Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Interrupted Journeys 10: Finding the sun by elliska	47 Review(s)
rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2013
I was so hoping that this chapter would be here when I got home from work. I have read it twice now, once I speed read through it to see what was happening and then after supper, I sat down and had a nice relaxing read. After my last post about shutting up Tureden with the orcs, I am beginning to see him in this chapter in a more favorable light. He certainly takes his job seriously in stepping in front of Legolas to protect him from a wildly shot arrow. And finding out that he wasn't given good information about what Legolas could do and what he couldn't do hopefully will have him reconsidering Legolas' actions. Hopefully, they can work out their differences. Legolas on the other hand is getting a thorough tongue lashing by an enraged king. Legolas is enough of a grown elf to recognize that this just isn't his adar speaking to him about his leaving the cave through the escape door. What a problem if the bolt hole has been discovered by the enemy. Especially if one could get into the cave that way. Hind sight is always better, but hopefully Legolas is going to be thinking more before he decides to do something in the future. I like the way you have him face his actions and making decisions about what he is capable of doing in searching for the other elves. He is growing up into an adult that his parents will be proud to acknowledge. Author Reply: I am so happy you wanted to read it twice! :-) Tureden isn't completely bad. He is horrible, not doubt. Legolas is still with you on locking him up with some orcs. Not the type of person I'd like to be forced to hang around with all day like Legolas is. But he can do his job--and it's a tough job stepping in front of an arrow for someone. And he can recognize and regret when he's been wrong. He is growing up into an adult that his parents will be proud to acknowledge. And that sums up exactly what I am trying to show here.:-) Legolas was feeling panicked, not himself after the recent events, and he didn't think. If Anastor did the same, the worst he could do would be to hurt himself and maybe a few other people who tried to help him. For someone in Legolas's position, the worst he can do by not thinking before he acts is something that potentially affects the entire realm. Lesson learned. What a problem if the bolt hole has been discovered by the enemy. Definitely. I won't spoil this. But definitely. Thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them!

Morn	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2013
Well, after leaving us on that cliffhanger, yet another intense chapter. And poor Berior, after that speech to the king that arrow will at least help him to understand why what he said was wrong. And we are really seeing Legolas grow up and take some responsibility. His childish behaviour sneaking out now has adult consequences and hopefully that won't come back to bite them in the future... With seemingly half the forest searching for these elves I hope they manage to at least get rid of another. Looking forward to seeing how the situation with Tureden is dealt with also. The comments about Aewen were certainly way out of line. At least he managed to do his job properly in the oak. Author Reply: I'm so glad it came across as intense. It is always hard for me to tell. Yes, you are right. Berior now has a good deal more understanding of what he thought he wanted. He still wants it. That hasn't changed. He's still really angry. But he understands Thranduil and Legolas's POVs too and he knows how he handled it was way wrong and that probably even what he wants is wrong. Legolas is definitely growing up. Generally speaking, under normal circumstances, he can be counted upon to make good decisions, and people like Dollion's (a captain) deference to him is a sign/result of that. But yeah, sneaking out? Bad Choice. Not thinking, even when you are feeling a little desperate? Not something someone in his position ever has the luxury of doing. Lesson learned. Thankfully, Legolas does learn. :-) With seemingly half the forest searching for these elves I hope they manage to at least get rid of another. Hehehe. You know, when I wrote this, I was torn over this. Like you say, half the forest is after them. What does that say about them if they get no one? But then I said--yeah, Mirkwood hasn't really got a good reputation on this prisoner thing, do they? Lost the dwarves. Lost Gollum. :-) It was a hard decision to sacrifice a another baddy here or make Thranduil's guards look like fools. I'll let you wait a week to find out what happens. :-) And Tureden. There are acutally several versions of this written in different drafts. I just have to decide which to use. I think people would like one version in particular, since they really don't like Tureden. I'd need to tone it down a bit though. Had too much fun writing it myself and it may be a bit OOC. :-) But yes, he can do his job. He will keep Legolas safe. That much, we can say. Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

Naledi	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2013
I started reading Interrupted Journeys a while back, but then got . . .erm . . . interrupted. Anyway, I'm all caught up now, and completely gripped by it. I love your vision of Mirkwood and the elves living there. Now I'm champing at the bit for the next chapter. I can't help feeling that there's more danger to come for Legolas and he's hardly in a good state to deal with it, thanks to the turmoil he's been through. Author Reply: :-) It is so much fun to hear from someone new. Thanks so much! It is such a long series, I am always so amazed when someone tell me they started it after seeing some of the middle parts. I appreciate that so much. :-) I am so glad you enjoyed it and I hope you continue to. You're right that Legolas is not going to walk away from this hunt unscathed. That just wouldn't any fun at all. :-) Thank you so much for the review! I really appreciate it!

