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| Spring Awakenings by daw the minstrel | 26 Review(s) |
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| Ms. Whatsit | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/16/2004 |
| You know, I squeal like a fangirl when you update. And I've never been disappointed yet. Ithilden walking in on our newlyweds was priceless. And so was Eilian counting on Legolas to be an ally. You've really got sibling dynamics down well. And the way Thranduil plays "good son, bad son" by mentioning Legolas and his devotion to duty is also very true to life. "Thranduil seemed to sense her discomfort too, and his face softened. He rose and beckoned to her, and she let go of Eilian’s hand and walked tentatively toward him. “I wish it had been done with more ceremony, but Eilian could not have chosen better. Welcome, daughter,” Thranduil said and kissed her brow." Aww. Thranduil's a bit scary, but he's also quite sweet in his own way. And Celuwen was very brave, to stand up to Thranduil like that! Although she needs to learn how to resist Thranduil's more subtle questioning tactics. She's very frank and straightforward and fundamentally honest---she just wouldn't notice Thranduil's gentle interrogation, would she? Ah, well, she'll learn, though I have a feeling she'll get irritated by Thranduil's manipulations at some point... Alfirin saying she'd be glad to have another female around made me wonder. She and Celuwen are very different. I don't know how they'll get along. I think Celuwen will do fairly well with Ithilden, and she'll probably clash a few times with Thranduil but still win his respect and become his ally in keeping a leash on Eilian, but Alfirin? I'm looking forward to seeing that. "You have a duty to behave as if the desires of those you defend are important to you, as if you would never dream of abusing the position you are in by taking from them that which they would not wish to give!” Well, I understand Thranduil's worry, but for crying out loud, Eilian didn't *take* anything. If the settlement got mad at Eilian marrying Celuwen without the consent of Solith, then Celuwen could just go there and say "hey, I was FADING, would you have liked it better if Eilian had left one of your own to die of grief?" If the settlement got mad about this then it would just mean they were looking for an excuse to get mad about *something,* methinks. And Thranduil and Solith are now part of the same family. Heh. As for the comment Thranduil makes about Eilian's mom...well, at last we've got to the heart of their relationship problems, haven't we?!? Ah, Elven-king angst...always fun. Author Reply: I sat here and grinned to myself for a while at the idea that you squeal when I update. I love writing these stories, but the fact that readers enjoy them too is unbelievably rewarding. I think that Celuwen's honesty is, in some ways, a match for the king's subtlety. You can't fool her because she just tells you the truth, so why not just cut the silliness and ask her what you want to know. If she thinks you're prying too deeply, she'll tell you that too and tricky questions are not going to make a difference. Your analysis of the family is really sharp. I too have the hardest time seeing her getting along with Alfirin, but I think that may be because I have never written very much about either of the females. I don't know them from the inside like I do the males. I think there are differences between them and I plan for them to come out a little in the remainder of this story. | |
| JayDK | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/15/2004 |
| Great chapter! I hope we hear more about the similarities Thranduil sees between Eilian and his mother. So if Eilian is like his mother, and Ithiden is like Thranduil, who is Legolas like? Thranduil too, or maybe Oropher? I'm looking forward to seeing how Celuwen settles into the family and life at the palace. She's got a lot to do, to basically start a whole new life -- and live the majority of it without Eilian when he goes back on patrol. But maybe, after her illness, she needs to start a new chapter. I hope we see what steps Celuwen decides to take with her life now. Looking forward to Legolas' return -- poor kid has no idea what he's walking into! Author Reply: I think that Legolas is a blend of his parents in the same way he is a blend of his brothers. And the blending has made him stronger, which is why he is a good member of the Fellowship. Actually, in a previous story, I had Thranduil think that Eilian reminded him of Oropher, rashly running into danger. This is the first time that the king has admitted even to himself that naneth is part of the mix. I'm working on a life for Celuwen and I'll start it in this story, but some of that is going to have to wait for another story, I think. When I'm done writing responses this morning, I'm going to fluff out my outline for the Legolas chapter that comes next (or maybe they'll both have a POV section in this one). I have to stop at some point to chair a master's defense, unfortunately. To Mordor with these students! Let's have some priorities! | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/15/2004 |
| Well, the bomb has dropped! Blooie! Honestly, I thought Eilian was pretty darn lucky. He got off a lot easier than I would have expected, which only confirms my theory that Thranduil is mellowing in his old age. And possibly that, deep down, he takes some mean, un-kingly pleasure in sticking it to Sólith. The whole family behaved with such class, though. Class, class, class. They were so welcoming to Celuwen, and made it so clear that whatever they were angry about did in no way include her. . . that was beautiful. If only I could convince my mom's family to be that way with my dad and my uncle. The one I really feel sorry for here is . . . wait for it . . . Ithilden. Eilian brought his trouble down about his own head and shoulders, but poor, sweet, square Ithilden, to have to walk in on Eilian and Celuwen! I'm surprised the shock didn't give him the screaming abdabs. And old Legolas is just gonna be floored when he gets home, thinking that his triumph will be the big family news. Author Reply: I am LOL at your picture of poor Ithilden. I thought about what his reactions would be, and actually, I concluded that he is old enough to have seen a great deal in his dealings with warriors, courtiers, etc. He's VERY straight-arrow himself, but I think he would very quickly move from embarrassment at walking in on a couple in bed to thinking about what the scene meant for Eilian. And I think he values his brother's happiness. He's spent far more time thinking about it than most siblings do because he's been responsible for where Eilian is stationed and he has to think about how those postings will affect him. I suspect the whole family likes Celuwen ahead of time, with the possible exception of Alfirin who probably saw her as somewhat wild when they were kids. But then, Alfirin has had years to think of her as Eilian's love and that undoubtedly changes her perceptions. Legolas is on his way as soon as I finish writing reviewer replies! | |
