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Interrupted Journeys: Part 3 Journeys Begin by elliska	110 Review(s)
daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/19/2005
Okey dokey. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say we have the return of Marti. But while I enjoy this dangerous part of the plot, I have to say I really enjoy the politics and shifting moods of Thranduil and those around him. I liked the glimpse of kiddy Thranduil. He's a believable precursor to the adult. Author Reply: :) I think you're on a solid limb--don't even need to be a woodelf to be safe on it. :) I'm really glad to hear that about the politics/people because I like that myself but I am always in doubt of how much anyone other than me can take. I mean, I wrote this thing to explore characters I like and play with them a little. I wanted to see Thranduil's past before The Hobbit and LotR. That was about my fun to be completely truthful. The whole thing got written without any real intent to let anyone else see it so I could do that. When my friend convinced me to post it, I naturally started thinking less about my fun and more about other people's fun and what entertains them. That has been interesting for me. I've published scholarly articles, monographs and textbooks so I had a taste of reader response. But it's not the same. In academia, as you well know, someone either agrees with your interpretation of XYZ and quotes you later in their work or doesn't and refers to you in a different way. As long as your your interpretation is solidly researched and documented, you are not going to be too badly off. And I wrote textbooks which are almost guarenteed to sell to someone. Fiction is so different--completely subjective and personal. What is entertaining to me, I have found (just by talking about books and movies with friends), makes most people stare blankly at me and causes some people to run screaming. :) That's why these reviews are so important to me, I guess. Anyway, sorry. I guess I'm feeling a little introspective tonight. Went on a long car ride Cypress Gardens with my beta today and spent a lot of time debating this kind of stuff so... Thanks so much for the review Daw! And I was reading the reviews from your current story and saw you mentioned this story to someone talking about young Thranduil. It really made me smile to see that. Thank you.

Brazgirl	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/19/2005
I find impressive how well can you write about politics. That gathering was so intelligent! Wow. I did not like much those last lines. I guess we all came to like Lindomiel very much and those guys want to kill her like that. It's Marti, isn't it? That is bad, very bad. Thranduil must have felt something dark creeping. Lindomiel should have taken the hint! That was the first tim he was willing to have a child. Perhaps she will charm him too, as she did with he humans. Very nice chapter. It was so good I read it so fast... and it was soon ended. Hunf. This is getting thrilling! Author Reply: I'm glad you continue to like the story Brazgirl. And I'm glad it's making you read fast. :) The last part isn't good, is it? Not for Lindomiel and Thranduil, anyway. And Thranduil does know it. He just isn't sure what he knows yet. But there is a lot more of that to come. Don't worry though. It never gets too dark or horrible. I just can't do that really dark stuff. That is one thing that I can't stomach. Lindomiel should have taken the hint right there, shouldn't she? :) Oh well. She doesn't have long to wait. And I think as charming as the Men find her, Thranduil is a thousand times more lost for her. :) Thanks so much for the review!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/19/2005
It must be difficult, as an immortal, currently some 5.5 thousand years old, to have keepsakes - they would threaten to take over the house, I would think. Keeping them down to a trunkful would be quite hard. Carpe diem, Lindomiel. I think you've got him as close to convinced as you are going to manage. Pin him down, in more ways than one, while he is wavering. Legolas needs your determination at this point. Mind you, mean of Thranduil to take the pleasure of the baby announcement from Amoneth and tell Dolgailon himself. Unless he thought the reaction might be bad. Elflings clearly need other elflings with whom to get up to lots of mischief - otherwise they grow up too serious, like Dolgailon. There seems to have been more to the naughty elfling story than Lindomiel has yet heard. She should push him to elaborate. I suspect that Thranduil and Ninglor found that their adars were right - and possibly were in rather more danger than they thought they would be. And trouble. Conuion is right that Lindomiel should know the details - she is not the most cautious elf, even if she is clever and good at trade negotiations. If she understands the risk, she is more likely to tolerate the restrictions. Although I think the Black Swan has resurfaced - and she is nothing if not persistent. Stone bonking mad, but persistent. I don't like the sound of those Easterlings at all - and once