Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Tangled Web by daw the minstrel	16 Review(s)
Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2004
The tension in the first part of the chapter is so thick that one can almost slice it with a knife. I am beginning to wonder how the members of the White Council and Eilian and company can even draw breath in those oppressive woods. In spite of all that, Eilian is still craving for danger. Talk about an adrenaline junkie. Some things will never change. Poor Todith and Legolas having to bear the brunt of Thranduil's wrath, rather unjustly I thought. It seems that the King has forgotten that he had taken on the responsibility of dealing with the dwarves himself, but I suppose his ire is understandable in that the party crashers interrupted the wedding not just once, but three times. Sometimes I wonder how Thraduil juggles with being the intimidating king and the loving adar when dealing with his sons. Author Reply: It's been a challenge to try to imagine what it was like around Dol Guldur. All I had to go on really was something Haldir says in FOTR: that there were dark fir trees with rotten limbs. And then of course there's talk of shadow, literal shadow. But Tolkien says the elves were tied to Arda so strongly that they were harmed when Arda was marred by Morgoth. And I figured wood elves would be really tied to the forest and choked by its being damaged. Thranduil is really scary. I wouldn't want to be one of his sons. Everything in their family is complicated by his dual role of father and king. Thanks for the review, Manderly.

Jebb	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2004
Eilian and Ithilden are really in the thick of it now that is for sure there was a definite feel of evil pervading the first part of this chapter it made for uncomfortable reading in that pleasantly frightening way that good writing has I think Todith and Legolas were also uncomfortable and perhaps just a bit frightened by the mighty and mightily furious woodland king who was taking no prisoners this morning and no excuses either Legolas was proved right his father did not say he was proud of him although I am sure he is even after the dwarf incursion! it must make for a difficult time when the family meet at meals for both father and son who have to balance family and duty all the time great chapter Author Reply: You know, I thought about what breakfast must have been like and decided that Legolas avoided his father and left the palace early. But even by that evening, things might have been tense. We'll see how things go. :-) I'm so glad you felt uncomfortable with the first part of the chapter. I worked it over until it made me feel tense to read it and then figured it was done.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2004
Phew - the tension near Dol Guldur! The pain of the forest, the stress of the elves, the almost physical presence of the shadow; touches like Radagast's attempt to make contact with the squirrel, Ithilden and Glorfindel - swords in hand by the White Council - what a build up! I can't wait to know what happens next. Then - back to Thranduil. And a situation which, despite the anger and authoritarian ranting of the king, cannot help but have (quite large) comic overtones. I feel for Todith - I know that he is the Captain, but it really seems hardly fair to blame him, when he is being Ithilden and Legolas is doing his job. Of course, it's not really Legolas's fault either - at least in the first place. (Perhaps he should have taken personal charge after the first intrusion.) However, Thranduil agreed with the decisions and said he would see to it. But I don't think Thranduil feels like being fair at the moment - good job Legolas is used to getting in trouble. (Doesn't the Woodland King realise there are Tolkien-driven plot obligations here?) However, I can see how the dwarves ended up in so much trouble - hostile yelled-at Amdir and not-keen-on-them yelled-at Legolas are not going to be exactly friendly, especially since they know that any more mistakes are going to cause even more, possibly inescapable trouble - the elven equivalent of being sent to Siberia. Made my day when this came up. Update asap. Author Reply: Glad you liked it, Bodkin. I kept working over those paragraphs about Dol Guldur thinking "This is completely abstact! It needs to be physical!" It sounds as if you think I succeeded. I can't get away from the comical overtones of The Hobbit. I was going to add "unfortunately" but maybe I should just enjoy it. Thranduil is not in the mood to be reasonable, as you point out. And Todith and Legolas will survive. I laughed at your comments on Amdir and Legolas passing along the bad karma to the dwarves after they'd each been chewed out.

Ms. Whatsit	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2004
The first part of this chapter was wonderful. The second part was also wonderful but had me cringing, which I suppose is what you were going for. I loved Eilian, of course. Eilian fighting off the Shadow, engaging in Brotherly Bonding with Ithilden, bickering with Maltanau...insert long, fangirly sigh here. And I laughed when I read about poor Radagast trying to feed a black squirrel. He is possibly my favorite member of the White Council. But, dude, poor Legolas. Thranduil is HARSH. And poor Todith too. Author Reply: Eilian is really cut out for swashbuckling adventure. He even enjoys it for the most part. I'm enjoying the chance to write about Eilian and Ithilden in a dangerous situation together because I don't usually get to do that. Radagast makes me laugh. I am afraid I think of him as "The Loon Bird." I would not want to be working for Thranduil, myself. Legolas is lucky to have Todith as a buffer and Todith is probably wishing fervently for Ithilden's return.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2004
I'm afraid I think Thranduil is right - the Home Guard were incompetent if they couldn't keep a few dwarves away from the wedding; even if they did think it was more important to go after the spiders. Surely there's more than one patrol? So Thorin is going to be picked up and taken back for questioning now? Meanwhile, where are the elves while Bilbo rescues the others from the spiders? Things sound bad down in the South at Dol Guldur - orcs on the way? I know they'll be successful, but I expect you have a few interesting moments in store first! Jay Author Reply: Thranduil invites you to just walk right in and sit down next to him to participate in the dressing down. He likes your attitude! I am working on spiders, elves, and Bilbo right now. The White Council is busily at work too.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2004
You've been watching old war movies, haven't you? I really liked the opening scene of getting ready for the assault on Dol Guldur. You've brought a thick sense of tension into the air, along with the sense that, for good or ill, Life As Eilian Knows It is about to change. Your choice of Eilian for POV was also good, as it's going to be more of a sea change for him than for Ithilden. I like the way you evoke the tension by pointing out its physical effects on the Elves -- the white-knuckled grips on the bows, Eilian having to work to slow his heart rate, the lack of sleep and appetite. If even Ithilden, old campaigner that he is, isn't eating, things are well and truly tense. And even in the midst of this thick, dark atmosphere, there are some lovely character moments. I especially liked Radagast and the squirrel. Both of them seemed marvellously in character, with Radagast being so friendly and the squirrel eyeing him and thinking "WTF?" in Squirrel. Only one thing seemed out of place here. I think that the phrase "he sent feathered death flying through the air" suffers from being just a little too twee for such a dark and momentous occasion. Other than that little bobble, I think this is some of the best writing I've seen from you. And meanwhile, back at the palace. . . . Once again, this scene is perfectly in character as you've established it, for Todith, Legolas and Thranduil, especially Thranduil. Everyone knows that the dressing-down is coming, and Thranduil delivers, on cue and with the expected degree of fury. I do think that, for all that it's perfectly within his character to be that mad at Todith, he's being unfair. One chapter back, he stated that he would assume responsibility for keeping the Dwarves away from the wedding. As I recall, Legolas asked what he should do about them, and Thranduil said, "I will take care of it." That puts him firmly on the hook, and I hope he will recognize his own share of the responsibility for the Dwarf Debacle. On the other hand, no one was hurt, and no one started speaking in tongues, so all in all the wedding was a success. Author Reply: PJ (that great producer of fanfic) is the one who says that scenes of getting ready for battle are important. Even for Eilian, who loves excitement, this is a bit much. So you don't like "feathered death" eh? Hm. I like it! It pains me to part with it! Whine, whine! Thranduil is not in the mood for having his own words pointed out to him right now I'm afraid. Maybe later. And all I can say is you must have been to some exciting weddings!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List