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| Of Rowan and Ruin by Thundera Tiger | 21 Review(s) |
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| utfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/13/2008 |
| Made me cry this morning. This is a beautiful look at true friendship. The story in no way needs this, but perhaps a brief epilogue from Valinor under a rowan tree where they argue that they knew the sailing would be approved. Please nothing about Gimli's eventual death -those are too hard to read whereas this story ends in hope. Of course we know ALL are joined together again in the end days. Author Reply: Thank you so much for your review! I'm glad it was able to prompt an emotional response. I take that as a huge compliment. Regarding a possible epilogue...well, part of the reason I ended it where I did was because I wanted to leave open the possibility that Legolas and Gimli did indeed sail to ruin. Tolkien doesn't tell us if they actually made it over the Sea. He only tells us that they sailed. So I'd rather leave that possibility open, because in my mind, it isn't a certainty. It's a risk that they both agree to take. But that's just me. Interesting idea, though, and if you really believe that they make it, it would certainly be an appropriate end. Thanks again! | |
| Raksha The Demon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2008 |
| Oh my. This has to be one of the best Legolas/Gimli stories I have ever seen, and one of the best by Thundera Tiger as well (which is saying a lot). Neither character is a favorite of mine, but this story is so powerful that it riveted me to the page, to the lives of the tree and the elf and the dwarf. (and I was pleased to see mention of the friendship between Legolas and Faramir; which is a natural consequence of their common interests and commitment to Ithilien) The gradual dwindling of Elves and Dwarves while Legolas and Gimli themselves grow more devoted to each other, is sad and rather beautiful at the same time. The anguish of watching one's mortal friends slip away into death - the hobbits, Eomer, Faramir and finally Aragorn, is heartbreakingly real. Remarkably well done! Author Reply: Wow. I'm floored! Thank you so much, Raksha! That's a really complimentary review. I'm so glad you were able to get into two characters that weren't exactly your favorites. Pardon me while I try to deflate my ego! Anyway, I'm thrilled you liked it, and I'm relieved you liked the friendships that weren't in the spotlight as much. I personally think Faramir and Legolas would have formed a close working relationship at the very least. And I'm glad you liked the dwindling of both races. I wasn't sure I could pull that off in short snippets told over time, so I was grateful to hear your in put on it. Thanks again! | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2008 |
| It is hard for me to put into to words how I feel about this story,I haven't found too many that can portray these two as well as you can, this piece of work was absolutely beautiful from beginning to end and so painfull I could cry. Hugs The Imp Author Reply: Thank you so much for this review. That's quite the compliment! Sorry about the tears, but I'm also taking that as a compliment, too. :) I'm glad this story was involving enough to get an emotional response. Thank you again! | |
| Kara's Aunty | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2008 |
| Hello Thundera Tiger, this is a truly beautiful story. The relationship between Dwarf and Elf over the course of their time in Middle Earth was movingly portrayed. I found that I did not want to get to the next set of italicised script because it meant a further jump forward in years and less time with them both. Your use of the rowan tree as a symbol of not only Gimli and Legolas' friendship, but its own birth, growth and death reflected well the increasingly estranged relationship between Gimli and his kin and demonstrated how this impacted on their friendship; finally leading to the inevitable conclusion to journey across the Sea together and see what Fate awaited them together. A very poignant story - but then, you always write these two extremely well. M. Author Reply: Thank you so much for the review! I'm glad you liked it, and I'm glad you felt the little subsections were interesting. Writing short things is not my strong point, so I was a little worried about whether or not I would do any of them justice. :) And I'm glad you liked the rowan tree. That was a bit of an experiment for me, so it's good to hear that it seems to have worked. Thank you so much again! | |
| Elena Tiriel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2008 |
