esamen
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
Hello -- Ah, Sinnarn is married to Emmilin and Tynd is assigned as keeper? Wow, things are different. Everybody's grown up . . .
Thranduil's decision to send Eilian was a surprise to me. Of course, Eilian is good rational choice, but I thought that Legolas would be the one to go. You mentioned in "A Question of Duty" that Legolas had previous experience with the Nazgul, and I was hoping that this would be the story to give us the details about that encounter. Maybe he'll still go? I can hardly wait to find out.
Also, I've been planning to write another review of "Creature of Fire" for a while now, and this seems as good a time as any . . . the more I think about that story, the more I like it. It sets up Legolas beautifully for taking on the mission of the Quest, for the way he has a tender, loving nature and yet is not married. It also sets him up for responding to the call of the sea as he does after the Quest is finished. I am really, really impressed. That was a stroke of genius. It was so sad, though.
I did like all the TLC he got in that story. It's always my favorite part.
Have a good time writing Chapter Three. I'm waiting!
Author's reply
We're quite a way down the road to the Fellowship now, and these characters have seen a lot, so I think they are pretty grown up now, young by elven standards, but grown up. Sinnarn has been the character who's been hardest for me to bring to maturity but I think he's there now. The Battle of Five Armies and all that stuff with escaping Dwarves and Emmelin have all brought that about.
I like the idea that there are all these loving people waiting for Legolas in Valinor, including Tuilinn, I hope. But also his mother and Turgon. Now that idea makes me happy!
lwarren
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Wonderful! A new story - and already full of surprises! Elian and Celuwen living in a settlement...near her parents (you ARE brave to put Elian and Solith in such close proximity! LOL) And a sweet little elfling named Loriel to wrap her ada around her little finger! I love it - the whole scene, including the worm (and it gets its own song, too), Elian with his hairdressing skills (gee, I wonder....), and the dinner with the in-laws (priceless, especially Elian's and Solith's reactions to Loriel (of course, they still circle each other like two junk-yard dogs looking for the right place to jump each other!). Eilian seems deliriously happy and settled, responsible and busy - life is a peach! *sigh*
Enter evil. (When I saw the 'webbed feet' I immediately thought 'Stinker') and in reading some of your replies to other reviews, I see I was on the right track.) And you have this slimy little felon slinking around the baby's window? Daw! You must be practicing of building tension and anxiety in your readers...I give you an A+...you can quit now...
Peace didn't last very long did it? Just long enough to lull everyone into a pleasant dream of "this is how it should be". Great beginning, daw (please slap that stinker for me when next he rears his slimy head in your imagination...) ;-)
linda
Author's reply
I had a lot of fun writing about Eilian’s life in the settlement. It seemed to me to be a good place for him to be, despite the presence of Celuwen’s father. I thought she would need her extended family to help with life there and especially with caring for their daughter. And Eilian is happy with having neighbors, with living in the woods, and with being responsible for the chores that keep his little family going.
Some time ago, I read Gandalf’s little speech about what Gollum did after he crept out of the mountains to go in search of the ring, and I tucked it away in my notes to use in a future story. I love it when Tolkien writes about things that happened in Mirkwood! He doesn’t do it nearly often enough.
Brazgirl
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
It was good to see Legolas smile again and have some joy with his friends and family. And Beliond did not change a thing! I was surprised as Legolas with the age of Sinnarn's keeper. But Thranduil knows best. Speaking of him, how difficult was for him as a father and a grandfather now to write such a letter. His son is happy and well settled with his family and now will have to 'work' hard again. That's life. And why do I feel you will do something nasty to Eilian??? Why??? Please... he is too handsome. Too nice. Too charming... Nice chapter Daw!
Author's reply
I was hoping that Legolas here would look more like Legolas of the Fellowship who goes to "find the sun." And besides, he'd been in such an angsty situation in the last story I wrote that things had to get better!
Do something nasty to Eilian? Me? Well, maybe. I need a plot!
The Karenator
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
AN: I know it can be hard to sort out the chronology of my stories because I jump around in time when I write them. A list of my stories ordered by Legolas’s age is available if you click on my author page.
