Disclaimer: Anything recognizable is not mine.
Legolas's Fanatical fan girl: Yes, it does have to end, but there are three more stories in the series, and perhaps more to come. So it's not really over.
Soulsearcher: Aw, I'm so jealous! I didn't get to see Reloaded. As for muses, well, may I just point out that it's rather amusing to call an Elf 'manly'? I know you mean masculine, but nevertheless. . .is this funny? I think so. Little Bird, eh? **snickers**. . .do you watch 'Seasame Street'? I'm thinking about Big Bird. . .but then, my name means 'Busy Bee'--so I'm hoping you haven't seen 'Best in Show'. I don't know what I'm going to do about actually writing an original of this. Originally, it was Lenni and Noria, but I think instead it's going to be Kestrel and Jordan--characters in my crazy-weird novel. And if (when) I get my crazy-weird novels published, I'm going to e-mail you and tell you to go buy my crazy-weird novels because you've read the originals. I'm babbling again, aren't I?
MorotheWolfGod: Hey! I finally know where your name comes from!
This series has been continued. Next is 'Thicker Than', then 'Forever Mithril', and after that 'Nightly Gleams the Blade'.
All right, I'm sorry, but this has to be said: masochism means many things. Yes, it can mean religious fervor and yes, it can mean sexual pleasure from torture. It also means to abuse one's self, and it can be for any number of reasons. Now, before you start arguing, I'll just say this: that I know well what the word means, maybe too well. When my friend was doing things like this, her therapist called it masochism, and she was far too young for it to be sexual and too atheistic for it to be religious. If anyone really, really has a problem with my use of the word I will go back through the story and change it to "self-mutilation", but other than that, just leave it be, all right?
*****
"Elrohir?" He stood alone beside the forest pool, gazing into its water. His own face gazed back at him, and in his palm he held the dagger, Legolas's dagger. "Elrohir," his father said softly, seeing the dagger.
"It did so many bad things, yet I cannot bring myself to become rid of it. The blade tempts, and it tortures. . ."
"Elrohir, you are very young in the world to face such a thing as Legolas's practice. Self-mutilation, or masochism, is rare among the Elves, and chances are you will not meet anyone else with such an affliction. If you do, do not be confused: this is the result, this cutting, not the problem, and its causes vary from case to case. The torture of the blade is an escape, and a very intricately balanced torture, for often when using it people enjoy it. Often the mental and emotional stress caused by quitting this habit is enough to drive one back to it for solace. Legolas is extremely lucky to have a friend like you to help him through it."
Elrond rose and left his son on alone with his thoughts, trusting him to make the right decision. Elrohir could no longer hear the steps of his father when he gazed at the blade. "You have been a fair adversary," he whispered, then gazing back to the pond he drew back his arm and threw the dagger with all his might, watching it sink into the depths of the murky water. "I win," he whispered. But there was no pleasure in this triumph.
They were riding again, and Arwen had fallen asleep, when Elrohir asked, "Ada, does masochism not refer to sexual enjoyment of pain?"
Elrond thought about this for a moment, then replied carefully, "It can. One definition of it, that one being self-mutilation, is not far at all from the one you have stated."
"How is that, Ada?"
"Do you think Legolas enjoyed cutting himself?"
"He told me that he did," Elrohir said, still confused. "At first he enjoyed it, then he could not stop and he hated enjoying it, but still he found some peace. . ."
"So you see, there is only a slight difference in the definitions. And what is that?"
"One is sexual," Elrohir replied, "but both are forms of pleasure." Elrond nodded solemnly. Now Elrohir understood, and he felt his stomach churn. When they reached Rivendell and Elladan greeted Elrohir, he stared at him.
"Brother, you have aged a million years."
"Yes, Elladan, I do believe I have."
And as the two brothers locked eyes they saw that each envied the other, and neither could understand how.
*****
The End.
Legolas's Fanatical fan girl: Yes, it does have to end, but there are three more stories in the series, and perhaps more to come. So it's not really over.
Soulsearcher: Aw, I'm so jealous! I didn't get to see Reloaded. As for muses, well, may I just point out that it's rather amusing to call an Elf 'manly'? I know you mean masculine, but nevertheless. . .is this funny? I think so. Little Bird, eh? **snickers**. . .do you watch 'Seasame Street'? I'm thinking about Big Bird. . .but then, my name means 'Busy Bee'--so I'm hoping you haven't seen 'Best in Show'. I don't know what I'm going to do about actually writing an original of this. Originally, it was Lenni and Noria, but I think instead it's going to be Kestrel and Jordan--characters in my crazy-weird novel. And if (when) I get my crazy-weird novels published, I'm going to e-mail you and tell you to go buy my crazy-weird novels because you've read the originals. I'm babbling again, aren't I?
MorotheWolfGod: Hey! I finally know where your name comes from!
This series has been continued. Next is 'Thicker Than', then 'Forever Mithril', and after that 'Nightly Gleams the Blade'.
All right, I'm sorry, but this has to be said: masochism means many things. Yes, it can mean religious fervor and yes, it can mean sexual pleasure from torture. It also means to abuse one's self, and it can be for any number of reasons. Now, before you start arguing, I'll just say this: that I know well what the word means, maybe too well. When my friend was doing things like this, her therapist called it masochism, and she was far too young for it to be sexual and too atheistic for it to be religious. If anyone really, really has a problem with my use of the word I will go back through the story and change it to "self-mutilation", but other than that, just leave it be, all right?
*****
"Elrohir?" He stood alone beside the forest pool, gazing into its water. His own face gazed back at him, and in his palm he held the dagger, Legolas's dagger. "Elrohir," his father said softly, seeing the dagger.
"It did so many bad things, yet I cannot bring myself to become rid of it. The blade tempts, and it tortures. . ."
"Elrohir, you are very young in the world to face such a thing as Legolas's practice. Self-mutilation, or masochism, is rare among the Elves, and chances are you will not meet anyone else with such an affliction. If you do, do not be confused: this is the result, this cutting, not the problem, and its causes vary from case to case. The torture of the blade is an escape, and a very intricately balanced torture, for often when using it people enjoy it. Often the mental and emotional stress caused by quitting this habit is enough to drive one back to it for solace. Legolas is extremely lucky to have a friend like you to help him through it."
Elrond rose and left his son on alone with his thoughts, trusting him to make the right decision. Elrohir could no longer hear the steps of his father when he gazed at the blade. "You have been a fair adversary," he whispered, then gazing back to the pond he drew back his arm and threw the dagger with all his might, watching it sink into the depths of the murky water. "I win," he whispered. But there was no pleasure in this triumph.
They were riding again, and Arwen had fallen asleep, when Elrohir asked, "Ada, does masochism not refer to sexual enjoyment of pain?"
Elrond thought about this for a moment, then replied carefully, "It can. One definition of it, that one being self-mutilation, is not far at all from the one you have stated."
"How is that, Ada?"
"Do you think Legolas enjoyed cutting himself?"
"He told me that he did," Elrohir said, still confused. "At first he enjoyed it, then he could not stop and he hated enjoying it, but still he found some peace. . ."
"So you see, there is only a slight difference in the definitions. And what is that?"
"One is sexual," Elrohir replied, "but both are forms of pleasure." Elrond nodded solemnly. Now Elrohir understood, and he felt his stomach churn. When they reached Rivendell and Elladan greeted Elrohir, he stared at him.
"Brother, you have aged a million years."
"Yes, Elladan, I do believe I have."
And as the two brothers locked eyes they saw that each envied the other, and neither could understand how.
*****
The End.