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Sweet Woodbine by Bodkin	172 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/21/2006
And in so doing Taryatur makes his daughter that much more desirable in the eyes of a certain Prince. At last--a love for the Elven companion of Kings and Ringbearers--and Dwarf. At least this relationship will not be boringly predictable. Author Reply: There is that! Forbidden fruit always being rather more interesting. But Legolas and Elerrina take a long time to overcome their natural doubts. The Wood-elves won't be keen on a Noldo for Legolas, any more than Taryatur will welcome Oropher's grandson. Still. It'll stop him from getting bored!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
The longer I think about this question, the more I am of the opinion that it is not so easy for the elves of Arda to accomodate to the life in the Blessed Realm. Even if they are not suffering from the sea-longing or are weary, they still need a new purpose for their lifes. And particularly for warriors it is probably even more difficult – no more orcs, wargs, spiders and the like to slay. After millennia of strife against Morgoth and Sauron the peace may be restful, but boring. That may be at least part of Legolas’ problem. And he is alone, without close kin or his friends, save Elrond, Galadriel and Mithrandir, who are so much older than he. Well, I suspect he will be a bit occupied with Elerrina. She doesn’t make it easy for him – I’m not sure yet if it is mostly because of her father or if she loves to play with Legolas, who has absolutely no interest in all the ellyth who are interested in him. Well, if I remember correctly, Legolas got her hand only when the twins had arrived, and that is some centuries in the future. And other than that, it seems he has found something to keep his mind busy. Legolas’ plan worked very well, and I am glad of it. This couldn’t continue! It’s inexcusable what they did to Lidheredh with no true reason. Only a pity it’s impossible to send them to Arda – these arrogant brats would be reduced to trembling, helpless elflings if they had to face orcs instead of more or less helpless other elves. Would do them some good, I guess. It’s good to see Camentur again. In „Far Horizons“ he seemed a very decent sort, and it is good to know Legolas got to know him even before they became brothers-in-law. Maybe they can become friends, in spite of Taryatur. Anyway, I look forward to more of this and how Legolas got his Elerrina in the end! Author Reply: It can't be an easy transition - not just because they are battle-weary or displaced from their homes, but they just don't belong there. They must arrive into a world where everyone knows what they are doing and who they are and they must feel so lost. And then, the more of them there are, the more those who already live in the Blessed Realm would begin to worry about their own place in society. They could end up outnumbered in their own land. Legolas is alone - those of his immediate family who have left Arda left by way of Namo's Halls and there they remain. But, once he is feeling recovered enough to look, he can see that he is needed to be the voice of his people. Elerrina is as doubtful about Legolas as he is about her. I suspect they both felt an instant attraction - that they are now busy denying. He doesn't want to get involved with a Noldo and she doesn't want to get involved with a Wood Elf. And every time they relax a bit they get reminded of the gap between them. Still, what are about three hundred years to an elf! 'Young gentleman's pranks' is how they used to be referred to! Young lordlings with more money than sense and parents who cannot accept that their brats can be at fault - and believe that money can buy you out of anything. Well, Finarfin doesn't agree. Those particular brats will not get anywhere near resuming lives of cosseted ease until they have learned duty and responsibility! Camentur is a nice elf - and finds elves with different experiences to be very interesting. If it were possible to head east of the sea, Taryatur might well be worried about him. But he can't. The west, on the other hand... It's quite pleasant knowing the ending! Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
Now, this was really interesting. A nice look into Legolas’ character and Eldamar society. You write such beautiful descriptions of nature! That last scene was just delightful. ;) And there is intrigue – of several sorts! – going on in the High King’s court. Yay! I especially like how this story fits in with the larger story arc you have been building up. Sad that those young punks felt so confidant that they became blatant in their intimidation. Even though it did make it easier to catch them in the act and start the wheels of justice turning. Culture clash and economic pressures have been building up for quite sometime. However, as always, it takes a hateful agitator to stir up violence. Could that ‘nasty piece of work’ that broke poor Litheredh’s arm have been Minastan himself? Or is he already manipulating his friends? Having the background makes Elerinna’s and Legolas interaction all the more fun to observe too. Taryatur’s children seem to have his serious demeanor and are not nearly as frivolous as some of their friends. Actually, Legolas has acquired his seriousness in much the same way as his father-in-law-to-be. Probably another reason for the attraction between this future husband and wife; there is something there that goes beyond appearances or fate having a joke on them. I liked how you revealed that Elerinna was not just ignoring Legolas and meant to challenge him. ;) The hope that the elves of Ennor will now have a proper spokesman/leader to help address their grievances is a welcome one for them. However, from the Noldor viewpoint, the consolidation of these almost peripheral people can appear rather threatening. The shift in political influence – scattered minorities becoming a solid majority – might be more than worrisome to those have made politics their occupation. Long-held Noldor dominance might be overtaken... and by lesser elves than themselves. For though fewer in number than the Lindarin kindreds, it would seem many more Noldor have actually seen the Light of the Two Trees. All of which creates a fertile ground for feeding people’s personal prejudices. Of course, we already know that the solution will not be drastic change, but more or less peaceful movement. Much as it was in the history of our Western civilization before globalization. Still, those were tumultuous times too. I hope you plan to continue this tale for a little longer. If there a specific poem you drew the title from? Or was just the general romantic theme what you were going for? Author Reply: Starting at the end... sweet woodbine is another name for honeysuckle - and this ended up called that because I started it with a reference from ... Elflings?