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Healing the Blessed Isle  by shirebound 13 Review(s)
PSWReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/19/2016
Oh, well done, Gandalf! Of course that's who Gimli needs -- I'm sure Aule's people can get him pointed in the right direction and happy again...

Haven't read much LOTR lately, but I should get back to it. There's a lightness in your stories that always lifts my spirits. :-) Thanks for writing!

Author Reply: Thank you for that lovely compliment. I do try to bring lightness to my stories wherever I can!

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/22/2016
I didn't realize until now that I missed this delightful chapter. I thought I just didn't remember who the elf was when I read the next chapter but I didn't remember because I hadn't met him yet! This was great. I loved how the athelas affected everyone differently and Frodo and Sam fed the gulls and meeting the elf himself and the reaction of the others to him.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Thank you, Antane! It's the small moments, like Frodo and Sam feeding the gulls, that I most love to imagine.

I hope to start writing chapter 6 today. It's supposed to be 104 degrees here, and I'll be huddling indoors in front of the fan!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/10/2016
I love this new, but very old, Elf. And what a delightful place where you smell whatever makes you happy. Great chapter.

Author Reply: Thank you. I had no idea I had another multi-chapter story in me (or in my weary fingers), but Gimli (and the island itself) needed just a bit of h/c. :)

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/1/2016
How lovely to be surrounded by athelas. I hope Gimli has found a new friend.

Author Reply: I haven't written it yet, but I do believe Gimli will be very glad to have met Mahtan. :)

layneReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/30/2016
It speaks to the heart, and awakens memories that bring calm and refreshment.

I love that idea very much. I think it'd smell to me like freshly cut grass ...

What would it smell like to you, Janet? :))

Author Reply: I love the smell of freshly-cut grass! You and I have so much in common. Other happy smells/memories for me would be strawberries, lemons, and just-baked bread.

Lavender TookReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/30/2016
Oh, beautiful and magical! I love your description of the sea and the flora covering the cliffs and of Mahtan. I forgot about him--Nerdanel's father. And your descriptions of the memories the athelas raises. And Frodo thanking the horse for the ride. And Sam asking Legolas in the end and part of his memory is the hobbits hearts' being eased and their walking hand and hand to this house of yummy goodies. (-:

Author Reply: Thank you for highlighting so many parts of the chapter! I write and re-write these chapters so many times until they 'feel right' to me, and when they resonate with someone else... *happy sigh* Bless the Professor for inventing athelas! The more I think about it, the more interesting and complex it seems to be.

I have about half of chapter four written, and I'll be sure to include some yummy goodies. :)

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/29/2016
Oh how wonderful! Gimli has quite an adventure before him!

Legolas' description of what the athelas smelled like to him made me tear up, in a good way, dear.

Author Reply: That makes me feel so good. Thank you, my friend!

lbiloverReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/27/2016
I love when even Elrond is surprised and even awed! Bet that doesn't happen often. *g* But dear Gimli surely deserves nothing less. And of course happy, laughing Frodo and Sam make my heart happy. Thank you!

Author Reply: Awwww, thank you. When an elf entwines his life with mortals, he has to expect a few surprising -- and hopefully enjoyable -- experiences! The Undying Lands are my playground for happy hobbits; it's such a joy to write these tales.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/27/2016
Oh, but how perfect that Mahtan himself has come to greet Gimli and lead him down into the earth where this once floating island already is being mated to its proper place here on the borders of the Undying Lands! Excellent, and the meeting is most apt indeed!

Author Reply: Thank you so much! As usual, the story seems to be evolving far beyond what I originally envisioned. I'm just delighted that you're enjoying it.

MikoNoNyteReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/27/2016
:...Frodo and Sam’s voices singing loudly, interspersed with Elrond humming softly..."

I think this dichotomy is what I'm liking about this story (and I think ultimately what I like as well in Tolkien's work) in dealing with the Free Peoples of Middle-earth. As Tolkien explored, Gimli and Legolas, two beings of two races that hated each other for thousands of years, yet they could find a meeting place, yet still remain themselves. Seeing two loud mouthed hobbits singing and a quiet elf humming is to find the gathering point, I think, in what is best (imho) about Tolkien's writing at a simple level, but one that works so well. *grins*

At mention of Aulendur (Mahtan) I had a frisson run up my spine and my heart skipped a quick beat. Aule (or his servant) here?!? Oh this is indeed a nice suprise! I'm with Gimli here, following with all my heart to see this "Great Work of Healing".

This has been a good chapter (not that the others were not!). I again remark the dichotomy of what Gimli sees, hopes, dreams and possibly receives vs what the Hobbits, Legolas and Elrond receive. Healing in kind I think. I found Legolas's remarks about the aroma of athelas interesting - no so much a smell but a memory. Odd that, but then the Nandor, the Sindar and Legolas specifically are very different elves than the Amandelli or Elrond.

Thank you again, Shirebound, for such a delightful read. I'm enjoying the Hobbits much more than I thought (not being a hobbit person) and am intrigued with where you are going with this; a tale in the telling. :)

Author Reply: Thank you for your lovely review. One of the Professor's great themes, I believe, is that disparate races can find common ground while still contributing the skills and wisdom of their own people. Each has something to learn from the other, and each has something to teach. I've touched before, in my writing, about the healing and experiences of hobbits and elves in the West, but decided to take a deep breath and attempt Gimli's possible experience. His arrival in the West (and the underlying approval by the Powers) is even more remarkable than the hobbits be allowed to sail, and no doubt be welcomed. I didn't have Mahtan in mind as a character when I first began writing this tale, but... then there he was, big as life, waiting to be included. I love it when that happens. :)

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