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| Mardil Goes A-Courting by Le Rouret | 49 Review(s) |
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| eucalyptus | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/25/2008 |
| Brilliant twist there near the end -- one I did NOT see coming (I had to reread this just to observe how you executed the plot). I find Legolas' views of love very interesting, especially after My Dear Bandobras. He has clearly spent many hours contemplating himself and his previous involvement with Laustaire to have come to these very precise views on the difference between "to love" and "to be in love". There seems to be some bitterness underlaying his motivations here, as though he disdains himself for having been so foolish and yet now thinks he understands how it all works. I don't believe he was being foolish -- there is plenty of evidence that those events were far from his own making -- but I do believe he comes across as a little too smug and knowing. And I'm not sure he understands love as completely as he boasts, especially for someone who has never rightly had a true love. Poor Mardil for having been subjected to the Green Knight's manipulations, even if things worked out in the end. This was a charming, sad and funny little story. Bravo. | |
| Crossshelly3 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2007 |
| Hi, Can you email me your email address? I am one of the list moderators of the Mellon Chronicles and this fic has been nominated for an award, but I can't find you email to tell you the details. Thanks, Michele | |
| Karen | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/24/2007 |
| So, having read all of the fics posted here in the space of a week... *rubs eyes* I love this universe. Legolas is just as I imagine him to be -- clever, wicked, kind -- and his friendship with Faramir and Eowyn, Aragorn and Arwen, and nearly every child in Gondor are so much fun to read about. I also really admire your writing style; there are certain excerpts that sound just like Tolkien. The original characters are also really fun, especially the elves. Galas is my favorite. I love how he seems so carefree and irresponsible, but he was actually quite old even at the Last Alliance. Bandobras is adorable, and Tamin is just so cute. I hope you write more with him. Do you think you'll be writing more Lord of the Rings fanfiction? If you do, I think a lot of people will read and enjoy it. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/1/2007 |
| Poor Mardil. The only - but by now very happy - sucker. And Legolas plays the game of dowries as one born to it! Good thing he is wealthy enough to indulge his hobby of making his friends happy. Dúrfinwen strikes me as being a very dangerous elleth, though! Breaking legs, throwing shoes, fostering plots, biting off Legolas's head! Knocking out keystones ... Ruthless young lady, that one! Hirilcúllas and Meivel are sorted out, though. Although Bandobras would be better left seeking his own bride. Perhaps Legolas should get to work on finding a wife for Gimli. | |
| Beruthiels Cat | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/20/2007 |
| Loved this! Serves himself right for meddling, lol...I'll vote Yea for the sequel, I'd like to see Legolas "think" he's falling for Durfinwen, but she has her eye on someone else...or at least pretending she does! (teaching him a lesson, maybe?) BC Author Reply: I'm glad you liked it! I'm knocking around a couple of ideas for a sequel, but I've got to get through Dragon*Con first ... I've signed up for AC Crispin's Writer's Workshop and need to get a workable manuscript together for her. Eep! So, that's a vote for Durfinwen, is it? Poor girl ... | |
| Alison H | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/20/2007 |
| Can you see me bowing, Rouret? I have a huge smile on my face and I'm still laughing at the machinations of both Elwen and Legolas.Everything went to plan after all and Legolas did not end up out of pocket.He's very wicked, as Faramir says! Bravo, Le Rouret.I loved every word of this story. Durfinwen is very spirited, to say the least.Her revelation that she broke two of Araval's legs, not one, by mistake,had me laughing out loud.Her temper was like a whirlwind and she actually managed to hit her lord with her slipper! Now that all of Legolas' closest firnds seem to be paired off it seems a shame that Durfinwen will still be single....and she won't wed Galas. I'm sad that this exceptional tale has finished.You are planning another story I hope? Take care and get those plot bunnies busy ;D Ali. Author Reply: Thanks, Ali! Your reviews have been so encouraging. I am indeed planning another story, but as I'm attending a writer's workshop in September and need to get my manuscript finished by August, I don't think it's going to happen this year! You never know, though; I might get tired of my story and start paying attention to those little plot-bunnies that have been nibbling at my ankles. Don't tell me you want Durfinwen to marry Galas?! Can you imagine? There wouldn't be a spare bit of crockery in their house by the end of the honeymoon! | |
| Wimsey | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/19/2007 |
