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tarotgalI finally posted it. I finished editing last night around 3am my time but still hadn't found a title. The title didn't hit me until my 7am wake up call to take more meds. So on my second round awake, I named and posted. Hopefully it's not too bad for a first fic. The dialogue needs to be spiffier, I know, but that's just something I'll have to work on for my second LotR fic, whenever that comes about :-) heehee
Thanks for all the yummy support here and onlist and in e-mail. It was really much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *huggles for all*
Thanks for all the yummy support here and onlist and in e-mail. It was really much appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *huggles for all*
no subject
Date: 2003-03-14 11:00 am (UTC)my favorite part was actually towards the very beginning, when legolas is trying to say "common misconception." :D not only do i agree (that elves are immortal, not completely invulnerable), but i think poor sneezy legolas is quite adorable.
thank you again, and cheers to your first lord of the rings fic! *raises a glass to yo
no subject
Date: 2003-03-14 11:09 am (UTC)oohhh I loved the common misconception line... it's one of my favorites as well. After that paragraph I would have been happy to just end the story there and I hadn't really counted on it going more than a page or two after that. I've always really liked the 'fighting to finish words' bit and Legolas seemed a perfect candidate for it :-) heehee
Way to go, TG!
That was the most perfect LOTR sneeze fic I could have ever imagined. I've played out scenarios just like that in my head dozens of times, but seeing it put into written form was amazing.
You had the characterizations of all 3 of them down perfectly, and I applaud your use of elvish. I don't know where you got the idea of giving Legolas magic powers to start a fire, but I liked it a lot. It really fits with the whole concept of the elven bond with nature, and seeing him try it while distracted by sneezes was all the more fun!
I have to second the comment about the 'common misconception' line attempt...brilliant! One of my favorite parts as well, along with the part where he has to ask Aragorn if he has another handkerchief he can borrow, and the discovery of the location of the missing handkerchief...quite clever and cute!
Bravo, Tarotgal! Incredibly well done. This LOTR/Legolas fan was in utter heaven reading it. I really hope you continue to write in this fandom for a very long time to come.
Dreaming of sneezing elves,
Lady Korana
Left something out..
Date: 2003-03-14 11:11 pm (UTC)There's a couple little grammar mistakes/oddities I noticed:
-Right after Gimli brings the soaked wood into the cave and blesses Legolas when he sneezes, you wrote 'Then he quickly changing the subject'. You probably meant 'changed'.
-Elves in LOTR sleep with their eyes open, in a kind of semi-meditative state where they control their own dream world. (Generally, fic writers speculate that elves only sleep with their eyes closed when they're unconscious or ill...just a fanon creation, but it would certainly work with a cold ;) Just thought I would toss that tidbit out.)
-In the paragraph where Aragorn 'puts a comforting hand on Legolas's side', you refer to him 'stroking the "man's" side.' Legolas is not a man, he's an elf. Sorry to be so nitpicky...I mean, I know Legolas is male, but seeing him referred to as a man, my mind reads 'human' and it really throws me out of LOTR fic.
-In the paragraph where Aragorn snuggles up behind Legolas to keep him warm (totally adorable mental image, by the way!), you wrote: '"Your fever is very high," Aragorn explained, reached over the man's shoulder and touching his forehead, this time with success.'
Two things here. 'Reached' should probably be 'Reaching', and again, Legolas is not a man, he's an elf. Aragorn would be 'reaching over the elf's shoulder...'
-Near the end, shouldn't Legolas have to remove his quiver to reach down deep into it? I think it would be hard to reach that far behind one's back.
Hope these observations help...again, sorry to be so long-winded.
-Lady Korana
P.S. I really love the sounds/sneeze spellings you've chosen to represent Legolas's 'sneezing style'. I think it really fits his character, and I can picture each sneeze very vividly in my head. Again, many thanks for this amazing fic!
Way to go, TG!
That was the most perfect LOTR sneeze fic I could have ever imagined. I've played out scenarios just like that in my head dozens of times, but seeing it put into written form was amazing.
You had the characterizations of all 3 of them down perfectly, and I applaud your use of elvish. I don't know where you got the idea of giving Legolas magic powers to start a fire, but I liked it a lot. It really fits with the whole concept of the elven bond with nature, and seeing him try it while distracted by sneezes was all the more fun!
