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A Creature of Fire by daw the minstrel	321 Review(s)
meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/24/2005
This was fantastic, Daw. First, I just loved comforting!Ada Thranduil. Taking Legolas onto his horse, putting him to bed, waiting in his room for him and holding him as he wept-- that was all wonderful. Legolas's grief is still so real and palpable, and oh my goodness, you are too cruel - I almost forgot how he ended up with his turkey timer popped in the first place - listening to his brothers and their wives carry on lovey-dovey spousal interactions. Now it's a hundred times worse! Poor kid! I loved the line, "he wondered if he had enough energy to get up and leave the room." You really have captured the essence of grief here - Legolas can't stand to be around happy people, all of a sudden he can relate much more easily to sad people - great touch to go back to Naran's parents again, that was brilliant -- and he's alternately reaching out for comfort and being resentful at being comforted. Wonderful story. Author Reply: You know, I'd been regretting those early, peaceful chapters in this story, thinking they started the story off too slowly. But when I got to this one, I remembered why I wrote them that way because now I could circle around to the start of the story again and pick up all those threads, most importantly the one about his brothers and their wives. Thank you for your consistent, kind reviews, Meckinock. I'm still hoping to see your new story some day before I die.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/24/2005
This is a lovely wrap up, daw. The pain is still there for Legolas, but he's slowly taking steps back toward coping and going on with his life. I really liked the scene where Legolas vaguely recalls returning home. I could see and feel how exhausted he was from the shock and grief. He had managed to hang on until Thranduil arrived and then he could give control over to his adar and he could just sleep. Maybe even simply escape for a while into sleep. He seemed to feel completely safe with his father. He was still having a hard time seeing happy couples and accepting comfort from his family. He did allow Thranduil to comfort him in his chambers, but he quickly wanted to get away. I like the way you let us ride along on the roller coaster of his swinging emotions. The scene where he went to see Galelas was also nicely done. These two hardheaded elves are making small steps toward understanding one another. Legolas also got a glimpse into Galelas's family. Nothing like seeing how bad some other people have it to appreciate how good you have it. Have I mentioned how much I love Beliond lately? He's straight to the point, isn't he? "Get your gear. We are going camping." No hello, no kiss my foot, just get moving. But he was right that what Legolas needed was some quiet time. And he gave it to him. He's a softy for a tough old bird. And he's quite wise. From personal experience. I was also glad to see Annael. He's a good friend and his mother certainly did have a good understanding of what Legolas was suffering at this point. Sweet Elowen. It was good for Legolas to see people who had experienced what he was going through and see that they had survived. Of course, the best example was Adar. The talk in the garden was perfect. Not too long and full of spoken and unspoken wisdom. Legolas's sudden memory of his mother was comforting. I'm sure if Lorellin has any 'Elven magic' at her disposal, she's doing all she can from wherever she is. The scene was a lovely exchange between a father and his 'adult' son. I liked the way Thranduil related so honestly with Legolas during this talk. I know you nearly went nuts writing so much angst and from writing only from Legolas's perspective, but I have to say that you did an amazing job. This is such a good story. Full of everything that makes a story good. I bet you're exhausted, but I'm already looking forward to the next story. Great, great story, daw. Karen Author Reply: Legolas needed to be home, where the strength of his father made it safe for him to give way and grieve, and where the love of his family both supported him and made demands on him. He eats because it will please Alfirin. That's an important step out of the self-centeredness that grief (like pain) can produce in us at first. And Legolas's grief does eventually seem to help him see the pain of others better, even Galelas. Now Beliond is great! No namby pamby stuff there. And yet he loves Legolas enough to share the thing that comforts him. Wise Thranduil is a pure pleasure to write. I liked being able to show his feelings for Lorellin a little too. I don't often write about his emotions other than those having to do with his sons. Thank you for all your support and kind words, Karen. The friends I've made by writing these stories are the largest part of the reward for doing it.

Yanic	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/24/2005
That was such a beautiful story that I didn't want it to ever end (but I know you need a break). And that last chapter was awesome. I esecially liked the bonding time with Beliond and Beliond's advice to take joy in what you can. I thought that was fitting for Book-Legolas, reminded me of when Legolas goes off to find the sun :) That was truly an amazing story, one of my favorites actually. Can't wait to see what oyu come up with next, because your stories seem to get better and better! Author Reply: Oh you said just the right thing. I'd like to make my Legolas a little more like Book!Legolas. Mine is too serious, too striving. I like to think that I'm learning to write fiction better. I'd never written it at all until I started writing LOTR fanfiction, so I had a lot to learn and had to do it from my beta's good advice, watching other people, and trial and error.

