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Legolas's Begetting Day  by daw the minstrel 29 Review(s)
erunyauveReviewed Chapter: 4 on 8/1/2004
'“Tell Legolas that he should hurry because he is a fortunate baby who will have a beautiful nana to love him,” he said.'

Sniff! I can imagine how that memory would be especially poignant to Thranduil on Legolas' begetting day.

I laughed out loud at the discovery of Green-y in the Great Hall. I'm sure some dwarves would have paid gold to see graceful elves falling in a heap. And then I had a good giggle at the head of the chattering pest (the squirrel - though I think that Thranduil's first suspicion is not far off Eilian's thoughts).

Author Reply: It is sad to think about how much Legolas's mother loved him and how short a time he had her. I should write something in which we see them together with him as a toddler.

The Great Hall scene was fun to write. I don't often write slapstick! And Eilian would never call his father a chattering pest! He's not totally insane.

Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/31/2004
They were on the head of a chattering pest.. ROTFLOL!

Author Reply: :-)

NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/31/2004
It was very wood elfy of the dancers to do their best to avoid stepping on blue-y - they would certainly not want to hurt one of the forest creatures! But Eilian, playing with Adar's crown is unlikely to win you any brownie points!

And Amelith -we don't likes her, we don't. You have a knack for writing disagreeable female elves. Celuwen agrees :D

Author Reply: I'm probably making the female elves more disagreeable than they should be because, in my opinion, they're all interlopers! Eilian needs to grow up. If he does, he may find that Celuwen starts to see her way clear to bonding.

White WolfReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/29/2004
The scene between Thranduil and Lorellin while she was in labor was so touching. It is so clear how much they loved each other.

By contrast, the scene in the Great Hall was pure fun. It seems that each time a mouse appears, it wreaks more havoc. I hope the palace, and everyone in it, survives!

Author Reply: I'm really enjoying the chance to write about Lorellin. She and Thranduil do love one another, and together they make a great set of parents because they complement one another's strengths. Have you read Nilmandra's stories "Eilian's Begetting Day" and "First Celebrations" on this site? She wrote them as gifts to me and they both show Thranduil and Lorelling together.

The Great Hall scene was a ton of fun to write. I giggled all the while!

caz - bazReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/29/2004
before i read this i had read 'Prodigal son' and 'one year in mirkwood' in which both Turgon and Deler die.

i've found this very commical so far... i remember using my sister like that when she was young but it was more the mummy cat's thing to do bringing 1/2 dead field mice in for the kitten's to chase and catch. - she was a good cat until she was poisoned by the last set of keepers.- the last set of keepers also killed our other cat and my corgi but no one can proof anything. After they killed the cat's they left - my mother was not happy and i don't think she made life to easy for them.

The new shoot are nice enough, "Pigeon" Joe is in charge and he's an alright sort of guy, but one of the keepers is teaching me how to shoot so that's going to be fun.

i used to have stick insect's for pet's untill they mulitplied and escaped. Then i got a hamster called hudini and that kept escaping one time it got into the loft by climbing up some pipes. my brother thought there were rats scratching away the floor boards above him, he also wasn't to pleased that it woke him up at 2.00 in the morning. that hamster also attacked people. it was great. i also had a guinea pig which died on christmas day and i thought it was sleeping. - i was only about 5 at the time.

My little sister, who's youngest of three, always was more overprotected like Legolas and she had a full time Nanny untill she started school.

i can't wait till the other 3 mice turn up. i wonder if Thranduil will go mental like my dad when i bought a new pony last friday at the horse sales. really, i'm not a compulsive person, really i'm not.

well i'm off cause there's this really annoying women here so i'm going to go find something to do on the farm. i've already ridden all four horses just to stay out of the house.

Author Reply: One of the pleasures of writing fiction is that I can bring the dead back to life if I choose to. I especially like resurrecting Turgon. He's so much fun to write about.

I've never had a rodent as a pet and never wanted one. They're rodents!

