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Dragons in the Trollshaws  by Bodkin 18 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 9/26/2008
How I managed to miss this one I don't know--but it is marvelous! And the only one to actually endanger himself was Glorfindel? Heh! Poor Elf--even the greatest can at times grow somewhat--careless!

Loved it!

paranoidangelReviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/2/2008
I liked this, especially how this is how the twins and Elrond react to what's happened to Celebrian. And all the dragon stuff with them fighting and the elves working out how to defeat them is really interesting.

lyncarol333Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/20/2007
This is a truely wonderful fic.

i think my favoite part is your descriptions of the young dragons. it seemed so real, even if it was rather grouse in places.

After years of wanting a pet dragon myself especially when i was young, i suddenly find that maybe i don't anymore.

Thanks for sharing.

Lyn



Author Reply: Thank you, Lyn. I'm glad you liked it. I have a suspicion dragons are much more pleasant in imagination than in fact. And there are never many around, are there? What better reason than a bit of cannibalism?

HalethReviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007
The banter between Elrohir and Elladan is quite wonderful. They're being reckless and are quite aware of the fact, but retain enough of an instinct for self-preservation to realize they're in over their heads.

I like your take on the dragons; the eggs lying dormant for years and being reanimated by extreme heat, that they seem to need dragon flesh to grow properly, that they are capable of spontaneous combustion and that one of the only things that could harm them was another dragon.

I somehow doubt that anyone will allow Glorfindel to live down his part in the experience any time soon. It will be very difficult for him to disciple the Twins for being foolish when they are uninjured and he has just lost his eyebrows.



Author Reply: Elladan and Elrohir are recovering from the black rage that swamped them after their mother's wounding - I don't know that they would have shown so much sense a decade or two earlier. Elrond and Glorfindel would have been relieved to hear E2 assessing the odds!

Thank you! I had fund thinking about dragons and how they might seem to appear out of nowhere - and cannibalism certainly seems one way of accounting for the survival of so few of them!

Poor Glorfindel - such a courageous Balrog-slayer - but perhaps a little too confident. Or maybe protective. But however he cares to describe his response to danger, it will take the edge off any harangue he aims at the twins!

I think it has done the relationship between Elrond / Glorfindel and the younger pair a power of good to spend time away from Imladris and its frozen memories of happier days. Hopefully the twins can see more clearly that their father needs them - possibly even more than they need him.

perellethReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/8/2007
For all that I love your twin's intelligent, witty bantering, and their hilarious reasoning, I am thrilled with the dragons. A third read is as compelling and impressive as a first. They are wild, and dangerous and different and *unknown* and it all came out pretty clear from the twin's reactions to their terrific behaviour. THat was perfect as well, to use this as the last dro in a turning point from their darkest hour: coming to reason on their own, capable of assessing the situation and calmly -and well-humoredly- awaiting reinforcements.

It was a pleasure, as well, to see Elrond in the field, and a hoot to picture Glorfindel with his glorious golden locks singed and curling. THe claw pointed arrows were a wonderful touch.

But I loved the dragons.

Happy birthday, Jay!

Author Reply: Phew! I'm glad the dragons worked - it's really quite hard to picture such a dangerous species ... not to mention speculate on why such difficult creatures to kill didn't exist in rather larger numbers!

I think the twins are seeking a way home now - isolation and anger is a way of dealing with grief and guilt, but it is limiting. I feel that E2 were much more rational away from Imladris, but found it hard to deal with being home where Elrond was treasuring everything Celebrian had touched. They will move towards comforting each other, I think, far better here away from home.

Poor Glorfindel. The twins will enjoy reminding him of this moment. After all, he doesn't let their foolish moments drop!

I was left wondering one night whether Bard the Bowman had somehow ended up with a black arrow tipped with dragon claw ...

Thank you, perelleth.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/8/2007
I do like this very much, especially the mentions of Smudge, LOL! The light-hearted banter, with the seriousness underneath is done just as perfectly as you always do it!

And it was very interesting to learn a bit about the natural habits of M-e's dragons. Out of curiousity, did this take place before or after Smaug had descended on the Lonely Mountain? (I have to confess, that for one brief instant I thought the last one would get away, and that maybe it was Smaug.)

Also, I must say, I got quite a chuckle out of the vision of Glorfindel with his golden hair all singed. *snerk*

Author Reply: I rather liked the way Elrohir informed me that he had only looked for a dragon's egg because he had known he wouldn't find one. Smudge is, I think, a much better imaginary friend!

This is before Smaug arrived in 2770. Probably before 2589, when Dain was killed by a dragon - although maybe not by much. I'm not sure, myself, that there wasn't a worm who escaped the elves' hunt - they learn very quickly and one might well have tucked itself away from the food that turned into dragon killers, but I don't think Smaug was among them. He was too old and too experienced and just knew too much.

Poor Glorfindel. The twins won't let him forget this. After all, he never lets them forget their follies!

vampfan30Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2007
oooooh! so on-the-edge-of-your-seat stuff!!!! I love how you write the twins' & the interaction between them & Glory!

Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed it! I don't usually write much edge-of-the-seat stuff - more talk than action! - so I'm glad you felt it worked!

RedheredhReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2007
That was one very enjoyable story! Full of adventure and an intelligent approach to he nature of wild dragons! Your characterizations on point and amusingly glib! And your writing a delight to read - as always!

The confrontation scene was superb! It smells better cooked... LOL!

Happy Birthday to Jay! Thank you for having a birthday and thanks to you, Bodkin, for sharing this gift with us!


Author Reply: Thank you - birthdays are fun and make you write things you might not otherwise, and that's a good thing!

I'd never given a great deal of thought to dragons before - but even as they began to appear in my head, various qualities developed with them. I'm rather glad Middle-earth wasn't overrun with the creatures! They are really not designed to make good pets!

Selene AduialReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2007
You've done a fine job in writing the "missing" story. I love the look inside the head of the elves involved.
Yes, sure the twins can act like idiots sometimes, but they still know what the are doing. When they stop to think that is.

Author Reply: Thank you. The twins seem more immature at home, I think. Partly because they are surrounded by people who are sooooooo much older, but also because home reminds them too much of their mother and that makes them edgy and defensive. I don't think they would have survived their orc-slaying period if they couldn't detach themselves and fight as cool competent warriors when the need arose. And this was definitely a good time to realise they couldn't do this on their own!

Peredhil loverReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2007
Thanks for having a birthday, Jay, for I love the new twin stories. I hope it is a happy one.

This is an interesting look at the twins trying to deal with their grief and guilt over their mother. At the start, they certainly seem to be looking for trouble and an outlet for their grief. It is good that they had the sense to realize that this is a battle that they could not win on their own.

I'm glad to see that they have begun to excise some of their own dragons by the end of the story.

peredhil lover

Author Reply: I think they've more or less got to the point where they're trying to find a way to climb out of their swamp of misery and rage and guilt. But they find it harder when they're at home - because home is full of reminders of Celebrian. Then they behave badly and storm off only to feel guilty again and wish they could just talk to their father. Meeting him here will, I think, be good for all present. Elrond is outside his shell and they can see how much he needs them.

While realising that this battle takes more than just the two of them is a big step, I think. They still won't be the people they were before they lost their mother - but isn't that just the way it is!

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