elliska
· 5 February 2005
· Chapter 36: Scorched Earth
Somehow I missed this posting. Haven't checked my email in a few days. I liked this one, Jay. I can really visualize it because right after I moved into my house, forest fires burned most of the land around us (not the house, thankfully) and I was absolutely amazed at how, within weeks, little green patches started showing up everywhere. It was very touching, just as you portrayed. And if I felt it after living in my house a month, imagine how Thranduil would feel after two ages in his forest. Great job.
Author's reply
I've no experience of forest fires, fortunately, but have heard that the forests rejuvenate on their own.
I like to imagine the mighty Elvenking getting his hands dirty in replanting, but also think how jubilant he must have felt to see things growing without his help.
daw the minstrel
· 4 February 2005
· Chapter 36: Scorched Earth
Nice drabble, Jay. And very apt. I'm told that forest fires can nourish the earth, but what heartbreak they must bring for elves, especially this one that probably holds some pretty grim memories.
Author's reply
Tolkien's words, 'there was great ruin of fire,' says so much and yet so little. How did it affect the wood-elves? How did they start to rebuild? How did Thranduil and Legolas feel to see their realm so devastated?
I wanted there to be a sign of hope for the future for poor Thranduil here.
elliska
· 13 January 2005
· Chapter 35: Time To Depart
Yes, this would be a very bitter-sweet departure. Going to join their mother and father and leaving their sister and foster brother behind until the ends of Arda. Unthinkable. Well done. I am always amazed at how much you fit in a short drabble.
Author's reply
While I knew this would be a sad departure - the twins would not leave until Aragorn and Arwen had died - I thought of all the reasons they had to sail. They would see their mother again, and their father, and would never have to face the terrible choice of Elrond and Elros.
I'm glad that you liked this.
Bodkin
· 13 January 2005
· Chapter 35: Time To Depart
There is so much sadness involved in being an elf. It's no wonder that most stay remote from the mortal world. But I'm glad they went. And so will their naneth be - and their adar.
Author's reply
I'm certain that they sailed in the end; I don't want to think of the twins dying as mortals.
I wonder if you realised that the reference to 'a new land to explore' was influenced by 'Reflections' and 'Far Horizons'?
Isil Elensar
· 9 January 2005
· Chapter 34: Great Minds Think Alike
Thank you so much, Jay! I absolutely love the fact that the twins were giving each other twin daggers as well!
Love it! Thank you!
Isil
Author's reply
However much the twins like to prove that they are different, thank you very much, they choose the same gift for one another, and the same hiding place!
I'm glad you liked this.
Bodkin
· 9 January 2005
· Chapter 34: Great Minds Think Alike
I'll bet they both chose to give what they would really want to receive - so the outcome is perfect! I wonder if they have just become old enough for Adar and Naneth to permit the possession of Sharp Objects when not on the training fields. The twins know each other so well and are very alike - and also so different.
Author's reply
I like exploring those similarities and differences when I write about the twins - and you're right, they know what each other would like because they'd like it themselves. And don't worry, I'm sure their parents know exactly what was given!
Lianna
· 8 January 2005
· Chapter 34: Great Minds Think Alike
Oh, how cute. They chose the same gift and the same hiding place.
I do have one issue with this drabble, though. Would a 30-year-old elf really be old enough to be trusted with a knife?
Author's reply
I've worked out that a 30-year-old elf would be our equivalent of 12 (using LACE's coming-of-age at 50). Think of it as a penknife, perhaps - but I think that in a warrior culture, they would indeed be old enough. Anyway, I'm glad you liked this!
elliska
· 5 January 2005
· Chapter 33: The Wood Of Greenleaves
Lovely little view of Thranduil and Celeborn's meeting. I always wished we could have seen more of that in canon so thanks for the peak. Love these drabbles. They are so much fun.
Author's reply
Whether or not they didn't get on, I'm certain Thranduil was glad to see him here!
This meeting is just one of the things I wish Tolkien had told us more about.
Lianna
· 1 January 2005
· Chapter 33: The Wood Of Greenleaves
A good drabble for New Year's Day. It reminded me that even on the happiest such days, there are still shadows -- such as the destruction of so much of Thranduil's forest. I guess the opposite is also true. Even on a mostly sad New Year's Day such as today, when thoughts of the tsunami have put a damper on celebrations, there are still things to rejoice about.
Best wishes for the New Year, Jay.
Author's reply
There's sadness and joy here. For Thranduil, there is now hope for the future, but sorrow over that lost. For us, there is sadness, but hope for humanity in the way people have responded.
Bodkin
· 1 January 2005
· Chapter 33: The Wood Of Greenleaves
That must have been a wondrous piece of news to receive - and the giving of it enough to increase his liking for Galadriel by several hundred per cent. I like the change of name; it is such a moment of hope and a looking forward. Bit like New Year, I suppose. Happy New Year, Jay.
Author's reply
I liked Celeborn's greeting here - it was the one thing above all that Thranduil needed to hear, and he truly has reason to hope.
In my stories, Thranduil has stubbornly continued to call his realm Lasgalen when everyone else says Mirkwood. Now all will use its new name.
Kitty
· 23 December 2004
· Chapter 32: Mid-Winter Magic
*smile*
Christmas or Mid-winter, human child or elfling, they aren't so different at all, aren't they? A nice tree and maybe some gifts are enough to be happy.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Author's reply
I think young ones are the same everywhere. And nearly all cultures celebrate some form of mid-winter festival, whether it's Christian or not.
Thanks for the review!
Bodkin
· 23 December 2004
· Chapter 32: Mid-Winter Magic
Parents everywhere like to create a mystery for their little ones. I love the decorated trees - and the elflings trying to stay awake to see. And, of course, once they are old enough to stay awake, they become complicit in perpetuating the mystery for the younger ones.
