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| A Spring of Joy by daw the minstrel | 270 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/11/2005 |
| Very exciting chapter, daw. I liked Sinnarn's new bodyguard. He and Sinnarn seem to get along well. I think Beliond is better for Legolas, though. Author Reply: I think Beliond is good for Legolas but if something happened to Beliond (and I'm not saying it is, so nobody needs to email me), then I wonder what kind of person would best be able to start working with Legoals as he is now. That's what sort of stopped me about Sinnarn. I couldn't see him accepting the kind of bossing around that the older bodyguards do for their charges when they're young. It didn't seem right. Hence, we get Tynd. | |
| Socket | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/11/2005 |
| How you manage to so seamlessly weave your own tales with Tolkien's is beyond me! But I'm so happy that you do, because I get to read them. You're doing a great job slowly building the tension in this story. And -- as always -- your portrayal of Legolas's relationships with his family and friends is delightful. Thank you, and keep up the great work! Author Reply: I love taking details from canon and putting them in a story in a way that adds to the plot but is unobtrusive, so that canon-savvy people recognize it but others just think it's the way things go. Writing the banter between Legolas and the other patrol members was fun. They seemed to me to just be guys having a good time. | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/11/2005 |
| Man, I was really in the mood for this tonight. :) I loved Legolas and Annael. I'm so glad they are family now. That is really perfect. And so was Legolas's decision to lead the patrol himself on a beautiful spring day. I laughed my head off at how fast Sinnarn backed off when Beliond turned on him. I love Beliond but I think I would back off fast too. Legolas's enjoyment of racing through the trees reminds me greatly of Quest Legolas going to 'find the sun' for some reason. He can do a serious duty properly and still take pleasure in the forest around him. And I liked how Legolas and Sinnarn bet on the battle--shades of Legolas and Gimli, of course. The end of that scene when Emmelin was there was great. The family joking was great. Poor Ithilden. He really does not want to believe Thranduil. And he really knows better than to give in to that desire. I like how Thranduil knows because of the way the forest feels and because the of the birds. Very canon and a piece of canon that I always loved. It must kill both Ithilden and Thranduil to send Eilian. I wonder who the other two warriors will be. Its sad to know that Thranduil will be right. Great chapter daw. Thanks! Author Reply: I am VERY fond of Annael. He seems like such an easy-going, affectionate, capable person, rather like his own father was. As a matter of fact, I love his whole family, and the idea that he and Legolas are related now charms me. One of the things I was trying to do here was show Fellowship Legolas coming into being. The Legolas I've shown has tended to be pretty serious (although he's always been able to be mouthy), but I think he's mellowed over the years. The stuff about the birds is a little hard for me to accept. My realistic side looks at is and says, "Say what?!" But as you say, it's canon, and it seems to be the way that messages get carried long distances in ME. Glad to oblige you! | |
| Kristy | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2005 |
| What? Elian is an OC? Noooo. Ya'll are just playing with me! ::grin:: I had ROTK on yesterday and found myself thinking how cool it would be to see Elian and Legolas take out Oliphants together or to see Elian and Gmili interact! Oh My, Elian has a daughter! How wonderful. He's exactly the kind of male that makes the most wonderful of fathers to girls! Arda's revenge for his youth! I can't wait to see her turn Her Grandfather Thranduil into putty! Ohh the sinister presence outside Loriel's window just made me shiver in dread! (ever seen the Lion King? "Mufasa!" "Ohhhhhh say it again!") Author Reply: LOL. Well, Eilian is real in my head anyway, and apparently in yours, Kristy! I really missed Eilian in the last story because it was so concentrated on Legolas. Eilian's letters were the only times I was in his head at all, so this was fun to do again. I think he and Legolas would make a good pair in a fight. They'd know one another pretty instinctively. Everyone seems to be taking great delight in how poor Eilian is going to suffer as the father of a daughter. At the moment, he's reveling in her, which is nice to write about. The future is a little more iffy. I've never seen the Lion King, embarrassingly enough. Bad Things are in the woods here. Poor Eilian. | |
| Rita | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2005 |
