Once Upon a Strongbow by Legolass
Rick · 21 July 2011 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
Nice story! not to mention story within a story... I like the way you laid this out. Thanks for writing.
Author's reply
Thank you, Rick, for reading and reviewing. I enjoyed writing the story (two stories actuallly) within a story. :-) Legolass
Tari · 28 August 2007 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
In response to your comment regarding Aragorn's grandchildren. I tried to emal back, but that can't be done when one answers to this posting. So, here is what I sent; Indeed they are. I love them to pieces. Wish I had two of my own, but it's too late now. We have green peas also. We eat them as a side dish, although not necessarily with mashed potatoes. I love them. I probably won't be reading anything after Friday. I'll be getting ready to go on vacation Monday. The lady I'm visiting is going with me next year to tour the South Island of North Zealand. We'll be mainly visiting the sites used for the movies. I just started reading In Shadow's Realm and will comment on it later. I know I'll love it. Tari
Author's reply
How wonderful that you will be going to NZ next year! I've been there several times myself and love the place, but have not visited the specific movie sites. HOwever, on my last visit, I was on the "Misty Mountains" (Southern Alps of NZ) - and got caught in a terrible snow storm just like the Fellowship was! :-) Well, I hope you enjoy your vacation, Tari - and I look forward to hearing from you again. Legolass
Tari · 27 August 2007 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
Wonderful. Beautifully written as usual. However, I must confess I was a little slow in figuring out that the Elves were Thranduil and Legolas. Shame on me. I love nicknames of Aragorn's grandchildren. Wherever did you come up with Greenpea? Tari
Author's reply
No, no, Tari - readers are not MEANT to figure out the identity of the Elves that easily. 99% of the readers did not have any inkling till the very end, and the other 1% could not be sure. This means that (i) the writing strategy worked and (ii) you definitely have nothing to be ashamed about. :-) Glad you like the children's names. Greenpea? Isn't that a common term used for the peas we eat with mashed potatoes? Maybe not in the States, but I grew up calling them that. (And even when I was in the States, I used to think of them as green peas, I guess, lol.) Where I live, the term is also used for the beans used to fill bean bags. So - when I needed a more masculine version of Sweetpea - Greenpea came to mind very quickly. The children are positively delicious, aren't they? :-) Thank you for the lovely review, Tari. Legolass
Ellie · 18 January 2006 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
I enjoyed this finely woven tale or should I say these finely woven tales very much! Very well done. Loved the interwoven ever-changing parental view points and I did not guess who the elf father was until very near the end. Most excellent!
Author's reply
Thank you, Ellie! you just made my day. :-)
pipinheart · 13 September 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
It was right near the end before I relized that littl Elf was Lgolas, good job of keeping that a mystery...perhaps that story made him think of a human as being a friend... Lovely story...
Author's reply
Thank you, Pipinheart. I appreciate all your reviews. :-)
pipinheart · 13 September 2005 · Chapter 6: Forgiveness - Part 2
To know you killed your friend must have been hard to bear...
Author's reply
You said it - I can't even imagine what Turin must have felt.
pipinheart · 13 September 2005 · Chapter 5: Forgiveness - Part 1
The two little pea's are very sweet indeed... Like the relationship they have with thier Grandfather...
pipinheart · 13 September 2005 · Chapter 4: Patience and Respect
Love the comparision of the frienship of Aragon and Legolas was to strongbow and his friend... I like the little nickname aragorn gave his grandchilderen, they are sweet kids and smart as well...
Author's reply
Glad you find the children sweet - thank you.
pipinheart · 13 September 2005 · Chapter 3: Trust
Poor Aragon...His brother's dressing him up in that hideous outfit... He should have got them back for that one.. But Legolas was a honest friend... Though it was quiet funny, its a wonder the other elves could keep a straight face.
Author's reply
Well, elves can be very in control of themselves if they wish to, lol. Thanks for the review.
pipinheart · 13 September 2005 · Chapter 2: Love and Sacrifice
Very sweet...I liked how the story was told by two different people...Aragorn and the Elf, and how the story reflected Legolas and Aragorns friendship... The children were sweet as well...
Author's reply
Pipinheart, you're fast becoming one of my favourite readers :-) Thank you for all your reviews, and I'm very glad you're still reading my stories.
RedSquirrel · 31 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
My, how you have been busy while I've been away. This is such a sweet story, your peas and especially a certain little elfling are so adorable, I feel I have to cuddle someone right now (oh no - I'm at the office...). Your combination of three different timelayers is just brilliant. So, despite the tragic outcome Legolas wants to seek the friendship of a man... I bet this was a bit unexpected for his Ada. I wanted to say this before, while you worked on the "White Tree", but it fits here as well: Aragorn's reaction to the news of Gollum's escape, his accusation has irked me every time I read it. "... his guards slain or taken..." How I used to worry about them, hoping against hope they would be released after Sauron's fall. It seemed so unfair to blame Thranduil's people on top of it. So I am very glad to know that finally they made it up... And I have stopped mentally smacking Aragorn's head while reading Elrond's council. And you have started a new story, I'm so looking forward to read... but my inbox is a fright (sigh).