Gee, was that for me? She Who Has No Idea What's Going On? :>)
Legolas as captain of the home guard was fun. The easy relationship between Legolas, Annael, Sinnarn, Beliond and Tynd was so nice to see. The sons (and grandson) of the king are often in an odd position. There's all that pesky protocol. You know they must enjoy simply being able to be themselves. And Legolas was willing to take 'patrol' duty from Anneal on a beautiful spring day. How thoughtful. :>)
The spider fight was good. The elves were very methodical and serious, but Legolas and Sinnarn were still able to wager on the number killed. The mood is lighter than before when they knew that Dol Guldur was inhabited by evil. Beliond might act like he thinks they're nuts, but I think he secretly gets a kick out of the younger guys. He probably wonders at times what his son would have been like if he had lived. Poor Beliond. Legolas is good for the stuffy old geezer. The stuffy old geezer is good for Legolas too.
So Emmelin and Sinnarn are happily married now. I suppose that aided him in growing up. If it didn't, Annael would jerk a knot in this tail. They seem very happy. My tendency is to feel sorry for Legolas, but he seems fine now. I imagine he is simply happy for his nephew.
Thranduil has a bad feeling, huh? Now, why do I have one too? Sending Eilian. Of course, Eilian is the best scout, but I know it's not an easy decision for Thranduil to send his son, and his son is a new ada, off into the dangerous regions of the forest. The southern woods might have been quiet for the last ten years, but Thranduil knows something is up...thus, making them dangerous once again. I love Thranduil's connection to the forest, but like you, I find it hard to wrap my brain around. I guess that's why he's the king and I'm the pot scrubber.
Great set up. The tension is steadily rising and life is just too good to last. I'm really looking forward to seeing where you take this. I'm ready for an exciting ride!
Karen
Author's reply
LOL. I really wasn't thinking of you when I wrote that, Karen. It turns out I confused a lot of people by jumping straight from the arrival of Smaug to the time after he was killed with no stops in between. Even I have to look at my chronology now to see where I am.
In some ways, it's really nice that Annael, Sinnarn, and Legolas are all in the same patrol. Along with their bodyguards, they can let down their hair when they're together. And spiders must seem like just a predictable annoyance rather than a sign of growing evil.
But really, I love Annael and his family. Anything that lets me write about them makes me happy.
I thought that Eilian would still have obligations to the realm, although Thranduil would want him to be home with his family as much as possible. Still, when it came to real problems, I think the king would call on him. Thranduil would probably be hoping it was just a temporary situation.
I'm working on the tension. :-)
French Pony
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
I love it that Annael is Legolas's lieutenant. They're as good a team as Legolas and Eilian, and for much the same reasons. These do seem like good days for Legolas, being able to hang out with his best friend (who is now vaguely related to him) in relative peace, kidding around with friends, family and bodyguards, and honing his skill at keeping track of the enemies he brings down, which will serve him well in the future.
Interesting choice of Tynd as the new bodyguard. I imagine that it was a hard job to find volunteers for. Nithron seems to have been the only bodyguard to die in the line of duty, and I'm sure that his death shattered any illusions anyone might have had that bodyguarding wasn't such a dangerous job or that the bodyguards were somehow so old and experienced as to be untouchable. Tynd was very brave to take the job, but from what I see of him here, he strikes me as a generally true-blue, stand-up kind of guy. I shall have to go back and read up on his background, but not until finals are over.
The spider battle was nifty -- you could tell that, even though it was dangerous, the Elves had it all in hand. They knew what they were doing, and because of the lack of Orcs, they had the leisure to be able to concentrate and do it well. I sympathize with Legolas not liking to touch spider corpses, but you'd think that in four hundred years of life, he'd hit upon the idea of wearing gloves. I'm also intrigued by the idea that spiders are particularly repulsive, despite the fact that he is generally sympathetic to all of Arda's creatures. Perhaps it's because the spiders aren't quite natural? They're descendants of Ungoliant, I think, and I wonder if there might not have been some genetic engineering going on, like the kind that was used to create the dragons, and that's why Legolas gets the willies around spiders.
It seems that Thranduil and Eilian have settled into a happier relationship now that Eilian is out of the house. And everyone who's surprised at Eilian knocking Celuwen up immediately upon seeing baby bunnies, raise your hand. No hands? Well, then. And Thranduil should remember that, just because Eilian mentioned Celuwen's pregnancy a week later doesn't mean he announced it promptly.
