Starlight and Moonlight · 9 April 2018 · Chapter 1
This is so sad! Nice job, though! :)
The First Snowfall by Manderly
Reviews (14)
Asms2 · 30 March 2016 · Chapter 1
Totally adorable! I love the way you write young Legolas and his family.
So_Yun · 10 July 2006 · Chapter 1
I am always willing to review any of yours even if it is a year old. You deserve it i hope you keep on writing these beautiful stories about Legolas i think i have fallen in love with your writings and charactors. Well done, Yun
Author's reply
I would love to be able to write more of these stories but I have been totally lacking in inspiration. I am hoping something will pop into my mind soon as I am beginning to miss those characters too.
So_Yun · 7 July 2006 · Chapter 1
That was a very beautiful story, it nearly made me cry but it was wonderfully written. Yun
Author's reply
Thank you for such a nice comment. It always surprises me that somebody would read a story that was written more than a year ago and still take the time to leave a review. Again, thanks for reading and reviewing.
White Wolf · 18 June 2005 · Chapter 1
This was a sweet/sad sotry. I felt so sorry for Legolas wanting so badly for his nana to come back. I also felt for Thranduil. The secne at the end when first his father and then his brother held the little elfling while he slept, was touching, especially with him clutching at their robes. Very well done. I will definitely read more of your stories.
Author's reply
Thank you for reading and reviewing this story. I must admit that I was actually hesitant about writing about Legolas losing his mother, as there had been so many wonderful stories already written on the topic. I am therefore very grateful that the readers seem to like the story. Thank you again for your kind words.
treymaine · 14 January 2005 · Chapter 1
As always, you write a beautiful story. This touched home for me, as my husband lost his father just after Christmas. It reminded me of the interaction between my husband and my son, as my husband is trying to cope with his loss. Bittersweet and touching.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind review. My condolences to your husband and your family. It is so very difficult to deal with death because it is so final. For a child it must be even more so because how can they comprehend an end to life when theirs is just starting? I hope time eases things for everybody. Again, thank you for reading and reviewing.
Firnsarnien · 13 January 2005 · Chapter 1
*sniff* You did that on purpose, didn't you? *sob* You put Leggy into Adleon's arms just to bring me to tears cause you *know* how much I love the Leggy/Aldeon relationship!! *hiccup* Oh, that was so heartbreakingly bittersweet. I felt so sorry for poor little Leggy, hoping against hope that his mother would show up to build their snow figures. Yet I was glad that Leggy brought comfort to his brothers. What a sad time for this family. I only wish you hadn't ended it after one chappy. There are so many things that could still happen, what a wonderful novel length ;) story you could get out of this, what happened after this chappy and what happened before. :) Yup, definitely a lot of possiblities! ;) Was that hint big enough? LOL
Author's reply
Well, at least you can't say that I didn't satisfy your love for more Legolas/Aldeon moments. Aldeon needed the comfort of holding the little elfling in his arms and Thranduil was thoughtful enough to share the elfling with his eldest. As for extending the story, I don't think I am brave enough to tackle the before and the after. I will probably end up overdoing the angst thing and getting myself totally depressed. So a little snippet of grieving family is about the best that I can do. I'll try to come up with a longer story on a less difficult topic. As always, thank you for your review!
elliska · 13 January 2005 · Chapter 1
That was a very sad little memory. There are always a lot of moments like that after a death--the things we once did and will never be able to do again. And very hard to understand for a little child. Great portrayal of both Legolas and Thranduil in this one. Very well written.
Author's reply
Death brings many regrets of things that can never be done again and for a child, that must be beyond comprehension. Legolas is fortunate to have such a loving family to help him through this. Thank you for your kind words.
Lamiel · 13 January 2005 · Chapter 1
Oh, this is beautiful and very bittersweet. Little Legolas' plea for his mother to come and help with the snow figures is just heartbreaking. I love seeing how fierce Thranduil can be when he is afraid for one of his sons, and you show beautifully well how strongly motivated he is by love. That image of the lumpen shapes of snow is going to stay with me for a long time.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words. Legolas doesn't quite understand the finality of death and thinks that if he pleads long enough, his mother will return. Must have broken his little heart when his mother doesn't show up. I like writing a fiercely loving Thranduil and cannot understand why he is portrayed as cold and abusive in other stories. Again, thank you for reading and reviewing.
