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A Matter of Heart  by daw the minstrel 26 Review(s)
thechevinReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/25/2004
What a terrible thing to do to a person at Christmas leaving them with a cliff hanger like that
I am glad Legolas took a swing at Galeas he deserved it I think Thrnaduil would not be unhappy about it either given the situation although I doubt he will tell Legolas that

There I was happily looking forward to a sweet if wet end to the chapter with Ithilden and Alfirin about to have a happy reunion and you spring this on us how can I face Christmas dinner with this worry
HAppy Holidays

Author Reply: Galelas pushed too hard and probably should have expected what happened. He probably thinks this was all still Legolas's fault because he took the first swing! Thranduil is undoubtedly trying to decide what to do: tell the kid to cut it out or comfort him. He needs Naneth to help.

Ithilden and Alfirin will have time together eventually, but first Alfirin needs to see Ithilden in action and have a little talk with Legolas. :-)

LOTRFaithReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/25/2004
Catching up over Holiday break... :-) Hmmm... I find myself wanting to hug and strangle Legolas at the same time... It would be a lot easier if he just started talking, instead of holding everything in... But at the same time I can understand why he is holding back too...

Laughing most of the time when Ithilden and Alfrin come into view;-) It reminds me so much of a friend of mine who is currently undergoing the same 'courtship' type.

Anyway... Great job! Keep up the good work and Merry Christmas!

Author Reply: You feel the same way about Legolas that Thranduil does! He hears about the fight and wants to hold his head. Should he tell the kid to cut it out or should he be sympathetic? He needs Lorellin to still be around.

Ithilden and Alfirin are gradually working their way close to one another. They're very attracted to one another. They just need to work out the detail.

Thank you, Faith. Have a good Christmas yourself.

EruviluiethReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Evil Cliffie! BAD!!! OK, you have my attention, not that you didn't before. Loving the story, very intriguing. Update soon!

Author Reply: I'm glad you're enjoying the story, Eruviluieth. The cliffhanger isn't so very bad. :-) You know I'm not going to kill any of them. I just need them to spend some time together in the woods. These three have things to tell one another.

Have a good holiday.

Frodo3791Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Sure! Just when I thought this chapter was going to end so happily, Legolas is going to get hit by a tree! Cliffhangers are so bittersweet.

But Legolas did rough Galelas up a bit. I'm proud of him, though, he's not proud of himself, nor is the archery master... and his family. None the less, I'm sure it felt good, and perhaps Galelas will think twice before he says stuff to Legolas. Or not. Those two remain enemies for quite a while.

Anywy, I'm looking forward to the next chapter.
-Frodo

Author Reply: LOL. At least you know I'm not going to kill any of them.

I think punching Galelas probably felt very good while it was happening. It's the aftermath that's not so sweet. Although, as you say, maybe Galelas will back off a little.

The next chapter will be along eventually. I'll be away Sunday and Monday and not writing then, and in a few minutes I have to go make Christmas breakfast and open presents. I hope your holiday is good.

The KarenatorReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Holy cow! A cliffhanger and on Christmas Eve to boot!

Things were looking up there for about five seconds. Ithilden offered an olive branch and Thranduil was in a good mood...and then Galelas. What a knot-head. I realize that he didn't know what Legolas's problem was, but for pete's sake, can he not keep his mouth closed for a second? Guess not. I can't say I blame Legolas for the knuckle sandwich. Saying that he wouldn't want Legolas at his back was the last straw. Weapons has always been the one place in Legolas's life where he felt competent and solely his own person. I suppose for him weapons are his art and this jerk-wad just insulted his most precious creation. Does Galelas ever find out what Legolas's problem is? He should be ashamed...he should be, but it'll be a while yet before he grows a brain.

I just knew the little whelp was going to disappear into the woods. Thranduil had the working parent's monkey on his back, two things that needed to be done and one parent to do them. Good thing Ithilden was willing to try to be understanding when he found Legolas...and Alfirin...wet Alfirin...in her clinging dress. By the time he realized she was no longer angry with him, he was probably thinking: A year! I have to be betrothed for a year! This was a cold rain, I assume.

And then, a tree bites the dust, inconveniently right where Legolas and the horses are waiting. So...who's it going to be? Now remember, the kiss of death for any movie is to harm a kid or an animal.... :>) But in fanfiction....

I'm really looking forward to the next installment. Such a good chapter. It was just full of goodies.

Merry Christmas, your dawness.

Karen

Author Reply: I did feel bad because Legolas was having a good morning and then it all went to hell. I think that gradually the good times are stretching out a little for him, but Galelas certainly brought this one to a crashing end. Or maybe Legolas brought the crashing end. That particular insult was one Legolas really did not need at that moment. I don't know if Galelas ever finds out what happened here or not. I've never written about it one way or the other. Good question.

Ithilden had learned a little from what Alfirin said the day before and did better with Legolas. Of course, if he had found her first and then found Legolas, I don't know what his mood would have been like! Clinging dress! Yes, the rain was the ME equivalent of a cold shower, which he needed.

Merry Christmas to you too, Karen. The friends I've made through fanfic have been one of my blessings for this year.

AliceReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Yay, another chapter! Wow, it snowed (a white Christmas in Texas no less), it's Christmas Eve, and you updated. Truly an excellent day.

