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Sons of Fellowship  by Conquistadora 11 Review(s)
mystarlightReviewed Chapter: 24 on 12/19/2019
Love it!!! Poor Gimli everything he believed about Thranduil was a bit different. It had to be a shock but I admire his flexibility.

ElenoraReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/18/2004
Your story is one I discovered a couple of months ago, have been downloading the chapters as they are posted, but hadn't yet had the chance to actually read. I finally started it last week......and was absolutely rivetted!!! For two days straight, I went through 25 chapters and was positively stunned by how well this story is written. The word images you create about Legolas are stunning...I think of all the fanfic stories I've read, you, by far, have done the best at portraying the "ethereal, elvishness" of Legolas. So many authors, while creating wonderful stories about Legolas, tend to "humanize" him too much...which can be appealing, yet can often leave one feeling like there is a whole dimension missing from this character when that is done. While reading this wonderful story of yours, I felt the same as when I saw "Return of the King" and saw Legolas step into Frodo's room near the end of the movie...and again when I saw him at the coronation scene...stunned by his pure, beautiful, ethereal "elvishness."

I'm also very intrigued by how this will develop with Gimli at Legolas's home (faithful, stouthearted Gimli! He's being so admirably restrained so far!!) and visa versa.

I eagerly look forward to the next chapter...and I thank you for the fantastic read!

Elenora

Author Reply:
And thank you for the fantastic review!
I have been really trying to do Legolas justice as something "inhuman" in the more pleasant sense of the word.
Gimli has been very obliging up to this point! I've been proud of him. Anyhow, things should be looking up from now on. :)

I've been AWOL this weekend, so today I've finally dusted off the next chapter and jumpstarted it again. So, if I can put just as much effort into it tomorrow, we might be ready for another post. ^_^

AmanielReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/15/2004
I have to admit, this is one of your nicest chapters. You've written it extremely well. I did have to leave a review, though, concerning Calenmir and the others. I'm having a difficult time accepting the fact that they acted in the manner they did knowing their true characters. I hope they will redeem themselves in the coming chapters. Otherwise, I have nothing to complain about, as always! :) I'll be looking forward to your next chapter!

Author Reply:
Aha, but it's LUINAR who is the problem, you see. You know what he's like. And it didn't help that Legolas was something of a grouch at the time. I thought Calenmir was one of the more restrained among them, but that must be because he's also one of the nicest. ^_^
I'm not sure how much more of a part they'll have, but I'll try to work them in somewhere. I think they'll warm up to the idea in time. :)

LamielReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/14/2004
Goodness, Legolas does know how to stand up to folks when necessary, doesn't he? This quietest member of the Fellowship is evidently not content to be quiet when his friends are disparaged or threatened.

The glimpse of Thranduil's trophy room was a treat - I hadn't thought about it before, but it does make sense. And it underscores the long years of threat that Greenwood fought, and the incredible difference between it and the more peaceful Elven realms. It's hard to imagine even Elrond, for all his love of lore, keeping a room like that.

Legolas' treasure trove was also a surprise, and gave me some thought. Would he horde treasure like that? Well, he'll appreciate it's worth, and he wouldn't exactly toss any gems that came his way into the river. I expect he'd get some, too, as part of the normal ambassadorial customs between realms. Given Thranduil's... direct approach to government, it makes sense that Legolas would have to fill in that role.

I liked the idea of Legolas' glow increasing because he was nervous in the close corridor. But, forgive me if I'm mistaken, I thought that in a previous chapter you had said that Galadriel glowed and Legolas did not, because she had seen the light of the Two Trees? It doesn't particularly matter, and I like glow-in-the-dark Legolas better anyway.

I admit that I smiled a bit when Gimli inspected his treasure of the Lady's hair. That's what I get for reading the "gap-filler" before this chapter. Anyway, this is brilliantly done as always, and I look forward to more. I just love seeing Legolas come into his own.

Lamiel

P.S. I didn't think it was "Mary Poppins" like at all - but then, it's been a long long time since I've seen that movie.

P.P.S. Please be so kind as to enlighten me: what is a tergiversator? I love your vocabulary, and I'm accustomed to thinking my own is pretty decent, but that's a new one on me.

