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Paths of Memory by daw the minstrel	30 Review(s)
Brenda G.	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/23/2004
I wish most human families were like this family of Elves... This was great, Daw. Short, incredibly sweet, with just enough sorrow to keep the wound fresh. Lovely and poignant. Your stories that explore the elfling days of Ithilden and Eilian certainly seem a developing favorite with your fans. I, for one, love learning more about the younger Thranduil. I do hope some of your future stories will go farther into this venue. Legolas is very fortunate to have been raised in such a family. Makes me wish for pointed ears. Good, Daw. Very good. Author Reply: I've thought that about families too! In fanfic, we so often make the love between siblings or parents and childen or friends so strong and openly expressed. There are very few younger Thranduil stories around. I like Elliska's on this site. Although he's an adult, he's young enough to meet his future wife in Part 1 of Interrupted Journeys. Coriel is writing about young Thranduil right now. Legolas is fortunate to have been raised by these people, even if his mother did die.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/22/2004
snif Yep, it was what I thought. You did such a beautiful job of reaching the emotion of the moment in so few truly revealing words. The glimpses into each child's childhood were so well drawn for the adults they will become. Seeing Eilian with his ada back when things were so much easier was sweet and sad at the same time. I think when Thranduil revealed to Eilian (after his marriage) that he was so much like his mother tells us a lot about how and why their relationship changed. Of course, her being gone changed the dynamics too. But here, we see the strong love that existed between the two. It just gets a little waylaid at times as Eilian gets older, and Naneth is not there to keep things on an even keel. Thranduil fears and Eilian just wants unconditional love. One of the most heartbreaking scenes was when Eilian came to his door when Legolas cried out and Ithilden went to him. Like many of your readers, I would love to know what Ithilden said to him...or maybe no words were needed. I guess sometimes something more powerful than a 'bankie' is needed. When I was reading the ending with Legolas, I was trying to get the timeline straight in my mind. Right after Lorellin died, the king and his two older sons went to 'hunt some orc'. I'm guessing this is fairly soon after they returned. I imagine the battle they engage in was satisfying to some degree, but I can also see how wrecking such vengeance also adds to the sorrow. The emotional and physical 'adrenaline' rush is gone and now they are faced with the sorrow. Geez, daw, hand me that bottle of Dorwinion, will ya? Very well done. A brilliantly done slice of sorrow and joy in the lives of the family. Very, very good. Karen Author Reply: Thank you, Karen. I was a little afraid it was too sweet, but the sorrow seems to balance it a bit. Nilmandra said she wanted to see a scene in which it was clear that Thranduil was showing love for Eilian because their later relationship is so troubled, and I was glad to write that too. I think for Thranduil little kids are easier than bigger ones too. Once they start to grow up and resist him a bit, his controlling side comes out. I was trying to imagine what Ithilden said to Eilian. I think it's possible he just got him some water ("You'll feel better in the morning if you drink that now") and sat with him. I think it's possible that Eilian cried and maybe they both did. What can you say, after all? That's the timing I had in mind, yes. This would be set after Thranduil and the older two returned from killing the orcs but before Eilian had to go back south. Boy, I'll bet it was hard for them to let him go.

Jebb	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/22/2004
Oh this was so heartbreaking even though I knew what was to come a family devastated by loss wonderfully written and the strands beautifully woven together thank you Author Reply: Thank you, Jebb. This story was originally pretty fluffy, but my beta pointed out that there was angst and Nana in all the elfling bits and suggested I frame it with the "present" struggle of the family. And that made all the difference! Hooray for betas and mine in particular! Author Reply: Thank you, Jebb. This story was originally pretty fluffy, but my beta pointed out that there was angst and Nana in all the elfling bits and suggested I frame it with the "present" struggle of the family. And that made all the difference! Hooray for betas and mine in particular!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/22/2004
I did wonder about Thranduil being reflective in the wake of Legolas going off questing - but that wouldn't explain Eilian being drunk - and his drunkenness being tacitly accepted as understandable. Much as I love Legolas, I too could happily read stories about Eilian, Ithilden, Lorellin, Thranduil, Beliond, Maltanaur, etc, that do not feature him. I'd love to see more elfling Ithilden and good times with Eilian and Thranduil. Come to that - what actually happened in the stair-sledding incident? And where were Thranduil and Oropher when they attempted it? Who else was there? Elu, by any chance? And did Eilian teach the skill to his little brother? Or tell him a story that brought on the Shield Incident? I could go on. But I won't. Not now. Author Reply: Yes, the detail of Eilian's drunkeness was supposed to be tantalizing. :-) You are a font of ideas about my characters, or any characters for that matter. I think I might have to keep using Legolas as my anchor for now. Maybe someday, I'll change all the names and do an original fantasy novel. That would be fun.