I think that Elves, especially wood-elves, are pretty tuned in to nature, so a mouse isn't going to upset them just by existing. But they don't want them in the food, I'll bet.

briReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/28/2004
omg!!please please update!!this is sooooo cute!! i just love the flashback scenes!u write legolas and his brothers so well!!


update soon!
bri

Author Reply: I'm glad you like it, Bri. I am shamelessly fond of my OCs so I'm always glad when anyone admires them. More flashbacks coming up in the next chapter -- I need to get Eilian away from the orcs and get Legolas born. :-)

Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/28/2004
Ok, I've read this chapter about seven times since you posted it yesterday and it is still cracking me up everytime. So, do you think Legolas got that Thranduil thought Eilian was calling him a chattering pest or do you think he just pointed out the squirrel to explain the riddle? I really don't think you can top yourself on this one it is really just oo much. May you never get burned out writing this stuff because its better than the original.

Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked it. I confess to giggling a little still myself. So far as I'm concerned, Legolas didn't even think about Eilian when Thranduil frowned. He just thought Ada was angry and pointed out the squirrel, which then set things right.

I've been looking at the next chapter and it's not as purely comic because I have to get Eilian away from the orcs and get Legolas born and have to work in the links to make that work. So that makes it harder to go for the laughs. But this chapter was fun.

merReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/28/2004
This really worked out for me--soon before I left for my vacation, you finished Tangled Web and on the day I returned you posted the first chapter of this wonderful new story. It's perfect! Although I find the time to read each chapter as it comes, only recently have I found the time to review (can you tell I like to read better than write?)

Amazing how you are able to write about Turgon. If I did write stories, I don't know how I could do it (or write about others who were 'killed) without difficulty.

These kinds of stories are good because I don't have to worry so much about wondering 'what will happen next'!!!!

Author Reply: LOL. I'm glad my timing accommodated you, Mer!

I love writing about Turgon actually. He's so much fun. And I can keep him alive forever if I want to.

This story is fluffier than my usual stuff but it's a lot of fun to write. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

DotReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/28/2004
I’m back again. So, I went back to work yesterday after a whole MONTH (*mortified gasp*) of being off. And I was only in the job for three months before that! I’m much, much better but have decided that if anything else happens I’ll just suffer on before I get fired… Anyway, I was starting to get a bit depressed with normality today when I spotted your update and I’ve been grinning since ;-)

Yeah, so I officially don’t like Amelith. I was giving her a chance because obviously Eilian had a life to live while Celuwen was off in a settlement pretending to herself that she didn’t need him but calling the elflings ‘sweet’ and trying to get rid of them has meant a black mark against her, I’m afraid. Of course, Turgon *is* cute when he’s trying to impress her - “We have archery lessons and sword lessons”- and I’d probably want to lose the kids too…but still, I’m perfectly open to her being scared off by the mice. Although, it’s hard to picture a wood-elf being that petrified of them. Hmm. I’ll just have to wait and see what’s in store for her.

Aren’t you great at these clues?! I think poor Eilian hadn’t considered the possibility of them getting it wrong and landing back early to find him nuzzling the maiden’s neck (what if Thranduil had walked in on that??!). I had to laugh when Legolas thinks of Eilian as being ‘busy’ with Amelith. It’s interesting, really, because he hasn’t grown up seeing his mother and father kissing and cuddling, which both Eilian and Ithilden would have. It mustn’t seem at all natural to Legolas. He seems to have had enough of Amelith anyway when he tests Eilian’s willingness to have him stay. Good old Eilian for reassuring baby brother!

I really liked the bit with Thranduil trying to compose his letter. Despite having been angry with the Master of Esgaroth earlier, he seems very fair here and aware that if he wants “absolute control” of any areas he must accept some responsibility for any harm that occurs within them. He seems quite certain of Ithilden’s actions and almost proud of the way he “was not one to accept a less than stellar performance from one of his subordinates without pointing out the hapless underling’s failings in the most stinging words he could find” but I don’t know… Ithilden would presumably know whoever is the captain of the Eastern Border Patrol quite well. Surely he’d try to find out what happened before presuming total incompetence. But then again, he has been a bit frightened by the incident.

Is there a teensy typo in the line “I am sure you are doing everything anyone could to,” Thranduil had said.”?

I’m so glad we got more of Thranduil’s POV of the time of Legolas’ birth. I loved how perceptive he is of Ithilden’s worry. Eilian might baffle him but it seems Ithilden never really did.

