Finally!

[tarotgal]

My gosh... took almost an hour... Yahoo was being VERY uncooperative in my posting. And I found a dozen errors after I posted, too. GAH! I just can't win! Anyway, tis up on sneezefic right now. I'm thinking of adding another scene over the weekend and putting that in it when I post on TG's Realm... (with some errors fixed) but tis just a thought. Anyhoo... off to work on my paper. *sigh* Not looking forward to it.
Also stubbed my foot against my exercise thingy halfway through posting... it hurts like heck... growl. Hate that. lol It's not my night! Oh... and on top of that, I wrote an apology to the sneezefic list for the errors and out-of-order postings... and used C++/Java code/notation in it... dear goodness, I'm a geek. It just occured to me that not everyone would, uh, understand that. Man. I think I need a vacation!

Comments

[silverelf.livejournal.com]

*thunk*

Words... cannot... SQUEE!!!

It's an absolutely stunning 'fic! Absolutely stunning. I was pleasently surprised at the Legolas/Gimli lurve.

I just... Oh my god I worship you! *firmly attaches herself to you*

Thanks!

[tarotgal]

Well, I can't take credit for some of the story... the more I read the corresponding chapters in 'Fellowship' the more Gimli and Legolas just seemed to gravitate to each other thanks to Tolkien's words/plot. I had intended it to be very Aragorn/Legolas but Gimli/Legolas could not be denied... and I hope it didn't make him seem like a little elf!slut getting it on with two separate blokes in one story... but I don't think it did. I think it was just very natural that they seek each other out (as is in the book, after all) as sort of the odd ones out. I was trying for the fact that Aragorn (who embodies a lot of the elf spirit at times) and the elves did not make Legolas comfortable the way the dwarf's rather standoffish nature did with reference to his cold (and eventually his sorrow). Ug, tg's rambling again. LOL Sorry! :-)

Point is: I'm soooooooooooooooooooooooooo thrilled at your response! *thunk* back :-) *giddy squeal* Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!! I was worried, you know, cuz it's not my standard sf fluff... and it's only my second LotR fic... so your comment means a whole lot :-) *sighs in great relief* Thank you!!!! I'm glad you liked! :-)

Re:

[tarotgal]

It's not really at ALL Frodo/Sam, so don't worry about that. And part 3 is the only part to worry about if you're worried about sex. Anyhoo, enjoy the read, and I hope it doesn't squick you too much. There are enough G/PG moments thrown in so you'll be able to find something in there to your liking, I'm sure. :-)

Thanks!

[tarotgal]

Thanks :-) It's nice to know you liked it (for the sneezes at least) even though it was really not at all your thing. And yeah, I hadn't really considered posting it to your list for that reason. I couldn't see Leg/Gimli at first even with graphic images to help, but the more I read the book, the more I'm convinced it's a 'one true way' sort of thing.
At any rate, I'm really glad you liked the sneezing and other portions of the story. Thanks for reading and commenting, especially since it's not your thing! :-)

[traprose.livejournal.com]

*long, happy sigh*

thank you for "Cherishing." just, thank you. i really appreciated the legolas/gimli angle, all the more so for being so gradual, so well thought-out (and so unexpected on my part!). after seeing the movie, i admit that aragorn and legolas have a bit of on-screen chemistry-- but really i'm still a legolas/gimli fan in my heart of hearts. after knowing the books for so long, i just can't see either one of them without the other. so, needless to say, reading about their friendship and relationship here has been really, really a treat. too many people write gimli out of the picture, or worse, dismiss him as comic relief.

i think my favorite part was the two of them looking up at the clouds. the way legolas didn't even open his eyes, to respond at the end? just, just right. *dreamy, wistful sigh*

and, of course, the sneeziness was greatly enjoyable. poor legolas. (i can't help admitting that i was hoping gimli would sneeze a bit, too... ^^;)

a side note: wow you write fast! i can't even imagine how long it would take me to turn out that many pages. *is impressed*

again, thank you, and i hope this little comment is at least mostly coherent. :) *happily content

[tarotgal]

Eeekkk! Yay! I'm so glad! *more giddy bounces*

I am very relieved to hear I didn't mess up anything between the two of them :-) It wasn't at all intentional and I just found it happening as I wrote (Gimli literally just stepped out from behind a tree) so I let them do whatever they wanted and hoped I wasn't forcing anything on them that shouldn't be there. And this certainly wasn't a Gimli-as-comic-relief story :-)

I'm so glad you liked the clouds! I was worried about it getting too happy too fast right after their major sob scene... so I'm glad it- and especially that response of Legolas' felt right to you.

Ah.. I don't write fast... that took a few weeks, I think... I just get obsessed with some stories and this one wouldn't leave me alone. Even now, after I've posted it, I thought up another scene I might still stick in (which might have a sneeze from Gimli... we shall see)

Anyway, thank you soooooooo much for your feedback!!! Much much appreciated!! And I'm soooooo glad you liked it!!!! *G* Thank you!!!

