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Time's Turnings  by daw the minstrel 299 Review(s)
Asms2Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 4/18/2016
I love this line:

“What you want, of course, is for your children to learn to stand on their own. You want to be able to trust that their decisions are good even if they are not the ones you would make. I find that last part is the hardest.”

How insightful and well worded! I imagine this is a goal for most parents. Thranduil is so wise sometimes ;)

I found it sweet on the last night in Dale that Eilian and Legolas got to spend the night together while the keepers also got their own privacy. What a nice moment to conclude their successful trip.

Legolas trying to prove himself as a warrior is very endearing. And Eilian the free-spirt is always so serious when it comes to Legolas’ safety which is super adorable. I love how much the entire royal family cares for each other. They don’t always see eye to eye, but they each know without a question how important they are to their family :)


Author Reply: That line about trusting your children's decisions even if they're not the ones you'd make comes straight from my own experience as a parent! I find that really hard to do, and I'm nowhere near as imperious as Thranduil is. At least, I don't think I am, though I suppose my son is the one who would know.

I figure Thranduil, Maltanaur, and Beliond go way back together. That's why they address one another as "old friend." So they know one another's history and have shared a great deal. And the two keepers understand one another's job in a way no one else does. So they needed a little privacy to talk. :-)

daw

endorearwenReviewed Chapter: 12 on 9/13/2013
It sometimes feels to me, Daw, that we arrive all too quickly at the end of these stories! This one was a real treasure trove for me - Ithilden, Ithilden everywhere! :-) I LOVED reading more of his history. You did a great job of taking us back and forth between the events of the present and the memories of the past, the connections between them very easy to follow! I thought it was genius to have Ithilden face the prospect of a son who didn’t necessarily want to follow in the family footsteps! Incorporating Ithilden’s memories of Lorellin as he worked through how to parent this rough patch was very touching. I wish you had written more of the time that Lorellin did have with her husband and sons... However, I digress yet again - you can blame Ithilden for that! ;-)

I think this story is a really great illustration of the sense of ‘community’ that exists within the Elves. It ‘hit me’ while I was reading along just how long their lives actually are and how closely knit they are to one another throughout the entire course of that time span. You have such a good mix of ‘ages’ amongst the cast of warriors you’ve assembled that I found myself thinking about what it would be like to live for centuries and how that would affect the way I viewed life as it happened. I could almost ‘feel’ the love that permeates the generations, related or not – which is of course in complete contrast to the manner in which the race of Men live amongst one another. That is not an easy thing to convey in words and phrases, but you did a great job with it, Daw!

I have a growing admiration for Beliond! I really enjoyed the scenes where you presented the interactions and relationships between the two guards and their charges. Again, I got a real sense of how ‘timeless’ the Elves lives are and of the true wisdom they have gained by watching centuries of turmoil come and go.

My favourite scene was the one wherein Ithilden begins to appreciate his Adar’s struggles as a single parent to Legolas and the confidence that Thranduil shares in admitting he still is too overprotective of his youngest son. Just when I thought there was no way to strengthen the bond between Ithilden and Thranduil, you pull one of these scenes out of thin air and thus they become even more closely attached to one another – just fabulous! :-)


Author Reply: I think it must not have been easy to be Ithilden as a young elf. He's so well intentioned and has such good points, but he wouldn't make friends easily, given his personality and who he is. He really needed Alfirin.

It's hard for me to wrap my head around the way age would work in elves. If you're a thousand years old, do the elves who served at Dagorlad think of you as just a kid? If you have more or less forever to learn things and do things, would that change the way you thought of education or work? It's difficult. And hard too. Someone like Thranduil or Beliond had seen evil go and seen it come back again. That has to be discouraging.

you pull one of these scenes out of thin air

I wish I knew how to make stuff like this happen all the time, but really what happens is that I'm writing along trying to figure out what would happen next between the characters. What would they say or do, given their history and how I've tried to portray them? And sometimes it works. And sometimes it falls flat.

Thanks for the lovely review. You are a true Ithilden fan.

valjeanReviewed Chapter: 12 on 2/26/2007
Hah! For all Legolas knows, it could have been Thranduil who taught Beliond how to pick locks!

Author Reply: LOL. That's very true! The old man elf probably knows lots of things he doesn't want his sons to pick up.

erunyauveReviewed Chapter: 12 on 6/30/2006
I see Beliond appreciates Legolas' taste in horses nearly as much as Gimli!

It was fun to see Beliond misbehaving a bit - and I loved the whole scene at the inn.

Author Reply: I love Beliond. This was the first time I ever wrote from his POV and being inside his head was a trip. He has such a distinctive voice! Who else would consider 'beating the snot' out of Legolas? Who else would think of himself as 'an elf on a mission'? I know it's sad to be so enamored of my own character, but geez, I can't help myself.

Thanks for the review, Erunyauve.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 12 on 10/12/2005
Nice it seems Legolas is getting along better with his keeper and they are litening to each other too.
Tinar had the nerve to ask his poor wife to mend his clothes I'd slam the door in his face too... he needs he to show him a lesson or two...

Great job...

Author Reply: Tinar is the limit! Who on earth would marry him?????

But everyone else is doing better, at least for a while. Thanks for reading, Pipinheart.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 11 on 10/12/2005
Legolas actions were reported to his family and Ithilden knows his worth and my transfer him after all, one thing Legolas has been beging for.
Eilian done well, he is not a bad diplomate...

Author Reply: Thranduil should be proud of them both.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/12/2005
It seems Maltanaur has given Beliond some sound advise concerning Legolas...if he goes by it and trys to treat him with respect...

Author Reply: Maltanaur has had some time to get used to guarding one of Thranduil's sons, so he knows what he's talking about.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/12/2005
Beliond has a sense of adventure after all...and they found the infor needed, Legolas and him may work together well, if they can get along...

Author Reply: I loved writing this chapter. It was the first time I ever got into Beliond's head and he has such a distinctive voice. And Legolas did well, all on his own. Beliond might want to think about that.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/12/2005
beliond treats Legolas as a elfling...and he hates it. He should treat him with some respect...
Eilian seems to partly be enjoying himself at the dinner...

Author Reply: Eilian is usually good at enjoying himself. That's why the shadow sickness is so devastating for him. His natural state is happiness, I think.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/12/2005
Legolas handled Beliond good...he wanted to go to the end and decided that was that...

Author Reply: Legolas is asserting himself a little, and Beliond just has to suck it up sometimes.

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