elliska
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
LOL! As more and more people went into that cave, I just knew nothing good was going to come of it. Beliond is too much! He distrusts someone that would pick a lock, does he? And he would know why Thranduil ate rilliums. Loved that explanation. And the rillium fight! *Shudder* That was hilarious. I bet Thranduil laughs about that for a long time to come. I certainly laughed myself silly with this chapter. Great story, daw. I hope you do more. :-)
Author's reply
I had to work hard to get all those people in that cave and under lock and key! But once I did, I knew I had gold.
Thranduil strikes me as the kind of guy who would eat gross food just to prove how tough he was, especially when he was young. And of course, Beliond and Maltanaur know where all the bodies are buried.
I'm glad I amused you, Elliska.
thechevin
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
Oh but there are so many things left to be resolved you can not possibly end it here.
I still do not know what the gift from Dale was, Beliond is obviously going to get his revenge on well everybody I guess, but especially Legolas.
Thank goodness he managed to put his lock picking skills to good use, although Eilian is going to want to know how and where he learned them
Thranduil has to speak to his sons about there strange behaviour, I loved their shared rolling of the eyes at Adar and his grandson.
We don't know what those sneaky men have been upto if anything?
And Alfirin deserves some success for all her efforts although Thranduil seemd very happy
A real hoot from start to end all it has done of course is make me even more desperate for more stories from your Woodland Realm
Pretty please!!!!
Author's reply
The gift from Dale was very fine. Didn't you hear Sinnarn? :-)
I suspect you're right that Eilian will pester Legolas to death until he comes through with a lockpicking lesson. Look how handy the skill was after all.
Legolas and Eilian must just be mystified about how much Thranduil approves of Sinnarn, but I figure Sinnarn has his parents to raise him so Thranduil can just enjoy him. He's a responsibility-free zone for Thranduil.
The poor men weren't up to anything much except shuddering over the too-much-information of beggeting days.
Glad you enjoyed it, Judy.
Dot
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
*wheeze* What are you doing to me, woman! I have permanently ruined my reputation of dignity by snorting with laughter under the desk at work!
Oh, how I enjoyed this chapter. I knew Maltanaur must have overheard them and would end up involved.
Aunt Glilan is priceless. At first I thought she meant Thranduil and Lorellin’s little “picnic” place in the forest and I was horrified but apparently there’s an island! I love the idea of them paddling out there together. Probably with boats of guards following them like ducklings… I groaned out loud, though, when Alfirin decided that someone should check on the boats!
Beliond is a howl. How inconsiderate of Thranduil to have so many people present at his celebrations that Beliond’s self-appointed, utterly needless task is made more difficult! “You really have to be suspicious of a Man who would do such a thing,” Beliond said. He pulled his dagger out of his boot and set to work picking the lock. ROTFL!!!
I love Beliond’s explanation of Thranduil and the rilliums: “The only reason he ate them was that he wanted to defy Oropher and prove how daring he was.” If only his sons knew! But even funnier was Beliond’s next line, “Surely he stopped doing it once he became king.” That struck me as hilarious. I’m still laughing.
“Helad must have found out Thranduil likes them and hopes he poisons himself.” Oh yeah, that’s the only explanation, Beliond. You know what Men are like. And it’s not as though anyone would ever have figured out who did it.
And Nalden! Such a helpful and eager-to-please child…
Beliond trying to be all macho is hysterical. I was nearly bouncing in my seat wanting to know what happened once they discovered they were locked in. I know it’s wrong of me but I was giggling in delight when the bag tore – and then Beliond lands on his backside in the middle of the mess. Now, what poor sod is going to have to go and clean vomit and rillium goo out of the cave??
Legolas “singing” was so funny. Iseniel must think he’s a nutcase. And of course Eilian comes along just at that moment. Still, at least it was someone who understands!
“Some villain lured us in here with rilliums and then locked the door.” ROTFL! Best line ever. I’m totally with Eilian and Legolas on whooping with laughter.
He drew his dagger from his boot and wiggled the tip into the lock. Go Legolas! Bet Beliond is glad he showed him that little trick.
The next part had me holding my sides. A rillium fight! And they all so annoyed with each other! Brilliant. By the way, I love all the efforts to describe what the rilliums smell like - a thousand unwashed Men crammed sweating into a room where ale was served, if a dozen possums had become trapped under a cottage and died and sprouted mushrooms for six months, they would smell like this…
“Mae govannen, Adar.” *howls* What a scene Thranduil has stumbled across! LOL too at him all but patting Sinnarn on the head!
