nat
· 18 June 2004
· Chapter 17: New Civilisations
he he he nice choice of lullabye...aww poor stinky little guy, though i know how the 3 caregivers felt...nothing smells quite like it ::gag::...nice update!
Author's reply
You get used to it when it is your baby - but I know from experience that changing someone else's kid can make you feel pretty nauseous.
I think they felt pretty impressed with themselves when the elfling settled down. Personally I would have suspected he wanted feeding - but they are not really equipped to deal with that!
Rose Sared
· 18 June 2004
· Chapter 17: New Civilisations
Well that cheered me up on a wet friday night. snerk. Funny how you can only think of dirty or at least dubious songs when called on in a pinch.
Thanks
Rose
Author's reply
Elladan is still fairly new to the job - and singularly lacking in experience of the yuckier sides of parenthood. After all, the Elrondions would have help in the house - and they would normally ensure the elfling was at his best. I think Miriwen might be a little strong-minded - she couldn't see any reason why adar shouldn't take charge.
Yes, dubious songs tend to pop into your head when you need something instantly - and these three have spent most of their adult lives in male company, so they probably know dubious better than most.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 16: New Life
Ai, poor Elladan, I know exactly how he feels - children are noisy, demanding, and malodorous. It describes my son (20 in July) perfectly! And Elladan wouldn't change a thing. I see Elrohir is already falling victim to the charms of his nephew.
I can't decide if Elrohir or Legolas would be more deserving of twin elflings - it must happen to one of them! Great chapter yet again!
Jay
Author's reply
Infants are enchanting - and little elflings could be even better. They usually win over the womenfolk first - but do the males really stand a chance against them!
You think twins are a necessity? Let me flick on a couple of episodes. I'll make a note of your suggestion. I think an elleth or two wouldn't come amiss myself.
And actually a belated sibling or uncle/aunt would be quite entertaining!
Elerrina
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 15: Signs
I get to marry Legolas! I get to marry Legolas! And I didn't even write the story *grin*
I've been lurking since this was still in separate parts, enjoying all the humour, but the shock of seeing someone named Elerrína described as the wife of Legolas was enough to make me shake myself and review :) I love all the events with which you have managed to occupy those three...seems Valinor isn't quite as boring as they feared ;) Your versions of the twins and their friendship with Legolas are great: I'm looking forward to seeing where this goes to!
Author's reply
Who is the lucky one! I hope it is as good in reality as in imagination.
I spent ages poring over lists of words trying to come up with suitable names -which is practically impossible. In fact, my initial thought was no-one beginning with E as there are already two of them - and then Elerrina came up as Quenya for star-crowned and it just seemed to have the right rhythm.
I think they still find some of life a bit tedious - there's not much action - but true lurve has distracted them rather.
It's not really going anywhere - simply meandering along. But it's fun to write.
Nilmandra
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 16: New Life
Elladan has an elfling. What is more perfect than that? And I am sure his complaints are completely exaggerated. But enough of these complaining males; I must go see and hold and talk to the baby....
Author's reply
Of course he's exaggerating - he will be crying out for attention and the only people with enough time to give it will be his old friends. The wives will be far too busy admiring the elfling. (Who needs a name. Any suggestions?) And isn't elfling just a gorgeous word?
daw the minstrel
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 16: New Life
Oh so this is so true to life. There is nothing like a baby to set everything at odds. And pregnancy, like marriage, does seem to be contagious. Elrohir is right about that. I predict a little nursery school full of elflings will soon put in an appearance.
Author's reply
Yes, one baby leads to lots of copycat infants. I can just picture them. And elflings is just such a lovely word! It sounds so sweet and ethereal and cute -can't imagine them being difficult and obnoxious and smelly and covered in mud.
At least it will give Elladan something to focus on for a while.
Rose Sared
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 16: New Life
Oh, I dunno, I kinda fancy Leggy with a pout. (Behave woman!) Lovely ch. again! Wouldn't it be nice if for once Legolas beats one of the twins to the punch in producing heirs tho - evil laugh.
Rose
Author's reply
A pout? On a grown elf? Makes me think of George IV (the Prince Regent) in his really fat days. I can think of other more interesting expressions! More elflings? You want to see E2L in a flock of them?
nat
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 16: New Life
eee a baby!!!! adorable!!! eeee!!
