Amdir's excitement was very amusing. It is nice to see enthusiasm among an otherwise jaded people. Calling Thranduil Legolas' Adar was a rookie mistake but he will figure it out eventually. It has to be harder for the Prince's friends to remember protocol than it is for others. Thorin must have had "you know whats" made of mithril rather than brass in order to stand up to the angry king. Hungry? Who would have guessed?
Legolas' thoughts of his Nana were very sweet. It is sad that he can't remember her. If he were smart he would have played that sympathy card with his father. It would be a while before he was yelled at again. He was smart enough to approach him with extreme caution. Being stonewalled by a dwarf is not the best way to spend your day. Maybe Legolas isn't such an errant elfling if his father would seal the doors. Trees? I knew Ithilden should have told his father of the plan. That will really set him off.
The Home Guard must be quite tired of hunting spiders by now. Yes, they must have enjoyed the excitement for a while. It was probably the most action that any of them had seen for a while. Rounding up the rest of the dwarves is a good idea. Legolas had had enough at this point so he was a bit short with the dwarves. He reminded me a lot of Haldir in Lothlorien when a strange band of wanderers strayed into those woods. Snickering at an elven prince is usually a bad, bad idea. The elves were much more concerned about poor helpless Bilbo than the dwarves were.
The scarlet hooded dwarf could use a lesson in diplomacy. He should be sent to a nearby colony during a flood. Your explanation of Thranduil's position was very logical and his reaction to the entire situation more than fair. The dwarves were lucky to get off as lightly as they did. I think Sinnarn is going to regret volunteering for that particular task! ;-)
Author's reply
You have to admire those Dwarves. Thranduil is scary, but they just don't bend. They are rock like. I'd want them on my side, I think.
I think that Thranduil's role as king must really affect his relationship to his children, especially since they're in the family business, so to speak. He has absolute power over them in a way that most adults' parents do not, and I think that has to make it harder for them to feel fully adult. Ithilden seems to have done it, and Eilian is close, especially with Celuwen's help. But Legolas is still struggling. Indeed, that's part of what I'd like this story to be about.
Good comparison of Haldir and Legolas. I hadn't thought of that. Legolas is so sincere in his concern for Hobbit and is just horrified by what he sees as the Dwarves'hardheartedness.
Diplomatic Dwarves? I think that's in the same category as patient, diplomatic Thranduil. Not in this lifetime.
Tapetum Lucidum
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 7: Battles Near and Far
I got a cable modem installed today!!! Yay!!! They finally ran it through our neighborhood. All of the buttons on ff.net actually work now. How weird is that?
I kept cracking up every time I heard the elves use Hobbit for a name. I don't know why it seemed so funny but it did. It is good to see our young lieutenant using his warrior's skills appropriately. Annael is exceptionally good at woodcraft. The spiders' nest they found sounded huge. The speed with which it was built must have been frightening. Good job coordinating their attack. I like how the elves are so puzzled about the actions of the dwarves while it is clear to those of us who have read the dwarven perspective. Good job looking at it in new light. Legolas' concern for Hobbit is heartwarming.
Eilian is in his favorite spot - killing orcs. He is so good at, no wonder he loves it. I am sure it is very rewarding. I like how he is working so hard to protect the council. They are not exactly defenseless but it would be an embarrassment to have something happen to them. His reaction to the fall of the dark tower was great! He didn't know exactly what was going on but he knew it was big. Poor Gelmir! - at least he will be in the best hands possible.
So where did Sauron scurry off to. Nowhere good I am sure. Having Ithilden in command must have made Eilian's job easier. There is no one he trusts more, except maybe his Adar. If Celuwen is as feisty in bed as she is in the Great Hall Eilian's bed is indeed exciting.
Author's reply
I LOVE having a cable modem. It's so fast you just can't believe it. Congratulations!
I have to admit, I giggled every time I typed "Hobbit." There is something funny about it. There's something funny about the whole notion of Hobbit the Dwarf Child with the Negligent Parents actually. Legolas is just so sincere about it.