I liked this chpater. There were certain little bits that I just loved, like Thranduil thinking that Legolas was in a tree singing himself into a better mood. That's just such a woodelf thing to do. I also loved Legolas with his horse. That's why pets are nice. They love you and want to be with you no matter what. Well not exactly no matter what, they do like to be fed and taken care of, but you get the idea. Legolas needed an animal friend right then.

Ok, so Galelas needs to be taken aside by one of the training masters and given a good talking to. Something along the lines of not picking fights with students and how much they value him. Poor insecure guy. He needs a new family. They need a society for better treatment of elflings in Mirkwood. I recommend they immedietly look in on Turgon and Galelas's families.

It was a nice making up scene with Alfrin and Ithilden. Hehe. The troop commander's having impure thoughts, the troop commander's having impure thoughts,the troop commander's having impure thoughts. Okay, I'm done taunting Ithilden now. Well for now anyway. Good thing he lives all the way in Middle Earth otherwise I might be in trouble here. It was sweet how they just sort of made up on the spot. And Alfirin is so right with Legolas needing loving acceptance, which according to Legolas he's only getting from his horsie friend right now. That's bad, as nice as his horse is.

So, I look forward to the next chapter. And you resolving that cliffhanger, you wicked author you. Update soon! And have a very merry Christmas!

Author Reply: I was thinking the same thing about animal friends, Alice. My pet of choice has always been a dog, and they don't care if you're old or fat or ugly or poor or stupid or any of the other things that people react to. They just adore you if you're kind to them. Legolas needed that.

That's a good idea about one of the masters talking to Galelas and telling him BOTH things: shape up! and you don't need to do this. We know you're competent and will be a valuable warrior some day and are good for the class now (if you're not picking fights). I did feel sorry for him when I wrote that bit about him walking away alone with his head down. Sigh.

Ithilden is indeed having impure thoughts. He was ready to forgive her pretty quickly, having concluded among other things that she was at least partly right. Alfirin will be good for all of them.

You have a merry Christmas too, Alice. We have only a dusting of snow here, thank goodness. It's cold though. The high yesterday was 10.

sofiaReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Will Legolas realize the tree is falling in his direction and move his horse and hiself out in time? Or is Ithilden going to do some move that is only possible for an elf and save them? Or is Legolas and the horse going to get hurt? Ah, too many choices to think about. More soon please.
-sofia

Author Reply: LOL. Your review sounds like a preview for the next episode of a TV show. Not too worry. They all obviously survive, so it's just a question of what they encounter in the meantime and what they learn from it.

Have a good holiday, sofia.

emjoReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Naughty, naughty Daw! I am going to tell Santa you left everyone a nasty cliffhanger on Christmas eve! Have a merry Christmas and please hurry with the next chapter!

Author Reply: LOL. Too late! Santa already left all the presents under my tree.

Ok. Here's an imagined next scene for you: the tree knocks out Legolas and pins Ithilden to the ground, ripping his clothes in the process. He is now at Alfirin's mercy. How's that?

esamenReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Merry Christmas Eve, my friend! I had a hunch you might post a chapter today!

I am retreating from the crowd at my house for a moment . . . and here's a little computerized dream-path for me leading to a moment my favorite characters in Lasgalen . . . what a lovely journey away from the dishes in the kitchen.

EXCEPT, you evil woman, for your nasty cliffhanger. Do you plan to put up the next chapter tomorrow? Or leave us all in misery over Christmas Day?

I actually thought that you would have Alfirin get attacked by a spider in the woods, and have Legolas defend her with only his long knife . . . getting his new relationship with his sister-in-law off to a wonderful start and getting over his trauma about weapons at the same time. Now what's going to happen? Falling branches? Please update soon . . .

Happy holidays, and many thanks to you always for your wonderful stories,
Esamen



Author Reply: Thank you, Esamen.

I wanted to get this chapter up today because we'll be here tomorrow but then will be out of town until Tuesday, so I'm not writing until then. :-)

My beta set down some conditions for this story that I've been observing as a writing exercise: no spiders, orcs, or bad men. The conflict is mostly internal, although I guess I had Legolas slugging it out with Galelas. And there may be something along the lines you're considering -- just not with spiders, orcs, or bad men!

Happy holidays to you, too. I get great pleasure out of writing the stories and hearing from people who enjoy them.

ElentariReviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/24/2004
Evil you! how am I supposed to have a relaxed and merry christmas dinner with that Cliffhanger on my mind?
The makeup was all the sweeter for being so ordinary- both legolas and ithilden's and Alfirin and ithilden's. I cannot help but feel my heart going to Thranduil a bit mroe every chapter i read of yours. How tense he must be, poor thing, trying to salvage his youngling!
terrific job.
oh, and Merry Christmas, btw. ;)

Author Reply: That's what Ithilden said too! Evil author! He was looking forward to the horseback ride with Alfirin in front of him. :-)

It's true that for both battling pairs the reconciliation was easy -- just a letting go of anger. These three have some stuff to work among them, which I why I have them isolated in the woods at the moment.

I feel badly for Thranduil too. He must feel really helpless, not even knowing when it's better to leave Legolas alone and when it's better to try to press him to talk.

And Merry Christmas to you too. It's very cold here tonight, below 0 F. Somehow that seems right for this season of the longest night.

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