Author's reply
I've been trying to suggest that Legolas is becoming more like Legolas of the Fellowship as time goes on, so I wanted to show this time of relaxed, joking elfiness, because Legolas has moments like that in LOTR. Not all, of course. Things are pretty grim sometimes there too, and really Tolkien doesn't show us much of Legolas at all.
Tynd is one of those handy characters that I have around to use when I need them. He was in his last year as a novice when Legolas was in his first year, and he befriended Legolas when he joined the Eastern Border Patrol as a new warrior.
I think you have a good point about the spiders being unnatural. I was using the idea from The Hobbit, where Tolkien says that the spiders were the only living things the elves had no mercy for. That suggested to me that they see them as particularly bitter enemies.
I'm sure Eilian greatly enjoyed resourcefully persuading Celuwen to have get pregnant. :-)
Karri
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
Very exciting chapter, daw. I liked Sinnarn's new bodyguard. He and Sinnarn seem to get along well. I think Beliond is better for Legolas, though.
Author's reply
I think Beliond is good for Legolas but if something happened to Beliond (and I'm not saying it is, so nobody needs to email me), then I wonder what kind of person would best be able to start working with Legoals as he is now. That's what sort of stopped me about Sinnarn. I couldn't see him accepting the kind of bossing around that the older bodyguards do for their charges when they're young. It didn't seem right. Hence, we get Tynd.
Socket
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
How you manage to so seamlessly weave your own tales with Tolkien's is beyond me! But I'm so happy that you do, because I get to read them.
You're doing a great job slowly building the tension in this story. And -- as always -- your portrayal of Legolas's relationships with his family and friends is delightful. Thank you, and keep up the great work!
Author's reply
I love taking details from canon and putting them in a story in a way that adds to the plot but is unobtrusive, so that canon-savvy people recognize it but others just think it's the way things go.
Writing the banter between Legolas and the other patrol members was fun. They seemed to me to just be guys having a good time.
elliska
· 11 May 2005
· Chapter 2: The Captain of the Home Guard
Man, I was really in the mood for this tonight. :)
I loved Legolas and Annael. I'm so glad they are family now. That is really perfect. And so was Legolas's decision to lead the patrol himself on a beautiful spring day. I laughed my head off at how fast Sinnarn backed off when Beliond turned on him. I love Beliond but I think I would back off fast too. Legolas's enjoyment of racing through the trees reminds me greatly of Quest Legolas going to 'find the sun' for some reason. He can do a serious duty properly and still take pleasure in the forest around him. And I liked how Legolas and Sinnarn bet on the battle--shades of Legolas and Gimli, of course.
The end of that scene when Emmelin was there was great. The family joking was great.
Poor Ithilden. He really does not want to believe Thranduil. And he really knows better than to give in to that desire. I like how Thranduil knows because of the way the forest feels and because the of the birds. Very canon and a piece of canon that I always loved. It must kill both Ithilden and Thranduil to send Eilian. I wonder who the other two warriors will be.
Its sad to know that Thranduil will be right.
Great chapter daw. Thanks!
Author's reply
I am VERY fond of Annael. He seems like such an easy-going, affectionate, capable person, rather like his own father was. As a matter of fact, I love his whole family, and the idea that he and Legolas are related now charms me.
One of the things I was trying to do here was show Fellowship Legolas coming into being. The Legolas I've shown has tended to be pretty serious (although he's always been able to be mouthy), but I think he's mellowed over the years.
The stuff about the birds is a little hard for me to accept. My realistic side looks at is and says, "Say what?!" But as you say, it's canon, and it seems to be the way that messages get carried long distances in ME.
Glad to oblige you!
Kristy
· 10 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
What? Elian is an OC? Noooo. Ya'll are just playing with me! ::grin::
I had ROTK on yesterday and found myself thinking how cool it would be to see Elian and Legolas take out Oliphants together or to see Elian and Gmili interact!
Oh My, Elian has a daughter! How wonderful. He's exactly the kind of male that makes the most wonderful of fathers to girls! Arda's revenge for his youth! I can't wait to see her turn Her Grandfather Thranduil into putty!
Ohh the sinister presence outside Loriel's window just made me shiver in dread! (ever seen the Lion King? "Mufasa!" "Ohhhhhh say it again!")
Author's reply
LOL. Well, Eilian is real in my head anyway, and apparently in yours, Kristy!