you get suicide squads who would rather die than admit what they are up to, you know you've got big trouble. And I suspect they have. Author Reply: That is so true about keepsakes for an elf. I laugh about that at certain points in this story. I mean, you should see my house. I need a Mathom-house because my house is certainly one big collection of mathoms. On the one hand. you'd think that someone 5.5 thousand years old would not be too attached to things because he would have surely learned by then how transient things are. On the other hand, he's 5.5 thousand years old. Even if you found one thing you couldn't part with every one hundred years...you do the math, that's a lot of stuff! I laughed my head off on the 'pin him down' comment. Too true! Fortunately she does not have to wait much longer. I completely agree with you on this: Elflings clearly need other elflings with whom to get up to lots of mischief - otherwise they grow up too serious, like Dolgailon.. I think that would be true to a large extent and I intend to play with that a bit. And yes, there is more to Thranduil's little tale. It isn't included in this (originally anyway and I doubt I'll change that. But now that I think about it, there is a place in this where I can hint at more of the details--I think I will. Thank you for the idea). That story and several others did find a life of their own in the First Age thing I wrote. It was fun going back through this story and making sure I incorporated all the references in the new one. Yes, Lindomiel needs to know what's going on and thankfully the guards recognize that even if Thranduil is hesitant to. And Men touched by the Shadow, as many Easterlings were, are clearly bad news. As are Elves touched by the Shadow. Thanks for the review!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/18/2005
Ooh, that Lindomiel! Sharp as a barrelful of nails. Thranduil is certainly a very lucky Elf to have her as a wife. Brains, beauty and a firm will, who could ask for anything more? I suspect that Lindomiel is about ready to try one of the oldest tricks in the Book of Woman, allowing herself to get pregnant "accidentally on purpose." Thranduil ought to know by now that, the longer he dickers and delays, the more chance there is that Lindomiel will simply assume control of the situation. If he wants any say in things, he must speak up or forever hold his peace. Actually, most of his relatives seem to be like that. It's probably good for him to be surrounded by people who'll push back. Never did a King any good to be surrounded only by yes-men, or yes-Elves, for that matter. And I agree, Lindomiel certainly has the right to know what dangers threaten her. She's never taken well to being guarded, but she seems to deal with it better when she knows what the risk is. Good old Dolgailon, perfectly happy to acquire a new sibling. He took it very well. I'd expected a bit more shock from someone who was just informed that he was about to lose his position as his parents' one and only, but maybe Elves are just cooler about that sort of thing. And Dolgailon is a grownup, after all. I think I would have liked to see the endgame in Dale, rather than have it told at second hand. It sounds like it was exciting, and I was kind of looking forward to the trial. Finally, the Villains. A dark, shadowy room. No faces visible, just the muttering, hissing voices of conspirators. Very dramatic. I'll bet one of them is stroking a long-haired white cat. Author Reply: "Dr. Evil! I didn't go to Evil Medical school for nothing." Sorry. It's early and I'm tired. My beta and I went back and forth about including that last scene actually. It's been cut more times than it stayed but ultimately it stayed. My intent with the end of this story is the same. It's all a matter of how it gets shown. Hmmm, well... I actually had the rest of the negotiations in Dale written and I cut it from the last chapter because it seemed so long. I wondered at the time if that was good idea. It wasn't a bad little scene at all. It just seemed long to me and I wasn't sure how much political 'stuff' people could take. I liked it because of how it portrayed Lindomiel. Well, what's done is done. Yes, I think the King's Guards know that Lindomiel needs to know what's going on too. Sheltering people is tempting but rarely turns out the way you want it to (in fiction, anyway). I laughed when you said, "the longer he dickers and delays, the more chance there is that Lindomiel will simply assume control of the situation." That is how I see Lindomiel too. And I agree most of his family is pretty much the same, as I have made them. I see Thranduil as a pretty straightforward person and I think the people like that can appreciate other people like that. Ultimately Thranduil has be able to make the final decision, but it's always best to do that after hearing differing opinions, as you said. And history proves him to be a good King so I guess he had what he needed. :) I think Dolgailon is an adult and has his own place in his family's world and his uncle's kingdom so he could take a sibling. Also, I think he's relieved to find out ada isn't here to give him more grief. But I remember how I felt when Mom and Dad said they were planning on another kid. I was NOT happy. Fortunately for selfish me, Mom never got pregnant again. I should probably regret that but even now as an adult, I still am selfish enough not to. Isn't that terrible?! Thankfully, Lindomiel does not have to wait much longer to make her contribution to the growth of the family. Thanks for the review!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/13/2005