| I'm very glad to see Eilian fitting in so well in a settlement. He's come so far--I remember when he first married, Celuwen had to ask him to put his shirts in the laundry hamper and now he seems quite used to doing these little household chores. It was interesting to see that he is always a warrior first and foremost; at the first signs of something bothering the trees, his hand went to his knife instinctively. I suppose it's hard to forget that type of warrior training even in a time of peace. I quite agree with the other reviewers when they say that Eilian having a daughter seems like a bit of revenge for Sólith since he would now understand his father-in-law (Eilian would not want Loriel to bond without his permission). It's good to see that Loriel can bring them closer together, in understanding and also physically (they were sitting almost next to each other with only Loriel in between!) I hope Loriel has regular visits with Thranduil and her other relatives, as we would not wish to deprive them of such a delightful child. I'm looking forward to reading about how Legolas has settled into a life as Captain of the Home Guard in a time of peace. I wonder how he has adjusted since all he has known, from the time he was born and throughout his life, is a Shadow over their woods. I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see this story, Daw, as I was expecting a story about Legolas as an elfling and instead, I find a story about a different elfling. I know you were depressed writing about Legolas's grief in A Creature of Fire and were planning on writing something happier. Author Reply: I'd forgotten all about that shirt thing! You're so right. I think what's happened is just that he's moved out of the palace and is taking up his own life as an adult. He's always done that as a warrior. Now he does it at his home too. And as you point out, he's still a warrior at some level. Eilian would have a stroke if an older Loriel started spending time with someone who resembled him as a young Elf. He knows he was unsteady, to put it mildly. At the moment, he's only worried about her wandering around at night (shades of Uncle Legolas!). The next chapter is all about Legolas who is also relaxing into his Wood-elf role. So this story is happier just now. How long it will stay that way is a question. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| Apologies for barging in on your conversation with other people… I fervently hope that Gollum's feet were webbed. In Chapter 5 of The Hobbit, ‘Riddles in the Dark’: “‘It must make haste, haste!’ said Gollum, beginning to climb out of his boat onto the shore to get at Bilbo. But when he put his long webby foot in the water, a fish jumped out in fright and fell on Bilbo’s toes.” Author Reply: Hey, Dot! Have I told you lately how much I love you??? :-) | |
| Lamiel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| Eilian has a daughter! My goodness, who would've thought? And they're living in Celuwen's settlement? I guess that's reasonable, given the peace after Sauron was driven from Dol Guldur. I laughed long and hard at this line, "She loved visiting Celuwen’s parents, a flaw that always puzzled Eilian, given that he found Loriel to be unusually bright." Hee! The entire family interaction, both between Eilian and his daughter and Eilian and Solith was wonderful. You have such a talent for capturing the very real emotions and dynamics of family. Eilian's grudging understanding of Solith's perspective, now that he has a daughter of his own, is nicely done. And I was grinning at the line about Solith wanting to believe that Loriel was dropped down their chimney by an eagle. Now what is this webbed creature lurking about the settlement? I'm trying to think if any of Sauron's creatures had webbed feet . . . not Gollum, surely; he was still in his cave in the Misty Mountains at this point, and I don't think his feet were actually webbed in any case. H'm. Perhaps there's a particularly malevolent duck out there with a grudge against Eilian. Or perhaps not. Now if I may ask -- did Fanfiction.net send you a warning not to post reviewer responses, or are you simply being prudent in response to Thundera's notice? I'm trying to determine what to do myself, as I've never gotten notice of that kind or seen a warning posted on the homepage. Author Reply: I've been trying to figure out what Eilian would do in peace time and living in the settlement seemed the best idea. He's close to the woods, and he has a lot of freedom but it's balanced by a lot of necessary work. He has neighbors and his family. I think he'd do well there. Too bad the peace here doesn't last. I'm so glad you liked the family interaction. It's my favorite thing to write. I think that Eilian will be a loving father just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas, but I think it may be Celuwen who has to be the disciplinarian, and sweet as she is, Loriel may need a firm hand. I fervently hope that Gollum's feet were webbed. If you find otherwise, let me know. :-) Here's the scoop about ff.net. They are apparently claiming that there's no new rule but tht their rule against interactive fics bans reviewer responses. When I saw TT's notice, at first I thought I would just ignore it. But then last week, rumor had it that Cassia and Sio had a story yanked for doing reviewer responses. Since I was just getting ready to post this new story, I reluctantly decided to be cautious. It's too bad. I feel so ungracious not replying. I've been trying to send emails to people like I've always done with final chapters there, but I can't find some email addresses and there's at least one there that I can't seem to read right, since the email keeps bouncing back. | |