I really missed Eilian in the last story because it was so concentrated on Legolas. Eilian's letters were the only times I was in his head at all, so this was fun to do again. I think he and Legolas would make a good pair in a fight. They'd know one another pretty instinctively.
Everyone seems to be taking great delight in how poor Eilian is going to suffer as the father of a daughter. At the moment, he's reveling in her, which is nice to write about. The future is a little more iffy.
I've never seen the Lion King, embarrassingly enough. Bad Things are in the woods here. Poor Eilian.
Rita
· 10 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
I'm very glad to see Eilian fitting in so well in a settlement. He's come so far--I remember when he first married, Celuwen had to ask him to put his shirts in the laundry hamper and now he seems quite used to doing these little household chores. It was interesting to see that he is always a warrior first and foremost; at the first signs of something bothering the trees, his hand went to his knife instinctively. I suppose it's hard to forget that type of warrior training even in a time of peace.
I quite agree with the other reviewers when they say that Eilian having a daughter seems like a bit of revenge for Sólith since he would now understand his father-in-law (Eilian would not want Loriel to bond without his permission). It's good to see that Loriel can bring them closer together, in understanding and also physically (they were sitting almost next to each other with only Loriel in between!) I hope Loriel has regular visits with Thranduil and her other relatives, as we would not wish to deprive them of such a delightful child.
I'm looking forward to reading about how Legolas has settled into a life as Captain of the Home Guard in a time of peace. I wonder how he has adjusted since all he has known, from the time he was born and throughout his life, is a Shadow over their woods.
I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see this story, Daw, as I was expecting a story about Legolas as an elfling and instead, I find a story about a different elfling. I know you were depressed writing about Legolas's grief in A Creature of Fire and were planning on writing something happier.
Author's reply
I'd forgotten all about that shirt thing! You're so right. I think what's happened is just that he's moved out of the palace and is taking up his own life as an adult. He's always done that as a warrior. Now he does it at his home too. And as you point out, he's still a warrior at some level.
Eilian would have a stroke if an older Loriel started spending time with someone who resembled him as a young Elf. He knows he was unsteady, to put it mildly. At the moment, he's only worried about her wandering around at night (shades of Uncle Legolas!).
The next chapter is all about Legolas who is also relaxing into his Wood-elf role. So this story is happier just now. How long it will stay that way is a question.
Dot
· 9 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Apologies for barging in on your conversation with other people…
I fervently hope that Gollum's feet were webbed.
In Chapter 5 of The Hobbit, ‘Riddles in the Dark’:
“‘It must make haste, haste!’ said Gollum, beginning to climb out of his boat onto the shore to get at Bilbo. But when he put his long webby foot in the water, a fish jumped out in fright and fell on Bilbo’s toes.”
Author's reply
Hey, Dot! Have I told you lately how much I love you??? :-)
Lamiel
· 9 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Eilian has a daughter! My goodness, who would've thought? And they're living in Celuwen's settlement? I guess that's reasonable, given the peace after Sauron was driven from Dol Guldur.
I laughed long and hard at this line, "She loved visiting Celuwen’s parents, a flaw that always puzzled Eilian, given that he found Loriel to be unusually bright." Hee! The entire family interaction, both between Eilian and his daughter and Eilian and Solith was wonderful. You have such a talent for capturing the very real emotions and dynamics of family. Eilian's grudging understanding of Solith's perspective, now that he has a daughter of his own, is nicely done. And I was grinning at the line about Solith wanting to believe that Loriel was dropped down their chimney by an eagle.
Now what is this webbed creature lurking about the settlement? I'm trying to think if any of Sauron's creatures had webbed feet . . . not Gollum, surely; he was still in his cave in the Misty Mountains at this point, and I don't think his feet were actually webbed in any case. H'm. Perhaps there's a particularly malevolent duck out there with a grudge against Eilian. Or perhaps not.
Now if I may ask -- did Fanfiction.net send you a warning not to post reviewer responses, or are you simply being prudent in response to Thundera's notice? I'm trying to determine what to do myself, as I've never gotten notice of that kind or seen a warning posted on the homepage.
Author's reply
I've been trying to figure out what Eilian would do in peace time and living in the settlement seemed the best idea. He's close to the woods, and he has a lot of freedom but it's balanced by a lot of necessary work. He has neighbors and his family. I think he'd do well there. Too bad the peace here doesn't last.
