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| Taking Leave by TithenFeredir | 24 Review(s) |
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| Adrianne | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 4/19/2007 |
| This is perhaps my favorite of all the pieces you have done, this little glimpse into Arwen's heart. I cry everytime I read it, my friend. Everytime. And as I have told you before, you channel Tolkien so brilliantly in this brief few paragraphs it is as if this were some little tidbit that the Professor had penned in haste to include at some future time in his appendices, but then it was lost and forgotten. I have so many favorite parts it would be impossible to quote them all without quoting the entire story. But these are a few: "Duty, it seems, is a merciful burden, full of meaningless gestures that wear down the sharp edges of new grief." What an amazing observation and an even more amazing way to express it. And the sorrow of Arwen and Legolas' shared grief: "“I have a ship,” he offers, his eyes glimmering with grief and with a bleak, fragile hope. It matters not how gently I speak, my answer will surely break it. “I cannot alter my choice, nin muindor, I will not. You know this.” With a small nod he seems to crumble; he is suddenly closer, holding on tightly, his face hidden in my hair. “I would not see you perish…” His voice is a soft, broken wisp of melody in my ear. Here speaks a lord and a warrior of renown but now I am reminded of my little ones, when indeed they were yet small, beset by evil dreams or some childish fear no words of comfort could dispel. This sound is the same." I don't see this as being in with Tolkien at all, certainly not AU. I can see Legolas making this desperate offer even knowing it will not be accepted, and it isn't. She knows she can't change her mind, even if she wants to. I think Legolas knows this too, but in his grief he is grasping at straws, so to speak. It makes for an amazingly heart rending moment. Sigh. I so envy your talent. But you already know that too. Love, Adrianne Author Reply: Thanks for the review, Adrianne. I didn't know that this one was your favorite. Arwen's plight is so sad, and then to add Legolas for a bit of extra angst was impossible to resist. I just can't imagine that they wouldn't have shared their grief. I think you hit it on the head that his invitation to her is grasping at straws. At least in the end he still had Gimli. Love, ~TF | |
| Adrianne | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 4/19/2007 |
| I don't know what else I can say that I haven't already told you personally about this exquisitely heartbreaking little insight into Legolas' feelings on the death of Aragorn. Nor can I elaborate on what others have said here. I have said it so many times before, I know, but it simply astounds me the way you can evoke such deep and heartfelt emotion in just a few but eloquently written words. Your writing is like a song without a melody, until the words are spoken aloud and then their power is even greater. This needs nothing, not fleshing out, nor elaboration. It is not thin, it is as lithe and elegant as Legolas himself. It makes my throat ache and my eyes burn just to read it. "Little did I think on them for my eyes looked ever forward to follow you. I never knew it would be thus." "It would seem that I still follow you after all, gwador, if only to leave this shore for another." These two lines say all that needs to be said about Legolas' feelings of brotherhood, devotion and love towards Aragorn. And then this: "You have gone beyond my reach and will never return." The finality of that line makes my heart rebel, for I cannot believe that it is meant to be ever so. For as Finrod Felegund said: "If we are indeed the Eruhin, the Children of the One, then He will not suffer Himself to be deprived of His own, not by any Enemy, not even by ourselves. This is the last foundation of Estel, which we keep even when we contemplate the End: of all His designs the issue must be for His Children's joy." Quoted from the Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth or the Debate of Finrod and Andreth; "Morgoth's Ring"; Volume Ten of "The History of Middle-earth" How can His Children have joy unless they are able to mingle one with another, even if that time be beyond the breaking of the world? That is my hope within the tale that you have set here. That perhaps beyond this world these 'brothers' will be reunited in joy. And if I may paraphrase the last words that Finrod spoke to Andreth: "But you are not for Arda (meaning Aragorn). Whither you go may you find light. Await me there...my brother." And in this hope, I soften the hurt in my own heart for Legolas. Love, Adrianne Author Reply: Adrianne, thank you for your kind words here. You know that without your encouragement I would never have posted any Tolkien fic nor continued writing it. You continue to be a constant supporter, an wonderful beta and an enormous help with your great knowledge on all things Tolkien. It is amazing to me that Tolkien's characters are so well drawn as to affect us such that we grieve for them and look for hope on their behalf. I hope that Finrod was right. Love, ~TF | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/20/2006 |
