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On Border Patrol  by Manderly 5 Review(s)
elliskaReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/29/2005
Well poor everyone here but Legolas, I think (he's the only one happy). I feel for Hesin here--first Feren and then Thranduil! And guarding the King's son would be one heck of a responsibility.

I liked Legolas packing with his brothers and the little treat Aldeon brought. That was sweet and so was seeing that Legolas was not entirely confident. I think that is pretty realistic unless the kid is completely arrogant (which, of course, we know he is not).

And poor Thranduil. I can't imagine how hard it would be on him. Nice memories there and I liked the last lines. Great chapter!

Author Reply: You are right, everyone but Legolas will be prime candidates for an ulcer, and Hesin will probably top the list. Bad enough fighting all the nasty things in the forest, let alone guarding the King's son on top of that. He is one brave soul.

As this story will be about Legolas away from his family, I've tried to get a bit of family time here before he takes off, since I really do enjoy writing about family dynamics.

I think Thranduil will feel like a lost parent for a while. Must be so hard for him to send one son after another off to battle.

Thank you very much for your review!

thechevinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/29/2005
There should definitely have been a tissue warning at the beginning of this chapter, Legolas is really going to miss his family almost as much as his family will miss him
Their care for him, shown in so many ways from advice on packing to extra treats right through to providing him with a protector was all done so well and the depth offamily feeling that you manage to get in here adds so much to the story telling I love that you do not rush us through but let us 'see' everything that is going on in Legolas' life but best of all is Thranduil spending the night watching his youngest son sleep and remembering all of those little family things
He is going to be so bereft
thanks you for thislovely update

Author Reply: Thank you for your very kind words. When I was writing this chapter, I had not realized it was an emotion-churner. But I am glad that it turned out so - I guess I did something right.

It's always hard to let go of a child. I know the feeling only too well and what makes it more difficult is that it's something that a parent has little control over or choice.

Legolas probably doesn't realize it now, being so caught up in the excitement of leaving home, but I am sure he will miss his family once he's away from them.

Again, thank you for your review.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/29/2005
Poor Thranduil. He's losing his last baby and things'll never be the same again. They won't necessarily be worse, of course, but they will be different. Well, at least Legolas is excited.

I'm not entirely sure about incorporating information about underwear into warrior vows, though. 'Always wear clean underwear: you might get knocked down by a bus' doesn't quite work for me. Legolas is lucky to have Tavaro to help him here - he wouldn't want to turn up incorrectly supplied. And I love Aldeon's arrival with treats. And so much more practical than cake.

I'm glad Hesin is going to keep a pretty firm eye on the new-to-the-dangers addition to the patrol. And hope that his promise to 'watch over Prince Legolas with my life' isn't too ominous. The Woodland Realm really can't spare all these warriors - they need to remain alive to defend it from attack.

They will all be worrying about Legolas while he is on patrol - with reason, I am sure!

Author Reply: I think Thranduil will be wearing the stone floor of his room thin until his baby returns to him sound and whole, and Legolas all the while will remain blissfully unaware of what his poor father is going through.

No, "I will always wear clean underwear" just doesn't quite have the ring to it when spoken along with words as "I will defend the Realm with my last breath", so I don't think this little phrase will it make into a warrior's oath any time soon.

Poor Hesin. He's got some job ahead of him, especially with the shadow of the previous failure hanging over him. Hopefully Legolas will be more restrained this time, but I don't want to make his job too easy.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/28/2005
Love the scene with Feren and Hesin. Just guard the King's baby boy, with your life. A task you nearly failed miserably at before. No pressure, Hesin. And then he gets to have the same conversation with the King. It's a wonder the poor guy is still standing.

And everyone comes to help see the baby off for college -- excuse me, the army. I half expected one of them to trot out the old "wear clean underwear in case you get hurt -- what will the medics think" speech. But the package of dried fruits was better. Of course, Aldeon has to know that that package will be shared out among the entire patrol as soon as they smell it.

Author Reply: Your review made me giggled endlessly. Yes, poor Hesin. I think Feren must harbour some unconscious desire to punish him for his previous failure in protecting his precious brother, regardless of what he is saying to the poor warrior. And Thranduil basically just further pounded the nail into the coffin with his little speech.

Clean underwear advice - I was tempted but opted for mentioning the quantity of it instead.

As for sharing of treats, I wonder if Legolas will be that generous.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/28/2005
Lovely reactions by the family here. I especially enjoyed the comparisons in the scene with Thranduil observing his sleeping son.

Author Reply: Letting go of his baby must be unbearably difficult for Thranduil. I decided to concentrate on his thoughts rather than to attempt to verbalize his good-bye to Legolas, an easier thing for me to do as I really don't know what Thranduil could have said to Legolas in this situation. Glad it came out okay.

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