I’m amazed at how calm Lorellin is about giving birth. “He has decided that he likes it right where he is, and I have not yet persuaded him that good things await him.” That’s lovely! There’s already such a bond between mother and son. “Be well and do what the midwife tells you.” LOL! Surely Naneth isn’t as stubborn as the rest of the family?!

“My bond to him feels undisturbed, and surely yours is the same.” Yeah, I was thinking that in the last chapter. Lorellin is right that Eilian could probably conceal it but I imagine they can be reassured that he likely couldn’t if he were very seriously injured. It’s wonderful to see Thranduil trying to calm his wife, even if she is too clever for him to fool.

Jam in fur-lined boots? Eh? I don’t think I recall ever doing anything that daft. Although, I used to go around supermarkets and put tomatoes inside the egg boxes. I’m not sure why.

“He is, in short, a Wood-elf, my poor Sindar love.” I loved that! It’s like, sure God love us he can’t help what he is but he should lead a normal life despite it…

I loved, loved, LOVED the story about Ithilden riding off with his wooden sword to help Ada defeat the enemy. He was obviously just as loyal and determined then as he is now. And what an adorable image it is! I’m just going to ignore how sad it is to think that an elfling that young knows anything about enemies or what kind of danger his father might be in…

It sounds like the Great Hall is the place to be at night. You know, if it was any other mouse Annael might have showed a bit of caution but it *had* to be his, and of course Turgon and Legolas were unlikely to consider the consequences. What chaos they caused! And I though elves were graceful! Oh well, it gave the crowd in the Hall a bit of excitement, I suppose.

“He had a task to complete and indulging himself in pain for his lost wife would not help him get it done.” How very Thranduil, to see it as ‘indulging’. He should allow his memories to surface more often. No, not because I want to see them but because it would help him heal…

The scene that Thranduil came across must have been unbelievable. And Legolas on top of a pillar clinging onto his crown! “He made a treasure hunt for us,” Turgon said, “and we were looking for flowers and these are the right flowers because Eilian said they were on the head of a chattering pest.” Oh, daw that’s just so hilarious. I’ll be laughing for days. I love the idea that Eilian just helped himself to the crown. How disrespectful! And did no-one see him fling up the pillar?? LOL! I can’t *wait* for the next clue. What a fun game! :-)







Author Reply: Geez, Dot. You were really sick and maybe still are a little. I'll bet you're wearing out pretty easily. Take care.

Eilian can do better than Amelith, as we all know. She's too eager to dump the kids. Well, he is too but his love for Legolas kind of balances that eagerness off. And as you say, when Legolas tests him, he passes. I liked your observation that Legolas would have grown up not seeing physical affection between his parents, which the older two did see. Maybe watching Eilian was the way Legolas got educated! What a thought.

I think Ithilden is fair with his subordinates, but I also think he would demand an accounting. If they can give him a good one, he'd probably accept it. And you are so perceptive to see that Thranduil is NOT baffled by Ithilden like he is by Eilian. Ithilden and Thranduil are quite a bit alike, I think.

The jam in the fur lined boots was inspired by a friend's toddler who put raspberry yogurt in his boots for no discernible reason. He was being very quiet and she called "What are you doing?" and he said "I'm putting yogurt in my boots" whereupon she turned into a crazy lady. I saw it. :-)

The elves in the Great Hall seemed undisturbed by the chaos. They're Wood-elves! They probably thought it was fun.

I have to admit the whole crown/chattering pest thing made me giggle while I was writing and makes me giggle still.

Thank you so much for pointing out the typo. I always wonder how in the world I could have missed one, but I do.

JebbReviewed Chapter: 4 on 7/28/2004
Eilian is going to be in so much toruble chattering pest indeed I do not think Adar approves!
Simply wonderful the scene in the hall with elves and elflings falling all over the place was hilarious and Thranduil so calm and serene how long can this last?
His thoughts about Legolas's begetting day made me smile and want to cry so much love and only we know so much future grief

Author Reply: He didn't mean Thranduil! Honest! He just meant the squirrel. I think Adar believes that but he's not happy about his crown being used like that anyway. He's keeping his cool very well, as you point out, but I think Eilian is in trouble anyway.

I feel bad every time I think of Nana, who loved Legolas before he was born, and got to be around him for such a short time afterwards. Poor baby.

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