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For the Love of the Lord of the White Tree  by Legolass 3 Review(s)
NurayyReviewed 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!

ArcherGal2932Reviewed Chapter: 37 on 6/1/2005
Beautiful description of the bond between Legolas and Aragorn. I have read many, many, many fics with Legolas & Aragorn in them, and none have truly hit the mark like you have in explaining the friendship between the two. I am truly impressed.

On a more personal note, I am trying to revise a chapter I have recently written where a friend of Thranduil is struggling to explain how a small Legolas was abducted before his eyes by Orcs. I feel like it is lacking in emotion on both the friend and Thranduil's side. Imrathon (the friend) is wounded terribly and pretty much on his deathbed as he is explaining why Legolas was not with him when he was brought back. So I need a little advice, because I am fairly satisfied with the action at the beginning, but now that it is slowed down and there are some bad news, I want to make the reader feel Thranduil's pain at the kidnapping of his only son and the agony of retelling a painful experience for Imrathon. I'm sorry if that doesn't give you much to work with, but I need some advice desperately. thanks!

~ArcherGal2932

Author Reply:

Archer Gal - thank you! I was a little sceptical about how the readers would react to this chapter - it is short, and it attempts to explain something that so many of us hold dear. I had to think about who would be the right person to expound on it, and decided that Elrond's daughter had to be the only one who has lived in both worlds long enough, and Faramir had to be the one who would have seen enough and cared enough to ask. I am grateful for your encouraging words.

As for your story - I'd be happy to offer suggestions if you can email me your draft at mazquendi@msn.com. That would give me something more concrete to work on, okay? I'm sure we'll be able to make the 'slow' portion pick up pace. :-)

TithemFeredirReviewed Chapter: 37 on 6/1/2005
Hmmmm... You offer an interesting explaination for the relationship between Aragorn and Legolas, but I'm not sure that for myself I want it to be defined. Can such relationships be completely explained? (The wheels are turning now.) This chapter gives me the feeling that Legolas may go on and sail. Very sad. I'll be on pins and needels to see how it turns out. ~TF

Author Reply:
Hi, TF ~

"Can such relationships be completely explained?"

Certainly not. The true depth and breadth of it cannot be captured, but it doesn't stop the human mind from trying to make sense of it to an extent that it can manage - for that will be the reaction of the humans around Aragorn as they see his grief. We ask questions about relationships all the time in real life: "I wonder how those two can get along", for example. :-)

I wanted to make more explicit the beauty of the friendship between different races - and perhaps even more, some traits of the elven race that will be gone from these shores. They are as I see them, a race that embodies contradicting traits in a delightful, fascinating way. But most of all, I wanted to expose how Arwen would have been feeling about all this - she has quietly seen and felt much, but we don't hear from her. I thought she deserved to have her perspective heard - even if it does not capture THE entire picture.

It's strange and fascinating at the same time that these characters have taken on a life of their own even though I am writing their dialogue and thoughts. Tolkien created them and handed them to us, and I embrace them as if they truly exist. Like Arwen, who talked about the grace and beauty of the elves without a conscious thought how those traits would apply to her as well, I have written Arwen's dialogue and called it wisdom without even realising that I am claiming to be the wise one. It is just how Faramir would have seen her - the daughter of the wise elf lord Elrond - and it is as if she took on a life of her own when I wrote that dialogue. I am certainly not wise nor graceful so it was a weird but fascinating experience. I suppose that is what all writers - amateur or professional - go through when they write a 'wise' character. Hmmmm ...scary.

Well - will Legolas sail? To be answered soon. Thanks for dropping in!


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