mistry89
· 14 October 2007
· Chapter 16: Loyalties--Part Two
Poor Legolas! At least the puppies are pleased to see him.
Maidhien remains a bit of a enigma (a Good Thing) whilst Galithil (and indeed all the rellies) struggle with the complexities of family that we can all recognise (if not exactly approve of).
I think it is time I indulged myself in a re-read of the story/ies to date, thank you (I am very remiss at saying how very much I enjoy this Journey).
Cheers!
Author's reply
Yes, Legolas made a difficult decision and he is hating it right now. But it will pay off for him by the end of this story, so there is hope. And Maidhien will remain an enigma, and a very central part of this story, for a while.
Thank you so much for the review. I am very glad you have enjoyed so far. There are only a few (depnding on how I divide them, 3-5 chapters in this story) and then I will be on to the next one, which is one of the darker stories in the series.
perelleth
· 25 June 2007
· Chapter 15: Loyalties--Part One
Ouch, why do I have a feeling that Dolgailon is soon to have a very very bad day_ Galithil and mAidhen mean disaster, and despite all his energy, Galithil knows better than what he has been doing... I cannot think of way for him to espace lifelong confinement ig his father gets word of his disobedience and his arguments! Poor creature. Now I am looking forward to the next installment, yet still crossing my fingers, for Galithil has tragedy written on his face...
perelleth
· 25 June 2007
· Chapter 14: Affectations--Part Five
Galithil is a hoot! Poor kid, so full of energy that he cannot remain a moment without getting into trouble! And I love kingly, commanding THrnaduil, and how he puts his commander in place! Aradunnon´s distrust of TUlus is only undesrtandable, but I think that THranudil is right there...I fear I see disaster looming.
And I loved the way LEgolas tries to get out of the tangled mze in wich he is presently, and how Hallion helps him find the right way of telling witout betraying.... YOu have such a way with showing kid´s conflicts and views!
perelleth
· 25 June 2007
· Chapter 13: Affectations--Part Four
I was sure that I had reviewed this, but I see that I had only read it... Thranduil is great here with Tulus, I thnk, and his conversations parent to parent was a total... failure almost. HE did manage to instill some uncertainties but also showed a weaker flank.. as it happens again with good actions. And poor Legolas has run into something he would have been happier ignoring. I must say that I am really enjoying the children´s toils in this tale with the backdrop of adult´s politics. Life is so complicated most of the times! Poor Tulus. He has a dumb log of a son!
French Pony
· 14 June 2007
· Chapter 15: Loyalties--Part One
Sorry I'm late. I've been letting my reading slide, but I'm getting back in the groove now.
Amoeba tag! I remember playing that at circus camp! That's a fun game. And then we'd sing the "Piccolomini" song, or the alligator song, or the clown song, and then we'd go off and practice our acts.
I like the observation of child omertá here. From the grownup perspective, Legolas did do the right thing by telling, but there's always the fact that no one likes a tattler. So many grownups just don't understand that. Perhaps it's something that happens when you have kids, you lose your ability to think like one.
Jay Greenleaf Elf
· 14 June 2007
· Chapter 15: Loyalties--Part One
This was a very interesting chapter, especially the interaction between Legolas, Galithil and Maidhien. I can't wait for Galithil to get what's coming to him.
ninqwestilmen
· 4 June 2007
· Chapter 15: Loyalties--Part One
A new chapter :) :) glad to see it...
I dont really understand Maidhien completely... is she good or is she bad, or is she just in between. She definately has some of the influence of her family, but I cant yet decide if it overrides her better side. Maybe I'm being too judgemental, she's only an elfling after all ;)
I have to agree with Langon... caves!!
ninqwestilmen
· 4 June 2007
· Chapter 99999: Cast of Characters
Very useful list. Try as I might, there's always atleast one name that throws me off :)
Just a (hopefully) small request - Can you add the meanings of the names? Some I can decipher myself, but my elvish is not so good to do the rest, and the names sound like lovely, perfect Sindarin, so I'm sure each has an intriguing meaning. The name always offers an unexpected insight into the elf...
tnt2b2
· 3 June 2007
· Chapter 15: Loyalties--Part One
The same dilemmas still exist today. Children wanting to grow up before their time. Adult lives seem so exciting and romantic on the outside; wars, relationships, freedom. Galithil wants to be an adult because it looks good but is still too immature to see he is not ready for the reality or sacrifices of adulthood. Poor Legolas, he has made the right choice and now is facing the consequences. Although it is Galithil who wants to be the adult, it is Legolas who shows his maturity.