The expulsion of Sauron from Dol Guldur was one of the things I was worried about writing because I'm very practical and describing magic is a real challenge. Fortunately, I was in Eilian's head and he was busy and didn't see what the White Council was doing so I didn't have to be too explicit! I figure Eilian and Ithilden are probably very attuned to one another in a battle situation. They'd have an instinctive feel for one another that would help a lot.
Sauron went to Mordor. Nowhere good at all.
Dot
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Oh, daw! I LOVED this chapter! I’ve read ‘The Hobbit’ a couple of times over the years and thought I was pretty familiar with it but I’ve lost count the number of times you’ve made me sit back in amazement! I’m still grinning at Sinnarn being made the head guard (genius!) but I’m going to try to concentrate now and go back to the start…
Legolas must have been totally worn out by this stage. It sounds as though resources are becoming a little stretched looking for these spiders. I can’t even imagine the shock when the rest of the Home Guard heard about the size of the colony.
Amdir seems to be having great fun! And is mighty impressed by the extent of the king’s anger too… I love the way none of them can quite believe that the Dwarf defied the king. I’ve also realised that I’m beginning to take Thranduil’s side more and more. I got quite impatient with Legolas feeling sorry for the Dwarves. I don’t know why… I mean, they haven’t really done anything wrong as such and Mirkwood hasn’t been very kind to them so far. I just think Thranduil’s wrath is radiating from my computer screen and I can’t help but agree with him. My word, he is powerful! In fairness, though, it really shows great restraint and sensitivity by Legolas when he knows he is unfamiliar with Dwarves and is willing to see their side.
That scene between Legolas and Thranduil was wonderful. Poor Legolas really is doing his best to separate the roles he has to play. I like that he admires Ithilden so much but he has had much more experience of this than Legolas and from a younger age too – and even he still has moments of frustration. At least Thranduil realises that Legolas feels awkward and eases things somewhat. And so it’s *Legolas* who suggests that the Great Doors should be shut, eh?! I admit I had a little giggle at the thought of them being shut all the time and Thranduil having to be roused out of bed every time someone wanted to come or go! And yay, Thranduil agrees and once more Legolas looks some bit competent.
I was *wondering* why Thranduil kept looking at the trees. So he did sense something. It shows how attuned Legolas is to them too that he can sense it as well once he pauses to listen. Confused is about right. Those trees must not know what to make of things. Thranduil must be worried, though at any change at all. I imagine he might have got a clearer sense of what was happening if things hadn’t been so tense at home.
Todith’s report was frightening. Spiders that close? It’s interesting to think that around Dol Guldur they feel that the Shadow is lessening while the folk at home are battling more evil creatures than ever.
“Are the spiders still troubling my woods?” MY woods?! Sorry, I had to single that one out. I do love Thranduil’s possessiveness and utter disdain for anything that might threaten his home or his people.
The Dwarves do sound relieved to be finally captured. No more spiders or scary woods. Scary elf king, though. Bet they didn’t think of that.
LOL! Where’s Hobbit indeed. The reaction of the Dwarves was priceless. I had to bite my lip to stop laughing because Legolas and Annael are just so horrified that the Dwarves could be so uncaring. *snigger*
“The king sat on his carved chair, wearing a crown of leaves and berries, and holding the oak staff that signaled he was being called on to render judgment. His face was set in hard lines, and his hooded eyes glittered dangerously.” Oh, wow. There’s an image of judgement if ever I saw one. Even I’m quaking.
You wove Tolkien’s dialogue in with your own perfectly. I really thought they blended seamlessly. Those Dwarves really aren’t intimidated easily. I guess they just don’t understand elves – and of course they must be determined not to give in. Still, pet spiders my foot. ‘Lieutenant’ Legolas seems to be giving them some amusement anyway with his concern for the ‘child’.
