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| Tangled Web by daw the minstrel | 21 Review(s) |
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| maya_ar | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| I'm particularly enjoying the "behind the scenes" aspect of this story, looking at the events of "The Hobbit". Looking forward to how this pans out. cheers, Maya Author Reply: Thank you, maya_ar. This has been fun to write. I keep coming across parts of the story that need explanation from the Elves' point of view. Like why do they stay at the siege when they aren't asking for anything for themselves? And for me, one of the side effects of writing this story has been seeing that Thranduil is much maligned by the fan community. I love the Elvenking! | |
| Manderly | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| I was hoping that you get to the battle soon but this chapter was very enjoyable nevertheless. The story so far is not at all tedious. Actually, the longer the story, the better. Good for Galelas for putting Tinar in his place, or at least for shutting him up. I really wish someone would give that twit a good smack. Having a brother like that must be a fate worse than death. No wonder he is jealous of Legolas. So Legolas finally meets the "child". Quite a jump from being concerned for the welfare of the "child" to wanting to beat it senseless, though I really don't blame him. I cannot imagine what Sinnarn wants to do to Bilbo. Really looking forward to your next post! Author Reply: I'm working on the next chapter and I'm not even sure I'll get to the battle in that one! I'm terrible about judging how long it will take me to tell things. My beta always laughs when I tell her how many more chapters I think the story will take. At least Galelas doesn't have to live with Tinar anymore most of the time. His fellow warriors value him and that's good for him, I think. I think I'll have to give Sinnarn and Legolas a little more quality time with Bilbo. :-) | |
| mer | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| I want you to know that I certainly am not finding this story tedious (when I see a new chapter posted I immediately go to read it above all else)! Like your other fans, I too am nervous about who's gonna get it in the battle. On that note, when I read the aftermath of the battle of the five armies in The Hobbit, Tolkien made the "elvenking" to be rather cheerful or maybe not upset (at least that is how I remember it) so, if true, does that mean none of his family will be killed? Whatever happens though, I can't wait for the next chapter! Thanks DAW!!! Author Reply: Thank you, mer. I don't why this story just seemed dull to me yesterday, but it did, so I'm glad readers don't feel that way. I don't think I should comment on who dies. As always when I get ready to kill a character, I feel bad, but I think it would be unrealistic for everyone to survive. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 | |
| “Really I must be going, and quickly,” the hobbit was saying as they approached. I know it’s been kind of a long haul, but I hope it’s not been too tedious. Oh, no! Far from it! Spin it out! Make it last a month! This is delightful! Way too fun to rush through! But what about the fact that you didn't include Thranduil's delicious line, "Bilbo Baggins! You are more worthy to wear the armor of elf-princes than many who have looked more comely in it." ?????? My favorite line? I guess I can see your point that it doesn't really move your particular story along, but it's such a funny line . . . Elvishness and hobbitness kind of intersect in it. Congratulations again -- bows and cheers -- Esamen Author Reply: I've been trying to avoid using too much of Tolkien's dialogue actually, just because it's available elsewhere. :-) I included the negotiations of Thorin and Bard just because they seemed central but I've been dodging using the rest when I could. Actually, what I'd like to do is keep focussed on my characters but Tolkien's story is so compelling, it keeps drawing me in. I was just rereading his description of the actual battle (for obvious reasons), and I was struck with how wonderful the descriptions are. | |
| Ms. Whatsit | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| Oh, Legolas SHOULD have dropped Bilbo! Or hung him upside down from a tree or something! I liked Cynical!Eilian making bets with Legolas about Bard. I'm surprised Thranduil is letting Bard take charge as much as he is--but maybe he's hoping that Bard's people will do the bulk of the work and then share the hoard with the Elves? That would be clever. Though I know he puts his foot down later with the "Long will I tarry, ere I begin this war for gold," bit. I've got Galelas marked down as cannon fodder. I think you're going to kill him. There's no other reason for bringing him back and dwelling on his unappreciated status within his family. I have a few other guesses on who you're going to kill--I wonder if I'll be right! Once again I'm amazed at how well you're writing such a complicated plot. Author Reply: I've had trouble getting a handle on Thranduil in the last couple of chapters. When you look at how he's presented in the book, it's so different from how fanfic shows him that you have to stop and think about his motives all over again. Neither he nor Bard ever demands anything from the Dwarves for the Elves -- for the men, yes, but not for the Elves, so why does he stay? I finally decided it was because he pitied the people of Esgaroth and respected Bard and wanted an ally and was just ticked at the Dwarves. But he's NOT greedy. So it's all kind of subtle to show. And he's out of his element too, so he's less domineering than usual. He's being subtle-politician-Thranduil rather than kick-ass-king-Thranduil. I've been feeling rather bad about this story today, actually, so I'm glad you're enjoying it. It suddenly seemed boring as all get out to me. