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Interrupted Journeys: Part 6 Journeys Out of Grief by elliska	46 Review(s)
perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
Thranduil is great here. He's juggling well his own grief, his parental role and the king. Time to cool down was really an improvement for both father and son, but really, I was glad that Legolas too got a reminder of his responsiblties as a prince of the realm. Balancing family and duty is going to be more and more difficult as they grow up, so it's good that he was reminded of this. I believe my truest victory against Sauron is the fact that he cannot repress the spirit of these people Indeed. I really like these insights on Thranduil's beliefs, the drivers of his policy and what he thinks is what he is defending: not a land or resources but a spirit, the basics to what he must turn to when he has to make a decision. And how you show it was a process along the years, with mistakes and discussions and advice from different sources ( particularly loved the hint at Radagast) He comes out as a great king, here, loved that. Good job, elliska! Author Reply: I'm glad you liked Thranduil here. I worried a bit when I was choosing what to post for this chapter how his little speech to Legolas would come across, so I'm glad you liked it. Thranduil is a great king. I'd take him for a boss any day. Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
I loved the whole chapter, every sentence. I find a little funny that Legolas still resents his Father for invading his privacy. I do understand, I try to give my daughter her space, but I remember when I grew up, my Mom was the Queen of our home and there were nothing that we could keep secret and we couldn’t even to complain...It does sound bad, but it wasn't really bad, she really never on purpose invaded our privacy, but if it happened or she thought that was necessary, Oh well, you have to live with that and accepted, we just knew that that she had the complete authority and we had to respect her no matter what. I suppose that it was a different time and also, a different culture, I've realize now that live in USA, that Latin culture is very different in the relationship between parents and children. Anyway, I'm talking nonsense...I can feel Thranduil pain and his frustration for not being able to change the situation, his acceptance that some events are out of his control. You know what I really like in your King Thranduil? How he really strives to be a fair King, he really takes his time to listen, he recognizes if he is wrong, he explains his decision the best he can and most at all, he puts his people interest and welfare first to everything, they are his most important priority and nothing will top that, not even wife and son. For him, the Kingship is for serving, not for taking privileges. Sadly, it is very uncommon in our World. I have a very cynical POV with politicians, I grew up in a dictatoship regime, and believe me it will be a better World if we have more Thranduil around. Now, Galithil and Maidhien scene was delicious, what a beautiful first kiss. I just feel sorry for them; they will have such a difficult road. I was expecting some of her relatives to pop out and make their kiss impossible. Thanks and waiting for more. Author Reply: :-) I actually can identify with your mom being the Queen. Mine was too. I wonder if that is why my Thranduil is more willing to be sympathetic in this area. LOL. it will be a better World if we have more Thranduil around. Darn right! I'd take Thranduil for a boss any day. I'm he comes across that way to you because that is exactly how I want him to be. I was expecting some of her relatives to pop out and make their kiss impossible. You can definitely count on her relatives to make this way more difficult for them. You are definitely right about that. Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
I love this story. Not only do I eagerly check for a new chapter every Monday morning – I won’t mention how disappointed I get when it isn’t there, lol - so I can enjoy it with my mug of tea as the perfect start to my day off but it keeps me thinking about what I’ve read for the rest of the day. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been out walking or hoovering the house or just having a lie down and found myself pondering the reactions of your characters to whatever’s going on in the chapter! Therefore, I’m the worst in the world for not reviewing it. I do realise that. So I just wanted to let you know that I am reading and I am enjoying it immensely and I am sorry I don’t tell you often enough. Author Reply: I am so glad you have enjoyed it Dot! I'm glad it's good tea-drinking material! :-) I love a bit of fanfic with my tea in the morning too. Never worry about reviewing. I am the first one to recognize that a lot of the time we are just lucky to find time to read for a few minutes. Thanks so much for this review though. I do appreciate it so much!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/14/2010
I love Legolas's concentration on his art, and also the way everyone else so clearly sees how fine his work is even when he doesn't. It's interesting that at the start Legolas feels at odds with his father, annoyed at him and believing the feeling is mutual, when Thranduil seems to have moved on. It was clear how hard Legolas found it to forgive what he sees as an invasion of a part of his life he'd kept private and about which he feels self-conscious. I suppose that offense was made much worse by Thranduil's accusing manner. If I'd been Legolas, I'd have found that hard to forgive too. But he stretches and grows quite nicely when he considers his father's feelings. I liked Thranduil talking about the ways the world is beautiful in itself. Those details were lovely. It's good for Legolas to hear Thranduil's explanation of how he's waiting for a weapon or advantage against Sauron. That must be hard for