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| In Search of Joy by The Karenator | 18 Review(s) |
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| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/30/2007 |
| Good battle writing! I always like to keep an eye out for that sort of thing. It moves along at a good clip, and is mostly pretty realistic. I especially liked the part about how Legolas couldn't tell where in the arc of the battle he was, but just had to trust to the commands he was given. And along comes Aragorn, bringing his nasty little bundle of fate. Legolas will soon find out far more than he ever wanted to know about that curious creature. He should enjoy his last year in the forest, because not even Tree or his momma will be able to protect him from what's coming up. Author Reply: Writing battles...oh, man. I love a well written one, but I would not put myself at the top of good-battle-writers list. I really appreciate your comments. You've made me feel better. He should enjoy his last year in the forest, because not even Tree or his momma will be able to protect him from what's coming up. Isn't that the truth? Times are a-changing. If they think things are bad now, in a short while, they're going to get worse. Legolas just got a glimpse of the new and improved orc. That would really brighten up a fellow's day. Thanks, FP. I'm glad you enjoyed it. When this is made into a film, I want you to do the score. :>) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/30/2007 |
| So, he is a fairly youthful warrior here, and has just met Aragorn and Gollum. He will shortly know far more than he'd wish to about the latter, and will come to honor the former. Love to see Strider as warrior and healer here. Author Reply: Thanks, Larner. Your comments just about sums it up in nutshell. Tolkien doesn't tell us that Legolas and Aragorn had ever met before The Council of Elrond, but it's reasonable, I think, to assume they ran into one another when Aragorn brought Gollum to Mirkwood. I've always wondered why Mithrandir told Aragorn to do that, and I've wondered what Thranduil thought about the request to watch him. Not only did I get an opportunity to explore those questions, but to also ponder how Legolas and Aragorn met. I couldn't resist getting Aragorn involved in a little action. Since this piece is for Meckinock, I had to give the old boy at least one good beheading. I appreciate you reading and commenting. Thanks again. | |
| Thierrys | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/29/2007 |
| Yay for more stories from you! I'm glad to see Legolas' reappearance. I'm eager to see what will happen when Aragorn meets the Elvenking and family. I thought the fight scenes were really well done, as well as Legolas' shocked-but-numb reaction to the little girl's death. Also, I like Tree =D Author Reply: Thanks, Thierrys, for the kind words, especially about the battle. It was a long one and I don't normally do long battle scenes. Nilmandra writes some of the best ones I've ever read so I hate to remind myself of my incompetence by trying to write one. In fact, I've read a lot of really good battle scenes on SoA by many different authors. There's a fine line when writing them between giving essential information and meandering around the smoke and blood like a bad special-effects technician. Unfortunately, I'm not objective enough about my work to know when I crossed over into 'way too much information'. You've made me feel better. Thanks. Tree is a fun character to write. I'm glad you like him. He'll be most pleased. Thanks again for the review. I appreciate you taking the time and sending such kind thoughts. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/29/2007 |
| Hey, I'm back. This was fantastic! It's so good to read your Legolas again. And I cheered when Tree showed up. He's a great character. The battle was great; the terror of the villagers really came across, and the fierce effort of the Elves to protect them. I'm intrigued now, though, by why Legolas is serving with this patrol if he's captain of his own patrol elsewhere. Sounds like a story there. Along with why Strider was surprised to learn he wasn't the captain. They've never met so why would he assume that? I'm looking forward to hearing the rest of the story... The little girl's death was hard. Even though you've shared your concept for the story so I wasn't entirely surprised, it's hard to deal with the death of a small child. It must be particularly hard for Legolas, being immortal and having made friends with her and her parents. And watching them search for her, knowing he was about to break their hearts. What a great start. I'm looking forward to seeing what Thranduil has to say about this unexpected visitor and his secret mission. I'll bet we get to see that famous jugular vein throbbing ;-) Thank you so much for doing this. You shouldn't have; especially as busy and overworked as you've been lately. (But I'm glad you did anyhow) Author Reply: Thanks. It's different than what I normally write, so it feels a little...dark. I like dark, but beginning with a battle, and a long one at that, was a new experience. I was aiming for the chaos where combatants are on auto-pilot because they hardly have time to