Reviews (13)

Levade · 20 December 2005 · Chapter 0

SO many details. The details of Laketown, the Dwarven home and culture, especially the Dwarven Opera are lovely. I could see the caves and wish I could taste the food! Details are definitely a strength you excell at, Soledad, but you weave them around a beautiful tale too. I love Gimli and Legolas' friendship and Gimli not telling him why he was needed there was such a Gimli touch! Will you write any more in this line? I hope so -- there aren't enough tales of Gimli like this.

Ithilien · 13 April 2005 · Chapter 0

Oh, Soledad, pardon my late-coming to this story. I just blundered upon it and was completely taken. What a unique look into the world of dwarves! Fabulous! And...Gimli married? I had no idea! This is another very fresh approach to the characterization of my favorite dwarf. So many little details I loved in this story. For example, the close tie between dwarven words and words that I might be able to interpret had me smiling. And I loved the creation play that Legolas was witness to. It was rather appropriate that it was tied to that race's birth when our Western world ties the same date to the birth of Christianity. I loved the marriage vows and for dwarves how they are tied to the earth. I loved how moved Legolas was by the music and play. This sort of describes how others descibe the grandeur of elven works, and I enjoyed seeing the reversal of roles. I loved learning that dwarves breed large families (contrary to what is said of them), and that dwarf women do NOT have beards! And most of all, I loved the descriptions of the caves. They are much lovelier than I had imagined them to be, and now I have this new vision of dwarven life that has sparked a myriad of plot bunnies for me. Thank you for this lovely tale, Soledad. It is a wonderful piece in your collection.

docmon · 15 January 2005 · Chapter 0

this was quite wonderful! i loved seeing legolas learn to negotiate dwarven culture. and his reaction to learning there was to be a wedding was priceless! As was birna's reaction to meeting legolas. "But you are a lot less ugly than I thought." LOL! You captured the characters wonderfully; they felt quite true to the original. The ceremony felt decidedly dwarvish; good choice on inspiration. In fact, i felt all the details were rather inspired and imaginative: moving walls! great creative touches like that made the story feel real. great job. monica

Bodkin · 27 December 2004 · Chapter 0

I just loved this - the look at the culture of the Dwarves was fantastic. I enjoyed the Narvi / Celebrimbor sidelight and the meeting with Gimli's parents and the celebration itself was so well done! I shall definitely be looking for more.

Ryan · 26 December 2004 · Chapter 0

Great story, I hope it wins a Mithril award. I've been waiting for dwarvish stories for a long time, the few I can find are usually based more on D&D than the original mythology. I couldn't find the Mazarbul Chronicles anywhere, is this the first of the series? It's probably worth pointing out that the black speech was also based on Valarin... but I wouldn't want to be the one to tell the dwarves that.

Silja · 25 December 2004 · Chapter 0

Ok ;) That was Icelandic, I was just asking if you were an Icelander because you used so many Icelandic names in your story for the female dwarfes, f.ex. Vigdís, Dís and Birna, (these are all very common names in my country and I know a lot of girls that have them)...also you used icelandic letters like ó in Glóin and stuff like that.... I am very curious to know where you got the names? Did you perhaps know that Tolkien used many names from ancient Icelandic poems in his stories f.ex Gimli, Thorinn, Gandalf ...and therefor you decided to do the same thing?? I was just so surprised at first when I saw all the Icelandic names in your story but than just figured that you must be an Icelander... Anyway please do tell me about it;) Oh and Merry Christmas!!

Nilmandra · 25 December 2004 · Chapter 0

Soledad, this is a rich and wonderful look at Dwarven culture, an important day in their lives and so well told through the eyes of an outsider. I like how well they accept the elf, especially how gruffly they do it. The traditions are well done - I don't know how long this took to you write, but there is just an amazing amount of depth to this. Thanks for posting it here!

Silja · 24 December 2004 · Chapter 0

A fantastic story, there aren't many good ones out there about Gimli but now I found on....oh and also: Ertu kannski íslensk? Hélt það kannski því þú notar svo mikið af íslenskum nöfnum og líka stafina okkar í sögunni....jæja annars já frábær saga;) ;)

Karri · 24 December 2004 · Chapter 0

A wonderful cultural encounter between dwarves and elves. I enjoyed it immensely! Thank you for this delightful Yuletide treat. :-D

Elfique · 24 December 2004 · Chapter 0

really lovely little ficlet :D nice one!!

daw the minstrel · 24 December 2004 · Chapter 0

You hooked me with the first sentence, Soledad. I was already inside Legolas's head and looking forward to the visit. I also really liked the idea that he was there when Smaug came. That had never occurred to me as a possibility. Do you mind if I borrow that idea some time? There's some really nice phrasing in that intro section too: "the looks of naked admiration upon the faces turnings toward him as instinctively as flowers turned to Anor’s radiance" I laughed at Gimli's mother announcing that Legolas would not embarrass him. That's nice to know! "face of the old Dwarf was brown and crumpled like a dried apple"--another great line I've always thought that the story of the creation of the Dwarves was heartbreaking when Aule thinks they're going to be destroyed and they cower. But I never thought of how Dwarves must talk about that moment.

Brenda G. · 24 December 2004 · Chapter 0

This was so wonderful! I was as intrigued as Legolas to learn so much about Dwarves in such a short time. The wedding ceremony was very moving, and I love the story of the Dwarves' making and maker. I have never taken the time to research such before, so this information was all so fresh and interesting to learn about. Dwarves are a lively bunch! Dwarven ale is that strong, is it? Well, Legolas, beware! In his tispsy state, he may well trod upon a few Dwarven feet his attempt to maintain the Elvish tradition of dance. This is excellent, refreshing, memorable, first-class storytelling. A delightful way to help celebrate our own Yule. Well done!

TithenFeredir · 24 December 2004 · Chapter 0

This was a lovely story, well written with lots of interesting detail. I really enjoyed poor Legolas' slight confusion as the dwarven ale took effect. TF