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| A Question of Duty by daw the minstrel | 58 Review(s) |
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| MaxMacGyver | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/5/2004 |
| I have spent the last week reading all of your stories posted here. (yes, ALL) I followed the chronological list you have in your profile, and just finished this last one. I am so impressed with your writing, that I cannot even begin to praise you as much as you deserve. This is the first review I have posted here on Stories of Arda, and I can only think of one thing of import to say: I became so immersed in your stories and they were so well written, that I quite often forgot that I was reading fanfiction, and thought I was reading Tolkien himself. That is the highest praise I can think of to give. I will now forever await new stories from you with anticipation. I cannot bring myself to read works in progress, because I simply can't stand not knowing what happens next! But I will be diving into your current WIP, "Good Neighbors" as soon as it is complete. Thank you for contributing your works to Stories of Arda and sharing your amazing talent with those of us who hunger for stories of Middle Earth written as Tolkien envisioned it. Author Reply: I am speechless. I truly don't know what to say except thank you for telling me this. The fact that you read all those stories in a week is enough to make me want to lie down, but then you go and say such nice things! I had never written fiction at all until I started writing these stories, and you could probably tell which ones were written earlier because I've been learning the craft slowly. But the characters have gradually come alive for me, and I'm having a good time trying to fit them into Tolkien's world. Thank you. You've made my day, and possibly my week. | |
| esamen | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 8/8/2004 |
| Elrohir nodded. “Stay and eat with us,” he invited both of them. “We have asked for food to be sent here so that we do not have to go to the Hall. I intend to go to bed early and I believe that Elladan does too, so you can still go to the Hall of Fire afterwards.” They both readily accepted and, joined by Elladan, they sat at a table on the balcony, sharing news. Hello there daw -- I was scrolling through some stories and found this gem of a moment . . . . and I about fell over as I pictured it . . . all four of the biggest studs of Middle-earth gathered around one table on the patio! . . . . oh, my goodness, what I wouldn't pay for tickets to see this scene on film. I am still rolling around on the floor. You must have had a great time writing this one. Do you keep all these fellas locked up in your closet and just let them come out to play once in a while? Can we come over? Loving every word of it . . . esamen P.S. Now, I'm picturing Thranduil when Beliond comes back without our blond one . . . do you have that crystal moment up your sleeve as well? There might be quite a story there, crisscrossed with flashback scenes of Thranduil when he was young and did similar things perhaps . . . I wouldn't want to inspire you or anything . . . but these words are just jumping out of my keyboard. Happy writing Author Reply: It *is* a pretty moment to picture, isn't it? :-) In "Tide of Times," Thranduil thinks about going to Rivendell for the first White Council meeting and taking Ithilden with him. He thinks that Ithilden spent time with the twins. That's another moment I like to picture. I've have several people ask me to write about Beliond's returning to face Thranduil without Legolas, and truthfully it's not very high on my list right now. For some reason, I have not been as interested in post-quest stories as I am in these pre-quest ones. But I am increasingly thinking it would be possible to write about what was going on at home while Legolas was on the quest, maybe cutting back and forth between them. The idea of using flashbacks to Thranduil's youth is intriguing too. At the moment, I'm outlining an adolescent Legolas story though. So it' wouldn't be any time soon. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/29/2004 |
| Got it!! As far as I can recall without excessive rereading, didn't Eilian's novitiate take place at the end of the Watchful Peace - when Annael's grandfather died? And Lorellin was wanting another baby, and Eilian thought his parents decided against it because he was so difficult? Then, I seem to remember he told Legolas that he was twenty years younger than he should have been. Author Reply: That's all true, Bodkin, but I wrote that long after I had written "Question of Duty" and a number of other stories in which Legolas's birthdate was already in my notes. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/29/2004 |
| Well - I have been looking through this to see if I can read between any lines to find out who will be safe from the Battle of the Five Armies! H'mmmm. I fear for Todith. I've also noticed that Legolas now has a date of birth! Any reason why you picked 2480 of the Third Age? Or is it randomly decided to fit your world? So Eilian was 348 when he married Celuwen - and they've been married for the best part of 200 years. Elflings definitely due. And little nephew Sinnarn is 418 - he's old enough to marry Emmelin, no question. This elven age thing is interesting. Sorry this comment is not about QofD, which I have enjoyed several times. Author Reply: I am trying to remember why I picked 2480. I know I wanted Legolas relatively young for the Quest, so I chose to believe that he was born around the time of the Watchful Peace. But why did I say he was born 20 years after it ended? I can't remember. :-) I liked your speculations on how becoming an adult might be affected by the fact that the older generations don't die. | |
| Kendall | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/21/2004 |