/Reflections? which referred to an incident where Legolas and Elerrina sneaked off to bathe in a forest pool where there was, I think, honeysuckle. Random. And Elerrina makes me think of the fragrance of honeysuckle somehow. You are very right - seeing Legolas act as a force that welded the voiceless together would make him politically quite worrying - and well worth keeping an eye on. Could well account for why Finarfin was so welcoming to him! Not short of sense, that High King. And able to deal with the problem much more wisely than some of the under-occupied sons of the privileged. Taryatur's family is not among them, either. He is a practical elf (not fond of his son-in-law, true, but generally practical). And very defensive of his family - nobody hurts his wife or daughter and gets away with it. Elerrina isn't likely to find her attraction to Legolas easy to deal with - she is her daddy's girl. I don't think it was Minastan. Finarfin would have known about him then and he would never have got as far as he did. In fact, he most definitely wouldn't have been there. Around, perhaps. A drinking buddy and a nasty whisper in the ear. This bunch are unlikely to do anything again - Finarfin has them, I think, at the nastiest duty posts available for the forseeable future. And the two worst will not be returning to Tirion. There are occasional complications with the wider arc - as it didn't start off intended to be a wider arc, there are sometimes things that don't fit very easily. But fortunately, I've done a lot of vague! Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
Ooohh! Yeah! I am going to love this one. I loved it from the very beginning (Legolas looking at the little bird instead of his future wife--hilarious!). And I think the idea of filling in the story of his early years in Valinor is excellent. I thought it was fascinating to see him in the opening part--he would be very lonely with no one else there in the beginning--and his change in attitude (He had been idle, Legolas thought. Too absorbed in his own concerns to look beyond them to the needs of his people. His adar would be ashamed of him. ) was very well done. The conflicts/policitcal issues between the elves and the ways you show them are so well done. Between that and Legolas's personal life, this is going to be another story contending for the 'my favorite' title. Hooray! Author Reply: Legolas must have been rather lost after Gimli died, I think. I could see the Dwarf insisting that his friend must take his bequest to Galadriel, just so that he could ask the Lady to care for him. And Galadriel would know that Legolas (just like Celeborn later) would need to develop a purpose that would see him through the next few ages. And he would be needed - I can't imagine that there were many there who would be able to draw together the Wood Elves and speak for them. Most of the Wood Elf leaders who would eventually resurface in the Blessed Realm would come via Namo's Halls - and I don't know that that would be the best route for those who needed to involve themselves in politics. And how could there not be politics? Legolas as a focus would make him a force to be reckoned with - and Finarfin can't be inept after three ages in charge of the Noldor. And neither would Olwe or Ingwe, even if they don't feature. And then Legolas is still lonely - he is probably in exactly the right state of mind to be looking for lurve - and Taryatur is going to do his best to make sure he doesn't look in Elerrina's direction. Fun. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/20/2006
Another fine beginning to another fine tale. You do an excellent job exploring what Valinor must be like with all of the influx of avari and whatnot. I don't read many Leggy fics, but I'm drawn to your writing anyway and I love the way you write him. Nice job! Can't wait for an update! Author Reply: Do you know, I never, never, never thought I would write anything romantic (even marginally) with Legolas. It's just too distressing for too many people. But this is going backwards - he's already been married for - h'mm - fifty years or so and got two kids, so he has to have courted Elerrina sometime! And Taryatur isn't going to have made it easy for them. Thank you. I'm glad you want more - because more is coming!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2006
Ooo, nice. I like how you've captured the frictions of a settled land suddenly receiving waves of immigrants and the problems and prejudice that grows out of that. Legolas is remarkably wise to understand just how much proof the Noldor need to see before they'll do anything. The description of Galadriel's eyes as "star-kissed" made me giggle, but only because I associate that phrase with an American brand of canned tunafish. Of course, it is appropriate for a story set in the unfortunately named city of Tirion-upon-Túna. . . Author Reply: I just cannot see the Blessed Realm as a place of unrelieved bliss. Not when you consider the nature of those who are living there - and waves of immigrants combined with those emerging from Namo's care, all arriving into the lands of those who have been living there reproducing over ages ... it's going to have its problems! I love the tuna reference. I shall be trying not to think of Galadriel's eyes being fishy from now on. I don't think it goes with her image!