Author's reply
Welcome back, Red Squirrel! *Hug* Glad you like this story - thank you. :-) I so wanted to do it even while I was working on the "...Lord of the White Tree" - so I'm glad I got it done. There was one other chapter I wanted to write for it, but I think I'll insert it somewhere in the new story (which is coming along more slowly than I'd like). I know how you feel about smacking Aragorn - it irked me too, which was why I had to 'make it right' somehow - and I got my chance through my story, lol! It's so heartwarming to think that it makes you feel they made up too... thank you again. Hope to see you as I travel down the road of my new story - always glad to have your company.
Bodkin · 6 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
Ahh. What a lovely story. (Although Turin always manages to arouse my wrath - what a total idiot the man was!) Love the elflings - and the little peas. Ada Thranduil and Grandfather Aragorn make wonderful tellers of bedtime stories and incidental teachers of morals. Most enjoyable.
Author's reply
When I first read the tale of Turin and Beleg, I felt I could skewer the man myself as well, for having killed such a great friend. But - as (my little) Legolas has put it - if Beleg could love him, there must be something in him that is worthy of a measure of redemption at least. It's harder for us than for Beleg to forgive him eh? :-) Ada Thranduil and Grandfather Aragorn, and the little ones - especially my darling elfling, lol - have become very real and dear to me. I am glad you enjoyed them and thank you for letting me know that.
nessa · 5 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
I loved this sweet little story. I made the mistake of printing it off and finishing it at work. I cried over the death of Beleg. The breakroom is not a good place for a tearful outburst. Hopefully I was discreet. I guessed that it was Legolas only a few paragraphs early, so I guess I wasn't that clever. Can't wait for your next, hope it is almost ready. You don't have anything better to do than write for us, do you? Hope not.
Author's reply
Oh, poor Nessa - hope your waterworks did not bring to many stares your way! Some of my readers reported the same mistake they made in reading the last two chapters of my longer story (despite the warnings I gave, lol). I am actually glad you didn't figure out the identity of Legolas till late - that was the whole point. :-) Thanks very much for letting me know you loved the story - I'm glad, and if I could, I would do nothing but write for the people who appreciate LOTR stories. My new one is, unfortunately, not all that ready yet - some details are still bugging me, but I hope I can have at least the first chapter up within the next two weeks. Till then - namarie.
Lamiel · 5 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
I've often thought about the parallels between Legolas' friendship with Aragorn and Beleg Strongbow's love for Turin. This is a wonderful tribute to both. And what a lovely idea, that Beleg's story might have served as inspiration for Legolas in his own friendship and the sacrifice he makes for Aragorn. The story is also nicely balanced between Aragorn's telling to his grandchildren, and Thranduil's to his son. You set up a fairly complicated sequence, between the three different time periods, but you pull it off with a grace that looks effortless. Nicely done.
Author's reply
Thank you so much for your compliments, Lamiel. I've really enjoyed juggling between those time periods - something I've wanted to do even while writing my previous story - and I feel a sense of satisfaction in having done it. But most of all, I'm really glad I managed to create this modest tribute to all the great elf-human friendships in Tolkien's works. Thank you for your appreciation of the effort!
AM · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
That was wonderful and very well done. Thank you.
Author's reply
You're very welcome, AM, and thank you for having read it and reviewed. :-)
SmilingDragonGirl · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
*chuckle* I believe "Ada" is not too happy at the moment - this elfling is not only sweet and tender-hearted, but also wise and bright! And stubborn. *g* Aha! It WAS Legolas!!! He's sooo adorable as an elfling (well, not only as an elfling, but still...hehe.) *huggles little elfling for the umptienth time* I loved this background on him and Thranduil. Reading this, it is a miracle Thranduil didn't tear Sarambaq to pieces for laying a hand on his son - on the other hand he did, in a way. ;-) “Some hearts never grow old, and some things live on through the Ages.” *sigh* I guess this is a quote for every day. I love it! I only wish Aragorn could live on forever. There's a foreshadowing in this ending that reminds me too much of the price Legolas will have to pay for his love. *sigh* Not that that would make it less beautiful. You are a great storyteller, mellon-nin. *bows solemnly to author* And I think I will have a lot of elves (and elflings!) in my dreams tonight. Almut
Author's reply
Yes, Almut - it was Legolas. Is it any wonder then that the elfling was so adorable and huggable? :-) THank you for your wonderful support. Enjoy your elfy dreams.
