Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

My Brother's Keeper  by daw the minstrel 25 Review(s)
pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/1/2005
Legolas was so glad to be able to go with his friends some freedom his father has finally given him...
Eilian is looking for trouble... It seems he is getting that herb and it is addictive as was told...

Author Reply: Thranduil has a great deal of trouble giving Legolas any freedom. Annael is such a nice kid though. If his parents let him go out, Thranduil should let Legolas do it too.

Estel_Mi_OlorReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/22/2004
Ooh the plot thickens! I didn't know elves had contra-band drug dealers. I can't believe Maltanuar is going to let Eilian take the dangwath! I think we have a small addiction problem here. Or maybe Maltanuar thinks he is doing what is best for Eilian. Yes, well I know Maltanuar would never do anything to harm Eilian. But oh dear, very worrisome!

I liked getting into Eilian's head and finding out how the shadow-sickness was affecting him. That makes him appear more sane than he seemed to be in the last chapter. But he really does need help! Poor Eilian! Everyone's favorite OC!

Poor Legolas! He knows Eilian is sick, has seen first hand proof of it, yet must be content with Thranduil's answer, which isn't really an answer at all. I hope he doesn't do anything foolish.

But I can't help feeling sorry for Thranduil as well-it must be devastating to watch your child be sick in spirit that way. "He had already asked Eilian to stay away from Legolas. He would have to see to it that Legolas also stayed away from Eilian." This sentence struck me as the most heartbreaking one in the chapter. This fic seems to be getting very emotional. (in the sense that it is sad for us to read about Eilian's difficulties).

I *think* everything will turn out alright in the end!


Author Reply: I had a hard time thinking of how to make this story fit into ME because I don't think Elves would have an underground drug culture either. But I do think it's possible that wounded warriors might wind up addicted to drugs. That happens.

Eilian is suffering from shadow sickness. This is the first time it's really hit him and he's recovered quickly but he's a little shaken.

And Thranduil is worried about both Eilian and Legolas. Poor Ada!

EmilyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/18/2004
Legolas's night was rather ruined. Eilian is worrying me more and more. I like his companion/bodyguard very much. A voice of reason!

Ithilden at Alfirin's cottage amused me endlessly. Although, at first I thought he had come to fetch Alfirin's mother, the healer, because something was wrong with Eilian.

Eilian nodded and then looked up into the branches overhead, trying to let the trees’ song bring him comfort.

That was heartbreaking! He wants to be well but won't accept that recovery will take him longer than he thinks it should.

Author Reply: You must be channeling my beta. She loves Maltanaur (Eilian's bodyguard, or his "keeper" as he sarcastically calls him). Thranduil has made him responsible for keeping Eilian safe and that's what he intends to do.

The scene in Alfirin's cottage made me laugh shamelessly as I wrote it. This rather reserved maiden mops away at the crotch of the king's eldest son and then her mother offers to 'take a look.' If I were Alfirin, I'd have pulled up a floorboard and crawled under it.

Eilian has a hard time accepting his weaknesses. He's not a patient person.

lwarrenReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/17/2004
Well, do I feel silly...and Eilian has proven very tricksy and resourceful! I still think he's suffering a little more than he would have anyone know...but now the he's Eilian Bond, 00elf, I will try to rein in my *ahem* maternal concerns about his health! ;-) This was a chapter full of surprises...always keep 'em guessing, huh? Thranduil gets surprised by an enterprising elfling, Ithilden gets surprised by hot tea (poor guy...all those concerned, helpful females!), and the mystery elf is gonna get a surprise eventually from Eilian and Maltanaur (who, BTW, I am glad to see sticking close to Eilian!) Great chapter!

linda

Author Reply: Thank you, Linda. Don't feel silly! I hope you thought exactly what I intended you to think. Deception is fun. ;-)

Eilian is still suffering from shadow sickness, and he's struggling a little. Poor guy. But he's determined to do something dangerous anyway, much to Maltanaur's dismay.

The scene with Ithilden was fun to write. I have to admit I laughed when I wrote it, especially the part about Alfirin mopping him up and her mother offering to 'take a look.' Could a mother possibly say anything more embarrassing? LOL

meckinockReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/17/2004
Oy, Undercover Elf! Oh no! And poor Legolas is going blunder right into the middle of a "Cops" episode, isn't he?

But better that than the oh-so-awkward In-Law Encounter... poor Ithilden and Alfirin. OK, I'm caught up now. Whew.

Author Reply: You think Eilian is trying to fool you? ;-)

Poor Alfirin. Could a mother utter a more embarrassing sentence than "Shall I take a look?" after Ithilden spills tea in his lap. I laughed when I wrote it and I'm still laughing.

tigerlily713Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/17/2004
Oh! Intrigue! Great interactions between characters! I love Legolas's quick manipulation of the situation with Thranduil and the gathering.

I can't wait for more!


Author Reply: Legolas certainly jumped on his chance to be allowed out. And there does seem to be intrigue here. At least I hope so!

The next chapter is close to done, so you shouldn't have to wait too long, Lily.

erunyauveReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/16/2004
Nice contrast between playing with his porridge and the very serious adult question.