Is the opening a little foreshadowing of what is to happen to the little runaways?
daw the minstrel
· 3 June 2007
· Chapter 15: Loyalties--Part One
A cave??? Uh oh. What an ominous end to the chapter.
Before that point I was thinking about how hard it is for kids to deal with the double demands of the kid code and the parent code. Don't tell is a pretty common standard among kids and violating it can get you ostracized. So poor Legolas. He did the honorable thing, but it cost him.
And Galithil knows on some level it was right. He's just got to be angry with someone.
Gilraen
· 15 May 2007
· Chapter 10: Affectations--Part One
Wonderful story! I adore how you pictured Legolas and Thranduil, but I specially like, what you write about Oropher. I hate fanfic, where he is pictured as mean and ruthless, because except one mistake he was good and wise king.
(Only one small admonishment, elves probably didn´t use fork and knife.)
Author's reply
Thank you! I love Thranduil and Oropher. They are fascinating characters in the little details that Tolkien teased us with. I agree that fictions that portray either of them as evil/crazy are absolutely maddening, not to mention completely unsupported by Tolkien's works.
As for tabel utensils, while medieval people did not use anything but knives at table, the Hobbits did. We see in The Hobbit:
"Seems to know as much about the inside of my larders as I do myself!" thought Mr. Baggins, who was feeling positively flummoxed, and was beginning to wonder whether a most wretched adventure had not come right into his
house. By the time he had got all the bottles and dishes and knives and
forks and glasses and plates and spoons and things piled up on big trays, he was getting very hot, and red in the face, and annoyed.
"Confusticate and bebother these dwarves!" he said aloud.
And Beorn had them:
Then baa-baa-baa! was heard, and in came some snow-white sheep led by a
large coal-black ram. One bore a white cloth embroidered at the edges with
figures of animals; others bore on their broad backs trays with bowls and
platters and knives and wooden spoons, which the dogs took and quickly laid on the trestle tables.
It seems unbelievable to me that the First Born would be ignorant of utensils that aftercomers did use. So my Elves use them. :-)
Thank you so much for the review and I hope you keep enjoying the story. :-)
Idhreniel
· 1 May 2007
· Chapter 11: Affectations--Part Two
Hello!!! I couldn't read your updates sooner... real life sometimes takes our time, doesn't it? Any way, I'll be reading your updates as soon as I can!
I wonder what Thranduil and his brother will say to the captain when they find out about the kids shooting in the archery fields... hum... no good will come out of this.
Nice chapter, as always!
Hugs!
Bodkin
· 1 May 2007
· Chapter 14: Affectations--Part Five
The person who causes me most distress is Tulus! For one thing, he never really deserved to be cast into the outer darkness the way he was, and having left him to stew, he's now tangled up in a particularly nasty mess of spider webbing. Just as Thranduil begins to see his strengths, his tricksy son is there to make sure that his old dad goes down with him. Because Glilavon is an idiot. And an obvious idiot at that. I'm only surprised that his friend and supporter - Galathil's big brother - doesn't see it. Hopefully he will before the bog gets too deep.
Double D seem to have picked up on a nasty little point from Thranduil's show of fatherly concern. I wish I could hope he had inserted that as a trap, but suspect it was inadvertent. That's the trouble with talking to people - they learn far more than they should!
Legolas is wise beyond his years to speak to Hallion. And he may well have said enough for the elf to figure out the rest, even if he chooses to remain silent. Which he probably will - he's too young to be really sure of the difference between speaking out and telling tales. Although he was close to seeing that sometimes it's worse to remain silent and let matters fester.
Author's reply
I am so sorry to be so behind in answering reviews!
Tulus is definitely a tragic figure in this story--you are right on all counts about him in what you said. And the trap closed around him in this chapter, though we will be a while in seeing exactly how.
Dolgailon sees Glilavan's weaknesses and even suspects him of being not entirely honest. But he still wants to deny it to himself. He will regret that.
And you are right that D&D have learned something not so good. Unfortunately, you are right again that it was inadvertent.
And Legolas has done a very good thing with Hallion, but not all the results of it will be immediately comfortable for him. Difficult decisions, as Hallion said, poor thing. Legolas is learning things that will make him strong enough to do more difficult things when it counts. That is poor comfort now though.
Thank you so much for your reviews, Bodkin!