Author's reply
Yes - those elves will find it hard to get any attention for a while. Nothing is more irresistible than a baby. And a little elfling - with sweet little ears and dark fluffy hair. The big elves are going to feel so left out!
lwarren
· 16 June 2004
· Chapter 15: Signs
oooooooooh! You've created the same uneasy tension in your "Signs" that exists in the movie "Signs"....all hints and waiting - one elf looking at the other and asking, "Did she really say that?" Considering it was Celebrian and Galadriel, they have every reason to be nervous! :D Leave it to Elladan to drag the other two "where no elf has ever gone before" (at least these 3 *g*). I have been thoroughly enjoying these vignettes - or chapters? You have captured the moods of three of my favorite characters perfectly as they adjust, not only to life in a new land totally different from what they've grown up in, but also to that wonderful, bewitching, and bothersome state known as LOVE! It couldn't happen to three nicer elves! LOL
linda
Author's reply
They are a naive bunch in some ways - if it doesn't come with a large sword, threatening their lives, they don't really understand. I think they are a bit lacking in comprehension when it comes to feminine subtleties - and it makes them nervous.
But they have each other - in a Musketeer way. It's good to have friends you can count on to be there for you.
Nilmandra
· 16 June 2004
· Chapter 15: Signs
I like that you have feisty Celebrian too. I think these overgrown elflings better watch out - Naneth and Daernaneth are very clever and will have fun at their expense - and now they have daughter-in-law's to help!
I'm actually pitying LE2 :D
Author's reply
Clever indeed - I quite like the idea of them having daughters-in-law to play with. On the whole LOTR is overly short on females - (except in family trees).
They don't know what they are letting themselves in for here . . . but they will soon discover!
Nilmandra
· 16 June 2004
· Chapter 14: Arboriculture
oh, nonsense, Bodkin, now you've dumped a plot bunny in my lap....Elrond courting Celebrian. I intended to touch only very briefly on their first meeting and now you've got me seeing Elrond hanging from a tree with Celebrian giggling at him and Celeborn standing at the bottom rating his climbing :D
Author's reply
I like to picture the trees joining in the joke!
It would take a very brave and determined elf to stand up to Celeborn the devoted father and refuse to wilt under the amused gaze of Galadriel!
Just as well it was Elrond really - I can't imagine many having the nerve. Although as he is pretty much their equal, I can see the parental testing being slightly less careful. It would be entertaining to watch - but I wouldn't want to have been Elrond!
Jay of Lasgalen
· 15 June 2004
· Chapter 15: Signs
Trust Elladan to still be seeking for something more! The other two seem far more content - and I love Elrohir's words about knowing they'll be together for always. Elladan's right, he *is* a romantic!
Celebrian and Galadriel are plotting together? That sounds Very Bad for Elladan - and, by default, for the others as well.
Jay
Author's reply
Elladan strikes me as more restless than Elrohir - it's not that he's not happy, but he just wants to be in the middle of something.
And Elladan is right to be nervous.
daw the minstrel
· 15 June 2004
· Chapter 15: Signs
LOL! I love the idea of Celebrian and Galadriel simply smiling at future trouble for these three. You've shown three distinct characters for them, which is nice given how few words you use.
Author's reply
It would make me feel pretty nervous if Galadriel offered one of those enigmatic 'I am gifted with foresight' smiles. As would unexplained laughter -sends shivers down your spine!
Rose Sared
· 15 June 2004
· Chapter 15: Signs
Ah yes, want adventure, a challenge to stretch even the bravest of souls, to push you five inches past what you thought was the end of your patience - folks, I give you - parenthood. Ta dA.
smirk
Ha ha aha a aha a.
demented laugh trails off stage left
Rose
Author's reply
At last - a challenge for Elladan that could leave Elrohir and Legolas smirking in the sidelines!
I share naneth's laughter and daernaneth's knowing look.
Molly
· 14 June 2004
· Chapter 14: Arboriculture
I started out liking this story, but this chapter disturbed me. Up until a point it was OK not to name any of the wives, but reading a chapter with the three couples and having only the men speak was disconcerting. The women are integral to the story and having them be defined in relation to their husbands, making them silent while their husbands speak, makes them seem childlike. I realize it's not always easy to come up with names for original characters, but these women need names and voices as soon as possible to give them more depth.
