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Spring Awakenings  by daw the minstrel 26 Review(s)
BodkinReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/17/2004
I cannot resist any longer the wish to tell you how much I love your Mirkwood royal family. Lovely stuff.

Author Reply: Thank you, Bodkin. And I cannot resist telling you that I have your picture up as the background on my computer. It's so beautiful!

daw

DotReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/17/2004
The long-awaited chapter, and it’s all I’d hoped for and more besides! I tell you, I wouldn’t have liked to be writing this in the face of such demanding readers!

What a joy to see Eilian so much in love. I had to laugh at the way he gets so frustrated when he can’t undo her buttons!

I cannot believe Ithilden walked in on them! That’s so funny. I’m guessing there’s not too much that would make Ithilden stutter and flush. It struck me as totally hilarious the way he wouldn’t even turn around. I LOVED his reaction, though. He appeared to be thoroughly enjoying the moment once he recovered from the shock. I’m more glad than I can say that he has not only accepted what has happened, but he seems genuinely pleased for them. Maybe, like us, he’s just been waiting for them to get together for sooo long;)

“If Ithilden was too cowardly to tell Thranduil what he had found in Eilian’s chamber, then he was anticipating an even stronger reaction from Thranduil than Eilian had been worried about.” Hmmn, I don’t think that’s it – it’s not Ithilden’s place to tell their father, and I rather think he could have been looking forward to a spectacle…

“They all turned to him, their faces ready with cheerful welcomes home, and then, abruptly they froze, and he saw knowledge blossoming in their gazes.” LOL! That was brilliant. And I love that Ithilden is just watching the whole thing unfold. That’s interesting, the way Eilian is dismayed that Legolas is not there. Of course, he probably could rely on Legolas but so far no-one but Thranduil seems overly critical. I think that if Legoals were there, he’d be trying just as hard as the others not to say too much in front of Thranduil. How do you manage to keep it all straight? I’d totally forgotten that Eilian didn’t know Legolas was away…

“I suppose I should not be surprised, although I had hoped you were at last growing up, Eilian.” *cringe* He says that a lot. If I were Eilian I’d be very hurt to be constantly put down like that. It’s one of the very few things that bother me about Thranduil, probably because in many ways it’s such an empty insult and almost beneath him. Plus, it’s something that Eilian could never argue without actually sounding like a child. I’m glad Thranduil was civil to Celuwen and had the grace to welcome her to the family.

Wow, Celuwen has no qualms about standing up for herself! She seems to be well aware of what’s going on but has no time for games. She’s not at all arrogant, though – just practical. No wonder they all like her!

“She ladled some into a bowl, started to offer it to Celuwen, and then suddenly looked intently at her”. Ah, Alfirin has seen what the others have not yet. Alfirin seemed troubled by their actions at first but it seems to me that it’s the realisation that Celuwen was fading that marks her acceptance and determination to make Celuwen feel welcome. Of course, she knows exactly what life is like in the king’s household!

“Legolas knew his duty and was happy to do it.” Ouch. I could be wrong, but I think Thranduil has been very shaken by what has happened and is grasping at ways to make his anger felt without having properly processed the situation. I’d hate to be the others having to eat porridge amidst all this tension. I have to say, though, daw – I’m still laughing at the way Thranduil maintains (with a straight face too) that Legolas is the epitome of obedience;)

Oh, so Celuwen knows Anyr? In fact she seems quite familiar with him. It just dawned on me that she could actually be really valuable to Thranduil. She is familiar with settlement life, knows the people involved and chances are that her father won’t want to make too much trouble for her, and thus for her new family.
“He likes her, and he wants the best for you, but you have to refrain from provoking him further.” That sums it up really. It seems wise to just let Thranduil have his rant and keep quiet ‘til it’s over. After all, there’s very little he can actually do. But poor Eilian seems to provoke Thranduil just by his presence at times…
The scene in Thranduil’s office was amazing. I was completely enthralled. Thranduil *is* is a quandary. I doubt he’d care over much about gossips but he would definitely be troubled if he felt any of his family showed disrespect to his people. I can see why he’d think this is what Eilian did in a way. You really wrote the scene so cleverly. Both of them have equally valid points of view – I found myself nodding when either of them spoke! – but each is also influenced by high emotion and both by frustration.
“Sólith has always been blind to your worth.” Yeah, Thranduil definitely isn’t against the match itself, Eilian just went about it the wrong way in his father’s eyes. Maybe Thranduil feels a little left out too, all politics aside.
“Celuwen was fading.” I thought that was so sad. Eilian seems desperate to make himself understood and unfortunately this family have reason to recognise a fading elf.

