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Discretion  by Bodkin 13 Review(s)
Kitt OtterReviewed Chapter: 4 on 5/13/2008
Poignant scene for Galadriel and Celeborn, tied flawlessly through with the discussion of their grandson’s, uh, battle cries.
Light in dark indeed.

I like the way you expressed how the twins hide their sadness in mirth. At least Gimli is wise enough not to be the one to tell them, and to watch out for his Elf.
And Aragorn does it too! Oh sigh.

-Kitt

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/11/2005
Very amusing... Gimli is in on the joke as well, but will teach Legolas to know better...

Author Reply: Thank you. Gimli wouldn't want HIS elf making a fool of himself. But he will have to be careful - he doesn't want to spoil the joke by letting Legolas know too much!

elliskaReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/10/2005
Now this is the best one for multiple reasons. Gimli is perfect in this--in his reactions to Elladan and Elrohir initially, in his contemplations of elves and in his reaction to hearing the twins' curses. This really is a perfect example of what I love about your stories--part of them make me really think (Gimli's thoughts on elves) and part of them make me laugh myself silly. Utile et dulce. Love it!

Author Reply: It is now hard to believe this started so simply. I'm so pleased you like Gimli (an underwritten character, I think). And that his response to the flighty elves seems right.

I'm flattered that you think the stories work on more than one level. I know this one was a delight to write.

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
This was just full of dwarven delights!

...footstools for the comfort of aged matriarchs... Gimli's translations is even better than Legolas'! His elf! LOL! Light-mined and flighty, ha! Too good of a joke to spoil! ...not knowing the right words. That would never do. No, not ever! ;D

Wonderful stuff! But, what really got me was ...deadly vision of dancing death that had blazed before the Black Gate. Lordy, I simply love alliteration like that!

Thanks for carrying on and not letting this particular furry creature hop away.



Author Reply: Thank you. And, really, Gimli and Legolas have only just touched on a few phrases. They have more! (And it's not impossible that Gimli added one or two to the collection. Carefully - so he didn't pollute the mind of his elf.)

I'm glad you enjoyed the alliteration. It's easy to get carried away on bits like that.

It's grown again, I'm afraid. There are now two more bits here. And I'm giving up on saying that will be the end of it. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

perellethReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
Oh, I've been saving this for the whole day, sure that it would be a looong, boring and exasperating one, and it did not dissapoint me..( neither the day nor the Discretion!:-)

I believe Gimli's been too collected. I would have spoiled the entertainment, and ran the whole way to the Lonely mountain to find a couple of old matriarchs and bring them back to listen to the poor peredhil! :-) It was so amusing bodkin!!! Back to reflections, I'm now wondering how long did the flush take to dissapear from Elladan's cheeks once he began to recall all these episodes!

Such a jewel of a bunny you found here!

Author Reply: And you still have to work Saturday? It's not fair. Although maybe there are some compensations?

But this way Gimli can keep the joke going for another century or so! And continue to wind the poor twins up. Perhaps see they learn a bit more!

I'm glad you liked it. Though it turns out the next Reflection won't be until Monday, because this has grown again. It's beginning to get out of hand.

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
What a shock for Gimli! LOL.

I liked the comment about the sadness at the core of elves. I think that's right. They saw way too much.

Author Reply: A terrible shock. He was quite disconcerted. At least until he had to fight back the laughter.

Immortality isn't all it's cracked up to be. It must have been almost impossible for the elves to release their sorrow for all the sad things that happened. I hope the BR made up for it. But I doubt it.

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
‘Most people find that I am pretty capable.’

‘I think you will find that only Arwen claims that,’ Elrohir said solemnly.

‘Or does she insist that he is pretty and capable?’ Elladan asked.

‘It is pretty frightening to think of what she finds him capable.’

Elvish wordplay...you gotta love it, especially when it's suggestive. I also love it that Aragorn picked up his brothers'fractured Khuzdul. Could it be that during the war he was hollering out...stuff? I guess Gimli has a point that the King of Gondor shouldn't be making that sort of mistake, and I'm glad he is so protective of "his" elf. Oh to be there when Legolas learns the truth! I don't know how he resisted teasing the twins about it as long as he did. Great story! ~TF

Author Reply: Poor Aragorn. Little brother - slavishly copying his big brothers' bad language and still subject to being teased relentlessly! Still, it must make him feel at home!