Thranduil doesn't stand a chance. Whatever he might think, he is now surrounded by elfling-worshippers. Try crying, Lindomiel - not in front of him: too obvious. Let him catch you in the aftermath of distress, stop eating, become pale and shadowed. This is not something you will be able to argue him into by the use of logic. Begetting infants is an emotional thing. If we were being sensible, we would never have them - they are hostages to a fortune over which we have very little (in Thranduil's case) to no (in the case of most other people) control. They are expensive, demanding, exhausting and, at times, quite frightening - and Amoneth is right, once you have them you would never change a thing. Dale was lovely - as was the response of the Men to the Elves - especially Lindomiel. It's odd to think how a visit that was a few years back to an Elf, turns into a 10 generations ago job to a Man. It must make it almost impossible for Men/Elves to interact on any real level. The Elves are always the same (I had this argument with your great-great-great-great-grandfather and we decided this . . .) and the Men are always learning from scratch how to react to the Elves. Fengel was pretty accepting about Dolgailon's infraction. And his demands quite modest, really. I hope his subjects don't get miffed about Men being condemned for treason on the word of Elves - but I somehow suspect that they might. And Dolgailon is going to be a brother! Those age gaps are quite ridiculous, really - but what is the hurry in producing elflings when you have plenty of time? It seems fine from the parents point of view, but the elflings must all grow up as only children - and, given that other parents do the same, there must be few others around for the kids to play with. Which does make it a good idea to seize on the presence of two cousins as a good moment to have that elfling, Thranduil. You made me feel sorry for Engwe, here. I hope he is reunited with his wife and child in Aman - and becomes rather less crusty as a result. Look forward to watching Lindomiel's campaign. Even though I worry about her. Author Reply: No, you are right--Thranduil is on desparate ground now. Poor thing. And children must be the most emotionally taxing experience on earth. And the most satisfying. But you must have them to understand that, I think. :) I completely agree with you on both of your observations about Elves interacting with Men and Elf siblings growing up so separated in years. Both of those results of Elven 'immortality' have always interested me and I've always thought there was potential in them for fun. Things are not entirely over between Thranduil/Dolgailon and the Men. But like in all of these stories, there is one plotline that has various outcomes written. The Mannish situation is the one in this story and I am completely undecided at the moment how I will let it go. So I can't comment on that except to say, you're right. I can't imagine Men would like Elven testimony very much and there are many other things that could complicate it as well. And Engwe's story is a sad one. You will see more of it in the next three chapters. I wrote a lot of that stuff just as character back story to get into their heads a little and then I decided to include some of it here when I was editing this story at Christmas time for posting (putting this stuff in is what inspired that comment I made about the First Age young Thranduil story that I made a while back. That is almost ready for posting, btw. It was easy to write because I had already decided what happens and had written some of it in outline as part of character sketches). I thought it might be nice for people to understand why Engwe, for example, is how he is. And the second to last story in this little series puts us in Aman. I made myself bawl like a baby writing it. But I love the way it turned out. I think you will like it too because I remember you saying in a review reply once that you liked happy ending for these characters in the end. It is a very happy little story. Emotional but ultimately happy. Anyway, thanks so much for the review!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/12/2005
