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A Spring of Joy by daw the minstrel	47 Review(s)
Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
OMG, a new story by Daw! And Eilian is an ada! Two wonderful surprises in one shot! The first thought that struck me was that how time flies and the second one was, Thranduil must be thrilled to bits by this new addition. It had to be a girl, of course, so that she can turn every male in the family into putty in her tiny hands and mold them as she pleases. Looks like Eilian and Celuwen will have their hands full with this little one. The build-up in this chapter is pretty creepy, even though we know what creature is causing this disturbance, especially the part where Loriel left the cottage by herself. I actually skipped ahead paragraphs in my reading just to make sure that she was going to be all right. Thank you for giving us another story so quickly. Really looking forward to more! Author Reply: This story may be hard to place after the last one, I think. In that one, Smaugh had just arrived, but this one takes place about 10 years after "Tangled Web," so Smaug is dead and we're almost 200 years down the road from "A Creature of Fire." I'm so glad you were surprised when Loriel popped up and started calling Eilian "Ada." I think you're absolutely right that every male in this very male family is going to be helpless in front of this little Lorellin look alike. It must kill Thranduil that she lives in the settlement instead of the palace, but I thought Eilian would be very restless in the palace if there was peace. He wouldn't have the hard work and contact with the woods that the settlement gives him. And the little one is a Wood-elf. She needs to be outside a lot. Scary things are happening though, and little girls are not necessarily safe in the Woodland Realm. :-(

Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
LOL! Eilian with a wee little girl of his own -- that is simply priceless!! I would imagine he can indeed sympathize with Solith much better now. ;-) Author Reply: Eilian's heart is totally wrapped up with Flower Face and he'll never be the same. And if that drives him to sympathize with Solith, it's a sign of how deeply he's disturbed!

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
Hi, it's me again! Reading back through the earlier reviews, I was glad to not have been the first one to have made the connection... Did I mention how much I adore the fact that Lorien has Eilian's sensitivity to the trees? One of the things I wanted to do in this chapter was convey a sense of what settlement life was like compared to life in the palace or on patrol. I think Eilian loves this simple life with its hard work and closeness to the woods. And you did that fabulously well. I really loved the sense of simplicity and peacefulness (despite the underlying currents of fear -- at first just a tiny frisson, then, at the end, much more developed shiver)... Karen: 'Groggy from a nap' it is. I would no more think of accepting the 'dumber than a doorknob' excuse from you than Daw would. Not from the inventor of that brilliant scamp, Daeron. ;-D Daw, I had copied that quote a long time ago, too... it was just too shocking to forget... and have now (finally!) added it to the Gollum bio at HASA Resources. Thanks for motivating me! (You wouldn't believe how many files I have with quotes that I intend to add to the Library 'someday'...) I've thought of you often in the last few days as I planned out parts of this story. I keep going to HASA and checking out what you have in Resources about things like the Nazgul. It's so great to have a source that actually relies on Tolkien. Oh, thank you so much, Daw! It means so much to see the Resources used! Would you mind if I shared your comment in the Resources Volunteers forum on HASA? - Barbara Author Reply: You may use the quote as you like, Barbara. I've benefitted so much from your hard work.

moonshine44	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
Hello again! I`m very happy to see this update. That was quick! Anyway, I`ll be reviewing on here from now on, because I think this review system is better. I know you said you would write one with Eilian, Celuwen, and a child, but I`m still shocked by it. I have a feeling that this is going to be my favorite fic, even if you plan to kill someone off, lol. I can see that Loriel is like both her parents, very wild and spirited. I wonder if Thranduil is taking this as revenge for the hard times Eilian gave him. Well, I`m glad to see Solith and Eilian are getting along oh so nicely!Lol. Quesiotns: Is Eilian living in the settlement? Or is that just a summer thing? How old is Loriel? Anyway, I am now going to be checking my email everyday hoping for an update. I can`t get enough of your stories ; )Until the next chapter then. Author Reply: It didn't seem quick to me! It seemed like a long time between stories, even though I knew it wasn't. I hoped there would be some readers who'd be surprised when an elfling spots Eilian and starts shouting "Ada!" He'll be a very loving father, just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas. I think Celuwen may have to be the disciplinarian though. I think Thranduil may indeed have some amusing moments as he watches Eilian try to keep charge of this little Wood-elf. But I'll also bet that Grandfather Thranduil is in Flower Face's train of admirers too. LOL Eilian and Celuwen do live in the settlement. Thranduil's people had about 10 years of peace after the Battle of Five Armies, and of course, they didn't know it would end when it did. So Eilian plans to live here with his family. Loriel is about 8 in human terms, so 3-ish in elf terms.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
That's right! I get the timelines confused. This is AFTER THE HOBBIT took place. But I did go and read the part you suggested. I DID NOT remember the part about the 'rumors' of what the 'ghost creature' ate. I'm sure I blocked that out! Y'all will just have to excuse me...I've been cooking, eating and napping. I'll use the 'still groggy from nap' excuse! I don't like the 'dumber than a doorknob' one. :>) Karen Author Reply: If there's one thing you're not, Karen, it's dumb. As a matter of fact, what you rather often are is a little too perceptive! LOL That stuff about the ghost creature is scary, isn't it? I read it quite a while back and saved the quote. It always struck me as a potential story line.

