Reviews (146)

Silent Planet · 23 July 2004 · Chapter 6: Rebuild II

Wow, this is wonderful. I certainly hope you update soon...and I hope you enjoy the Iliad more than I did...~shudder~ I find myself really disliking Gil-Galad (sp?)...but I did like hearing from Elrond. Funny, if they could have known then how they're lives would play out...

lwarren · 23 July 2004 · Chapter 6: Rebuild II

Thranduil Oropherion! You have a predisposition for violence... OOOOOHHHH yeah, a fight! And a good one, too. That smart mouth who Thranduil fought was the same jerk that threatened his sister before, isn't he? The name is spelled a little differently, but he seems familiar...and awful, as usual. I liked Anarion, and felt so sorry for all he's been through...actually for all of them and what they have suffered during the kin-slayings. It was a horrible time, yet Oropher and his family has survived, and I think Anarion will find it quite interesting to be a part of that family...and he's lucky to have found a friend like Thranduil who recognizes what he's going through and can offer a little comfort...a little comic relief... a little fighting....whatever!!! :-) So glad you updated this...will keep an eye out for future chapters...I think it is a CRIME that fanfic 101 is not offered in school, don't you? linda

Anonymous · 13 July 2004 · Chapter 6: Rebuild II

Classic! Classic! I laughed all the way through this. I *love* your characters. I cannot tell you how happy I am that you decided to write a little more of this now that I Return is done even though you are doing your work for school too. Keep it up as much as you can. Trust me--I taught freshman honors english for ten years (I bet that's what you're reading the Iliad for, isn't it) and you are going to be way ahead of the game with regards to the writing quality of the other students. Even in honors classes. Love this chapter!!

Ms. Whatsit · 13 July 2004 · Chapter 6: Rebuild II

Thranduil does have a "predisposition to violence," but it makes for entertaining reading, so I won't scold him too hard. I like your portrayal of Oropher's house. It seems to be a motley crew, but a friendly one for the most part. Interesting how you have the Noldor using Quenya again after Thingol's death. In the Appendices it does say that Quenya pretty much fell into disuse after so many years of being forbidden, but it stands to reason that the Noldor would slip back into it when they were drunk. "Goldilocks." "Beautiful, big green eyes." Eep. Alkarinwe's a bit too bold for his own good, there. Anarion's stuck between a rock and a hard place, isn't he, especially since he's of mixed parentage. I admit, I'd be nervous about joining Oropher's household! Oropher's a bit scary even though he's good at heart.

Anonymous · 6 July 2004 · Chapter 5: Rebuild

I read in the reviews of I Return that you have less time because of college. I certainly understand that but I hope when you finish I Return you will find some time to slowly update this story. I really love it and its very original.

Anonymous · 18 May 2004 · Chapter 4: Rise IV

Take your hands from her," Thranduil insisted, his voice fallen to a chilling growl, low and even, as he deftly hitched up his dagger at his belt, "ere I take your hands from you." What a line! Love it!

Anonymous · 18 May 2004 · Chapter 5: Rebuild

I love seeing the early part of Thranduil's relationship with Elrond. I think the characterization fits perfectly as a backstory for the few things we know in cannon about Thranduil and Oropher's relationship with the other elves. I particularly loved the Sindarin/Noldorin language contrast. Very cannon and very meaningful.

Ms. Whatsit · 18 May 2004 · Chapter 5: Rebuild

That was an enlightening conversation--and I've never seen Elrond portrayed as *younger* than Thranduil, I don't think. I suppose Elrond became as powerful and highly-regarded as he did because he had no qualms about becoming the servant of the Noldor and from there rising within the ranks, unlike Thranduil. We get to see more of Thranduil's independent spirit, and I like how talking to Elrond spurs him into going back home and getting started on rebuilding. I also like Illuiniel. "Will someone like you lose heart over a little something like the end of the world? For shame." Heh. I think Thranduil needed to hear that.

lwarren · 10 May 2004 · Chapter 4: Rise IV

NOOOOOOOO! An evil cliffie - bad for the heart! And Alkarin....grrrrrr...that boy needs a good hiney-whippin' (trying to keep it clean, but he's such a slimeball, is hard to do!) Next time, do turn Thranduil lose...would be most interesting to see the mayhem he would inflict on that jerk! I felt really sad for Lindorien, but her brother seems very wise and insightful in his counsel to her. Just be patient (yeah right, easier said than done, and she's already been waiting for what? a couple of hundred years?). Ah well, we know she will prevail, just give the boy time to grow up!;) Great tension throughout this chapter - from the beginning with that so-and-so jerk to the finish with the build-up of that end-of-all-things storm! Cannot wait to see what happens next! linda

Esamen/Karen · 10 May 2004 · Chapter 4: Rise IV

Not only his head," Thranduil growled as his horse mounted the incline, a few wishful but delightfully morbid thoughts flitting across his mind. There would doubtless have been many other offending members of his loathsome carcass worthy of their ire. Too funny . . . And I love the dramatic tension of your story! Beautiful! Looking forward to more! This storm is fantastic.

Amaniel · 9 May 2004 · Chapter 4: Rise IV

AAAh!! You can't leave it like that!! Now you realize you HAVE to update as soon as possible! That was an abrupt ending, don't do that again! O_o That was definitely written extremely well if it left me in this kind of state. Once again you've managed to produce a profound effect on your readers. I know the next update will be just as amazing!

