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Sweet Woodbine by Bodkin	16 Review(s)
mystarlight	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/23/2021
Wonderfully written reunion!!! I am rereading your story and even more mesmerized than the first time I did it. You are a brilliant author. Thank you so much for this masterpiece.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 12/19/2006
Acceptance by Thranduil was unthinkable, was it? Taryatur has a great deal to learn of his future son-in-law's family, of course. That the newcomers should feel so weakened is not good. Apparently they lingered perhaps too long, almost to the point of beginning to fade. Glad they have their families' love to surround them now. Author Reply: I wonder if Thranduil knew all the details, though! Although he might not have cared. Elerrina is the one for his son - and that is the important part. They did stay too long (in my version of events) - and without the power of Thranduil, Celeborn and Glorfindel might not have been able to endure the passage from the heart of Lasgalen to the sea. But they will recover now they are with their families.

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/20/2006
I am fascinated with the way Legolas, Celebrian, Elrond and Galadriel become aware that their loved ones are finally on a ship coming to the BR, and how the Valar make certain that those who need to be dockside are there, no matter how long they must delay the ship's arrival! You have some very cool ideas about the BR, Bodkin...bows and salutes the author. I am always amazed at how very logical and well,...elvish you make it all sound. Haldir is so funny(Get a horse, Thranduilion, and get yourself to the sea!) And the first section with Thranduil's uncertainties and Celeborn's observations - you hit those characters right on, right down to Thranduil's petulance mixed with a hearty dose of fear ("It is too late to change our minds now") to Celeborn's calm confidence ("We will just have to make the best of it"). But undoubtedly my favorite part (and believe me, I have lots of little favorite parts!) is the actual docking. You have very deftly covered the emotions of the people waiting on the dock, Elerrina especially, as well as the tension of those on board the ship...Thranduil leaping from the bow of the ship and 'stalking' with that single-minded determination towards his son comes vividly to life! And those two words, "My daughter"...and that kiss of acceptance and welcome on Elerinna's forehead...I melted into a puddle right then and there. And of course, laughed myself sick in the next moment with Taryatur's "Just like THAT?" What a wonderful contrast of reactions there, Bodkin! Once again there is that tension between Legolas and Elerrina, communicated so nicely with their little fingers just touching....sigh melts sighs again... And what a heartfelt discussion follows as Legolas tries to explain further to Elerrina about battle and why he had to fight. "Everything comes with a cost...but there are times when you have no choice but to pay." The more Elerrina sees how open and honest he is, the stronger the steel in her backbone becomes! :-) She is gradually becoming the strong helpmeet he will need when they finally become betrothed! Lovely, lovely reunion! linda Author Reply: It's tied in with elven family bonds, I think. Their fear are linked: parent/child, husband/wife. The Sundering Seas must have put a distance between them, if it didn't deaden the link altogether. Once the ship was on the Straight Path, they would have felt it like pins and needles in the soul. And time, I think, bends and stretches rather even in our own lives. Compare a day with a friend to sitting through half an hour on departmental budgets and which is longer? Thranduil - I don't think he really wanted to go. Would have stayed perhaps if he had felt the forest needed him. But once the forest became numb to the elves - he preferred sailing to impotence. Celeborn knows why he is going - and perhaps that makes it enough. I think Thranduil might sense Legolas's uncertainty about how he would receive Elerrina. It would be so typical of him to disconcert them all by accepting her without question - to reassure his son, to express his love and maybe to stamp his own seal on what was going on. Might well not have realised until later that she was Noldor - and then wouldn't have gone back on what he had said and done. Taryatur would thing 'typical! You can't rely on a Wood-elf for anything!' And again - little touches - and refraining from touch - is enough to set them both on fire. I think Elerrina's understanding is growing - sacrifice, self-discipline, standing between the innocent and any danger. And I think it's a good thing that they have enough time to learn about each other and share their understanding. I'm glad you enjoyed the reunion. This was a fun chapter to write because I knew what shape it had to take and it just flowed! Thank you, Linda.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/29/2006
The conversation between Celeborn and Thranduil made it quite clear how ambivalent they felt. For the ones who were born in the Blessed Realm it must have been easier to return than for those who had never seen it to sail at all, I suppose. Legolas gazed at him impassively for a moment. ‘You will not look so smug in a moment,’ he said. ‘If I am to go now, I need someone to take charge here in my absence – and you have just volunteered.’ lol Well done, Legolas! I'd loved to see Haldir's face eg It's quite a new experience, to see the usually unflappable Galadriel so distracted and even weak. But then, it is a great relief for her to sense her husband arriving. And all three of them must have been so glad to know the twins have sailed, too. but Legolas had assumed that vulnerable look that turned his sister to mush So our Prince has learned how to handle ellyth? The arrival of the ship was highly enjoyable. I'd not expected Thranduil's reaction to Elerrina, but I was so glad he accepted her at once and without questions. But what a terribly disappointment for Taryatur! giggle He surely had hoped Thranduil would forbid Legolas to even look at Elerrina ever again, and instead this! lol As for Elerrina and Legolas ... it was probably good they got to talk about this point. Elerrina knows next to nothing about the millennia-long fight in Arda save the prejudices of her atar, and it is about time someone is able to explain to her the other POV. Of course the elves shouldn't use violence, but they had no choice in order to simply survive. Even Taryatur has to learn some day that that doesn't make every elf from Arda reacting violent to everything. Author Reply: it must have been easier to return than for those who had never seen it to sail at all And yet, you know, I wonder if it was actually harder for those returning once they were actually there! They were remembering (mostly) a Blessed Realm from an age of innocence before the Trees died - and they had endured almost unimaginable suffering over their years in Ennor, experienced fear and suffering and death. And they go home - and it has barely changed ... but they have. At least the elves of Ennor are coming to somewhere where they have no expectations. Or, at least, their expectations are possibly low - so the reality has to be better. Poor Haldir. He does get the rough end of the stick a lot of the time! But he is a good elf - he'll put up with being left with the jobs - after all, his lord is coming! He might be able to give up life as Galadriel's acceptable face of the Galadhrim and go back to the woods! Galadriel is able to keep a cool appearance in the face of almost anything - but Celeborn is coming! She can feel his fea twined with hers for the first time in about 500 years - and she is reassured that he has not chosen to remain. He is probably her weakest spot - together they make a team that is almost impregnable. I'm not surprised she's flapping. I reckon Legolas learned to handle ellyth very young. And honed his skills on the maidens of Gondor. But I don't know that this was intentional manipulation! He, too, is flapping here! Typical of Thranduil, I thought, to do the unexpected - and what could be more unexpected than to accept his son's beloved without question! Of course, he might not have realised all the complications until later - but by then he was committed! And I don't think he would have let Legolas down. He must have sensed his uncertainty and offering unquestioning acceptance was his way of giving support. But yes - poor Taryatur gets to be the baddie again! Elerrina does need to know more about life beyond the BR and have a much greater understanding of the world Legolas has inhabited - but I tend to think that Legolas (and Elrohir) both bonded with maidens born in the BR because they needed the reassurance of the innocence they carried with them. While Elladan needed someone who knew what the fight had been for and how much it had cost. Taryatur will get a better understanding. In the end. Eventually.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/15/2006
Wow. What's left to say after all that has been said? Simply a great chapter. Such a wonderful treat to find upon my return home. I really like this feature of knowing when a loved one is on their way. That is an incredibly useful plot device and you use it brilliantly. Using Camentur's pov for the reunion was equally brilliant! Ha! Taryatur was thinking just what I thought he would be thinking - depending on Thranduil to explode. ... a remarkably extensive vocabulary. ROFLMAO! That whole bit was just hilarious! ... but her atar wanted her to be a tea sure rather than a duty. I really do love Taryatur; he is so real-live. And Legolas has indeed become: The Wood Elf. LOL! Interesting little interjection of Litheredh's observations... ..wipe the floor with him! ooo, watch it Leggy...:D However, that was an excellent speech by the prince about discretion, when to use violence, and the cost of freedom. I loved all the romance in this chapter - every character's affection and passion. But, is this the last chapter or is there just one more? An epilogue to tie into Reflections perhaps? Please? Author Reply: Oh no, it's not the end yet. There will be at least two more chapters, I think. Possibly three. It will overlap with Reflections for a bit - and the characters have developed quite a lot since those early Reflections, so it might be a bit tricky. But, on the other hand, they are short, so it might not be too hard! If elves' fear are tied to their closest family, they must have some awareness (to my mind) of when their kin reach the Straight Path. Unless the Valar run a telegram business to tell people when to go to the quayside. I'm glad you like the arrival from Camentur's point of view - it's new to him and he is not personally deeply involved in it, which is why I thought he would be a good choice. Poor Taryatur. You just can't count on those descendants of Oropher to behave as you would expect! And he does want what's best for his daughter - but like many fathers, he think he knows better than she does what that might be. It is going to take Legolas a long time and a lot of effort to convince Taryatur that he is just what Elerrina needs! (The situation is probably not helped by the fact that wives seem to go off and dwell with their husband's family. Generally - and particularly in the case of being the king's son. Taryatur won't be on hand to make sure his son-in-law treats his daughter like the precious gift she is! Poor elf.) Litheredh was left with the job of sustaining the other side of the story! He did a good job, too. And his political senses are developing well - he'll never be satisfied to go back to being an ordinary Wood Elf now! Not a good idea to appear to threaten your beloved's brother! But Elerrina has been a sibling long enough to know that such comments usually seem to mean little among family. Legolas isn't particularly damaged by the effects of war, either. He has a good understanding of necessity and can compartmentalise, I think - and Mirkwood wasn't Angband, either, although Dol Guldur was possibly trying. Thank you Redheredh. I'm glad you enjoyed it. And it's not over yet!

