Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Sweet Woodbine by Bodkin	15 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 11/30/2006
I am so glad that Gimli is mentioned here, and the love Elf and Dwarf held for one another. Elerrina begins to learn more of the depths of love to which this one has been exposed; and she will in time come to appreciate his love also of Aragorn and his honor for Frodo and Sam, and his friendship with the rest of the Fellowship. And at last the two of them are beginning to be honest, at least in part. Author Reply: For all Gimli's presence in Legolas's life took up quite a short part of an immortal life, I think he - and all those of the Fellowship - were very important in changing him from the rather provincial elf he may well have been at the beginning of their acquaintance. The situation in Mirkwood must have limited Legolas's experience of the rest of Middle-earth - and he had probably not had much to do with mortals and even less with dwarves. I think Elerrina has been very sheltered by a father who would, if he could, stop even a sharp wind hurting his precious daughter - but she has clear sight and an honest heart.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/19/2006
I'm terribly sorry for not reviewing over the last time, but I was without internet connection at home for seven weeks, and at work there was not enough time. I'll try to catch up. Sometimes I had wondered how the elven lords could still be so wealthy, although probably a lot of their jewels and other treasures was lost in the fall of Gondolin, Doriath, Eregion ... and they had to pay so many others. The idea with the farm belonging to the house is an interesting way to solve the problem, you know. Though it's a bit ironic, a Noldor King providing a house and income for a Woodland elf. Not much equality there, I see ;) In this the elves are not better than men. But it is good Elerrina confided a bit in Legolas. And it was fun to have Legolas there once again, no matter if Taryatur liked it or not. Gimli's legacy to Aule was touching. No wonder Legolas wouldn't part with it! It is truly sad Gimli and the hobbits had to die even in the Undying Lands. Author Reply: No internet connection! That is frustrating. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen again. I don't know that elven lords counted wealth in jewels and treasure - although I suppose it had its place in dealing with other races. Land was really the measure of wealth with lords and princes until quite recently. And the power to tax, I suppose. I think a lot of their wealth would be counted more in stored food and goods for barter - somehow I can't see money having taken off much in the Blessed Realm, although it is useful as a portable representation of the ability to pay. I can't see elven lords wresting crop tithes or rents from those unable to pay, either - but the means to support those who don't work the fields or hunt their meals has to come from somewhere. (Let's keep it all a bit woolly!) The Woodland Elves don't yet have a place of their own - and they live a bit hand to mouth, which would make it hard for them to fund rulers. I reckon that Finarfin would find it useful to have Legolas making Tirion his base - well worth providing an embassy and the means to support it. Not to mention that Galadriel is very persistent. Legolas probably found it easier to accept than Thranduil would - he can see that the advantages outweigh the fact it sticks in his throat a bit. I think it was probably easier to fit into different parts of society as an elf. Skills would be recognised and people accepted for their talents - but, nonetheless, they had kings and lords. And they would have needed farmers and cooks and grooms and sanitation workers and weavers and others working in every field that provides society's infrastructure. Tolkien said elves were more equal as a society - with both class and gender. However, the need to mention it suggests that probably some people were more equal than others. Galadriel is the only female elf (as far as I can remember) who is really mentioned alongside the males as having / wanting political power - and mostly, I daresay, females could attempt careers, but, once married and mothers, most of their attention probably got tied up in that. That and providing the necessities of life - which is why artists and authors and scientists and so on have usually come from the upper classes, at least until recently. Earning a living inhibited any display of talent from other parts of society. The only thing being that elves have a very long time after they have raised their children to pick up their careers. It is a shame that Gimli and the hobbits couldn't have at least lasted long enough for them all to be reunited in the Blessed Realm, but it would have been hard on them, I think, to live there eternally separated from all their kind. I think Gimli would have wanted Aule to hold the records of his race. It's a shame Aule didn't go to visit Gimli, but maybe the physical presence of a Vala would have been too much for an elderly dwarf. And poor Taryatur. However little he likes it, there's not much he can do. Emotions are something you can't fight!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/1/2006
And so Legolas learns why it is that people are reluctant to enter the wonderful world of politics. Although I have to say, I'd certainly vote for him. If there were more people like him in the real world, Congress wouldn't be in such a mess. He seems like he's growing up, too. His outlook on life is expanding, and he seems to think in broader and more concrete terms about life and his position in it than he did during the War of the Ring. Author Reply: Legolas would grow and change here, I think. Even as Lord of Ithilien, he still didn't have the responsibility that has landed on his shoulders now. There really aren't many figureheads to lead the elves of Lasgalen in the BR - and he is a well-brought-up and dutiful heir to his father, who would take up what he saw a his duty. And it's not an elected role, poor lad.