I'm so glad you liked the family interaction. It's my favorite thing to write. I think that Eilian will be a loving father just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas, but I think it may be Celuwen who has to be the disciplinarian, and sweet as she is, Loriel may need a firm hand.
I fervently hope that Gollum's feet were webbed. If you find otherwise, let me know. :-)
Here's the scoop about ff.net. They are apparently claiming that there's no new rule but tht their rule against interactive fics bans reviewer responses. When I saw TT's notice, at first I thought I would just ignore it. But then last week, rumor had it that Cassia and Sio had a story yanked for doing reviewer responses. Since I was just getting ready to post this new story, I reluctantly decided to be cautious. It's too bad. I feel so ungracious not replying. I've been trying to send emails to people like I've always done with final chapters there, but I can't find some email addresses and there's at least one there that I can't seem to read right, since the email keeps bouncing back.
Jule
· 9 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Yay! I was thrilled to see this your story. I love this world you have created and have trouble remembering it is not cannon.
Elian is a wonderful Ada just like I knew he would be and Loriel sounds both adorable and amusing. I can't wait to read about her and Thranduil together.
I have to admit though I hope they move back to the stronghold very soon. The idea of Loriel being closer to that meanspirited judgemental Solith than she is Thranduil is sad. Solith still puts Elian down and makes it clear that he ius unwelcome even in front of his daughter. Celuwen was welcomed with love at the castle. Loriel will start to notice as she gets older.
The best part about them having to move back would be watching Thranduil bond with Loriel and laugh at his son being an Ada to a lively little girl.
I can't wait for the next part because whatever your write is always better than anything I could imagine.
Julie
Author's reply
Thank you, Julie. :-)
My guess is that Grandfather Thranduil is just dying over the fact that this granddaughter who looks like his dead wife is in the settlement rather than the palace. He was doting enough with Sinnarn! Still is, for that matter.
I think you're right about Solith too. He has to smarten up. He doesn't want to force Loriel to take sides because if he does, she's going to choose her ada, just as Celuwen chose Eilian too, and Solith will be the loser.
The next chapter is pretty much all Legolas. I need to establish where everyone is and how they're doing before I get my plot too far underway.
thechevin
· 9 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
What a treat Eilian and Celuwyn have a daughter and are living the pastorl life in the settlement this was such a delight but as ever there is that hint and then much more than a hint of danger in the air and the little girl senses it so naturally just like her very fond Adar
I can't wait to see Thranduil with his grandaughter he will be putty in her hands I suspect
I liked this glimpse into life in the settlements and its apparently idyllic lifestyle but something tells me it won't last
As for the warning about OC's I am with the rest of the reviewers these characters are as much canon now as those Tolkein came up with therefore not OC at all!
Author's reply
It turned out to be surprisingly easy to picture Eilian happy in this kind of life. He has friends, his family, and enough responsibility to keep him happy and out of trouble. I just couldn't picture him hanging around the palace and not getting restless.
I'm very pleased everyone was so happy to see Eilian instead of Legolas! I find him easier to write, I think. Legolas is more complicated, plus he's one of Tolkien's characters so I tend to careful with him. In this story, which takes place only 60 or so years before the Quest, I need to be sure to have him be as much like Fellowship!Legolas as possible. That's what I've been growing him toward.
French Pony
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Hmmm. A disturbing, slippery creature with webbed feet skulking around eating baby birds. Survey says. . . one critter in Arda fits that description perfectly. Name begins with a "G" and ends with "ollum."
Mazel tov to Eilian and Celuwen for having produced Flower Face (Flower Face is a good nickname. One of mine was DisgustoBaby). I'm just tickled by the thought of the relentlessly male royal family suddenly having a daughter in their midst. She gets all new clothes, all new toys, and all the spoiling rotten she can take. And Loriel -- named for her late grandmother, I suppose? It looks like she takes after Uncle Legolas, especially in the wandering off department. Fortunately, Ada has already had practice dealing with a kid who likes to wander. I bet that's an advantage of the distance between Elvish siblings.
The atmosphere at Isiwen and Sólith's seemed exactly right. Loriel provides enough of a truce that Sólith and Eilian can ignore each other rather than carp or threaten. Sigh. That's how my dad used to get along with my grandfather when my sister and I were little.