| Dear author, Wauw, what a wonderful story! I had read several other stories of you before, but I didn't realise they were actually written by you until I saw your biography. Your style seems to be changing throughout your different stories, a thing that shows to me that you are progressing in your writing! I love the beginning of the story, as well as the end. Very well written. Actually, I love the entire story :) You have told about Legolas and his thoughts in a very capturing manner and I am very glad I came across this story on the net when I did. Thank you for sharing it with us! Author Reply: Thank you, Kendall. I hope I'm learning to write better. I had never written any fiction at all until about year and a half ago when I started writing fanfic. I still feel like I'm learning the craft. I have a very good beta reader who prods me along ("Show! Don't tell!" "That's not what Tolkien said!" etc.) This story was fun to write. I enjoyed thinking about Legolas might react if he'd never been to all these places before and was encountering so many new things. And I do think it must have been hard for him to decide to go with Frodo instead of defend his own people. I'm glad you enjoyed it. | |
| ValkrieCrow92 | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 6/4/2004 |
| I have to say this one is my favorite of your long series of stories. It's so addictive I keep coming back to it! I'd love to see what happens when Legolas returns home from the quest, and his family's reaction to his decision. Author Reply: Thank you, Valkrie Crow. If the story will stand rereading, I take that as a good sign. :-) Legolas's return from the Quest must have been a mixed experience on all sides. From what Tolkien sayd, the battle raged hot and heavy in the woods and many trees were burned. So his family would have had many other problems to deal with on top of their crushing worry for him. And then he would come home to a lot of destruction. It might indeed be interesting to write about some time. | |
| Aloysius | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/21/2004 |
| It's interesting to see the Fellowship just meeting and starting to get to know each other, and you convey Legolas' thoughts and feelings about the situation really well. I like your portrayal of the other elves with him and I enjoyed seeing how his original mission developed into him joining the Fellowship. Author Reply: Thank you so much, Aloysius. This time in Rivendell seemed like an interesting gap in the story to me. Tolkien tells us so little about it. So it was fun to try to figure out one possible way things might have happened there. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 5/20/2004 | |
| I would dearly love to see Thranduil's interaction with Legolas when he returned from the quest. I hope you write that sometime. Author Reply: It would be interesting to see. Poor Thranduil. He loves his kids and he has to send them off into danger. No wonder he wants to protect the little one. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/19/2004 | |
| I've been reading Spring Awakenings since you started posting it. That was my first fic of yours to read. I happened to be poking around and I noticed you have this whole series of them, so this Saturday morning I sat down to read one--figured I'd give one other a try since I like Spring Awakenings so much. Except for 4 hours sleep last night, I haven't walked away from the computer--even called in sick today becausee I couldn't quit. I have now read every one in the series and some twice. These stories are phenomenal! Best OC's I have ever seen and believe me that is saying a lot because normally, if I start reading a Legolas fic and he's got extra siblings, I just quit. I've never bought that idea before. With your OCs I completely can. Your character dev. is absolutely stunning. Your characterization is abolutely on target given the situations. Your Thranduil is outstanding. I love your plots--absolutely believable, unique, creative and tense. And your use language (both in character mouths and in description) is sharp. I have to beg a favor--PLEASE write a sequel to this from the end of RotK when Legolas has to 1) face Thranduil/his brothers 2) see the damagee to Mirkwood in his absentia and 3) ask to take elves to Ithilien. I know Coriel is writing a great fic on this (I return) but I'm dying to see your Legolas and Thranduil and family--especially since your Thranduil told him to come home asap. PLEASE consider it!!! Even if it is just a short one. Author Reply: Holy cow. I feel like I've been corrupting you or something, maybe offering you an addictive drug! I don't even know what to say to this absolutely wonderful praise. I guess 'thank you' is going to have to do, although it's inadequate, given how beautifully specific you've been in saying what you like. I have a whole file of story ideas and the one you propose is in there. But even as quickly and obsessively as I write, I can't keep up with the ideas that keep flowing. I look at the "Tale of the Years" at the end of ROTK and I get ideas. I have wonderful readers who send me comments, and I get ideas. My beta suggests stuff, and I get ideas. I am blessed or cursed with an apparently undampable imagination. The major problem is that I've been obsessed with these characters and have blown off a great deal of work in the last year (I'm an academic and am supposed to be writing scholarly stuff instead of fanfic) and at some point I'm going to have to do it. But what the heck. I'm tenured! What can they do? ;-) Thank you so much for this fabulous review. I have to print it out and leave in sitting in front of my husband's computer screen now. | |
| esamen | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 2/27/2004 |
| A kingdom may come to me. It would be my right by birth. But if I seek it, I do so because I believe that my leadership could help to draw together the people of Middle-Earth to fight Sauron and to build a world in which we would wish our children to live.” Sigh. Yes, that's Aragorn. What a tremendous king he will make . . . not to mention husband and father. Lovely story! Thanks again! I will have to go and read more about Legolas who can command the hearts of warriors but who still has a tender spirit. Salutes across the miles, Karen Author Reply: I'm glad you liked it, Karen. Your own story shows that you are a wonderful addition to the LOTR fanficdom. Welcome. | |