Best ruler?

[MirkwoodArcher]

Thranduil for me, naturally, but what do the rest of you think?

[Chloe]

I chose Galadriel because she is pretty much just overall one of my favorite characters. As for who would I want to be my leader, I'm not really sure, I know who I wouldn't want, but who I want, I don't know.

[MeredithThornbank]

Hail theoden king of the mark

[Elessar]

I chose Aragorn... it was a tossup between him and Theoden for me though.

[Matrix]

aragorn's my fav so i chose him.

[Laerdan]

Aragorn's nobility and leadership skills shine outlong before he takes any steps towards claiming his throne

[Marieke]

Aragorn! He brought the dead guys to the battle of the Pelennor Fields. Who else could do that?

[Éowynshue]

Aragorn for me!

[Laerdan]

He's a popular man isn't he, makes you feel kinda sorry for the others

[Nessa]

I wouldn't have choosen Thranduil because my first impression of him was through the hobbit. There he seemed to be a crotchety, grumpy sort of old guy.

I picked Aragorn because his beginnings were fairly humble. In the Lord of the Rings we first see him sitting in a shadowy corner in an inn in Bree. I loved the way his character devleoped into the King of Godor by the end of the story.

So it doesn't look like I'm picking on Thranduil, The Simarillion does paint a slightly different picture of Thranduil. In this story he appears more as an elven warrior of royal blood.

[MirkwoodArcher]

I know what you mean. Thranduil doesn't come across at his best in The Hobbit. I fell in love with the wood elves when I read about their feasts, but even I felt Thranduil had an unfriendly side. Then you read the Silmarillion and you understand him much better. The shock of losing his father and most of his people, followed by constant threat from the Necromancer would have made anyone less than welcoming towards strangers.

In the Legolas story I'm writing, Thranduil is well aware of his weaknesses, especially his tendency to hold a grudge too long. This is an extract:


He had decided that none of his past sorrow would taint his son, that Legolas would not be asked to bear the grudges or the fears of past ages and past conflicts. He could not be wholly sheltered from the assumptions of those around him, but Thranduil had declared that he should not be taught such history as might burden him. His questions would be answered, but not solicited. So far, there had been few questions. Legolas looked to the future, not to the past, and yearned for a bow in his hands and the strength of maturity.


And here's a poem I wrote about the battle of Dagorlad.

Naergon Thranduil Erin Ndagorlad.

Adaren, gwann, gwann erin Ndagorlad,
Ú-'erin lû egor cerithon nírnaeth.
Maethyr dhennin ovrar, mellyn dhennin,
Mar in edhil hin gerithar ad lalaith?
Man estel dartha erin Ndagorlad?
Man calad dartha ir amdir edledh?
Man aran ir aranem danna fern hí?
Darthon, athan pân estel, am meleth.
Adaren, aranem, aran velegwain,
Eneth lín peditham egleriol
Gurth lín horthatha ven an auth athan sen
Rûth annatha vellas dhaer broniol.


Lament of Thranduil on the Battle Plain.

My father, dead, dead on the Battle Plain,
I have not time, or would make lamentation.
Fallen warriors abound, fallen friends,
When will these elves have laughter again?
What hope remains on the Battle Plain?
What light remains when hope goes into exile?
What king, when our king falls dead here?
I stay, beyond all hope, for love
My father, our king, mightiest king,
Your name we will speak praising
Your death will urge us to battle beyond this
Anger will give great strength enduring.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know, I talk too much. ;D Can't shut up about my Mirkwood elves, but Aragorn would come a very close second to Thranduil!

Neneithel

[Nessa]

That was wonderful, Mirkwood Archer. You do have good insights into the character. Will you post your fan fic here?

[MirkwoodArcher]

 

I might, if I ever finish it. Inspiration comes in bursts and my track record with stories is not good. Here's another bit of it though. Neneithel is not based on me, by the way. I use the name because I am fond of the character. She had it first.

There was an afternoon of summer warmth. Thranduil watched Legolas and Neneithel practicing their archery. They were well-matched. Each shot was fast and precise. Legolas was slightly better from horseback but Neneithel was better at sending an arrow through driving rain or fierce wind. During the session, a messenger arrived from Rivendell and distracted Legolas. His shot went wide and he snarled at his failure.

"Try again," said Neneithel, "Distracted shots don't count."

He shook his head, "Battle is not free from distractions. Will my enemy let me try again?"

Something about the way he said it made his father uneasy. The shadow in the south was never far from Thranduil's mind and the thought that Legolas might seek to fight it troubled him. He accepted that his son was a warrior, but always shrank from the vision of Legolas in battle. Yet he knew there was some need in Legolas that a peaceful life in his father's halls could never fulfil. He still listened to harpers, and now he asked them questions about the wider world. Thranduil was grateful that, at least so far, his questions had mostly concerned Elrond. Little harm would come to him between Mirkwood and Imladris.

Heledir worried too, but concealed it from her son. She spoke to Thranduil of her fears that Legolas would leave them, but did not try to persuade him not to. Instead, she continued to encourage the friendship he had with Neneithel, knowing that Neneithel honed her skills to protect her homeland and not to look for trouble beyond it.

Neneithel

[MirkwoodArcher]

Here's another bit of "Bound By Bowstrings", Legolas asking for permission to go to Ithilien after the War of the Ring.

Permission to Leave.

[/center]

As Thranduil spoke of his delight at his son's return, Legolas tried to marshall his thoughts and his words enough to ask for permission to go back to Ithilien. It seemed even more important now that he had wrought such harm. Finally, he managed to speak. "Adar," he said, "Ithilien is gravely marred."

"That is sad. I have heard many sweet stories of that land and once I walked there. The world has suffered for a long time. Much is lost."

"But not forever. It could flourish again."

"Do you think so? That would be a great thing, to see the scars left by him fade under green growth. You must tell your friend the king, whatever help we can give, we offer. Tell Aragorn that he has only to name his needs.

Legolas watched his father's eyes. He spoke slowly, knowing that his request would be a hard one for Thranduil to hear. "Ada, if you refuse, I will not go. I will never oppose your will or defy your word. Even if I did not honour you as king, I love you as my father. Say no, and I will neither disobey nor resent your decision. Ithilien is not so far."

Before he could go on, Thranduil said, "You want to leave us. Legolas, I wish it were not so. However, if this is your desire, I will not deny it. I believe that you would stay if I asked it. That fact, more than anything else, means I cannot refuse you. You would not resent me, but I would not forgive myself for repaying a lifetime of filial devotion with such selfishness. You have seen the sea. Perhaps you will one day go west. At that parting, I will perhaps suffer less if I have had this smaller parting to endure. You and any who desire to help you may depart for Ithilien when you are ready. I ask only this, send word often and visit when you can and do not leave Middle Earth without coming to take your leave of us. It is time that the influence of our people spread beyond these guarded borders. Go with my blessing, act in my name, with all my authority. Let not the love between us be marred by bitterness on either side."

Legolas felt tears fill his eyes. "There will never be bitterness between us, adaren and aranen. There are no words in any tongue sufficient to thank you."

"Nor are there words to thank you, or to praise you."[/i][/b]

[Luthien]

Wow, Mirkwood Archer, you are a great writer! I would love to read some of your fanfic.



I chose Aragorn. He was a totally courageous leader yet a servant of the people at the same time. Of course I would love to serve any of the elves but Aragorn is first for me.