Oooh my! This is getting so good, and scary. Sauron's reach is indeed long, and man, is he evil. First part beautifully written, as Thranduil is made to confront the truth and really face it, with the help, not the condemnation, of his allies. The woodland king comes through with wisdom and courage. I love your Gimli - wonderfully straight talking, firm and true. I'm worried about what comes next!

Oh crap, I knew this wouldn't end well. You wrote this beautifully - the anticipation and excitement of the wedding, the ceremony and celebration, the initiation of lovemaking, the physical and emotional joy - then utter devastation. Legolas alone as he has never been before. It is terrifying to read.

I jumped in a couple of chapters ago, thinking it was about where I had left off oh those many moons ago. Faeldaer is one very skilled therapist, if we can call him that, bringing Legolas to full recall of the dreadful event of the stabbing. And he is good at coaxing Legolas to look at things from a more compassionate stance. Obviously Sauron has been messing with everyone here.

I read this a few weeks ago, when I first began my foray into LotR fanfiction. Since then, I have probably devoured close to 100 fics (many of which are connected to your favorites list by a few degrees :-)) and this remains my favorite. The pacing is phenomenal and you shell out all of the characters with a stunning degree of depth. Generally, it is your presentation of Thranduil that stand out most in my mind. I think that your complex and conflicted characterization of the Elfking has indelibly eaten my brain. All others pale.

I rarely review on anymore, but this story is too epic and too beautifully written to NOT review. Thank you for sharing such a poignant, complex, and intensely satisfying fiction. I feel incredibly lucky to have stumbled over so early into my experience in a new fandom. I can only hope that LotR has more gems like this hidden in its archives.

This story is excellent in many - all - ways and I really should be leaving longer, better reviews but for that I would have to tear my eyes away from the story and I have the luxury of coming late and have all these chapters waiting for me... I can't resist clicking on to the next..

This was an amazing saga! It was beyond realistic. I could feel myself entering this world and experiencing all that occurred! The deceptions and plot twists were complex and Tolkein-worthy. A true masterpiece!

As expected, your final chapter doesn't disappoint!

*All the major storylines are mostly tied up. Not too neatly, mind you (what/where really is Mithtaur to do/go), but at least a general direction.

*The humor of Gimil, between him and Legolas, returns fully, to show that aspect of their friendship. (His fluster at elvish "acts"-great!) And that Thranduil suggests he sail eventually... Nice!

*A final glimpse at the grander sweep of Fourth Age elvendom, as the enclaves mix, renew and decline, and all begin to turn West.

...All wrapped into the story of a father and son restored, changed if only by the breaking of their worlds.

Special note: Loved the evolution of the Ithilien homes; brilliant and spot on for a real society!

Thank you again for taking us on the wonderful journey with characters we thought we knew, evils we thought vanquished

Hope you get to see and enjoy "The Hobbit," for a little more cinematic backstory. And perhaps muse for more... ;-)

Thanks for sharing so much, so well.

And so we have it, the final dam to break and (relationship) plain to be washed cleaned! Huzzah! The healing took us nearly a half-million words to reach (not a complaint!), and father and son a thousand years to speak. Tension to the end; it could have failed to happen at any point; and for my part, it was worth every moment.

Yay too for Gimli! The outsider here plays the key role as friend in speaking truth to Legolas, provides literal physical support without demeaning himself or those helped. And you have him do so without "just" being a means to their end; he remains a fully fleshed person in his own right. (I think the elves owe him something considerable; and I would love to see you tackle his return to his people with the woodland prince in tow... Hint, hint.)

I also appreciate the use of fletching as bond beyond time-passer, and your thoughts on Silvan elves.

One more chapter, to savor slowly for its finality!

Thanks for sharing with us.

Finally catching up with you here-counting down, it seems, to the finale. Both exciting and sad, just like the story itself.

With so little spoken word, you continue to pack in a tremendous amount of emotion; having us sit and squirm with each character as he struggles internally... really adds to the experience of the painful patience they each are experiencing and having to hold.

