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Interrupted Journeys 8: Through Shadow and Flame  by elliska 5 Review(s)
DotReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/22/2012
Oh no! Moralfien AND Dannenion AND Dolwon AND a Balrog!

Great chapter. I'm really enjoying seeing Legolas and Galithil being not only responsible and mature but proving how much they understand the workings of the realm - from knowing the difficulties in providing weapons to realising the implications for their own home if even the dwarves couldn't withstand this new enemy. Galithil in particular seems to have a very shrewd mind. They're also both genuinely decent people. I love their worrying about the injured dwarves and not wanting to trouble the "child"! Nis, by the way, is wonderful! So determined and strong and yet not beyond teasing two young elves. I laughed at the reminder of them spying from behind the tapestry.

I'm worried about Amglaur.

And there's definitely something odd going on in this village. Poor Moralfien (I say that sarcastically) obviously didn't take into account that Lothlorien elves, dwarves and thus Thranduil's family and their guards would all end up on her doorstep.

I'm also a bit concerned about Galasserch. He's so pleased with his sword and so nice and a little naive - and that never bodes well. Although, not everyone has daw's penchant for killing off characters so maybe he'll be ok...

I'm sure I had loads more to say. Oh well. I'm engrossed now. More please.







Author Reply: Oh no! Moralfien AND Dannenion AND Dolwon AND a Balrog!

LOL! Yeah, this can't bode well, can it?! ;-)

Legolas and Galithil are very mature in this one, especially Galithil, since it is his (at at least, his brother's) village. He feels responsible and responsibility is good for him. He responds really well to it. Next chapter, he's really in full swing, as you'll see. I like Nis too. She had some other parts in this series before here, but they got cut. I might try to fit one of them into a short story soon, because I like her.

This village (and Moralfien) are going to be a constant source of trouble for the next few stories. Galasserch, I will tell you, makes it through this story. But he will be back.

Although, not everyone has daw's penchant for killing off characters

ROTFL!! You spoke too soon. :-)

Thanks so much for the reviews Dot. I really appreciate them!

perellethReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/19/2012
This was moving, worrisome and hilarious in all the good places, elliska. From what Galithil might be thinking, being back in his adar's village, to the shrewd, amused she-dwarf knowing all about Thranduil's temper to the increasing worry, Amglaur's new responsibilities and of course, the dark shadow of this she-elf who keeps changing name but not ways, this is shaping up to be a quite dark story in very troubled times. I'm having a great time!

Author Reply: Excellent! That is exactly what I was going for! I couldn't resist the dwarf being female. And I love this: this she-elf who keeps changing name but not ways. That describes her very nicely. It is actually a pretty dark story in the end. I'm glad you are enjoying it. And thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them!

FantasiaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/18/2012
Moralfien is not that Noldo that try to kiss Thranduil and lead a revolt? I have to re read now the old stories. They are always conspiring, Dannenion and Dolwon, I still don't see why the King did not exile them.

And a new mystery to me, why Lord Amglaur is not the King of Lothlorien? Lord Celeborn is the Lord, as far we know (hopefull, Lord Amglaur will survive!).

And I wish that Nis had shared her tale with Elrond and Glorfindel, the last one could has recognized Durin's bane

Now, the best part is the cousins reactions to a bearded female and how not to insult a beard! priceless.

The maturity of those two is incredible, they are thinking as proper princes now.

Author Reply: Moralfien is indeed that Noldo. She along with Dannenion and Dolwon are trouble, no doubt about that.

We will be solving your mystery of Amglaur fast enough. Not the next chapter, but the one after that ought to clear it up.

I always wondered why there was such mystery around what was in Moria at the time of the Ring War. Dwarves obviously escaped. They surely must have told someone why they left. And you'd think if the descriptions got back to Glorfindel (or really any Elf alive in the First Age, since Balrogs took part in the War of Wrath), they'd figure out what it was in there. Of course, maybe they knew but hoped it had moved on since it never reappeared (as far as they knew) after this. But I'm enjoying playing with what Legolas knew. He did vote against going through Moria when the Fellowship voted, but he did not say why. He did seem to know how grim the situation was when the Balrog was identified. And he did know quite a bit about Nimrodel, for example.

