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The Seeds of Time  by daw the minstrel 33 Review(s)
Asms2Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/30/2016
This is absolutely fantastic!! The little elflings are so adorable. And Eilian seems clueless about how he is inspiring them to try out dangerous activities. Haha. I could just see the situation building as the story went along. And then river cave boat adventure totally delivered excitement! It was creative how you set it up so that even when the little ones get out of the water they are still stuck underground in a cave in the middle of a river! What a predicament. They were very lucky that Eilian figured out where they were, and how to get help for them.

Turgon had some good moments in this one. I enjoyed his line “We will be sleeping puppy friends and stay all in a heap." What an adorable mental image. He was also good at shouting instructions to Legolas and Annael once they were in the water, keeping the imagination play up about being sailors or otters was probably helpful for keeping them calm. And then, of course, at the end when the Queen is rescuing them he says “Annael should go next. Sometimes he is afraid”. Aw! He volunteered to go last to make sure his friends were ok. This developed his character, and it just makes it all the more sad that he meets his demise at such an early age.

I enjoyed seeing Lorelinn interacting with her family. She seems like such a staple for them here. It’s easy to see how much they all will struggle when she dies, such a short time later. In way, knowing that is coming, gives this story even more of an emotional edge. Just knowing that this will be one of the last times that their whole family is together.

I really, really enjoyed this one!! It was fun to read, and very well written :)


Author Reply: Hi, Asms2!

You know how the dwarves in The Hobbit escape from Thranduil via an underground river? When I thought about it, I'd never seen a fanfic that used that river as a plot element, so I decided to try it here. When I wrote it, I'd recently been to New Zealand and ridden a boat through an underground cave with glowworms, so I used that element too. The elflings were indeed lucky Eilian found them! Lord knows what would have happened otherwise. The elflings didn't mean to get into trouble here. That boat was just so tempting. And after all, they're wood elves. :-)

There's so much good in Turgon. He sorely needed guidance. I think if Lorellin had lived, she might have been able to make a difference by keeping an eye on him. But then, she'd have made a difference to all of them. I'll bet Eilian and Celuwen would have bonded much sooner. Celuwen's father wouldn't have stood a chance against Lorellin!

It was fun to try to figure out how the three little ones became friends. I guess sharing a traumatic experience would do that for you, though if I were Lorellin, I'd have cancelled any trips until all my boys were settled down and had stopped giving me gray hair.

Glad you liked it.

daw

endorearwenReviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/28/2013
I thoroughly enjoyed this story - should say LOVED this story! First, I like the strength of Lorellin's character - the perfect match for one as powerful as Thranduil! How could one not fall in love with Legolas, an elfling so beautiful and whose character just lightens your heart from the way you write about him! I was intrigued by the segment about the loss of Fithral and Lorellin's interaction with his parents. I would like to have read much more about their struggle to deal with the loss and how their Queen's presence fortified and encouraged them through this ordeal. I know there is a moving story in that plotline. As always, I LOVE the tender relationships shared by the elves, no matter their age. Small gestures, like Legolas holding Annael's hand when he sensed his friend's fear and the compassion of Turgon in permitting Annael to enter the boat first because "sometimes he is afraid" - always done with such care for one another amongst these wonderful beings! I know that there is shadow awaiting Thranduil and I go now with some trepidation to the next story on the list. He and Legolas are my most favourite characters and I'm thrilled that you have dedicated so much time and work to painting a picture with words of their lives together over so long a span! This story illustrates how important it is to have these tales available in an 'archive'! Those of us who come to Tolkien's world much later than the rest of you are only discovering for the first time the wonderful writers he has inspired to follow in his footsteps! :-)

Author Reply: Thanks, endorearwen! I loved writing these stories. I got carried away and wrote a ton of them, as you see. I didn't write them in order though. This one is one of the last ones I wrote, so you'll run into some clumsy writing eventually. I had a lot to learn, but fanfic gave me a supportive, risk free way to do it. And wow it was fun.

Red Squirrel Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 7/3/2013
I really enjoyed seeing Thranduil and Lorellin together here. I really like her character and in my eyes she is everything a Silvan Elf would have been like. I was sort of sad at the end knowing that their days together are numbered. I was going to read "When Shadow Touches Home" which was next on your chronological list but right now it seems too sad. So I think that I will read something later on the list. I really have enjoyed everything that I have read so far. I am going to start every story and probably review for each chapter because I LOVE to talk about things that I read...and it being LOTR just makes it worse LOL I hope I won't annoy you too much with my constant ramblings...you have been warned ;-)

Author Reply: Oh yeah, because writers hate it when readers talk about their stories. Not!