I have to second the comment about the 'common misconception' line attempt...brilliant! One of my favorite parts as well, along with the part where he has to ask Aragorn if he has another handkerchief he can borrow, and the discovery of the location of the missing handkerchief...quite clever and cute!
Bravo, Tarotgal! Incredibly well done. This LOTR/Legolas fan was in utter heaven reading it. I really hope you continue to write in this fandom for a very long time to come.
Dreaming of sneezing elves,
Lady Korana
Re: Way to go, TG!
Date: 2003-03-15 12:02 am (UTC)Legolas and the fire- I know there's probably nothing to support this, but their bond of nature reminds me much of ecomancers... being at one with nature, in harmony so much that they are able to ask it to help and it will. So it's not a spell to control and create the fire so much as a plea to the spirits of fire... does that make any sense? At any rate, he needed a fire, the poor lad. I wasn't going to torture him too much
The common misconception line *giggle* and the stuffy-nosed Legolas asking for another handkerchief- I took that line out and put it back in about 3 times. I couldn't decide if it was just my fetish that had put the irresistably cute line there or if he would actually go so far as to say it. Finally, I left it in. I'm rather glad I did :-)
Oh, and I'm glad the Elvish wasn't too hard to follow... or that I didn't do something so bad that people are jumping down my throats on that one. :-) It's so beautiful... and I suck so badly at languages...
ANyway, thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)
Re: Left something out..
Date: 2003-03-15 12:10 am (UTC)Calling Legolas a man- not intentional... I just feel bad using their names over and over and over again... was trying for variation. Hermione caught me do it at least once also when she beta-read for me. lol I feel like an idiot for doing it- I always meant elf.
Tense changes- not intentional... the 'changing/changed' one is not Hermione's fault, though. I think I changed that after she betaed. And I thought I changing changed to changed but looks like I was an idiot there :-) But thank you for catching those probs as well.
I didn't know that about the elves sleeping habbits... very interesting... just watch that pop up in my next fic. Rather scary to imagine, though... I will never own fish because it creeps me out how they sleep with their eyes open. *shivers*
<
Calling Legolas a man- not intentional... I just feel bad using their names over and over and over again... was trying for variation. Hermione caught me do it at least once also when she beta-read for me. lol I feel like an idiot for doing it- I always meant elf.
Tense changes- not intentional... the 'changing/changed' one is not Hermione's fault, though. I think I changed that after she betaed. And I thought I changing changed to changed but looks like I was an idiot there :-) But thank you for catching those probs as well.
I didn't know that about the elves sleeping habbits... very interesting... just watch that pop up in my next fic. Rather scary to imagine, though... I will never own fish because it creeps me out how they sleep with their eyes open. *shivers*
<<Near the end, shouldn't Legolas have to remove his quiver to reach down deep into it? I think it would be hard to reach that far behind one's back.>>
More to the point, I have him putting the quiver back on... which would be even more difficult if he had not taken it off!!! LOL Yes, I meant for him to take it off... guessed I missed specifically stating that detail but it does need to be there. Yikes. Thank you so much for catching that! I can be terrible at these things. I had a character sitting down twice in the same conversation once before in a story and no mention of him standing up in between. lol
Thanks again! :-)
no subject
Date: 2003-03-16 12:56 pm (UTC)Either way, very cute fic! I think you've got a great grasp of the characters. Excellent job, especially for a 'first' fic in that genre. I particularly like the fact that you didn't use the fanon theory of 'Elves don't get sick.'
Yay! Looking forward to the next one, especially if it's slash, like you've hinted. I'm definitely down with LotR slash, as long as it isn't some derivation of Frodo, Merry or Pippin together -- they're related, and that's just squicky (IMO, anyway). :) Frodo and Sam, on the other hand...
