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A Spring of Joy by daw the minstrel	62 Review(s)
sheraiah	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
Oh, Daw, when you do a tearjerker you really do it! I'm sitting here bawling like a baby. Very well done indeed. Author Reply: I think I'm glad I made you cry, sick as that is of me. This chapter was hard for me too. I love my OCs and I feel bad about killing Sinnarn. I just didn't think it was realistic that none of the warriors in Thranduil's family would die.

Lera	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
Ok. I don't cry. But I almost cried reading that. Sinnarn's death was horribly sad. But that was not was really touched me. This world, this family you have created have become so incredibly real and I FEEL for them. It was so wonderful to start this story off with peace and joy and Elien and Celuwen in the woods with a little girl, and now once again they must fight. You're setting it up perfectly so that it will seem so natural for Legolas to go on the quest. When Thranduil gets word of this, he will be sad but he will not be surprised. With finishing my freshman year of college and starting a new job I have been pulled out of Middle Earth. But this has absolutely drawn me back in. As you write onward towards the War of the Ring, I look forward to sympathizing with Celuwen as Eilien goes back to fighting, to seeing Loriel grow up under darkness and Legolas continue to grow. He will always be growing. Though he has seemed the most grown up in this story, more so even than in the one you wrote where he decides to be part of the fellowship. Thank you as always for a wonderful riviting tale that Tolkien would be proud of. You are quite honestly my favorite author I have found. Bless you for making your readers truly feel. Author Reply: Thank you so much for saying that Legolas is getting ready for the Fellowship. That's what I was aiming at. And the loss we see in this story is both personal and large scale. I can't imagine what it must have been like to be an elf and see evil be defeated and return so many times. I think if I had to write "Question of Duty" today, I'd probably do it differently. By the time of that story, Loriel would be an young adult. I'll bet Eilian will be frantic about her by then. I hope your first year of college went well. You're being very kind about these stories.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
Oh, daw. I’m so sad. I felt a little of what they all did over the last few days as I waited for this chapter, knowing deep down that Sinnarn was dead and just waiting for that confirmation… You know, I’ve often felt sad or distressed by things in your stories but this is honestly the only chapter I’ve read with tears running down my face. I should be embarrassed to admit that but I’m not. I’m so attached to Sinnarn and this whole family and you wrote it all so incredibly well. I’ve often wondered what happened when Thranduil felt that Lorellin was gone. Now I know. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to feel something that’s so much a part of you suddenly disappear. It must leave them reeling and so frightened. I love the way you’ve made it such a physical reaction. How bad I felt for Ithilden in that moment when he too realises that his son his gone. Thank heavens for Thranduil’s strength. “And in Thranduil’s imagination, a dark-haired sprite of an elfling ran along beside them, laughing and chattering excitedly about whatever Arda had offered him that day.” Oh, that’s just heart-breaking. I was sad about Siondel and Todith, but after Ithilden, Sinnarn was my favourite OC of yours. Remember him wanting to dance with Eilian at Legolas’ coming-of-age? Bowing to Mithrandir when he first met him? Messing about with Amdir? Paying for his youthful carelessness time and again? His enthusiasm about meeting Dwarves? His acceptance of his punishment after the Dwarves escaped? His bravery at the Battle of the Five Armies? Falling in love? His determination to find out exactly what was threatening his home so that he could protect his family? sob “In disbelief, he froze for a second and then sprang forward to crouch next to Tynd, who lay sprawled face downward, with an arrow in his back, reaching into a trench in which Sinnarn lay on his back, staring up at the sky, with three arrows in his chest.” I don’t even know what to say. I should probably have left this and thought about it for a while! It sounds like they never had a chance. But in some ways I’m glad that it was both of them. That’ll sound terrible, but I just think that it proves how dangerous this place is and what they had to contend with. If it had just been Sinnarn, there would probably always have been a certain question as to whether he had been as careful as he should and Tynd would likely have been completely guilt-ridden. This way was the best, I think. I always like to see Calith and I do enjoy seeing him take over. This must be hard for him, though. Apart from having to “have a little talk” with Beliond, I bet he misses the elfling who played with his Oliphaunt paperweights. I thought Legolas’ reactions were just perfect. His disbelief and unwillingness to accept what Emmelin was saying was a very natural reaction, and I thought his anger was spot on. This is his first experience with the return of Shadow and after everything they’ve suffered to finally gain some peace –a peace that lasted just long enough for them to begin to believe in it – to see evil return in such a way must be soul-destroying. The little moment between Alfirin and Ithilden was so moving too. Something like this could tear people apart but these two seem to be taking some comfort in each other. I love seeing her trying to look after him. He needs it, and I imagine doing so helps her a little. Aren’t the keepers just great? Eilian would be lost here without Maltanaur. His despair as opposed to Legolas’ anger shows the difference in their experiences. He’s seen this happen before and it took away the last of his childhood then. What will happen now to his own daughter? And how unspeakably awful for him to know that he has to return Ithilden’s son to him like this. There’s something very heartbreaking about the idea of Ithilden having to keep working, because it’s what he knows and where he can take refuge as well as the fact that the work needs to be done, and even more so to see Thranduil’s regret that he would need Ithilden now, despite the pain and grief he will be feeling. The saddest moment in the whole chapter is when Eilian hands over Sinnarn’s body to Ithilden. It’s one of the hardest things either of them will ever have to do but there’s still a connection between them. I was so grateful to Ithilden for that bit of reassurance he gave Eilian. I was surprised (and thrilled) that you showed the funeral. I’m glad Amdir spoke, and I thought it was a lovely touch that Beliond said a few words. He said exactly the right thing too. “I will remember Sinnarn’s gift for finding moments of joy, but I will also do anything I can to drive away the thing that killed him.” I’m welling up again reading that! To me, that sums up exactly Fellowship!Legolas – a deadly and determined fighter who will still play games and run off to find the sun. Thranduil is amazing. No one should ever have to see their grandchild die. Yet everything he has experienced has only made him stronger and more determined not to give in to the Shadow. He’s absolutely inspirational. His family are lucky to have him, and so are the people of the Woodland Realm. I think Elowen and Emmelin have made the right decision. I feel sorry for Annael but they deserve to find some peace. It might have been different if Emmelin and Sinnarn had children but as it is, there’s nothing for her here and Elowen has done more than enough for everyone. I’m glad too that Emmelin won’t be there to see the trees destroyed. This whole family has such strength. I think in them you’ve really captured the spirit of the Wood-elves. They won’t give up. They’ve suffered a terrible loss in Sinnarn’s death and also of the peace for which they fought so hard. But they’ll pick themselves up and just keep going. I’ll miss Sinnarn and still can’t quite believe he’s gone but at the same time, I think you did the right thing. Things are bad in the Woodland Realm now and there’s no clearer sign than the death of a brave and beloved warrior. I’ve talked too much and will probably realise tomorrow what I should have said. So I’ll finish by congratulating you on a wonderful story that brought us closer to the events that Tolkien just touched on and helped us see how they affected those involved, as well as how deep the strength and determination of the Wood-elves and their king runs and why Thranduil’s son would be prepared to risk his life to destroy evil for good. Thank you so much for a truly amazing story! :-) Author Reply: Remember him wanting to dance with Eilian at Legolas’ coming-of-age? Bowing to Mithrandir when he first met him? Messing about with Amdir? Paying for his youthful carelessness time and again? His enthusiasm about meeting Dwarves? His acceptance of his punishment after the Dwarves escaped? His bravery at the Battle of the Five Armies? Falling in love? His determination to find out exactly what was threatening his home so that he could protect his family? Oh lord. I do remember all that. Believe me, Dot, I feel terrible about Sinnarn dying. I just thought it was unlikely that with all those warriors in the family, none of them would die. And like you, I was worried about Tynd feeling guilty. That's why he died. In my head, this story has been about loss and how people face it. And I wanted the personal loss of Sinnarn to be set against the large scale loss of the peace. These two things get mixed together, and I'm not sure which one would cause the greater grief. I tried to think who would go and who would stay, and I couldn't imagine any of Thranduil's sons doing anything other than staying and continuing to fight. They've been raised to serve. You'll get no argument from me about how strong Thranduil is and how good he is for his people. And you words about how this is Fellowship Legolas thrilled me no end. Thank you for all you reviews and kind words, Dot.

