Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Bridges by Bodkin	71 Review(s)
Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/31/2006
What a horrible burden Tar is carrying! I'm glad he and Legolas have come to realise how much they really are alike. Now if Tar will just let the rest of hte family help him to cope, perhaps he will finally heal. I like the forrestor, he is really annoying to those who care amore about their families than they do about half dead trees. Nicely done! Glad the rescue has begun! Can't wait for more! Author Reply: They are alike in some ways - recognising that is probably shock enough for the pair of them! I can't see Taryatur talking to his family about his experiences - he really doesn't want them to know the evil that sentient beings can do to each other - but he might well be able to share more with Legolas. Especially if Legolas will talk to him of some of his less glorious memories. The forest has been really upset by the intensity of this storm - I suppose I can understand a forester who is more concerned with settling his trees than with the people among them! I like to think that some of the elm's roots are still in the ground and that it might sprout again - and that he will ensure that the tree is damaged as little as possible in retrieving the elves! Thank you, Ellie. More is coming along!

SurgicalSteel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/30/2006
Interesting to see Taryatur and Legolas moving toward a rapprochement slowly. I look forward to seeing how you wrap this up! Author Reply: They have increased their understanding of each other - and can recognise some of the things they have in common. I don't think matters will become perfect between them, but I suspect they will find it easier to take a deep breath and tolerate! They have to get out yet - that would be a good start!

SurgicalSteel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 8/30/2006
Good to see the two coming to a bit of and understanding, and I'm continuing on to see what happens next! Author Reply: They needed to listen to each other, I think. This incident is unlikely to be a cure-all, but recognising the things they have in common will help. And then it will take patience and good-will to erode the barriers between them.

SurgicalSteel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 8/30/2006
Still catching up on reading after the summer - this is a great start, it seems that Taryatur's more uncomfortable with his own memories than with the idea of talking to the children about certain concepts, and that he's seen plenty of horrors of his own. Author Reply: Taryatur has never really come to terms with his experiences in the War of Wrath. He went as an innocent, I think, and then returned to the Blessed Realm and didn't want those round him to understand the full horror. He suppressed it all - and it has haunted him ever since. Perhaps he almost envies Legolas the understanding of those round him. (I do think he confuses ignorance and innocence. Easy to do.)

Armariel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/29/2006
Ah, relief, they are out. I was starting to feel a bit claustrophobic (sp?)! Nice that they are reconciled to each other, and have learned so much about each other and reached some understanding. I love stories of reconciliation! Author Reply: Definitely claustrophobic - not a very big cavern at all, really. And distressingly full of water. I think they have made a huge step towards understanding each other - and recognising that they are both natural protectors with a lot of experience in common. It'll take a while to get them above ground though - that is a heavy tree blocking the only entrance. But the worst is over ... probably!

