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The Last Age of Elves: A Precious Find  by fael bain 7 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/28/2006
You should use "disentangle" here rather than "entangle". Lovely description of Legolas trying to understand the concept of death and looking to see his mother again if he only makes it to the West. Too young to fully understand; not old enough to appreciate just what is happening; and finding someone else who understands for similar reasons. And to reawaken Legolas is needed now.

Author Reply: Thanks for the correction! I think his understanding of it is still flawed, and the poor boy has nowhere to turn but to Elrohir, which can only be a good thing for them both.

ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/28/2006
In regards to your last comment about your characters,I believe thats why we all read thede stories,which are heart rending but comforting.

Author Reply: Thank you. I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who feels such warm affection for my characters! ;)

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/23/2006
Fall in love with your characters! They are too good not too! I'm enjoying this very much. Your Legolas is not too sickly sweet, your Elrohir is coming along great, and I love Elladan! And his love and concern for his brother.

Enjoying this thoroughly!

Agape

Author Reply: Thank you! I am glad Legolas isn't too cloying. Only too often I come across stories where children are Mary-Sues. They are surprisingly more adult-like than we give them credit for, and I had hoped to do justice to that.

LaureleafReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/23/2006
Lass is like water under Elrohir's defenses - slowly washing them away without him realizing it. I like how Roh is caught trying to figure out how to explain death to a small one (as it may actually help him as well) and I like to see how Lass's attachment to Roh continues to grow. It will be interesting to see how Elrohir worms legolas's info from him!

Author Reply: What a lovely metaphor you have given! Elrohir undoubtedly has his work cut out for him, although I doubt he will see it as a chore!

LiannaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/23/2006
The question, of course, is whether your characters feed off each other in a good way or a bad one. Only you can decide, I suppose.

I think that Elrohir's situation is actually worse than Legolas's. Eventually, someone will be able to explain to Legolas that even though his mom will eventually show up in Aman, it's going to be a very long time before she gets there, and he may as well stay with people he knows in the meantime. But the same explanation doesn't work for Elrohir, does it?

I've often wondered why everyone in Celebrian's family chose to stay with Elrond, rather than having at least one person go West with her. It seems a bit brutal to send her alone, especially since she doesn't seem to have any immediate family in Aman (her parents are in Lorien, and I've never heard of any siblings). Perhaps you will be the one to tell us why it happened the way it did.

This chapter is a good lesson in why death should be explained to children accurately and carefully. What a mess Legolas has gotten into because he didn't understand what had happened!

Author Reply: I think at the moment it's in a good way. I enjoy playing with the contrasts between the fully grown elf and the little one, because they don't realise how similar they are.

You've brought up a very good point about Celebrķan's leaving. I hadn't thought about it, but am sure it's a good springboard for many a storyline.

Yes, Legolas has gotten himself into a right fix, but I suppose those close to him would have been grieving over their own losses, and found it difficult to control their own emotions while explaining it to him. Thranduil was very affected by his father's death, and losing his Queen must have made it seem to him as if every one of his family was being torn from him. I don't think he would have been in a fit state to sit Legolas down and explain it carefully to him, which is very unfortunate indeed.

FireReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/23/2006
This is going to be a tough one indeed. Just how do you explain dead to someone so small??
Elrohir is really starting to break up isn't he.. turning away so Lass can't see the tear. Still trying to be a tough guy but hardly being able to do so, this is just what he needs. A little elfling that's going straight to his heart ;)
And Lass trying to bribe him in to not finding out who he is. Cleeaver little squirt isn't he?
Smart thinking though by Elrohir not promising anything to Lass without his ada's advise.
Keep up the writing I can't wait for the next update.

Author Reply: I don't even think explaining death (especially if unexpected or unscheduled) to an adult is possible.
Elrohir has spent so long trying to be impermeable to those around him that he's finding it difficult to accept Legolas affecting him so much. A change about him has occured without him knowing enough to fight against it, and I'm glad for that!

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 5 on 4/23/2006
Falling in love with your character? Isn't that compulsory? (Well, more or less. Sauron is a bit hard to love.)

as if somebody had taken a knife and scraped out every last piece of his insides Lovely evocative bit of description there!

The poor elfling finds it so hard to understand loss - it will probably be very helpful to him to know that others also suffer and learn to live with it for the sake of others. And Elrohir needs that innocence and trust to reach a part of him that isn't open to his father and brother. Being together will be very good for them.

Author Reply: Yeah, the evil ones are a bit difficult to not want to stab. =)

Thanks very much for your really encouraging comments. I think explaining loss to any child is difficult. I still remember being confused about the concept of it; people were crying, and us children were herded into a corner without really knowing what was happening. And I agree that it might take someone with a completely fresh perspective to make you accept your loss, which is what Elrohir really needs. Certainly, even hearing a simple 'death sucks' might be enough to jolt you into the next stage of grief.

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