Elemmíre	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
Ah, you deceptive creature! There are few author's who can make me cry, but you are certainly among them. Elemmíre Author Reply: I think I'm glad I made you cry. Does it make you feel better if I say that I cried too?

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
I weep for them all. - Barbara Author Reply: I do too. Which is why this story is done now. I just couldn't face drawing it out. I'm in San Antonio, accompanying my husband on a business trip. I think I'll go out tonight and knock back some margaritas.

dr_seuss_is_cool	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
Hello. You are such a fantastic person. While I was reading this chapter, especially the paragraphs of Legolas thinking about how darkness and shadow have invaded his and his family members' lives, I realized how blessed I am. This chapter opened my eyes to all of the blessings that I have. Thank you so much. I have really enjoyed this story. You always do such a marvelous job of writing. You really are just such an amazing person. I hope that this chapter and this story affected other people like it affected me. I am sorry to see the loss of Sinnarn but thank you for writing this story and especially this chapter. It was just so great. I loved it so much. Thank you so much. Dr. Seuss Author Reply: Wow. If my fictional world has touched your real one, I'm deeply gratified. Poor Legolas. His family lost so much, and the victory over Sauron only meant that the Elves would leave more quickly, although I've never been sure Thranduil would. I suppose having Sinnarn in Valinor would make it more likely. I just turned around and read this review out loud to my husband who said the exact same thing I did: Wow.

LOTR lover	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
My word, daw! You write amazing stories, each as good as the last. I so love your growing, developing Legolas and your incredibly strong Thranduil, and all the original characters that make up the folk of your Mirkwood. You truly take fanfiction to its highest level in these episodes of Legolas's life. LOTR lover Author Reply: Thank you, LOTR lover. I'm incredibly flattered by this praise. As I have probably told you before, I love my characters shamelessly, so I also like it when someone else appreciates them. :-)

Alice	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
I'll leave a proper review later when I'm not so overcome, but right now I just wanted to tell you that I cried through out the entire chapter. I'd start to calm down and then something else would get me started again. I miss Sinnarn. Author Reply: I'm sorry, Alice. I feel pretty bad about this too, which is why I wanted to be done in this chapter and not have another one. After the last story with Tuilinn, I've had it up to here with dead characters. I need a fluffy elfling story!

rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
I saw by the title I would have to go open a new box of tissues and I was right. By the end of the chapter I could barely read the ending paragraph. How sad that the end of peace should come so tragically. But this is also the place where you have given Legolas the real reason that he would consider becoming one of the nine walkers and to try and see Frodo to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. "I will remember Sinnarn’s gift for finding moments of joy, but I will also do anything I can to drive away the thing that killed him..... They would struggle on. Eilian had described a creature that used fear as a weapon, one against which there seemed to be no defense. But there were forces stronger than fear: love, honor, duty, loyalty, and sometimes, sheer stubbornness. Among the Wood-elves, these qualities flourished." The stage is set, Tolkien's elf is now an adult and ready to face the hardships he will see in the future. Legolas has met and dealt with the men of the Dale, he and Ithilden are getting ready to deal with the dwarves for weapons to face the coming evil, and he has not forgotten Gollum, I think. I am very sad that you had to sacrifice Sinnarn and in a way Emmelin and Elowen who will now sail to the West to show the rise of Sauron's power at Dol Guldur. I hope that someday you will write the story of Legolas arriving in Valar and finding all those who have preceded him waiting on the beach for the ship to land. Author Reply: hope that someday you will write the story of Legolas arriving in Valar and finding all those who have preceded him waiting on the beach for the ship to land. -- Sometimes I comfort myself by thinking about this. Turgon would be there! And Legolas's mother, of course. Maybe someday, I'll write about this. I think I'm glad I made you cry. Sinnarn deserves to be wept for. I sure did! But I actually felt better at the idea that Elowen and Emmelin would comfort one another. This one is done. Stick a fork in it.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/31/2005
Well, so much for Sinnarn. So long, ol' buddy, and may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest. And so long to Elowen and Emmelin, too. And Tynd. It looks like the Fickle Finger of Fate has been busy. You must be taking out student-generated frustrations; with all this death right after the thing with Tuilinn, you seem to be feeling quite murderous. Time to prune the cast list again? This must be especially difficult for Ithilden, seeing as how Sinnarn had that close call at the Battle of Five Armies. Nithron bought it, but did his job and saved Sinnarn. And then, just as Ithilden's heart started again, whammo. It also strikes me that this is one loss that Thranduil will not be able to help Ithilden through. Thranduil has experienced losing at least one parent (presumably both), therefore he knew what Ithilden was going through losing Lorellin. And he then lost Lorellin, so he could have done the empathy thing if Alfirin had been killed. But, for all that Thranduil has lost, he's never lost a child, and Ithilden's going to have to go through this one all by his lonesome. Fascinating to see who's special bonded to who here. Parents and children have a bond, as do spouses. So a death would twang on your mom, dad, and husband/wife. There doesn't seem to be any bond between more distant relatives; Thranduil doesn't feel a grandson die the way he would feel a son. Uncles also don't get the news about nephews. And I guess Loriel didn't feel anything, since that's an even more distant relationship. I wonder if siblings feel anything -- genetically, that's the closest relationship there is. But the Wood-elves don't seem to have enough children to make an in-depth study possible. The funeral (all the funerals, but this is the one where I really noticed it) seem very Quaker. I recently learned how Quakers get married, and this seems like a very Quaker way of saying goodbye. Everyone gathers together, and those who are moved to do so speak. I like Quakers (at least, I like the Quakers I know), and it seems like a good system. I wonder if Loriel will remember her cousin. She doesn't seem to have known him all that well, but she'll grow up with his ghost constantly hanging around. All in all, it's an interesting way to end a story. It's almost a non-ending; the initial main thrust of the storyline kind of peters out when Gollum escapes, and it turns out to be the secondary plot that rises up to bite you in the tuchus. I think it works, because life often works that way -- kind of sudden and unexpected. But there is something kind of abrupt about the structure of the ending. It almost felt a little rushed. But I know you really don't like dwelling around a death, so I guess it's a tradeoff. Also interesting is the clear sight of how well-connected Sinnarn was. You don't realize it when someone is alive, because their various relationships are all there and don't really need to be remarked upon. But when you remove someone from their own personal web and see who cries, you realize just how many people that person is connected to. Sinnarn is son, nephew, cousin, grandson, husband, son-in-law, grandson-in-law, and friend. And corpse. Let's not forget corpse. I think that I will have to reread this story and the Tuilinn one many times this summer. I'm doing a Holocaust-related thesis, and that'll be good training for listening to Yom Ha-shoah music for a year. Author Reply: I did think about pruning the cast! Too many OCs! But I also thought that it was unrealistic for Thranduil not to lose any of the warriors in his family. Anyway, I'm done killing people for a while. It's too depressing. So far as I know, I made up a lot of that bonding stuff and who might feel what about whom. Sometimes it's been a pain to work with. Tolkien says there's no organized religion in ME, so it's hard to think of how they'd deal with life's Big Moments. And if you believe that the spirit has gone to the Halls of Mandos and will be reincarnated some day, that must make a difference in how you see this too. But there is something kind of abrupt about the structure of the ending. It almost felt a little rushed. Oh, my beta is going to love this. That's what she said too, but I just couldn't bear to drag this out any more. I wanted to get on to hope and the future. I just couldn't stand to watch them all suffer. When I counted up Sinnarn's relatives, I couldn't believe how big his family was. He left a big hole. For a few minutes, I considered having it be Maltanaur who died, but it wouldn't have had as big an impact on the people of the realm. On readers, maybe!

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