You just have to love Sinnarn. He’s simply dying to talk to the Dwarves. You know, everything Legolas does in this story is out of kindness and a desire to do the right thing, yet it keeps just biting him on the, uh, nose. His reasoning for giving Sinnarn more responsibility was sound enough. Head guard. I admit I was wondering who it would be. Let’s see if Thranduil will still be so fond of “the apple of his eye” soon. Then again, it *is* of course Legolas’ fault too…:-)
Author's reply
I was amused by your sympathy with Thranduil, Dot. I think he's just such a powerful, smart, single-minded ruler and protector of his Realm that everyone else kind of gets swept along in his vision. Except the Dwarves, of course. To the astonishment of everyone, they are rude and uncooperative. I think Thranduil may have met his match!
Those magic doors are one of the things I struggled with in this story. I mean Bilbo says the doors close by magic. Geez, that has to be inconvenient unless you're one of the people who can work them. And even if you are, it must get a bit annoying to have people asking you to take care of them all the time, rather like being the most competent person at your workplace with computers so everyone keeps asking you to fix their computers.
I think the salutary effect of Sauron leaving Dol Guldur must have been gradual, particularly when it came to spiders. Orcs are another matter. They have issues of their own right now, namely the fact that the Dwarves, Bilbo, and Gandalf killed the head Orc in the Misty Mountains, so they're all gathering in the mountains.
Legolas's relationship with his father is one of the things I'm most interested in in this story. I think to be fully adult, Legolas has to be around his father like this and yet feel independent and he's not quite there yet. He's such a sweetie though. He's so worried about Hobbit!
Poor Sinnarn. Sigh. Ithilden will just have a fit, and somehow I doubt if this will make a good impression on Annael.
Ithildin
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
A very tangled web indeed… The closer to canon the better I like it, and this is just great Daw! I am really enjoying this!
I’ve thought a lot about the events in The Hobbit that concerned the Elves; there are a lot of things that raise questions – like the big spider colony well inside the guarded part of the forest, the length of time between the Dwarves interrupting the feast and their capture, etc., etc. (Incidentally, so far my conclusions are lining up very nicely with your story – it’s not necessary for my enjoyment of the story, of course, but it’s fun when it happens!)
I love your angle on Hobbit (poor little lost child… *vbg*) and I laughed out loud when Legolas appointed Sinnarn as head guard. Oh my! There are some very interesting moments ahead for this bunch... I can hardly wait!
I’m glad you will be taking this all the way through the Battle of Five Armies – take your time, there’s so much story there that begs to be told from the Elves point of view.
And Re: “Author Reply: Anyone not alive in Question of Duty is fair game.”
*Yikes - winces and rushes to re-read “A Question of Duty” to see who is not mentioned…*
Of course you are right, though, I’ve thought a lot about how that affected Legolas and Thranduil. Some very powerful material to work with there; I’m really looking forward to your take on it all. :)
Keep writing,
Ithildin *(
Author's reply
Thank you, Ithildin (I just mistyped your name to be that of one of my OCs even though I told myself not to do it). I am truly enjoying trying to work out how these events might have looked to the Wood-elves. Q: How did the Dwarves get to close to the Elves without be observed? A: They WERE observed. Q: Why were the Elves so intent on keeping their feast secret? Why not just seize the Dwarves then and there? A: It was a wedding and mortals weren't supposed to hear the vows. And so on and so forth. It is so much fun!!!
It's also true that I somehow deluded myself that I could write this as a straight-forward serious story and Tolkien just defeated me. It's funny. I can't help it. Hobbit the Dwarf Child with Negligent Parents is just a hoot. And poor Legolas. He's so earnest and so wrong.
Anyway,I'm having a good time and I'm glad you are too.
Rose Sared
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Wince, poor Leggy, poor Sinarn, poor dwarves. A tangled web indeed! Masterful storytelling as usual, take a bow.
thanks
Rose
Author's reply
I do feel for Sinnarn. I've had this post in mind for him from the start but I still feel bad about it. Facing Ithilden would be bad enough, not even counting everything else that's likely to happen.
