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For the Love of the Lord of the White Tree  by Legolass 9 Review(s)
NurayyReviewed 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.


TariReviewed Chapter: 39 on 8/22/2007
The story of Túrin Turambar and Beleg Strongbow is one of my favorites, but it breaks my heart everyting I read it. I love Beleg almost as much as Legolas.

I tried to wait until the final chapter to comment again, but I couldn't let this one go by. I truly loved it. To lose a friend as special as Legolas would be more than I could bear.

Tari

Author Reply:
I'm glad you like this chapter, Tari. You will see from my other (shorter) story Once Upon a Strongbow how I love the friendship between specific pairs of Man and Elf in Tolkien's work, and the Strongbow tale is surely the most tragic. I just had to highlight that theme here. :-)

THank you for letting me know how you feel about it.

Legolass

NightwingReviewed Chapter: 39 on 1/15/2006
Wow, I really liked the comparison of the friendship between Aragorn and Legolas to that of Turin and Beleg. I'd never made any sort of connection like that before, but I like it! That story always made me sad though. The most tragic tale in the Silmarillion for me.

The last few chapters had some very nice insights into the relationship between men and elves, and the love that can occur between members of the two races. The conversation between Arwen and Faramir was lovely.

Almost to the end, but that shall have to wait for another day. It's time for bed!

Author Reply:

Yes, the tale of Turin and Beleg has haunted me since I first read it. It is indeed the most tragic tale in the Silmarillion for me too (followed by that huge Battle in which so many men and elves and dwarves perished because of the treachery of some Men; the name of the battle escapes me now, but it had soemthing to do with blood and/or tears), but the one of the two friends remains my favourite. I mention this elf-man friendship theme of which Tolkien seems fond in the short story Once Upon a Strongbow. Well, if you have time later... :-)

Thank you for the feedback.


pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 39 on 9/9/2005

This was a very emotional piece... Aragorn fears Legolas will sail. I liked the story of the two friends...nice work

Author Reply:
If you liked the story of the two friends, you might want to read my other story Once Upon a Strongbow, as well as the actual tale of Beleg and Turin in The Silmarillion.

It's heartwarming to know that it touches you too. Thank you.

RedSquirrelReviewed Chapter: 39 on 6/9/2005
I migrated because ff.net wouldn't let me review. Some server problem, perhaps - here's quite nice, anyway. Will you believe that I actually laughed at the end of ch. 38? Poor Aragorn, he certainly pays dearly for every angry, impatient and unspoken word to Legolas. If he only knew that your cliffhangers are never followed by the obvious - he would have slept better. I actually looked it up, but found only that Legolas built his ship after Aragorn died. Mhm. Who's going to sail? I suppose we will soon find out - but I wonder how much experience wood-elves have in ship-building. Or, for that matter, if the sea-call is that strong, how could elves even live near the sea as at the Grey Havens - they would be the first to sail, I would have thought. That's something I could never understand. But that's probably because I am a mere mortal. I absolutely loved Arwen's reminder of the lay of Turin - but one of the saddest tales in the Silmarillion. I sure hope that's no prediction! ;-)

Author Reply:
Well, that's a first - laughing at Aragorn! I swear you could have been peeking at the Chap 40 I have written... why? you will find out soon. ;-)

"I actually looked it up, but found only that Legolas built his ship after Aragorn died." - quite right, but there is nothing to say I cannot make this AU. :-)

"I wonder how much experience wood-elves have in ship-building." - they lived next to the swfit Forest River, so they would have been quite good at making and using boats, I presume. PLus, maybe they had some help...?

"how could elves even live near the sea as at the Grey Havens - they would be the first to sail, I would have thought."

Aaah, that is something we mere mortals - as you say - cannot answer.

Yes, the tale of Turin and Beleg is one of the saddest tales in the Silmarillion - and my personal favourite - maybe it reminds me so much of A & L as well. I love both those pairs of friends.

"I sure hope that's no prediction!" Can't tell till I tell... lol.

Author Reply:
Oh, forgot to say this: this site is great in that it makes editing a whole lot easier than at the other site. But I feel a little lonely here - many more readers responded over there, and I felt I was really writing for someone. I don't know whether I will post another story here.