Author Reply:
He has a will of his own when he chooses to exercise it. :)

Actually, I didn't imagine he had gone to any particular effort to collect all that stuff himself. It seemed more likely that Thranduil would give him an allowance to manage on his own, maybe a third of the big picture. And since I don't think of Legolas as a particularly big spender, it would gradually add up over the years. How handy, now that he has a new settlement to spend it on. :)

Elf-glow is largely dictated by instinct for me, a lot like the spur-of-the-moment decision between upper or lower case for Elf/elf, Dwarf/dwarf, etc. The really High Elves like Galadriel I imagine would be relatively bright all the time, while the lesser High Elves (Celeborn, Thranduil, Legolas in the next degree) would glow only at will or at need. An instinctive and/or voluntary reaction evoked in certain circumstances. But anyway, that's as far as my thinking takes me on the subject. :)

P.S. Good!

P.P.S. tergiversate ~ 1. to use evasions or ambiguities; equivocate. 2. to change sides; apostatize. [Latin *tergiversari*, *tergiversat-* : *tergum*, the back + *versare*, to turn]
A new one on me too, but thesauruses are beautiful things! And, as always, thanks for taking the time to provide such great plotbunny fodder (i.e. reviews)!

Asha DreamweaverReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/13/2004
A simply brilliant, absolutely charming piece of art! Your depiction of the characters, especially Legolas, Gimli and Thranduil are spectacularly done and come to life on the page. I cannot rate this fic enough.
you manage to capture Tolkien's world and characters and yet have your own ideas shine through. It is a pleasure to read and I commend you on a job well done! The only thing bad about it would be if it was to finish too soon! I'm pretty sure i could read 50+ chapters and still not be satisfied.

update soon,

Asha Dreamweaver

Author Reply:
Wow, you're helping prod the next chapter along!
I don't know that I'll be able to stretch it to 50+, but how does 38(+) grab you? Of course, it's prone to grow in the meantime. I really don't know exactly what it will do. But that's a WIP for you. :)

Ms. WhatsitReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/13/2004
The argument between Legolas and the other Elves is wonderful. They’re his friends, but so is Gimli, and Legolas isn’t taking any nonsense on that point.

And it’s so true that “Legolas and Gimli” are a unit—that’s what they end up known for, in the Red Book anyway, and Gimli is known more as Elf-friend than as anything else.

Also, am impressed with your vocabulary. “Tergiversator,” indeed.

It’s also interesting to see a bunch of males doing something like hair-braiding together—an interesting facet of the Elves in Tolkien’s world. I, personally, am all for the Elves’ greater emphasis on personal appearance!

“He looked like a dwarvish elvenlord.”

Hee! Wonderful line, and I was amused by Gimli resolving never to let his kin see him like that. Do we get to see Legolas in a Dwarvish get-up in Erebor? I guess not—he’d pack his own clothes. But maybe Gimli could make him where dwarf-clothing in revenge?

“'You have tried to destroy me, and though I suffer daily, I SHALL NOT BE MOVED.'"

Loved that. It’s quintessential Thranduil. And the description of his hideout and all the stuff that he and Legolas have horded is amazing.

Also, Thranduil’s smackdown of Gimli smoking was hysterical, as was the way he informed Gimli that he was under the Elvenking’s protection. Very tense, and also very funny.


Author Reply:
It helps that I have the Microsoft Bookshelf Thesaurus right here, but I've always enjoyed vocabulary. The SAT was a breeze; it was just the math that tripped me up!

The other half of this trip is an interesting challenge; I haven't quite decided just how Legolas will be victimized. ;)

If it were up to Legolas, Gimli probably would have been consulted on every point, "Is this alright? Is that alright?" With Thranduil, however, it's "This is the way it is; live with it." That took some swallowing on Gimli's part, but right now he's on his best behavior. :)

FirnsarnienReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/12/2004
Who said Thranduil was greedy? He just gave a beautiful treasure to his son without a second glance! That alone shows how highly he regards his son and his deeds! There is love there, without a doubt! And I love it when Thranduil shows it in these oh, so subtle ways! :)

I almost fell off my chair laughing when Gimli was checking his attire right down to his pouch with 2 Galdriel hairs and 1 Thranduil hair! Oh, if he only knew! LOL That was too funny!

