continue this tale for a little longer. If there a specific poem you drew the title from? Or was just the general romantic theme what you were going for? Author Reply: Starting at the end... sweet woodbine is another name for honeysuckle - and this ended up called that because I started it with a reference from ... Elflings?/Reflections? which referred to an incident where Legolas and Elerrina sneaked off to bathe in a forest pool where there was, I think, honeysuckle. Random. And Elerrina makes me think of the fragrance of honeysuckle somehow. You are very right - seeing Legolas act as a force that welded the voiceless together would make him politically quite worrying - and well worth keeping an eye on. Could well account for why Finarfin was so welcoming to him! Not short of sense, that High King. And able to deal with the problem much more wisely than some of the under-occupied sons of the privileged. Taryatur's family is not among them, either. He is a practical elf (not fond of his son-in-law, true, but generally practical). And very defensive of his family - nobody hurts his wife or daughter and gets away with it. Elerrina isn't likely to find her attraction to Legolas easy to deal with - she is her daddy's girl. I don't think it was Minastan. Finarfin would have known about him then and he would never have got as far as he did. In fact, he most definitely wouldn't have been there. Around, perhaps. A drinking buddy and a nasty whisper in the ear. This bunch are unlikely to do anything again - Finarfin has them, I think, at the nastiest duty posts available for the forseeable future. And the two worst will not be returning to Tirion. There are occasional complications with the wider arc - as it didn't start off intended to be a wider arc, there are sometimes things that don't fit very easily. But fortunately, I've done a lot of vague! Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
Ooohh! Yeah! I am going to love this one. I loved it from the very beginning (Legolas looking at the little bird instead of his future wife--hilarious!). And I think the idea of filling in the story of his early years in Valinor is excellent. I thought it was fascinating to see him in the opening part--he would be very lonely with no one else there in the beginning--and his change in attitude (He had been idle, Legolas thought. Too absorbed in his own concerns to look beyond them to the needs of his people. His adar would be ashamed of him. ) was very well done. The conflicts/policitcal issues between the elves and the ways you show them are so well done. Between that and Legolas's personal life, this is going to be another story contending for the 'my favorite' title. Hooray! Author Reply: Legolas must have been rather lost after Gimli died, I think. I could see the Dwarf insisting that his friend must take his bequest to Galadriel, just so that he could ask the Lady to care for him. And Galadriel would know that Legolas (just like Celeborn later) would need to develop a purpose that would see him through the next few ages. And he would be needed - I can't imagine that there were many there who would be able to draw together the Wood Elves and speak for them. Most of the Wood Elf leaders who would eventually resurface in the Blessed Realm would come via Namo's Halls - and I don't know that that would be the best route for those who needed to involve themselves in politics. And how could there not be politics? Legolas as a focus would make him a force to be reckoned with - and Finarfin can't be inept after three ages in charge of the Noldor. And neither would Olwe or Ingwe, even if they don't feature. And then Legolas is still lonely - he is probably in exactly the right state of mind to be looking for lurve - and Taryatur is going to do his best to make sure he doesn't look in Elerrina's direction. Fun. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

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