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/24/2005
Thranduil turned to face him again. “Loss can break us, Legolas, or it can make us stronger, more compassionate, more aware of what is important and what is simply trivia. I know how strong a person you are. I have faith that you will weather this well and be happy again." What a beautiful ending. It's a great chapter. I especially liked the touch about Legolas visiting the dead warrior's mother and understanding her better. Suffering a loss brings costly maturity . . . it does bring us hard-earned wisdom and compassion . . . but at such a price. This chapter really crystallizes these truths in a beautifully written, show-don't-tell way. Sharing our writing is such a rich learning experience. I think that many of us will be more understanding people because of reading this story. Thanks for being brave enough to write it. Esamen Author Reply: I think that many of us will be more understanding people because of reading this story. What an enormous compliment that is! I struggled a bit to figure out just what Legolas had learned from this and it showed up best in his relationships with other people, in his ability to be compassionate and his struggle to rejoice with those who were still happy. And I have to admit, I loved have Thranduil be able to offer wise advice. He's my hero.

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 4/24/2005
I like the way the threads of this story have wrapped up, with Legolas's new appreciation and closeness to his father, and the empathy he can feel with Elowen and Naran's parents, who have suffered grief that he can understand all too well. I did like Beliond taking him out and showing him how he copes with loss as well - Legolas did find comfort in the forest, which makes sense based on who he is as well as just being away from people who want to talk. I like the detail about him not eating too - that is very reminscent of your little Legolas being hand fed in his father's arms as a grieving little elfing. I do think these experiences will lead to a greater compassion and understanding in your Legolas. And hey, you never have to write another romance now! Author Reply: Thanks for all your help with this story, Nilmandra. I enjoyed writing that bit where Thranduil says he thinks about Lorellin a lot. Like a lot of kids, Legolas doesn't always see his father as a whole person. The funny thing about romance is that I enjoyed writing it for Ithilden and Eilian. I just have trouble doing it for Legolas. It's partly that I think he's single at the time of the quest, so a romance isn't going anywhere.

tauvesa	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/22/2005
As always, I just can't help myself when it comes to your stories. I check the web site at least 4x a day for updates. When there isn't one, I just re-read another of your stories. You write them so well it feels like I'm watching an episode of LOTR TV or something. Your stories feel so completely plausible (for life as an elf) that I am reminded of when I first read The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. She created such a rich and wonderfully real world for her characters that you lost yourself in the story and could picture yourself there. I totally agree that Legolas did not seem like a married elf. And even though I admit I am a fan of letting Legolas suffer slightly, I found myself actually looking forward to how you would write it if he did bond (even though I knew in my heart that wasn't going to happen). Also, I can totally see Legolas, because of the way you have crafted his story -- and that of his family -- giving his heart on a love-at-first-site basis. Once again, you have enriched my world with your stories. THANK YOU. Author Reply: Wow. This is very flattering. I'll just tell you I have about 1000 words of the next (and I think last) chapter done, so it's not going up today! I'm glad this all feels real to you because it seems real to me sometimes too. I think Tolkien left us a deep world to work with, with lots of history and a broad range of characters, so it's easy to borrow some of that richness. I've never read any of Anne Rice's vampire stories but you're tempting me here! I think that elves could fall in love at first sight, although Tolkien does say they were betrothed for at least a year and got their parents' approval so they behaved sensibly once they found one another. But he says they seldom made a mistake in who they loved. And he also says that marriage was the natural state for elves, so Legolas's seemingly single state begs for some explanation. This story is mine. Thank you, Tauvesa.

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/22/2005
"Eliviel looked at him with anguish in her face, and Legolas knew how she felt. The body in the other room was the only tangible part of Tuilinn they had remaining to them. The funeral would make her absence complete." Mmmm. This is so true. I always feel that when the casket goes into the grave, that's when the loved one is really, finally, completely gone . . . until then, the person still seems with us, somehow. This chapter was tenderly and beautifully written. Thank goodness for Thranduil. What a timely arrival (and what a cliffhanger, too). Did Eilian arrive a few days ago and send him to Legolas? And you know what . . . I would love some more visual descriptions of Thranduil. As I read through your stories I catch glimpses of him, and he seems to change from time to time. How do you visualize him now? In fact, how do you visualize Legolas now? As in the films, or do you see him differently here than he appeared on the Quest? Wonderful chapter and I can't wait for the next one. Author Reply: Yes, indeed. Eilian got home and told Adar the whole story. Since Eilian and Beliond had planned that Beliond would bring Legolas home after he had taken Tuilinn's body home, Thranduil knew where to find them. I still picture Legolas as movie Legolas. And I doubt if he had changed much from this age to that. He's an adult elf, so he would change only very slowly. I have a picture that I use to help me visualize Thranduil. I like to remember that he'd look like a male in his prime of life rather than like, say, Theoden in the movie. (And I admired Theoden -- he just looks too old for Elven Thranduil). He's blond, unusually tall and broadly built for an elf, handsome, vigorous. All good things. I'll go send you the picture. :-)

