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Paths Taken by daw the minstrel	29 Review(s)
Ms. Whatsit	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
I think my favorite part was Ithilden remembering what his mom used to convince him not to jump too high and then using it on Legolas. Lorellin is a good role model for that kind of thing, I think--and it's good for Ithilden to remember that he was once an elfling! He's making an effort to speak Legolas's language, and that's good. Legolas is such a brave little kid. And we get to see Thranduil To The Rescue! Yay! I love seeing ProtectiveAda!Thranduil, especially when he's getting all proud of Legolas. I especially like the way you've made the setting of this story come alive. Mirkwood is a scary, spooky forest with many hidden dangers--which is why I fell in love with it!--and I think you've captured that especially well in this story. The creepiest thing was when Thranduil saw bits of cobwebs sticking to Legolas--ick! A scary sight! Author Reply: I love writing about Lorellin and I have to sneak her in here and there. I also liked the chance to show that Ithilden was not born grown up! The bits of cobweb on Legolas would make his father's hair stand on end, I would think. His kid was caught in a web! How scary is that?!!

Elentari	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
This was utterly beautiful, daw! A perfect early glimpse into old, brave Fellowship Legolas. I have particularly enjoyed Thrandy's display of affection towards his sons. He's not always easy to read or even deal with, but in these small little things daddy shines so bright! And now we have master's voices on Leggy's head as well! Legolas pays closer attention than people give him credit for. Author Reply: Yes! Fellowship Legolas comes out once in a while when he has to. But for now, little Legolas needs to be told that the horrible things he has seen will not hurt him. And Ada!Thranduil can do that. :-)