I am so glad that Iseniel put Legolas straight. It’s about time he realised that she wasn’t automatically interested in him! I’m guessing it’s the last time she visited Thranduil’s palace too…
Poor Alfirin. Lying down with a cold cloth, huh? Thranduil needs to go and reassure her! I love how funny Thranduil finds all this. He needs a good belly laugh now and then. He must have been amused if he isn’t even bothered to do anything about Legoals and Eilian! And it turns out the Men have bonded over their mutual horror and astonishment – so all in all, the whole begetting day celebration was a huge success! I’m so sorry this is over, but I enjoyed it immensely :-) And I was thrilled we got to see not only the bodyguards and Calith, but I won’t have to annoy you about Calith’s son and Maltanaur’s grandson any more!
Such fun. I’ll be chuckling to myself for the day now!
Author's reply
Thank you, Dot.
I meant to put the first few paragraphs of chapter 3 (where Maltanaur goes to the cave and finds it locked) at the end of chapter 2, so it would end with Maltanaur going in search of Beliond, but I copied the file wrong!
This story was a good opportunity to just let myself go. Like having Beliond complain about people who pick locks as he's drawing his dagger. I read that to my husband after I wrote it and even he laughed. Actually, Beliond was great to write about. This situation called up all his paranoia and left him confused because there were so many possible targets for his wrath. He just had to settle on Sinnarn. After all someone had to pay!
Thranduil strikes me as the kind of guy who might eat disgusting food just to prove how tough he was. But the friends of his youth would know dang well what he was up to.
Smell turned out to be hard to describe so I had to rely on comparisons. And once I got started, they multiplied too.
So it was you who pointed out that Maltanaur's grandson and Calith's son were the right age to hang out with Sinnarn! I should have known. Thank you! It was a great idea and they were fun to work with. Poor Calith. He must be thinking about sending his son off for a long visit with relatives.
Glad to have amused you, Dot. Giggle away.
Noor
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
Fabulous fun.............but so short!
I would like to thank you for capturing the humour of Thranduil and his clan.
I really enjoyed this yarn!
Any more to come??
I know you are busy but it would be great to have another story.
Noor
Author's reply
I don't write humor very often and this was great fun to do. It will probably be a while before I post another fanfic. I have to go out of town on business next week, then back to teaching, and I'm still trying to get my original novel in shape to submit. But geez, this was great to write. I could sort of let myself go and have a good time.
Bodkin
· 18 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
I am so pleased that Iseniel told Legolas she wouldn't be interested in him if he was the last elf in Arda. He does need to know that not all the maidens presented by proud parents for him to inspect are willing to fall before the old Thranduilion charm! Especially since the old Thranduilion charm here means burping, singing off key and stinking of rillium juice. (Even Eilian would have a job carrying that off. With someone already half-hooked.)
This is just so comic - I love seeing Maltanaur, Beliond (and Calith, poor elf) wrong-footed here. Eilian, especially, must love them having been trapped in a cave with the stinking fungi. He's heard so much from Maltanaur on the subject of not letting his desire for action run away from his brain - and then for the chief side-kicks of the three royal sons to get locked in a cave in almost-total innocence by an (excuse the word, Nalden) elfling, is just hilarious.
And Eilian is impressed by Legolas's lock-picking skills. Well, he would be, wouldn't he? Legolas could hardly invent a better person to witness his use of them. One, too, who understands only too well just what you don't tell Adar.
The degeneration into a rillium fight - it'll take days for them to get rid of the smell - and the inevitable arrival of Thranduil... I loved the way Sinnarn dropped into the explanation the trials he went through to find the right present for his daeradar - and the look exchanged by Thranduil's long-suffering sons at Daeradar's instant proud understanding. Not to mention the equally instant belief that it must have been Legolas and Eilian who were at fault.
This is certainly going to be an unforgettable begetting day - not quite, I suspect, in the way Alfirin hoped. She probably won't risk doing this again in a good while. The next major family occasion will probably be Sinnarn's coming of age. When at least tradition will keep several members of the family under control. Hopefully.