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/22/2005
Hello daw and congratulations on a fabulous chapter. This one is so deep that I've read it three times now. Different things jump out on different readings . . . Sinnarn's character showing up as he is given responsibility; Nithron giving Beliond the long slow stare; Beliond giving a stare of his own to Eilian; Eilian and Beliond cooking up their plan together while our grieving-hero-in-denial tries to convince himself that he can just bounce right back: "Eilian and Beliond sat talking quietly together, and Legolas hoped Eilian was telling Beliond to leave him alone. He had no wish to listen to Beliond’s nagging for the three days it would take them to get Tuilinn home. While the others ate, he caught up his pack, walked to the stream and eased his left arm out of the sling long enough to splash water on his face and then struggle out of his filthy tunic and put on a clean one from his pack. There were bruises all along his arms where he had thrown them up to protect his head, but they seemed too trivial to worry about. I can do this, he thought and then " Really well crafted. There's a lot going on . . . grief, loss, unspoken messages, people growing up under pressure and people under pressure clinging to what maturity they've got. And Eilian is wonderful. What an awesome leader . . . instinctively showing up when he's needed, and taking care of his people with his own special touch that makes everyone feel safer around him. Are you sure that you still like Legolas best? Eilian grows more admirable in every new fic of yours. Come to think of it, Ithilden does too. Oh well. It's a happy dilema. This fanfic universe is populated with my very favorite men -- except for my own real-life men and my own AU men, of course :-) Thanks for a great read and happy typing always. Author Reply: Thank you, Esamen. You're a very rewarding reader because you catch exactly what I'm trying to do with all these characters. I've had to struggle a bit to try to do it too because it's all through Legolas's eyes and he's pretty absorbed in his own grief right now. One of the things I've been thinking about as I wrote this was the power of POV. My OCs have come alive for me when I've written from their POV because of the way it forces me to make sense of them. But then, you know that from your own writing. :-)

Ithildin	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/21/2005
I don’t know how you do it, but keep it up Daw! Those are three powerfully moving chapters. The silver ring was a surprising and very touching moment of the story for me. Beliond continues to be steadfast and brusquely caring and proves to be an immovable force when argued with. And then Thranduil arrives in his fabulous Elvenking way... Wow. I’m looking forward to Legolas making some steps toward healing now; I’m eagerly waiting to see how you will draw this tale to a close. I know you are limited by the singular POV, but I hope you can squeeze in a moment between Thranduil and dear Beliond (who needs some serious R&R himself) before you wrap this tale up and tie it with a green ribbon. Someday you will need to write Legolas’ eventual arrival in Eressëa and his reunion with Tuilinn, his naneth, Turgon, Galeas and more… And surely you will convince Thranduil and Ithilden and Eilian and their families to come too! And Beliond, of course – you will have a boatload of characters sailing West… Should be an interesting story – something happy to think about while you recover from this one. :) Ever looking forward to the next chapter, Ithildin ( Author Reply:* Thank you! My beta thought of the ring. She's very good at this kind of stuff! And yes, I would say "immovable" is a good word for Beliond. He really doesn't care what other people think if he believes he's right. I'm looking forward to healing too. And Legolas will heal. He's strong underneath and he has a loving support system, but he needs to sort of process his grief and see what he has to learn from it. I think my Legolas needs to get less driven, more willing to enjoy the moment, if he's going to be like book!Legolas. I've thought about that sailing story, but it would be tricky to do it without making it sound like a string of meetings. Bodkin has some nice stories set after Legolas sails.

tigerlily713	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 4/20/2005
Great chapter! I think it was good that Sinnarn was there in order to let Eilian know just how serious it was. It might not mean as much coming from any other member of the patrol. I can't wait for another chapter! Lily Author Reply: Sinnarn tends to get lost in my stories, but he's a family member and an insider. He and Legolas are actually closer in age than Legolas and Eilian are. And my guess would be that he's observed Legolas more closely than Legolas has observed him, because he'd have adored Legolas as a little kid. So I'd say he could tell what was going on pretty well.

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