Duchess
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
*slaps hand over face and groans* Oh THAT'S not going to go well, is it? LOL
So Sinnarn will be the fall guy when the Dwarves escape, too bad for him. And Legolas too, for putting him in charge. *wince*
I really need to reread the Hobbit, it's been waaaaaaaaaaaayyy too long! *sigh* Was Bilbo listening in the Great Hall? I'm betting he was. The Dwarves saying they knew nothing of a child... *snicker*
GREAT part, very entertaining and I loved it! More please, as soon as you can write it? :):):)
Author's reply
No, I'm afraid it's not. :-( Poor Sinnarn. I cannot imagine what Ithilden will say.
I like The Hobbit. I have a very long commute to work and what I do is get book tapes from the library and listen to them in the car. I've listened to The Hobbit and all of the trilogy that way. It's very pleasant. Bilbo was indeed in the Great Hall. *snicker* indeed
nessie
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Yay! Thank you for posting the next chapter! Ooh, I just want to slap those pesky dwarves across the face! They're rude! Well, very sorry but this review's gonna be alot shorter than all the other ones. Great chapter as always and update asap!
~nessie~
Author's reply
The dwarves ARE rude. They are unbelievably bold in speaking to Thranduil. I guess they don't know that they're supposed to fall down in faint when he glowers at them. I know I would!
Oh, yeah, and about the dead OCs...I know Beliond is alive in A Question of Duty. Same for Annael and Amdir. And you considered killing Eilian off and you changed your mind, so you won't change it back again now, right? Please? You can't do that to me...I mean, to Celuwen? Don't kill Ithilden, either. Keeping Legolas's brothers alive isn't too much to ask, is it?
Author's reply
Anyone not alive in Question of Duty is fair game.
Anonymous
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Sinnarn is the guard! Too much! Oh it will not be pretty!
Author's reply
I know. Poor Sinnarn. And poor Ithilden. He'll just be out of his mind.
Uh-oh. Sinnarn's in charge of the Dwarves! Dun-dun-dun! Poor Legolas *will* regret this!
You had me HOWLING with laughter, daw. "You cannot mean to leave Hobbit there by himself!" LOLOLOLOLOL!! I almost died. Elbereth, Legolas, you're going to feel like an idiot. And poor Annael, sacrificing his free time to go search for the child...it shouldn't be funny, it really truly shouldn't, but it is!
As for the Dwarves, they have more nerve than I would when confronted with Thranduil. Although maybe if I'd just met a bunch of Elves earnestly referring to Bilbo as a child named Hobbit, I'd be too amused to be scared.
So Legolas *and* Thranduil can sense the changes because of what's been going on in Dol Guldur. Interesting. I wonder what Thranduil will say when Eilian and Ithilden show up with the news.
And as always it's great to see the intricacies of Legolas's relationship with Thranduil, and the not-always-clear line between "king" and "father." (I'm getting an awful plot bunny about Legolas, Celebrian and the children of Elrond complaining about their parents. Legolas is the only one whose dad is a king, but then again Thranduil doesn't have an Elven-ring and can't invade his son's mind.) Legolas seems to be learning, though--and soon his growth will jump even more because of him joining the Fellowship without permission. I really like the continuity I see in your stories.
*snicker* Poor Hobbit...*snerk*
Author's reply
I'm laughing as I read your review. I keep trying to write about the Elves' concern for the "child" with a straight face but when you KNOW who it really is, it is too funny.
Thranduil would have scared the wits out of me, but Dwarves are tough. Thranduil has more or less met his match in them.
I love your plot bunny! Let's see some more of the Gollum in Mirkwood story and then you can do this one! I keep a file of ideas so I never have to worry where the next one is coming from.
Lindelea
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Lovely story! I liked the image of the elves listening to the song of the trees.
And the bit about the child named Hobbit... fun! (and clever)
Will you take this all the way to the Battle of the Five Armies?
Author's reply
Thank you, Lindelea. Somehow when I first started writing this story, I thought it would be all serious and then Hobbit the Dwarf Child with the Negligent Parents turned up and it all just got away from me.
