Wow, this was a really impressive story, it really got to me. This last part made me cry and laugh all at once.

You are most assuredly a great writer! This one is going on my favorites list.

Please continue writing such beautifull tales.

This is a wonderful story of the developing friendship between Gimli and Legolas, and how they finally came to sail together. I especially loved the way you show how not only Legolas influences Gimli, but also Gimli influences Legolas, and how this growing impact on each other in turn sets them apart from their own people and cause a conflict of interest,

In the retelling of this friendship, it is often forgotten that the closeness between these two representatives of different races cannot just have been met with support by their own people, but must have also been met with suspicion and resentment by some. Your great accomplishment here is to give us both hints at that conflict, and also to make it also clear that there is some warrant to the skepticism of those not so fond of the closeness of their respective leaders to each other.

I love the entwining of this with the images we get of the growing tree and its ultimate fate. The symbolism here is very strong, and right to the point. Kudos and Thank you for yet another wonderful tale about this great friendship. :)

What a beautifully crafted tale of a friendship spanning more than a century of time, but it was sad to see how Legolas and Gimli's friendship had caused such an estrangement for them from their own kind.

The idea that the tree had also been a friend to them, its burial was a particularly poignant touch, left me with a lump in my throat and a tear in the eye.

That was beautiful. Thank you for sharing!

very nice

I like it a lot

thanks for sharing

Lauren

Wow. Beautiful. The whole thing is beautifully written. How do you manage to write such amazing bittersweet stories again and again? I cry when I read your stories, they are just so touching!

Thank you :)

Beautiful story! Bittersweet, really. A perfect account of such a strong friendship.

Wow. Just wow. This brought tears to my eyes. The depth of Legolas' and Gimli's friendship that you conveyed is amazing. I love how you used the rowan tree as a symbol of their friendship, and the ending was perfect. Thanks for sharing this! :-)

I love this story. The metaphor of the rowan tree anchored in the rock is beautiful - though it saddens me to think of it growing twisted, and the rock crumbling. If that is meant as a reflection of Legolas and Gimli's friendship over time I'm not sure I agree. But at least it gives a vivid image to support what Gimli says, that Legolas cannot endure until his death in Middle-earth.

There are a few lines here that stand out with your usual brilliance - Legolas' response to Gimli's question about the trade council, "There was much talk of trade," made me laugh out loud. And I note that Gimli's second did guard the fallen rowan with respect, however he might have felt about the friendship it symbolized. The care you take with even your supporting characters, so that none are ever two-dimensional, never fails to impress me.

Interesting that you chose wind as Legolas' euphemism of choice for the sea-longing. I think it appropriate, and I can certainly understand his desire to avoid mentioning it by name, though of course his friends are not fooled.

You've captured the scope and breadth of a century of friendship here in a few deftly wrought scenes - laughter, grief, yearning, comfort. It must have taken you ages to write and polish this to its final form, but it was worth it. We've had three beautiful short stories from you in quick succession now, and I for one could not be happier. Thank you.

This is absolutely beautiful - to watch the post-War friendship of Legolas and Gimli as framed with a rowan tree. There are no words to describe the gamut of emotions you evoke here.

I'm in awe.

Yay! Another story from you! I was so happy to get the alert!

*Sniff* And it was so...so... *Blows nose loudly and receives strange looks from surrounding people* ...What?

Ooh, I can't find words to describe it! It was moving and heartbreaking, yet..hopeful as well. I dunno, all these emotions in this one fic... it's almost overwhelming... Gah, I'm not making sense...!

I love the part about how Faramir and Legolas were so close, and Legolas not understanding death by aging, and of course the whole thing with the rowan tree~ Oh, and Elven glares. (Hehe, sometimes I wish I could glare like them) And you Always portray the friendship between Legolas and Gimli so beautifully. The ending was wonderful, especially those last lines...

I expected no less though! :D Haha, now I'm all happy again. I have the most random mood swings at times. Lol xD

Wow. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful fic with us. You should be very proud :)

The over all idea is awesome an it is definitely one of the best fan fics I have ever read :D

I especially loved the line:

'But though the Sea calls, there are others here with louder voices.'

I have no words. The friendship between Gimli and Legolas is one that I've always loved, and the fact that it was said that Gimli was allowed to sail says much about them.

Thank you, -thank you-, for writing this. Everything about the story is just -perfect-. It matters not whether Gimli is a dwarf, or Legolas an elf - they are friends, first and foremost, and you portrayed it -brilliantly-.

Again, thank you for sharing the story. :)

This is so beautiful. A truly deep exploration of the most unexpected friendship in Tolkien's work. I loved your characterizations of Legolas and Gimli as they face time and change together over so many years. Thanks for posting this!