curiouswombat	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2013
Oh such an excellent chapter that I am not sure what to pick out to comment on. Good to see that Tureden did, at least, do his job when required. Good, too, for him to realise that others treat Legolas as someone able to make decisions and give orders. That Berior ended up killing Lagril was particularly poignant - and I can see that, oddly, it might even help him cope with some of his inner turmoil better, rather than increase it. I really felt for poor Legolas when Tureden was describing the time with Aewen - and I thought Legolas handling of this situation, and his explanation about why he chose to use the tunnel, illustrate very well that he is becoming almost an adult. I have to admit that the dangers of using the tunnel had not occurred to me any more than they had to Legolas - but of course how right. I will be interested to see what happens with Tureden once the immediate action of the hunt is over. All in all I am hoping you have lots of writing time over the next few weeks! Author Reply: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Yes, Tureden does know how to take guarding Legolas seriously. That he does do. And yes, exactly right that it is good for him to see how people who know Legolas treat him. He needs to clue in from that a bit. And he does. Eventually. I definitely think you are right about Berior. He was so frustrated because, like young people, he was very convinced he was right and he couldn't get people to understand how right he was. Now, he has a little more understanding and he is going to be more understanding of others as a result. Oh yeah, Legolas was peeved about Tureden yelling everything about Aewen right there in the Hall. I'm glad his explanations came across as adult. That is exactly what I am going for here. Showing him as really pretty mature. Ready for the role he's been raised for (and showing the beginnings of the personality that will serve him and the Fellowship when he is thrust into that situation later). Honestly, in the original version of this, when I first wrote it. I didn't really think of all the problems with using that tunnel when I made Legolas decide to do it. It wasn't until I wrote this scene and outlined how Thranduil/the king would react that it occurred to me that this was a major security breach, especially at this time. I was so happy when I figured that out, because it made this that much more tense. ;-) There are several Tureden edits available for me to post. I am trying to decide which I have the courage to put up and which will fit without making the last chapter too long/distracting from the point of it too much. I am also hoping for lots of writing time! Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2013
Too much tension, I'm in the edge of my seat....I want to be there so badly when Thranduil finish with Tureden. Author Reply: I am so glad this is coming across as tense. As usual, it is very hard for me to tell. I actually have several versions/edits of Thranduil's final reaction written. Remember, he doesn't even know yet exactly how Legolas's ribs got re-injured, or how badly. When it clicks for him that Tureen did it on purpose, when angry, when he could have chosen differently (to pull his blows), I don't think Thranduil is going to react well to hearing that. Especially since he's already angry. So, in one version, his reaction is actually 'on stage.' We see it. In another, it is related to Legolas by someone who witnessed it. And in another, Legolas sees the results, but not the actual reaction. I haven't decided which version to post yet. I think readers would enjoy seeing the 'on stage' one, but I had a little too much fun writing that. I'd have to tone it down first. ;-) Thank you so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 6/25/2013
I was really interested in the part of the opening section where Thranduil says Legolas is too old to be commanded in certain areas, that he should be making more of his own choices. That shows how Legolas is on the cusp of adulthood and his parents are trying to gradually let him get there. That conversation also makes it clear that Legolas doesn't run home and complain about every little thing that happens. I kind of cringed at the amount of detail Tureden appears to be passing along. If I were Legolas, I'd feel spied on. And the thing about Tureden is that not only does he think he can command Legolas, he thinks he should. To me, that is so totally not his role. He's a guard, not a parent or superior officer. And another elf on elf killing. It was necessary, of course, and Berior learned something from having participated. Poor kid. I liked the way Legolas set priorities and gave information about the bad guys afterwards and how the guard captain expected him to, thus again showing respect for Legolas's growing maturity. He was especially good to ask permission from Tureden to sent Anastor with a guard. I don't think I could have done that. I'd have been flipping Tureden off at that point, assuming I wasn't howling over my damaged ribs. It had to be good for Tureden to see Dollion's respect for Legolas's order about clearing the Green. "My lord." Hear that, Tureden? I had to laugh at Galion's horror over leaving a half-full barrel on the Green. As Thranduil was reaming Legolas out about using the secret passage, I suddenly remembered the owl. Tolkien tells us Thranduil used birds as spies. Is Manadhien doing that too? If so, ack! Legolas made a real mistake. I loved the idea of him hunting the bad guys to make up for it. That was somehow counter intuitive for me. I thought he'd be punished by being forbidden to do stuff like that, but it makes much more sense for an almost-adult to try to undo the damage he's caused. Lindomiel was wonderful when she said she couldn't have endured to be imprisoned after being released from captivity. That gave me new insight. Author Reply: Your comments made me so happy. Of course, what I'm trying to show here is Legolas making (mostly) good decisions, even under pressure, like the nearly-adult that he is. So I am very glad that came across. And, as you said, the people who know Legolas already recognize that he is nearly an adult, the king's son and therefore is owed...well, at the very least something much different from what Tureden is giving him. You are right, of course. Tureden is totally outside his job responsibilities. He's got nanny (from Hell)/spy confused with guard. He's going to be disabused of that misunderstanding. ;-) Meanwhile, generally speaking, I think Legolas is showing tremendous patience and restraint. I'd be with you on my reactions to Tureden. At the very least, I wouldn't have pulled that gut punch Legolas got in on him in the duel. I'd have let Tureden have it full force. And I wanted to write that for Legolas, but I decided he had to take the high ground. That was hard. ;-) I couldn't resist poking a little fun at Galion. That owl. :-) He will definitely be showing up again. My first reaction when planning this part was to send Legolas off for punishment too. But when I gave that more thought, I realized it didn't really fit with the 'Legolas is nearly an adult' idea. Adults fix their mistakes, if they can. Moreover, later on, when Gollum escapes, I see Legolas arguing to go to Imladris as him feeling the need to do what he can to fix that mistake, or at least own up to it. So, this sort of is a precursor to that. And parents have to allow their adult kids to face their mistakes, even if it's painful. It is hard here for Thranduil--it will be very hard for him to send Legolas to Imladris. So I decided to go that way and I liked it better. :-) 'Course, I'm not a parent, so I'm glad it ended up making sense to someone who is too. :-) And I'm glad you liked Lindomiel's comment. In my little world, the way I imagine Thranduil's family's past, Lindomiel is the only one who shares with Legolas the experience of having been held captive (her, for a much briefer time than Legolas, of course). Given the emphasis Tolkien places on elves' 'will' and their 'free will' being held or made to do something against their will strikes me as something that would be very disturbing to them. Legolas and Lindomiel understand that. Thanks so much for the reviews daw. I appreciate them so much!