Yes, I plan to go to the Battle. All these events seem related to me, and I'd like to write about how the Elves saw them all.
sofia
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
I love reading this side of the story (the hobbit) in their point of view. very intresting. Update soon.
-sofia
Author's reply
It's fun to try to make sense of this story from the elves' point of view. It reminds me of the play "Rozencrantz and Gildenstern Are Dead" which tells the story of "Hamlet" from the POV of two minor characters. They are totally confused as other people run across the stage with swords and so on.
ValkrieCrow
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
*Waves Thranduil flag* Go Thranduil! You show those dwarves what you're made of! :)
I never got WHY the naugrim refused to answer the King's questions...and they say Thranduil is stubborn!
Yay Sinnarn! Hopefully he won't be on duty when IT happens...
Author's reply
There was a lot of ancient enmity between dwarves and elves, and they didn't trust one another. I think that's one reason. And Gandalf had urged the dwarves to go secretly because they didn't have an army, so stealth was one of their weapons (rather like the Fellowship). And then, I think the dwarves and elves just got off on the wrong foot, what with the crashed feast and the spiders and all.
Thranduil is cool!
Manderly
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
The elves are really quite compassionate, aren't they? Their concern for the "child" is very touching, as was Legolas' concern for the hungry dwarves. Thranduil really was at his kingly best. The dwarves must be made of pretty stout stuff not to be overly cowered by him. I know I was intimidated just reading about it. Legolas is so mature and composed now that it's almost scary. He reminds me of Ithilden more than Eilian.
Another great chapter!
Author's reply
Legolas is very soft-hearted. He's willing to be kind to the hungry Dwarves until he thinks they're abandoning a child. Then all bets are off.
Thranduil is scary. I would never want to be dragged in front of him for judgment.
I think that Legolas is a combination of Ithilden and Eilian. And he's very mature here. :-)
Author Reply: And I just saw you're starting a new story! Yeah!
Bodkin
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
PS I hope Amdir is the one on duty when they escape.
Author's reply
Sigh. That would be nice.
Bodkin
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Yet another lovely chapter.
Thorin - brave or stupid? Standing up to enraged Thranduil is hardly the most sensible thing he could have done.
What a good way to explain the elves wrath - soft-hearted Legolas being quite worried about them and their hunger until they abandoned poor little Hobbit to his fate. (He's wearing that ring again - good thing Sauron's not around! I wonder if the magic of the Stronghold would have confused anyone searching for the ring - sort of enclosed the vibrations.)
Interesting how Thranduil picks up the confusion of the forest, but can't tell the cause - I suppose the trees don't really understand, so the message isn't getting through. It gives him another good reason to want to pick up the dwarves, though. Intimidating - yes, I think I could agree with that description.
I'm glad Sinnarn gets to play with the dwarves. He's more open-minded than most and it will be good for him and the diggers. I think I'd lock Amdir up with Thorin until they could get over their hostility, though.
Sad that poor Legolas has no recollection of his mother - wouldn't expect it really, as he was so young, but it is still sad.
(I know Legolas, Amdir and Annael survive this tale, but DON'T KILL Ithilden, Eilian, Sinnarn, Gelmir, Belion, Maltanaur, Todith, Nithron, Tynd, Galelas, . . . I like your OCs and don't want to lose them. You can polish off Tinar if you want. Though that could be thought of as mean to his poor wife.)
Author's reply
Yeah, Legolas is just ticked at those negligent Dwarf parents! Let them run and throw them in jail too! I'm with him.
I'm trying to be careful about Thranduil's communion with the forest. I don't think he really "talks" to the trees. He's just in harmony with them. He can feel them. And they're changing. That's pretty scary given that most changes are bad for Mirkwood.
But Bodkin, someone has to die in that battle. Tolkien says the Elven host was "sadly lessened." And I really do have many OCs. I'll try to be kind.