French Pony
· 24 April 2007
· Chapter 14: Affectations--Part Five
Like tapioca pudding, the plot thickens. . .
Legolas is one smart cookie. Not many small children would think of going to look up records of court proceedings in an archive to answer their questions. Not many small children would think that the archive could be of any use whatsoever. Give the kid a cookie!
But I loved the scene where Legolas confided in Hallion. That was so wonderfully kid-like.
Author's reply
Mmmm pudding!
Seriously, sorry for being so behind in answering reviews.
Legolas deserves a cookie, doesn't he? Poor thing. It's tough to know someone you love is getting into trouble but not know how to help them without 'telling' which is just such a mortal sin to kids. Hallion is a good safe person to talk to. I'm glad you liked that scene. I had fun writing it because I like Hallion a lot. He will have more opportunities to help Legolas as he gets older. :-)
Thanks so much for the review, FP!
French Pony
· 24 April 2007
· Chapter 13: Affectations--Part Four
I loved the first scene. Thranduil just totally owns Tulus there. But when he went to talk to Dolwon and Dannenion -- I think we could all guess that that one wasn't going to go so well. No parent likes to be told that Their Kid has done something wrong, especially by the king. Thranduil may be fooling himself into thinking that he's talking father to father here, but I don't think Dolwon and Dannenion are entirely convinced of that.
Then I read this: “What sort of a child would be so deceitful that they would tell lies designed to deflect blame from themselves? I have never heard of such a thing. Where would a child as young as our children learn such behaviors?”
and I just about fell out of my chair laughing. Thranduil is such a first-time parent. Because we all know that little kids never ever EVER lie to deflect blame. Right? Right? *crickets*
Freja
· 24 April 2007
· Chapter 14: Affectations--Part Five
I really should be writing on my thesis, but I have decided that a break is in order to write a review saying, again, how much I enjoy this story. I have signed up as a member of SoA so that I might get story-alerts, when updates arrive. What a great thing! And you are going to update on Dawn of a New Age! I will talk another (hopefully well-deserved)break later to read that story again in anticipation of a new chapter..
How fortunate for Legolas to have someone as Hallion in the family, who isn't the father of any of his cousins, and so is a little "safer" to talk to about such things as rule-breaking! And I agree with Daw the Minstrel that the whole extended family is very well thought out. (Can you say that? If not, then I probably just translated it directly from Danish, :-))It's good to have fun-loving uncles, confidants who aren't your parents and great friends among your cousins.
In spite of all this, I really think you are a mean author! Leaving us to guess what exactly Thranduil decided about Tulus.. Mean, I say!! I'm so curious now to see what will happen.
Marie
Author's reply
I am so sorry to be so long in replying to this. I would have sworn I had already replied to reviews and I only just now realized that I had not.
You are right. Legolas is lucky to have Hallion and that will be proven repeatedly as he gets older. Hallion is a good, safe family member, since he is none of the other children's fathers. I very much enjoy the extended family dynamics.
In spite of all this, I really think you are a mean author! Leaving us to guess what exactly Thranduil decided about Tulus.. Mean, I say!!
Hehehe! :-) Thranduil's decision is very central to Legolas's childhood, but you will not find out what is was or why it is so important for a good while, though you will be seeing the results of that decision as we go along. Poor Tulus.
I sympathize with you regarding taking breaks from writing your thesis. That is difficult work! Work has kept me from updating as regularly as I liked, but I will have that promised chapter of Dawn up in a few hours.
Thank you so much for the reviews! I very much appreciate them!
Elven Warrior Princess
· 23 April 2007
· Chapter 14: Affectations--Part Five
And so the plot thickens! This is just getting more and more interesting by each chapter. I wonder what Dolwon and Dannenion are up to, I hope I get to find out soon. I'm actually hoping that Galithil and Glilavan get caught out and be punished for what they are doing. This has been a great chapter and I'm looking forward to more :D and see some Thranduil action.
Author's reply
Good to hear from you! I thought I had answered these reviews and just realized I didn't when I logged on. Sorry! I'm glad you are continuing to enjoy. You certainly will find out what Dolwon and Dannenion are up to. And Galithil must certainly be caught! ;-) And Thranduil action? Definitely. We loves Thranduil, we do, precious. ;-) Thanks so much for the review!
daw the minstrel
· 22 April 2007
· Chapter 14: Affectations--Part Five
You do these nice domestic scenes very well, Elliska. And I like the way you've created this extended family. It must have been the norm in most places, though I for one tend to forget that when I write. It's just such a foreign world. As, by the way, is the way Aradunnon has to think of his brother as his king. He's had years to practice, but I assume it's hard to do.