Author's reply
I've always been creeped out by Gandalf's description of what Gollum did once he left the mountains in search of Bilbo and the Precious, and I've never seen another story use that event. I find the Tale of Years to be very useful for generating plot ideas.
I think an outsider might find Flower Face to be a little Disgusto occasionally too, but not her doting ada. He thinks she's beautiful and unusually bright. And I think Eilian will be a loving father to her, just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas. I'll bet Thranduil can hardly stand it that Loriel is living in the settlement and not in the palace!
Loriel sits between Solith and Eilian at the table, creating a nice little neutral zone.
Frodo3791
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Eilian has a kid and doesn't live in the stronghold anymore? I might need a moment to shake off the shock of this chapter.
For a moment I was wondering if I was reading the wrong story, but I quickly fell back into the familiarity of Eilian and his thoughts. When you said that this was going to be an OC chapter, I had to remind myself that Eilian was an OC. Anyway, I loved hearing things from Eilian's POV again. It's strange seeing him as a father, but you definilty kept him the same Eilian as before. It's weird seeing him during a time of peace, though, but he's still not going to let his guard down as we've noted at the beginning and ending of this chapter. I wonder what is causing the upset...
I like Loriel. She sounds like an adorable kid and I bet she'll turn out to have a bit of Eilian's spirit in her as well. I really loved the bit where she's telling her grandfather that she's going to marry her adar. Not only was it a cute delivery, but my younger sister used to say that when she was a kid. It's ridiculous but funny.
Well, I can't wait to learn more about this particular story.
-Frodo
Author's reply
LOL. For a long time, I've tried to picture what Eilian would do if there was ever peace in the forest, and I've gradually decided that he'll need responsibility to keep him steady. He can have that more easily here in the settlement and be close to the woods too. So here he is, at least for now. This bit of peace doesn't last of course, so he's likely to have to go back to having responsibility of a different kind, but I think what he's doing now is a natural way for Wood-elves to live. And Celuwen likes it.
I missed writing from Eilian's POV in "Creature of Fire," so I was glad to get back to it here. I think he'll be a very loving father, just as he was a loving big brother for Legolas.
When my son was little, he used to say that what he wanted to be when he grew up was a daddy. I thought that was cute too. :-)
Nilmandra
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
I love seeing this side of Eilian- husband and ada, settler - who carries water for baths and waits on himself, and helps to grow his own food. He and Solith have not killed each other, and they have their daughter in the village and a granddaughter to boot, so he really has little legitimate to complain about. I somehow suspect that Maltanaur makes regular passes through the woods though :D
Author's reply
LOL. I've temporarily sent Maltanaur home to his wife. He has a daughter and grandchild too, as I recall. I think the grandchild is around Sinnarn's age.
Any way, the fact that Solith has little to complain about doesn't mean he refrains from complaining. But there's more or less a truce, I guess. We'll see how this goes in the long run.
ScarlettPendragon
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Hi Daw!!
Holy Cr@p!! Elian has a daughter?! Eilian and Celuwen are living in her father's settlement?! Eilian isn't a soldier, but a settler?! I am totally in shock - now I'm going to have to go back and read "A Tangled Web" (such a hardship, I'm sure **LOL**!)
I actually thought this story took place right after "A Creature of Fire", and I was submerged in confusion - thank goodness you updated your story list or I would be completely lost!! ;>)
I'm still a little weepy for Legolas from your last story, and I was thrown by the joyful vibe of this first chapter, but I am really looking forward to a (hopefully) happier story!!
I think I might have a small idea about the creature who is distressing the trees (coughcough**likesrawfishes**coughcough), and I can't for the life of me figure out what *it's* interest in Loriel might be!!
You will laugh, but I read your A/N that all of the characters in this first chapter were OCs, then I started reading the story I was indignant - I thought 'Daw is crazy, what about Eilian - he's not an OC'!! And it wasn't until I finished the chapter muttering under my breath that it actually occured to me that Eilian is in fact an OC!! **LOL**
I just love your stories and this universe you've created so much that to me it's canon that Ithilden and Eilian *are* Legolas' older brothers!!
Can't wait for the next chapter!!
Author's reply
I knew this story would be quite a change from "Creature of Fire"! It's about 200 years down the road. And after the Battle of Five Armies, Tolkien does say that there was peace in the woods for years. It turns out to be about 10 years. So one of the things I was wondering was what someone like Eilian would do then. He's been caught up in the excitement of defending his home, so now what? I thought that he might do better in the settlement than in the palace and Celuwen would like it. At least now he has work to do and he's close to the woods.