Karri
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
I was relieved that Legolas saw the light by the end of the chapter -- as I was about to give him 'being a sucker and letting his soft heart be taking advantage ofto the detriment of his kingdom' speech (as it was irrelevant the dwarfs were hungry. If it was the hospitality if the elves they sought, they should have sent word to the Elvenking of their passage through his realm before entering the forest -- as Gandalf should well have considered and urged them to do, if not done it for them -- or at least shouted their intentions before leaving the road.) The elves concern for Hobbit continues to be endearing, though. Nicely done.
Author's reply
Oh, Karri! You and Thranduil should get along so well. Legolas just can't believe how negligent these Dwarves are about their children. LOL
tigerlily713
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
He he he. Poor Sinnarn. Nasty shock awaiting Legolas too, eh? I can't wait for your next chapter! Lily
Author's reply
I know. I figured that anyone who had read The Hobbit would flinch on Sinnarn's behalf. And the truth will eventually dawn on Legolas, poor guy. Oh well. As Tolkien says, pity is good.
French Pony
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Snicker. . . snicker. . . snicker. . . . Clearly, Thranduil does not believe in "name, rank, serial number and shut up." Wonder how he'd fare in Iraq. And he's feeling a change in the forest, a change brought on by events he wasn't informed of (partially by his own decision not to go to a meeting), and there are Dwarves running around being rude and endangering his people. . . he's just going to have kittens when he finds out about Dol Guldur, isn't he?
Legolas still thinks that Hobbit is a child. It seems the Elves have much to learn about the art of cross-examination. The Dwarves are just running them around in circles, and even the dimmest, most inexperienced public defender could do a better job at interrogation than these guys are doing. It's all about asking the right questions.
"His father often rode in the late afternoon, enjoying the exercise and trying to work out some of the frustrations that built in an active male who was forced to sit and listen to people talk for much of the day." Oh yes. It's not just males who experience this. I, fully and proudly female, get just as antsy when I have to sit and solve people's problems. So I leave work and either sing myself into exhaustion or acquire new and interesting bruises from fencing partners. Perhaps Thranduil might like to accompany me? I'm sure we could find an extra épée at the club for him.
Sinnarn’s face shifted from disbelief to delight. “Thank you!” he cried. “You will not regret this, Legolas.” Famous last words, Legolas. Famous last words.
Author's reply
Thranduil is going to keep the Dwarves comfy and well fed. He's just going to keep them. He's probably just used to intimidating people to death and the Dwarves aren't buckling under. Bless them.
Actually, I hate sitting still too and meetings make me crazy. I will check with the Elvenking about fencing. He might skewer a few of you accidentally, but you won't mind that, will you?
Poor Sinnarn. Poor Ithilden.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
Oh, poor Sinnarn! What has he ever done to deserve that? 'Thranduil would be overjoyed' - yeah, right, as my children would say. I was wondering who the poor chief of the guards would be - his parents will be mortified!
I was reading this chapter with 'Barrels Out Of Bond' in my hand, comparing the two. It's sacrilege, I know, but Daw, your version is better! Everything is explained, from why the elves bound the dwarves like that, why they were force-marched to the palace, and why the 'Elvenking' Was Not Amused. And I loved Legolas's observation: 'No one was as intimidating as Thranduil when he was in full kingly form.' (I wouldn't mind being intimidated though!) The dwarves' scorn over the concern of the elves for 'Hobbit' is wonderfully irritating.
Jay
Author's reply
Wow, Jay. Has lightning struck your computer yet? You know the thing I found hardest to explain was why the Elves would be carrying torches.
Poor Sinnarn indeed. I'm cringing even now imagining Ithilden's reaction.
esamen
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 8: Taking Prisoners
I can do better than that,” Legolas said. “I hereby appoint you head guard. You can pick three other people to share the duty with and work out the schedule.”
Oh my gosh! Poor Sinnarn! I can't wait to see (that is, "see") Hobbit . . . Oh, this is too good. I hope you have lots of juicy details and clues planned for us to puzzle over and figure out. How about some disappearing food and drink ? . . . especially mushrooms, of couse.