| Applause as the curtain falls. Well, you fooled us all, and perhaps we heaped too much scorn on poor Legolas’ head. Although I am quite certain the Green Knight does nothing unless he truly wants to. I think it is very clever to have made little Elwen the instigator of the whole scheme. You very cleverly led us astray as to her real feelings. Almost as well done as Agatha’s little plot device in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. Are you planning something between Dúrfinwen and Legolas? She is definitely no milquetoast. I snorted so loudly when I read she was the one that broke Araval’s legs that I believe all my coworkers were worried I may be having a fit of apoplexy. Considering I am a librarian the snort did disturb the quiet ambience of the library setting. All I can say again is well done, very well done indeed. I did notice, however, that Legolas made out very well from the whole endeavor after all. Author Reply: Thank you, Wimsey! Your allusion to Roger Ackroyd made me laugh - I can remember reading that when I was in junior high and thinking, "Wait - what? No! But ... " And then going back and reading it AGAIN, this time with the eye of knowledge, and realizing how cleverly Christie had manipulated her words to fool us. If you re-read Ch. 3, "The Lovelorn Maid," you'll see I attempted to do the same thing. It was tricky and I ended up scrapping and re-writing the chapter three times. I like the character of Durfinwen - like Galas and Bandobras, her dialogue is fun to write, and though GreenKnight!Legolas has Noldor blood in him, I can't imagine his mother would object to a Loriquendi that much. And you're right - she's no pushover; any man who married her would know JUST where he got off, but I like to think all that spunk and cheek would make her a fun bed-fellow, too. Apologize to your library co-workers for me. I did not mean to make you snort! Le Rouret | |
| tnt2b2 | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/19/2007 |
| Excellent! I am only sad that this tale has ended. Can't wait for the next to begin! Author Reply: Thanks! But you might have to wait a while; I need to work up a manuscript for a writer's workshop I'm doing in September, so I don't know how much time I'll have to devote to fanfic. We'll see! | |
| lwarren | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/7/2007 |
| First, Le Rouret, I love your Green Knight universe! I love the imagery and the language and Lassah! LOL This story has been a revelation, though, from the beginning. Legolas' character has changed as he has lived and grown older in Ithilien and you show it so well! I went back and reread "My Dear Bandobras", Le Rouret, because I wanted to refresh my memory about Legolas' reaction to the Infant and her eventual and untimely death. He was so crushed by so many things there - I don't know that he really loved her - it seemed more infatuation to me, but the promise of it was there, if she had just been a more mature, wiser person. He was hurt by her actions and then by his perceived failure to keep her safe. It seems like he has hardened his heart to the gentler emotions and come hell, or high water, he's going to order the lives of those he loves, whether they like it or not. Tsk, tsk, Lassah! I wonder what he would do if he lost Mardil's friendship because of his plots? And he seemed most callous in his treatment of Elwen - which of course drove Mardil into her arms. LOL I'm not saying it is a bad match, and it looks like Elwen is more than willing (and like she said, her mother is 19 years younger than her father). But Lassah seems very brittle and hard in this story at times - and he may be immortal and wiser, but one wonders what his human friends (and Gimli and Bandobras) really think of his manipulations. He just kind of ran rough-shod over everyone's opinions and ideas. Yes, Lassah needs a lesson, Le Rouret! I vote Yay! with the others - he needs that heart of stone returned to its original state and those opinions of his on love revised! And make him work for it, by Eru! :-) Wonderful chapter! I'm not sure if any of these ramblings made any sense at all - I may be entirely off base here - these were more my impressions as I read, I suppose. (One does love to consider the poor, wounded elf hiding his hurt behind that cool, I-know-what's-best facade and hope for someone to heal his owies! LOL) Forgive if I am wrong! Linda Author Reply: Thank you, Linda! It's nice to get such a thorough review. (Especially one without misspellings and web-speak; some of my fics on other sites get the variety that start out, "OMG i so ttly luuuuuv ur fics omglololol!!!!!11" UGH!) I had "My Dear Bandobras" in the back of my mind the entire time I wrote this fic. I left it up to the readers to decide the reason behind Legolas' melancholy - Laustaire, or Nardane? The loss of a physical woman, or the loss of the concept of wife and children? - and to force him to retreat into a brittle casing seemed to me to be the most logical permutation of either end. It's a natural reaction, a defense mechanism against further heartbreak, and I can't imagine an Elf would be immune to that any more than a mere mortal. I agree that he ought to work for a maiden's heart, for as prince he pretty much gets what he wants just by snapping his fingers; it'd do him good to have to put a little effort into it, and to suffer the pangs of fear that his sentiments might not be answered. But am I the writer to pen that tale? Not sure yet; I'll let the plot bunnies germinate a while, and see what happens! | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/7/2007 |
| That devious, sneaky, plotting, manipulative Lord Lassah! I hope Elwen wasn't in on it - I'd hate to think that the only poor sucker there was Mardil! (Although he seems to have been won over. He may become suspicious later, but, just at the moment, he is left without anything to say.) When you do decide how Legolas falls, don't, whatever you do, make it easy for him! He is far too inclined to think he can wangle everyone to do his bidding and he really, really needs a wife who flatly refuses to be manoeuvred. An equal - who might just look him over and turn him down! I hope Deniel really did wish to marry the man who serves tripe for breakfast. (I can't imagine why she would!) Because I'd hate to think of her as no more than a tool in Legolas's ruthless ordering of everyone of his acquaintance according to his idea of what is best for them. And how many were in on this plot? Everyone except Araval and Mardil? Or is the bridegroom the only innocent? The whole chapter leaves me breathless - and very wary of the elven matchmaker. Author Reply: Devious, sneaky, plotting, manipulative ... yep, that's him, all right. And "poor Mardil" may be a sucker, but don't worry, all ends well for him. If I do eventually write a Legomance, I will definitely NOT make it easy for him. I love GreenKnight!Legolas, but he's rather spoiled and cocky; taking him down a notch or two might prove amusing. I hope you like the conclusion! | |