Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Cantrip  by bryn 15 Review(s)
Kitt of LindonReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/23/2004
Yep, ff.net is nothing but romance, slash, romance, & general trash. That is why I read things here. *shrugs*
*squeels* Cirdan!! Cirdan has been mentioned! *does frightening dance* Ai, no, Thrandy booted by trolls. Erester needs to watch his tongue.
*gasp* I had always thought that Elladan and Elrohir would have done something very drastic but not so drastic as that... How could they have thought Elrond would not know?
Ai, I do not know why Tolkien made two big villains names 'Sauron and Saruman'. I always used to be so confused.

LayangabiReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/23/2004
Let. me. catch. my. breath...

MWAhahaha!

Ahem. Sorry byrn. =) But I love it when Thranduil is being catty, (as in delicously evil) and particularly when someone (like you) does it so well. Poor Elrond--- "A vision of Thranduil came to him: golden-haired and imposing. There was a gleam of smug arrogance in the grey eyes, which clearly said, 'I win.'" Go Thranduil!

I have to root for the elven king here: not simply because he's become my favourite character (courtesy of you, Thundera, LKK, and other writers) but I throughly sympathize with his (and E2's) apparent frustration with the dilly-dallying Council. And judging from the fact that Celeborn has mastered the art of looking like he's paying attention when he's really not, Thranduil's not the only Council member who's impatient with words.

I'm also rooting for Thranduil, because, disturbingly, the Rivendell elves seem rather smug. In their faith in the Council, in their dismissal of Radagast as mad while they hold Saruman to be brilliant. "Thankfully, Saruman had also come to the gathering, ensuring at least one sane wizard was present" *Snort* How I laugh at the irony of it all.


Author Reply: Layangabi- *grin* Thranduil is hands down my favorite Elven King. He deserves waaaaay more credit than most give him. Oh so sure, maybe he's a little greedy and hot-tempered and self-centered, but he's also wise, has a good heart, and doesn't need a Ring to keep his realm intact. Go Thranduil!! *sighs happily* I absolutely adore Thundera's Thranduil. We did a mutual Thranduil exchange--I keep hers (aka "Your Thranduil") in a small pen in the corner of my room (with a tree to recreate his natural habitat). Don't think he likes me very much, as he's prone to glowering and growling. But I love that cantankerous golden fellow to death. Thranduil and Celeborn are kin somewhere down the line, and Sindar Elves amongst the Wood-Elves, so I think they probably have a few similar traits. :) I'm glad you liked the Saruman line. ;) And yes, I think Radagast is crazy... "crazy like a fox!" as the saying goes. Thank you for the amazing review!! :)

Estel_Mi_OlorReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/22/2004
So far this is shaping up to be a great story! So it takes place when Dol Guldor was just re-inhabited by some of the Nazgul, therefore Legolas has just been born or is very young? He was born at the end of the Watchful Peace, according to fanon at least. I wish Tolkien had mentioned that somehow. It kind of annoys me at how little importance he acredits Legolas with. Good thing we can always make up for that with fanfic. This is interesting: Aragorn meets Halbarad. I never thought Aragorn would be so Elvish, of course, it's obvious and only to be expected. Well cheers and keep writing!

Author Reply: Estel_Mi_Olor- Thank you! This story takes place in 2951 of the Third Age. In the appendix, Tolkien writes, "Sauron declares himself openly and gathers power in Mordor. He begins the rebuilding of Barad-dur. Gollum turns towards Mordor. Sauron sends three of the Nazgul to occupy Dol Guldur. Elrond reveals to 'Estel' his true name and ancestry, and delivers to him the shards of Narsil. Arwen, newly returned from Lorien, meets Aragorn in the woods of Imladris. Aragorn goes out into the Wilds." So, going by the Legolas-was-born-at-the-end-of-the-Watchful-Peace Theory (of which I agree with), he's around 400/500-ish. Not a baby, but still young when compared to the rest of his kin. Thank you for the wonderful review! I hope you continue to enjoy the tale! :)

Kal (sometimes known as "the Magnificent")Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/20/2004
Here, have a fortune cookie! *they all have "update on ff.net more often" as the fortune* teehee... here, take three crates... *dumps three crates on the floor, runs*

Hugs and Cookies =)

Author Reply: *finally manages to eat way out of crates* Ooooooh, no more fortune cookies... Okay okay! I'll go update on ff.net! ;) Thank you for the review--er, fortune cookies... ;)

RenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/12/2004
Another great chapter, although I am greatly disturbed by the imagery of the savagery of the twins. Never really thought about before, given the fact that Tolkien said like, only one line about them riding to avenge their mother...but then again, that's just Tolkien. For all his details he left a lot unsaid or unelaborated...while i guess that's frustrating to his fans, it gives the chance for one's own creativity, and that's a good thing as illustrated by your story! :D

I love your Erestor, too often I see him being depicted as a complete stick in the mud. Loving the contrast between the Imladris scenery, it's representation, and the turmoil within the twins. In such dark moments it's easy to feel like that i guess, but then you have Elrond's P.O.V....that's why I've always liked Elrond, it's his sense of hope when there seems none to be had. Hell! The man...half-man, sent 4 hobbits, 1 dwarf, etc. to try and do the impossible...

The council scene was just funny as hell!! "All knew Radagast the Brown was mad..." LOL!!!

Another chapter soon! please!!