Loved the detail of how Thranduil's decisions are all recorded and kept in the library. Man, that would be a boring job most of the time. Looks like the elflings are going to get some library research practice. Go them, even if it will be fruitless. Clever Thranduil to anticipate that.
Legolas is struggling with a difficult decision, and I really liked the way Hallion told him it wouldn't be the last one.
The ending sure sounds like trouble brewing.
I was really glad to see this tonight, Elliska. It's a good read.
Author's reply
Oh wow, I thought I had already anwered these and I just realized I didn't! So sorry!
Yeah, poor Aradunnon. He knows exactly how he is supposed to behave. He's just got the same hot temper that Thranduil can sometimes have, so he forgets sometimes. The dynamics in a family like this really fascinate me. :-)
This is a toughy for Legolas, but Hallion is right and it won't be the last one, will it. I'm glad you commented on that.
And I am also amused that you commented on how boring the record keeping job would be. Too right. A nice job for misbehaving adolescent elflings, I think. I doubt Legolas and Galithil will completely agree with me though, as you will eventually see. ;-)
Thanks so much for the review, daw!
Bodkin
· 11 April 2007
· Chapter 13: Affectations--Part Four
Wow! Tulus is being tactful!! I almost get the feeling that he and Thranduil could come to a wary understanding - especially as Tulus seems clearly fond of and appreciative of Legolas. (No surer way to a father's heart.)
But then - he has a father's heart, too - and Gilbert is clearly an idiot. Not even clever with it, but one waving a flag with a message on it, saying 'I am an idiot'. I am very glad Legolas withstood temptation - but since Galithil has already fallen, trouble is doubtless on its way.
It will be awful if Maidhien, who has made her way into the edge of the elflings' friendship group, turns out to be the one who succeeds in causing the trouble. But she is a suspicious - and rather defiant - little thing. (Parental influence, no doubt.) And will unconsciously introduce the palace elflings to things their parents would prefer them not to learn.
Dolwon seems a bit more sensible than Dannenion. Perhaps Thranduil might manage to shove a wedge between the two of them. (I loved the 'can I borrow a cell' line!)
But matters are getting increasingly complicated as the elflings grow older. And Galithil gets more headstrong.
Author's reply
Poor Tulus! :-) He really is trying. And he really likes the children. Of course he has his own (adult) child, as you said... And he is more troublesome, indeed. Galithil has definitely made a bad mistake. And poor little Maidhien. She just doesn't know better. She has so many bad influences.
(And I think there were many times my parents considered a cell for me). ;-)
Thanks so much for the review, Bodkin! I really appreciate them!
Marie
· 9 April 2007
· Chapter 13: Affectations--Part Four
Hi Elliska
I have been reading your stories for some time now, and I thought I might poke my head out and tell you that I'm enjoying them very much, and I'm happy to see you back again and continuing this epic journey. You did give us a preview of how it will all end in Valinor, and you have had me hooked since that very beginning.
I'm really liking Tulus (much to my surprise)but does he still know more than is good for him? Since I'm guessing he was the one to send for Conuiön.. And what did Thranduil see, or not see, in those branches?
I found myself being really proud of Legolas when he kept his promises (as if I had something to do with that.. :-)), and I think Thranduil would have been too, if he could get over his anger at Glalivon, for teaching the elflings, when he was not supposed to.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I think you are doing a wonderful job, and I am patiently (or not, as it would be) waiting for the rest of this story.
Regards,
Marie
Author's reply
Hi Marie! I so appreciate you dropping in with a review. It is such a fun surprise for me! I am very glad to be back posting as well. I missed my fun writing time and I am glad to have reclaimed it a bit.
Tulus knows a great deal. He really becomes an important character, though he has a long way to go in this story yet. As for what Thranduil saw, you will find that out in the next chapter, but I'll leave you wondering about why he saw it for a while--mean author! ;-)
Legolas was a very good child in this chapter, because playing with that bow had to be tempting. I think Thranduil would have been very proud of that.
Thank you so much for the review! I am glad you are enjoying!
daw the minstrel
· 8 April 2007
· Chapter 13: Affectations--Part Four
I really liked Legolas's belief that a promise is to be kept, quickly echoed by Thranduil telling Maidhien that he was keeping his promise to her. And it looks like Thranduil is making progress with Dolwon if not Dannenion.