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/10/2006
Wow Bodkin! This was so perfect! I love Celeborn and Thranduil looking east while heading West and I love their persistent indecision. Poor things--so tired and worn and conflicted. How sad, but very much the way I see them. ‘It may be that we are so ecstatic to be in the presence of the Valar that nothing else will matter to us.’ ‘You do not believe that.’ Thranduil dropped his hand to stare at his cousin. ‘Any more than I do.’ ‘Let us first look forward to the reunions on which we can depend.’ Celeborn turned to the west. ‘We will deal with anything else later.’ Thranduil sighed. ‘I suppose that is all we can do,’ he admitted. I loved their whole conversation, but the way it was written, I can picture this part of it so perfectly in my mind. That along with the relief that they felt when they finally found the Straight Path and there was no turning back--that really show, better than anything else, how torn they were since neither of these elves would normally feel relief at having a decision taken out of their hands. I thought you did a great job with this. Equally perfect were Legolas's and Galadriel and Celebrian's reactions to their return. I definitely believe the elves would be able to feel the return of their loved ones through the bond they shared. And I think the way you portrayed that here was wonderful. How powerful a feeling it must be for them to have such a strong bond (as the one Galadriel's family would share or as the one between Legolas and Thranduil) suddenly re-awakened. Her hands were shaking. She should have thought of this before, Galadriel reproved herself. If she had kept a bag packed, then… But what if he had not come, chosen not to trust himself to a future in an alien world? How could she have borne century after century seeing evidence of her lost hope? So powerful! You put so much into so little here. But nothing can top the arrival of the ship. I love Thranduil jumping over the side to see Legolas (especially after all his doubt). And I love Celeborn staying in the boat avoiding the crowds (especially after his apararent resignation when talking to Thranduil). And of course Thranduil's instant acceptance. Nothing else would be in character for him. That one action characterizes Thranduil so well in my mind. That is exactly what he has done for millenia--make spot judgments and make them properly. And of course he loves Legolas and would not considering marring his happiness. Just perfect. And again, poor Taryatur. He is so dismayed! But it may or may not be what you intended to show, but in my mind, this is exactly the difference I would expect to see between the elves that lived in Aman and those that lived in Middle Earth--it shows Thranduil's growth. Elves seem to me to be, by nature rather hot blooded, stubborn and resistant to change. But those that stayed in Middle Earth saw much and learned to accept change. Those that lived in Aman, I think, would not have grown in the same way. Valinor changed so little that it would have only strengthened the elves' resistance to change. I think immediately after coming to Greenwood from Lindon, Thranduil would have had a fit over a Noldo in his family--but after all he's seen in life, he's learned that as long as Legolas is happy, that's all that matters. Taryatur just can't make that leap as easily because he does not have the same exposure to things that Thranduil had. I'm not articulating what I mean here very well, but the point is--I thought this was perfect. ‘There were those who returned like that from the War of Wrath,’ he mused. ‘Some who could not endure the power of the Blessed Realm. I know elves who remained for centuries on the Lonely Isle with the Exiles, because they felt too fragile to bear the purity of the white shores.’ But here may be a link between Taryatur and the newly arrived elves that he feels so uncomfortable with. Taryatur himself was damaged by the War of Wrath, so he can understand the way the elves returning feel. Of course it is exactly that remembered pain that he doesn't want his daughter to experience so... So deliciously complicated. I love this, Bodkin. Author Reply: They didn't want to leave - not Celeborn, nor Thranduil, nor the twins. I don't think Glorfindel was so bothered - he was just waiting for the Elrondionnath to be ready. But the time had come when it was go now or not be able to go ever - I think Celeborn and Thranduil both want to hold to the idea that the decision was in their hands, but getting beyond the point of no return was actually quite a relief. Even if they didn't want to admit it. And once they were on the Straight Path, those long-deadened links to their kin would reawaken. How else could elves be guaranteed the presence of their loved ones on the quayside? Galadriel - I love seeing her love for Celeborn as an Achilles heel; something that turns her from competent and slightly bossy to mush! Thranduil would, I think, square his shoulders and dive in - and there, on the dock, was his son. Thrilled to see his father, clearly emotionally committed to the girl by his side and dead nervous. It wouldn't be in Thranduil not to want to leap ashore and put his mind at rest. And the advantage that Thranduil has over Taryatur is that the house system means that he keeps his son and gains a daughter, while Taryatur loses Elerrina to the House of Oropher. If she is unhappy, he won't be there to protect her. And you're exactly right! The elves of Ennor have learned to adapt in a world where things change quickly, but, in Aman, what is the point of change? You can spend a century debating whether to plant a tree there or a few feet to the right and it won't make any difference. Spending half a millennium getting to know your partner is not unreasonable when you expect to spend the rest of time together. Yet Taryatur's war experiences do actually mean that he has a lot in common with Thranduil - and Legolas and, come to that, Celeborn and the twins. I think it will take them a long time to come to that understanding, though - and for Taryatur to learn that it is not necessarily a bad thing to understand the horrors of war. I'm glad you are enjoying it. Thank you, elliska.