Author Reply:
I'm crazy I know - giving you multiple replies! But I wanted to add: there ARE some readers who drop in regularly with a response or just to say hi, and I am very, very grateful to them. And now that you have migrated here as well... maybe it'll be all right. 'See' you soon. :-)

OphiumReviewed Chapter: 39 on 6/9/2005
Another good chapter! That was a great analogy between the two stories! Many of the 'ancient' tales, before LOTR, are found again in LOTR, but not all catch our eyes, and this one I had surely missed. Yet, it is very clear *g* even for the name, 'Strongbow', which Legolas clearly has.
Keep'em coming, we likes it ;)

Author Reply:
Glad you liked this - thank you.

As for the analagoy, however - I am not certain that Tolkien ever intended it, or that other writers would even consider it reasonable, but I saw a clear - and desirable - analogy - so i wanted to make sure I got it into the story. :-)

ArcherGal2932Reviewed Chapter: 39 on 6/7/2005
yet again, another beautiful chapter! I positively love the tie between Legolas & Aragorn and Turin & Beleg - that was one of my favorite chapters in the Silmarillion and the Unfinished Tales!!!!! Keep up the good work, and please, write a sequel or another piece!!!! You have awesome writing talents - and it usually takes a very good author for me to say that!
~ArcherGal2932

Author Reply:
...and my favourite tale of all in The Silmarillion. I HAD to get it in.
Glad you like it too.

Thank you for your support.

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 39 on 6/7/2005
The last chapter really bothered me,(yes, I know it's only a story), but it was worth it to get this chapter. Aragorn's turmoil was heartbreaking, especially considering that in the midst of it he still would not think of asking Legolas to stay on his account. I loved your wise Arwen! So aften she is cast as a mere spectator, but in this she seems to know just what Aragorn needs to hear. She almost takes a motherly role in comforting and counseling him. Legolas' absence is more effective here than if he had been present. The chapter as a whole has wonderful emotional depth. Looking forward to the next. ~TF

Author Reply:
Thank you, TF - so glad you liked this chapter and Arwen. She is often overlooked in Aragorn-Legolas stories.

I am especially delighted that I was able to find a place in this story for the tale of Turin and Beleg; I love that tale. *sniff*


AngelReviewed Chapter: 39 on 6/7/2005
There's a slight epidemic going around and I caught the nasssty bug twice, so took a while to get back into a lot of things.

Thankfully this wasn't one of them. Wow I do love the contrast, and as much as it pains me to see him suffer, it's only fair he experience what Legolas went through...though am beginning to grind my teeth at the laissez-faire 'tude he's giving Arwen. For someone who gave up immortality yada yada yada...she deserves a bit morea adoration than the moping moaning pining for someone else she's getting, but then am still slightly feverish and a little attention deprived lol.

Turin Turambar is one of my absolutely favouritest STORIES ever! What is there not to love? The psychoses, the suffering, the accursedness! lol...and I was often sure Tolkien or rather Jackson drew on Beleg and Turin for Aragorn and Legolas so am YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE excited (medicine's yummm!) they're in here.

There is nooooooooooooo way in Arda Leggy would plan to sail without first informing Aragorn. So who's the ship for?... There is nooooooooooooo way in Arda Leggy would plan to sail without first informing Aragorn. So who's the ship for?... There is nooooooooooooo way in Arda Leggy would plan to sail without first informing Aragorn. So who's the ship for?... There is nooooooooooooo way in Arda Leggy would plan to sail without first informing Aragorn. So who's the ship for?...


oops did I say my mantra out loud? :P

Author Reply:
Wonderful to have you back, Angel, and glad you're better! So - you caught up? Or did you just read the last chapter first? :-)

I love that story myself- my favourite in The Silmarillion. I HAD to have it in here - so it;s good to know you like it here too.

As for your mantra - how about this in response?

Nooooooooo one says this can't be AU. Nooooooooo one says this can't be AU. Nooooooooo one says this can't be AU. Nooooooooo one says this can't be AU....

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