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Sacrifice Under Shadow  by daw the minstrel 19 Review(s)
The KarenatorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/15/2004
I just saw your note regarding the pronunciation of 'Eilian'...ay-lee-ahn...hm.m.m. 'alien'. Not that Thranduil didn't already know this.

I got cold just reading about sleeping in a snow den and I don't blame Legolas one bit for wanting to stay in his blankets. That would just plain be tough going. It was interesting to try and picture the Greenwood as Eilian knew it as a novice. He must have been living the life of Huckleberry Finn only to have it interrupted by giant spiders and dark lords. Such a loss of freedom...which I think would make Eilian even more restless than he was by nature. He strikes me as the sort who bucks the system at every chance, one who delights in pushing his limits and one who would rather take the punishment than admit defeat. I'm fairly familiar with the type...I have several living at my house.

The 'air-alien' scene was a riot, but as a mother, it did make my heart skip a beat. Poor Eilian, he just doesn't get it at all. He's so busy having fun, he misses most of what is really going on around him. What a flirt! He's lucky, I suppose, that Celuwen hasn't launched him off a tree limb yet...into thin air.

It was nice to see Siondel..sniff...

One of the most interesting points you brought up was what would Eilian have done if he had not been a warrior. I think he would have made a good gynecologist.

Good show, Daw. I look forward to the next chapter. Karen

Author Reply: ROTFLMAO! Karen, you are out of your mind! Gynecologist indeed.

Your analysis of Eilian is right on though, I think. He is about to lose some freedom that he's been used to and that will not sit well. And testing the limits is only fun, so far as he is concerned. Until he gets caught of course. That's not so much fun, but it's unlikely to deter him. He has to learn on his own. In one story, I had him say that he learned slowly but he did learn and I still hold by that.

You can see the roots of his relationship with Celuwen here. They know one another well and are very comfortable with one another. But he is dense as a post over her feelings for him right now, and, I suspect, also over his feelings for her. ;-)

JebbReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/15/2004
Good we are going to find out a little more about Eilian and his life before he became a responsible captain. I wonder whether Thranduil is still to be convinced over his level of responsibility!
It was great to see the differences in the way he trained compared to Legolas Which is worse to lose the peace having tasted it like Eilian or for Legolas who has only known the shadow?
And bungie jumping in Mirkwood only Eilian!


Author Reply: I suspect that Thranduil still looks at Eilian and sees that reckless youth, and that's partly because he's still there sometimes. I'll bet there were days when Adar seriously *needed* that first glass of wine. And Eilian must have had more freedom to roam as a kid than Legolas did. Losing that would have been hard on him.

JustafanReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
What a lovely Valentine's treat! I really liked Clueless!Eilian and the insight into his reckless childhood. Thanks for posting this.

Author Reply: Clueless!Eilian indeed! Poor Celuwen. Poor novice masters. Poor Thranduil. But Eilian is a ton of fun and one of those people that everyone likes. He's just a center for chaos.

Legolas4meReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
Ah yes, Eilian is definatley the most rowdy of the three. I think this is where he and Thranduil's relationship gets rocky. Eilian is so independant but reckless at times and Thranduil is very protective of his children. They are all he has. I can not help but like Eilian, though I think he is a bit of a 'ladies man'! LOL. Anyway loved the chapter and I can not wait until you update. The stroy is developing so well. I am anxious to see Legolas and Eilian's relationship tested in the Southern Patrol and I am wondering if there will be a new developemnt between Eilian and Celuwen (especially after her father's rude outburst that made me hopping mad!). :-)

Author Reply: I think you're right that the problem between Eilian and Thranduil is partly due to Thranduil's protectiveness and Eilian's carelessness. But in addition to his son's safety, Thranduil is also concerned about his character. Naneth is still around at this point I'm writing about. She'll make an appearance soon. I actually think that Eilian is quite a lot like her.

erunyauveReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
Incidentally, I don't think there's anything wrong with portraying the elves as feeling the cold. There are plenty of examples of elves feeling cold in Tolkien's apocryphal works. I think the difference on Caradhras is that the story is told from a hobbit's point of view, and as he could walk on top of the snow, Legolas certainly wouldn't have felt as cold as his companions with their wet feet.

Obviously, Annael's talent for tracking comes from his father. It's almost a shame for him to be in the Home Guard, though that is best for his family.

I love the idea of going back to Eilian's teen years. Even if Legolas does not quite expect it, I can imagine that he must have been quite entertaining. Had he and Legolas been closer in age, I can see him leading his little brother into all sorts of mischief.

Author Reply: You have just articulated what was probably one of Thranduil's nightmares: what if Eilian and Legolas had been closer in age? Shudder.

I thought for a while about what it meant to say that Legolas was less affected by cold, and I decided to treat it as related to Elves' control of their bodies. I wish I could do that! I look out my window at the snow and am grateful that it went above freezing today. It felt positively balmy.

sofiaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
Im glad we got to hear some of Eilian's story. He really was care free in his youth.

Author Reply: Eilian did have a relatively carefree youth, compared to Legolas especially. It was a time of peace, for the most part, and his mother was still alive. Things are going to come crashing down over the next few decades, I'm afraid.

