Tell This Mortal by Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 28 June 2004 · Chapter 13: Tell This Mortal
So you're not going to tell us what happened to her. Well, I guess that's right. How could you know?
Author's reply
Well, you are right - Aerlinn / Willofain did not get more than a glimpse herself, before whatever happened to her, happened. Thanks for reading to the end! Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 28 June 2004 · Chapter 12: Dear Stitch and Nath
I was struck by the little detail that Aerlinn comes from a family where the necklace has been passed down for thousands of years from mother to daughter and now she has no daughter. It's time for this to end, evidently. The details about the painting in her room were evocative.
Author's reply
Thanks for picking up on that detail of the mother-daughter necklace; it is exactly right. It was this comment plus the other one about the diamond arrow that inspired me to use another mother-daughter necklace. Instead of a characterless diamond arrow, I have Elsila's gift to Elwen as the treasure in Part 10. I was sitting on a hotel balcony overlooking a beach when I wrote that painting passage. It seemed that the sea and sky were all around me. Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 28 June 2004 · Chapter 10: Morgoth has Made a Maedhros of Me
Horrible story of the deaths and fascinating use of the idea of a fea that does not answer the call of Mandos. There are some nice unrealistic touches here that make this story seem part of epic or magic rather than our mundane world. I'm thinking of the arrow with the diamond tip.
Author's reply
daw, the moment I read your critique of the diamond arrow, I thought, she is right. It was a standard motif that I plucked from my mental collection of motifs, so I wouldn't have to think. I have now replaced the arrow with a treasure that has actual parallels in other parts of the story. Not that I object to the story seeming part of an epic or magic. I suscribe to JRRT's theory in "On Fairy Tales" where he says that fairy tales are not about fairies but rather about the Land of Faerie, and its borders. I usually make a conscious effort to write as if I had visited a magical country, by accident as it were, and then returned to make a report. Even if my stories begin in the mundane world, they often end up back in Faerie. Thank you for the tip regarding the arrow. As always, I appreciate your insights. You are a good reader and writer. Regards - Chathol-linn
Rose Sared · 28 June 2004 · Chapter 11: Pity Thranduil if He Ever Hears the Gulls
ooo, the plot thickens - they are such friends those two, nice to see a touch of it in this ch. Rose
Author's reply
Thanks, Rose Sared. Yes, we need Legolas and Gimli to be ashore tonight. My heart goes out to the ancient Elf and the dying Dwarf. Tolkien's exploration of mortality has fascinated me like nothing else. The poignancy of the Elves, leaving Middle-earth forever - it gets me. Regards - Chathol-linn
fan81981 · 28 June 2004 · Chapter 10: Morgoth has Made a Maedhros of Me
Words fail me - I do not know where to begin or end. This was/is a fantastic tale. Dark, a little bitter but there is still an unreal quality to it. By making Gimli tell it, by making it history instead of the present, you have added a sense of nostalgia which adds to the sorrow instead of diminishes it. Knowing that this happened a long time ago, knowing that there wasn't a more pleasant future - that THranduil still suffers his wife's loss, hurts. Hurts a lot. The hints you drop about Legolas' own tragic love with the mortal girl, his madness/sea-longing almost made me cry. The only thing stopping me is the fact that I am at work. I think I just blew off my co-worker though I cannot be sure because I was so engrossed with the story. I noticed that the sotry is listed as complete - I hope not. I have so many questions and a faint, if unrealistic hope that one day that Thranduil will sail one day. PLEASE tell me it is so. PLEASE. Or at least update soon.
Author's reply
Hey, fan81981! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment. I share your hopes for Thranduil and believe that the final parts (which I have posted) will respond to your questions. I am blown away by your terrific review. Regards - Chathol-linn
Rose Sared · 28 June 2004 · Chapter 10: Morgoth has Made a Maedhros of Me
Sorry to be several chapters behind but it read so well! I am enjoying this dark tale and it indeed answers some thorny canon q's. Looking forwad to the rest. Rose
daw the minstrel · 27 June 2004 · Chapter 9: To Weep, in a Mannish Tongue
I think I've read this tale of the girl watching Legolas practice the knife in one of your other stories, but I'm making no connection with the name Willofain. I like grumpy Gimli, btw.
Author's reply
daw, it is great to get feedback like this. Many thanks. You are right on, as usual. I have used the scene before of a Mortal girl watching Legolas practice with knives. I'm thinking it is okay to recycle parts of stories and ideas, as long as one makes an improvement in the process. At least, many of my favorite writers do it. As for Gimli, maybe someone else can figure out how to work in 'Sneezy,' 'Dopey,' "Bashful,' 'Doc,' 'Happy,' and 'Sleepy.' Best regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 27 June 2004 · Chapter 8: Talk about Your Fool in Love
You have me captivated with this story within the story, Chathol-Linn. I can't wait to find out what happened. In the meantime, I must say how much I enjoyed the little glimpse of Thranduil in love.