think, the frustration of the enemy thwarting plans, and the hero doesn't always save the girl. I'm glad you felt the terror of the villagers came across and how intense the fighting was on the ground. It was a small area overrun with people, elves and orcs. Toward the last of the chapter, Opalan says something to Legolas about being grateful for his help and that Legolas was overdue for leave from his patrol on the eastern border. The situation in the realm had worsened (and was about to get worse, but that's another story). Aldamir has had to send new warriors into the patrols faster than usual, so Legolas went to help train a green bunch assigned to Opalan instead of going home. Legolas hadn't been demoted (Opalan calls Legolas 'a capable captain in his own right') but Legolas didn't ride in and take Opalan's command. (I just heard Aldamir gasp with indignation.) Legolas was a temporary second. More about that will be discussed later when Legolas gets home, but that was what Opalan was talking about. Strider has made an assumption about Legolas and it annoys Legolas greatly...later. Legolas has a long history with the little girl's family. That begins in another story still on my hard drive so I can't expect that the reader will know that. But, yeah, at face value, he knew this little girl and her family. Having just spend time with her the day before and being charmed by her, her death was a particularly tough blow. A child's death is always awful and this little girl was special to Legolas, not to mention her death was horrible. She's a turning point for him. More on that later too. Thranduil's always fun. I doubt he'll be impressed with Mithrandir's request. I hope your birthday was a good one. If all goes according to plan (hear Legolas laugh--along with Dot and Bodkin) I'll get the other chapters up before your next one. Thanks for your kind words and remember another birthday just means you're getting better. (And you're still younger than me.) | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/29/2007 |
| Wow, Karen! What a horrific battle! That was really well written--tense and realistic and incredibly sad. And Aragorn is great in here. I love 'discovering' him along with Legolas. This is a really clever idea for how they first met. And the best part is the TBC! Awesome! I was thrilled to see that. So we get to see Aragorn and Legolas go back to the stronghold with Gollum?! Too cool! Author Reply: Yeah, it was a horrific battle, a really terrible battle. I started this story a long time ago for Meckinock. Even then, I agonized over the little girl, but in the end, I felt she was necessary for what comes afterwards. I always remember my college roommate's father saying that in a movie, you knew a guy was going to die if he hurt a kid or dog. I'm glad Strider showed up to help wipe up the orcs. Of course, they were gonna die no matter what...the scum. Yep, we're off to the stronghold. Daeron might even be there. Legolas sure hopes so. He needs someone who calls 'em as he sees 'em. Thanks for the review. I'm pleased you enjoyed it. | |
| Linda Hoyland | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/29/2007 |
| This is excellent, I'm a big fan of Aragorn and you capture him well. The death of the child was chilling and the battle grim. Author Reply: Thank you, Linda. I know it started off with a terrible event, but I have to say, I sure was glad when the man clad in dark leather showed up. He even got to lop off an orc's head in one fell swoop: a Meckinock ™. I'm glad you enjoyed it. This story is a little different for me. It's been fun getting to know Aragorn. I've always liked him and I like stories about him, but I've never attempted to write one myself. Thanks for taking the time to review. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/29/2007 |
| Oh! It's the Gollum story! I can't believe you did it! I'm so excited. This made my day. Which I gave myself off from work, so I plan to take this with me and read it again leisurely while sitting at a sidewalk cafe somewhere. Will be back later with a more coherent review... Thank you so much! Author Reply: I'm glad you're pleased. This story has been kicking around a long time. I've wanted to work on it, but time has not been my friend. While trying to decide what I should write for your celebration, I thought about this one and decided to give it a try. It's a little different than what I'm used to writing in Tolkien's world, and it feels strange, but I've enjoyed doing it. Happy Birthday. | |
| daw the minstrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/29/2007 |
| What a great opening to the meeting of two characters and events that help trigger the final battles. I cringed at the death of the little girl. And while Legolas did fine, he does seem to be a bit worn down. Gollum is just creepy. Author Reply: The little girl was tough. I try not to harm children and animals in stories, but the reality of war is that children are lost. I don't think orcs would have cared one way or the other about age or gender. Plus, I needed the event to be especially significant to Legolas, something so horrible he has to reevaluate his world view. Yeah, Gollum is always creepy. Thanks for taking time to review and for your help. | |