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| Even in Parting by Legolass | 6 Review(s) |
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| TithenFeredir | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/25/2005 |
| This was heartrending and poignant, and it made so many small ovbservations that went beyond only Legolas' grief upon losing Aragorn, like the following: "He moved in a daze to the balcony and stood there alone, looking out over the gardens he had helped create and would visit no more." I think you and I have the same view of how Legolas would have been after Aragorn's death-- that he would sail still grieving, and that his arrival in Valinor would be bittersweet. "...the light of Valinor shone its brilliance across the distance to greet the grey ship and bless the elf prince’s countenance with indescribable beauty and peace. ...He smiled quietly amidst his tears, and whispered to the Lord of the White Tree: 'We have arrived, Aragorn. We are home.'" I think it was also neat the way you had Thranduil and some other elves sailing with them. When those elves seemed to respond to the appearance of their destination with unadulterated joy, it emphasized the tragic undercurrent in Legolas' sentiment. Very nice. ~TF Author Reply: Yes TF- we do view Leoglas' sailing in the same way. He would not have been entirely happy. If he waited that long for his friend to pass, the sorrow of that death - and the knowledge that Aragorn would not be able to join him in Valinor - would have weighed heavily on his heart. No way would he NOT Be grieving. Thank you for sharing your sentiments with me and for identifying parts of the story you liked. | |
| good_one_pip | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/23/2005 |
| This is deep, heart-wrenching, and oh so beautiful. I don't normally read that many stories of elves, and I don't think I could write about them. From a person whose heart will always remain a hobbit, they seemed to high and wise for me to understand. You have done a fine job of understanding the grief of two of the closest members of the Fellowship and I applaud you. Author Reply: From one who has always loved the elves (despite being nowhere near as beautiful or wise as they are) I thank you for reading what I wrote and sharing my pain with me, despite there not being a single hobbit in that chapter :-). Indeed, in the full story from which that epilogue was taken, there are but one or two mentions of the hobbits because I, on my part, don't know if I could write about hobbits in a way that does them justice. They, too, are a very special race, and I applaud those who do a good job of writing tales about them, and you - judging from your pen name - must be one of those writers. :-) Elf, hobbit or man - all their farewells and partings in LOTR and Tolkien's other tales are just so very sad. THank you for sharing that sentiment with me. | |
| Brenda G. | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/23/2005 |
| This was as beautiful as anything I have ever read, I think. What a treasure. I'm still wiping away tears, yet feel so joyful and peaceful at the same moment. To have a friendship like that. To love that deeply, that ceaselessly, and for all of time. Legolas drinks deeply of the cup of life, the sweet with the bitter, joy and sorrow, all from the same cup that we ourselves partake of. I believe in life after death, that the soul is eternal beyond the body. This tale of yours resonates with all the beauty and mystery I have always imagined would exist beyond the grave, beyond mortal time and dimension. Love - true love - never dies. That truth is an anchor for all souls everywhere. Lovely, memorable piece. Thanks for giving us a glimpse beyond... Author Reply: How beautifully you have put this, Brenda: "Legolas drinks deeply of the cup of life, the sweet with the bitter, joy and sorrow, all from the same cup..." It's exactly what I have Legolas do in the story from which comes this epilogue. I don't know if you have read that, but that is basically what he promises Aragorn in the chapter before the epilogue. Aaaah... to have friendship like that. I just could not part those two without some Hope. From the heart to the ship, they had to be together. Perhaps it is because that is what I would wish for myself, for everyone to whom friendship matters. Thank you for letting me know the joy and peace you got out of this. It is good to know I have not re-posted this in vain. | |
| ArcherGal2932 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2005 |
| Awwww....I love it. Short but sweet. And almost no dialogue. I love how some authors can write stories and make it powerful while using little to no dialogue, and you are definitely one of them. Thanks for posting, and I'll talk to you later. -ArcherGal2932 Author Reply: Hey ArcherGal! Re-posted this on a silly whim - but nice to know that people still feel the bittersweetness. It's something I can never forget. Thanks for 'visiting' me in both places. | |
| SmilingDragonGirl | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2005 |
| *sob* I really don't know how you make it, but there are no other stories that make me cry my heart out or fill it with joy like yours do... You make this grief of their final parting palpable for me in a way I would not have thought possible (if your first story wouldn't have warned me already). Legolas grief was especially heart-shattering, and at the moment I feel it like my own. I'm very glad I'm not at work or with family at the moment, so I don't have to keep my composure. *leaves to fetch more tissues* "weighing heavy upon that same heart was the memory of a friendship and a love so great that the joy would forever be tinged with bittersweet melancholy" *sigh, sob, sniff* "ending an era of gentle nobility, humble greatness and quiet wisdom such as the world would witness never again" If I had read your stories as a child, I doubt anyone could have convinced me that Romans were real and elves and Middle-Earth were not... Somehow it's strange to live in a world without elves... perhaps that's why you love Tinnuial's story so much? (Yes, I have read it...) “When the seas and mountains fall, and we come to end of days, and all the ages of this world have passed, my friend, I will find you again.” I'm only glad you have this sentence in there again - it makes me cry even more, but it's some how a bit consoling... I'll leave now to do some serious crying - I don't have to mention how beautiful this story is, do I? *grabs tissues and leaves for a dark, quiet corner* P.S. I hope you do not think me completely crazy now - I'm not. This only happens with your stories, even Tolkien's Grey Havens didn't do me in like that... *vanishes back into her quiet corner* Author Reply: Oh, DragonGirl - your compliments floor me - thank you so much. What pleases me most in all your reviews is that you feel the depth of the elf's love and the bitterness of his grief, just as I do, and I am so glad it reaches you through the writing. *sob* Also... you said this: "If I had read your stories as a child, I doubt anyone could have convinced me that Romans were real and elves and Middle-Earth were not... Somehow it's strange to live in a world without elves... perhaps that's why you love Tinnuial's story so much?" You said it ALL, Sweetie. *quietly appreciative* You are one of the few people I know (although I'm sure there are thousands more) who feel as I do: that Middle-earth and the elves are more real than the world I live in now. It sounds delusional, I know -- but they are THAT real to me... Thank you for sharing all this with me. *Hugs* | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/22/2005 |
| I love your inspiration and it does, indeed, improve on your epilogue which was good anyway. Thanks for this. Author Reply: Thank you, Harrowcat, and thank you for reading this which I reposted on a silly whim. :-) Am trying to work on a new and longer story. *tap tap tap on head* | |