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
Ithilden nodded. “I will be’ll right for a while,” he went on. He could hear his speech starting to slur. “Better t’be certain that help comes than take chance to get it more quickly and have it not come’t all. You’n I both safer’f you take path. Unnerstan’?” He reached up and caressed the side of his little brother’s neck. This is great . . . these lines seem to me to be the culmination of a beautifully crafted scene of Ithilden being overtaken by the venom . . . wonderfully done. Are the Mirkwook spiders related to Shelob? This chapter is so great, I'm going to go back and read it again for the sheer joy of doing so. Thanks! Author Reply: I'm so glad you liked the sequence of Ithilden gradually having to give in to the venom, poor sick control freak. It must have about killed him to know he was losing the battle and was going to have to send Legolas off alone. Re Shelob and the spiders of Mirkwood. In the First Age, there was this really big nasty spider named Ungoliant. She helped Melkor destroy the trees of Valinor and tried to destroy him but Balrogs drove her away. She supposedly eventually devoured herself, she was so hungry, but she left offspring. Shelob was one of her great daughters, and the spiders of Mirkwood were some of her lesser descendants. So the short answer is yes, they were related. ;-) Aren't you sorry you asked? I'm so glad you like the chapter!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
Woah, what a thrilling chapter! “He dragged the sleeve of his tunic across his runny nose.” I don’t know what it is about that sentence - I just think Legolas really seems the epitome of misery. Poor thing. I like the bit where Ithilden realises that he doesn’t have to warn Legolas to stay near him when he’s looking for a stick. Yes, he may have learned something, but I think it shows as well that Legolas isn’t about to abandon his brother even for a second and also that he obviously finds Ithilden’s presence comforting, even despite his older brother’s terrible state. You did an incredible job showing Ithilden’s deterioration. God, I felt so bad for him as he struggled to continue, forcing himself to be calm in front of Legolas and trying to analytically look at his symptoms and assess his condition. It’s quite frightening to see him grow increasingly helpless and eventually lose control over his own body. The way you wrote his speech was amazing. I could see him desperately trying to make himself understood and trying not to frighten Legolas with an inability to communicate. I have to admit, it was kinda funny that Ithilden found it completely natural that his little brother had wandered off. That moment of honesty between them was so touching. “Unbidden, a sudden memory flared […]” What a great little anecdote. It just struck me that Ithilden doesn’t have anyone to “rage at his father’s unreasonableness” to anymore:( Lorellin really knew how to handle her sons. It’s always when you add in little stories like this that I really see what Legolas missed. But then, Thranduil probably didn’t explain himself to Ithilden when he forbade him to continue jumping and Ithilden very likely didn’t question his father, whereas Legolas doesn’t have a mother and his brothers often aren’t around so he does question Thranduil and I think that maybe Thranduil is better at explaining himself than he used to be. He could still do with a bit of practice, though! Legolas’ novice masters should be really proud of him! The poor elfling’s head is full of their voices but at least he keeps trying to put what he was told into practice. I’m tempted to feel sorry for him when he blames himself for what happened but I can’t really argue with his thoughts and it seems he finally realises what consequences can arise out of his disobedience. “And at their head was his father.” Thranduil! And his two guards! Yay! I’m really starting to develop a fondness for these guards. Do they have names? Or does he get different ones every day? So, he just went for a ride and happened to go a different way than usual? Hmmn. Actually, it’s interesting that he hadn’t realised earlier that there is something wrong with Ithilden when he has been known to sense Eilian and his bond with him is apparently weakest. But I guess he just couldn’t quite identify the source of his restlessness because he is completely unused to Ithilden being in trouble. It’s probably good that he didn’t anyway or he’d have panicked – or maybe headed straight for their camp and missed Legolas completely. How frightening it must have been for Thranduil when he beheld Legolas in all his dirty stickiness. I love the way he tries to soothe him and keeps his fears to himself. And Legolas can finally give into his fears and be a child again. The image of him sobbing on the ground was heartbreaking. Thank heavens for Ada being there when he’s needed. More antidote?? Should Legolas have told them how much Ithilden had already? Maybe it doesn’t matter – I’m ignorant about such things! The end was so great. Poor Thranduil, torn between two sons. I was so proud of the “gallant baby” (love that!) when he asks Thranduil to take Ithilden. Are they home yet? Are they home yet? Well, at least all Legolas remembers of the trip isn’t likely to be Ithilden being “bossy”! Btw, on a completely different note, I started re-reading “The Warrior” the other day (I'd forgotten he mentions the flet!) and have a request. Can Annael sleep over with Legolas some night?? :) Author Reply: I don't think Legolas can imagine Ithilden as less than strong, even when he's lying on the ground in front of him. He just feels safer around him. And the poor little thing IS miserable. This is just a whole series of traumatic events. I had Ithilden speaking more clearly, but my beta pointed out that he needed to be growing less coherent and then it was a little challenging to make that happen, so I'm glad it came across well. For a control freak like Ithilden, loss of control over his body and dependence on his little brother must be about the worst thing he can think of. You're probably right that Legolas challenges his father more than the other two did because he can't go to anyone else. And I imagine that's a bit maddening for Thranduil too. They all miss naneth. :-( The guards don't have names yet. If they show up enough, they'll probably get them, but I already have so many OCs that I sometimes want to just have them all wiped out in a massacre so I don't have to deal with them anymore. New readers (assuming there are any) must be totally confused. And I also think you're right: Thranduil is completely unaccustomed to thinking of Ithilden in trouble, so he didn't even consider that. But still, I think he's on that path because it's where he needs to be. Annael sleep over with Legolas: check. I'll put it on the list.

tigerlily713	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
Great chapter! Legolas now has to deal with the guilt that comes of making a desicion that brings harm to others. A difficult but often effective lesson. I can't wait for more! Lily Author Reply: I think both brothers may feel some guilt. Poor Legolas. He seems to need to learn most things the hard way. Except for archery. That's like breathing for him.

Elvenesse	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
I liked it when Ithilden thought that it had just seemed natural to find that Legolas had disappeared. That seems to happen surprisingly often in my experience, one minute they’re there and next there gone. Have you had someone being bitten by a spider in one of your earlier stories? I think so, but I could be mistaking it for something else. Spiders don’t particularly bother me, even the ones in HP and RotK, but the though of actually being attacked and bitten a very large Mirkwood one does. In chapter 5 it says: “If he were not placed in the healers’ hands soon, he would be very sick for far longer than he liked to contemplate, but he probably would not die.” That was referring to one bite, so how ill is he going to be now he has been bitten twice? His heartbeat doesn’t sound too good. Thranduil was a good person for Legolas to meet. I can still remember how scary he was when his sons were threatened in ‘One Year In Mirkwood’. It was a good thing that Thranduil felt that something was wrong. Author Reply: I had warriors bitten by spiders, most specifically Tinar (the boastful jerk). I think that was in "Growing under Shadow," although I couldn't swear to it. He had the sword that Gelmir wanted. Ithilden is going to get the best of care, so he'll be all right. Maybe the healer's daughter can put her hand on his head and make him feel better. Or maybe that would be too much for that heartbeat! I love seeing Thranduil at his powerful, magical best. And I'm sure Legolas did too!