You can wait and I'll eventually have someone tell you what the sneaky critter's interest is in Loriel or you can take a look at what Gandalf says about him in Chapter 2 of FOTR. The sneaking is pretty dangerous actually.
I DID laugh when I read what you had to say about Eilian being a canon character. I worry that new readers must be totally lost when they find this complex set of OCs. Ah well. Too bad. I can't go back now.
Manderly
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
OMG, a new story by Daw! And Eilian is an ada! Two wonderful surprises in one shot!
The first thought that struck me was that how time flies and the second one was, Thranduil must be thrilled to bits by this new addition. It had to be a girl, of course, so that she can turn every male in the family into putty in her tiny hands and mold them as she pleases. Looks like Eilian and Celuwen will have their hands full with this little one.
The build-up in this chapter is pretty creepy, even though we know what creature is causing this disturbance, especially the part where Loriel left the cottage by herself. I actually skipped ahead paragraphs in my reading just to make sure that she was going to be all right.
Thank you for giving us another story so quickly. Really looking forward to more!
Author's reply
This story may be hard to place after the last one, I think. In that one, Smaugh had just arrived, but this one takes place about 10 years after "Tangled Web," so Smaug is dead and we're almost 200 years down the road from "A Creature of Fire."
I'm so glad you were surprised when Loriel popped up and started calling Eilian "Ada." I think you're absolutely right that every male in this very male family is going to be helpless in front of this little Lorellin look alike. It must kill Thranduil that she lives in the settlement instead of the palace, but I thought Eilian would be very restless in the palace if there was peace. He wouldn't have the hard work and contact with the woods that the settlement gives him. And the little one is a Wood-elf. She needs to be outside a lot.
Scary things are happening though, and little girls are not necessarily safe in the Woodland Realm. :-(
Karri
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
LOL! Eilian with a wee little girl of his own -- that is simply priceless!! I would imagine he can indeed sympathize with Solith much better now. ;-)
Author's reply
Eilian's heart is totally wrapped up with Flower Face and he'll never be the same. And if that drives him to sympathize with Solith, it's a sign of how deeply he's disturbed!
Elena Tiriel
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Hi, it's me again!
Reading back through the earlier reviews, I was glad to not have been the first one to have made the connection...
Did I mention how much I adore the fact that Lorien has Eilian's sensitivity to the trees?
One of the things I wanted to do in this chapter was convey a sense of what settlement life was like compared to life in the palace or on patrol. I think Eilian loves this simple life with its hard work and closeness to the woods.
And you did that fabulously well. I really loved the sense of simplicity and peacefulness (despite the underlying currents of fear -- at first just a tiny frisson, then, at the end, much more developed *shiver*)...
Karen: 'Groggy from a nap' it is. I would no more think of accepting the 'dumber than a doorknob' excuse from you than Daw would. Not from the inventor of that brilliant scamp, Daeron. ;-D
Daw, I had copied that quote a long time ago, too... it was just too shocking to forget... and have now (finally!) added it to the Gollum bio at HASA Resources. Thanks for motivating me! (You wouldn't believe how many files I have with quotes that I intend to add to the Library 'someday'...)
I've thought of you often in the last few days as I planned out parts of this story. I keep going to HASA and checking out what you have in Resources about things like the Nazgul. It's so great to have a source that actually relies on Tolkien.
Oh, thank you so much, Daw! It means so much to see the Resources used! Would you mind if I shared your comment in the Resources Volunteers forum on HASA?
- Barbara
Author's reply
You may use the quote as you like, Barbara. I've benefitted so much from your hard work.
moonshine44
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Hello again! I`m very happy to see this update. That was quick! Anyway, I`ll be reviewing on here from now on, because I think this review system is better.
I know you said you would write one with Eilian, Celuwen, and a child, but I`m still shocked by it. I have a feeling that this is going to be my favorite fic, even if you plan to kill someone off, lol.
I can see that Loriel is like both her parents, very wild and spirited. I wonder if Thranduil is taking this as revenge for the hard times Eilian gave him. Well, I`m glad to see Solith and Eilian are getting along oh so nicely!Lol. Quesiotns: Is Eilian living in the settlement? Or is that just a summer thing? How old is Loriel?