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
Oooooops, sorry. I just read several of the reviews before mine and realized that I shouldn't have blurted out the (most probably wrong! shouldn't pay any attention to it!) answer to the mystery. Note to Karen: this unnamed creature doesn't have the you-know-what at this time: he's searching for you-know-who, who got the you-know-what from him by cheating outrageously... Sorry, shutting up now... - Barbara, who just loves obscure references in canon... Author Reply: LOLOL. Well, as you can see, many people have guessed. I figured anyone who knew canon well would have a good sense of who it was. Your quoting that "baby eating" thing was great. I thought most folks might not remember that very sharply.

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
Aaaack! Aaaaack! Aaaaack! Aaaaack! You realize, of course, that any violence that you allow to be visited on any one of Eilian's family -- even the beautiful toddler we just now met -- will be greeted with fury from your readers? Daw, I somehow thought that this was going to be a peaceful story -- and you have Gollum, the baby-eater, stalking Eilian and Celuwen's daughter in the first chapter! Er, sorry... got a bit carried away with the angst. I love seeing Eilian and Celuwen with a daughter! Have they been in big bad daddy-in-law's village since before the birth? Are they planning to stay there for many more years? How old is the child? I think one of my (many) favorite spots was when Eilian almost felt some sympathy for Sólith, not wanting to see his precious baby grow up and leave home... And I also like the up-close glimpses of settlement life and how it differs from the stronghold, and Eilian's pride that he is settling into it so well. And I always enjoy being reminded about how the Thranduilions have an even closer connection to the trees than the other Wood-elves... Must go re-read... - Barbara Author Reply: What is it Tolkien says about how times of peace are good to experience but short and not very interesting in the telling? I need some plot conflict here, ET! I think Eilian and Celuwen moved to the village before Loriel was born, which in my head is two years after the Battle of Five Armies. I think they took a year to believe that there was mostly peace and then a year of pregnancy. So the little girl is 8 in human years, or I think about 3 in elf years. As I'm sure you know better than I do, it's hard to make that conversion directly, but I see her as like a three year old. I don't think they have plans to leave. This is a good place for Flower Face to grow up (they think). One of the things I wanted to do in this chapter was convey a sense of what settlement life was like compared to life in the palace or on patrol. I think Eilian loves this simple life with its hard work and closeness to the woods. Shutting his daughter up in a cave, even if it's a palace, is not in his plans right now. I've thought of you often in the last few days as I planned out parts of this story. I keep going to HASA and checking out what you have in Resources about things like the Nazgul. It's so great to have a source that actually relies on Tolkien.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
Daw, I love this! What a wonderful opening. Eilian an ada! He and Celuwen are great parents. I bet little Flower Face has stolen the hearts of all the males in her family...both sides. I can imagine how taken Thranduil is since she's a little Lorellin. She's absolutely adorable. Full of life and mischievous by default. I think Eilian and Solith will finally bond over seeing that this one stays out of trouble and away from 'those' kinds of boys. And there's no one who can spot 'those' boys faster than Flower Face's dad. The forest is trying to tell Eilian something. And apparently Loriel too. She seems to have inherited the sense of the forest that runs in Thranduil's line. I was trying to figure out what about Loriel drew Gollum's attention. Why would he be interested in her? Well, I really don't know, but I've been speculating. I imagine that the number of 'small elves--his size--are still not terribly numerous. I can see that he would be fascinated with her simply based on that. I also remember in one of your older stories where Ithilden wanted to summon Mithrandir and Thranduil said no, that magic draws magic. While Gollum might not exactly 'have magic' he does have the ring. Perhaps the ring recognizes the blood of the woodland king in this child--and Eilian too? So..the ring is drawn to power? Maybe that's farfetched and Gollum is just skulking about and happened onto this cottage. Still, Eilian's dream is disturbing. Apparently Loriel also had a bad dream. Something is definitely up. Meanwhile...back at the palace....:>) I'm