Author's reply
This snippet actually squeezed its way in between two already completed, simply so they could all have a moment together. The women are integral, in that they are a major part of the lives of E2L, but the focus is very much male-centred. It is becoming difficult to have them unnamed - and that might change, but the women are not likely to have much of a physical presence in future episodes. This is really the elves meeting up when their loved ones are elsewhere and spending a bit of quality male-bonding time together.
Maybe the wives deserve a spin-off of their own.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 14 June 2004
· Chapter 14: Arboriculture
Yet another great insight into the lives of my favourite elves. I like how content and at ease they all are with their wives - though I think you're going to have to give them names or let them speak soon.
As for elflings, there will have to be at least one set of twins! If it is E or E it will be poetic justice, and if Legolas becomes the proud and shocked father of twin elflings, I can just imagine the hilarity from Elladan and Elrohir!
Jay
Author's reply
The names might make life easier, but, as far as speaking is concerned - I think they are more likely to have a less immediate physical presence, while our heroes meet up rather more as a lads' night out.
Elflings - what an opportunity for them to get themselves into trouble!
Rose Sared
· 14 June 2004
· Chapter 14: Arboriculture
How relaxed. How uxurious (always wanted to use that word. hah) Keep 'em coming.
Rose
Author's reply
Nothing like a bit of fun among trees. Three happy elves: three happy ellyth. (Not exactly ellyth any more, but I don't know if there is a special word for grown up female elves with happy spouses.)
daw the minstrel
· 14 June 2004
· Chapter 14: Arboriculture
What a bunch of happy, nuzzling elves! I think they all need to get rooms! Or tents. Or caves. Or something.
The idea of anyone defying a united Thranduil and Galadriel is just too absurd.
Author's reply
No-one in their right mind would take the chance - one on their own is dangerous to the nth degree. If and when they combine - nations would cower.
Nuzzling elves - what a picture. It's that point when you and your friends have all just got into grown-up things like marriage and houses and you are all playing at being adults, whilst inside you are just kids, who are now licensed to do all those things your parents told you that you never should.
Just a moment of pure frivolous happiness.
daw the minstrel
· 14 June 2004
· Chapter 13: Uneasy Alliance
How sweet. I loved Legolas's comment about how in the twins alone he had all that mixed blood.
Valinor must have been quite a melting pot really.
Author's reply
I was drawing family trees and trying to work out percentages one day - the twins are pretty mixed. But then Galadriel herself is more non-Noldor than Noldor.
I can see the in-laws holding themselves aloof and saying the Valinor equivalent of 'We don't want Irish / Puerto Rican / Caribbean / Asian / French or whatever in this family, thank you very much. We can trace our ancestry back to Alexander the Great', as they looked down their noses at the rabble from Middle Earth.
They'll get over it. In time. Lots of time.
Rose Sared
· 13 June 2004
· Chapter 13: Uneasy Alliance
AWWW, sniffs and dabs at her eye. I love a wedding. Thanks. Yummy. Rose
Author's reply
That's OK. It came out quite short, (well, they all do, that's part of the point, but this was even shorter), because flippancy just didn't seem to go with the look in their eyes.
Rose Sared
· 13 June 2004
· Chapter 12: Making Whoopee
Oy,oy,oy,yeah, the blondie got his girl! Yippee. I know I am a softy but good on ya! Now I am going to have to go research all that awful family of hers , crawls off ashamed of the paucity of her Silm and early elf knowledge.
Rose
Author's reply
Don't say it too loud, but the girl was invented without family and they were sort of attached later. I don't know much about all the early stuff either - or come to that, a lot of the later stuff. I have, in an entirely evasive way, without actually committing myself to anything that could be proved wrong, decided that she is connected to the sons of Feanor through their mother Nerdanel, the daughter of Mahtan the smith, (which ties in with chestnut hair and copper highlights). I haven't found that Mahtan had any other children, but he could have done, couldn't he? Or maybe Nerdanel's mother, (unknown) had siblings.
Legolas had to get his girl in the end. He couldn't be left all lonely, while the twins set up happy homes. He's taken a long time to get round to matrimony, but I think it will suit him.