SmilingDragonGirl · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 6: Forgiveness - Part 2
Oh, poor elfling! *huggles* This quarrel with his friend really must have hurt, they seemed to be so close! *sniff* Oh, this is so cruel and so sad and so unfair and... sweet and heart-breaking... *sob* And I love this elfling!!! He has such a tender and true heart! “calling a friend a name and getting hit by a chestnut – are the smallest of hurts when you think about what Beleg and Túrin went through." This sentence made me smile. *g* I declare this to be my quote of the day! Interesting, that Aragorn chose not to tell his grandchildren the whole tale of Turin and Beleg, while the elven father did. They are obviously living in different ages, and the elfling would have to face ugly truth rather soon in his life - or so I believe, as the elven father seems to care about his son very much. “And I will forgive him for hitting me with the chestnut.” Hehe. Really, they learn quickly. :-)
Author's reply
You know, after I'd written the chap, I left it for and read it again after a few days. As I was reading about the death of Beleg and Turin's subsequent madness, the power of the tragic event moved me; then - that line "...calling a friend a name and getting hit by a chestnut – are the smallest of hurts when you think about what Beleg and Túrin went through" really stood out in pale contrast to the tragedy. It struck me then that it was both an amusing statement and a truth. Perhaps it should be a reminder to us to put things in perspective all the time. :-) Re the different choices Thranduil and Aragorn made: yes, it was exactly because they lived in different ages and under different circumstances: Mirkwood in the Third Age and peaceful Minas Tirith under Aragorn's rule. I think I would have made the same decisions too. :-)
TithenFeredir · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
Oh, I love the low-key way you ended this. No high drama, just a normal evening with friends enjoying each other's company, and the trials and adventures they've been through together are implied by the ease of their interaction. One can imagine many such evenings in the years after the war. Very, very nice. I look forward to your next. ~TF
Author's reply
Thank you, TF - I thought a 'low-key' ending, as you put it so well, an appropo (spelling?) ending to a bedtime story series. After all, little ones are asleep and one must tip-toe out quietly. :-) I look forward to hearing fro you again, too, whenever the next tale begins. I really appreciate your presence and support.
SmilingDragonGirl · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 5: Forgiveness - Part 1
Children have this uncanny ability to hit the sore point, haven't they? *smirks* Poor Aragorn! They are quite good at driving him into a corner! Not that I would mind, as this gives me the opportunity to read my favorite part from my favorite chapter of FtLotLotWT again... (this abbreviation looks somehow strange *g*) *sniff* Well, Aragorn surely learned his lesson... and now he still wishes he could retract his words... *smiles* Legolas would have something to say about that, methinks... Blessed be Sweetpea, lol! *huggles Sweetpea* I love it how quickly the children always learn from those stories and practice it in their own lifes immediately! Even if Aragorn seems to be their guinea pig... *eg* And I loved this last paragraph... *purrs*
Author's reply
That abbrev sure does look strange, lol! I first saw it being used by viggomaniac, and now you, tee hee. I imagine that if one feels really sorry for something, one never forgets even after having been forgiven. I liked the last para too. :-) Thanks.
TithenFeredir · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 6: Forgiveness - Part 2
I know you wove the story of Beleg and Turin into "For The Love Of The Lord Of The White Tree". Here you have applied it to achieve a wonderful effect. The children and elflings add a sweetness and poignancy to the tale that makes it even more moving. Very nice. ~TF
Author's reply
Thank you, TF. I have enjoyed this story very much, and I have enjoyed your responses. :-)
daw the minstrel · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
I really liked the tender treatment of children here, the care for their characters as well as their bodies, and the thoughtful way their elders dealt with them. Lovely.
Author's reply
Thank you very much, Daw. I enjoyed creating (What I felt to be) wonderful interactions between the grown-ups and children, and it's gratifying to know that the thoughtfulness and respect for the children come across. Thanks for letting me know.
TithenFeredir · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 5: Forgiveness - Part 1
It was sweet the way the children sort of comforted Aragorn after his memory of the incident with Legolas. Even though the elf surely forgave him, I imagine he never fully forgave himself. ~TF
Author's reply
I agree. As I said to another reviewer: I imagine that if one feels really sorry for something, one never forgets even after having been forgiven.
TithenFeredir · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 4: Patience and Respect
Oh heavens, I have slipped and a bunch of chapters have gotten by me! Sorry! My earlier suspicion stands and the more I read the more charmed I am by that character. I think your Aragorn is a wonderful grandfather. ~TF
eliza61 · 4 August 2005 · Chapter 7: Endings and Beginnings
Now that was a nice suprise at the end. I hadn't figured out that Legolas was the little elf, though I suppose I should have. I like your portrayal of him as a small elfling, so many times he is portrayed as aloof & perfect but I figured he must have been a little bit devilish(is that a word?). I mean, come on his best friends are Aragorn & the twins. As Always, keep writing. Eliza
Author's reply
Legolas was more than a thousand years younger in this story - that's gotta show somehow, lol. :-) Thanks for your support. Hear from you again when the next story is up, I hope.
Larner · 29 July 2005 · Chapter 4: Patience and Respect
Oh, I love Aragorn as a grandfather, which was why I put Arien and Valandil as his two living grandchildren into Light on the Way. A wonderful image, I thought, being allowed to know at least two of his grandchildren.
Author's reply
Oh good - thank you for letting me know. :-) I loved the scene in the ROTK movie where he picked up Eldarion and I thought he would make a wonderful grandfather as well. BTW you have lovely names for his grandkids.