And I hope you treat us to the marvelous scene that Thranduil is bound to throw later on . . . oh, toooooooo funny. Of course, now all my RL stuff pales in comparison to following the story here. Must tear myself away from Mirkwood Forest (Esamen regretfully returns to RL). Please update soon! Thanks!
Author's reply
Just about every review so far has included a "poor Sinnarn." I'm kind of relieved that we're done with the Dol Guldur part of this story. Now we get some entertainment until things turn serious again at Erebor.
White Wolf
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 7: Battles Near and Far
I find it interesting how well Thranduil can so completely separate the king from the father, when dealing with his family. He's an impressive character.
At last, Sauron is gone from Dol Guldur. Too bad the joy won't last. But for now, the elves of Mirkwood can enjoy it.
Author's reply
Thranduil IS impressive. I think it must be hard to separate those roles completely though. Surely Thranduil always sees Legolas as his son, even when is trying to be king.
It is nice that Tolkien gave the Wood-elves this little window of better times. Poor things.
Bodkin
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 7: Battles Near and Far
Just thinking - clever reference by the spider to the fact that he could see the elves, thus intimating that he couldn't see Hobbit. Very subtle.
Author's reply
Thank you, Bodkin. I'm a little worried that I'm being too obscure for the folks who haven't read The Hobbit. But they can find things out just when the Elves do, so I guess that's OK too.
erunyauve
· 17 June 2004
· Chapter 7: Battles Near and Far
I love Legolas' perspective on Bilbo's rescue of the dwarves - it's really well thought out and logical considering what he doesn't know about Bilbo. Your spiders, are, as ever, creepy - I loved the spider's comment that it could see the 'stingers' the elves wielded. And your description of Sauron's flight is just perfect - the tension leading up to it resolves palpably despite the worry about Gelmir.
Author's reply
Thank you, Erunyauve. This story is fun to write. I keep rereading The Hobbit, trying to see what it must have looked like to the Elves, and Tolkien really tells us very little about what they know or don't know. Bilbo sees things and tells them in one way, but sometimes I'm not even sure how reliable that is. In one place, for instance, he says there were at least fifty spiders and in another he says hundreds. Is that last number a result of his fear? I don't know. Anyway
The Dol Guldur part is easier in a way. Tolkien tells us next to nothing so I can make it all up. ;-)
Estel_Mi_Olor
· 16 June 2004
· Chapter 7: Battles Near and Far
Wow, Daw, what a chapter! That was amazingly exciting! Poor Hobbit! I was very worried about the little Dwarf; it wasn't their fault that Tonduil decided to have in his wedding in that convenient little clearing and that Thranduil messed with their minds. At least Hobbit found his mother. But wow! I never appreciated the spider increase until now. That's a lot of spiders, moving fast, if there had been a colony established so shortly after the area was checked. That's not good. Cheers for the Spider Resistance!
The Orc attack was very exciting. But poor Gelmir! I was so worried he might die! But then, you wouldn't kill of Gelmir! At least Elrond is there to fix him up. I don't know enough ME history to understand exactly what happened at Dol Guldor. It was Sauron that was in the Tower, but he gave up, and disappeared? Wait a minute, this is the year Bilbo found the Ring? So that was where Sauron's attention was turned perhaps. He senses the One Ring. Obviously, I have no idea what I'm talking about, so feel free to correct me.
Well, success was well deserved, and it applauded. Eilian's comment about wanting excitement of a different sort was funny. He should let Celuwen know...
Keep writing Daw! I can't wait for an interesting conclusion! (And yes, I have finally mastered the concept of the 'paragraph'!)
Author's reply
You're absolutley right, Estel! I think Sauron senses the One Ring which Bilbo was wearing at the time of the attack on Dol Guldur. Mind you, that explanation is mine, not Tolkien's. He just tells us the two things happened at around the same time. I'm the one who thinks that Bilbo's wearing the ring may have led Sauron to give up on finding the ring along the Anduin and so he left.
Now, about Hobbit. He's not really a dwarf child, Estel. He's really Bilbo. But Legolas doesn't know that. He thinks this little guy is a dwarf. He's never seen a hobbit before.