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| The Spy by daw the minstrel | 41 Review(s) |
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| ponypetter | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/23/2005 |
| Ah, so nice to be back and find that you have posted two stories since I've last been here. And what's this about the Beliond Fan Club? How does one join? I am always a fan of a man with a nice butt... I especially liked the little nugget at the end. For some reason, I was totally not expecting that. It made me wonder what Beliond was thinking when he got his assignment and first met Legolas. Hmm, maybe another one-short for the fan club? Author Reply: I'm not sure Nilmandra is letting anyone else joing the Beliond Fan Club. She seems very possessive about the cranky, soft-hearted, lockpicking, pickpocket minstrel. :-) Beliond was not pleased at the new assignment and thought Legolas was a spoiled brat who had been raised in a palace and would need his nose wiped. I've never shown that from his POV, althought that would be amusing. I just wrote about Legolas's first glimpse of Beliond in "The Tide of Times." And he wasn't happy either! | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/23/2005 |
| Sorry it took me so long to read this. Knowing it was here has been killing me but we have been buried at work again. Finally a moment to enjoy. if one of the town’s inhabitants had told him that the day was sunny, he would have immediately pulled his hood forward to keep the rain out of his face. Well this about sums up Beliond's attitude towards Men, doesn't it. He and Thranduil see eye to eye on one thing! That line killed me. And this whole thing is just witty and hilarious. Beliond the pick-pocket, lock-picking minstrel was perfect! As was Beliond in 'I can handle Thranduil' mode. Again, too funny. But he was wrong this time. I'm so glad you wrote this. I definitely am a Beliond fan too! Author Reply: You're working much too hard. What on earth do employers think anyway? The fools! I had a lot of fun writing this. I could kind of let myself go and pile absurdity on absurdity. Even making up the semi-cuss word insults was fun. Thanks for the review, Elliska. | |
| Rivergirl | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/23/2005 |
| Oooooohhh, I liked this. I really liked this. I was a moderate fan of Beliond prior to this, but I think I'm jumping over in his camp for good now. What a delightful bit of sneaking and spying and helping out. Thanks for sharing this with us. I most thoroughly enjoyed it. Rivergirl Author Reply: Beliond showed me that he had talents I hadn't imagined! And a nice butt too. :-) I'm glad you liked it. | |
| Elentari | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/23/2005 |
** Beliond had spent enough time around his own king to realize at once that he was looking at a ruler in a raging temper. ** Oh, boy. That was just hilarious. ** He had known Thranduil for a long time and was confident of his ability to manage him. Whatever the king wanted, Beliond would deal with it and be on his way on his own again. And for now, there was fried fish and the knowledge of a job well done. ** I like the feeling of this ending. Beliond's satisfaction in his job is as poignant as the brief mentions to his long lost family, but boy, even the mighty fail at times. Beliond would not know quiet again for a long time, and the special assignment... let's just say he'd have his plate full for the next centuries... Author Reply: Beliond has a lot of confidence in himself, and the success of his actions in the town sure seems to justify it. The townspeople will never know just how close they came to disaster, or that it was a one-man (er, elf) army who saved them by his wits mostly. But his confidence at the end is probably misplaced. I wonder how he'll like being called Nana? :-) | |
| Lamiel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/22/2005 |
| This is a wonderful tale, and it is a treat to see Beliond shine on his own. Really I know your little corner of Tolkien's universe so well by now that it didn't even feel like I was reading about an OC. This line so perfectly sums up Beliond's character, "if one of the town’s inhabitants had told him that the day was sunny, he would have immediately pulled his hood forward to keep the rain out of his face." Ha! Brilliant! Really, that is like one of the exercises they teach in creative writing class, "How to show a character's personality in one sentence." The story is wonderfully told, and a great pleasure to read. Author Reply: Really, that is like one of the exercises they teach in creative writing class, "How to show a character's personality in one sentence." Wow. That makes me feel really good. I'm totally untrained at this, and I sometimes feel so pig ignorant, like I'm just floundering along. I think I know my corner of Tolkien's world pretty well by now too, but then someone like Beliond will come along and offer to let me write about a new part of it. This was fun to do. I've been spending the last few weeks experimenting with converting one of my stories (Growing Under Shadow) into an original young adult novel, and I'm just astounded as how much difference it's made to create a world of my own. The longer I work at it, the less the story I'm writing resembles Growing Under Shadow. I'm enjoying that discovery too. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/22/2005 |