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/22/2004
Ohhhh, I thought it was going to be set in that time. shaking my head sadly So terrible a thing for them to be going through, I'm glad they all made it though. Very well done! :) Author Reply: Thank you, Duchess. When I first started writing these memories, they weren't set in any particular time, but my beta suggested I frame them and I thought it worked out well. I'm glad you liked it.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/22/2004
It looks like it's going to be one of those days where the sun never quite rises here in lovely Grad School Town, and this seems to be appropriate reading for such a day. I see that I was right about Nana's fate, which is unfortunate but not entirely a surprise. It seems that Thranduil is beginning to do some serious thinking about how he'll manage without Lorellin. He is now the central theme of these memories, in all of his different aspects. To Eilian, he is the strong bulwark who cannot be hurt (everyone over the age of eight years [human] who believes that, raise your hand. . . what, no hands?), to Legolas, he is the everlasting source of love who will always make his sons feel as though someone in the world needs him, and to Ithilden, he is a fair judge and source of comfort when the world turns unhappy. He will need to be all that and more in the years to come. (Although I have a hard time believing that prim, proper, stick-up-the-hoo-ha Ithilden could ever have been considered a "bad influence." Eilian should probably hear that story sometime. He'd laugh himself silly. And then Celuwen would tickle him in a personal region. But I digress.) I think the detail that I liked best was the little glimpse of Ithilden going to Eilian's room to comfort him when Thranduil went in to get Legolas. That's so Ithilden -- no, it's so big-sibling. You always look out for the littler ones. Right now, Ithilden has two hurting little brothers, and there's only one parent to go around. Legolas is smaller, so he gets Ada, which means that Ithilden has to step in for Eilian. You so rarely see those two together and not at odds with each other, but you know it had to have happened, and it just seems so natural here. It reminded me of some of the loneliest moments you can have at college, the times when a roommate or a hallmate gets sick, or has a nightmare, and you are both hundreds of miles from home, and you both wish that someone's parents could deal with it, but the parents aren't there, and you have to take care of each other now. I think I vaguely remember seeing a sequel to Bambi once, but I didn't get a chance to read it. It would be terribly sad if his daughter got adopted by humans and lost her wildness, because I know that the same thing happened to his cousin Gobo (Faline's twin brother) in the original. Author Reply: It's gloomy here to day too. I get depressed and my husband went out and bought me some of those full-spectrum lights that are supposed to help cure Seasonal Affective Disorder. I was struck by your analysis of how Thranduil relates to his sons. I thought it rang true of them not only as children but as adults, at least in what they want from him. I suspect that all of them still think of Thranduil as indomitable. He's kind of like that. It must have been disturbing to the older two to see him suffering after Lorellin died. You made me laugh at the idea of Eilian being told that Ithilden was a "bad influence." I think I may have to use that sometime! He would fall over laughing, you're right. Ithilden kind of surprised me when he walked across the hall to Eilian's room, but I liked that detail too. I like the sense of things happening that I don't quite know about, such as whatever passed between them behind the closed door of Eilian's room. And Eilian is quite young here -- about 70. So he's technically of age, but may not have reached his adult form yet. Maybe it's Gobo I'm remembering. I have no idea. That was a long time ago.