| Ah, what a lovely tale of friendship over time, Thundera. The changes in their relationships with their own people were especially thought-provoking. And I loved the rowan tree - Gimli didn't have any idea what to do with it at first, but then came to truly appreciate it. The story left me with tears in my eyes. Very nicely done! - Barbara Author Reply: Thank you so much for the review, Barbara! I'm glad you liked the story, and I'm even more excited that you liked the rowan tree. That was something I wasn't too certain of when writing and editing. Yes, Gimli did come to value the silly tree eventually, something that could be said of many other things in Gimli's life. And Legolas's life, too. Thank you again for the review! | |
| Naledi | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2008 |
| Oh this was just beautiful - it actually moved me to tears in places. I loved how you chart the progression of Legolas and Gimli's friendship and I think the Rowan is the best tree to symbolise it, as a tree that thrives in the unlikeliest of places. This is definitely a tale that I'll be reading more than once. Author Reply: Thank you for the review, Naledi! Sorry for the tears, but I'm actually glad this story prompted an emotional response. That's quite the compliment! And I'm glad you felt that there was a progression for the friendship between Legolas and Gimli. Given that this story takes place over such a long period of time, I worried about whether or not I was putting enough growth or change into the characters, so it's good to hear that there was at least enough for you to notice. :) Thanks again! | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/12/2008 |
| Oh, how wonderful this is, Thundera Tiger. Together they will face the fates, and find the peace--or doom--offered them. And the little rowan tree has been a constant of this, mirroring the changes in their lives and the fates of their people throughout all. Marvelous story! I thank you for it from the bottom of my heart. Author Reply: Many thanks for the review, Larner! I'm glad you caught many of the layers of symbolism in the rowan tree. I wasn't sure if the tree would help or hurt the story, so it was very good to hear your opinion on that! And kudos for catching the fact that their fate was left open at the end. I didn't want to resolve too much, because even in canon, we're not entirely sure that they made it. Anyway, thank you so much again for the review! | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2008 |
| Oh my word! This is probably one of the most beautiful things I've ever read of Legolas and Gimli. So much, so very much you show of what they shared together over the decades, all of the things you do not tell are as clear as the things you do. I love the symbolism of the rowan tree--and the rowan was very significant in LotR--I think of Quickbeam's mournful song. And the wind, the wind that was "crisp" even when it did not blow. Such a friendship, so enduring. Thank you for sharing this with us. Author Reply: Thank you ever so much, Dreamflower! I'm so grateful that you felt the friendship was clear and that their experiences together were also clear, even though we were jumping huge spans of time during the course of the story. That was something that made me a little nervous, and your words came as a relief. I'm glad you liked the symbolism of the rowan, too. I borrowed a little bit of the symbolism from old English folklore and the rest from LotR, so I'm glad you felt it worked. It was one of the ideas that sparked the fic in the first place. Thank you again! I always value your reviews! | |
| Celeritas | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2008 |
| Valar, this was good. Death, deathlessness, detachment and reaction to the passage of time, and above all friendship, touched on with stark clarity. The increasing unease felt by both Legolas and Gimli as they found themselves the last relics of a dead age was simply beautiful, if such a thing can ever be said of unease. Don't be surprised if you get some reviews for your other stuff from me. I'm going to have to check it out. Author Reply: Thank you so much for such a complimentary review. I'm glad you felt that the friendship's progression worked, and that the characters grew or changed in at least some respect. I was a little worried about that, to be honest. Over a century is a long time to be friends. Fortunately, I can cheat a little since it's an Elf and a Dwarf and neither is going to change the same way a Man or a Hobbit would, but even so, cheating can only take you so far. As a result, it made my day to hear you list off some of the things I'd been trying to portray. Thank you again! | |
| shirebound | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/11/2008 |
| I have learned the power of your grief. I have learned that every time a loved one dies, a part of you dies with them. What a perceptive and honest thing to say. You've written the strength of their bond and friendship beautifully. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Shirebound! I'm glad you liked the story, and I'm glad you liked the honesty in that phrase. I figure that after so long, Gimli is going to be frank and upfront with his friend once he reaches the end of his rope. Thanks again! | |