Author Reply: Ren- I wanted to go for something a little shocking on the twins' part--to show that they weren't angels. They rode for years and years avenging their mother. It seems nearly obsessive, and I decided there must be an untapped well of rage and savagry behind it all. *lol* Erestor IS kind of a stick in the mud, and his comments at the Council of Elrond before the Fellowship set off weren't exactly brilliant. But in all fairness, he probably has his reasons. And someone needed to voice the questions he did. Yeah, kudos to Elrond! I do pick on him sometimes, make him rather push-over-ish, but I do my best to give him his moments of glory as well. ;) Thank you for the great review!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/12/2004
This picture of the twins is so gripping. You've really brought them alive in a very unusual way.

The stuff about Elrond at the end was amusing as was the letter from Thranduil.

Author Reply: daw- *grin* I had to put Thranduil in. I couldn't help it. He's just too great and thick-headed to ignore. ;) Thank you for the review!!

fliewatuetReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/10/2004
Wow, that father-son talk seemed to have been long overdue! Apparentrly, there was much that had been buried deep. I loved the way you hinted at the twins' role in the events that lead to Arathorn's death and the feeling of guilt they suffered about it. That was done nicely and subtly, just the way I like it. And I don't think the dialog was too choppy. There was a turmoil of emotions involved on both sides, so pauses and breaks in the conversation were inevitable and must be felt as such by the reader. The contrast between the more than serious topic of their talk and the description of the lovely surroundings worked quite well to both show and fill those gaps.

But Gandalf's remark about the quality of Elrond's chairs really made me laugh out loud! I always wondered how the attendants of the Council of Elrond in the movie managed to sit still in those chairs. They looked more than uncomfortable! But Celeborn's remark about his son-in-law's love for words, the fact that the introduction alone lasted for half an hour, and, finally, the attention that E2 paid their father weren't bad either. Not to mention Elrond's 'joke' at the expense of his sons ...

Well done!

fliewatuet (since you are so productive these days: When will there be an update? *fliewatuet tries her best Pippin-while-asking-for-second-breakfast-expression*)

Author Reply: fliewatuet- I find that arguments are one of the most difficult things to write. It's hard to delve into all sides, and keep the dialogue at an acceptable and understandable flow. Thank you for your comments on the matter! Poor Gandalf and his sore bottom. *lol* It seems he had enough 'fun' with Radagast, as it was, and now forced to suffer in those chairs... Thank you for the lovely review!! :) Look, I've updated already... and the next chapter is in the works!

SphinxReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/10/2004
I fear he may attempt to jest with fellow members, and even Glorfindel would not be able to smooth over his insults.

I bow, Bryn.

What intrigues me most about this story of yours is the oscillating emotion which works so well. On one hand, Halbarad and his barber shop. On the other, Elrond and the twins undertake their own journey, which proves to be a very dark teatime for the soul indeed.

Most of this was laden with a darkness that maany dont expect this story to have. But it works. Extremely well, in fact. I am an angst demon - and I can safely say that I have never seen a better mix of drama and humour in this fandom.

Waiting for the next, as always.

Sphinx
p.s. - I would love to see the romance bit. If you dont mind, could you please mail it to just_sphinx@yahoo.com? I'd really, really like to read it.

Author Reply: Sphinx- *blushes* Aw geez, thank you! I love reading angst as much as humor, though I admit without reservation it's not the easiest thing for me to write. Rather difficult, in fact. I'm thrilled you enjoyed reading the 'romance bit'! :) It was a bit of a stretch, but no harm in trying. Thank you for the great review!

phoenix23531Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/10/2004
Ah! I love this story more and more! At first, Halbarad, and now Glorfindel, Celeborn and Mithrandir! Well done on that ending!
Though I have serious reservations about the dark actions of the twins as mentioned here and alluded to earlier, I love the way you characterise their interaction with their father. What's more, I love the subtle description of how well Elrond knows them (admiring their beloved features, and above all, appealing to their indignation and subsequent humour) and yet hardly at all (their new weapons as symbolic of their new course in life).
But it was Glorfindel's point of view at the council that I appreciated most. From whose side of the family indeed! One small question for you - (I just woke up, and figuring out Tolkien's use of names right now is just not a good idea!) from an elven point of view, and Glorfindel's in particular as a returned Nolod, would he refer to the Istari as Saruman and Gandalf, Curunír and Mithrandir, or Curumo and Olórin? Ah, it's just too early for such questions!
All the best (and more chapters please!!!)
Emma

Author Reply: Emma- I re-wrote some of E2's initial horrible deeds. They seemed a bit much for the rating of this tale and I decided some things were better left to the imagination. I don't think they're angels by any means, and the shock and feeling of wrongness that comes with reading of what they've done seemed strangely fitting. (Wait, does that make sense? Or am I rambling?) Oooh, loved the question about how Glorfindel would refer to the wizards! I was actually pondering that myself. I decided he would refer to them as Curumo and Olorin, but I wrote them (when he was thinking about them) as their Western names--Gandalf and Saruman. It was more or less to avoid Name Confusion. And for some reason the phrase about Saruman being the only sane wizard present sounded better than 'Curumo' being the only sane wizard present. Perhaps I'm oversimplifying though. ;) Thank you for the wonderful review!

Jen LittlebottomReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/10/2004
“…His Royal Majesty King Thranduil was booted over the mountainside by Giants while attempting to cross the High Pass—pity—and so you need not worry about him—“

AHAHAHAHA. <3 Erestor.

Author Reply: Jen Littlebottom- *grin* Yeah, Erestor has some issues. But you know what, can you just SEE the look on Thranduil's face when that Giant puts a boot to his royal rear end? *snicker* Thank you for the review!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List