looking forward to finding out what's going on at home next. If nothing else, I can't wait to see Thranduil with Loriel! Wonderful beginning. Calm, peaceful and very exciting. Karen Author Reply: I think Eilian and Solith will finally bond over seeing that this one stays out of trouble and away from 'those' kinds of boys. And there's no one who can spot 'those' boys faster than Flower Face's dad. Oh I think you are so right about that. All of it! And sadly, the peace doesn't last. We're only 60 or so years away from the Quest and the Battle under the Trees. Much of this forest will burn. I think they're all going to want to keep anything evil from even breathing the same air as Flower Face, and they're just not going to be able to make it happen. For more information on Gollum, you can look at Gandalf's account in Chapter 2 of FOTR. Next chapter, Legolas and the life of the Home Guard during a time of relative peace.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
I am so glad to see Eilian leading a simple settler's life and so glad to see he has a daughter! Thranduil so needs little grandaughters! And a daughter will just wrap Eilian around her little finger. She seemed like a little darling, with her worm, the song she made for it and her confounding love for her grandparents. :) “Hold still,” Celuwen commanded exasperatedly. Eilian laughed as he carried the tub past them toward his and Celuwen’s sleeping chamber. “If you can make that happen by command, I hope you will start ordering the weather next.” Great line and too true. Children are constant motion when they want to be. That is one of the things I love to see. Solith was just himself, starting in on Eilian from the moment he opened his mouth. Those two kill me. “Your ada is already married to your nana,” That must have been a difficult thing for Solith to own up to! :) And a very cute line on Loriel's part. Of course the thing in the forest frightening the trees frightened me very nicely as well. Poor Eilian. Loriel is lucky she didn't give her father a heart attack. And this: Loriel’s eyes widened, and she backed up a step. Eilian did not blame her. He backed away when Celuwen looked at him that way too. That cracked me up! It took me a few minutes thinking on it to figure out what web-footed creature would be eating crunchy birds in the forest and scaring the trees and Eilian, but I think I got it. Ooo, this one looks like another really good one. I love to see Eilian with a daughter and I love the idea of seeing Legolas so close to the Quest as captain of the Home Guard. I hope he spent the last ten years getting used to being captain because I suspect he's about to be tested. Glad to see a new one up, daw! Very perceptive of her to notice the trees--runs in the family. Author Reply: I think Loriel is a little Wood-elf, which isn't surprising given who her parents are. And Eilian too is enjoying living a Wood-elf life, far from the palace or his life as a warrior. This is a different kind of challenge and he's surprising himself by finding it rewarding. Solith hasn't yet forgiven Eilian for bedding and wedding his daughter, but maybe the little girl will eventually make a difference. It will if Solith is smart. Loriel will eventually notice if her grandfather is rude to her father, and I suspect she won't like it. We're only 60 or so years from the Quest now, which is hard to believe. None of them knows it's coming, so it's so odd to know it as a reader. I saw your name mentioned on another board a couple of days ago. Someone was moaning about Evil!Thranduil stories and someone else said that Elliska had a very good series of stories up here and at OSA.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005
I now understand your choice on Tuilinn dying and I find that I agree. Anyway, I'm so happy you have another story out. Have I told you recently how much I love Eilian? Did I miss something? Since when did Eilian become a father? I am so curious now! Exactly how old is little Loriel? Is the webbed footed creature a frog? I myself don't believe its a frog but that's all I can come up with. More soon please. -sofia Author Reply: I really missed writing from Eilian's POV in "Creature of Fire," so I was glad to be back to it here. Eilian became a father in 2953 TA. (How's that for precise? LOL) That's two years after the Battle of Five Armies, which I wrote about in "Tangled Web." I wrote that year or so ago, so it's been a while. At the end of it, Thranduil urges Eilian to have elflings. I figure it took a year for Eilian to be sure that there was going to be peace for a while, and then the pregnancy would have lasted a year. And then, there she was. She's about 8 in human years, so 3-ish in elf years.

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