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A Perilous Journey to Lorien  by LadyJaina 41 Review(s)
JanvpalsReviewed Chapter: 10 on 5/17/2022
I'm going to list out the things I loved from this chapter.
1) Aragorn swearing. I just loved it for some reason, though I think he would not swear out of anything save desperation (and you did just that!).
2) Merry standing up for himself and for Gimli. Like the fellowship has become so close now! I love reading about how the fellowship has become like a family.
3) Healer!Aragorn. Please. Please this is SO CUTE OMG im cryinggg
4) Aragorn crying while healing Legolas. Like OH MY GODS the feels. The sheer FEELS.
5) Your names of the elves! I loved them too aha. I just love all the elvish names. And your incorporation of sindarin again!

Author Reply: I should preface this reply by saying that chapter 10 is my absolute favorite! I wrote the entire story with it in mind.

1) Yesssss. The swearing! I don’t generally see Aragorn as a swearer, but it just fit! I literally couldn’t think of anything else he’d realistically say!

2) I love Merry. He’s so fun to write!

3) See original reply lol.

4) YES! So glad I captured some feels.

5) I did do a smidge of research into Elven names. I don’t remember if I included it, but Foendil means “long sighted one” and Turon “master or victory”. Ain, who isn’t named until later is “same or identical” with the thought that she might have been an unexpected twin.

JanvpalsReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/17/2022
I love the sindarin parts! I really admire the way yall learn sindarin and add it to your fics. it's so fun to read!
also including the lines merry said at the beginning of fotr here was so apt aha, i loved itt
and the gollum twist was THE best!!!
i'm enjoying this fic so much <3

Author Reply: I’m so glad all that hard work researching Sindarin paid off and that you’re enjoying it! The minute I reread those lines of hobbity scheming at the beginning of FOTR, I knew they belonged here! And Gollum! I was like, hmmmmm, what might he have done if Frodo hadn’t been surrounded by the others and the galadhrim as in the original book!

JanvpalsReviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/17/2022
first of all, PLEASE don't kill Legolas. (ik you've written further chapters, i'm hoping Legolas stays alive during ALL of them. please.) I loooove healer!Aragorn, and I love the way you've integrated the lines from the book into your fic. Going to read the next chapter rn!

Author Reply: So glad you’re enjoying! The very first LOTR fic I remember reading was Healer!Aragorn, and I was instantly hooked. (Avalanche by Shirebound).

periannoreReviewed Chapter: 7 on 5/13/2022
By the too low number of reviews for this story I've concluded that A Perilous Journey to Lorien is one of the most overlooked treasures in LOTR fandom. Since Starting your story yesterday I've been single-mindedly rereading the chapters and thinking about them. I'm through chapter nine and holding while I try to do chapter seven some justice with this review.
Shows how much I don't know: the messengers of Elrond passed by Lórien on their way home up the Dimrill Stair. Great Tolkien research by you and now I have to get busy and track down the stairs I forgot were in LOTR.
As I'm Frodocentric I appreciate that in the midst of what seems to be a hopeless battle you managed to insert a glowing tribute to Frodo: Typical Frodo, loyal and far too humble to realize his own importance, of course he and Merry couldn't hide. It was a thing of honor—and Frodo was the reason they were all here. We can see Pippin's idealism, one of the admirable qualities of youth.
Where weaker characters would accept as fate that because of their size they couldn't make a difference in this battle, Merry and Pippin, so close they can finish each other's sentences, hatch a plan with few words and Merry says, "We can't win. Not here, but we're not going to stand here and wait for them to cut us down."
As we know from the orc encounter on the anduin Merry and Pippin are willing to risk their lives to deflect the enemy's attention from Frodo by making targets of themselves. To give himself a shot of courage Pippin thinks: abandoning one's defenders wasn't the Took way. What a positive thought.
Does Merry convincing Pippin to go through the tunnel gate to the old forest refer to one of your stories or is it a random, pertinent recollection you invented for this saga?
Without belaboring many points of combat that would send the squeamish among us searching for a different story, you inform us about how soldiers fight with succinct statements like: His chance lay in avoidance and careful jabs. Who knew? I skim over fight scenes only caring about who survives at the end. I even do it with Tolkien's but I'm not doing it with yours.
Your wonderfully long chapters deserve more reviewing but I've already gone on too long.
I'm neglecting my volunteer work and Evan's gone to bed without me. Can't help it. That's what happens when we find a long, suspenseful, story full of Middle Earth presence and Fellowship goodness.


