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| Visitors by daw the minstrel | 43 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| Now that was just delightful. I can so see Mr Stubborn-Ass Ithilden falling for the baby and declaring that Alitha and her family were within their rights to stay exactly where they were. After all, he is the elven, Middle-earth equivalent of the kid's godfather. How can he possibly reject a little boy he brought into the world - especially one that - er - leaked all over him! I love the way Alitha recognised the brotherhood between the elves - after all, who else would goad Ithilden like Eilian and Legolas? And live to tell the tale. And I wonder if they returned to see her - and little Ithilden. And whether the name became fashionable among men ... And another thing ... Ithilden's threat to take future outlaws and release them into the Master's house - what a brilliant one! While his reluctance to remove his - um - leg apparel - in front of a lady ... Legolas and Ithilden enjoyed that, too. (And there aren't many human females who've had their hands on Ithilden's thigh - I can just see Dot treasuring that thought.) I loved seeing the brothers through Alitha's eyes. Such a gorgeous story. I enjoyed every word - your writing just gets better and better. Author Reply: Ithilden is far sterner in theory than in practice. Actually one of my favorite sayings comes from Yogi Berra (a baseball player). Yogi is reputed to have said that in theory, there's no difference between theory and practice, but in practice, there is. And Ithilden is like that, at least when it comes to well-intentioned humans with a baby. I had to think about what Ithilden could threaten the Master with. As you undoubtedly know, outlawry really was the way medieval towns dealt with criminals. They couldn't afford to jail them, so they fined them (sometimes even for things like murder) or, if they really didn't want the bad guys around, they outlawed them. What a pain for the elves! The bad guys were essentially shuttled over into their territory. I'm glad you liked it. As I look at it now, the pace could probably stand to be slowed in a couple of places, but it was fun to write. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| A lovely look at the elf trio through the eyes of a human! That was fun, though I'm sure Alitha would rather not have given birth in front of a bunch of male elves. I like how easily she figured out they were brothers. Sassy Legolas and Impertinent Eilian with controlfreak Ithilden! :D Author Reply: Thank you for your help on this. I worked on the POV a little in the second half and I think it came out better. It's all very slippery though. Legolas wishes to point out that he "DID NOTHING WRONG." He has no idea what you're talking about. :-) | |
| Noor | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| What a lovely surprise to find this story waiting for me....I had almost given up hope of reading one of your stories because I knew you were busy with bigger projects. It is so well written and illustrates the closeness of the three brothers in a subtle way. Great to revisit Daw's universe. I now have to reread it! Thank you and I am glad that Dot had a birthday -happy birthday Dot! Author Reply: I'm still writing occasional fanfic. It's too much fun to stop. And I finished a draft of my current novel so I'm letting it sit a while. Maybe I'll even do another story. I was just thinking of one over breakfast this morning. Anyway, I thank you for your kind words here. I hadn't thought about how the brothers appear close, but now that you mention it, they do. They know one another so well and that shows to an outsider. | |
| Vicki Turner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| I nearly danced for joy when i saw you have written another story! And a wonderful story at that! I loved seeing a complete outsiders view on the three brothers. Maybe you can write a little something where Ithiliden meets the little namesake? I hope you write something else soon! Author Reply: Thanks, Vicki. Isn't it interesting how you can get fun effects just by playing with which POV you use? Writing this story wouldn't have been nearly as much fun if I'd done it from the perspective of one of the brothers. Someone else suggested that Ithilden meet his namesake sometime. That would be entertaining, even if it were only a small detail in another story. You guys are full of ideas. Too bad I have to work for a living. | |
| sofia | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| One of my favorites! I really enjoyed it and I love the fact that you have all three brother's together. I have to give a big hug to Ithilden for still managing to act like he usually does. I love that the baby peed on him, that was great addition, by the way. Just for a reference, if possible, could you tell me between which two stories does this one take place? Author Reply: I had to go and look but I'd say this takes place between "Paths Taken" and "My Brother's Keeper," probably closer to the first one. The world descended into chaos for a while, but Ithilden was still sure he was in charge, and sure enough, that's how it turned out. :-) Karenator used to be a labor and delivery nurse and she suggested that the baby pee on someone. Ithilden seemed the logical target to me. Poor guy. LOL | |
| LOTR lover | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| Oh, daw, this made my week. What a great story! Poor Ithilden! Outlaws, a woman in labor, his annoying brother Eilian and his equally annoying brother Legolas! I loved Eilian's running commentary and very young Legolas's eager but clueless behavior. And your OC Alitha is a terrific character! Poor woman, not realizing she was in labor and probably had been for some time--thank the Valar for the royal brothers' timely appearance. I loved her utterly besotted attitude toward her baby--I was the same way when my children were born. This little gem of a story is definitely going on my Favorites list. LOTR lover Author Reply: Thank you for these kind word, LOTR lover. Poor Ithilden indeed. I tried to spin things out of his control as much as possible, but he just refuses to believe it and keeps on barking orders, even when no one listens. Eilian was rolling his eyes, I'm sure. And Legolas is still convinced he did nothing wrong. LOL. I figured Alitha had been in labor off and on for a couple of days. You know how it is. I have only one child, and when I went into labor with him, I didn't realize that's what it was because it was early. I went out to lunch and then shopping at a mall with a friend, but had to keep stopping and leaning against something. My friend finally suggested I go to the doctor, who in turn told me to go to the hospital. I needed an elf! | |
| yanic | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| What a great perspective to see these characters through! I loved the sibling bantering, it was hysterical. "Her laugh sounded hysterical even to her own ears. None of the fantasies she had ever had about elves had included their presence at the messy, painful human experience of giving birth." Did I ever feel for her in this spot! Surrounded by beautiful elves, about to give birth! Which was actually a good thing, as Ithilden was able to be a midwife, but still! What a story! thanks for the treat! Author Reply: Thanks, Yanic. Writing from the woman's perspective was interesting, and was more or less the challenge I wanted to work with in this story. She quickly pegs them as brothers though. Maybe she has some of her own. :-) I can't say I'd want to give birth in these circumstances. But then she decides her baby is more beautiful than the elves anyway, so go, Mama Alitha! | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| Oh daw. You fabulous thing, you. Thank you so, so much. This is absolutely wonderful. I’ll have a smile on my face all day :-) (I’ll write a proper review after work.) I love Ithilden. Author Reply: Ithilden is so flattered he's blushing. :-) | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| Lucky Dot! Lucky Alitha too, come to that. What with the outlaws and the early birth, things would have been very different if the Thranduilionnath hadn't arrived. I always like to see the three together, with their arguing and banter. I love Alitha's thought here: 'Brothers, Alitha thought. They have to be brothers.' I laughed at the baby peeing the moment he was born. My son did the same thing! And you called him Ithilden - well, what else could his name be? A lovely story. Thank you Daw, and happy birthday to Dot for next week! Jay Author Reply: I want you to know I've been very restrained about posting this story. I've had it done for over a week, and it was killing me to sit on it. Alitha was indeed lucky. And it was fun to try to guess how she'd interpret elven behavior, especially before they switched into Common. Karenator used to be a labor and delivery nurse and she suggested that detail about the peeing. She says it's pretty common, and as a matter of fact, my son did that too. What a shock to poor Ithilden! LOL. | |
| harrowcat | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 2/20/2007 |
| And this is a lovely story Daw. I would love to see a follow up where the grown baby meets these Elves again and realises that the tales his mother tells him are true! Author Reply: Oh geez. Just what I need. Another plot bunny. I can see that event tucked away in another story though, even if it's not the focus. Good idea. Thank you! | |