Anyway, I am now going to be checking my email everyday hoping for an update. I can`t get enough of your stories ; )Until the next chapter then.
Author's reply
It didn't seem quick to me! It seemed like a long time between stories, even though I knew it wasn't.
I hoped there would be some readers who'd be surprised when an elfling spots Eilian and starts shouting "Ada!" He'll be a very loving father, just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas. I think Celuwen may have to be the disciplinarian though.
I think Thranduil may indeed have some amusing moments as he watches Eilian try to keep charge of this little Wood-elf. But I'll also bet that Grandfather Thranduil is in Flower Face's train of admirers too. LOL
Eilian and Celuwen do live in the settlement. Thranduil's people had about 10 years of peace after the Battle of Five Armies, and of course, they didn't know it would end when it did. So Eilian plans to live here with his family.
Loriel is about 8 in human terms, so 3-ish in elf terms.
The Karenator
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
That's right! I get the timelines confused. This is AFTER THE HOBBIT took place. But I did go and read the part you suggested. I DID NOT remember the part about the 'rumors' of what the 'ghost creature' ate. I'm sure I blocked that out! Y'all will just have to excuse me...I've been cooking, eating and napping. I'll use the 'still groggy from nap' excuse! I don't like the 'dumber than a doorknob' one. :>)
Karen
Author's reply
If there's one thing you're not, Karen, it's dumb. As a matter of fact, what you rather often are is a little too perceptive! LOL
That stuff about the ghost creature is scary, isn't it? I read it quite a while back and saved the quote. It always struck me as a potential story line.
Elena Tiriel
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Oooooops, sorry. I just read several of the reviews before mine and realized that I shouldn't have blurted out the (most probably wrong! shouldn't pay any attention to it!) answer to the mystery.
Note to Karen: this unnamed creature doesn't have the you-know-what at this time: he's searching for you-know-who, who got the you-know-what from him by cheating outrageously...
Sorry, shutting up now...
- Barbara, who just loves obscure references in canon...
Author's reply
LOLOL. Well, as you can see, many people have guessed. I figured anyone who knew canon well would have a good sense of who it was. Your quoting that "baby eating" thing was great. I thought most folks might not remember that very sharply.
Elena Tiriel
· 8 May 2005
· Chapter 1: Settlers
Aaaack! Aaaaack! Aaaaack! Aaaaack!
You realize, of course, that any violence that you allow to be visited on any one of Eilian's family -- even the beautiful toddler we just now met -- will be greeted with fury from your readers?
Daw, I somehow thought that this was going to be a peaceful story -- and you have Gollum, the baby-eater, stalking Eilian and Celuwen's daughter in the first chapter!
Er, sorry... got a bit carried away with the angst. I love seeing Eilian and Celuwen with a daughter! Have they been in big bad daddy-in-law's village since before the birth? Are they planning to stay there for many more years? How old is the child?
I think one of my (many) favorite spots was when Eilian *almost* felt some sympathy for Sólith, not wanting to see his precious baby grow up and leave home...
And I also like the up-close glimpses of settlement life and how it differs from the stronghold, and Eilian's pride that he is settling into it so well.
And I always enjoy being reminded about how the Thranduilions have an even closer connection to the trees than the other Wood-elves...
Must go re-read...
- Barbara
Author's reply
What is it Tolkien says about how times of peace are good to experience but short and not very interesting in the telling? I need some plot conflict here, ET!
I think Eilian and Celuwen moved to the village before Loriel was born, which in my head is two years after the Battle of Five Armies. I think they took a year to believe that there was mostly peace and then a year of pregnancy. So the little girl is 8 in human years, or I think about 3 in elf years. As I'm sure you know better than I do, it's hard to make that conversion directly, but I see her as like a three year old. I don't think they have plans to leave. This is a good place for Flower Face to grow up (they think).
One of the things I wanted to do in this chapter was convey a sense of what settlement life was like compared to life in the palace or on patrol. I think Eilian loves this simple life with its hard work and closeness to the woods. Shutting his daughter up in a cave, even if it's a palace, is not in his plans right now.
I've thought of you often in the last few days as I planned out parts of this story. I keep going to HASA and checking out what you have in Resources about things like the Nazgul. It's so great to have a source that actually relies on Tolkien.