Creashuns	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/22/2004
Excellent story so far! Great characterizations!! Please continue! Creashuns Author Reply: Thank you, Creashuns. I have to admit to being shamelessly fond of my OCs. I think this story is done now though. At least, I hope so! I need to get back to something longer and with an actual plot. But this was fun.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/21/2004
Now, when I was reading part one, I thought Thranduil was probably remembering from the time of Lorellin's death . . . and I started wondering what other time it could be set in . . . and I thought that Celuwen might just have died in childbirth. I'm so glad it wasn't. Lorellin's death is a constant - tragic, with long-term effects all round, but already part of the tale. I don't want anything nasty ever to happen to the rest of this family, (well, apart from a few wounds and a lot of angst) because they are just too lovely. Author to bear in mind: nothing terminal to happen. Let me see: Apple (green, sweet) definitely Annael. Oats (make ponies frisky) Turgon. "'You know better than to wander away like that, Carrot,' he said, glad the forester was out of earshot." I hope he wasn't - I hope he went home and giggled about the incident with Mrs Forester. Ahh, the irony of Carrot's desire to stay home. Eilian, even sitting still, cannot avoid movement and noise. (Love the essay.) It must be strange to have your children writing about ancient history when you lived through it. It is difficult for the young to visualise their own parents as children at any time - but then to place Thranduil in Menegroth with Elu. And all Thranduil's thought are bound up with keeping his offspring safe - and knowing he probably can't. Poor Ithilden. Even as an elfling - bravely facing his adar and confessing his actions rather than hiding and letting trouble find him. And with the touch of arrogance that is part of his character - and the responsibility that makes him believe that everything is his fault. I love the picture of Lorellin coming in as the fierce she-wolf to protect her cub from attack. That indignant adar is going to go away apologising for his daughter's behaviour - and thanking Ithilden for bringing her home. I am just loving the pictures of Ithilden's childhood - I would love to know more about him. And Thranduil / Oropher would be an interesting sidelight. Legolas's - and the rest of the family's - last happy night, spent in the anticipation of Lorellin's return, and then the sight of her menfolk broken. I'm glad Ithilden went to Eilian. Lovely sweet / sour combination in this tale. It doesn't take millennia of knowledge to know that nothing will be the same for them again. Author Reply: It also occurred to me that people might think that because Legolas wasn't in view in the "present" in chapter one, the family might have just heard that he was off to Mordor. But then, neither Alfirin nor Celuwen was in sight and they would have been around by then, assuming nothing "terminal" ever happens to them. :-) Poor Carrot. I think he's a person who would never want to make his family unhappy and yet who rather liked wandering a bit and exploring Arda. Maybe that's one reason he ends up in Ithilien eventually. Interestingly, for all of his love of excitement, I don't think Eilian has the same wanderlust. When I was writing about Eilian and Elu Thingol, I too thought about how odd it must be to study history that your parents have been part of or even to know that you could meet Elrond or Cirdan if you traveled far enough away. You made me laugh at the idea of the other father winding up thanking Ithilden for bringing his daughter home. He thinks he's brave facing Thranduil! He doesn't know where the true danger lies. For some reason, I enjoyed the pictures of Ithilden's childhood the most too, I think because he's so hard to picture as a child. And that moment when he crossed the hall and went into Eilian's room rather surprised me when it happened. Dot says she wants to know what went on in that room. I do too! Thank you for the lovely review, Bodkin.

Rose Sared	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/21/2004
Well that killed the fluffies! Sad sad and most touching. Well done, enough with the interludes, I sense a story brewing? Rose Author Reply: I hope you sense correctly! I haven't got anything in mind yet, but this weekend, I'll sit down and look at my list of ideas and think about what I want to do next.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/21/2004
Sorry, just can't help myself--I will cast another vote for the 'what happens in Mirkwood while Legolas is on the Quest' story. I just think that would be spectacular and since you mentioned it again... :) Author Reply: LOL. I don't want to do this for a while, but it's occurred to me that I could cut back and forth between Legolas on the quest and what's happening at home. Maybe someday!

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