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2006
LOL - nice to see Legolas fall for the one elleth whose family would dislike him from the start! I can see courting Elerrina is going be challenging - good for Legolas to find a challenge. Author Reply: They're both going to fight it, I think. For a long time! Legolas needs a personal challenge - he really is quite alone here in the Blessed Realm. Good thing he's finding a purpose to keep him going.

Raksha The Demon	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2006
The path of true love isn't running very smooth for Legolas and Elerrina, is it. Someone should tell Taryatur the story of Beren and Luthien and what trouble Thingol made for himself with his suspicions and demands. But it's sad that Legolas seems not only lonely in Valinor, but isolated. Author Reply: Legolas and Elerrina are wary enough of getting involved - there are a lot of family complications in any relationship between them. Although I think if he's not careful, Taryatur is more likely to push them together than keep them apart. Legolas has not long since lost Gimli at the beginning. I reckon he would have focused on him over those first years - that and recovering from Aragorn and Arwen's deaths and his own sea-longing. He's just beginning to emerge from that and is at a bit of a loose end. But the Valar will find work for idle hands - and he has quite a task ahead of him. The Wood Elves would have scattered, I think. They're not the most hierarchical of elves - and I can't think of any real leaders round whom they might gather. Not until now, anyway!

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2006
So we see how Legolas began courting Elerrina! It must have taken a very long time, for it wasn't until after E2 arrived that there was a serious connection between them. I'd like to see the incident that brought them together - something about rescuing her little brother from a river, and getting injured?? I like Camentur here, and I always liked him in your previous tale. Those young Noldor deserve to be taught some hard lessons! Jay Author Reply: I don't think either Legolas or Elerrina settled to the idea of their attraction very easily. They could both see far too many things against any match between them. I think they might have circled cautiously for a good long time. And time in the Blessed Realm isn't exactly the same as it is east of the sea. And nephew. Camentur's son. He isn't born yet. Camentur is a good sort. Taryatur is, too, really. Deep down. I think Finarfin has a good community service programme going with hard labour for those who cannot behave themselves suitably. Although it occurred to me that some of these might well be part of / reason for some of the later hostility that showed in Far Horizons. (Do you know the continuity here is impossible! Too many stories with absolutely no sequence to them. Thank goodness I'm pretty vague at times!)

Lyn	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2006
Ah...at last...a reasonably plausible Legolas romance. This is close to my own feeling that any romance Legolas was destined to have would be found in the Blessed Isles. Well written indeed. Author Reply: Thank you. I'm going at this backwards - in a lot of my other stories, Legolas is a proud father. It's taken me a long time to settle to the idea of writing his passage to matrimony!

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