Author Reply: Wow, wow, wow! What a lovely review! Thank you for all your kind words. At times, I, too, have been perplexed by the lack of reviews (the story has been crossposted on FF.net and AO3). I'd assumed the LOTR fanfic heyday had passed and that there just weren't as many people interested. I'd also wondered if there was something wrong with my summary--those that have left comments and reviews seemed to have really enjoyed the story, though, and I truly love hearing everyone's thoughts!

It's been a while since I researched for this chapter, but I believe the Dimrill Stair is the way you would take the pass of Caradharas if you were going over the mountains.

Regarding the tunnel gate into the old forest, I'd say it is an embellishment of the actual event. In the Fellowship of the Ring, that is the path the hobbit's take the night they finally leave the Shire. Tolkien doesn't specifically say that Merry talked him into it, but I like to imagine they had many a discussion as they planned their route--Pippin seemed pretty scared of the forest.

Fight scenes are soooo hard to write. I'm not a fan of gore, so it's tricky to paint a vivid picture without saying too much. For me, the angst and inner thoughts surrounding the fight tend to be my focus, otherwise I feel like I'm choreographing a video game LOL.

Thank you so much for reading, and for stopping to share your thoughts! I hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters, too, lots of hobbit-y bravery.

asms2Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/9/2022
Good chapter - that was intense!

Author Reply: This chapter was probably my favorite to write--I'm glad you enjoyed!

asms2Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/4/2022
I can just picture how much pain Legolas is in. The way his mind slips in and out of focus, tugs at my heart. Well written.

Author Reply: Writing pain is so hard! I'm glad to know I wasn't laying it on too thick! :)

asms2Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/4/2022
This is fun to read. Difficult decisions for Aragon to make in terms of who to give attention to and what to do. I can sense how pulled he feels between the not-great options. Nice of Gimli to volunteer to stay behind. I am enjoying reading this.

Author Reply: Thanks so much for reviewing! I'm so glad to hear you are enjoying the story!

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 14 on 11/13/2021
Wow! Within the first sentence you have reminded us how very miserable the conditins are in which our heroes are trying to fight. So we are watching Aragorn this chapter. Then, you quickly slip into his perceptions and thoughts. I suspect that after this battle, his notion of what Merry is capable of will have changed! I very much enjoy your "choreography" of the fighting. And now, we get to see Legolas and Merry deal with their own warg and orc, from Aragorn and Gimli's point of view, in the flashes of lightning and in the brief flashes of attention in between fighting for their own lives! Aragorn's frantic struggle to push orcs aside so that he can get to his friends reminds me of the scene before the Black Gate in P.J.'s ROTK. Aragorn is fighting that troll, as Legolas desperately tries to go to him. Then the mountain exploded, and the fighting was over. Again, similar story threads re-woven into a new tapestry. I liked the detail of Legolas's first trying to speak to tell Aragorn where Merry was, then giving up and just turning his head and looking. Only for Aragorn to still "not get it". I would imagine when they are all at peace again, and telling the story, Legolas will give his friend some grief over his lack of perception! Then, at the end, I got a sense of relief when Merry and Aragorn both are able to overcome their mental shock enough to realize that they can tend to themselves, now. Well done!

Author Reply: I thought I already replied to you--whoops. Apparently, that's what happens when you don't update for six months. Yikes! I so enjoy your reviews and insights!

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 13 on 9/19/2021
A wonderful look at Merry, and through Merry's eyes. Why did he come? Building blocks, laddie! First facing the Black Riders, then the Barrow Wights, Weathertop, Moria... And now, overcoming his fear and facing an overwhelming number of wargs AND their orc riders, you are growing, Master Hobbit! You have been a support in small ways this loooong day and night to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli. And now, you have likely saved Legolas's life from two wargs. That first one falling on him tugged two strands. There is a story around somewhere of Boromir's spirit comforting Pippin as he lay under "His Troll", slipping closer to the realm of the dead from where Boromir watched him. The comment is expressed, likely by Boromir, that "did I not teach you to strike and then step back?" "You did not step back!" Under the circumstance, tho, it happened rather fast. i think Merry really could not have moved any faster! And, laying pinned, now under two wargs, that brought to mind John Rhyss Davies's comments on the warg attack on the way to Helm's Deep. He kills one warg, with a rider on it, which falls on him. Then another creeps up and pokes head above the first, and Gimli is stuck. Aragorn killed the top one, but then just left them there! I love it when threads of great stories weeeeeave together to create a richer tapestry.

And, I enjoyed how comforting sounds of the river stirred comforting memories of home to help Merry find sleep.

Author Reply: Thank you so much! I always look forward to your comments! Yes, Merry is indeed growing up and into the hobbit he will become by the end of the quest.

mystarlightReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/12/2021
Great story!!!

Author Reply: Thank you so much--I'm so glad you are enjoying it!

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