'They all stared at Ithilden as if waiting for him to speak.'

Poor Ithilden! I'm sure this is *not* one of those times that he wants to be commander and king's son. But trust a cat to be entirely unimpressed by his status.

'He halted his steps for a moment to listen to a song that blended particularly well with the music the river made as it rushed by on his left. The sound of the river spoke of home to him, and his heart eased a little. “The Valar bless you, my lord,” called a voice from among the trees'

Lovely.

I'm a little surprised that Maltanaur is so calm about this, though I suppose he figures he has no choice - better to have Eilian's trust so that he can protect him as much as he can under the circumstance.

Author Reply: Ithilden is certainly having a bumpy courtship, and for the self-possessed, confident Ithilden, that's got to be almost unbelievable! He probably goes home and wonders what in the world happened.

In my world, Thranduil's sons have grown up along the river. I think they would miss it, as people do miss bodies of water or mountains or trees or open prairie if they're used to it. I'm from a woodsy part of the US and moved to the prairie a few years ago. I find the absence of trees is really disturbing, but one of my students recently described a trip to where I'm from and said "The trees came right down to the road. It was spooky."

Maltanaur is indeed trying to watch Eilian's back, as usual.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/16/2004
Well, here I am in Grad School Town! It's lovely, but rather damp tonight.

Here we have a rather interesting situation for the House of Oropher. It seems that the older members are acting really stupid, and the younger ones are showing at least a little sense.

Would that all drug users had Eilian's presence of mind to keep a sober friend around to take care of them. It looks like he's using the dangwath in the same way that people use marijuana for medical purposes, though it seems that dangwath is slightly stronger than pot (and probably wouldn't taste as good when baked into brownies). I'd be really worried for him if he didn't have Maltanaur around, but Maltanaur has a good head on his shoulders and really seems to care about Eilian above and beyond the requirements of his job. He's the perfect nurse if Eilian is going to try self-medicating.

Good ol' Ithilden. . . “I hope I am not imposing.” Did he mean that as a verb or as an adjective? Cause if he meant it as an adjective, then he really ought to know better.

Of course, the one who really ought to know better is Thranduil. It's kind of hard to believe that such a wise old Ada could do something as monumentally stupid as try to separate Eilian and Legolas and then compound it by not leveling with Legolas, but that's parents for you, I guess. They always want to shield the younger siblings. I know that, when I had problems, my mom would occasionally try to keep it from my sister, but she figured out how dumb that was and stopped. I think Eilian needs Legolas and that unconditional adoration he gets from li'l bro, and if he had it, it would reduce his need for drugs by about half. And Thranduil ought to know that Legolas is much too old to be fobbed off. All kids know when they're being lied to, and Legolas is quite old enough to know what's going on with someone so close to him. And really, Thranduil demands such honesty from his sons, the least he could do would be to be honest in return. I'm sure that, by the end of this, Thranduil will wish he'd just leveled with Legolas from the start.

Dumb, Thranduil. Real dumb.

Author Reply: Glad your move is completed enough that you have an internet connection. First things first, after all!

Maltanaur is really devoted to Eilian, and one of the things he's tried to do is keep matters between himself and Eilian if they're not part of his charge to protect him as a warrior.

I didn't even think about 'imposing' as an adjective! That's funny. He is kind of imposing, I think.

You are so right that Eilian thrives on Legolas's unconditional love. And he would never want to be the cause of harm to Legolas, so I can see his dilemma.

I hope all goes well with you as classes start, FP.


JebbReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/16/2004
Well I have never been so glad to be proved wrong before, so Eilian is up to something but if Maltanaur is with him and knows what he is doing it cannot be so bad can it?
Ithilden takes tea what a scene that was and so funny for everyone except poor Ithilden he really doesn't come over as the self assured leader we all know he is when he is around Atfirin which is a good sign I think
And Legolas sweet talking Thranduil to allow him out at night Thranduil was very fair and he was right his youngest son deserves to be trusted if only the same could be said about Turgon

Author Reply: Maltanaur is taking good care of Eilian, to the extent that Eilian will let him anyway. Thank goodness for Maltanaur. Thranduil chose well there.

Poor Ithilden indeed! Nothing like having hot tea in your lap, have the girl of your dream try to mop it up, and have her mother offer to 'take a look.' No wonder he went home!

Thranduil did very well with Legolas. He sees Legolas's good points and, as you say, he tries to be fair. But he does worry. They live in a dangerous place and there is always Turgon.

emjoReviewed Chapter: 3 on 8/16/2004
I am starting to get into this story although I have no idea what you have in store for our favorite elves. I love seeing Ithilden and Alfirin's realationship starting to bloom! Poor Ithilden spilling tea on himself in front of the whole family! Great chapter. Please update soon!

Author Reply: Thank you, emjo. It looks like Ithilden and Alfirin's romance didn't run smoothly from day one. He can speak to her coherently now, but the tea in the lap thing had to have put a damper on things! Poor Alfirin. She realizes she mopping tea from his crotch and her mother offers to 'take a look.' Could she BE more embarrassed?

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List