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| When Shadow Touches Home by daw the minstrel | 105 Review(s) |
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| Red Squirrel | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 12/20/2013 |
| Eilian's behavior just radiates pain. He is out of control fueled by grief. I feel bad for the poor Elf. Of course he wants vengeance for the slaying of this mother. Then he and Ithilden get into it and now he has to go home and face the music to the king....that is not going to be pleasant. Also, I don't think Ithilden should have had the body guard stay in the patrol...it seems dangerous for Eilian to travel home with only Gelmir as a companion (sorry, Gelmir) and I think I remember from a couple of the previous stories I read from you that the body guards answer directly to the king. If that is true Thranduil is going to be really, really mad. PS Did you see the Desolation of Smaug yet? I always thought Thranduil as a bit arrogant, over opinionated, and somewhat of a jerk, all of which I have found rather endearing but it was overplayed in the movie and his condescending attitude toward Silvan Elves I simply do not think he would have been like that! But I think Lee Pace did a pretty good job and he looked about how I pictured Thranduil from all the reading I have done over the years. Author Reply: It turns out Thranduil agrees with you about Maltanaur! Ithilden is having his own hard time. I haven't seen Desolation of Smaug yet. We're planning to go on Christmas Day. I'm so excited to see it. I'd heard that Thranduil was portrayed as kind of a jerk, which annoys me. It's like the portrayal of Elrond in LOTR. In Tolkien, he's "kind as summer" but you couldn't have told that from the movie. Oh well. PJ has given us so much that I hate to criticize. I intend to enjoy it big time. :-) | |
| endorearwen | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 7/30/2013 |
| Angst indeed! What a gripping story, Daw! There was so much struggle in these he-elves as they slowly resigned themselves to the permanency of their mother's loss. Then, in the end when it had slowly and necessarily come to pass, I felt such sorrow for them! The amazing way in which you illustrated Eilian's personal growth, the revelation of Legolas' innocent self-recriminations, and Thranduil's calm acceptance of all the changes he is left to manage alone - all so very eloquently and touchingly written! One could not help but feel the need in this all male household of that tender insight that a woman's presence lends to such a family... I find myself drawn to Ithilden the most and would love to steal the use of him from you for a story line that getting to know him better has inspired! Behind the leader you have created, there is a vulnerable side that I hope to see more of as I move to the next story in the list! I cannot wait to see what happens next to this Royal Family! :-) PS - the reviews are honest and I'm glad that you have received as much pleasure from reading my thoughts as I have received from reading yours!! Author Reply: This family lost a lot when Lorellin died. They get better but the effects are long lasting. Ithilden keeps his vulnerability hidden or tries to. I think of him as having a great need for control, and he doesn't live in a very controllable world. But he keeps at it. You have to admire the guy. I love having someone new come along and enjoy these stories. Thank you for telling me. daw | |
| Red Squirrel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 7/24/2013 |
| Can I just say that I like these good Ada Thranduil stories? So sad for Legolas to lose the most important person in his life! Plus his Ada has a very demanding job that takes up alot of his time so he must feel so lost. Poor little guy. And poor Thranduil left alone in all this mess. The details of Lorellin's death are horrible. I think if I were Thranduil I would, even in the depth of my grief, still be a bit angry at her for not waiting for the escort. The consequences of her riding out are devestating. But it does seem like something she would do. Her family is clearly devestated and is struggling to pick of the pieces of their live and go forward. Author Reply: If I were Thranduil, I'd definitely be angry once in a while. When my son was little, I didn't feel I had the right to put myself in risky situations. He needed me too much. But that's Lorellin. She and Eilian are much alike, which is one source of trouble between Eilian and his father. | |
| Magicfeather | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 3/29/2008 |
| I have probably read all your stories at least twice over, but it's only just occurred to me that I have never left a review :P I think it's just one of those things I keep intending to do, but by the time I get to the end of a chapter, I skip it in order to read the next one! I am absolutely in love with this series; your characters are so real, that I keep forgetting that they're not canon. By the time I had read the first few of stories, they already seemed like old friends, especially Legolas' family and his wonderful brothers - you have a real gift at creating flawed yet admirable characters, that you can't help falling in love with. Though I have to admit, when you killed off Sinnarn in 'Spring of Joy' I was weeping; he was my favourite character! I haven't felt that bad since my dog died, but I suppose that is just a sign of how brilliant your writing is. I also adore your protrayal of canon characters, especially Legolas and Thranduil. Your Thranduil is not only very kingly and impressive, but you make him into such a loving father as well! Although I must admit, Thranduil has made me laugh hysterically at times when I suspect you intended to be quite serious! When Ithilden is talking to Thranduil about why Legolas wants a sword, Thranduil's line 'But that doesn't make any sense' had me laughing for five minutes straight - I love how you make him so shrewd as a king and a competent warrior, but so clueless when it comes to the inner workings of a child's mind! Although, I suppose that could just be a sign of his age; it's been so long since he was a child, I suppose it really doesn't make sense to him anymore. Anyway, I will stop here as the length of this review is getting out of hand - my own fault for waiting so long :( I hope you continue with this