Author's reply
Hello, daw. The story ends with Legolas sailing west, but I guess that is no secret. Thanks for continuing to read! As for Thranduil, I enjoyed him too. Eveybody loves a lover! Best regards - Chathol-linn
Rose Sared · 23 June 2004 · Chapter 7: Full Fathom Five
hmmm interesting. Dark pasts and hints of dark futures. I think this should be called Tangled Web instead of daw's! Still very much enjoying your vision. Rose
Author's reply
Hi, Rose Sared. Naw, this is just a sea story. daw's Tangled Web is a terrific weave. I'm so glad that you like the dark hints. It's great to hear your comments. Regards - Chathol-linn
Timon · 22 June 2004 · Chapter 7: Full Fathom Five
Please, please, please tell me that you are going to follow up this story with another detailing the tale of Legolas in his youth and the mortal girl of sixteen once known to him (once loved by him??)! Will the bitter outweigh the sweet,I wonder? Oh, be still, my heart - the agony of having to wait will be unbearable at best. At worst, I may not survive... TELL THIS MORTAL is as good a writing as I have seen in all my years (which are considerable). You certainly have a talent for telling a tale and making it believable, making your reader gasp and grasp (in not so quiet desperation) for more, more, more! Thanks for this rich, rich indulgence. Please post again soon. In the meantime, I will be watching, waiting, hoping, dying... Timon
Author's reply
Timon, what a great review. I will treasure it always. Whoof. It so happens I know a good bit about that Mortal girl - who she is, where she came from, what she is doing in that forest with Legolas. Thank you so much for the encouragement. Regards - Chathol-linn
Lamiel · 22 June 2004 · Chapter 7: Full Fathom Five
Oh my. Now things are getting interesting. Well, that's the wrong word - this story has gripped me from the beginning, and seeing Legolas' pain and Gimli's fear through the narrator's eyes is fascinating. But what a tantalizing description of the Elven Path of Dreams... that wasn't just a dream, that was a mind meld. To use a phrase. Fascinating. Legolas' reaction to the song is wonderful - I never saw that coming. He must be so close to the edge, to lose control like that. Of course he's just seen Aragorn die, and he knows that Gimli's time is coming soon, plus he's on the final edge of waiting before setting sail at last. Bad time to be stirring up painful memories. There are so many hints and snippets of complex issues here, and I am eagerly awaiting their exploration. Including that girl in Legolas' youth, I guess... no Legomance, right? Right.
Author's reply
Hi, Lamiel! I've been fascinated with Elvish dreams ever since I first read Tolkien's little snippet about Legolas in The Two Towers. Your take on his mental state is just right, by the way. Thank you for reading and giving me your thoughts. Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 22 June 2004 · Chapter 7: Full Fathom Five
I have to say that startled me almost as much as it did Aerlinn. I look forward to hearing the explanation.
Author's reply
Wow, I am tickled that Legolas did something readers did not anticpate. Of course, from my point of view it was as predictable as tides. I'm humbly grateful that you are continuing to read this. Thanks, daw. Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 22 June 2004 · Chapter 6: How Legolas Gained His Ship Craft
"That does not explain as much as you might think,” I said. I find that's true of other people's explanations far more than I would like. That's a very interesting portrayal of the dream path. I've read some of your stories about this before. It's a wonderfully elfy thing to speculate about.
Author's reply
Thanks, daw, for your comment and your continued interest. JRRT left us only a scrap to go on in The Two Towers - that offhand remark about "the strange path of elvish dreams." Could never get that out of my mind. Regards - Chathol-linn
Lamiel · 20 June 2004 · Chapter 5: The Torment of Unmet Needs
The description of Legolas' conflict, the need to sail over sea coupled with the desire to stay in Middle-earth, is very vivid and beautifully done. And I just loved the description when the narrator first saw him, "For a moment I thought he was limned in pale light, but lighting is uncertain just before a storm." Nice. The giving of the description, hesitantly, taking it back again. Very nice. I'm not sure why the close call with the lightning bolt was necessary - maybe a warning from the Valar not to give in to those fangirlish urges? But I like the image of this beautiful Elf. "A tall, slender youth of about 20 or so, with three-thousand-year-old eyes." Yes, I like it very much.
Author's reply
Hi, Lamiel. Ha, ha! The warning to fangurls may very well be one of the functions of the lightning bolt. Whether or no, I' keep it in mind! Many thanks for your comments. Regards - Chathol-linn
Rose Sared · 19 June 2004 · Chapter 5: The Torment of Unmet Needs
Your writing is so powerful! I love it. What a feeling of bitter menace you manage to get into your scenes of beauty, hah, I want to yell don't go to your sailmaker, but would I deny her her experience of Legolas. No. Just yummy, Rose
Author's reply
How encouraged I feel when I read your remarks! This was the kind of response in readers that I hoped I would achieve. Thank you for letting me know. Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 19 June 2004 · Chapter 5: The Torment of Unmet Needs
This seems to me to be a plausible description of sea longing. It's like an addiction. How tragic. Galadriel was right. He's never going to be able to walk beneath the trees of ME in contentment again. And yet, he's tied there. It's his home. He's like a displaced person no matter where he goes.