Dairwendan	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/9/2006
Thranduil instantly accepted her! Perfect! Thank you! I'm so glad! Of course, I could never refuse Legolas anything myself, but it's nice to see the same in others! ;) Thanks! Author Reply: Thranduil could sense that other edge to his son, I think, that suggested he had met the One. And his nervousness about it, probably. He must have decided, when he was standing at the prow of the ship, that he would respond as he did. And Legolas must have been so relieved and exultant. His father and his betrothed in one go. Now all he has to do is win her away from her parents!

Gwynhyffar	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/8/2006
sigh I love Thranduil! He rocks! I love that he just accepted Legolas' choice of spouse and I love that he lept from the ship and well I just love him. I really loved this chapter, Bodkin. It seemed very realistic to see the newly arrived elves so exhausted and worn, as they naturally would be, and the mixed emotions of not really wanting to leave but knowing that they had to - for so many reasons. Legolas and Elerrina having to 'hurry up and wait' is kind of sad. Their families need to get on with things so they can... get on with things. Author Reply: Thranduil and Legolas must have been very aware of each other, I reckon, as the ship drew near - and Thranduil would have sensed the change in his son; his commitment to a not-quite-spouse. He would, I think, accept it at once in the interests of happy family. In my mind (!) the final straw in pushing these last elves to sail, was that the Age of Men was surging forward and the land had become numb to the elves. Only very few places still responded to them - and those were fading fast. They had to choose: get out now or never - and so they sailed. But it was hard to cross the silent land to the sea. Legolas and Elerrina don't have to wait much longer (considering they've spent a couple of centuries creeping forward to this point). There are just a few more things that need to happen first to fit in with my rather haphazard timeline.

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/8/2006
Lovely reunion - very powerful imagery of anticipation and the change they all felt inside. I like that Thranduil jumped over the side, and Celeborn stayed below until the crowds had gone. I, like you, think they likely arrived very weary and careworn. It is time for healing. And Thranduil kicks butt.. the elves of Middle-earth were so mixed and had learned to get along with each other. Fighting together does that. Author Reply: The feel of what was going on changed for me in this bit - there's so much inevitability about the arriving ships. Almost like a dance. Thranduil - having decided to arrive - wanted to get it done and have the pleasure of taking his son in his arms. I feel that he was probably very raw and open to Legolas's emotions and would not have even considered rejecting his son's choice of bride. But I'm glad Mithrandir arrived and demanded his attention - Thranduil needs time and peace to help him begin to recover. Celeborn just didn't want to face crowds right now. His reunion with Galadriel and Celebrian was all he needed to start his healing. Thranduil's not fond of Galadriel. But I think they both look on it as a bit of a game. Irritating for those around them, but they'll get over it. One day. I reckon he won't have much difficulty with a Noldor daughter-in-law. Elerrina is much more of a conventional elleth in many ways (than Galadriel, anyway) and the patriarchal house system means that he is gaining a daughter rather than losing a son. Whereas Taryatur, of course....

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/8/2006
This was so great! THranduil's method of leaving the ship was just great and his instant acceptance of Legolas' love was wonderful! I liked the description of the Green Elves as being seeparate groups by themselves. The love expressed between Legolas ans his lady was exquisite there at the end of the chapter. Such an excellent chapter. Nice. Author Reply: I think Thranduil is too worn to argue at the moment - and he quite fiercely wants his son to be happy. If Elerrina makes him happy, then that's good enough. Somehow, I can just see green elves as being so determinedly individual that each one is his own group! And certainly not worrying too much about somebody from a different neck of the woods. I find sexual tension so much more ... tense ... when it's understated! And they are coming closer to their bonding. Not many more things have to happen before they can wed. Thank you!

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