series, as it has giving me many hours of enjoyment and has a firm place at the top end of my Favourites list! Thank you very much for what you have already written and for whatever you will write next! Author Reply: I was dragging tonight, Magicfeather, and your review came and made me feel better. You know, I'd always thought of Sinnarn as a minor character. And then I killed him. Oh man, did I get a response on that one. Plus I felt bad for days. Fortunately, Bodkin felt so bad that she asked me if she could write a story in which he's reincarnated in Valinor and I jumped right on it. It's on this site under Bodkin's name, of course. It's called "In the West." It'll make you happier about Sinnarn, I think. I know it did me. When I first started writing about Thranduil, there was a fad in LOTR fanfic to show him as an abusive father, which seemed silly to me. First, he's an elf. But beyond that, the Legolas we see in LOTR didn't look to me to be the child an abusive parent. So I wanted Thranduil to be a good father. But I'm a parent and I know that even good ones fail to understand their kids sometimes, and Thranduil was just not in sync with little Legolas! LOL. Thank you for taking the time to tell me you're enjoying the stories, Magicfeather. I needed that. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/19/2005 |
| I think thier father is harsh on his Middle son, he dosen't want to listen as he talks about what Legolas needs... Author Reply: Thranduil has trouble with Eilian. The two of them just seem to rub one another the wrong way, and it's very painful for both of them but especially for Eilian, I think. He's less sure of himself than he looks. He needs reassurance and love, and I think that's one reason his relationship with Legolas is so good for him. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/19/2005 |
| I feel Eilian, he wants to fight, but his brother dosen't see his side of it...kinda stuck in the middle of it all... Author Reply: Eilian is temporarily a little deranged. In his desire for vengeance, he doesn't have good control over himself and that can be dangerous. And Ithilden has already lost his mother so he's taking no chances! But I feel for Eilian too. | |
| Mirkwoodmaiden | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/28/2005 |
| Daw! I so enjoy reading your stories. I thought the moment when Thranduil takes Legolas in his lap and feeds him the meat pie. I don't remember if that was this chapter or the first one, but I really loved that moment. You could really sense Thranduil's pain, both his own and the fact it upsets and worries him that Legolas is so upset. Your deft handling of the subtle signs of grief in the entire family is a joy to read. I really felt for poor little Legolas when he was absentmindedly eating from Thranduil's hand. The connection between Thranduil and Legolas simply jumps off the page. I like the way Eilan chooses to display his grief in a different and entirely believable way, risk-taking. Your characters display such complex emotions and you delinate the characters and their grief with great skills. MM Author Reply: Thank you for your comments here. I wrote this story a while ago, but I'm still pretty fond of it. You're a writer. You know how it is. :-) One of the things I've thought of about writing this story is how hard it is to write children well. I don't know why people think that stories about children are simple. And I have to admit that I love my own OCs shamelessly. You know how THAT is too! | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 11 on 11/28/2004 |
| That was touching that Thranduil begins to feel Lorellin's presence again while in the middle of a loving moment with Legolas. And thank goodness Eilian got a hug out of his ada! Two, even! That's what he needed! Too bad it took the situation with Celuwen to wake Thranduil up and make him realize the kid was hurting. Poor Eilian. Too old to be comforted and too young to be taken seriously. Well, I've taken up just about enough of your attention while you are fielding reviews for "Good Neighbors" so I guess I'll go jump on that bandwagon next... Author Reply: Eilian needs to be loved. Fortunately there are volunteers! | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 11/28/2004 |
| Gelmir is a fun sidekick. So Eilian has one previous success in winning an argument with Ithilden, eh? His shock at Ithilden giving in and his quip about Arda ending were cute, too. It's good to see Ithilden and Eilian getting along better. Eilian will get to go back to the Southern Patrol where he belongs and everyone is happy. So just when we have that unpleasantness wrapped up, here comes Solith! Oh, good grief. I have to say, based on Solith's recollection of Eilian's youthful misdeeds I wouldnt' let Eilian marry my daughter, either. Eilians' reaction to Solith's question about whether he was ready to give up being a warrior and take up macrame and medicinal marijuana cultivation was lovely. Yeah, it never occurs to him he'll have to make any sacrifices! That'll be a long time coming. Author Reply: I think my characterization of Ithilden has suffered because I haven't given him a friend like Gelmir or Annael. So we don't see him outside of his role as much until he marries Alfirin. Solith certainly knows how to spoil a party! Poor Eilian. But he is really pretty unrealistic. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 11/28/2004 |
| Legolas considered this. “What if you are busy being king?” Thranduil hesitated. He tried to be as honest with his children as he expected them to be with him. “Sometimes then, you will have to wait. But I think that sometimes I will have to tell my advisors that I am busy being Ada.” Aww. That's sweet. Thranduil seems to be catching on, and restraining himself from putting Eilian down for once! His comment about never seeing anyone so happy to have something to swing a scimitar at was funny. And Eilian is a remarkably forgiving type. He's just so happy to be allowed on the mission, and it's not really in his nature to sulk, I think. His natural state of being is happiness. I have to check to see if this is the last chapter... Author Reply: Two more actually. I think you're right. Eilian's natural state of being is happiness. He's optimistic and generous and loving. But he's just a bad match for his father and his mother is dead. | |