This was so incredibly beautiful!

Eomer's thought process about Legolas' situation as the story unfolds are kinda similar to my own.
Lovely writing.

"It's such an imposition"
"Eomer shook his head to appease his guest. "Do not worry about it. These things happen. And as you said... is it really such a tragedy? You are comfortable, your are not in pain, you are in a warm bed, taken care of... is it really so sad ?"

You had me crying there and then. I did not expect it. It just struck home, as true and swift as any well-aimed arrow.

This was a beautiful study inside the mind and the heart. Eomer's mind was changed as he realized that Legolas's heart was what was in control and that some things are not a matter of will, they just are what they are.

Aragorn similarly realized just how painful life was for Legolas to lose and lose and lose, as those he loved merely faded away, as Gimli will, as he, Aragorn, will, as the hobbits will, and other mortals that Legolas will no doubt befriend simply because of his friendship with Aragorn - Eomer only the most recent. They will all fade, while Legolas remains exactly the same, watching the degradation of health and vitality, spirit and bone.

For Aragorn it was such a harsh lesson to learn, because it was so sudden. One moment he was running his kingdom, without a thought that such a friend was slipping away, and in the next instant he was face to face with Legolas's reality.

I tear up every single time I read the line, "It tears at my soul," and then, "Such a harsh lesson to teach a friend..."

Oh, my, you have a way with words.

Thank you for this. I know I will be reading it again some day in the future. It is most assuredly a 'keeper'.

The letter that Eomer writes to Aragorn is just perfect. He realizes that Legolas does not will what is happening to him; it is beyond his control. He understands that Legolas is truly a servant of his heart; not its master.

Eomer truly thought about Legolas's situation and finally, as he realized his own pain at watching Legolas's demise, he was able to comprehend what it must be like to live thousands upon thousands upon endless thousands of years and watch loved ones pass from life, some to eventually be reunited with, but lost to them for those centuries and perhaps millennia until they are reunited, and then those (mortals) to be torn apart from forever. Eomer finally, graciously, understood Legolas.

I adore Eomer in this story because he is not accustomed to elves and this man finds tremendous understanding in a very brief span of time as to what one particular elf is suffering, and finds a mutual sorrow as well.

Beautiful chapter.

My review for chapter 7 sped away from me before I was done. Darn that touch pad being in the way of my fingers. LOL

I do love the comparisons you draw between Legolas's breaking heart because his is so encumbered by the lives of mortals with the breaking and binding of the spirit of a horse to its rider, so that they are bound together. It is a lovely point, counterpoint.

I also enjoyed how you showed Legolas so cold in Bree when he and Estel/Aragorn rejoined after 15 years, for Legolas had found a way to live without dying by being cold, unencumbered by the lives of his fellow elves, but as Estel/Aragorn (Strider too!) points out, that kind of living is truly dead.

"...now you are dead because you love nothing at all...but to live this way, do you not think you have already lost?"

To think you were only 20 years old when you so perceptively figured out such depths of the heart and soul of people. (I know you were 20 when you wrote this because in one of your replies to a review you said that.) Now here you are 15 years later and still writing so insightfully (for I continue to read your work.)

I am rereading this with just as much enjoyment as the first time I read it. First off, I must pick some details from the chapters that came before this. As I have not read the books (sacrilegious, I know!) I do not know Eomer very well, although the Legolas and Aragorn as depicted in the movie I adore.

I like how you start Legolas and Eomer off as reluctant acquaintenance, as they are not friends yet. Since they have the commonality of the final battle, along with their meeting on the plains of Rohan, it is so very natural that that is your starting place at the dinner. Well thought out and presented by you.

I cannot tell you just how much I adore little Estel's bedside confession/pleading with Legolas to live. At first it seemed unnatural for him to care so deeply until I remembered that this is a seven-year-old boy, not a teenager, not an adult - silly me! - and little children have such innocence and, yes, hope about them. So for Estel to sit there pleading with Legolas not to die, sitting with a too big for him book (as in size of the book, not context) as he was such a curious little boy about elves, makes all the sense in the world.

Now you bring us to an adult Estel - Strider - who now knows his legacy/heritage, and is riding with the Rangers, and clearly has moved up quickly as he is their chieftan, and we see that he is still full of life and endlessly curious, but also commanding and growing into his destiny, while Legolas has decided to live, but without the joy that life should bring.

It is an interesting exchange between the two, as we see that Legolas now finds himself curious about the 'edan' who has become a healer as well as a Ranger, while he himself seems to simply be going through the motions.

The way you have written them has me 'hearing' Aragorn (as Viggo portrayed him). Legolas is missing from how Orlando portrayed him, but that is appropriate, for this is no light-hearted, endlessly curious and joyful elf, but one who is simply moving through life as a duty.

I know how this progresses, so I'll just say that it is so very appropriate where Legolas is right now in this story.

I love this!

Hey there :)
Just wanted to say: Amazing story! You're probably one of my most favourite authors here in this page :) I'm totally in love with your writing style, how you write all those ... raw emotions, the hidden thoughts, and especially this epic friendship between Leggles & Aragorn, but also the newer "bonding" with Eomer. Really: Awesome job you did there. But I have to admit I'd personally prefered an ending that results in Leggles' death. But, you know, just my opinion ;)

Young Aragorn and Legolas are so sweet together when they are friends:)

dont make sense, elfs die and stay in mandos some time, and later gain new life in the land where bilbo stay...if he will live little, he will stay with gimli O.o...or take him to the land to wait he gain new body

... Wow.
This was certainly tragic and emotional. It certainly seems as if you considered a lot of thought into this story.
In the end though, I thank the Valar and you that you didn't end this story with Legolas dying. I find stories like that are too sad and dark and depressing for me, and it's just too much.
I love this fanfic. It has an interesting mixture of darkness, emotion, tragedy, but also humour. I enjoyed it, especially the ending with Aragorn and Eomer's board game issue. Lol. That was funny!
It certainly had realist feelings and deep inner turmoil coming from Legolas. Very descriptive, and I like how you ended off the story, even if you were not too sure about it.
Another remarkable story, mellon-nin. :)

How can you do this to me?! ... I need to work ... and here I am crying...

I've loved reading your fanfic so far and fully intend on finishing. However, one thing keeps bothering me every time I see it. (It's not a big thing, more of a peeve.) When referring to horses, the mare is female and the stallion or gelding (neutered male) are males. You've been referring to mares with male pronouns. Again, it's not a big thing and most likely not worth editing a fic for; it's just an annoyance.

What a beautiful story. It almost broke my heart, but managed to restore it just in time.