| At last I have a chance to sit down and review this. I had to come forearmed, you see. I got a persistent earworm from your last story, and I might have picked up another one from this story, so I checked out a book of Henry Purcell's naughty catches from the library to have to hand. I think Beliond would like the work of Mr. Purcell very much, given his appreciation of a good streak of blue language and the song about the maiden and the goat. Speaking of which, one thing he should know about Men is that, when it comes to entertainment, the lowest common denominator is always in fashion. When in doubt, sing the one about the maiden and the goat. Or the two ladies and the farting contest. He does seem to have an odd set of talents, doesn't he? I kind of like that he plays the harp; it's such a delicate instrument, and it seems completely at odds with the rough, gruff exterior that he likes to project. It does say something about him, that he keeps all these little tender things so hidden and so buried deep down inside. He's a very private person, and I like that about him. He also seems to have a habit of borrowing trouble. Thranduil probably noticed that about him and decided that he needed something to do. And thus did Beliond become "Nana." Awwww. Author Reply: Do you mean you have a song in mind that Beliond might have sung? One of Purcell's? Or did Purcell do some earthy songs I don't know about? Writing cuss phrases for a Beliond story is a lot of fun. I'm usually pretty conservative about language, but Beliond brings out a creative streak in me. Particularly given that the men in this town had kept their womenfolk from the lord's hall, the song about the maiden and the goat might have gone down a treat. But Beliond is still an elf, and he gave them a musical gift they didn't expect. I love the guy. He has this tender, loving side that he's surrounded with a crusty shell. I think Thranduil probably brought him home so that the shell wouldn't have a chance to grow any thicker. | |
| thechevin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/22/2005 |
| If this turns out to be the second review for this story from me then the first one didn't disappear into the ether as I feared I really enjoyed seeing the otherside of Beliond before he became keeper to the king's youngest son. He certainly led an interesting life prior to becoming 'nana'. I wonder if Thranduil was aware of all his little extra curricular skills that he might decide to pass onto Legolas purse snatching, lock breaking, abduction of innocent minstrels the list goes on this was a joy to read thank you Author Reply: This is the only review I see, so you read your computer's bad ways accurately! I've been thinking for a while about what Beliond's life as a spy was like. Nilmandra's birthday was the perfect occasion to write about it. He had to think on his feet and he was good at it too. No wonder he was horrified at being made nursemaid to Thranduil's youngest son. Surely Thranduil knew about some of Beliond's skills. Many of them would be useful as a spy. But he probably thought Beliond had enough sense not to teach them to Legolas. Or maybe not. I can't help but wonder what skills Thranduil has that we haven't seen either. :-) | |
| Yanic | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/22/2005 |
| That was awesome! When I first read the description of it I got so excited and the story just made me even happier! I LOVE Beliond!!! I was laughing so hard at all the little Beliond-isms that were in there, especially his respect for a man who can "express himself" HAHAH! I really think you did a wonderful job with Beliond and I really hope you might consider to do another one, because it's just too funny! Author Reply: Beliond seems to have a lot of fans, which would probably appall him! I can't see him wanting fangirls coming his way, although he'd probably be smug about having them too, now that I think of it. I enjoy writing humor and don't get enough chance to do it. Beliond is a rich seam to be mined for funny stuff. Even the swear words just come rolling out of me when I write about him, and I'm normally pretty reserved. | |
| LOTRFaith | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/22/2005 |
| I was laughing my head off in quite a bit of this... lol... Absolutely hilarious :-) I loved it... Reminded me a little bit of The Pacifier... :-D Wow... That must have been some shock for Beliond. From being a spy to a 'nursemaid' to the king's 'spoiled' son. :-D lol... Hmm... But I think that both parties were able to learn a lot from each other... Great story!!! Author Reply: Thranduil did a good thing when he put Legolas and Beliond together. He must have known that given the loss of his own son, Beliond would never let harm come to Legolas, even with Legolas fighting him every step of the way. And Beliond needs to care for someone again. He's been singing for himself alone for long enough. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/21/2005 |
| Ah, Beliond at his finest! He's certainly a jack-of-all-trades: minstrel, psychologist, pickpocket, lock pick, plotter-of-ruin, and on top of all this, he's got a nice bum. One of the things that struck me was how the kitchen boy immediately trusted him. This is a nice little foreshadowing for his future job. Despite his somewhat out-of-place appearance and his unfamiliarity to the boy, the kid could see that he's a good guy. Down the road, even when he's a tad grumpy, we can see that he's good with the younger guys. One in particular. Beliond's not nearly as sly as he thought though, because Thranduil figured him out and 'managed' him quite well. But...what happened to the minstrel? He had escaped when Beliond went back to untie him. I know we're supposed to speculate and that it's really not important one way or another, but I couldn't help but wonder what this poor guy thought. Here he thought he had a nice gig and the next thing he knows, he's tied up tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey and someone has stolen his limelight...and his harp...and his cap. I bet he was miffed! Delightful story. And what a wonderful gift for Nilmandra. I truly enjoyed it. Happy Birthday to Nilmandra! Karen Author Reply: I hadn't thought about the kitchen boy in connection with Legolas, but you're so right. The kid trusted him and saw him as an ally. I wanted to smack the steward when he hit the kid, but the kid was tough and Beliond took care of the steward. The minstrel? Hmmm. He went to complain to the guards. After he found them and they were done with the bad guy, he led them back to the scene of the crime and there, lo and behold, were his clothes and his harp. How's that? | |