Eilian’s guess at what Thranduil would have done with Celuwen sounds about right! But then, if Eilian was around Thranduil would have no peace ‘til he reached some sort of arrangement…

“Explain to me how your mind works, Eilian, because you frustrate and confuse me! You are so like your naneth at times that it frightens me!”I think I stared at the screen for a few minutes to let this moment sink in. Wow. It must be the first time Thranduil has ever voiced these feelings before. It’s quite a sad admission I think for any parent to say they don’t understand their child. I’d say Thranduil rarely experiences incomprehension or confusion, so when these feelings stem from his own child it results in frustration. Thranduil obviously knew that he could see his wife in Eilian and worried about him for this reason but it seems that he never realised before that this could be the root of their problems. A lot of emotions have been stirred up in Thranduil. He’ll be alright, won’t he?? He clearly loves Eilian. Half their problem is that each expects and argument so that’s exactly what happens.

“He was what he was.” I thought Eilian’s thoughts were interesting. He clearly sees things in a new light too but I’d tend to agree with his sentiments. All of his traits – good or bad – make him who he is and that can’t change or he wouldn’t be Eilian. In fact, if he were understood a little better and allowed to be himself, he’d probably me generally a much happier elf.

Alfirin and Celuwen seem to be getting on well by the end of this chapter. Alfirin needs someone to mother and Celuwen needs a friend so they are lucky to have each other!

Anyway, I have to go to work. Great chapter! The emotions and tension were completely believable and totally gripping – and there were some lovely moments to laugh at too:)





Author Reply: This was an unbelievably gratifying review, Dot. It was wonderful to see my chapter through your eyes.

I have trouble pinning Ithilden down sometimes. I'm thinking it would be useful to do a short first-person POV story about him because it would help me get into his head better. Here he was completely taken by surprise. Who would ever think that even Eilian would have the nerve to have a maiden in his bed in the palace?! So Ithilden comes to the natural conclusion, the one he would have reached if he'd taken a good look at their eyes (which was probably not what he was looking at at first) and that their voices tell him too -- they're bonded. He's been so happy in his own marriage that I think that would strike him as a good thing even though he knows the trouble it will cause.

Thranduil, on the other hand, seems to quarrel with Eilian almost as a matter of habit. As you say, they both expect an argument, so they have one. I'm hoping that they can each get some lasting insight here with the comment about Lorellin.

Nilmandra (my beta) helped me a lot with the scene in Thranduil's office. I had a lot of trouble. I wanted Thranduil angry, and I wanted the scene unpleasant and uncliched. But I also didn't want him to be a flat, cardboard angry father, just because that would give me a more dramatic scene.

You have come to the same conclusions that Eilian's naneth always voiced: If Thranduil would give him some approval, Eilian would try harder to please. Thranduil wants things in the reverse order and that's not going to work.

Thanks again for this review, Dot.

Author Reply: I also wanted to say that I don't find my readers demanding. I find them incredibly tolerant and generous. I am lucky!

daw

dr_seuss_is_coolReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
hello!
I am very glad that you posted this chapter on a friday. I started my day off by reading the chapter, it made my day so much brighter. Thank you!
I am glad that Ithilden is not too mean. That amused me very much when he walked in on Celuwen and Eilian.
I love how you've built up your characters. They always have little twists and turns to themselves.
I felt very sorry for Eilian when he had to get down on his knees. I would have been very pissed off.
I think this whole Eilian and Celuwen situation may work out. I am very happy for them.
Well...i am very excited to see what new adventures Legolas has gotten himself into.
Thank you very much for writing.

Bye bye

Author Reply: Glad you liked the chapter, Dr. S. I don't think Ithilden is mean at all. He's just responsible and has to be in charge sometimes. I think that kneeling to your father when he's the king probably feels different than it would for us normal folks. Thranduil uses it to make a point here - he's in charge and he's angry and Eilian needs to know both things.

The newlyweds are cute, aren't they?

Tapetum LucidumReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
I am glad you split your ending up. It will give us a lot more to read!
I liked this chapter a lot. It started and ended on a very happy note. Seeing the newlyweds in bed - head over heels for each other was very sweet. It is a nice quiet time for the couple to be together. Having Ithilden come pounding into the room was hilarious. It does make more sense than having Thranduil wake his son. "I only hope you survive to enjoy your good fortune." was a great Ithilden line. We hardly ever get to see the serious elf's playful side. The should remember that guard. He is very wise.