no subject
Date: 2003-03-16 01:08 pm (UTC)And Legolas and Aragorn... there are so many complexities to that relationship, especially where elves are concerned. It's got SO much potential to play with. Reminds me a lot of Sirius/Remus in that way. :-)
Thanks for the review- I really, really appreciate it! :-) I was very worried about dropping some sort of detail which completely betrays one of the characters or another, so I'm very glad you liked my portrayals. And while I must admit it would be very cute to hear Legolas protest a hundred times that elves don't get sick, while he himself is sneezing his head off, I didn't want to do that to him (this time, at least)
Re:
Date: 2003-03-16 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-03-16 04:49 pm (UTC)Legolas/Gimli slash
Personally, I prefer Legolas/Gimli slash to any other in LOTR, for several reasons (besides the fact that Legolas is my favorite character). Firstly, outside of Frodo/Sam, there is more canon-based support for their relationship in the books than there is for any other possible pairing. The movie left out so much of the wonderful meaningful little comments and bonding moments that make them a 'one true pairing' for me. Here follow some of my favorite examples from the books:
TTT, meeting the riders of Rohan: "He stands not alone," said Legolas, bending his bow and fitting an arrow with hands that moved quicker than sight. "You would die before your stroke fell."(the movie left out the first, and personally more touching part of this line).
TTT, in Fangorn Forest: "You are a Wood-elf, anyway, though Elves of any kind are a strange folk. Yet you comfort me. Where you go, I will go."
(and it's companion line from Legolas at Helm's Deep): "But you are a dwarf, and dwarves are strange folk. I do not like this place, and I shall like it no more by the light of day. But you comfort me, Gimli, and I am glad to have you standing nigh with your stout legs and your hard axe."
Then, naturally, there is the whole orc-killing game, and in the book, Legolas is very worried about Gimli when he becomes separated from himself and Aragorn during the battle, and is visibly relieved to find him well afterwards. Then there's the agreement that they make that Legolas will go with Gimli to see the Glittering Caves, if Gimli comes with him to travel Fangorn after the war. There is several pages of good conversation between these two about this that is a must read for any Legolas fan. And of course,the whole 'riding together on the same horse' thing has many possiblities!
And finally, these two beautiful passages from the appendices in ROTK:
'He [Gimli] was named Elf-friend because of the great love that grew between him and Legolas, son of King Thranduil, and because of his reverence for the Lady Galadriel.'
(In regards to Legolas leaving Middle-earth after Aragorn's death and taking Gimli with him:)
'We have heard tell that Legolas took Gimli Gloin's son with him because of their great friendship, greater than any that has been between Elf and Dwarf. If this is true, it is strange indeed: that a Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-earth for any love...'
Besides all this evidence and more I have not pointed out, I also like the 'opposites attract' dynamic of their relationship. Pairing Aragorn with Legolas may be more to our human asthetic standards of beauty, but who's to say what an elf or dwarf would find attractive. I personally think Gimli is probably a very handsome dwarf among his people. I also love the aspect that they can find love together and in doing so, overcome the obstacle of thousands of years of prejudice and intolerance between their races. Plus, I find it utterly adorable the way they bicker and tease each other like a married old couple!
I agree that Aragorn and Legolas have quite a slashy potential there as well, especially after the movie. However, I find it rare indeed that A/L slash deals well with the issue of Arwen without bashing her or ignoring her existence when convenient. After all, Aragorn is the King, and the king needs an heir. I prefer my Legolas/Aragorn stories to remain in the realm of incredibly close friends, no more. Just my humble opinion...and I'll still read any A/L slash anyway just because it has Legolas in it!
Sorry for the long post...I seem to be doing that a lot lately!
-Lady Korana
Re: Legolas/Gimli slash
Date: 2003-03-16 06:35 pm (UTC)The evidence you present is overwhelming and SO adorable. I have always really liked the way they play and tease each other but would fight and die for one another in an instant. And their relationship is on so many levels with so many commonalities in addition to many differences. And I do love the idea of them being such good friends despite the history of unfriendliness between their two peoples and the way their relation started with harsh words as well.
I especially loved the lines you presented from their trek into Fangorn Forest... that is SO sweet. *sniffle* And I agree, I've written tiny snippets about the horseback riding *G* That just has much too much potential heehee!
I think I just need to get better acquainted with the two of them, in the actual novels and in other fanfic. I'm sure I'll see the light. Heck, I used to find Qui/Obi an odd pairing until I started reading slash with them and now I can't imagine thinking otherwise. And I think I just need to get over my finding dwarves not that attractive. Besides, I envisioned the dwarves in 'The Hobbit' to be much less attractive than Gimli- I'm certain he is very handsome for his race *G* I think it's just the size in comparison to Leg and the large amounts of hair both of which might, I suppose, make for very exciting sexual relations rather than strained ones *G*
Thanks!!!!!