thechevin	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/29/2006
Well I for one am glad this will be going to a fourth chapter. You could feel the change in Taryatur as he began to worry over Legolas and his own inability to change the situation they were in, and his relief at being able to at least help fight the infection, even if it did taste 'vile'. I think the Noldo found a certain amount of satisfaction in that and in being able to compare his daughters husband's reactions to those of his son. The plants certainly seemed to be doing their best to attract his attention and help him. Linevendë and Laerwen's own conversation was so very sad, and the realisation that she would never be a 'proper' naneth to her son must have come very hard to Laerwen, what a sad situation to be in. Rising water levels that was something our unlikely pair could have done without yet once again we see the change in their relationship, the desire to protect and the accepatance of that help without resentment Their conversation on war and its effect was chilling as was Taryatur's confession about his father and brother, what a thing to carry all these ages, he certainly needs someone to talk to who understands Yet once again the change in their relationship came through when rather than tell Legolas his own feelings about Orephor something he would have delighted in earlier he protected his son-in-law's feelings The forester certainly comes under the heading of crusty old elf, good job his helper was paying more attention to other things and finally Legolas doing his best to avoid having to tell Ada he is injured again, finds that Taryatur has turned traitor and tells Thranduil the truth Great story wonderfully told thank you Author Reply: Thank you! Although chapter 4 is only partly done as yet! I think Taryatur needed to feel that Legolas needed his help - and protecting his son-in-law will change his attitude. And he is beginning to recognise a sort of relief of pressure in knowing that Legolas understands the things he cannot talk about. They don't need to talk much about war - they both know. Laerwen was so thrilled to see Legolas, I reckon it's taken some time - and Celumil's arrival - to make her realise that you can't be Nana in the same way to a child whose growing up you missed. There are too many missing experiences. They can be friends and love each other - but she'll never be the one who sat with him through his bad dreams or dealt with his recovery from injury. She never let down the hems of his tunics as he grew or helped him with his schoolwork. I'm just hoping the tree gets moved out of the way before the water starts up that chimney! That could cause a few more problems. And Taryatur had to let Thranduil know Legolas had been hurt - it's the parents' mafia! I think their relationship has changed. Cautiously, no doubt. But they have a better understanding of each other and they've let go of some long-held stereotypes. I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/29/2006
The longer they are trapped in this wet hole, the better they seem to get along. I am still sorry for Legolas being hurt, but otherwise it seems to do their relationship some good. It is nice to have them talking pretty normal for a change. ‘Oh, Taryatur!’ Legolas swallowed. ‘That knowledge is too great a burden for anyone to bear alone.’ That is only too true, and I am very glad Taryatur is finally able to open up enough to talk to someone. Considering Legolas’ background, living under the Shadow in Mirkwood for so long, he is certainly the better choice than Linevende or Elerrina, as he knows very well about what Taryatur is talking. Understanding is more important than pity or the like, I think. And I am now truly sorry for Taryatur, too, for losing his father and, even worse, his brother in this way. It is a very traumatic memory, no doubt, and explains a lot. Maybe he can let go some of this grief and trauma now through talking about it with Legolas. Well, finally the rescue is on the way! About time, really. Thranduil seems to know his son pretty well if he deduces from „I could really do with a bath“ that Legolas is injured grin And I am absolutely sure he will not allow the foresters to discuss the matter until tomorrow night before doing anything as Taryatur expected. They would have to face a quite angry Elven King long before tomorrow. Obviously it is not so easy for Laerwen to accept that she wasn’t able to raise her son herself and only saw him again so many centuries later, and Celumil’s birth showed her the difference quite clear. I hope in time she will feel her relationship with Legolas has improved. They have a long time to getting to know each other better, after all. Author Reply: They had got into the habit of not thinking much of each other - and I think they needed to be jolted into hearing what the other had to say. Legolas is essentially very kind - it wouldn't take many of Taryatur's little revelations to change his attitude. And for Taryatur - I think becoming the protector would do a lot to help him. In fact, Taryatur might well realise that Legolas can understand him without his having to say very much - they share a lot of experience, even if the whole of the Second Age comes between them. Taryatur was traumatised by his experience - and then went home to a group of people who had no real concept of war and suppressed all his memories. It will help him to realise that he doesn't need to talk to Legolas - he understands anyway. A word or two, a look - they know what it means. And the rescue is just taking a bit longer than I meant it to! That tree isn't going to be easy to move! Even though Legolas 'needs a bath'... he wouldn't say he was not hurt - that wouldn't have been true! Thranduil might have to control his impatience a bit - better to do this safely. I think Laerwen has quite a good relationship with Legolas - he was delighted to have her back and she was thrilled to be back with him - but she has come to realise that she is not really his nana. She wasn't there for all those crucial growing pains, she didn't comfort him when he was hurt or miserable - she knew him as a small child and then skipped to an adult married retired warrior with two kids. And nothing - not even elven immortality - will give her back Legolas's childhood. (Celebrian had that - she missed out on the twins' adult years. I think that is probably easier to fill in. Probably.)

Agape4Gondor	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/28/2006
Excellent chapter - as always. You do not disappoint, fair writer. I have a habit of reading too fast when things get tense... I had to read the las part over twice... once I found there was hope! Thanks for the tense moments and for the fun of reading this! Author Reply: Thank you! I'm glad you found it tense - it's difficult to tell sometimes when the writing is coming slowly. They are not out of the woods (or water-filled cavern) yet, but help has arrived and it shouldn't be too long. Probably. Barring accidents ... (Just to increase the tension of waiting!!)

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/28/2006
I am so far behind on reading...writing...everything, but I have spent all evening reading this. It's wonderful. I love how you've characterized Taryatur. You've made him real and layered and... who knew? the elf has a sense of humor. This is a terribly...or wonderfully, exciting tale. I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed it. And I needed it. Thanks. Author Reply: I have become fond of Taryatur - he has spent a long long time holding down the lid on some hideous experiences and letting them fester - and, if he can share them with his s-in-l, it will be good for both of them. They do actually have quite a bit in common - but Legolas deals better with what he has seen and done because, in his home, it was a shared battle - while Taryatur came from and returned to a world with little comprehension of what he had seen. And he does have a sense of humour! He just hasn't been willing to share it with the Wood elf. I'm glad you're enjoying it. Thanks, Karen.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/28/2006
Excellent--the healing between them comes rapidly. It's about time! And they've been located, which is a good thing. Too bad it took this to get the communication going at last, though--but that's how too many of us are, after all. Author Reply: I doubt they will be bosom buddies - not yet, anyway - but they have opened some channels of understanding between them. They have a better grasp of their shared experiences and their desire to care for those they love. They needed to be jolted off the rails they were following, I think. Each of them had developed stereotypes for the other - and they weren't keen to let them go. The problem now will be keeping the channels open for long enough for them to become set!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List