| Jule | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| Yay! I was thrilled to see this your story. I love this world you have created and have trouble remembering it is not cannon. Elian is a wonderful Ada just like I knew he would be and Loriel sounds both adorable and amusing. I can't wait to read about her and Thranduil together. I have to admit though I hope they move back to the stronghold very soon. The idea of Loriel being closer to that meanspirited judgemental Solith than she is Thranduil is sad. Solith still puts Elian down and makes it clear that he ius unwelcome even in front of his daughter. Celuwen was welcomed with love at the castle. Loriel will start to notice as she gets older. The best part about them having to move back would be watching Thranduil bond with Loriel and laugh at his son being an Ada to a lively little girl. I can't wait for the next part because whatever your write is always better than anything I could imagine. Julie Author Reply: Thank you, Julie. :-) My guess is that Grandfather Thranduil is just dying over the fact that this granddaughter who looks like his dead wife is in the settlement rather than the palace. He was doting enough with Sinnarn! Still is, for that matter. I think you're right about Solith too. He has to smarten up. He doesn't want to force Loriel to take sides because if he does, she's going to choose her ada, just as Celuwen chose Eilian too, and Solith will be the loser. The next chapter is pretty much all Legolas. I need to establish where everyone is and how they're doing before I get my plot too far underway. | |
| thechevin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| What a treat Eilian and Celuwyn have a daughter and are living the pastorl life in the settlement this was such a delight but as ever there is that hint and then much more than a hint of danger in the air and the little girl senses it so naturally just like her very fond Adar I can't wait to see Thranduil with his grandaughter he will be putty in her hands I suspect I liked this glimpse into life in the settlements and its apparently idyllic lifestyle but something tells me it won't last As for the warning about OC's I am with the rest of the reviewers these characters are as much canon now as those Tolkein came up with therefore not OC at all! Author Reply: It turned out to be surprisingly easy to picture Eilian happy in this kind of life. He has friends, his family, and enough responsibility to keep him happy and out of trouble. I just couldn't picture him hanging around the palace and not getting restless. I'm very pleased everyone was so happy to see Eilian instead of Legolas! I find him easier to write, I think. Legolas is more complicated, plus he's one of Tolkien's characters so I tend to careful with him. In this story, which takes place only 60 or so years before the Quest, I need to be sure to have him be as much like Fellowship!Legolas as possible. That's what I've been growing him toward. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005 |
| Hmmm. A disturbing, slippery creature with webbed feet skulking around eating baby birds. Survey says. . . one critter in Arda fits that description perfectly. Name begins with a "G" and ends with "ollum." Mazel tov to Eilian and Celuwen for having produced Flower Face (Flower Face is a good nickname. One of mine was DisgustoBaby). I'm just tickled by the thought of the relentlessly male royal family suddenly having a daughter in their midst. She gets all new clothes, all new toys, and all the spoiling rotten she can take. And Loriel -- named for her late grandmother, I suppose? It looks like she takes after Uncle Legolas, especially in the wandering off department. Fortunately, Ada has already had practice dealing with a kid who likes to wander. I bet that's an advantage of the distance between Elvish siblings. The atmosphere at Isiwen and Sólith's seemed exactly right. Loriel provides enough of a truce that Sólith and Eilian can ignore each other rather than carp or threaten. Sigh. That's how my dad used to get along with my grandfather when my sister and I were little. Author Reply: I've always been creeped out by Gandalf's description of what Gollum did once he left the mountains in search of Bilbo and the Precious, and I've never seen another story use that event. I find the Tale of Years to be very useful for generating plot ideas. I think an outsider might find Flower Face to be a little Disgusto occasionally too, but not her doting ada. He thinks she's beautiful and unusually bright. And I think Eilian will be a loving father to her, just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas. I'll bet Thranduil can hardly stand it that Loriel is living in the settlement and not in the palace! Loriel sits between Solith and Eilian at the table, creating a nice little neutral zone. | |