Jules
· 13 June 2004
· Chapter 12: Making Whoopee
"although I have been informed that they will expect visits that are regular, prolonged and, preferably, solitary."
Wow Legolas really is getting monster-in-laws. At least Thranduil backed down when he saw close up how much she loved his son. Even after he saved the elfling her parents still think he's not good enough. It was once again proves Sindar and Silvan Elves are better than Nolder.
If I were Legolas, I would want the =visits to remain solitary even after there are elflings. I wouldn't send my children on long visits with people who would disrepect me, my father and kin. At leat Legolas' beloved sounds like she wants to be with him.
I understand the compromise for the wedding but I hope Legolas is Elf enough to insist him and Thranduil dress and the Sindar/Silvan Elves they are. Being Woold Elves is such a part of who they are, I would hate to prejudice take that away.
Thanks for writng
Jule
Author's reply
They might soften in time - Galadriel could be the best person to get them to back off a bit, since she possesses Noldor clout. And they have yet to see Legolas and their daughter as a couple - if she is clearly happy, it will start to put their minds at rest. Elflings might help bring about a rapprochement, too. We will see. Probably.
The Wood Elves are rather like immigrants as far as the long-term residents of Valinor are concerned - they are not at all sure about people bringing their own customs and traditions and worry that it might detract from what they have. Prejudice - a sad fact of life.
Nilmandra
· 13 June 2004
· Chapter 13: Uneasy Alliance
Absolutely LOL at the comparisons to the Black Gate! Really, how odd must it be for the greatest of the elves who stood against evil to be looked at as lesser in the land where evil has only tainted it a few times? We think of L and E2 as princes beyond measure, and yet they must seem as cretins to the high princes of Valinor!
Yet, my opinion of Galadreil, who frankly I like, just rose further. I am tickled she stood with Legolas's side of the family. Go Galadriel! Woohoo!
The elflings are all married.
When will they have their own elflings?
Author's reply
Odd, isn't it. It has me thinking a lot about immigrants and setting up in a new land - going from ruling tracts of land and numerous people to not even knowing your way to the market; from having automatic respect, to being unknown and subject to alien leaders. I think they need to head off West, like the pioneers of old and establish their own lands independent of princes of Valinor - and, actually, Galadriel as the daughter of Finarfin is probably in the best position to facilitate that. Thranduil might have to be grateful to her yet.
I like Galadriel - she was playing politics in a man's (or elf's) world, and you have to be tougher than the tough to do that, but I still think she maintained her compassion and her love for her family. Plus, here - she had been away from Valinor for 7,000 years or so - deeply involved in the events of Middle Earth - wouldn't she have more respect for Thranduil, who held Lasgalen, and Legolas, who was one of the Nine Walkers, than for a bunch of Noldor who had nothing better to do than stick their noses in the air?
Elflings? Maybe. Who do think should go first? Any twins, do you reckon?
Jay of Lasgalen
· 13 June 2004
· Chapter 13: Uneasy Alliance
All three are now safely wed, though Legolas's in-laws still don't seem thrilled by the 'upstart Moriquendi prince'. I loved that description! And the reference to the twins' rather mixed blood.
What's next? Elflings?
Jay
Author's reply
Well . . . Do you think they are mature enough to become fathers?
What am I saying - are men ever mature enough to become fathers! (Which, I acknowledge is a wicked generalisation perpetrated on a group of people who think sport is of vital importance in the world.)
I don't believe the sons of Elrons have Silvan Elf in the mix, do they? But they do have Maia. (I love the bit in History Lessons when they say they are related to everybody - it just about covers it!)
Any bets on twins?
Elena Tiriel
· 12 June 2004
· Chapter 12: Making Whoopee
Oh, Bodkin, these last two chapters are great! Such political intrigue! Such strategizing! Such support among friends, ellyn and elleth!
I am really enjoying reading this story!
- Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you. It is such fun to play with them under happy circumstances. But they wouldn't be them if everything was going to be a breeze, would they?
I hope you keep enjoying it - it seems to be something that could keep going for ever! I thought there was only the first part - but then the second came, and the third . . .
Now it's got the the point where there are spin-offs. Quite mad.