Finally, I read this chapter! It was amazing to see what's going on in Legolas's head. You did a great job with his PoV. It was painful to read (in all the right ways). Especially Gimli's and Thranduil's interactions with Legolas.

I loved the little bit of humor you tossed in, with the reminiscing about the Fellowship. It caught me off-guard and really made me laugh. It also helped to heighten Legolas's distress afterward.

I can't wait for the next chapter!

woot woot! legolas has come too!

cant wait for more!

Hi, since I have 0 writing abilities this review is incredibly simple. Even so I wanted to say that I've loved the story so far, and the fact that you write from everyone's perspective makes the story fascinating. I like knowing how all the characters react to the same situation, and your ability to convey feelings is incredible.

Hmmmmmmm. Is this an update? I am happy that Legolas is slowly coming back to reality (or is he?). As others have already mentioned, you have done a fantastic job of writing the confusion of Legolas in this chapter. The way you write it, we readers can really feel what he's feeling. It all feels very dreamlike and vague. No wonder it took you so long to update- you were working on a masterpiece! Bravo! And encore! I (as others) want to see more! (and take as long as you need if there will be more excellent writing like this. Quality over quantity! And you always deliver quality.)

Awesome. Nice to have Legolas back on the reality side. I really like all the thoughts of both him and Thrandruil on their relationship with each other. Great writing as usual:)

I had to logout so I could add something.

This IS a masterclass, as I said. Not only in the perfection of the structure- the images merging into the other and Legolas' confusion, but it is a masterclass in writing convalescence. This is how he SHOULD be written recovering form this. Every aspiring writer should read this -especially this chapter. It teaches patience and meticulous planning, attention to detail and precision in writing. Everything is seen through a murky dimness, like shadows -almost 'through a glass darkly'. So worth the wait!

The way you've described Legolas' delirium is amazing. I really got a sense of the heaviness and confusion that Legolas must be feeling. Poor Legolas really is in a nightmare situation - having spent (apparently) years deciding that Mirnen is real, he now has to go through the same process al over again.

There was just a glimmer of hope at the end, when he realises that the light he has been experiencing is from Thranduil and not Faeldaer. Maybe hearing the sea will convince him of the reality of his surroundings.

Thanks for the update - a new chapter of Dark Forest always makes my day :)

This is a masterclass in writing. The confusion, the sense of being on the edge of understanding add to this utterly convincing 'recovery' - except I can't beleive it IS a recovery and you leave enough signs to make me still worry that his leg might have to come off to stop that poison (but I hope you find a way out of that! You cant grow a new one in Aman!). I think the most convincing part is where he says Elvellon but has said it more thna once- so you get this sense of powerlessness, of frustration, of NOT healing although he seems to.

I think too the fevered and strange drifting between worlds makes an otherwise perhaps tedious journey go quickly and we are in Lothlorien nice and quickly. (I miss the orcs though!)

You use the sealonging perfectly here too, to denote where his consciousness is- and I like the confusion of the two 'realities' and the mix (cant think of the word I want) of what is real NOT being real and unrelaity being real..

I go back to my first comne thtough, Anar. This is really superb. The absolute precision and delicacy of the writing, the time you take to let it permeate, and hte absolute sense of confusion and hanging onto the illusion is wonderfully done.

I like too that they are not in agreement, or perfect. And the tenderness Thranduil shows is suitably redeeming - I love Thranduil. The pov being Legolas' throughout works perfectly to give all this a dreamy sort of unreality.

Amazing! I love the characters and how you portray each one of them.

Galadriel's drinking of the draught first seemed to me like a little bit of nemesis. Despite that, I have a good feeling of the actual outcome for the drinking. I hope it may help Legolas.

I hope you update soon because you've left us with a slight cliff hanger. I love this story and I can't wait for more.

I don't have the time to write the thorough review that you deserve, but I just wanted you to know that I''m still reading and loving this fic.

I hope Gimli's right about the ent-draught. I want to see Legolas healed. I just hope that when he's up and about again, he'll be willing to work at mending his relationship with Thranduil.

The way you keep returning to the theme of water is intruiging-nenya, Nimrolde, the Ent draft, the Sea. And the arguments they have and the uses they put it to- anad the variety of magic waters, enchantments etc-again, you make me think about Tolkine as a work of great literature again- as I have not done for many years. The symbolism and the archetypes.

I love that Galadriel will not use her charms now as once she did to an innocent Thranduil - and she is happy to let Gimli, her worshipper, see her eating in a less than graceful manner (you know I have a weakness for bad-mannered elves- an antidote to the nauseaous nibbling that infects some fanfic!) ANd it is beautifully ironic that it is she who is manipulated by Gimli.

And that Gimli is the one to solve the problem- because I am quite sure he is right - it feel sright and makes sense within this story - links all the componenets. It is very fitting that it is Galadriel who drinks it - and it makes it convincing that hs eis so vulnerable and yet still drinks- wonderful.

OMG! Fangurrrl scream! I cant beleive I have missed two whole chapters! After waiting grinding months and then I just miss it! ffnet have somehow switched off all my alerts so you are not the only person I have missed reviewing- strange!

So what a feast I have spread before me- Gimli is a jewel in htis. In terms of how he thinks and feels, he is different - his concetion with the earth in this chapter is superb and I think one of my favourite lines ever is this:

As a dwarf, fresh earth always smelled like a beginning place.

And that alone is enough, but it goes on, delving ever more deeply into just what it means to be a dwarf - and htat is a theme in all these later chapteres, much the saem as you did in the earliest chapteres for Legolas and what it means to be an elf. (THat scene with him wisping his hands over th grass is always with me- never far - most delicate writing and utterly visual in its detail- I can see the grass stems and seed heads when I think of it- I dont even need ot read it!)

And you get beneatht he skin of Entishness too with Greywood's digging and hte notion of Entish justice being treed - and it does sound like a death sentence and Gimli understands what it means. (LOve the Ring giving him awareness of Treebeard's roots)

You make me think more deeply about the nature of the races of ME, and hte nature of the Rings - in a far more philosophicla way than Tolkine ever did (will I be struck down now?)

And then you nibble on the edge of MY understnad and awareness with Gimli's seemingly unfocused desire to go back to the cave- and I am sure there is reason in htis but it eludes me as it does Gimli, but I feel its is there if only I can unravel the riddles you set me earleri in the novel (because it is, isn't it?) He is pulled by that ancestral compulsion and yet pulled by Legolas' need also - and I just wonder if he would not have been more useful had he continued? BUt i know what a tease you are so I will wait.

And I am glad Celebron accepts his part in Thranduil's fall - good. He and Galadreil really let him down. They should feel guilty - so I have very little sympathy for either of them - even Galadriel - but oh boy, do you write her well.

Bravo.

Thanks for the update! Read it at lunchtime. Me liked. Keep up the great work! (In a bit of a hurry right now)

Yes! Another chapter-thanks!

I get later and later at reviewing. My apoligies. But more importantly, this is yet another great chapter. My personal favourite part is the conversation between Thranduil and Celeborn. It was much needed. I also really appreciated Gimli's insight into Mithtaur's actions as it helps to start resolving some issues. Thanks for continuing this great story!