Perhaps from my time away from the story, my 'fresh' eyes noticed that Thranduil and Legolas are a lot more similar in how they're facing (or trying not to) their struggles now. While that similarity has been there all along, I know, I think your presentation of them as related has become more stark, as they realize it. It's come gradually, and is well done!

Interested in the larger elven cultures as I am, I also appreciate the dynamics between king and subjects, as Thranduil weighs whether and whom to allow close. Yay for more insights on your take on elvendom in the Epilogue; but I'm getting ahead of us...

Amazing story. I hate to say it but I'm a silent reader and I'm positive you have many. You have written one of the best novels on this site. You should be proud of what you have finished. (Another story?) :)

It's finished! Congrats! I know I'm terribly lurk-y, but I have enjoyed this story very much. :)

This was another well written chapter. I like the way you wrote the interactions between Legolas and Thranduil, with each trying to move beyond their past. On one hand, I wished that they could openly and fully talk about everything they went through. We as the reader got to see Thranduil's and Legolas' perceptions on what happened in the past; but neither of them have truly seen what happened through the other's point of view. On the other hand, I can understand why they can't have this discussion now. Legolas is too hurt in body and spirit. He has too much healing to go. He's not at a place where he can hear Thranduil talk about his history with Sauron and acknowledge in specific instances how he could or should have recognized who he was dealing with and fought harder. He could not hear anything about it without relating it to how Sauron manimpulated him. They couldn't have this full and open talk now about their past, but I like to think that maybe one day, years in the future after each of them has sailed west and Legolas is in a healthier place that conversation will happen. But, meanwhile, I'm diving back into your story for the last time :((. I'll give you more feedback after I've read the epilogue.

So much to love in this perfect, perfect end to an epic of incredible and immense proprotions- not only in the length because it needed this to say everything you have siad, but in the philosophical and intellectual content. I said in the last reviww, i iwll never forget the Orc Queen, nor will I forget the intense exploration of the father-son relationship that was first corrupte an dnow is cleansed, in the saem way that Legolas is cleansing the land.

And the journey of Thranduil and Legolas is the centre of thie joyous an dhilarious conclusion that Gimli comes ot, is an absolute treasure: "You will let me know when the urge to nestle into the rock begins to claim you, won't you? I like the caverns your father built in the Greenwood. He is sensible, like a dwarf."

I like the relationship that is blossoming with Daerion - his heart stutters is a lovely phrase and asking him to pack four times his needs. And then that lovely interchange between Legolas and Gimli - it shows his healing and that wonderful bond between these two is sich a joy to read in this. it has been a significant pillar of this story that friendship and this si a wonderful scene to cement it.

That Thranduil is proud of what they have built is testament to HIS journey- not just a dwarf then?!

But you made me cry.

"And when it is done, you will realize this moment was just a brief prick of pain."

This brief prick of pain that is the end will stay much much longer and I know I will come back to it again and again. Perfect resloution. Perfect ending. This is trthfully, a very very beautiful end.

This was the perfect end to the story, seeing Legolas happy, delighting in the new trees of his colony and on the brink of giving his heart. The farewell with Thranduil made me cry, but it felt right that Thranduil should leave the Greenwood to the Silvans. And Legolas's sadness just went to show how much their relationship has healed. And at least we know there's one Elf who will welcome Gimli when he arrives in Aman :)

This story had me gripped from start to finish. It's an amazing achievement. Congratulations, and thank you for working so hard and sticking with it, even through the hard times. I do hope to see more fics from you.

This brought a lump to my throat - the embrace between father and son, and the way Legolas let Thranduil into his heart was so moving. It was the perfect way to end the chapter. It's hard to believe you've nearly reached the end - Dark Forest has been a part of my reading life for so long. But I like how you've tied up the loose ends and shown how Legolas has finally won permission to rule in Ithilien. I liked how you pointed to the future and showed that there would come a time when Legolas will need a close bond with Thranduil in order to come through the grief of losing Gimli. I have every confidence that when that time comes, their relationship will be strong enough.