CandissD	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/23/2013
what a cliffhanger -please update soon! Poor Thranduil having to relate the Menegroth story and poor Legolas having to fight his jerk of a guard while injured. Cannot wait to see what happens next Author Reply: Poor Thranduil and Legolas indeed. I think you will be saying that even more still. Thank you so much for the reviews, I really appreciate them. I hope you continue to enjoy!

katrina	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/21/2013
Ah cliffhanger!! I'm reviewing this on my phone while walking to the train station, but I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated and liked this chapter =) Author Reply: Thank you so much for reviewing (and I am a little jealous you live somewhere that you get to take the train--so much better than driving). I appreciate the reviews so much! I'm glad you enjoyed and I hope you continue to.

picara	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/19/2013
Tricky beginning. You fooled me into thinking it was Tulus again for a moment. Thranduil's story to Berior was very pwerful. And everything at the Oak was very tense. Given what we see in this chapter, I am certain that Legolas is in a lot of trouble and not just because of that arrow pointed at him. Update fast. Author Reply: Good, that's what I wanted you to think. ;-) And I'm glad it came across as tense. You are definitely right about trouble. No doubt there. Thanks so much for the reviews. I really appreciate them!

curiouswombat	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 6/18/2013
Now that last line is what I call a cliff-hanger... Thranduil's telling of Menegroth was a very powerful way of reminding Berior ( and the reader) of all he has been through - and how he has experienced not just loss but kin-slaying. It should, most certainly, explain his reasoning - when Berior is finally able to really think straight, poor lad. As for Tureden - I presume he has some reason for his attitude problem in this new role - but even if has, I still want to hit him over the head with rotting fish!! Author Reply: I'm glad you enjoyed Thranduil's story. It is not something he talks about freely, as he said, but Berior's comment that he would finish Fuilin and Mauril himself was just a little too much for Thranduil. Berior does have some thinking to do, and he'll do it. Tureden--wow he is not making a good first impression. But I was in the library reading when I saw this review and I got quite a few glares for my loud laughter at the last line. I am still laughing. Legolas might just borrow that idea at some point. ;-) Thanks so much for the reviews. I appreciate them so much!

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List