Walking into the dining room must have been harder than facing the evil in the south. It must have taken all of Eilian's courage to walk in the door. Alfirin's reaction was great. I am guessing Sinnarn was on patrol. Legolas' presence must have been greatly missed. He will be sorry he missed all of the excitement. Of course Thranduil's youngest knew his duty - he was born to be a warrior and serve his realm. Celuwen was very lucky to dodge the worst of the King's ire. It was good to have his first words to her be kind words of welcome. He is lucky to have her in the family. She quickly showed her worth with her accurate assessment of Anyr. If only they had been married sooner, maybe Celuwen could have delivered the food. She will make a great politician. I think the princes' spouses are going to get along very well.

Eilian's time in Thranduil's office was quite uncomfortable. Putting his son onto his knees is harsh. Appropriate but harsh. I wonder if it would work on my kids... I loved the line "Solith has always been blind to your worth." It was a small statement but it meant the world to Eilian. Thranduil was right - Eilian was hasty and didn't think but what is done is done. He is smart to realize it is time to forgive and move on. The last scene with Celuwen and Eilian made me smile. They will have a lot of fun together though I don't think it will all be smooth sailing from here.

Author Reply: I outlined the rest of this story today and it's at least two more chapters. There are a lot of loose threads to be tied up.

Ithilden is interesting to write about because he's hard to pin down. But I figured he's been around a long time and must have some degree of sophistication. And he loves his brother. He's agonized over what to do with Eilian on occasion. I think he'd be glad that Eilian is happy.

I had to have Sinnarn away. I can only deal with so many OCs at once. I have so many now it makes my head swim. Legolas will be back around mid-day of this same day, so he won't miss all the excitement!

I think your kids will only kneel if you're king or queen, so you may be out of luck! They drop to one knee in the Great Hall and have seen petitioners kneel to their father, so it's not so far to do it themselves. I think Thranduil uses people's physical placement to make a point and he sure did it here.

rikwenReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
Another great chapter! I was glad that Eilian and Celuwen did not end up spending their honeymoon in the dungeons, though I would imagine that a suitable punishment for disobeying is still in store for Eilian. I loved a lot of things about this chapter - one that Celuwen is not afraid to stand up for herself and Eilian. And she is knowledgable about the settlements and Aynr in particular. Thranduil may not love the way the marriage came about, but he has a treasure in Celuwen. Can't wait for Legolas to get home with his report of the settlement and their interactions with the humans. Two, I liked where you mixed the king parts and the Ada parts in the discussion between Eilian and Thranduil. Even though he recognizes that what is done has been done, Thranduil is still aware of how it affects the kingdom and his leadership. Even when he is Ada, he is king. Three, the revelation that Thranduil is concerned because Eilian is so impatient like Eilian's naneth. Talk about a true Freudian slip! I am sure that was as much of a surprise to Thranduil as it was to Eilian, though if he was aware of it Thranduil should have realized that Eilian was not going to follow the game plan and get permission and wait a year before he wed.
I do hope that everyone gets a chance to calm down and think rationally about this bonding. Eilian may love Celuwen as much as she loves him, but I think he still isn't aware of all the repercussions of what he has done. Ithilden and his wife may turn out to be Eilian's greatest supporters.
I can hardly wait for the next chapter. This story is truly a favorite of mine.

Author Reply: I'm glad you like it, Rikwen. Thranduil is still plenty mad and has every intention of making sure Eilian knows it. But that stuff about naneth was a shock to him, almost as much as to Eilian. That his anger comes from fear was not something he had thought about much.

Eilian and Celuwen have to work out their life together now rather than in the year's betrothal, which would be more common. They both have things to deal with, I think. I feel kind of sorry for Celuwen. Her life has changed totally whereas Eilian thinks he's just going to go on as always!

AnyReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
Now, that was quite unexpected! I honestly thought Thranduil would be so angry, he'd seriously consider to throw Eilian into his palace's dungeons for a while... ;) *LOL* Anyways, while it must have been quite stressfull for Eilian I think Thranduil behaved rather tamely and quite lovingly (is that correct English?), too! I liked that. It would have been way too "easy" to have him freak out or something... so, Daw, very well done, I think! :)

"Have elflings?"?!!!???? Aiii!!!! :))) When? How many? Boys or girls?... Okay, I'm getting a bit carried away with it now... They've just bonded, surely they'll need some time for themselves! Hehe...

