Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Journey's End  by Nilmandra 31 Review(s)
GershwhenReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/8/2004
Ahhh, happy sigh. This is just what we needed to see after suffering with the whole family through the separation!! I look forward to lots more family interaction, love and bonding!

websteransReviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/24/2004
And now that I have read this pair of stories, I know that your way with elflings in "History Lessons" was not a fluke! Great!

Author Reply: Thanks, Websterans. I like elflings, like writing about them - and am glad you have liked seeing these characters as younglings!

Sofia Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/18/2004
Im glad there was a sequel to "May the Valar". I smiled alot while reading this story. Im glad that Tathiel and Rawien got married. they seem like the perfect couple.

Author Reply: I am glad Tathiel and Rawien got married too. Silly elf loved her for a long time before finally acting on his feelings :D This was meant to be fluff, so I am glad it made you smile!

rgbjReviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/17/2004
Big storm. I love them but I know many who are 'fraid of them. Not necessarily younglings either. But ada's the king he should stop them because they scare Legles. The rain though is needed so they can have a nice spring with lots of fun things for elflings to do. OK as long as elflings can sleep with their adas it will be fine. At least this saves Rawien from an elfling in bed with them.
Now we come to the conflict. Can ada leave elfling behind to go to a very important council? There is only one answer. What is more important than family? Thranduil has been through so much in his long life. Evil is always there and elflings don't stay young forever. I made notes of this before I read the whole chapter. I am glad we both agreed on this point.
Tathiel definitely has her own life and responsibilities now. Adar has been able to take over much of Legolas' care and keeping so she can focus on her own relationship. In the pool scene she feels the lessening of the bond and is saddened. It is hard to let go when the time comes.
Lovely pool scene for the king to see. So much love, understanding and compassion.
Ah Bregolas lost the bet because he forgot to consider the counsel of one of the advisors, Lathron. I like that. And during the day Lathron heard more ada than Tathiel. A big step in the right direction.
Mithrandir hasn't heard about Mirkwood's loss. I'm surprised. He always seemed to know everything even when he chose not to share or let on.
Legolas first encounter with Mifdir. At first he is just a strange looking man but then he becomes a magician with the stones. That is enough for Legolas, he must be a good man. One of those Elanath was talking about.
Mithrandir's eyes see beyond what even the eyes of the First Born see. The sorrow, broken bonds of family and friendship. The unnatural maturity of the ellyth. He knows he won't be traveling with the king to the council meeting. It was so nice that everyone knows that the king can't leave his youngest princeling.
Yes begetting days and presents are good things for little elflings to have. So many nice and fun things to learn about and now time with adar to learn them.
The last two paragraphs were so precious. Adar and ion bonding so nicely.
AN You attained your objective beautifully. Congratulations.



Author Reply: It seemed from Tolkien's writings that elves did value their children highly. I think of the work adoptive parents have to pour into a toddler they have just brought home, and though Legolas is Thranduil and Narawen's child, Thranduil had to expend all the same energy. Thank you for reading and reviewing - I truly do appreciate it.

rgbjReviewed Chapter: 9 on 1/17/2004
The Wedding Day!! Decorate the bridal bower and leave a bottle of wine with two glasses. That is class. Shuffle off Legolas to his own bed, just anyone's bed won't do. You know better elfling.
So many new things to learn to enjoy and with everyone so excited a wedding must be one of them.
Lathron contemplating his brother. Slowly integrating into the family and giving Tathiel as much of her own life as they can. She will always be a part of Legolas' life. The littlest prince does sound very draining.
A friend of mine once gave me one of those light bulb moments. I asked wearily 'where do they get all that energy?' as my daughter scampered around playing. My friend said 'didn't you know? They drain it from their parents.' I just stopped in my tracks dumbstruck. I believed her totally. Now with elves they do drain their energy from their parents.
Legolas' begetting day present from Thranduil to his Queen, the sapphires. It is very fitting that Tathiel gets them and Narawen would agree completely. She also wears Narawen's wedding dress. That was so very nice of the king. Tathiel is fully of that family now.
A beautiful bride is a given of course. All brides are beautiful but Tathiel is especially so. After all that she has gone through.
Sons of the House of Oropher. How proud ada must be of all of them, daughters also dressed alike. OOH Legolas is the ringbearer and he gives a blessing. What a big responsibility for such a little elfling. He is very important today.
Lovely set up for the wedding. Nice details. Lots of singing and food is very elvish, wood elvish anyway.
I loved the bond between the two L's, Lathron and Legolas. They are so fond of each other.
The whole family table, ceremony and everything was so touching. We all love weddings. Tathiel thought her heart would burst with love. How sweet. And Legolas got a kiss too.
Very romantic bonding. Do you think we obssess on the bonding btween two elves because we have nothing to compare to it. We can leave a relationship all too easily. They never forsake that bond. Except in fanfiction of course.
An elflings big day. Swim, ride, play games, build with his blocks, maybe stories but no naps. He will stay still long enough to watch Lathron take a nap but that is all. Will Legolas beg for a nap? He will just collapse likely as not. On to the bet between Bregolas and Adar. That was funny. Who will win?
Great wedding/bonding. I bet you had so much fun writing it. The interaction between the brothers and between Thranduil and Tathiel was great. Such a very nice chapter. Thank you for getting Tathiel married off in grand style.

rgbjReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/17/2004
What is the elfling up to now? AAH Tathiel's new room and he gets stuck there. What a lot to do and see. Old bed, new furniture, a sword and a boot. What fun. You think just like an elfling to come with all this. And a bath. It doesn't get much better than this. What a big day for Legles. He definitely needs his sleep.
Little firefly flitted away. He flitted to Tathiels's bed and rested there. He had a busy day. Rawien, being the mighty hunter he undoubtedly is figured things out very easily.
Getting very romantic here. We just can't wait for the wedding/bonding.
Big discussion about Tathiel. Elflings don't like changes. Changes can be very disruptive and frightening. If he really needs Tathiel he knows exactly where to find her. And Ada is right next door. He is more than capable of taking care of little elflings. Our little elfling likes him very much so it will work with a little worry and some good care.
Elenath is back and a heroine warrior. She didn't get hurt. And to Legolas' amazement she has a sword like Rawien's. I think Elenath just went way up in Legolas' estimation.
Back to Bad Men. This is going to take a long time to put away. At least his family is going to help him in this by not reinforcing his feelings but gently helping him cope and change.
Such a sweet chapter. I liked the romance very much. Tathiel and Rawien deserve it.

rgbjReviewed Chapter: 7 on 1/17/2004
Legolas is certainly surrounded by love and he is Tathiel's fishy baby.
Tinania is settling in nicely now.
Earundra is getting much better thanks to the pool and care of the healer.
Legolas is recovering from his bad day. I think it would be a really good idea to slowly introduce Legolas to men. He needs to come to grips with the concept of good men sometime.
Tathiel is still in the minus column. Legolas is still drawing too much energy from her. Nesta said the right things. No one no matter how strong would have been able to do what she did and then bear another child. Ethiwen said the right things and pushed Tathiel a little more in the right direction. Everyone is trying so hard to help them all.
Legolas adores his ada. So sweet. But still Legles misses Tathiel. The family certainly worked hard for Tathiel's date to work. And work it did. We have a wedding/bonding to look forward to now.
I liked your AN. I read quite a bit of fan fiction and I don't mind AUs that would probably drive a purist insane. I do like it though when a writer does his/her homework and gives us as canon as they can work into their tale. The idea of the parents fear being used to maintain a child is one I really like. Being a parent I know how much energy goes into just one child. I feel that the concept of the fear of the parents being shared in a three fold cord is crucial to elven family life. Anyway thank you for that AN and the concept being used in your story.

rgbjReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/17/2004
Legolas is certainly helping to ease his family's pain. He has naneth's looks and charm and must be so much fun for them to have around after so much doom, gloom and heartache.
Tathiel's memories of the hard time with no food. Now there is plenty and she needs to build herself up for the future.
Legolas'bad day indeed. Poor Bad Man. He doesn't know what hit him or why.
I think Tathiel didn't want to recognize what might have been Legolas' reaction to these type of events. She probably wanted to feel that everything was all over now, they were safe and sound, cocooned in the love of the family. Just a little denial going on. She forgot how he reacted to the male elves because Legolas seemed to have adjusted and be fitting in to regular life in the palace-cave.
Legolas is so distraught that he even rejects he ada until Tathiel can reassure him that ada is not a bad man but a good elf. Maleness seems to be the common thread here. I can certainly see why.
Now Camnestra and Thranduil have a better understanding of the emotional upheaval and deprivation that the lost ones suffered in their time away. Yes they do need to share not only to free themselves but also to let those who must deal with them when to give them support and aid in a touchy situation.
Thranduil has lost so much at the hand of Men. Not to be bitter would be more than most could handle.
I really liked this chapter. It really moved your healing plot and a return to normality along.