I used to really like jumping around in time when I wrote these stories, but it did mean that readers anticipated things that they wouldn't otherwise know, sometimes giving more emotional resonance. I think this was the first time I wrote from Lorellin's POV. I learned a lot about her from doing that.

pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 8 on 6/5/2007
Very nice...

It seems that they are such a happy family. Thier naneth seemed to make life so much easier.

She seems to understand Eilian real well. Everyone adores her it seems..

Nice work...

Author Reply: I got to know Lorellin better as I wrote this story. I'd never used her point of view before and it made me understand her so much more. Her family lost a lot when she died.

moonshine4488Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/1/2007
Hey Daw! This story was really good, but it makes me sad to think that soon Lorellin will be gone. Its so odd reading about her right before, because none of them know the destruction that is soon to follow.

Legolas was really cute, and I enjoyed his part in this.

I thought the orcs running in tunnels underground was really good. I didn't expect them to be beneath it, and just collapse the dirt from under them. It was a great part of the story however sad it was.

Well, I look forward to the next story you write, as always. Until then!

Moonshine

Author Reply: Thanks, Moonshine. I got to know Lorellin quite a bit better while writing this story, and that made her death all the sadder for me. I could see what they were each losing.

Writing from Legolas's POV was so much fun. He's so sweet and earnest as he tries to figure out the world.

IdhrenielReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/1/2007
Years later...
Nice ending for your story. I felt a stab of sadness when the queen asked to travel. This storie is one of the last moments of the family together.
It was nice to know that she trusted Annael's mother right away. At least Legolas was taken care by someone she liked.
Nice story, as ever. It was enchanting to read Thranduil from his wife's point of view.
Hug,

Author Reply: That last chapter was sad for me to write too. They're so happy and life is about to deal them a crippling blow.

When I started this story, I didn't realize how different Thranduil would look not only through his wife's eyes, but in her presence. That's a whole side of him that was lost when she was. What a tragedy for them all.

Thanks, Idhreniel. I had a good time writing fanfic again.

meckinockReviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/29/2007
Oh, yes! I was tickled when Lorellin told Thranduil Eilian wasn't dating the right girl. LOLOL. Mothers know everything.

Author Reply: You laugh, but it's true. :-)

meckinockReviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/29/2007
I just loved seeing the softer side of Thranduil in this story. This whole story, but especially this last chapter, was so bittersweet because there are so many perfect moments, and hopes, and fears here that will soon have their date with destiny. It's hard to see this happy, loving family mere weeks away from a tragedy they can't even comprehend, one that will turn their lives upside down and change them forever, but I guess the lesson here is to treasure every day. A wonderful story, daw.

Author Reply: This last chapter was mostly tying up the various threads I'd dropped here and there, and suggesting the future. So Lorellin would trust Annael's nana to take care of Legolas. She knows Eilian isn't chasing the right girl. Eilian has had a brush with Shadow Sickness that will haunt him. And the spring dancing is coming.

perellethReviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/15/2007
Aiiii, thankfully you left it so close to bad bad time coming up!
nicely wrapped up I must say, from her sobering conversation with Eilian, to the loving care she has to offer grieving GElmir, to her winning over her husband... lovely and sad, but she got perfectly rounded here. Abd LEgolas receiving his first visitor and everyone wondering if he should be playing with Turgon! That was so fun.

I have another question, ebcause seeing Eilian with his mum in ths tale has truly made me wonder about his personality, since he is so ver alike his naneth.. which traits do you think he shares with Thranduil?

Author Reply: Hm. I think Eilian shares a warrior's training with Thranduil, and while he doesn't expect ever to rule, he was born into the royal family and has accepted that responsibility in a way Lorellin didn't have to do until she married.

Also, I think when Thranduil was young, he was probably more like Eilian than he likes to admit. I'll bet he engaged in fire jumping for instance. Eilian may be more like Oropher though, with Thranduil the more restrained son/father in the middle.

So are you ever getting an internet hookup?

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/14/2007
Great story altogether! You do the Woodland Realm proud in keeping the journal for the royal family!

Bless you for sharing it with us.

Author Reply: I'm smiling here. This family is fun to write about, and fanfiction is about the most playful thing I do.

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