Bodkin · 13 January 2005 · Chapter 1
Poor little Legolas. He hasn't quite (until this moment) lost his belief in the power of magic to bring back his naneth when he needs her. I love the details about taking lessons in sneaking around from Tavaro and being a little scared of Feren. And his smiling practice. And there's nothing like hugging an elfling for comfort. I'm glad Thranduil let Aldeon have a go.
Author's reply
Unfortunately for Legolas, his belief in the power of magic is probably shattered right now, probably akin to a child finding out that Santa Clause is not real. Though he knows that Nana is gone and things have changed, he probably still can't understand why everyone is acting so differently. Kids really don't take to changes well. And yes, Thranduil is forever the thoughtful father.
daw the minstrel · 13 January 2005 · Chapter 1
The image of the six snowy lumps that just don't look right was heartbreaking. No, none of them is right just now. And Legolas's need for his mother was so real. I'm glad they can all draw comfort from one another though.
Author's reply
The six snowy lumps are really reflective of the entire family right now, broken and devastated. Death will certainly do that to a family, but fortunately they are a very tight-knitted family and will be able to support each other through this.
Avon · 12 January 2005 · Chapter 1
Well, you certainly made me howl. It was very well written - heart reanding without wallowing in it. Two minor things I hope you don't mind me mentioning: * 'one long talking to' sounds wrong. It seems modern. 'a long...' to me sounds more Tolkien-ish *Somewhere around there you have a comma at the beginning of a sentence.
Author's reply
Thank you for your review and without any malice, I am glad it made you howl. It always gives me a sense of accomplishment when my stories affect readers. And thank you for pointing the two things. Sometimes when I am writing, I find it hard to pick up such discrepancies no matter how many times I proof-read it. I believe my words were "one long audience" but you are right, "a long audience" would have been better. Thank you!
lwarren · 12 January 2005 · Chapter 1
Well, now that I have been reduced to a blubbering mass of tears...What a sad, heart-rending little tale, Manderly. I knew it was going to be bad when Legolas was thinking about how everyone was not smiling, and being almost scared of Feren...I thought "uh oh, this isn't too far from when he lost his mother...and then that sweet baby started building his little snow figures...six in all for the family. From then on I totally lost it, sentence by sentence. You really outdid yourself, the emotions of Legolas ranging from determination (they did this every first snowfall) to elation (when he thought the footsteps behind him were his Nana) to anger (when it wasn't) to wild grief...were portrayed so clearly and using the tradition of the first snowfall being a "special day" just for the two of them seemed to focus the grief felt by Legolas even more. I liked the ending with Thranduil and Aldeon taking comfort from holding their little bundle of elfling...you know this story really clarifies why they are sooooo protective of Legolas later on (and it's not only because he's the youngest, I think.) Sad, sad, sad, *sniff* sad... and beautifully written! linda
Author's reply
Well, I guess I am perversely happy that you were reduced to a blubbering mass of tears. Had you been laughing, my story then would have been a total failure. Anyway, sorry to untap your emotions like that (not really) but the death of a parent is always something very tragic, and for a young child, it's just that much more devastating because it is something that is beyond their comprehension. There's probably a sense of betrayal in that somebody who can love them so much one day and be gone without warning the next. Holding a small child in your arms is such an endless source of comfort. I just wish that my daughters are still small enough that I can cuddle them once in a while. Thank you for your very kind review.
The Karenator · 12 January 2005 · Chapter 1
What a sweet, heart wrenching tale, Manderly. The newness of grief was so tangible. You did such a nice job of capturing the confusion and longing of a child following tragedy. The little snow figures were great. This was such a nice little tradition. I bet Thranduil won't take his eyes off Legolas for many years to come when the first snowfall comes and the king will never see the first snowfall without remembering this occasion and what it meant to Legolas. Oh me...how sad. Poor baby. What happened to Nana anyway? Have you told us this before and I've forgotten? Did she sail or is she dead? I got the feeling that she's gone to Mandos. I really like this. Karen
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words. I've always thought that the link between a mother and her young child is something near sacred and when it breaks, it really is devastating. The occasion was sad enough for Legolas, but I think it was probably worse for the grownups like Thranduil and Aldeon. Like you said, they will probably never see the first snowfall of the season in the same light. I've never really dealt with Nana in my previous stories other than a brief mention in Princeling that she had fallen to the orcs. Really glad you liked the story.