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/25/2006
This deserves a good long review, Bodkin, but I have to go! pulls hair out and wails I just have one bit of advice for the Prince...grab that girl and run! Will return with a more coherent review later...it was all SO good! And sad! sniff Linda Author Reply: I don't think the girl is quite ready to be grabbed yet! He has yet to convince her. They are very attracted, but they don't know each other enough to trust their feelings. Thank you. I'm glad you are enjoying it!

Idhreniel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/23/2006
I like the dialogue between Legolas and Elerrina. I am trully curious about these two and where they interaction will lead them. Nice story!!! Author Reply: Thank you. Legolas and Elerrina are very drawn to each other, but they are sensible enough to realise that theirs would not be a match made in heaven. And they are responsible enough to try to step back. I'm glad you are enjoying the story!

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/22/2006
Hehehe! Legolas managing a household. Poor thing. Thank heavens for Celebrian. My favorite part of this chapter though was, of course, his meeting with Elerrina in the market. Their interaction there was so well done. I love the glass working detail that you have given to Elerrina's character and her observations about her ability to really practice that art. (You are so right about the idea of equality vs the reality of the females we see in the books). But Legolas and Elerrina's seeming inability to avoid one another and their struggle to deny themselves is great in this chapter. I love them as a couple and I am really enjoying seeing how they came together. Author Reply: The traditionally female roles of managing estates are a bit much for poor males! Especially since he is starting from scratch - when Legolas's mother died, all the personnel were in the right places and knew exactly what to do to keep things running smoothly. Elerrina and Legolas are so drawn to each other - but they both have enough sense to realise just how much everyone they know would disapprove. I don't know quite why glass jumped into my head as the kind of working that absorbed Elerrina - but it has become part of her. (I've got some pictures of gorgeous Venetian glass beads that I can just see her creating.) Equality is so often theoretical - and I'm sure the elves were no different. (Nerdanel will have had to leave her forge to feed, clean and supervise seven little Feanorionnath, no matter how talented she was! Feanor - no. No multi-tasking there.) It takes L and E over 300 years to resolve this. An eye-blink in the life of an elf, perhaps. But a long time, nonetheless!

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/22/2006
I think I am caught up. I don't see how you can write multiple stories at once... I get confused too easily. I like Elerrina. She has really come alive here as a character in her own right... with likes , dislikes and a distinct personality. Her mother is a good influence. I like the way they spoke to each other at the end - I am afraid for her father that love will eventually rule. Now... one point I am confused about: where is Legolas's mother? Is she already out with the Silvan's living in the forest? So it is only the more recent arrivals who see the Silvans as leaderless and want to see Legolas take up that role? Author Reply: I am now (thank goodness) not really writing multiple stories any more! At least ... the multiple bits are things like 'Reflections' which are one off short snippets. They just jump into my head and are done! Doing 'Arwen' and 'Ripe for Change' was really painful and I will definitely try to avoid ending up doing that again! I know I avoided making too much of Elerrina at first - people do get worked up about Legolas and the ladies! - and actually, it was rather fun establishing children and parents first. But she has to be a strong-minded girl - she took on quite a role in the teeth of what must have been quite a lot of opposition. Legolas's mother. (This is what comes with leaping around in the time-line!) She is living west of the Pelori with the Forest elves. I don't think she ever spent any time east of the mountains - and she didn't come to the shore to welcome Legolas. He doesn't meet her until 'Far Horizons', by which time he is already married and Eleniel and Galenthil have been born. I think, perhaps, because he lost her so young, he doesn't recognise the link that might tell him she was around. And it is the Silvans east of the Pelori who need leadership. The ones already in the far west are quite happy with what they have!

