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My Brother's Keeper by daw the minstrel	38 Review(s)
Nymh	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
Another ridiculously entertaining story. How do you crank these out so quickly (and consistently), woman? I was amused by, and could so clearly see, Turgon's 'fascinated dismay'. The kid's remarkably lucky to have walked away intact. As is The Brat! Love him taking credit for rescuing the situation. How like a little boy. ;) And Eilian just grows more and more endearing with every story, Daw. I desperately want to mother him. Also, I think giving him an innate acting ability meshes beautifully with his character. I would have liked to have seen a bit more of an encounter/brawl with the men, before the rescuers arrived. However, I love it anytime (your) Thranduil goes icily protective of his cubs. He'll 'let' the man live. Heh heh heh. Thanks, and looking forward to reading whatever next strikes your fancy. Author Reply: Thank you, Nymn. I entertain myself by writing these stories so I'm glad someone else is entertained too. Thranduil didn't have time to give Turgon the full, kingly display of wrath, for which Turgon should thank his lucky stars. Still, I expect he found it interesting to see Thranduil so worked up. Legolas should have kept his mouth shut once his father arrived. Thranduil was already teetering on the edge of fury and Legolas pushed him over. I am very fond of Eilian, but I'm not sure that what I feel for him is motherly. :-)

Justafan	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
Wow, I loved this story! I love how Legolas felt that he had to protect Eilian, not a situation that he usually has to deal with and I loved how Turgon and Legolas decided to switch places. Thanks for writing this! You're a superb writer and I hope you continue to write more. Author Reply: Thank you, Justafan. You're making me blush! Legolas was slippery and resourceful when it came to protecting someone he loved, just the kind of person t grow into Legolas of the Fellowship.

Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
Oh, and thanks for taking on the "Mirkwood Vice" challenge. I am thrilled that is spawned such a terrific story. :-D Author Reply: You are most welcome, Karri. As I say below, thank you for suggesting it. It was interesting to try to fit it into ME and not just transfer what we see around us to this other setting.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
Well, good. Thranduil has learned something out of all this mess. He can be a hard-headed old codger sometimes, and he does have to learn parenting all over again with each child, since they're so different. This time around, he's got a bright, sensitive kid who needs to be told the truth and who needs to be trusted. I think it's probably important to Legolas to have his father's confidence, and even though he's not good at deception, I think he has enough of a sense of proportion that he would have been able to deal well with this scenario had Thranduil been honest with him from the start. There's a quote from Don Nigro's play Mariner that seems to sum up this situation fairly effectively. In response to the question, "You would really trust anything of value to a man like that?" the answer is, "Something of small to moderate value I might not trust with him, for he's not interested in such things, and might well lose them. Something of great value, maybe." Fourteen years on, I'm glad my parents sat down and told me the whole truth about marijuana and other less savory drugs, right after I started getting the state-mandated anti-drug propaganda in class. I appreciated the honesty, and the fact that they discussed the benefits as well as the drawbacks to the drugs, the economic factors that go into prohibition, and that they exposed some of the outright lies that the anti-drug educators told. Ooh, that guard at Legolas's room is not going to be a happy guard. Turgon had such a wonderful cameo in this chapter. I'm sure he had no clue just how angry everyone was, and it was the single most interesting evening of his (admittedly short) life. “That’s a lie,” Sirard sneered. “I’ve seen the king’s son. He has a stick shoved permanently up his arse.” Point Sirard, Ithilden to serve. “Are you hurt, Legolas?” Thranduil asked. “No.” Thranduil smiled nastily at Rhon. “In that case, I will let you live,” he said. . . And that, right there, is Thranduil at his finest. It's why I like him. Someday, I hope to be just as badass. Author Reply: "a bright, sensitive kid who needs to be told the truth and who needs to be trusted" -- love this description of Legolas! And the quote catches something important about him too. He would never have harmed Eilian if he could help it. I think Thranduil is learning parenting not just because each child is different (although there's certainly that - what worked with Ithilden would not worked with Eilian, and Legolas is not his wilder older brother), but also because with Legolas he's doing things his wife did with the older two. And Thranduil is very busy after all. So I think he did screw up in not telling Legolas, but I give him a pass anyway. Do you suppose Ithilden took special satisfaction in digging his sword into Sirard's ribs after that little comment? LOL And oh yes. Do not cross the Elvenking, especially where his sons are concerned.

Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
Legolas got off fairly easy with his ada, but that is fitting, I think, as his ada's lack of communication helped instigate this bit of miscreant behavior. I am glad Thranduil is a wise enough ada to realize it. I am also relieved that Legolas’s faith in Eilian was restored in the end – I think Eilian really need his little brother unconditional acceptance (which will get strained soon enough when Legolas becomes a warrior and Eilian his captain.) Thranduil’s pep talk to Ithildin was another skillful bit of parenting. Go, ada! ;-) (I agree with both and like Alfirin, as well. She and Ithildin are fine match!) Author Reply: Thranduil is trying to understand Legolas. He really misses his wife, I think. This would never have happened had she still been alive. And you are so right about Eilian needing Legolas's uncritical love. I had trouble making Legolas criticize Eilian even when he thought Eilian was using the herb. He had to decide it was all Maltanaur's fault! Thank you for the challenge, Karri. I enjoyed it.

Levade	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
Do you know that you, more than any other author, have (grudgingly) convinced me that Thranduil might not be all that bad. Mind you I still don't care much for him, except for your version, but my opinions are always a work in progress and so they can change. I think he reminds me far too much of my own Papa, whom I adore, but was so strict it's still quite annoying. g This family you've introduced us to has grown on me, and I feel as if I know them. I find I care a great deal for them, and always eagerly await what happens next. And you're right; Eilian could easily steal the entire thing. Heh...he's too much like Glorfindel! Don't suppose they ever met..oh yes...in that one story. Hmm. Sad to see it end, but I know you're busier now...still can't wait for more! Author Reply: I'm not sure I would have wanted Thranduil as a father. Frankly, he's a little intimidating. I think he'd have been better off with his wife still around. But he does love his kids (which is what your annoying Papa probably says too :-)). Now Glorfindel is a real show stealer, in my opinion. Nothing at all to object to there!

Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
The end already? The reader in me screams for more! That was a great chapter, very exciting yet humerous. The best line has to be "a stick shoved permanently up his arse". I wonder what Ithilden would say if he finds out how others (albeit Men) see him. And Eilian's immediate response declaring that to be his brother had me laughing too. Poor Legolas, so cluelessly yet endearingly brave. Though I am definitely on his side this time. Thranduil should have told him the truth as he is well aware of the deep bond between Eilian and Legolas. I think Thranduil has come to that realization as well after that little smack on the butt. Do you suppose Thranduil has instilled some fear in Turgon? Nah, I don't think the word fear exists in Turgon's dictionary. Keeping him at home for a year or so sounds like a good plan, but I doubt Turgon's parents are capable of such discipline. And Eilian is getting better, thank goodness and will be parading before the warriors with his adar looking on approvingly. Thranduil is one cunning elf! Thank you for such a wonderful story! (More, please?) Author Reply: LOL. You are so mean about poor Ithilden! I guess Eilian does recognize him pretty readily. I don't think Ithilden gives a hoot what Men think about him. He's a little too much like his father to care. Most readers seem to feel that Thranduil should have told Legolas more and I have to agree. We'll see if the king remembers that. Turgon was probably out running around almost immediately. He had an interesting evening though. And Eilian is getting back to normal. I'm so glad. I'm glad you liked it, Manderly.

Ms. Whatsit	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/25/2004
--for he knew with an absolute certainly that Eilian was pretending. It should be "certainty," no? Thranduil notices far too much about Ithilden's love life. He should pretend to be a bit more ignorant, I think. Ideally he needs to learn how to give advice about Ithilden's love life without betraying that he knows anything about said love life--tough but possible. I've done it to people :P. Heh. I was anticipating that Turgon-Thranduil scene. Poor guard. I feel almost as bad for him as I did for Galion in The Hobbit. Legolas was very brave and I confess I'm on his side. Thranduil should have told him, and shouldn't have been surprised when keeping Legolas in ignorance led to trouble. I also liked how Legolas knew Eilian was pretending when he started being contemptuous of Ithilden. ("Stick permanently shoved up his arse?" Cruel but accurate.) And Thranduil plays matchmaker for Eilian, too! Or at least gives him back his social status. What a great Elven-king. I'm glad that Hiolith was treated compassionately and I'm also glad that Alfirin called Ithilden by name. Finally! I thought those two stuffy people would keep "mistress"-ing and "my lord"-ing each other till hell froze over. Author Reply: Yes, 'certainty.' I changed it. Thank you. (How do I miss these?) You think Thranduil needs to be more sly with Ithilden? That's possible! He tends to tell his kids what to do pretty directly, although he does let Ithilden alone more than the other two. Of course, I don't know how you give advice to someone who seems to incur disaster every time he goes near the maiden he's interested in. ;-) LOL. Actually, I think I was mean to Ithilden in general in this story ("stick permanently shoved up his arse" for instance?). But Legolas knew that Eilian would never talk that way about Ithilden, even if he has private moments of exasperation. Thank you for the nice review, Ms. Whatsit. I'm glad you enjoyed the story.

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