Chapter Listing for the Story That Ate Mirkwood
:-)
All right, at long last I am getting off my rear and finally webbing the
entirety of my Magnum Opus Tolkien fanfic, "Dark Leaf." A few words about this massive work in progress:
1) It was originally rated NC-17 for violence and occasional disturbing content, but having read
a lot more fanfic, I have determined that it should in fact be rated a strong R, as many other NC-17 fics are far more problematic.
Not that this is bad... but just different. There is semi-graphic sex here, and some torture and torment, but I have
tried to be very circumspect in how I have handled it.
2) This is NOT a story for young people. I would hesitate to allow most young teenagers
of my aquaintance to read it without a parent nearby who understands what is going on, and can help with the rough spots.
My own teenage niece is reading it, but her parents know, and her mother is reading it too. She understands the sometimes
blurry line between reality and fiction.
3) Bad things happen to beloved characters in this tale. If you are young and a huge Legolas
fan, please think twice before diving into this. He WILL be all right by the end of the story--but I intend this to
be realistic. No "instant Elvish Magic cures" for the adorable archer-prince... no simple solutions to difficult problems.
But I do intend a happy ending--or if not exactly happy, then serene. Which, for an Elf, may come down to the same thing.
4) There is sexual content. Not a slash story per se, this contains nevertheless reference
to loving, caring couples who just happen to be of the same gender. There are also het couples who love each other.
And then there are the Orcs and Humans who happen to be vile and disgusting and under the control of Shadow... Legolas is
not a minor when the Bad Sexual Things happen to him on-camera, as it were, but there is reference to abuse that occurred
when he was indeed little. The people who did it will pay Bigtime for it. There will be justice. But I won't
show it graphically, because I think sexual abuse is vile, and the people who do it are sick. I'm fairly open-minded--I
know there are many people who love alternative sex and do it honestly, with others of like mind: BDSM, that sort of stuff.
I don't find that sick or disgusting. What I do find sick and disgusting is non-con and other abuses. So if you're
looking for that to be seen as cool and neat-o, please look elsewhere. If you're looking for condemnation of consensual
BDSM etc., please look elsewhere.
5) Let me know if you have any issues or problems with this story. In fact, let me know
if you love it to pieces and want more. :-) I love long, rambly reviews. I want to know where you wept,
where you laughed, what made you shiver in a good way, and what squicked you. I want to know it all. Reviews are
the only payment freebie writers like me ever receive.
That all said: This is a long, adventurous tale, and there will be others in its story arc.
The chapters to date are all here now, and linked; click the list below for each one, or read sequentially; there is
a link at the bottom of each page to take you to the next one, without having to return here.
I hope you enjoy the story. It will probably be complete in about six more chapters, at
most. And no, I'm not the World's Fastest Updater. I apologize for that... but real life isn't always nice to
me.
Current guesstimate for the arrival of Chapter 17: Late 2007, Early 2008.
Cheers,
Jasta