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| It does seem that money (or, in this case, treasure) is the root of much evil. This is why I am going to grad school to acquire advanced degrees in ethnomusicology, a choice which will ensure that I will never ever have enough money to get into this kind of trouble. It seems to me that Thranduil finds himself slightly in over his head here. The Dwarves not only are not dead, but they are actively shooting at peaceful messengers and beloved grandchildren. And it seems that Bard is far more interested in the treasure than Thranduil had anticipated. And to top it all off, in waltzes Mithrandir announcing that he was responsible for the Dwarves in the first place. Props to Thranduil for keeping as much of his cool as he has. I did snicker a little at his designation of Bard as a "so-called" King, mainly because I started imagining Thranduil as the French Taunter: Thranduil: "Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly Dwarf. I blow my nose at you, so-called Bard King, you and all your silly Hobbit Knnnnnnn-iggets!" And, of course, the little-known side effects of a siege: The Fidgets. What will last longer, the food supply of the besieged, or the patience of the besiegers? I think Bilbo has tipped the scales slightly in the direction of the besiegers, if only by showing up and being Hobbity at the Elves, who I'm sure are glad to take complete befuddlement over numbing boredom. At least Bilbo had the grace to apologize. And Legolas may, sixty years on, find that he's sorry he asked how Bilbo managed to slip by without being seen. As for gruesome video, the hip replacement tape is actually an educational exhibit at the Boston Science Museum. "For work" is not a bad guess, though. Video I've seen at work would include a very thorough autopsy, experimental eyeball surgery, the Hartford Circus Fire, a whole lot of tornadoes, drunken sailors and a really bad Broadway-style belter. That's the other reason I'm fleeing to the safety of grad school. Author Reply: Hey, good plan! No money will come your way at all! So you'd better enjoy it, despite all the graduate school will do to prevent that. Don't let the bastards win! I had trouble writing about Thranduil here because he seemed out of his element. He's away from his forest, not far away, but away, and he's not the only king around. They seem to be crawling out of the woodwork, actually. So he has to hold back and figure out both what's good for his realm and what's right to do, and then he has to do it rather more quietly than he usually would. (It's a little hard for me to imagine Thranduil saying what you said, but hey! He's a quick study!) As I am working on this story, I keep finding so many elements that will play into Legolas's future, right down to a grim, dark man. For me, that's one of the things that makes it interesting to write about. The fact that we know where all these folks are headed gives all their current actions greater depth, I think. | |
| nessie | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| Ah, Mithrandir...Always shows up in the best of times, doesn't he? Yep, I bet they're really disappointed that Thorin's alive and they have no claim in the treasure, but yet they're relieved that he did not die. Thranduil DID give those dratty dwarves a chance, they should have just answered him when he asked those questions. I am actually starting NOT to like Thorin. The more I realize how greedy he is, the more I don't like him. He actually wasn't my favorite dwarf to begin with, when I read the Hobbit. Bombur was ;) And now Bilbo's negotiated with the King. I can't wait till the next chapter, 'specially the battle scene! Update asap! ~nessie~ Author Reply: The more I read these scenes in The Hobbit, the worse I thought Thorin looked. I suppose he was just being dwarvish, and Thranduil wouldn't have reacted too well to an army on his doorstep either (heck, he didn't even react well to 13 dwarves), but still, he seems hard hearted. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| Another great chapter, Daw. I like the thought of Eilian being one of the first scouts to approach the mountain, and Sinnarn being the standard bearer. I remember that Thorin shot at him - the dwarf doesn't come out of this at all well. Ithilden and Thranduil must be livid. I liked Gandalf being cryptic, and particularly the confrontation between Legolas, Sinnarn and Bilbo. I think Bilbo was lucky Thranduil had warned them off harming him! I'm looking forward to the battle, and making a list of who I think will be killed. Just don't kill any of Legolas's family! Jay Author Reply: The more I looked at this, the worse Thorin looked. And I never noticed it before, I think because I was reading from the Dwarves' point of view in The Hobbit. Thranduil just keeps convincing me further of what a wonderful, wise ruler he is. He was ticked at the dwarves and he knows Bilbo was with them, but he's willing to make nice. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| Its so interesting to consider the events of the Hobbit from the standopint of the wood elves. Clever Bilbo got Sinnarn in trouble...and although in the book the guard is nameless, whomever he is probably did get in trouble due to Bilbo's magic ring. Bard also comes across well. Its nice to see a Man that Thranduil respects - and Bard comes across as a strong and thoughtful leader. Tinar should be bashed up alongside the head. I'm just saying... Author Reply: You are very sweet to say this is "interesting," given that I was just moaning about how boring it was. In the book, Bilbo suspected the guard would get into trouble, which is why he put the key ring back on the guard's belt. Bard is a little scary, I find. I wouldn't want to cross him. Thorin is a fool, given that the guy intends to live in Dale. Tinar, Tinar. His biggest punishment is that he has to be him. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 7/3/2004 |
| Beautifully interwoven. Bilbo leaves as many questions as he answers - but if Legolas and Sinnarn knew just how much trouble he was going to be in, they might feel a bit mollified. I just love this story - when is the next part going to be ready? Author Reply: Sinnarn should start to feel better. Even with what Bilbo has said already, he should be able to tell his father and Todith that Bilbo was refilling his cup, so he wasn't lying about having only one drink. That should ease matters somewhat. The next chapter will be along in a couple of days, I'd guess! | |