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The Masque Of The King Stag  by French Pony 13 Review(s)
TinnuialReviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/1/2005
Wow....that was such a moving story, so beautifully realised. I could feel every emotion, every twinge of regret and pity for the king and his son. I'm so glad it had a happy ending =)
Thank you for sharing this with us.
=)

Eruanneth_LuinReviewed Chapter: 4 on 12/23/2004
It was good to see the wall broken down and Thranduil in need of his son at last. That there were so many friends to stand in his stead until he recovered enough to make the move showed again the closeness of the Elves.

The explanation of the masque certainly helped with understanding the significance of most of the events. Thank you for drawing the curtain back once more to explore the world of the Silven Elves.

Antigone QReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/28/2004
"There are some feelings that are so strong that we cannot speak them aloud. Instead, we speak with our bodies. We make music, and we dance." How true, and how lovely that you chose to write a story about it. Thank you!

JastaElfReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/27/2004
Oh, what a glorious ending to a superb story! This is just so beautiful.... so sad and sweet, so lovingly crafted.... Just fantastic. I have been telling everyone I know about this story--and I hope every blessed one of them leaves a review. What a gorgeous, rich, incredibly marvelous piece of work! You have brought it to an excellent conclusion. And yes, you are right--sometimes grownups just don't remember to view things as children do!

I have this lovely vision of the circle being completed some day: of Legolas being a dancer himself, working his way through the various roles available to a young male, and someday dancing as the King Stag before the loving eyes of his Ada--and finally completely comprehending that life goes on, the sun returns, sacrifice finds its reward, and the darkness is overcome. Maybe his Ada would even help to grind the beetle-paste to make the glittery paint....

Oh, FP, thank you for this marvel of a story! Thank you so much, and may your Yules always be bright!

rikkiReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/20/2004
What a lovely story, the wood elves dancing away the dark, portraying the death of the old year and the birth of the new. The shortest day of the year calls to mind many myths and stories of pagan and Christian origin where there is loss and rebirth. Thranduil's kingdom seems to be populated with very elemental elves, more attuned to the trees and earth than the Lothlorian and Imraldis elves. Hollies and berries, evergreens for decorations to show everlasting life, glass ornaments to catch the light and sparkle, representations of winter and ice. It brings to mind some Elizabethian reproduction pagents I have attended.

I did the early childhood terror bit with Santa Claus when I was very young. Screamed bloody murder when I saw this stranger with a beard. I could see where the shiny face paint and an unfamilar costume would scare poor Legolas when his Adar comes into the pantry. Shadows and flickering lights can make the most normal of appearances turn into something truly scary. But in the end all is revealed and accepted, both for the masque and the lives of a father and his son.




LOTR loverReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/20/2004
Oh, French Pony, what a wonderful story this is! Everything about this rings true, from Thranduil's response to the loss of his beloved queen to Legolas's response to the loss of his nana. The Yule preparations are wonderfully researched (but not so it shows--simply that everything fits so seamlessly) and the masque itself is so well written that I can see it happening in my mind's eye.

All of the original characters are drawn beautifully. Not one is merely a cardboard figure, and your interpretations of Thranduil and Legolas are so very elvish and yet so recognizable. This story has got to go into my favorites list. Thank you.

LamielReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/19/2004
The power seems to have stabilised, so I was able to read the last chapter. Again, Legolas' fear at seeing his father in costume was very real. I remember seeing children react similarly in such circumstances. And it was lovely to see Thranduil and Legolas coming together to heal their heart-break. The decorations and the shoes were a particularly welcome touch - some warmth after all the strange and frightening rituals was a relief. I also liked the story of how the Elves first reacted when the Sun came into being - after the constancy of the stars and the Light of the Trees, that must have been frightening indeed.

The whole concept behind this story is wonderful, and it was a real treat to read. Thank you.

lmwReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/19/2004
You made me cry. I like to read young Legolas stories, and this definitely was worth the time and tears. You have all the characters so real, adult and elfling. Some things made me laugh too, my own kids have complained about food cut incorrectly, or broken. My daughter is 17 and will not watch Sleeping Beauty.Well done!

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/19/2004
And this was a very pleasant breakfast treat for me! This whole story was so sad (what else would you expect given the subject matter but...). Poor Thranduil--it would be really hard to finish the dance at that point. And poor little Legolas. Mom probably used to be the one that explained that scary things were coming and she wasn't here to do it. And no one else got around to it. It does happen. For me it wasn't Snow White, it was Bambi. Stayed for the first five minutes of that movie and that was it. And when I took my (at the time) 8 year old niece to Disney World, it never ocurred to me that the Pirates of the Carribean ride was scary but I had to keep her from diving out of the boat. The second time we went on it she was fine and loved it because she was ready for the scary parts. I loved Legolas and Thranduil's "reunion." Everything about that whole scene was very touching. Great ending. Glad to see them back on the right path together, not healed but on their way.

MarnieReviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/19/2004
Wonderful - I was sitting here with tears in my eyes, and believe me that doesn't often happen to me.

I know what you mean about Snow White. Seeing that was one of the scariest experiences of my life. It took me years to get over the trauma!

This is a lovely story - a perfect story. Thank you so much for writing it.

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