Oh Siân, I'm so excited you've given me my first review! You know, it's almost as exhilarating as posting for the first time, it's been so long.

Yes, Legolas is clearly Not Happy. A place like Valinor is likely to be a change-adverse place, stale and boring to tears for someone who's used to action. But I know for a fact that he won't be bored for long in this story.

Thanks so much, Siân, your encouragement means a lot to me!

Hugs,

Russa

No worries, it will stay put! Thanks for popping round. :o)

Thanks, Oshun. I hope I'm able to keep you mesmerised, there's still a lot of story left, and a lot of self-indulgence in there, including tons of archery which I hope won't be dull. And OMG, you like the footnotes? :o)

Hi Himring! I'm so happy you're reading this fic. Actually, you are on the right track, but... if only things were that simple. Events will take an unexpected turn in the next chapter, and after that... well, I hope you want to keep reading to find out what happens, and that you enjoy it.

Thanks so much for your review!

LOL. These ones have hyperlinks, maybe that's what makes them pretty. I haven't tried if they actually work!

I'm so relieved you think the balance is good. Maybe because I always write when I'm tired and grumpy these days, my stories turn out darker than intended. So it's good to know that the littel jokes make it all a bit less gloomy.

I'm really hoping Galadriel will surprise you in this story, in a good way. I imagine that she's confident enough to get what she wants; without need to prove anything to anyone. After all, she's done her job in Middle-earth, now it's time to enjoy some fun, and to let her hair down.

You have IgBee to thank for my version of Legolas. He made me think hard. :o)

Thanks so much, oshun! I'm so pleased you're reading this fic.

Yes, well, about the unexpected turn, I wasn't going to make things too easy, or the story would be over in no time.

I've always wanted to have Beleg and Legolas together in a fic. I'm not sure either of them approves of my decision but, hey, being the author has its advantages sometimes! Trauma might be a bit excessive for what's to come, though they have all had plenty of it in the past. I hope it's a good mixture of angst and fun. Again, the characters might disagree with me, but I hope you do agree!

Thanks a lot, Himring!

I knew I was taking a risk, to start a Silmfic whose dubious selling point is featuring non-Gondolin!Legolas with an unknown Original Character instead. I figured that, in order to compensate, I had to make the opening of the fic compelling enough to get people to want to keep reading. Choosing Durthir's "dark side" was another risk, but then, this man is not a happy character. So I'm really thrilled to read your "helluvan opener" description!

There are loads of nods/connections all over the place. I'm truly hoping they won't impact readers who are not familiar with other stories.

Yay, you liked my cottage! No one has picked up on that, but I was aiming for warm and cosy. A really wonderful and homely place in Valinor that is not enough to make Legolas cheerful. So of course, an adventure is exactly what he needs, and Elrond is wise enough to realise. Probably not the type of adventure Legolas was hoping for, but still, better than staying under his duvet and moping.

Thanks for the review, Pandë, it's certainly a most welcome boost!

Disappointed is an understatement. Poor Legolas! I don't think he's being rational. He's found out his old lover is alive, he's built up all his hopes, and they are shattered before his eyes when he finds him happy in the arms of his childhood hero. He's lonely and frustrated in Valinor, despite Elrond's support, now jealous, heartbroken, and on top of that ashamed by his own secret obsession. Feelings of inadequacy in all fronts. Not in the right frame of mind to show his happiness to see Noruion alive and well again, and even less to meet Beleg and accept with equanimity that he has taken for himself what Legolas wanted most. So yes, he sneaks off. I guess sometimes a hero can face a Balrog or the hordes of Mordor but is unable to overcome his own feelings...

Thanks for your review, Himring! I hope you are not the one disappointed by this latest development.

Oh, yes, they do. Sauron has that effect on people. Pandë'S DM described it best: "enhanced orgasm and subsequent stimulation of your dopaminergic system, resulting in a feedback that causes something akin to an addiction."

I couldn't resist bringing them together and join Legolas' story to my bigger Sauroun's 'verse.The addtional beneft is that Legolas gets to hear he's not really bewitched, it's all in his head. Not that this knowledge is an instant cure in itself, though.

Thanks for hanging on, and for letting me know you're still reading!

I'm relieved to hear it seems seamless to someone as discerning as you. The second part of this chapter and the last one were written half a year of not having written a word. I had more or less given up on writing at the time. When I tackled it again, I wrote a lot of unnecessary narrative to remind myself of where I was. It got cut out eventually. Of course, I was also scared about writing the final part of the fic and the inevitable love scene. I hope that comes across well.

Thanks oshun, your encouragement gives me a boost, and has made my day look much better already!

I'm sitting here looking at it right now, making my never ending little edits. I hope it will meet the required standards for hotness after all the angst, as you say. I guess my patient readers would rant if I chose to post the fade to black version, LOL. Now I'm anxious it will meet expectations. :o)

All is well that ends well. I wasn't as cruel as to keep them apart, even if I actually considered it.

I never noticed the similaity with "Midsummer Night's Dream" but now that you mention it, I can see what you mean.

Thanks for reading, Himring, and for letting me know what you thought of it.