The meeting in Dale went better than it might have, so that's good. And the arrival of Aradunnon and Amoneth in the capital was a nice surprise. The discussion about when to have children was interesting. It's one of the issues in Tolkien that seems to provoke a lot of debate. I've had reviewers take me to task for showing so many children in Mirkwood. But if one waited to have children until they would be completely safe, then no one could ever have them. It's one of the scariest things about parenthood. Author Reply: Hi Daw! Yes, the meeting in Dale went ok. It definitely could have been worse but I really do think that the Lord of Dale would understand the how such a thing would happen. Though I just stopped to think how Thranduil would have reacted if the situation had been reversed and I'm am not certain he would have been as charitable. :) I had written the part with the toll negotiation too but it started to drag so I cut it. I liked showing Lindomiel at work but it just made that part of the chapter too long and it didn't actually contain anything that moved the plot at all. And I am happy to have Aradunnon and Amoneth back in the stronghold. It will be good for Thranduil. :) The children thing makes me think a little too. You wonder how many children there would be at any one time in a community of elves (any community, not just Mirkwood). And then when you remember we are in Mirkwood here and take into account what LaCE says about elves having children in times of peace if they can..... You wonder what it would be like indeed. On the other hand, even just before the War of the Ring the territory around Thranduil's stronghold is supposed to be still wholesome, so maybe the elves living there would still be willing to have children. And I see the woodelves as being a little defiant in that respect. A sort of 'damned if I'll let anything stop me' attitude. And, when it come right down to it, as you said, there is never a 'perfect' time or 'perfect' peace. If you want children, you have to have them. Bottom line about that for me in this story is this--when I was writing this part, I decided I wanted to know a little more about how I pictured Oropher and Thranduil's relationship to get my head around how Thranduil might be as a parent. I was also curious what Thranduil might see of himself, his father and his other family in his son. So, I wrote a little outline of Thranduil's childhood. That was when I decided he was 40 when Elu Thingol died and that sort of thing. I wrote sketches of a few things just as a character exercise. But when that was done I realized some of the things I decided about his background would color his attitude towards having children in this particular time in Mirkwood's history and some of the events that come up in future parts of the story that I had already written before I went back to write Legolas's birth. So... I decided to show him reflecting on those concerns as he and Lindomiel prepare to have children. As for there being a good number of children in Mirkwood around the time Legolas is born (in anyone's story), that is something that I can easily accept. It was very common in Medieval times for there to be population explosions when the King and Queen were having children. Maybe elves would react similarly. And there are a lot of elves in Mirkwood. Surely some would be young and having children to brighten their lives. Those are my thoughts on the children thing. It is interesting to think about and I guess since this is the story where Legolas is born, here is the place for them. :) Thanks for the review!

Brazgirl	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/12/2005
Elliska that was a lovely chapter. Sad in the end, but lovely. Your flashbacks are so enchanting! The elves' visit to the mannish city was very interesting, especially the king's reaction to Lindomiel. You portrait Thranduil's struggle to have a child so well. And I get his reasons and his concerns for I also have my owns. And people talk so much of babies in front of him! That seems unnerving to the elf. His uncle's story is so, so sad. I always wondered about his family and you granted me with those sad pharagraphs. It was so sad but well developed. As always ;-) I loved Thranduil's brother decision to have a child and to move to the capital. Lindomiel will be delighted to have her friend close to her and pressuring her husband to give her a child of their own. Your plot is wonderful. But I feel you will kill someone I like very much in the end... I read the summary... Willing to read another update!!! Author Reply: Hi Brazgirl! Thanks. Glad you liked it. I'm glad you are enjoying the flashbacks. They are 'warm and fuzzy' like this for a few more chapters but get a little more serious as Thranduil gets older in them. You will get the details of what happened to Engwe's family in upcoming flashbacks. I am happy to have Amoneth and Aradunnon in the stronghold too. Lindomiel and Dolgailon will both be surprised and thrilled, I think. :) And it will not hurt Lindomiel's campaign to persuade Thranduil to have a child that they are there. That summary...could mean a lot of things. Hmmm. :) I will continue to let you worry.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/12/2005
Oh, and one more thing. Your dictionary was correct. A gamelan is an Indonesian percussion orchestra. There are two main styles, Javanese and Balinese. We have a Javanese gamelan at school, and I've been playing in it since I arrived. It's fun. There's an instrument to suit any mood, from the tinkly bonangs to the big gong that goes BWOM when you hit it. Author Reply: Too cool. You have so many cool interests. I think I like the idea of that gong. I love gongs. SOund wierd, I know. But I have always liked the sound they make, big or little. :) Thanks for continuing my education. :)