Ms. Whatsit · 9 May 2004 · Chapter 4: Rise IV

I want to see a feud between Alkarin and Thranduil--and I want to see Alkarin get thrashed! At least Lindoriel got in a good punch. And we got to see Thranduil To The Rescue :). It was brave of Lindoriel to tell him how she felt, though the poor girl got rejected--but since I know you're going to marry her off to him anyway, I won't feel too bad for her. Thranduil speaking Quenya was interesting--I always thought Thingol's edict was rather silly, myself. It would have been far more effective to, say, disallow terms like "Moriquendi" and come up with insulting official names for the Noldor. Anyway, this was a great chapter, and I hope you continue.

Amaniel · 5 May 2004 · Chapter 3: Rise III

I am enjoying the way you are portraying Oropher. He fits the image that I had created in my mind quite nicely. Of course you helped with that. :) I had not considered Oropher taking in all the orphans of the time, but it has some appeal. At first I didn't like the idea, but it kind of grows on you and seems to be right. I'm glad that I didn't have to wait several months to read this. It's turning out really well written.

Ms. Whatsit · 4 May 2004 · Chapter 3: Rise III

"He deserves better than a slave’s life, appointed someday a fair page to wait hand and foot upon some lordly Golodh." Ack! Indeed! I'm shuddering just imagining Thranduil in such a state! >_< This was an insightful glimpse into Oropher's marriage and his affection for Thranduil--it's totally possible that his son might have been one reason for him to strike out on his own. I also liked the description of what Oropher and Loriel and the other Sindar went through in Doriath's fall, and that chilling line about how Loriel finally completely believed that Orcs were corrupted Elves when the Kinslayings occurred. (Those Noldor...)

lwarren · 3 May 2004 · Chapter 2: Rise II

All right! An update! I was taking a peek to see if I Return had been updated and saw this instead - almost hurt myself getting here to read it ;)!!! This chapter had a little of everything - life changing announcements, Elven recipes, and lots of adopted children (Oropher may be a bit of an intimidating, belligerant elf, but his heart is definitely as big as Arda to take in all those orphaned children!). Galadhmir is the same as Aldamir, right? I liked the way Thranduil "found" himself again...I can hardly imagine him not looking everyone head-on. And I loved that line about not dwelling in the past forever. Very informative addition....moremoremore (*slaps self* :/ sorry!) linda (BTW, was this Linhir the father of Lorivana and have you written a story about Lorivana and Legolas? Judging from some other comments I've read, you might have. If so, where could I find it? If not, are you planning on it?) :)

Ms. Whatsit · 3 May 2004 · Chapter 2: Rise II

"A smile crept across his face at the rediscovery of what had once been only natural, as he was reunited with the other half of him as though with a dear friend he had unfortunately lost for a time." That whole part about Thranduil "rediscovering" himself was great. I love your characterization of him, and I especially love what you've done with Oropher--we know that he was a bit belligerent, but people like that are also often generous and loving though they like things their way. It's also nice to see some of the minor characters from "I Return." Is Linhir Lorivana's father, or am I imagining things?

Anonymous · 3 May 2004 · Chapter 2: Rise II

I'm so glad you picked this back up again. I love I Return and I am looking forward to seeing your early Thranduil and definitely Oropher.

lwarren · 22 April 2004 · Chapter 1: Rise

Well, I'm hooked!! I don't know too much about Oropher and only a little more about Thranduil, but this seems like a great way to discover how they made their way to the Greenwood. I especially liked the way you had Oropher extend his hand to pull Thranduil up...not just from the dock, but from that dark place he seemed sunk in. I know you said something about taking this story a LONG way -- and I say Hooray for longggg voyages! Count me in! I'll be eagerly watching for the next installment!

Ginger Rich · 8 April 2004 · Chapter 1: Rise

Beautiful chapter. The description of the dock and sea was amazing. I wanted to go there and sit around (and be lazy). Your Thranduil and Oropher are wonderfully written. I'm already a fan of the story. Keep it up.

mistry89 · 4 April 2004 · Chapter 1: Rise

"And as if to add insult to injury, and injury to the insult, the aggressors had perforce thrust their own shame upon him by their deeds. The felling of Orcs had been nothing to him, and his sword had been no virgin when they were assaulted that winter. But now he had profaned his own hands with the blood of Elves, placed impossibly between choosing the part of Kinslayer or Traitor. There was no guilt; their deaths were no fault of his. There was only numb regret, for, guilty or no, he was heir now to the same shadow." Makes beautiful sense to me - Thranduil had a long memory, not a black, greedy heart. "..in truth, watching his son languish in idleness had become one of his cardinal motivations to be gone from this place. As Melian had said, here was one spark of Elu’s fire, and he would not see it smothered." And Oropher, too, not led (only) by dreams of ruling rather than being ruled, but by his love for his son and for lost Doriath and those who are gone. Memory is truly a slice of immortality in the here-and-now. A fitting and right-feeling, right-sounding, glimpse of a pre-Last Alliance Thranduil (and Oropher - I *know* too little about him, yet). Thranduil has long been a favourite of mine (probably because I read The Hobbit far too young and became fascinated by the elves ). Thank you, seeing the formation of a new realm (if you are going to take it that far) will be fascinating.

Ms. Whatsit · 3 April 2004 · Chapter 1: Rise

I like your Oropher a lot. He, I think, is both neglected and misrepresented in fanfic, which is a shame because he is such an interesting character. Your take on his motivations and his relationship with Thranduil is intriguing, and it makes him out to be more than the belligerent hothead he usually is made out to be. You can see the ambition and the pride and also the love and goodwill that he has. I'm looking forward to reading more of this.