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| Sacrifice Under Shadow by daw the minstrel | 20 Review(s) |
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| Dragon-of-the-North | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004 |
| Well, today I have to review here... FF.net seems to be lost and gone once again! ;-) Awesome chapter - Legolas' improvised plan to get rid of the orcs was very clever (although I suddenly got a mental image of the second part of Lester's "Three Musketeers" movie transferred to ME - no offence meant by that, I actually find that film very amusing ;-)) - I only hope that not all the orcs did drown in the icy water... That would not be a good death even for a bad orc. ;-) But the best thing were, once again, the scenes between Legolas and Eilian - the ending was so very sweet, Eilian trusting his little brother to do the right thing... And of course, everything is wonderfully exciting now! But - poor, poor Maltanaur! I don't think he will be very happy with himself if he discovers that he did not search that cave thoroughly enough (though that, in itself, could have been very hazardous)! But then, poor Maltanaur anyway! I had to grin a bit about Eilian's first encounters with him, but I really don't envy him! And we thought Legolas was a difficult youth at times... ;-) Excellent chapter once again! :-) Author Reply: I had trouble reviewing your new chapter at ff.net too. Not exactly a reliable system. Maltanaur has a tough job. It's a tribute to his tolerance and Eilian's basic good nature that they have gotten along as well as they have. I have never seen the movie you're talking about so I will assume that I did something worthy of an Oscar! :-) I'm sure the Orcs survived and decided to mend their wicked ways. ;-) | |
| Antigone_Q | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
But Argh! Eilian's behavior at the Solstice celebration! First I want to pat him on the head and say "there, there," then I want to strangle him. Poor Celuwen (and Thranduil, and Ithilden - they have enough stress!). But try to tell a "teenager" that he should try to deal with his problems more constructively - you may as well bang your head against the wall sometimes. To be fair, though, I really think Eilian might respond better to a slightly different style of parenting than Thranduil generally uses. Oh, Clever Legolas! Crossing the ice where the Orcs couldn't go bought him a little time. It's so sweet the way Legolas is feeling protective; I loved the "Thranduil voice!" I can't believe the search party just passed those caves! Did they think there were Orcs still near? Or was the trail so obscured that it didn't look as if Legolas and Eilian could have gone that way? I'm looking at what I've just written. Sorry Daw - it seems to be less of a review than a list of advice to various members of the royal family. Just take it as a complement, as usual, that I've gotten so wrapped up in the family dynamics that I've decided everyone needs a family therapy session to sort out their issues. It really was a very well-written chapter, as usual, and the insights into Eilian's background are marvelous! Author Reply: Eilian did not exactly choose the most constructive way to deal with his unhappiness, but then it 's when we're unhappy that we're least likely to deal well, I think. And youth is usually rather self-centered. But while Eilian learns slowly, he does learn. He's turned into a far more useful adult than his parents might have anticipated. I thought that all of Thranduil's sons were likely to react quickly and obediently to a "Thranduil voice." The habit would be hard to shake! A family therapy session is probably in order here. | |
| Tapetum Lucidum | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| The chapter title kind of gave this one away. I read it and knew Legolas would run across a pond and the orcs would fall in. Not like you to give away a little of your tale. It was still well written and I felt that surge of panic when the ice first started to crack. Distracting them with arrows while they ran across was a good idea, they were less likely to notice the problem underfoot. I was glad to see Legolas so anxious to return to his brother but it sounds like he became a little careless on the way back. Not only during the trip but also moving around in the caves. He is usually much more wary but I guess he was beginning to panic. I had to grin when he tried to sound like Thranduil on purpose. It seemed to work well. Eilian's delirium must have been frightening. The perspective of the concussed seems to work well for you (grin). You can give the reader some hints without giving away too much plot. The solstice feast was very eventful. Sounds like Eilian still feels guilty over the delay of his family's expansion. He seems somewhat regretful over his exuberant youth. The question of the day is: Does he regret what he put his parents through or that he distanced Celuwen so effectively? Or is it both? I continue to enjoy your perception of his ineptness with women. He is a big time flirt. It works well with a lot of elleth but not with the ones that matter. He compliments Celuwen's dress, then blows it by flirting with Thriwien. I think he is hopeless. Thranduil did a good job of stopping his foolishness without humiliating him in front of his friends. The momentary encounters with Maltanaur were a good glimpse into his future. Legolas' realization that his elder brother had a keeper so young was very entertaining. Wait til Eilian recovers - he will never live it down. I like how you ended the chapter with Eilian having complete faith in his baby brother. Author Reply: I think that by the time Legolas had disposed of the Orcs, he was really worried about Eilian again and he got a little reckless hurrying back to him. He must feel like he has a million things to do at once. And I'd say Eilian regrets both what he did to his parents and to Celuwen. He made it hard for people to approve of him even though he wanted those he loved to approve. And if pretty maidens approved of him without question, then that made them even more attractive. I thought it would be fun for the readers to have Eilian blind to why Maltanaur was hanging around. Thanks for the review, Tapetum. | |
