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Bridges by Bodkin	24 Review(s)
vampfan30	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Wow -- it's my family in Elf-form... I have family & in-laws that love to run everyone's lives like Taryatur does. It's scary, but, interesting. As for Legolas -- get him out from under the tree already!!!!!!!! Author Reply: Oh dear! I hope it won't take a tree falling on them to help you work out some solution! Taryatur is being quite defensive now, I think. He knows Elerrina is happy - but can't help wishing she was still his little girl. And he's the sort of person who would find it very difficult to admit he was wrong - and probably get even more difficult. I'm working on the tree!

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Taryatur is the kind of father-in-law who could make a person swear off marriage. On the other hand, his type hardly seems rare, based on the content of your average advice column. Legolas is being amazingly tolerant of him, really. Which is sort of the only solution, since he's unlikely to change. Unfortunately for elves, they never progress to the coot stage where their outrageous utterances and petulant pouting become endearing instead of annoying. Happy Birthday, Bodkin! Author Reply: Taryatur is, indeed, the kind of father-in-law whose best feature can be that he lives a very long way away. He and Legolas have got stuck in a groove of dislike and minimal courtesy now, though - and need something to jolt them into realising that they actually have more than Elerrina in common. Hopefully this incident might provide it. I expect Taryatur will still be tetchy - but there are degrees of tetchy. With luck, there might develop some level of respect behind the irritation. Even, perhaps, some affection and understanding. Thank you, Nilmandra. Author Reply: Arggh. Meckinock. Not Nilmandra. Stupid me.

Haleth	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
This story touches so many themes, from getting along with the in-laws one detests to the struggle to grow to maturity to war. It's fascinating to watch these characters grow (or not) and interact with each other. '..‘What I want,’ Legolas continued, ‘is for my children to grow up with understanding. An understanding that includes the cost of war – why it is sometimes the only choice and why is should be a last resort...' This is the voice of hard won wisdon. It's sad to think so many people don't see war that way. Author Reply: Taryatur's only experience of war came in contrast to a life in the Blessed Realm, growing up in the time of the Trees. He had heard of and been horrified by the kinslaying at Alqualonde - but not seen it. And to him, the whole idea of Endore is of a place where the kinslayers retreated, where Morgoth roams. His life in the Valar's army exposed him to horror and pain and the slaughter of innocence. Legolas's understanding is different - he took up arms to defend his people. He doesn't fight for the sake of it, but because it is necessary - the best option at the time. (And at least the enemy in Middle-earth is clearly evil - these wars are not between dubious opinions of what is wrong.) Although Taryatur's war service was brief, I think it has affected him more than a life of war has damaged Legolas. The two of them have a lot in common - much though they would hate to admit it - and if they can only break free from their prejudice enough to listen to each other, both might learn to appreciate the other! We'll see what happens!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Yay! That is exactly the story I wanted to read – how does the relationship of Legolas and Taryatur continue? After ‚Sweet Woodbine’ I had even more wondered than before how (and if ;-)) they will ever get over their aversion against each other. ‘It rains in Tirion, too,’ he said, refusing to have his general grumpiness dispersed. Now Taryatur is behaving like an elfling! And not only here. Somehow I get the feeling he is very decided to find everything terrible, even if it has only the faintest connection with Legolas, and to blame the poor elf for nearly everything. And I suppose Taryatur was convinced a visit with a certain Wood elf would not help with Súrion at all, on the contrary. Thranduil may be right that Legolas and Taryatur have to sort their differences out. But I don’t know ... no matter how much Legolas tries, I fear as long as Taryatur is determined to dislike him he doesn’t stand much of a chance. Taryatur should be old enough to see how difficult me makes the life of his treasured daughter with his behaviour. Even if Legolas may have to take part of the blame, it was Taryatur who started the war. You know, Eleniel acted in this chapter very wise and mature. One can’t help but thinking she has a better understanding about certain things and why it doesn’t help to pretend they are not there than her grandfather. As for Legolas, I have to give him some credit for his calm and patience. Even if Taryatur doesn’t want to hear it, I think Legolas could be right about the reasons for Súrion’s behaviour. Taryatur sighed. ‘Arrogant Wood elf,’ he muttered. ‘So certain that he knows best.’ Well, the same could be said of Taryatur himself, couldn’t it? In regard of the way how much a mere thunderstorm is affecting him, I can’t help but thinking Taryatur has way too much bad memories bottled up inside himself. And as he is not able and willed to talk about it, it is getting worse. He needs to release it for his own sake. You realise this was a very bad cliffhanger? Just what has happened to Legolas??? And honestly, after the end of the chapter what Taryatur thought at the beginning seems even more impertinent. ‘Pernicious Wood elf! Do you have to play the hero all the time?’ And that after Legolas saved his life? I dare Taryatur to repeat this in front of Linevende and Elerrina growls Can’t wait for the next chapter! A belated Happy Birthday to you, Bodkin! Hope you had a wonderful day. Author Reply: Thank you, Kitty. I had a good birthday. I'm hoping that this incident will help Legolas and Taryatur's relationship. They can't see it, but they do have quite a lot in common. I reckon, too, it will do Taryatur a great deal of good to talk about his experiences with someone who understands, won't dismiss his feelings and has survived and come to terms with the same sort of things. Their relationship is running on grooves at the moment - and neither is really trying to change it. Hopefully this will jolt them into looking at each other differently. Eleniel is a sensible and observant elleth. Galenthil, I think, counts on her to understand people - his main interest is with the forest creatures - and she has inherited good instincts. And it is remarkable how often people recognise and criticise in others behaviour that is typical of themselves! Taryatur is worried about Legolas - he is just expressing it in his own way! I shall try not to keep you worrying about Legolas for too long!