Dragon-of-the-North	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
Yes! Thranduil to the rescue! I really liked this chapter, and it was good to see the king there - I like it to see him getting active and all paternal. ;-) The exchange between the brothers was very moving, and Ithilden's plight was very moving, as was Legolas' brave try to get help. I liked seeing his infirmary knowledge coming into play... The best moment, though, was perhaps Ithilden's little childhood memory... Better late then never, I suppose! ;-) No, it was really good to see him recall a time in which he was not sensible, ever-so-responsible Ithilden, but a young elf as well. :-) Author Reply: Yes! I am so glad you liked the childhood memory. You're the first reviewer who has mentioned it. I wrote this story partly to get to know Ithilden better and that memory was interesting to me. I could see him getting all obsessed about jumping higher and higher, not because of the danger like Eilian would have done, but because he's a perfectionist.

Antigone Q	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
There you have it. Never believe a child (Elfling, Dwarf or Human) who utters the phrase: "I won't be any trouble - I promise!" Snicker, snicker. It was very moving to have Thranduil ride to the rescue in the nick of time. I liked that something had kept nagging at him - nothing he could put his finger on, but worrisome. It was consistent with what you'd said already about parents and their links to their children. I also thought it was very true to life the way Legolas wanted everything - himself, the horse, his father - to be going faster so that Ithilden would get to the healers quicker. I've experienced that very feeling myself during emergencies. I'd actually done some research on antivenin (or "antivenom") for spider and snake bites and discovered that, while it's not hard to make, it would be hard for a low-tech society to administer. So I was impressed that you made it sufficiently vague and referred to it as an "antidote" instead. "Antidote" could be any herb or substance that counteracts the poision, not just something made from the poison itself. I expect Wood Elves would be sufficiently well-versed in the healing properties of the local plants that this alternative could work, and of course it has the advantage of being able to be administered in any way you want, because the reader doesn't know what's in it. Legolas and his father and brother will be home soon. Whew! That was quite tense. I hope everyone involved will have a good long rest now. Do you think both brothers will be forthcoming about the details of the whole trip, or will they invoke the sibling code of silence? I can't imagine either one will be eager to say, "Guess what I did?" Author Reply: The powerful Elven king was just exactly what Legolas needed to see. Thranduil takes care of both his kids, although it was probably one of those days when he wished there were two of him. I was really interested in what you said about antidote vs. antivenom. I had never thought about the different meanings of those two words. Nilmandra says that an oral antidote would probably not be very effective for various reasons, and I'm sure she's right. She always is. But I decided to pretend. After all, I seriously doubt that the hands of a king are the hands of a healer in real life either! My brother and I were in the same grade in school and we NEVER told. But I am thinking that guilt and the urge to confess will strike these two. Poor Thranduil.

Lera	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
My heart is full after reading this. Wow, talk about a prank going wrong! I think this is about as wrong as a prank can go. I hate spiders even ones that are smaller than my thumb nail. I absolutely cannot imagine fighting ones that are bigger than me! I was as glad to see Thranduil as Legolas was. There was no one else I wanted to see riding along that path. Now that he is here all will be well. Great chapter. Hope to see an update soon. I was feeling sorry for Ithilden because probably for the rest of the story he'll be in bed. But then I remembered who the healer's daughter was and who will likely be caring for him and then I didn't feel so bad for him. lol. Author Reply: It's a moments like this that Legolas is deeply grateful for how powerful his father is. I'm sure he really does feel that all will be well because Thranuduil is here. Now explaining what happened afterwards might be a different story. Ah yes, the healer's daughter. She's in my notes too!

Jebb	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/14/2004
Thranduil rides to the rescue quite literally in fact I loved this whole chapter from Legolas and Ithilden struggling to get bck to camp and Legolas telling him others threw up too to make his brother feel better to the runny nose and Ithilden knowing he was going to have to send his brother alone to find a rescue. Oh but what a wonderful Adar they have knowing when to give comfort feeling something was wrong with his sons and then not being able to decide which son needed him most it was brave of Legolas to tell him to take Ithilden when what he really wanted I suspect is never to let go of Ada again tears and cheers for Ada Author Reply: Up until the very last minute when I was writing this chapter, I intended to have Thranduil ride home with Legolas and the guards take Ithilden. That's what's in my notes. But then Legolas got brave and spoke up and asked Ada to take Ithilden. What a great kid!

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