| The peace will follow. And she will follow him and find that peace. Lovely image of Legolas and Arwen seeking at the end to comfort one another, and the offer she cannot accept. I always felt that the reason Gimli was granted his grace was for the comfort of Legolas once this time had come. Author Reply: Thank you for reviewing, Larner. I don't see how Arwen and Legolas could not have been good friends, so it must have been double grief for him to see her fading. Surely it would also seem terrible for him as an elf to watch this fate come upon her at last. ~TF | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/20/2006 |
| What a lovely, poetic voice Arwen has. I like the sense that Aragorn is still a presence in her life, that she is still speaking to him rather than to a general audience. She seems like a woman who is coming to terms with the joys and sorrows of her choices and has matured enough to accept both with open arms. Author Reply: Thanks for your kind comments, French Pony. I'm very flattered that you like my Arwen. I was trying to take her from that state in which she pleaded with Aragorn to stay longer, on to the one in which she could leave everything behind and go to meet her fate on Cerin Amroth. ~TF | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/20/2006 |
| This is nicely intense, with some striking images. My favorite is this one: You and I, we smiled and clasped hands and uttered bold words today, empty words. I cannot remember them now. Author Reply: That bit was a way of illustrating the idea of Legolas and Aragorn keeping up their tough, masculine facade to the end, and afterward Legolas is left having made a meaningless farewell. Thanks for reviewing, French Pony! ~TF | |
| Lady Saruman | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/20/2006 |
| Again, another tear-jerking chapter. Arwen's grief is of the most above all others, and yet she can feel things no other can. I liked the fact that Legolas offered to take her to Valinor with him even he knows she will refuse. She finally understands why her father had refused her marriage to Aragorn at first, because of the bitterness of mortality she will face, just as Elrond had when Elros had died. Now she will wait for her time to come...when she can see her beloved again. Author Reply: Thanks for reviewing, Lady Saruman! I tried here to show Arwen going through a process of grieving that ultimately led her to acceptance of a sort. Her story is a sad one indeed. I'm glad you liked it! ~TF | |
| Lady Saruman | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/20/2006 |
| Yes, this chapter is told from Legolas's POV. He has seen plenty of death, but now the death of his best friend is the first time he actually feels the grief that the Elves feel--joy greater than the happiest man, grief worse than the most grievous. It is a very heartbreaking, bittersweet, chapter. But he is not the only one in pain. Author Reply: Lady Saruman, thanks for noticing this slant on the tale! I've never bought the idea that was popularized in the movie extras that Legolas knew nothing about death. He was a warrior and would have seen a lot of it even before the quest. My idea for this story is that neither he nor Aragorn really ever acknowledged the reality that they would ever be separated by death. Thanks for the review! ~TF | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/20/2006 |
| This is so sad and beautiful.I liked the idea that Legolas offered to take Arwen. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda! I'm glad you liked it. I can't imagine any elf not trying to save the Evenstar. It goes against Tolkien's version in which Arwen says that there is no ship to bear her hence and that she is compelled to abide the doom of men whether whe will nor not. I guess that makes this tale a bit AU. ~TF | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/19/2006 |
| You were right to leave it as it is, TF. Lovely thoughts here from Legolas, and wonderful thoughts on how grief would hit such as he. And his sight of Arwen as emptied is much as my own when it was my turn to write version of Aragorn's death and Arwen's following. Author Reply: Thanks, Larner. I think Aragorn's death was far more tragic for the people who loved him than it was for him, and that leaves so much for all of us to examine and write about. ~TF | |
| vampfan30 | Reviewed Chapter: Prologue on 5/19/2006 |
| I agree with Haleth, it couldn't have been a more perfect piece....what else can I say? Author Reply: Thank you for the feedback, vampfan. It is very encouraging. I'm glad you liked the story. ~TF | |