| Nikara | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| Legolas certainly is a very lucky elfling. The Valar must truely love him in keeping the ice from breaking. Although now he has to deal with his brother all alone. Great chapter, I look forward to more! Author Reply: Legolas was lucky, but he is an elf too, so he's lightfooted compared to the Orcs. Still, if he'd gone in, he and Eilian would both have been in trouble. I'm actually almost done with this story, I think. But there are always others. | |
| naneth | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| What a clever elf Legolas has become! The trick with the frozen pond was very clever. One measure of a true hero is one that knows what he is doing is dangerous to himself but does it anyway for the good of another. I think Legolas qualifies as a hero for his brother! How sad that Thranduil created so many of the problems between himself and Eilian with a careless statement to his wife. How sad that Eilian let that one statement influence him for so many years. I loved the introduction of Maltanaur. Thranduil is pretty clever,too! Author Reply: Yes! Legolas of the Fellowship is coming into his own. It's been a long haul, but he's finally putting in an appearance. Thranduil and Eilian just seem to be at complete cross purposes when they try to make contact. They reach out and miss. And I figure Eilian must have been pretty unpredictable to have seen Maltanaur twice. Maltanaur can't predict which direction he'll jump. Thanks for the review, Naneth. | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| This is so good - not just the 2 stories (the "desperate now" and the "young Elian pushing boundaries"), but the extras that you add that give it substance. Examples include the bit about deciduous trees ... it's one of those "I *knew* that but had never consciously noted it" moments (I remember those being more frequent in my own childhood than recently, so it is lovely to "get it" again!), and also that it may have occurred to their parents that Elian was likely to remain a .... challenge for a little longer than most young elves, so delaying expanding the family would be a good idea ... and that there was regret/wistfulness in that for both Elian and Legolas. That one thing explains a huuuge amount of the conflict we see between Elian-super-soldier, Elian-brother, Elian-son, Elian-lover, and Elian-as-he-sees-himself. I had never considered that he had self-esteem problems, but that his love-life and the remnants of a reputation for dangerous stunts were his biggest problems - clearly I under-estimated his self-knowledge and his own self of umm.... inadequacy? For me, he (Elian) is a fabulously realised character, and I wish he saw himself in a more positive light, Shadow is clearly at work now and has a long reach! It's great to see Legolas at work - proactive and thinking clearly (loved his luring the orcs onto the thin ice!) Thanks again, your original characters continue to hold their own against the "real" ones :) and the view into a pre-WOTR ME is wonderful. Helen Author Reply: Thank you, Mistry. I will confess that reviewers have told me before that they like the details in my stories and it always surprises me because I tend to write short stuff, to be direct I think. So I worry that I don't put in details at all, just get to the point. I guess I must be doing better than I thought. And Eilian had to have had a tough time growing up I think. He was not a good match for his father as a parent and he just couldn't resist pushing the boundaries, so people must have been angry at him a fair amount of the time. I suppose he got used to it after a while. He's an easy character to write, I have to say. Legolas is doing well, isn't he? That's our elf-boy! | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| The clever little elfling got himself out of that peril quite nicely, but I still think the searchers should all be deeply ashamed of their poor searching skills. Beliond is not going to be pleased. Poor Eilian...he's in bad shape, eh. I do hope that he will pull through. Author Reply: The searchers did not do a very good job, that's true. How am I going to explain that one? I'll have think about it. Pretending it didn't happen is always a good option, I guess. :-) | |
| tigerlily713 | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| A compliant Eilian? Wow, he must be hurting. Great chapter! Author Reply: I hadn't thought of it that way, but I think you're right, Lily! | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| I love helpless Eilian combined with clueless Eilian! Poor elf. Well, sort of - poor Adar and Naneth, poor Maltanaur and Legolas! Eilian keeps them all on their toes. Eilian is not in good shape, and now he must be gotten back to camp and home. I hope I am again first in line to comfort and help him heal. He might be clueless in his younger story about Celuwen, but he is still a pleasure to be around. Author Reply: Eilian is good hearted. He is affectionate and well intentioned. He's just stupid. You will always be first in line to comfort Eilian. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/27/2004 |
| Eilian seems to be his own worst enemy - he drinks too much, upsets Celuwen by going off with another maiden (who he doesn't even like that much!), makes insane boasts, then disobeys his father. To cap it all, he ignores his best chance of rescue. Poor Legolas must be at his wit's end. I thought he was crazy to try to cross the pond - where I come from, winters are much milder, and although a pond may be frozen over, it would be madness to assume it was thick enough to walk on! Then, when the ice began to crack, I thought you were going to have him fall in. Thankfully, it was only the orcs! How long will it be before the patrol return? Jay Author Reply: Yes, indeed, Eilian is his own worst enemy. But to him, all this just seems to logical! Where I live, Jay, people drive pick-up trucks onto the ice and build little houses to fish from. | |