| Manderly | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/15/2004 |
| Phew! You had me sweating right along side of Eilian. Thranduil certainly can be imposing, but I can see him struggling between being a king and a father here and I don't think even he knows yet which will win in the end. Celuwen is pretty formidable herself - certainly no pushing her around. I think Thranduil will find that he's going to have to tread with care around both daughter-in-laws. I think Celuwen will be great for Eilian. He needs somebody strong and who is fearless to speak her mind. Maybe he'll finally be settling down? Then of course, he won't be as much fun as before. It'll be intersting to see Legolas' reaction to the marriage. Great chapter! (formerly ANA) Author Reply: I've made some notes for myself on what I think are important traits in Celuwen. She's honest. She makes up her own mind about what she should be doing and respects Eilian's right to do the same thing. She treats him like an adult, which his father does not do yet. She is a Wood-elf and would, like her parents, live simply in the forest if she could. I think the impulsive bonding was possible precisely because she is a Wood-elf and therefore "more dangerous and less wise," as Tolkien says of them in The Hobbit. She has abundant good sense nonetheless. It comes from her honesty and ability to see straight to what matters in a situation. I hope I can keep her from turning into a generic female, but actually that's hard to do. I wouldn't worry about Eilian being too settled down. I suspect that Celuwen is going to have her hands full. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/15/2004 |
| Well, I have to say, I loved Ithilden's reaction. What a shock! Some of the best lines were his in this chapter. Actually, he reacted better than I thought he would. I felt like he would be happy, but as Eilian pointed out, Ithilden is responsible to a fault, and he would have never, not in a million years, done anything so bold. Speaking of bold...Celuwen wasn't one to shrink in the face of Storm Thranduil. Respectful, but brave. Eilian really did marry his match. But one of the things I found most interesting in the morning meal discussion was her knowledge of Anyr and how to deal with him. When Thranduil calms down, I hope he remembers her words. She might turn out to be his best emissary yet. She is a member of the cantankerous fringe, and she knows them better than Thranduil or his sons will ever know them. That elleth may truly be a gift from the Valar...for the whole realm. The little office meeting between adar and son wasn't as bad as I thought...well, the kneeling part was pretty tough on Eilian. Thranduil did a remarkably good job of not shedding blood, but it was evident that he was close to taking a hairbrush to his son's backside. What he said about how Eilian was so much like his naneth was a shocker...for both of them. But it explains a lot. I hope Eilian can see where his adar's fear is speaking and remember how much his father loved his mother....despite the fear she caused him. Even Eilian should be able to see where this fear his father has comes from. I don't know that if Thranduil had said outright, 'I love you', it would have been as strong a declaration of his love than when he said Eilian was like his mother. In my mind, anyway, I think Thranduil loved her more than life itself. Eilian is his mother's living memory. And then Thranduil also said that Solith had never seen Eilian's worth. Ah, daw, I think we've had a major breakthrough here. I'm glad Alfirin was so accepting. She probably will like having another female around. All that testosterone gets deafening! One more thing...what happening on the border? Great chapter, daw! Just so you know, I hide all the tar and feathers so Eilian, at least, won't have to worry about that. Very good show! Karen Author Reply: Ithilden would never have done this himself, but he has had years to become his own person and is more comfortable than either of his younger brothers about differing with Thranduil. I think that's due not only to time, but also to the fact that Thranduil has given him authority and usually lets it rest with him, backing down himself if he thinks he might be going to undercut Ithilden in some way. Thranduil trusts him as he does not yet trust the younger two. Thranduil is not done with Eilian yet and still has hold of a figurative hairbrush, I'm afraid. As for Celuwen, you are very clever. When Thranduil calms down, he may see some possibilities there too. And Legolas is arriving in the next chapter. | |
| erunyauve | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/15/2004 |
| Ithilden certainly knew when to interrupt. But Thranduil seems more upset by Eilian's disobedience and haste than anything else - I think he can see that his request that Eilian get Solith's permission was impossible and unfair. Of course, I couldn't help but laugh a little as Thranduil struggled to get through the meal without losing his temper, though I'm sure it was much more amusing from the safety of my computer screen. (Actually, I was wondering if Maltanaur's duties included protecting his charge from enraged kings.) I feel a little sorry for Legolas - he's not going to get quite the attention he deserves in the midst of the trouble over Eilian, and being named the dutiful child can be a bit of a curse. Author Reply: Ithilden interrupted things twice in this chapter! I expect Eilian was far more grateful the second time than he was the first. I think that Thranduil came to some quick conclusions about what was done and could not be changed and what he wanted to try to change for the future. The bonding is over and done, and he does like Celuwen. But as you say, disobedience and impulsiveness from Eilian are things he would like to make sure don't happen again. At least, he'd like to try to make sure! | |