Poor Leggy. I wish his friends would be more supportive of him. Don't they realize the sea longing is bad enough without their non-support of Leggy's friend Gimli? They should see the suffering Leggy has been through and support his just 'cause he's their friend, er and prince too! ;)

I loved that little line Leggy delivered, "No," Legolas said with a quirky smile. "This is mine." That was great! So our Elven prince has his own little stash, hmmmm? I'm sure it will come in handy when he establishes Ithilien.

This was a great chappy. I loved every minute of it. It's always interesting to see how Leggy is treated in his own kingdom. Kinda makes him seem more "real". Ya know? LOL

Hurry with the next chappy! :)

Author Reply:
*nervous laugh*
I suppose you can imagine that actually happened if you want to, but for myself I'd rather not!

We'll see if he can't bring his friends around, but right now Thranduil is the main focus. "Divide et impera," you know.

I'm sure Thranduil let Legolas have an allowance of sorts. Actually, I think any father would prefer that to giving his son full access to his own treasury!

calenoreReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/12/2004
Well, hopefully Luinar and Co. will come to their senses soon enough! And Gimli ought to be more careful... smoking the Thranduil's presence! Tsk, tsk.

Author Reply:
We'll just sit back and see what happens. ;)

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/12/2004
I don't register at fanfic sites because that generally leads to spam as your address get out...but I registered here just so I could leave a review on this fic. This is without a doubt the best LOTR fanfiction available. My PhD is in Medieval Spanish Lit so I know a little something about writing and medieval themes. In this story, the writing is witty always and humorous or tear jerking in turns. The subject matter is perfectly believable, incredibly original and very appropriate. Is the author British? Where does s/he get their knowledge of nobility and noble traditions--it is stunning and adds so much to the story. You would think Tolkein wrote this. He would have been proud to. Keep writing. I check for updates every day!

Author Reply:
Wow! This is great! Would you believe me if I said I just write what intiution decrees? It is a huge encouragement to know it sounds right to someone who knows what they're talking about!
British? 'Fraid not. ^_^ I'm still a Texas-born teenager at present (she), though I do entertain an interest in history, Medieval Spain and Spaniards especially, so I have done a lot of reading in that regard, which is probably what formed my gut-instincts about all this.
So thanks a bunch for all your wonderful comments! Brightened a rainy day here.

(Btw, here at SoA I'm pretty sure you can go into your "Reader" account and opt to hide your e-mail if you want to. ^_^)

mistry89Reviewed Chapter: 24 on 4/12/2004
tergiversator - had to look it up *hangs head*, on the bright side, context had given the alt meaning, so I can at rest happy knowing I can read!

manhandling - was that deliberate? 'Cos it works - they probably do regard Men as rough or unthinking, but it gains a little incipient species-bias when used here, by these elves, given this discussion!

Gimli, with his "not enirely unsatisfied", view of his new look, is a delight. He remains so very ... basic? not earthy, as he isn't that crude, but he has a very simple way of boiling things down to how they affect him, it makes him seem quite young and yet quite sure of his own place in the firmament.

Thranduil's Museum to Memory, or Grief, or whatever you call it seems so very likely. Long of memory he may be, but *things* evoke feelings oh so quickly. All assembled they must pack a real punch, all pain, all sadness, all loss.

Erestor is here? Or is this another one? I'm obviously reading too fast (too greedily!) to pay attention never mind, I'll just *have* to re-read ... ai me!

"By Durin’s beard, that Elf DID remind him of his mother!" High praise, and I'm delighted to see Thranduil so portrayed - he is just as "scary", as unpredictable, as suspicious as one could hope, yet his integrity and motivations can be seen. Sorry, fangirl peeping out!

This is a great chapter - Thranduil and Gimli have an .... understanding?

Thank you.

Author Reply:
Entertaining AND educational. Isn't fanfic great?!

This is a different Erestor, actually. Rivendell-Erestor slipped my mind when I assigned him the name, so I didn't expect it to get so confusing! This Erestor is more a Master-of-ceremonies/elf-of-all-work than a counselor.

A slight one, but an understanding all the same. They're still trying to figure each other out. :) Don't you know Gimli's mom will be an interesting character when we get to her!

And thank YOU. ^_^

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