rgbjReviewed Chapter: 5 on 1/16/2004
Winter time with snow. As long as it doesn't pile up and ruin everyone's commute I think snow is very romantic.
Gracious. A little angst from Tathiel. I suppose she would be hesitant because of her physical condition. I like Rawien. He is so patient, kind and understanding. But sometimes in love and courtship you have to be bold enough to push a little. Tathiel needs him as much as he needs her.
Saying good bye to the novice warrioress. At least ada let her see how hard it was to let her go. As far as embarrassing her, I can only quote Roseanne "Let me live long enough to humiliate my children as much as they have humiliated me." Every mothers chant.
During the discussion about the White Council they really needed elfling laughter to remind them of why this is all worthwhile and why they must keep fighting and manuevering.
I think getting something for Elumeril to occupy herself is a really good idea. I'm not sure how old she is in man years but she needs some useful art or craft to make her feel as if she is a participating member of elven society.
Poor elfling. Tathiel is his anchor. Life without her constant presence is just too uncertain. Time to take care of this so he will have others he can depend on. Again ada steps in to take his rightful place. I am glad he knows what he must do to help Legolas grow beyond who he is right now. The prince could get stuck in a loop that would be so hard to break free from. But with his family's help he will be fine after a rocky period.
Oh great we have Tathiel crying now. The bond with Legolas must be so strong that she just can't cope with letting go. She must be a strong fea indeed. Rawien is going to be so glad to have that strength by his side.
It was sweet about the tapestry of Narawen and Elumeril. At least the king has something to look at that will bring her memory fresh to him at times.
And little Legolas gets the last word. He is good at that with Tathiel.
Lovely chapter. Lots going on and getting solved for moving on. I really enjoy your protrayal of Thranduil. I can accept him as bad for a story's sake but I really prefer good King Thranduil. I can't see the Legolas in the book or movie coming from a bad background.


Author Reply: I like good King Thranduil, too. He can be flawed, as are we all, without being bad.

Someone once commented that Tathiel was heroic, and it was interesting that it was her 'domestic' traits that made her so - caretaking and mothering children. I have long thought most mothers to be heroic, but the tasks receive little recognition (much as Aragorn says to Eowyn at Dunharrow). Tathiel did what she did without thought - it needed to be done and so she did. She didn't think about it and make a conscious decision. And the elves at home - Thranduil and the ellyth's parents - expected no less of her, for elves seemed to value their children, and they would do the same. Letting go must be hard, for Tathiel had to give her 'all' to best help the children, when it would have been easier for her to maintain a little distance. But now, for Legolas' sake, she must accept a different role in his life. I did foster care for a while, and letting go is like having your heart torn out if you invest in the child's life. (And I am glad you have another year with your daughter at home!).


rgbjReviewed Chapter: 4 on 1/15/2004
I loved the possessiveness of the king with his new born elflings. He had to take this relationship very slowly because he had not bonded with this baby fully yet. So after the confrontation Legolas claimed his ada. This doesn't surprise me. I really think children want so much to please and adore and be adored by their parents that when you show them loving concern, even when you think you are being hard on them, they love it and you even more. Sheesh what a run on sentence. Sorry.
Oh little Legolas thought ada was angry with him. Children do take things on themsleves. The king is not angry at people just at events. Once he has calmed down he realizes this. It is events that caused him to lose Alagos and all his other warriors not people.
Having to let go of your children is a step by step process. Some steps are just bigger and harder than others. My daughter will go away to college in '05 after one year here in a community college. That particular step is going to kill me. I just want to protect her so much. Now who does that sound like? Didn't think I would ever be like an elf. I am too hobbit-like.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List