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New Beginnings  by Gwynhyffar 12 Review(s)
Ivy-GreenReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/7/2009
Again I say, that is adorable! I love how you depict Oropher. A lot of people only cast him as a jerk that yells a lot with little thought of anyone else. I love it when people make him just a little fluffy! ;)

Author Reply: I can't imagine any elf parent being a complete jerk to his or her child- even Oropher. :-) I'm glad you like this image of him. He would have had to be a someone who inspires loyalty in people, and generally that takes more than just a stern countenance.

danaeReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/29/2005
This turned out great! I love seeing your version of Thranduil is a child. It gives a great insight to his character as the great elvenking. I've never seen Oropher so gentle. But I love him too. Thanks for writing.

peace,
danae

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/28/2005
*g* I was refering to Thranduil's cousins Elured and Elurin and their mother Nimloth, Dior's queen. Oropher sounded sure they were gone too, but he did not tell Anireal how he was so sure. He might have seen Dior killed, but not them. Certainly, he would not be talking of leaving if he did not know their fate and I was curious about that.


Author Reply: Ah, you had me confused.. I don't remember Elured and Elurin being twins. Oropher won't be telling that story within close hearing of Thranduil, whether he thinks he is awake or not. Other kids, however... well you know how they talk. I will just say next chapter will be full of realizations.

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/27/2005
Poor little Thranduil. You do a good job portraying how difficult it is for someone so young to understand events that the adults can not even really understand. And Oropher is wonderful here. Well done.

Author Reply: Thanks Elliska. I think elves were generally good parents and Oropher so far is very understanding of Thranduil's feelings. I'm not sure the full extent of what's going on has really sunk in yet though.

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/27/2005
I was as happy as Thranduil that his adar found them. The little prince is adorable... and so brave just as Oropher says. I hope Thranduil will overhear more parental discussion about what happened to his royal twin cousins and their mother.

"...following the river to Sirion..." does that mean Oropher and family will not be headed that way too? Interesting! Ossiriand has always seemed a more reasonable choice.

Thanks for showing Oropher not only as a good and loving elf, but clever and determined. One who can face defeat and remain undefeated for the sake of his son and wife and those looking to him for leadership.


Author Reply: Elrond and Elros haven't been born yet, they have another 20 years or so before they come along. :)

So far Oropher has been very understanding and Thranduil is only just beginning to realize what's going on in his world. When I started this I hadn't really given much thought to how I was going to portray Oropher because I was so focused on telling Thranduil's story that it didn't really occur to me. I know better now!

AelinmirReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/27/2005
I am glad to finaly see a kind and caring Oropher.
looking forward to the next chapter.

Author Reply: I never liked the idea of elves being bad parents. They may make mistakes just like any parent, but I don't see them as being anything but loving and caring.

BrazgirlReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/27/2005
Ah, poor little Thranduil. It was nice to see him in the arms of his ada again. Great chapter.

Author Reply: Hi Brazgirl,

Thank you for reading and taking the time to review. Thranduil is very happy to be with his ada right now, but I think he is going to start thinking about some other things soon too.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/27/2005
Poor Thranduil - not old enough to understand anything much of what was going on. But at least he got his Adar back and he still has his Naneth. And he has learned that people are more important than things - and that's a pretty important lesson to grasp.

This is a lovely look at Thranduil's early experiences. I'm looking forward to more.

Author Reply: Right now he is just happy to be with his parents and he hasn't really had time to think about much of anything else. I think pretty soon he's going to start seeing that things will never be the same again.

Thank you for reading and reviewing.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/27/2005
Poor Thranduil - not old enough to understand anything much of what was going on. But at least he got his Adar back and he still has his Naneth. And he has learned that people are more important than things - and that's a pretty important lesson to grasp.

This is a lovely look at Thranduil's early experiences. I'm looking forward to more.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/26/2005
I love this look at Oropher. He is such a strong leader, going in an instant from a refugee organizing the remnants of his people to breaking the news of a husband's death to putting a cheerful face on displacement for his little kid. You can see that this is the guy who will raise Mirkwood's greatest king. And you can also see where Thranduil acquired the attitude that would lead him many years later to declare that he would not start a war over gold.

Author Reply: I tried to think of things that define Thranduil later in life and which things would have been instilled early on. It seems like witnessing the kind of destruction that took place in Menegroth would have had a significant impact on him, particularly when he was so young. I think his understanding of events wouldn't be fully developed, and he would see things with a childish simplicity, leaving out anything other than that basic facts. Bad elves came and killed a bunch of elves including the king, and tried to steal his things. I think that would be memorable and even if it wasn't he would probably be put off by the idea of starting a war over gold.

We know even less about Oropher than we do about Thranduil, which makes it almost like writing an OC to write him. I can't imagine any elf really being a horrible parent, but especially not someone who raises Thranduil.

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