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| Sweet Woodbine by Bodkin | 15 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Aislynn Crowdaughter | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/13/2006 |
| Hi Very interesting story and start. *However*, it *does* seem to develop into a mere Legomance, and while the political background makes it worth the reading so far, I fear I'm not all too eager for just another Legomance, even if the elleth is of Valinor this time. I would think it sad if this turned out to be the purpose of the story. I would be interested to read about the further development of Legolas' representation of the Silvain and Sindar elves there, though. What of Thingol? Isn't he reembodied, yet? And if not, why? Curious, Aislynn Author Reply: Thingol has not yet returned - at least, as far as anyone knows. The main reason probably being that it would make a complicated political situation ... very complicated! I've sort of come to the conclusion that re-embodiment is a very personal thing and has a lot to do with personal trauma - and that, possibly, the more complex the personality, the longer it takes to adjust. Another element is, to my mind, to do with who is there to desire the return of the elf from Namo's Halls. And Luthien isn't. And Melian is absent in that she has reverted more to her Maia persona and isn't herself embodied. Legolas is (to my mind) one of the few leaders of the Silvan elves to choose to sail - and is likely to become a focus of their needs. And, probably, in the absence of Celeborn, even the Galadhrim might well look in his direction. Of the romance element ... more later. | |
| Lyn | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/13/2006 |
| Delightful! Author Reply: Thank you! | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/12/2006 |
| Wow! So many intrigues and so much haunting from the past. I really can't wait to read more. I love this whole set up and I think that you are right that the memories of the awful past would have haunted the kin slayers and their kin. After all, elves do dwell much in memory. sad but true. Love this tale. more soon, please? Author Reply: The past must haunt Elves dreadfully. After all - it is all within living memory. All within personal experience. I have long felt desperately sorry for Nerdanel - and Anaire and all the women and children left behind when their husbands and fathers joined Feanor's highly-excited bunch of followers. (I know women and children did join them. I just think that probably at least half the Noldor preferred to leave families and sweethearts behind to see them return in triumph.) And the Silvan / Galadhrim elves from Middle-earth are a scattered bunch. Legolas is born to lead - but he is terribly young in Elven terms, and not that experienced. Certainly not at the level of the Noldor princes. Then, on a personal level, neither Elerrina nor Legolas can see their attraction leading to anything. They are united in hoping that it doesn't! Too many complications are inherent in it. Thank you. More pretty soon! | |
| Haleth | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/12/2006 |
| Another wonderful story. I've often wondered how the relatives of Nerdanel would be seen in the Blessed Realm. Given the level of antipathy towards the Feanorians in shown by the Sindarin elves in Middle-earth, there would have to be some unpleasantness. Linevendė and her family could have been on the other side of Valinor at the time of the Kin-slaying and there would still be guilty by association. You've portrayed this and the mutual mistrust between the elves wonderfully. One thing that always struck me about the elves is their ability to carry a grudge. There are humans who have forgiven far worse in far less time. Maybe one of the reasons the Third Kindred continue to be so cool towards the Noldor in general is that they've held the grudge for the Kinslaying so long they've internalized it into their beings. Now, like a bad habit, they can't give it up even though they know they probably should. All of this is combined with politics, leadership of people not at all easy to lead and a love story. The plot is complex yet all of the elements make sense and are woven together seamlessly. And yay! Finrod! (shameless Finrod fangirl squee) As always, I'm looking forward to more. Author Reply: The thought of the Blessed Realm in the immediate aftermath of the Flight of the Noldor and Feanor's nasty little excursion to Alqualonde is a fascinating topic. I think Finarfin showed tremendous courage in turning back. More courage, probably, than many showed in going on. And what did he have to face? The Teleri. His wife. All the wives and children who had been left behind. He would have ruled a people that was largely bereft of adult males - what would that have done to the social dynamics of being Noldor? Then there was the probably bitterness and grief of those who had been left. The shame. Would they have taken it out on those who were connected with the Kinslayers? And by the time some, like Nerdanel or Anaire, had begun to overcome their feeling of abandonment, would people have started to blame them - purely for being the wife / mother of those who had left them? Irrational - but people are. And, of course, after the War of Wrath, when the Host returned with all the stories of what had happened during the First Age, all the buried resentments would resurface. At least Fingolfin and his family were heroes - but how would Nerdanel respond to knowing what her sons had done? The trouble with immortality, too, especially in the Blessed Realm, where there are no Secondborn rushing through their lives, is that nothing fades into the past. She would still be dealing with event millennia old. Very complicated. And a love story that could be - I suppose (trying not to heave) - is a little Romeo and Juliet-ish. Two representatives of less-than-friendly houses. Finrod is a good sort. Open. Shiny. Kind. And experienced at Noldor politics. Thank you. More will follow! | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 4/12/2006 |
| It's fascinating to see Legolas settling into this sophisticated, politically complicated environment, which is so foreign to the way he was raised. Of course, he must have seen politics in Minas Tirith and, on a simpler level, in Ithilien, but he knew what was going on there. Here, he's feeling his way along, and in love to boot, poor elf. Author Reply: I read this and thought - yes, that's his problem! He's found himself somewhere he's supposed to be a statesman and yet he's only had a century of training for being in charge. He's used to commanding warriors - he's used to seeing his father, with limited resources, dealing with the task of managing a kingdom under threat, but he's emerged, blinking, into this big shiny complicated society where every player has had millennia of experience. It's probably a good thing that he has the goodwill of Lady Galadriel - and that Finrod has taken to him. I suspect they will steer him round the obvious shoals. And he and Elerrina are trying very hard not to be in love. His adar - and hers (maybe) - have probably been itching for them to find their match for years, but neither of them are going to appreciate what is actually happening. (They have to get through at least 300 years of indecision, too, before they can solve their differences!) | |