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
Daw, I apologise for not reviewing this before! Despite pressure of work, I have been trying to keep up to date with my favourite writers, both to keep me sane, and because I know I will never catch up otherwise. But luxuries like reviewing have had to go.

I always love to see a new story from you, and I like this - poor Legolas in the thick of it, affected by shadow already! His family have finally realised just how good he is, but it must have been hard, especially for Thranduil, who now has two sons in such grave danger. I look forward to lots of angst and action ahead!

Jay

Author Reply: I'm so glad your inspection went well, Jay. And I think you are right that Thranduil must be anxious right now. How sad to have to send these children whom he values so into the fight against Shadow.

DotReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
Great chapter, daw. Quickie review, I'm afraid, or I'd have to leave it until tomorrow...

I loved the opening – poor Legolas trying to force himself to get up and brave the freezing cold. I think we can all empathise with that – I’m so bad at getting up out of bed in the morning. “You are a warrior of the Woodland Realm and a son of its king, he told himself. Get up!” That just really struck me as hilarious…! I wonder what Beliond would have to say about being called a “valet”? I doubt he’d be too impressed at the thought of having to help Legolas to dress!

Siondel? He’s the same age as Eilian? I…never knew that… Even though I probably should have. Hmmn. I suppose being in the Home Guard did give him a chance to settle down and grow up a little when he had the responsibility that comes with being a father and husband. I never thought about it before but if I did I’d probably have thought he was Ithilden’s age or older. You’ve really stopped me in my tracks by adding him in here…! I’m glad we get to see him as a novice, though. He’s so like Annael, isn’t he??

How on earth did you come up with that escapade?! I’m starting to think my childhood was really dull… It’s a really fascinating thought, though – and again I hadn’t really considered it before – that Eilian could have chosen not to become a warrior, that it wasn’t necessary to do so, especially when the Crown Prince would be able to eventually lead the Realm’s forces. If Eilian started off a little reluctant and disinterested, no wonder it took him longer than most to settle down.

Poor Lómilad! Do elves get high blood pressure?!

Ah. The first sign of problems between Eilian and Celuwen. It seems to me that they’re actually quite typical problems that they are experiencing – Celuwen beginning to realise that she likes Eilian while also disapproving of his behaviour and Eilian completely oblivious to the reasons why his childhood friend is becoming a bit distance – but it’s just dragged out over such a long period of time for elves! I wonder if she had explained her feelings at that time would they have been saved years of turmoil…?! I have to say, though, that I love the glimpse of flirty Eilian;)

Legolas seems a bit shocked! It’s not as though he was perfectly well-behaved… Still, I suppose the difference is that Eilian was the instigator and Legolas always the follower, and as Eilian pointed out, Legolas has always been so serious about his training. “He could not help but wonder how his brother had changed from the irresponsible youth he had just described to the formidable warrior and captain he had become.” I thought that was really interesting. I do think that Eilian is a great captain and seems to have grown up a lot recently but I wonder does Legolas still view him less critically than others. He just seems to see his recklessness as being completely in the distant past. Having said that, why should he have to see his brother’s faults when he doesn’t have to? Too many other people do. The fact, though, that Eilian can see so plainly how irresponsible he was and even the reasons behind it show that he is thinking more clearly than before. I actually feel quite proud of him!

More young Eilian, please!:)









Author Reply: I turn the heat way down at night and what I do every morning is hop out of bed and turn the thermostat up and then run back to bed until the furnace stops running. At least, I'd like to stay in bed that long but on these sub-zero mornings, I can't. The furnace never stops running. Anyway, that's what gave me the idea for Legolas being reluctant to get up.

Siondel is a lot like Annael. You'll recall that Annael joined the Home Guard and bonded soon afterwards. When Legolas was chasing dragons, Annael had a small daughter. Siondel would have been like that too. So one thing that means is that when Siondel died, he and his family were both quite young.;-(

One of the things I'd like to show in young Eilian is that he has certain strengths that he can learn to use wisely, but that he doesn't know that yet. And you should also be able to see the root of his relationship with Celuwen, both its long strong history (they know one another very well and are comfortable together) and its problems.

ANAReviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/14/2004
What a riot! I can just picture Eilian shooting across the river like an arrow from a bow - something straight out of a Bugs Bunny cartoon. I thought it was a great idea so I guess I would be considered reckless too. Considering Legolas' reaction to the story, I wonder whether some of the hero worshipping of the older brother might be wavering just a bit. Interestingly enough, Legolas' reaction to the story also struck home for me how seriously he takes his warrior role, even at such a young age. Very entertaining chapter. Can't wait for more.

Author Reply: Eilian and Bugs Bunny -- a juxtaposition that made me laugh! I strongly suspect that your teacher or your parents would not have been amused to see you shooting across the rived, ANA. "Reckless" is probably not the strongest word they would use.

Legolas is seeing Eilian more like adults see one another, as a mix of strengths and flaws. But there is no doubt that he will love his brother anyway he finds him.

Thank you for the review, ANA.

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