impatient Thranduil, as he himself acknowledges. Thank goodness for Mithrandir. "The ability of the people to continue living their lives happily. Merrily as when I first encountered them. I want them to meet on the Green every night to sing and dance and play games of skill or chance. I want you to paint and your naneth to weave and Rodonon and Hallion to keep their library. I want us all to have the freedom and the will to do what Illuvatar intended for us--to create beautiful things and enjoy them together. As long as we do that, Sauron has not won. Not all victories are won on the battle field. I believe my truest victory against Sauron is the fact that he cannot repress the spirit of these people. That's a great passage about how hope and joy are kept alive even when times are dark. And it makes Legolas's painting not just a nice but otherwise irrelevant detail. And look at Maidhien offering a traditional cure to Galithil! Do I see a little bit of foreshadowing in the elven prince who speaks to ents? I wonder if Legolas remembered that mural when he went in to Fangorn. Author Reply: Poor Legolas and his painting. I think we are usually our own harshest critics and imagine how hard it would be to compare yourself to someone who had been doing the art you enjoy for thousands of years. I think that would be intimidating! :-) I am glad his struggle to get past that and grow a little came across. Yes, naturally Legolas will be remembering the 'I'm waiting for the advantage Mithrandir hoped for' conversation during the Council of Elrond! I'm glad you liked that part you quoted. I enjoy thinking about the contrasts we see in Quest!Legolas. On the one hand, he sometimes seems a little too merry, trotting off to look for the sun, for example. And in other places, speaking exclusively to experienced warriors (like Gimli), he says much grimmer things like 'such is the way of the world to find and to lose.' If Legolas is the age I make him, he sees both the Watchful Peace and its failure. And he'd certainly have the chance to lose a lot (and he will, in this story, lose nearly everything by the time of the Quest). Still he has enough hope to go on the Quest. That is what I see as his defining characteristic as the Elf on the Quest old enough and educated enough to know how unlikely the Quest is to succeed, yet he goes and keeps up hope while in the Company. So I enjoy playing with where that hope/merry spirit vs the more grim Legolas comes from in him. And it makes Legolas's painting not just a nice but otherwise irrelevant detail. Cool! Because the part with the painting really used to be in another part of the story which I have decided not to post. I liked it and decided it actually seemed more relevant here than where it originally was, so I worked it in. I'm glad that worked! And yes, Legolas will definitely be thinking about that mural and the accompanying story his naneth used to tell him of the ent and the elven prince when he goes into Fangorn! I had fun playing with that! Galithil has had such a difficult time. He deserved a little kiss. :-) Thanks so much for the review, Daw. I really appreciate it.

Charmel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/2/2010
I liked this chapter alot. Being a parent is a learning experience for both child and parents. Mothers can be wrong too and Grandmothers. I think apologies are owed all around. Legolas has to understand that it is Thranduil's right as his parent to set rules for him. Even those that he does not agree are necessary. You are not allowed to pick and choose which rules to obey. He even betrayed his mom in my opinion. She said she would speak to Thranduil, he should have waited. Also, When you violate a parent's trust, you are asking to have your privacy violated. I do not think Thranduil owes him an apology for looking in that case. For not giving him a chance to explain, definately. I also would not give in on the sword lessons, but I would come up with another way for him to learn to rule. I'm sure sitting in a few boring meetings would be ample punishment! Maybe helping with the metal issue or weaving the cloth! Now that's good punishment there. Author Reply: This is why parenting is soooo hard. A lot of times, I think there just isn't a right answer. You have to go with the 'best you can do' solution. I can't resist playing around with a few of your points here in the review, because you capture the dilemma so well. You are not allowed to pick and choose which rules to obey. Nope. And there has to be a whole new level to this when your parent is King. And when your justification for breaking the rule is 'I think my way is best since I'm the King's son and the realm needs this.' That sort of steps it up a notch. But then we have to throw in the fact that Thranduil made the rule without hearing anyone's input on it, not even his wife's. That complicates it. Messy is more fun. She said she would speak to Thranduil, he should have waited. Yep. You can't deny that. I think both Thranduil and Lindomiel would agree with that, Of course from Legolas's point of view, that 'mom intervention' was supposed to occur when Thranduil had let go of his emotions from recent events a bit and that was going to happen 'never' (as Berior put it, I think). But still, that's not really an excuse. This debate is going to play out in the next chapter (unless parts of it get cut--I've been cutting pretty heavily in this story). So I'd better leave that there. I also would not give in on the sword lessons, This one is tougher if Thranduil is convinced by Legolas's argument in favor of having the lessons. But it is a bad thing to reward misbehavior, no doubt. So this becomes really tricky. This definitely can't be cut as a discussion in the next chapter, so I'd better not give too much away. But it is the type of dilemma I would hate as a parent. As for some of your other comments, I haven't made all the cuts for the final chapter yet, so I hate to say for certain, but if certain things stay in there, I have to say you've been fairly prophetic. :-) Thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
