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Sail Away by jenolas	9 Review(s)
wantanelf	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/19/2004
Oh you made me cry. So bittersweet and beautiful. Thanks. Author Reply: You are very welcome.

kirienne	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/19/2004
Jenolas, another wonderful tale. Thank you for such a lovely portrayal of the Elvenking. My heart nearly broke while reading that he was begining to fade and I'm so glad Elbereth stepped in and convinced him to sail West. I enjoy reading your Thranduil, as you bring to life the Woodland King I see in my minds eye. I hope there will be more chapters . Author Reply: I feel it is a great compliment to my writing that 'my' Thranduil is as some others see him, and I thank you. (See "To Distant Shores" for the next part).

Hisie Lome	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/15/2004
How sad for Thranduil to have remained and morned. For Elbereth to have interceded only is a blessing. With hope, the once strong king will again find his laughter in his son and lady. Author Reply: I am sure he will.

LKK	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/15/2004
Very lovely, jenolas. Bittersweet and beautiful. I'm glad Elbereth stepped in and told the fading king to sail. My favorite part was your description of Thranduil and the elves from the trees' viewpoint. Your writing was especially lovely there. :) Author Reply: Thank you, it is very hard to imagine what a tree might 'feel" about the changes, and I am glad I seemed to succeeded in some small way.

Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2004
Beautiful and brilliant! I enjoyed that very much. :-D Author Reply: Glad to hear it, thanks very much.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2004
The image of the forest mourning for Thranduil was striking. Poor elvenking! What is he to do? You can see how bound he was to ME. But I suppose that's ended too with the end of the time of the Elves. Author Reply: I agree, and I think it was far more difficult for Thranduil to accept than it was for some of the others.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2004
I was only thinking yesterday while reading your other story that I missed your Thranduil. And here he is! This is a beautiful piece, even if it did make me teary first thing on a Sunday morning;) You did a superb job in showing how this forest has changed, from darkness and Shadow to light and joy, and finally, inevitably, to sadness and emptiness. I like the idea of the trees revelling in their new-found freedom and then almost struggling to understand why the elves they love can’t continue to share this pleasure. And of course, the one most closely tied to this place must feel such pain at the emptiness of his home. I can completely understand his anger at the friendship between his son and Aragorn. Imagine having to watch that, knowing all along the depth of grief Legolas will experience and then because his bond with his son is so close, Thranduil too feels this grief acutely. In a way, it doesn’t seem fair that it should all end like this for Thranduil. He deserved to have so much more time among his people who love him and with his beloved son as they revel in the peace of their home that has finally seen darkness vanquished. I know the elves accept that their time in Middle-earth must come to an end but after such struggles for them, sometimes it just doesn’t seem fair. Ah well. It’s easy to look at Thranduil here and wonder why he didn’t just leave but I think you really created the picture of someone who not only feels it his duty to stay ‘til all of his people have departed but who is almost desperately clinging to what he once knew. This forest is everything to him and besides, I doubt there’s a more Wood-Elfy Wood-Elf than Thranduil. If I were him, I’m not sure I’d have sailed very willingly either. It seems too as though the melancholy of the place has overtaken him to the point where it’s next to impossible to rouse himself to just go. You made me cry when he steps into the room and allows his memories to come to life before him. It’s so poignant to think of the life and love that once existed here. I loved the ending. I admit I giggled a bit when he swore “Elbereth” and she answered! It’s such a lovely thought, though, that even she is watching out for him and calls him home. She’s right. This is no longer his home; he needs to find those he loves again. This was a wonderfully touching piece, jenolas and a real insight into the pain of those who didn’t feel the need to sail and just watched as everyone else left, only to find themselves alone and their world now empty. Author Reply: Ai Dot, your most insightful commentary is very much appreciated as always. The changes Thranduil lived through both before and after the Last Alliance could not have been easy. The defeat of Sauron was something the Elves in particular needed to see done, yet obviously since they planned to sail after the War of the Ring, they gave little thought to the emotional effects of the aftermath, especially on those who did not wish to leave. I imagine the Valar were unwilling to allow any of the Firstborn to suffer needlessly, hence the act of compassion from one Thranduil could not deny.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2004
I always tend to think that the only thing that would stop Thranduil going in the end would be sheer pig-headedness. I am glad someone with over-riding authority took a hand. Get that elf to Valinor with his elfling! Author Reply: It was certainly a request he would be unwise to refuse. especially since it is for his own (and Legolas's) good!

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/13/2004
That was so sad! Poor Thranduil, how he must have missed his son. He must have been just as torn between staying and leaving as Legolas was, though for different reasons. I'm glad he will finally sail - I hope you'll write the reunion as well! Jay Author Reply: A reunion story does seem to be a good idea, thanks Jay.

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