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 2/12/2005
So I'm guessing that either the Dwarves or the Sons of Fëanor happened to Ninglor and Ormeril? Of course, the Last Alliance could have happened to Ninglor and Ormeril could have died of grief, since Thranduil saw Ninglor die. . . Anyway, Engwe does sound like an Elf who's just a teeny bit jealous of his nephews for growing up and being able to have children of their own. I've forgotten, though. . . whose brother is he? Oropher's or Dieneryn's? I guess it doesn't matter at this stage of the game. If you're lucky, siblings-in-law can grow into almost real siblings. Speaking of siblings, Dolgailon is going to have quite the surprise when he returns home from Dale, isn't he? Last he heard from them, Aradunnon was ticked at him. And now they're here, with open arms and news of a new baby. I've always wondered how Elves deal with being a couple of hundred years old before a new baby comes along. It must make the sibling rivalry a very different beast indeed from the way we would normally think about it. Thranduil is crumbling, slowly but surely. I think, ultimately, it'll be the bit about his potential kid having a cousin near his own age that will get him in the end. He seems to have been pretty close to Ninglor, and he also seems like the type to want the best of what he had in life for his own sprog. And since a peaceful childhood probably won't be happening any time soon, well, a cousin to play with will have to suffice. I had expected someone to put up a fuss about Elves testifying in a court of Men, but was glad to see that everyone was cool about that. And King Fengel (that name sounds suspiciously Rohirric) is a good guy. I loved the way he placed himself as Dolgailon's ally under the Scrutiny Of Thranduil (thunderclap). Like two kids who are afraid of the teacher. Author Reply: You will not have to guess for long. You will see what happens to Engwe's family in an upcoming flashback. He is Oropher's brother and yes, I think he is a little jealous/meloncholy about the whole thing. I intend this little backstory to explain some of his hardnosed character. Yes, Dolgailon is in for quite a surprise. I laughed a bit at the way you phrased that. You hit his reaction right on the nose as you will see in the next chapter. So right on the nose (along with another comment that you made in this review) that I had to go see if that chapter and the one after it were viewable since most of the chapters of this fic are already uploaded. :) I agree that interacting with a sibling that was completely an adult would be a very odd thing. What is that relationship like? That is one of the things that interests me about elves. And yes, Fengel is Rohirric so you get an A on the languages of Middle Earth quiz for the day. I forget where I got that name but I think I remember that it means 'noble' or something that lead me to give it to the Lord of Dale. I have a lot of trouble with Mannish names. But I figured that this early in the game the men still east of Mirkwood would not be too different from their brothers that moved west of Mirkwood and will eventually become the Rohirrim so... I couldn't resist Fengel's reaction to Thranduil and him figuring Dolgailon out enough to know that he was nervous of his uncle's wrath as well. As for the fuss over the Easterlings, it is over yet and it is the one part of this I am not entirely finished editing yet, so I think I will say no more until I am certain of exactly where that will go. Thanks for the review!

Brazgirl	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/5/2005
Ah Elliska! I was so deeply absorbed by your story that I did not want this chapter to end. That was wonderful. Thranduil is so right with his fear to bring a child in such a world! But sometimes he just thinks too much and does not allow himself to enjoy things. I think the love his has for his nephew is beautiful but very fatherly-like. Poor one. He will end up succumbing to the ladies' pressure! Ahahah. Lindomiel knows how to tease and reach the right nerve of her husband. That serious elf was the son of Arandunnon and Amoneth? Hum... they should be very proud and scared! They must have been delivered the child of Thranduil instead of their own. Wonderful chapter. I missed your story very much. Author Reply: I'm glad you liked the chapter, Brazgirl! Yes, at some point Thranduil is just going to have to relax and give in and Lindomiel knows how to make him do it. :) And you are right, I can see Dolgailon as Thranduil's son for certain. I think Thranduil is right the living in the south has put pressure on his nephew and made him very serious. I little time with Lindomiel and a few smitten ellyth in the capital will do him good and provide a little balance. :) And maybe a little inspiration for Thranduil. Thank you so much for the reviews!

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