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| For the Love of the Lord of the White Tree by Legolass | 229 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 8/22/2021 |
| Everything, just everything indicates that Legolas will sail, leaving Aragorn. His grief is palpable. It makes my heart pain. Author Reply: Yes it is still a torment for Aragorn at this point. Thanks so much for reviewing. I have not received alerts from the site for the last two reviews though; just happened to check. | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 39 on 8/21/2021 |
| I loved the image of the King looking out over the city. Both powerful, and yet so sad and vulnerable because of his love and uncertainties. I loved the deep thoughts and gentle conversation with Arwen. Once more she is such calmth and comfort. And then the sunrise in the ending and the new surging hope... Author Reply: Thank you! I needed this chapter to quietly but poignantly highlight the tale of Beleg and Turin. And again Arwen seemed the best person to do it for me. She has lived so much longer and probably perceives certain things with greater insight than Aragorn. Besides, he was too emotionally invested. | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 8/20/2021 |
| Oh, I remember these last chapters so well. Arwen managed to soothe him, bringing his hope back and sending his fears a bit away, but then this news in the ending, like a hard slap... I can feel his heart sink. Author Reply: I did bring Aragorn on a roller coaster of emotions. Hope he forgives me. :-) | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 8/18/2021 |
| How beautifully you explained their friendship with Arwen's voice. I liked how you showed Aragorn being both elf and man somehow, and not of both worlds either. And in all this Legolas is so important sharing so much with Aragorn. "They see no need to explain anything to each other, nor do they apologise for the ways in which they are different. They know and accept who the other is, and that is enough for them." I think that was my favourite line. There is such richness and meaning in their bond, even because it is between different races. They are like brothers and make each other's lives more beautiful, meaningful, rich. How important Legolas is even for Arwen and Eldarion, for Gimli, and in the end also for Faramir and Eowyn and the whole of Gondor and Ithilien. Author Reply: I loved writing this quiet, reflective chapter because it made me think more deeply about a friendship that could not be explained in simple, ordinary terms, that could not be due to mere obligations and loyalty between war companions. And I could not think of better positioned lenses than Arwen's to offer that view. That line you like pretty much sums up their absolute acceptance of each other, so I'm pleased you like it. Thank you. Arwen's possibly lonely position in Minas Tirith is never mentioned in the books but I imagine there were times when she must have longed for elven company and understanding, and who would be closer than Legolas and his people in Ithilien? I love the idea of those elves providing her and Aragorn (and their family) the elvish kinship they grew up with. Legolas, as you say, could have played an important and welcome role indeed! | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 36 on 8/13/2021 |
| The healing scene was wonderful. It moved me deeply; all these feelings of gratitude and love, but always Aragorn's fear of demanding or losing too much. Eldarion was too sweet and amusing, but then the last lines really hit with despair and sadness again. Author Reply: Yes it was a bittersweet experience for Aragorn: healing one he loves, yet knowing he will lose that person soon (that is his assumption), giving without asking though he knows his plea would be answered if he were to ask. Such a conflict. Only a strong man could have come through it so stoically. Thank you for going through it with him. :-) | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 8/8/2021 |
| This was all so very beautiful, from the image of the two elves on the balcony, to how Legolas painted the image and heart of his friend the King of men, the tender concern of a father for his son, and the deep words of love from Legolas about his dearest friend. So beautiful and so sad. The certainty that one day he would be parted from him, and from all his mortal friends he holds dear felt so heavy. And how Aragorn did feel hearing it all; the last lines, seeing him with the crushed leaves of athelas falling to his feet like crushed hope, that was such a strong heartbreaking image. But hope is not crushed yet... take heart Aragorn, he loves you too much... The way you wove in the quotes from the book was just perfect. Author Reply: This is a chapter I am very fond of myself. It not only shows the heart of the elf but encased within it is also the heart of the story. It explains Legolas' sentiment behind everything he does for and with Aragorn (and his other mortal friends), so beautifully expressed in the line from the book that I just had to use as the story title. Thank you, Nurayy, for your kind praise. I'm so pleased the imagery spoke to you. | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 34 on 8/8/2021 |
| Dear Legolass I loved Gimli here. His blunt direct way, sometimes gruff from the outside, but at the same time very sensitive and perceptive. Good old Gimli, he is just the right person to give Legolas some distraction and reprieve from his pain. I love seeing them three together any time. Aragorn's fear of losing Legolas hit very hard there. | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 33 on 7/30/2021 |
| Very nice, Gimli as storyteller :-) I loved how him and Thranduil get along so well. Ai Legolas, I would have wished him some peace... But the torment goes on. Author Reply: Thanks! Gimli does bring some cheer to the whole place. It gives Legolas a brief respite but yes, the elf isn't quite free of the torment yet. | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 7/29/2021 |
| The fight was gripping. Legolas in his weakened state still so powerful is shining even more, and the music you wove into the fight - beatiful! No wonder all the men were mesmerized. This had me on needles, and then at the climax Aragorn came ans the eagles. Such an awesome sight! I'm so glad that all went well. And I loved in the end this declaration of friendship between Aragorn and Närum. The new beginning in forgiveness. Närum will be a good leader I'm sure. Looking forward to the further drama, and mostly to the great moments of friendship. Author Reply: I can imagine how beautifully fluid and lethal Legolas is in battle, even when his movements are impeded by poison - grace cannot be hidden. So pleased that it came across. Thank you for the kind compliment. Peace is so hard to achieve. Any chance to establish it is precious, even in a story, so I took it. :-) And yes there will be more drama - but not a physical battle - to come. You already know that; you just need to recollect. :-) Thanks again for the review. | |
| Nurayy | Reviewed Chapter: 30 on 7/24/2021 |
| I could feel Aragorn's anguish and being unable to feel joy or comfort in his return. And how badly Legolas feels the absence of his dear friend. You describe the feelings of them two so well it is painful. I loved the encounter of Aragorn and Thranduil. Loved how you described the great elven King. I'm always so in awe with him. I never did write him myself -maybe I'm shy, or afraid to do it :) - but I love to read him. I love when he is portrayed the way you do it; impressive and regal, and wise, with great skill, just, and good to his people, and with great love for his son. I'm so glad you write him so. There was still another visitor in Minas Tirith whose identity you still did not reveal, or did I get something wrong? Oh dear, what came Sarambaq come to inflict to Legolas that even the men were shocked...! Author Reply: So glad you like the portrayal of Thranduil. He is often seen to be hard-hearted and arrogant, but I think it is how the king of an isolated realm beset by centuries of natural dangers and unnatural evil might become: wary and decisive. Not necessarily unfeeling. And the stories depicting him as a cruel father to Legolas... those writers have the liberty and the right to picture him that way if they so choose. I don't because I don't see a reason for it. :-) I see him the way I wrote him in this chapter. Yes there IS another guest/arrival in Minas Tirith. I'm sure you'll recall who it is, as well as what Sarambaq did, soon enough. Thank you for the review! Author Reply: So glad you like the portrayal of Thranduil. He is often seen to be hard-hearted and arrogant, but I think it is how the king of an isolated realm beset by centuries of natural dangers and unnatural evil might become: wary and decisive. Not necessarily unfeeling. And the stories depicting him as a cruel father to Legolas... those writers have the liberty and the right to picture him that way if they so choose. I don't because I don't see a reason for it. :-) I see him the way I wrote him in this chapter. Yes there IS another guest/arrival in Minas Tirith. I'm sure you'll recall who it is, as well as what Sarambaq did, soon enough. Thank you for the review! | |