Wait a minute, did Legolas just called his Father a fool? Author Reply: ROTFL! I guess he did, indirectly. I didn't catch that. Good thing Thranduil didn't either! I wonder if I can make that play into the dialogue in the last chapter somehow. Because that is funny! Boy would Legolas be utterly horrified by that. Thanks so much for the review! It has inspired a plot bunny.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
This is a great chapter. It remind me to be calm before go and yell, I mean, talk to my child, but it is so hard sometimes to have a cold head with so many problems around you. Good that Legolas has a grandmother to stop his father, at least for a while. It is so heartbroken to have Thranduil confronted with his "mortality". He could reason why he needed all the training, but he doesn't see that his child need it too. Everybody want their children to have a better live and try to shield them for the bad experinces that we had suffered, but at some point, children ned to be confronted with reality and it is better to be prepare. I realy felt so bad for him when he understood what the children were thinking and that he never thought about that, not even back in his youth, when he didn't expect his Ada to die. I suppose that Men are better in that cease, to prepare your children to live without you and to brave the world without your parents help. our description of his shock was very real. I can't wait for more, Thranduil really needs a vacation, if you want, you can send him to my home.... Author Reply: You've got it exactly, of course. Thranduil has just reached the end of his rope and acted in a way that he will not be proud of once he really thinks about it. I'm really glad you commented on Thranduil's reaction to Legolas's comment. Obviously that's hard for Legolas to think about, but I think it would be really hard for Thranduil to realize Legolas is thinking about it. He must have faced and accepted the possibility his potential mortality several hundred battles ago. But to realize your child get it too would be really hard, especially for a parent who has been so determined not to allow the Shadow to influence his family. Thranduil's vacation is coming, as you'll see. Thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
Uh oh. Thranduil was really out of his mind really, to have failed to think that the children might be thinking that he might too die one day. refusing to think that they were so affected, I suppose. His explosion was all I expected, His mom's reprimand was wonderful She was the only one at that point who could do it. But now he really really needs a spa appointment. With Lindomiel preferably. His reaction when he realizaed what the children had been thinking was heart wrenching. And poor Tulus. He's in for a nasty nasty time with the stupid son he's got in his hands. I am not sure if Glilavan's words to Thranduil in the last chapter were consciously devious or just casually impreccise, but the fact was that hemanaged to hit home doubly and create great trouble. And the kids are going to get more attention from Thrnaduil... you really sure you wanted that, boys? :-) Wonderful, elliska, thank you! Author Reply: Yeah, when Thranduil actually reflects on this, he is going to realize he is not thinking. He blew up. He probably has a right to, but he's not allowed. Poor elf. ;-) He will get a vacation of a sort. Not with Lindomiel, unfortunately. Because she needs a vacation too. And as you said, good thing for mothers. Only Dieneryn could have shut Thranduil down when he was really angry. You're right about Tulus's future. you really sure you wanted that, boys? ROTFL! Too true. Only once he calms down a bit! Thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
I was thinking about this some more and was impressed by how much Legolas sounds like a young adult rather than a child. He's able to monitor his own actions, for instance, feeling surprise at how easily he lies for Galithil and controlling his face so his anger won't look like defiance. And he defends Galithil from Thranduil's anger, knowing how vulnerable his cousin is. That's all in addition to the way he's been thinking about the future. His father needs to adjust his thinking or there are going to be a lot more clashes between them. Also, poor Thranduil. He's facing his own limits here. Author Reply: Cool! Yes, Thranduil does need to readjust his thinking. Dolgailon suggested that to him, actually. (And if it doesn't get cut, so does Dieneryn in the next chapter). He (D) is a little closer to childhood, and Legolas and Galithil are not his kids, so it's a little easier for him to recognize that Legolas is really pretty mature in many ways. This is kind of MarySue-ish in a way for me, because (in my own mind, anyway) I was a pretty mature kid and it took a while for my parents to recognize that. So, that has crept into the story here (and in a few more places as we go along). Thranduil is at the end of his rope. Time to step back. Poor guy, indeed. I appreciate you adding this comment! I hoped Legolas would come across (to readers--Thranduil doesn't get to figure it out yet) just as you described, but having never been a parent, I wasn't sure he did. So this made me very happy!

CandissD	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/31/2010
great chapter! :) Please update soon! this part at the end cracked me up: He was so pleased that he managed to refrain from suggesting that the best way for his father to give them the attention they needed would be to give them swords lessons. lol! don't push it, Legolas! :) Author Reply: Galithil told Legolas that he needs to shut up. He really does about that, anyway. Don't poke the bear! I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!

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