Fire	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Great to see you started a new story. Taryatur has surely gotten himself and Legolas in trouble now. Though i feel sorry for him, it must be so hard to live with those memories all these years. I hope this will bring the two of them to an understanding o eachother, and an end to the hostile feelings they have towards eachother. Author Reply: Thank you. Taryatur needs release from the pressure of his past - and maybe, if they spend a bit of time together, he and Legolas will be able to see that they have quite a few things in common. Other than Elerrina. Fingers crossed - they need to listen to each other properly and realise they are not in competition. I hope they manage it.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
What a place to leave us - and poor Legolas! I love it when he's being heroic to save others at the cost of his own safety. He seems to make a habit of it for Taryatur's family. I have a mental picture of the tree trying desperately to hold itself up by its branches, so as not to crush the woodland prince. I like young Surion as a stroppy adolescent too, complete with unsuitable friends. It's often grandparents who can get through at this time - parents are too close, and part of the problem; but grandparents have already weathered the storms. Author Reply: Poor Legolas indeed! I see the tree trying hard not to squash him, too! I'm hoping this will prove a breakthrough in Legolas's relationship with Taryatur - but you know how it is. Characters won't always do what you want them to do. Surion was such a sweet kid - but I think his earlier adventure probably left Nisimalote a bit over-anxious and over-protective. He's just the age now to resent that and be demanding the freedom to get into trouble. I'm hoping that the forest - and some rather less closely involved family - will release the pressure. I'd hate to have him turn into a real brat.

thechevin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Hi so happy to see a new story and this one begins with a bang, oh that terrible wood elf, how selfish of him to go out there and try to save his father in law from the storm! Still I have to say that Legolas and Taryantaur are as bad as each other in their dislike and deliberate misunderstanding of the others behaviours and Thranduil was right to speak to his son, even if it was mainly to give his daughter and himself a peaceful night! But evil author, leaving us without knowing where or in what condition Legolas is and I can't imagine how he is going to feel when he is rescued by his father in law who he was supposed to be rescuing Still I have something to lookk forward to now as I wait for an update Author Reply: It's very unreasonable of the Wood elf to take a fall for his father-in-law, though! I wonder if Taryatur is actually finding himself worried about the elf? I think the pair of them have got into a groove - they react as they do to each other because that's what they do. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the events here will make them actually look and listen. No-one can make them - they can appear polite on the surface, but I expect the tension is still winding Celumil up. I'm only a page into the next chapter, so I know where I hope it will be going, but I have to say it all sometimes takes on a life of its own and insists on doing something a bit different. But fingers crossed the next chapter won't be long! After all, I wouldn't want the Wood elf to bleed to death. Elerrina wouldn't be pleased!

Gwynhyffar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
What a great start, Bodkin. I feel sorry for Taryatur - for probably the first time. He's been through a lot and has done everything in his power to forget it and now it's all haunting him again. Legolas is trying and I'll give him credit there. I suspect his efforts will not go unpunished, though. Author Reply: Taryatur started his fictional existence as someone designed to be infuriating - but I find that I have developed a great deal of sympathy for him. He is haunted by the past - and isn't helped, I think, by determinedly keeping it all inside him. Legolas is trying - but I think he could give it more if he weren't so fed up with Taryatur and his attitude. We'll have to see what comes of it all - I haven't written through to the end yet, so it still might change direction!

Lianna	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Is it worse to have grown up and spent your adulthood either at war or under the threat of war, like Legolas, or to have grown up in peace and then seen it shattered, like Taryatur? It's hard to say. On the other hand, it's very easy to say how we all feel about Legolas presumably being pinned under that tree. Get him out of there! Please. Preferably mostly intact. Author Reply: I think both are hard, really. Taryatur's experience was probably more of a shock to the system, though. He grew up in Aman in the days of the Trees - and then it was ripped apart by death and a kinslaying - and then he sailed east to see a truly horrific war. One with dragons and monsters. I think adapting to peace might have been harder for Legolas - and these two determinedly refuse to understand each other. Legolas under a tree? You think that's not good? It could, I suppose, turn out to be a good thing in the long run. Mostly intact? I'll see what I can do!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/3/2006
Oh man, family tension. Is there anything worse? I have to say I felt bad about Surion, whom we last saw as a sweet elfling picking flowers and playing ball. His parents are wise to get him away. short of losing his atar-in-law permanently, finding him before he came to any harm would definitely be the best thing. That made me laugh! Legolas is certainly in snarky mood. I was interested that Thranduil still feels free to lecture him in a way few human parents would feel free to lecture their adult son. I suppose that organization into Houses make a big difference. Happy birthday, Bodkin! Author Reply: Surion was a really sweet kid - a bit over-guarded, perhaps, since his mother is still panicking about the almost-drowning incident! But he's fighting to loosen the ties a bit now - he is, after all, Almost Grown Up - and doesn't see why his family like to chase anxiously behind him and keep an eye on his friends. But he is still sweet as a nut underneath his teenage exterior. And visiting the forest and his younger cousins will probably give him something else to think about. Legolas is simply fed up with always being in the wrong. Thranduil - well, parents still like to advise their adult children. Good thing that under his currently grumpy exterior, he's still a sweet kid too! In fact, he and Surion have a lot in common! Thank you, daw! It has been a very restful birthday so far - with some time to play at important things like writing and reviewing and fun stuff like that. Only now I have to go and cook. Boo!

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