[traprose.livejournal.com]

i really think it's fabulous the way you let the characters guide the story; for me, it really, really worked. (and yay gimli, for stepping out from behind that tree!)


I was worried about it getting too happy too fast right after their major sob scene...

i thought it was touching, really. i'd often wondered just what happened between the two of them, to solidify their friendship and their togetherness within the fellowship (enough so that legolas invited gimli to sail west with him-- something no other dwarf had ever done!), and i thought the way you portrayed it was quite touching.


Ah.. I don't write fast... that took a few weeks, I think...

*grin* i still maintain that's fast. it would have taken me years to write something that long, and no joke. i'm slow as a glacier when it comes to writing. ;)


(which might have a sneeze from Gimli... we shall see)

*quietly and unobtrusively hopeful* :D

Utterly speechless...

[(Anonymous)]

I'm stunned, Tarotgal. This fic was phenomenal in every way I ever could have imagined or hoped for! I can't even tell you my favorite part because it would be too cruel to be forced to choose. Instead, I'll just mention general categories of things that I want to comment on:

Meshing with existing FOTR timeline:
This was done quite expertly. Every event mentioned in the book fits perfectly in line with your fic, only I think I prefer your take on why Legolas slept away from the rest of the Fellowship most nights!

Legolas/Aragorn pairing:
Honestly, the more I read about them, the LESS I see them actually working as a slash couple. The sex scene, though well-written and intermingled with delicious elf sneezes, just didn't do all that much for me, simply because I think that Legolas/Aragorn just doesn't have the same degree of emotional resonance that Legolas/Gimli so obviously share, as set down by Tolkien.

Legolas/Gimli interaction:
Simply put, this was utter bliss for me to read. I always speculated that something very special happened between these two deep in the woods of Lorien to so utterly change their relationship from merely tolerant, to inseperable. I, too, see shared grief over Gandalf's death and mutual respect for each other's pride, fighting skills, and stubborness as being the initial common ground that allowed them to break through the wall of prejudice.
These two are meant to be together and neither race nor physical attributes can stand in the way of their chemistry. Well done, Tarotgal!

Last (and DEFINITELY not least), the sneezing :)
Wow! What can I say? I loved every sneeze from our favorite sexy Elf! I especially enjoyed the false starts and ones that play with and annoy him, don't allow him to finish sentences, or disappear and come right back. It increases his vulnerability in those moments...YUMMY!!
I knew that elves can die of grief, and I always imagined that the process would begin with physical aches and weakness, but somehow, I never made that jump to supposing that it might allow elves to get sick. It makes complete sense to me, and I'm ashamed I didn't come up with this way to make him sneeze earlier...

You have a real talent for LotR fics, TG. I sincerely hope you continue to write in this fandom. Thank you again for this masterpiece.

-Lady Korana

P.S. I did notice a few elf/man or dwarf/man substitutions, but I think you've probably tracked them down by now.

Re: Utterly speechless...

[tarotgal]

Yes, I think I found those errors... gah.. I'm an idiot *hangs head* Should have read it through a third time before posting.

On to the review- wow, long... thank you! :-) I am SO glad you enjoyed it! As I've mentioned in previous thank yous of reviews, I've been worried that I didn't do Legolas/Gimli justice for those who normally see them together, just because I didn't anticipate it from the beginning of the fic. But the more I read, the more it just seemed to have to happen, and I'm glad it did. I've just been worried as to how others more comfy in the fandom would see it.

OK, so on your points... Leg/Ara I'm starting to really agree with you. While I still like them as a pairing, the sex scene I wrote was very instinctual, rough, animalistic rather than some sensual, loving and comforting relationship. I have Legolas retreating to Aragorn because it is natural, because of the elf-ness in him... but I was trying to make the sex just a physical thing more than an emotional one. Did that come through? I hope a little at least.

Leg/Gim- *G* Thank you sooo much. Twas an honor to read your take on this. It's been amazing to hear that it was so enjoyed by people like you who were into Leg/Gimli. I'm sure Tolkien would have envisioned the change slightly differently even if romantic aspects were always intended, but I'm always nervious with 'first realizing the love/attraction' fics because they are so key to relationships and I want to do them justice. So thank you!!!

The sneezing. *G* Mmm I'm glad you enjoyed that as well, of course!
ANd yay!!!!!!!!! You got what I was going for there with him getting sick! (I'm sure other people saw, but you were the first to specifically mention the link) With all my readings about if elves can get sick or not, it did occur to me that if they can die from sadness and heartache, why couldn't they get sick from it on the way down? I was kinda proud about making that link, and as I started writing it, it just seemed more and more natural. Poor sweet little elf *HUG* So thank you for picking up on that! (and feel free to use it yourself, lol, though I must admit, it was heartbreaking for me to make Legolas so sorrowful for so long... poor little one...)

Thank you!!! I'm so excited that you liked it!