I hope they don't have horrible elflings who tell the little ones that it's just the adults.
Author's reply
What do you mean, it's just the adults? No one knows who puts the gifts on the trees! ;)
I'm sure elflings wouldn't be so mean - like human children, they feel so superior in knowing and keeping the secret!
danae
· 22 December 2004
· Chapter 30: Hannon Le
I love that this could be between any two people(or rather beings) that you wished. I definitely wasn't thinking Legolas and Aragorn until you said it.
Author's reply
I don't usually write Legolas and Aragorn friendship, but this was a thank you drabble. As you say, it could be anyone!
There really are not enough Elrond and Celebrian moments out there. Thank you for this.
Author's reply
Thank you. This seems sad to me, knowing what was to happen to her, but someone pointd out that it could be in Valinor after they were reunited.
Eruvyweth
· 22 December 2004
· Chapter 32: Mid-Winter Magic
Ohhhhhhh. So sweet. But somehow I'm getting these weird visions in my head of Elrond in a Santa suit...
Author's reply
Santa Elrond? Or better still, Santa Thranduil! I can just see them, sneaking around at midnight hanging treats on the trees, hoping that young eyes do not see them. LOL!
lwarren
· 22 December 2004
· Chapter 32: Mid-Winter Magic
I love it! I want a tree like that...decorated by an elf! LOL Better yet, I'll decorate the elf! (uh, sorry...looooonnnng last day with many third graders...need elf comfort!) Seriously, what a wonderful idea, Jay! In just a few words you have caught the magic of the season! Thank you for sharing your vision of mid-winter magic in Lasgalen. (And if you celebrate, I hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!)
linda
Author's reply
Eek! You break up today? That's too close to Christmas! How does your school celebrate? We always have a Nativity play, with pint-sized Marys, Josephs, shepherds and angels. It's the best part.
While I celebrate Christmas, I don't think the Elves would, hence the mid winter theme instead.
Merry Christmas to you, and thanks for the review!
Jay
elliska
· 16 December 2004
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
LOL. I can see the twins saying that in unison in dramatic voices. I like the references to trolls and raging rivers. Very nicely done.
Author's reply
Well, when Legolas and the twins get together, trouble usually follows! The change must seem quite odd to all of them.
Bodkin
· 15 December 2004
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
So funny. How could they possibly cope in the absence of life-threatening adventure? They are such adrenaline junkies - I wouldn't be surprised to find they invented extreme sports. Bungee jumping, base jumping and so on - all substitutes for orcs and wargs and dragons. And trolls, of course.
Author's reply
I realised on re-reading this that it's quite similar to the early chapters of 'Reflections', although it's set much earlier. Adrenaline junkies? I don't know - they don't usually go looking for trouble (though there are exceptions) - it just finds them.
That reminds me, there's a new chapter of 'Reflections' to read! Perhaps your E2L could try something like that - though with Nimloth around, Elrohir doesn't need any more adrenaline!
Karri
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
LOL! Very good. That would be quite the boring adventure, wouldn't it?
Author's reply
It has been boring so far. Of course, Legolas says they're nearly home ... maybe there's still time?
LKK
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
ROFL! The poor elves. Life might be boring, but your drabble isn't. I'm grinning from ear to ear at my birthday gift. This was delightful Jay. Thank you so very much! :)
LKK
Author's reply
Glad you liked it,LKK. Happy Birthday for Friday! I can picture your grin - I remember how I felt the first time someone did me a birthday drabble - I was thrilled!
lwarren
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
On second thought, perhaps one very important ingredient was missing, thus the safe trip....a rather generous helping of Dunedan (which always seemed to serve as a catalyst for interesting events!) :-)
lw
Author's reply
I didn't have a time scale in mind here, so perhaps it's BE (before Estel). However, in most of my stories, Legoas and the twins are quite able to find trouble without him!
Thanks again for the reviews.
lwarren
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 31: An Uneventful Journey
Yes indeed, it is hard to believe that those guys could be together for a month and not be returning home in pieces! LOL Nice little appetizer, Jay....hinthinthint! :-)
linda
Author's reply
No! No more plot bunnies! This was just a happy friendship drabble, and like the previous one, a lot of fun to write.
lwarren
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 30: Hannon Le
My very first experience with LotR fanfiction was through the Mellon Chronicles and their Aragorn-Legolas yahoo group. (What a bunch! I miss them dearly!) This is a lovely thank you note to them, Jay. Tolkien never elaborated on the friendship between the elf and ranger...I think he knew somehow that the depth of it might come through to those who cared enough to look! You have written a very moving tribute to that friendship *sigh*. Hannon le!
linda
Author's reply
I always hated writing Thank You letters as a child - this was much more fun! I'm not convinced that such a friendship existed in canon, but what the heck, they're fun to read about.
Thanks for the review!
LKK
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 30: Hannon Le
A very nice Thank You note from Legolas to Aragorn and from you to CasSio. I wish I had been clever enough to think of sending something as lovely as this.
Author's reply
I'm glad you like this - I have something similar in mind for you as well. You have a birthday soon, I believe? ;)
Jay
LKK
· 14 December 2004
· Chapter 29: Temptation
Good one, Jay. The best part was how the Ring used Legolas's attempt to defend himself from its lure as the key to reaching inside Legolas's darker side. To banish its malice, I think of my home; the trees green and growing. Legolas thinks that the memory of his home will be his strength. Yet, it is his despair over his damaged home that gives the Ring the way to tempt him. Very astute of you. :)
Author's reply
I think Legolas's love for his home is both his strength and his weakness - and the ring exploits that, and also breeds a slight resentment over Thranduil's lack of an Elven ring.