I absolutely could not resist the bearded female dwarf. Someone put that into my head in another part of this story (that Legolas should meet a female dwarf) and I decided this would be a fun way to do it. It will put him on his toes every other time he meets a dwarf! :-)

I'm glad you think Legolas and Galithil come across as mature. That is exactly what I am going for.

Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/18/2012
I was reading along, looking ahead to enough problems created by the dwarf's story of the Balrog, and then you hit me with Moralfien, Dannenion, and Dolwon. Why does that sound even worse? LOL

Interesting to see Galithil's old playmate well-armed and serving as a guard. That certainly suggests something odd is going on. I know Thranduil needs Dolgailon, but his absence seems to have left room for problems here.

Of course Galithil and Legolas are both functioning in pretty adult roles too, and they're handling them well. Their experience in Thranduil's court comes in handy when they sit with Amglaur to hear what's going on in Lothlorien. Really, you have to ask yourself what Amroth was thinking. Did you plan the theme of absent ruler = problem? Or am I making that up?

The stuff about the maggots was disgusting. Accurate, I have no doubt, but disgusting. I'm with Legolas on that one. But he and Galithil shine with the kindness of their conversation. No wonder the short-bearded "child" was willing to speak to them. :-) I liked the connection to your previous story where the kids eavesdropped.

If he is a child...and maybe one of those injured dwarves is his father...and neither of them appears to be his mother...."

Galithil shook his head and practically flinched away from looking at the dwarves, obviously sharing the pain of the young dwarf that had likely lost one parent and might still lose the other.

I really liked that little snip of conversation for the way it gives the reader just information to figure out "dead mother?" and "Galithil thinking of his own parents." There's always little flash of pleasure at figuring these tiny things out as a reader.

Author Reply: Moralfien is going to be more trouble than the Balrog for at least a few people before this story is over, but even knowing that, that comment made me giggle. :-)

I did intend to play around a bit here with the idea of absent rulers and the problems that causes--you are not making it up! Everything that happens in this story, especially the oddness we see in this village, is really set up for not the next story, but the one after that. It is all motivation for some of Galithil's future decisions, which cause their own problems. :-) But this seemed like a good place to do it, paralleling Amroth's actions with stuff going on in the Woodland Realm. :-)

Legolas and Galithil are being very adult here. Thranduil will be proud of them on several occasions. And they may learn some things about adulthood too.

I couldn't resist the maggots. They are actually used in modern, 1st world medicine for severe burns in some hospitals (properly raised, sterile ones, of course). It really does work. But it is so disgusting. I just couldn't resist having Legolas have my reaction to first learning about that. :-)

And I'm glad you liked that bit of conversation. It was almost cut (a lot of that conversation was cut and added back and cut again as I tried to find a balance between slowing things down too much and showing Legolas and Galithil's concern for the dwarves), but I liked that it showed Galithil is still sensitive to that topic, so it stayed.

Thanks so much for the reviews, Daw. I appreciate them so much!

CandissDReviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/17/2012
Another great chapter! I loved how Legolas deduced Nis was a child only to find out she was a lady dwarf and that he had insulted her beard. :D

My favorite line of the whole chapter :" When your adar hears it...well, I think that to say he is going to react very badly would be a rampaging understatement."

haha I can't wait to see how he reacts and cannot wait to read more :)

Author Reply: I couldn't resist the lady dwarf thing. Someone a while back put it in my head and it made me giggle. :-) I'm glad you enjoyed it. And, that line about Thranduil. I bet Galithil is right about that. It is fun to picture Thranduil's reaction to something this potentially serious. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanks so much for the reviews. I appreciate them so much!

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