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Paths of Memory by daw the minstrel	74 Review(s)
Antigone Q	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/23/2004
The ending was great, Daw! I thought it made the whole story nicely balanced - gave it a point, rather than just being some fun vignettes strung together. I also thought you did a wonderful job showing Thranduil's POV, which had some very subtle undertones at times. Both in structure and style I think it may be one of the best stories you've written. I also liked it because it reminded me of _When Shadow Touches Home (still one of my favorites). It always struck me, in that story, how Thranduil wanted to turn to Lorellin for comfort, but couldn't. In _Paths of Memory_ we have Thranduil just beginning to come to grips with how different things will be now that his wife is gone. I enjoyed the glimpse of guilt-ridden little Ithilden. What a foreshadowing of his personality later - he always takes responsibility for things, even if they are not his fault. I hope Lorellin did give Celede's ada a piece of her mind; it was Celede, after all, who chose to stand up in the sled. Nobody made her do it. Was Celede a good friend of Ithilden's when he was younger? We never hear much about his friends or his childhood. I found it especially sad that Thranduil had to prioritize his sons' emotional needs. Poor Eilian. I was touched when he went to go comfort Legolas, and both surprised and pleased when Ithilden went to Eilian when he went back to his room. It made me think of how Ithilden and Eilian never seemed as close as Eilian and Legolas do. In light of that, it was especially sweet to see Ithilden going to his brother the way that he did. I would like to think Eilian just cried with his brother and "slept it off" but I do remember what happened in the weeks following. Looking forward to your next story! Author Reply: I will be completely truthful and say I'm stunned by how well people like this story. I have to thank my beta who suggested that I put the framing in, because that seems to have made the difference. Ithilden as a child was amusing for me because he's hard to imagine that way. I think I need to give him a friend at some point -- maybe have a childhood friend show up and tell stories. Wouldn't Eilian like to know that Ithilden was once accused of being a Bad Influence? I was kind of saddened by the thought that Thranduil has "no time" for his older sons' needs, especially Eilian who is quite young yet, about 70. But Ithilden, ever the responsible one, steps in, even though he's guilt wracked himself. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Antigone.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/23/2004
Thranduil's on a Class IV rapids ride of grief, all right; slipping from calm or happy memories to fresh awareness and then back again. I liked how his memories drifted towards his sons rather than (primarily) his wife. This was the less obvious path but maybe the more realistic one. He's still in shock, he has to stay strong for his sons, and he can't let himself fall to pieces. And of course it's the boys that he's most concerned about at the moment. The memories of happier times were delightful but at the same time ominous - Legolas promising never to wander far from home - you're just evil! I loved Ithilden quietly slipping into Eilian's room to offer comfort. And Legolas - the flashback to his happy anticipation of his mother's return just before the end was a poignant reminder of how quickly and permanently lives can change. Author Reply: Thank you, Meckinock. By the time I had this mostly drafted, I was moaning to Nilmandra that it was WAY too fluffy and she suggested that I put the framing in at the start and end of the chapters. I think it made a difference. The memories took on a significance that they didn't have otherwise.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/23/2004
Sorry to comment again, but I'm bored and just wanted to say - suppose that one of the guards who went with Lorellin and was killed defending her was Ithilden's friend from early childhood. I can't imagine he made too many close friends between his position and his character, but he would have had some surely. Or, his closest friend was an elleth - Celede, maybe? - and she was married to one of the warriors who was killed and then she sailed. Oh well, delete as required. Author Reply: That's an interesting idea, Bodkin. Maybe I need to create a friend for Ithilden.

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.

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