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/18/2006
Love the romantic tension in this chapter. It is so subtle and yet so nice. Legolas is really coming into his own with getting himself established as a voice and a presence for the Wood Elves. Glad Haldir has agreed to help out. You so aptly described this as "growing roots". I am enjoying this story very much. Please update soon. Author Reply: Elerrina and Legolas have a courtship that lasts over 300 years - so it is going to take them a good long while to progress beyond attraction. But they are elves - the attraction is pretty strong! (I like romantic tension. It's much more exciting than the - er - wrestling stages.) Legolas is beginning to grow into his role - and knows that he has to tread carefully so that he is not seen as selling out to the Princes of Aman. He has to spend time in the forest as well as being the voice at court. Haldir has been at a bit of a loss - I don't think he was really high in Celeborn's councils, but he is a very loyal elf and will do what is necessary once he has been convinced. I'm glad you are enjoying this story. Thank you. There will be more quite soon - as soon as I can get my brain engaged properly.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/17/2006
A very enjoyable chapter! I loved these scenes of Legolas' deepening political career in Aman. And his deepening relationship with Elerrina. He is actually taking on roles now, not just tasks anymore. His reluctance to accept the estate and the obvious answer about needing a wife to help manage things was quite entertaining! It was a real treat making the acquaintance of the Teleri royals. I like this Earwen and family. (btw an individual Teleri is a Teler) It's easy to see Legolas becoming an enthusiastic sailor. ...he sometimes wondered what it would have been like to grow up with a naneth's love. Ah, but he does have all his kinswomen keeping an eye on him anyway, does he not? ;) The encounter in the marketplace was actually rather personal. ;) Both ended up revealing secrets about themselves and their feelings. So, his rounds brought him to Haldir. ;) But of course, who else! If Legolas has not shown himself willing to do what he asked Haldir to do...well, Haldir would not take up cause either. They both know that leadership is more difficult than command. Taryartur! It is so good to see him smiling and proud of his daughter. Unhappily, he is too scarred himself to allow Legolas to bring more of the same into Elerinna's life. 'Tis so sad a fear. Too bad it will become habit. How intriguing that Gimli would created yet another connection between Taryartur and Legolas through Mahtan and Aule. And to have her grandfather tease poor Elerrina's father... ;) Yes, poor Elerrina! She is a good and dutiful daughter, who respects her father's wisdom. But, she seems the type that will try to learn what is truly behind his fears - which is exactly what he is trying to prevent. No one would wish you to learn the pain of losing those you love, my lady. Maybe that painful kind of understanding will indeed contribute to keeping the lovers apart as much or more as paternal ill-will. Legolas, polite and gallant... Yes, 'poor Legolas', too! Excellent chapter, Bodkin. Author Reply: Thank you! Legolas has begun to accept what he must do as the leader of his people. It's a bit of a peripatetic role - and he has to be careful not to be seen as selling out - but he has to be where the power is. (The thing that amused me about the offer of the estate was when Elrond threw in that Finarfin had been saving it for Celeborn. That just came - and fitted so perfectly with just how irritated Finarfin was with his son-in-law about now that it just had to stay.) (sigh) I knew it was one Teler, lots of Teleri - but my fingers clearly refused to acknowledge it. Legolas has lots of kinswomen looking after him. He should be worried! I'm glad you liked the Teleri royals - Espalas is a bit headstrong, but he's only a younger grandson, so he gets away with it. And I love the image of Legolas sailing with Erchirion in the Bay of Belfalas - challenging the sea's call. Elerrina and Legolas are very attracted. They just both have enough sense to see the difficulties - and are not prepared to play Romeo and Juliet. And the barriers between them are huge. Taryatur only wants what is best for her - and he believes with total conviction that exposure to the evil of life east of the sea makes Legolas unsuitable for his gently reared daughter. And that is quite apart from his connection to Oropher. I suspect he might even convince Legolas that Elerrina should be protected from him, too. I imagine there was a time when Linevende's father was rather unfond of Taryatur - such is the destiny of young ellyn seeking to wed an elf's daughters. And he enjoys payback time. Gimli would make a point of contact between Aule and Legolas - and link him with the descendants of Mahtan, too. Poor Taryatur - nowhere is safe! Haldir is - not trained to rule. Not ready to take that sort of responsibility. But he is very loyal to Celeborn and he will do what he believes his lord would expect of him. Legolas cannot command him, though - he needs to convince him of the path he needs to follow. Yet, too, I think he is another one who would welcome a task - I don't think he would want to sink into a marshmallow contendedness of living in the Blessed Realm. It's not going to be easy ... I'm now left wondering how easy it was for Legolas to step back and accept his reduced role once Thranduil arrived. Three hundred plus years of being the face and voice of the Silvan elves - and suddenly he is having to convince his father of the wisdom of his actions. Glad you enjoyed it!

Alice	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 4/17/2006
Woah, that was intense. Poor Legolas and Elerrina, they tried so hard to deny their feelings. I'm kind of mad at Taryatur now. Elf needs to grow up. I'm really enjoying both the political and romantic aspects of the story. It's interesting to see Legolas before Reflections started. Particularly because the tone of the two stories is just so different. It's a shame that he doesn't have any close friends with him once Gimli died. He could have used them. Author Reply: Elves know when they meet the one who completes them. So they say! But Legolas and Elerrina are fighting it as hard as they can. It is just not a suitable match - every grain of sense they have is telling them it can never happen. Taryatur loves Elerrina dearly - and he really only wants to protect her. He does, of course, think that nobody is really good enough for her, but his reasons for objecting to Legolas do have some validity. As far as he's concerned, anyway. The politics just seem to get more and more complicated - and the more you think about how different people will have seen what was going on, the more complicated it gets. Reflections is the starting point of a lot of stories. And a lot of things that started as little more than a joke - like Elerrina's hair colour - have become plot points. Legolas must have missed Gimli dreadfully. He grounded him, I think. And, to my mind, the elves of Lasgalen didn't really sail willingly - and many of Legolas's contemporaries died in the long battle to hold the wood and the Battle under the Trees. They will return eventually, but they didn't sail with him. He does need friends - he is making new ones, but it's not the same as having someone who has known you since boyhood.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List