I'm sure Gimli will see that Legolas doesn't make such errors - and he will probably have a word with Aragorn.

Legolas probably didn't know before he sailed, I think (Gimli could have made sure he didn't), and then it was a long time before he and the twins met again. But I think he must have heard them over a good few years - I can't imagine they would keep quiet about their favourite phrases. Maybe it just seemed better to keep it to himself. I wonder why he told them in the end? (I hope that doesn't turn into another bunny!)

Thank you. It's grown again!

utfrog98Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
Perfect! I had hoped that Aragorn had studied enough in his youth to understand the curses, but Gimli quietly telling him is better.

Really good story!

Author Reply: I don't think Khuzdul was considered an essential part of Aragorn's education. Too many other languages. Westron. Sindarin. Adunaic. Quenya, maybe. Rohirric. Perhaps a smattering of the languages of the Southrons.

I hope Gimli does tell him. We wouldn't want the King of the United Realm to stub his toe in front of the dwarves who come to help with the rebuilding and then come out with a phrase that begs to have his body smothered in lemon frosting, now would we!

It's grown again, I'm afraid.

DotReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
LOL!

I just loved the opening, with them all enjoying themselves and discussing the twins. You’ve managed get so many different parts of their personalities across before we even see them. I really like the phrase “deadly visions of dancing death that had blazed before the Black Gate.”

The “pretty capable” discussion is just priceless. I’m glad they can all have this time together, although my heart went out to the twins at Legolas’ explanation of their “mask of mirth”.

I’m still grinning away here at Gimli’s discovery of the elves’ use of his language. “The picture of those two offering themselves naked to be footstools for the comfort of aged matriarchs was one that would remain with him as long as he lived." Uh, I’m thinking that image will stay with me for a while too… And Aragorn is using Khuzdul too!! Oh, that’s brilliant. I feel the teensiest bit bad because Elladan and Elrohir probably thought they were doing a good thing in teaching him… bit it’s too funny. I sincerely hope Gimli does tell Aragorn. It would not do for the king to be caught using those phrases! Of course, he’ll tell Arwen… and… *g*

I love Gimli in this. His possessiveness of “his elf” is wonderful, as is his indignation at the thought that anyone might try to play a similar joke on Legolas. Although, I bet there was a time when he’d have tried it on him himself.

More please! :-)


Author Reply: Arwen . . . Yes . . . She really needs to come into the mix, doesn't she!

I'm beginning to feel that Elladan and Elrohir were certainly not suspicious enough when they were young. They let those dwarves play them like fiddles.

Aragorn, of course, as little brother, would have been all ears for picking up all those little pieces of language his elders would rather have kept from him. But he and Gimli and Legolas were the Three Hunters - from the Nine Walkers - they're practically brothers. There's no way Gimli could let Aragorn embarrass himself in front of other dwarves.

Gimli has exempted Legolas from flighty elfhood. Legolas is his friend. Other elves don't get that credit. (Legolas has reversed the process, too, I think.) Gimli can torment Legolas himself, if he wants to - but woe betide anyone else who tries!

I'm glad you liked the alliteration - and the different sides of the twins, including their melancholy. (I have to remind myself that they are happy in the BR and that their happiness will last a very long time.)

There's now another part added to this saga!

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/9/2005
The picture of those two offering themselves naked to be footstools for the comfort of aged matriarchs was one that would remain with him as long as he lived. Yes, it is rather unforgettable, isn't it?

I liked Gimli's musing on 'his' elf here, and his possessiveness of Legolas. Yes, I can imagine some dwarves would greet the interloper with veiled insults.

Now, if Gimli warned Aragorn, he'd have told Arwen. I can just imagine her secret delight in her brothers' comments!

Author Reply: A lingering image. Not altogether delightful. (Partially clothed elves are preferable!)

Gimli has grown a lot over the quest - and so has Legolas. But I think they are both at the point where their own elf / dwarf is excepted from the general rules. (They continue to grow in understanding over the next century.)

And Arwen - yes, you share in the responsibility for the intrusion of yet another part to this expanding story!

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