I missed Legolas in this chapter *sniff* ;)) He will be back in the next one, won't he? :)

I'd like to say more but I'm too tired to leave a decent and more detailled review. Ah well. You know I love your stuff, don't you? :)

~Any



Author Reply: I had Thranduil being harsher in my first draft of this chapter, but I never had him throwing Eilian in the the dungeon! He still has some unpleasant possibilities in mind, but I'll have to think about whether he carries them out or not. He realized some things he didn't know before as he tore into his son this time. (And "lovingly" is good English)

I doubt if they'll really have elfings any time soon. Eilian's work puts him in too much danger. I think they have more sense than that. I hope so, anyway.

Legolas is up next. I've done the chapter outline and just need to get writing this weekend.

Estel_Mi_OlorReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
That was sweet! I especially liked the title-so foreboding. Thranduil was far less angry than I thought he would be. I really liked that, the unexpected. Eilian was also surprised, wasn't he? I have come to the conclusion that parents understand more than their children give them credit for, and why not? For they themselves were children too. I did not link (oh dear what did you name her?) Eilian's naneth's death to her impatience. I mean the fact that she died because she did not wait for an escort. So much is made clear now: why Thranduil is always so afraid for Eilian in his recklessness, more so than necessary. Poor Thranduil. Alifrin and Ithilden were marvelous, but as Alifrin herself said, they too were recently newly-weds. Legolas is in for some surprises, and that will make another interesting breakfast scene. Can't wait for the next chapter! Keep writing.

Author Reply: My first draft of this chapter had a much harsher Thranduil, but he was too cardboard-y in his fury and needed to be made more nuanced. Nilmandra (my beta) helped me a lot to do that.

I've always thought that Lorellin's death was linked to her impatience and that Eilian was a lot like her. But it wasn't until I did this chapter that it occurred to me (with Nilmandra's prompting) that Thranduil's difficulty with Eilian could be tied to both things.

Legolas will be home around mid-day, so soon!

tigerlily713Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
Whew! It seems the worst is over from Thranduil. Other may have something to say however. Any pressure on Legolas now that he is the only unbonded of the sons?

Great chapter! Lily



Author Reply: I think the worst is over, although Thranduil isn't done yet. Tolkien tells us that most elves were married, that it seemed like the natural course of action for them, but in tumultuous times, things could have been different. I wonder if elves were matchmakers? If so, Legolas would have been fair game!

MollyReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
Do you use "female" to refer to Celuwen because you think "woman" is not quite appropriate? For some reason it caught my attention in this chapter. It must be a problem sometimes, figuring out what names to use because "man" and "woman" seem to refer to the actual race of Men. At least you didn't use "she-Elf"... I still can't quite forgive Peter for that one.

After reading this chapter it occurred to me that it's probably very similar to what happened when Legolas came home after the war. Legolas disobeyed his father's orders just as Eilian did, and brought home an unexpected guest. At least Eilian is presenting his wife, a fellow Elf, to Thranduil, and not a Dwarf who's become his best friend! I wonder which transgression Thranduil would consider the worst.

I look forward to seeing Legolas's reaction to all of this.

Author Reply: Yes, I do use "female" instead of "woman," although Tolkien uses "woman" in places to refer to female elves. It just seemed easier to use something else. I can deal with "she-Elf," actually. I don't see it as a particularly problematic word.

I'll bet you're right about Legolas coming home with a guest after the war! That must have been a tough one for his family to deal with.

I outlined the rest of the story this morning and there are a fair number of threads to untangle, including Legolas's reaction. That's up next!

nanethReviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004
This was a very entertaining chapter. It's not often that Ithilden gets to be the comic relief! Poor Eilian survived the first round, but I'm sure that the battle isn't completely over. He and Legolas seem to spend far too much time on their knees in their father's presence. I can't imagine Ithilden ever being in need of doing that-at least not in penance.

You allowed Thranduil's anger, love, and impatience with Eilian to show through in equal portions. As Thranduil spoke of Eilian's similarities to his mother, so many arguments they have had over your series of stories were shown in a different light. Well done as always, can't wait for more!

Author Reply: Ithilden is a lot older than his two younger sibs, but I think you're right. Even when he was younger, I'll bet he mostly behaved himself. He's an oldest child through and through.

And I think that maybe Thranduil and Eilian are coming to the heart of the trouble that lies between them. It's not an entirely solvable problem: Eilian is a wood elf, far more than either of his brothers, and that's not going to change. But maybe they can at least understand what's driving them to find one another so maddening.

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