Author's reply
"Addiction" was exactly the condition I imagined for Legolas. In fact this story originally was going to be an exploration of addiction: Aerlinn for wine and Legolas for the sea. Thanks, daw!Regards - Chathol-linn
Lamiel · 15 June 2004 · Chapter 4: Make No Jest about It
This continues to impress. I do like Gimli's warning not to trouble Legolas further, and the consequences of such a foolish action. "Once a fearsome warrior..." ha. He's still more than strong enough to take you on, missy. I'm looking forward to more.
Author's reply
Way to go, Lamiel! We have a common understanding of the character of a Dwarf. I love hearing your comments. The story is just about halfway done, in terms of both word count and chapters. Thanks again. Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 15 June 2004 · Chapter 4: Make No Jest about It
This is utterly wonderful. Your sail-maker is so alive in her mix of confusion and self-possession. Gimli's threat introduces Legolas's "trouble" with just the right tone, and I loved the fact that she remembered who "Gimli" was just in the nick of time.
Author's reply
daw, your sense of story telling and characterization never fails to amaze me. I hope everyone has read your shortie "Watch This!" for a good illustration of those traits. Best regards - Chathol-linn
Rose Sared · 15 June 2004 · Chapter 4: Make No Jest about It
Oh, how did I miss this wonderful tale? I am enjoying the unravelling- such a bitter sweet tone, It's great. More, soon, often, she demands greedily! Well done. Rose
Author's reply
Rose Sared, I am so pleased that you like the story. How right you are about a bittersweet tone as the most famous Elf of the Third Age says farewell. It is definitely how I feel. Regards - Chathol-linn
Lamiel · 14 June 2004 · Chapter 3: Gwael Reviad - The Sail Maker’s Shop
This is charming, and very entertaining. The narrator's voice is clear and very distinctive - great fun to read. It's a little hard to imagine Gimli so old and skinny, and a little sad. I'm trusting you on this one - I don't think it'll turn into a legomance, so I'll look forward to your next chapter with great anticipation.
Author's reply
Hello, Lamiel. Thanks for your kind remarks and your trust! It's important for writers to be faithful to the reader. If you read this story to the end (Legolas does leave, after all) I would love to know how well you think I kept faith. A pleasure to hear from you! Regards, Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 13 June 2004 · Chapter 3: Gwael Reviad - The Sail Maker’s Shop
LOL. She fell right over. Excellent. I guess I would too if someone announced I'd just made something for an elf. Your vocabulary is very ship-y. It's like a foreign language. Did you have to look all this stuff up or are you a boat person? It's amazing how much time it can take to do research that just shows up here and there to give verisimilitude to a story.
Author's reply
Hello,daw. You are right as ususal - the ship-y detail is for verisimiltude. Aerlinn is the boat person, not me. I got much of the details from books: The Sailmaker's Apprentice by Emiliano Marino and The Complete Rigger's Apprentice by Brion Toss (are those great names or what?). Thanks for taking the time to read and comment! Regards - Chathol-linn
daw the minstrel · 13 June 2004 · Chapter 2: Aerlinn and Gimli
I've just been writing about Dwarves and was amused by your citing the "old stories" that dwarves grew fat with age because I'd just been reading about Bombur. I was struck by how soon Men forget other races and they disappear.
Author's reply
It scares me to death how quickly Men forget other races. If Gimli and his folk can vanish, so can Elves. And that breaks my heart. Send me an e-mail on your dwarf writings - I'd enjoy reading them. Regards - Chathol-linn
Nilmandra · 13 June 2004 · Chapter 2: Aerlinn and Gimli
Wonderful description of old Gimli. I can't wait to your description of Legolas next to him. To imagine all of the mortals we loved during the war of the Ring old and gray, or dead, and still the elf lives in timeless beauty. I already like Aerlinn. I like the tales and the lies, and I like that she remembers the old tales.
Author's reply
Hello, Nilmandra, and thank you! I agree - it breaks my heart to think of our friends leaving us and yet Gimli must have been around 262 years old when Aragorn died. Regards - Chathol-linn
Nilmandra · 13 June 2004 · Chapter 1: Sea Fair
You know, Chathol-linn, your writing never ceases to blow me away. You use words and imagery so well - your descriptive writing doesn't tempt me to start skimming. I was *in* that tavern. And now I'm gonna meet Gimli!
Author's reply
Thank you kindly, Nilmandra! I like describing taverns. If I'm not careful, people are going to think I spent my dissolute youth hanging out in bars. Regards - Chathol-linn
Jay of Lasgalen · 13 June 2004 · Chapter 2: Aerlinn and Gimli
Intriguing. I'm enjoying this story very much, and think you've done a great job with Aerlinn. I look forward to more - and equally prompt updates! Jay
Author's reply
It's great to hear from you, Jay, and very heartening that you like Aerlinn. Her story, especially as it impacts Legolas, has been on my mind for a while. Regards - Chathol-linn