Galithil is bold as brass, even willing to argue with Thranduil, who, as Tulus notes, comes from a fiery family. Of course, so does Galithil.
Author's reply
We have talked about before that promises/one's word would be very important in general to these people and particularly to Thranduil's household. I definitely believe that. And the significance of it is fun to play with. :-)
Sometimes, if I am having trouble doing anything else, I put two characters together that can't really be together in the story, but that I think would be funny to play with, and I write a silly dialogue between them, just to get myself going. Galithil and Oropher together usually make me laugh. Galithil is a First Age spirit--definitely fiery. ;-)
Thranduil definitely made some progress, in more ways than he yet knows.
Thanks so much for the reviews, daw. I really appreciate them so much!
Aelinmir
· 4 April 2007
· Chapter 99999: Cast of Characters
pleases do not take so long to review. i need to know what happens. i am now off to read the previous stories
Author's reply
:-) I am trying very hard now to stick to updating once a week, so hopefully that is often enough. I'm glad you are enjoying and thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!
Bodkin
· 3 April 2007
· Chapter 12: Affectations--Part Three
Goodness, but Legolas has inherited his parents' qualities! Tulus didn't stand a chance against him - and, fortunately, he said the right things. On the whole. And Tulus's clear admiration for Oropher must help Thranduil see some good in him. (Tulus is just such a likeable character - it pains me that he is meshed in all the Black Swan's nastiness. And that his son is such a deceitful idiot.)
And I loved Thranduil playing truant and escaping all his carers! He definitely needs time off if the thought of walking across the grass on his own to see Abbott and Costello makes his heart leap with joy. The rebellion of sneaking off on a ride without guards! (Being a king has definite down sides. And constant company must be one of them.)
Now Legolas is about to find Galithil doing exactly what he's forbidden to do - with the collusion of one of his father's lieutenants! What is he going to do about that without making matters worse? (I hope it all comes out before the sticky toffee thickens around them - but I doubt it. Too simple.)
I love this story, elliska. Such a gorgeous family - and such a happy time for them all. Whether they realise it or not!
Author's reply
:-) You have Tulus just right, poor thing. He has a rough go of things all through this story. It is just beginning here.
Abbott and Costello! Hilarious! I'm going to have a hard time thinking about Dolwon and Dannenion after that. My laptop has been having a really hard time with tea the last few days.
But too true that Thranduil needs some time off if he is that happy just to walk to the barn alone. I would truly hate that celebrity life that public figures have.
And Legolas is in for a shock. Galithil has made a real mistake this time. It will be a while in revealing its full significance. But he has definitely made a mistake.
I am glad you are still enjoying, Bodkin. :-) Thanks so much for the review!
perelleth
· 1 April 2007
· Chapter 12: Affectations--Part Three
I absolutely adore this! Thrnaduil was great as an adult free from supervision, enjoying his free time and thinking of missing his appointemnet! And then Tulus trying too avoid Legolas' pert questioning! The child was totally irressistible! Now I am eager to see waht he finds out when he reachedçs the archery range... and Thrnaduil thought that he would have a difficult conversation!
BUt the arrival of Oropher to Greenwood was teribly moving and well done, I can picture only too well the amazement of the Silvan at his powerful appeareance! Wonderful image, Tauron-like!
Author's reply
I think Thranduil needs some time! I imagine he would enjoy being left alone to enjoy himself a bit (especially if it was not accompanied by annoying conversations with Dolwon and Dannenion). :-)
And Tulus had no hope, did he? Legolas just was not going to give up. But you are right that he has a surprise for him at the archery range!
I'm glad you enjoyed Tulus's perspective of Oropher's arrival. I think it must have been pretty amazing to the elves that had stayed behind and not seen anyone come East in so long. And I just love Oropher, so I imagine he must have been quite amazing.
Thanks so much for the review, Perelleth! :-)
lyncarol333
· 31 March 2007
· Chapter 12: Affectations--Part Three
Yay updates, (3 updates). Goes to sit outside in the sun to read.
Thanks for continuing this fic.
Author's reply
I happened to be watching Fellowship when I read this and had just passed the part in Bree at the gate (Hobbits! Four Hobbits!), so that is what I heard in my head when I read the review and it made me laugh. :-)
I hope you enjoyed and thanks so much for reading and reviewing. :-)