So many things left out - Beliond lock-picking as he expresses his feelings on the untrustworthiness of men, Thranduil Beliond and Maltanaur being young together, Thranduil eating rilliums as a form of defiance, Calith vomiting, Beliond sitting down in rillium slime, Legolas's mild 'Mae govannen, Adar'...
It's such an entertaining story. Poor Alfirin...
Author's reply
Did you ever watch music videos? There was an old one with David Lee Roth in which a bunch of odd people wander around a grocery store in the middle of the night and the clerk makes kissy noises at a female customer and she says something like, "Not if you were the last immigrant grocery clerk on earth!" It was so un-PC that it made me howl (a very pregnant woman in a wedding gown was also in the store) and I was thinking of it when I wrote that scene in which Iseniel tells Legolas to get over himself. :-)
Nalden is such a sweetie. He'll be horrified if he ever works out that he was the one who locked them in there. Fortunately his father snatched him out the line of fire.
As for Thranduil, he just knew Legolas and Eilian must have been setting a bad example for Sinnarn! The old guy really treasures his relation with his grandson and that makes me happy too.
Poor Alfirin indeed!
Gwynhyffar
· 17 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
OMG I am laughing so hard. The rillium fight was too funny and I can just see Beliond's indignation and Sinnarn's horror at the start of it. I bet Alfirin had something to say the lot of them when it was all over.. well, once she spoke to them again.
I loved this story, Daw. It was great to read something funny from you, you should do it more often.
Author's reply
I had a great time writing this. I let myself go, for once, and even had an easier time finding vivid language. And I laughed even when I was all by myself in front of my computer. :-)
So I'm glad you enjoyed it, Gwyn.
LOTRFaith
· 17 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
As my mom would say "Often the things we plan for happen right under our noses, but we are too busy looking at them to realise it." Lol... Legolas got Beliond :-D :-)
Author's reply
Wow. That's a cool thing your mother says.
Legolas laughed about that too. But not in front of Beliond!
French Pony
· 17 March 2006
· Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans
Poor old Alfirin. She always gets exactly what she wants. On the bright side, there are times when she makes Ithilden look relaxed, and that's quite a feat.
Sinnarn is just a natural target, isn't he?
I love the idea of Beliond and Maltanaur and Thranduil all being kids together. It's great that Thranduil can trust them with his own kids, and it makes for some interesting glimpses of Thranduil's younger, more frat-boy-like days. And it's probably what keeps Beliond and Maltanaur from doing the natural thing and wringing the necks of Legolas and Eilian. . . who are, of course, doing the natural thing and laughing themselves silly at the sight of Beliond and Maltanaur all locked up.
But the best line of the whole story was this one: “I suppose he could have picked the lock,” Maltanaur said.
“You really have to be suspicious of a Man who would do such a thing,” Beliond said. He pulled his dagger out of his boot and set to work picking the lock. It sprang free, and he pulled the door open.
A little bit of irony goes so far in seasoning farce.
Thranduil is great here, just calm and cool and completely in control. I think he's the only one who remembered that the day is a party and that people are supposed to be having fun.
Author's reply
I too like the idea of Beliond, Maltanaur, and Thranduil being kids together. I can imagine all sorts of good times! And I've always thought that Thranduil named Beliond as Legolas's keeper as much for Beliond's sake and Legolas's. He knew Beliond needed to come in from the cold and be around people again. Too bad for Legolas he was the one who had to coax Beliond around. He didn't know that was part of the deal.
I giggled about that lock picking thing too. I repeated it to my husband and even he laughed and he never reads my stuff or anything.
I suspect the rillium flingers were having fun in a twisted kind of way.
elliska
· 17 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Oh I love Nalden already. He is a cutie. I have to admit, I was really worried what Sinnarn was planning with those shovels until I saw they were searching for the Mirkwood equivilent of truffles. Hehehe--his friends are going to think both he and Thranduil are crazy for eating them. I was also really worried that nosey Eman might get himself locked up or stuck in the cave (it would serve him right). I loved Sinnarn's reactions to that whole situation: Mannish Rubbish. Thranduil would have loved that. But Eman's reactions to elves had me rolling! I really hope he figured out his mistake with Eilian. He richly deserves the embarrassment.
Hehehe--I wonder what Helad was doing. I love Beliond. He is truly my favorite of your characters.
Author's reply
Beliond looks confused but says, "Thank you." Then he wanders off to figure out what he's doing wrong. :-)
Eman made me laugh. I've been wanting to write that about begetting days for a long time now. When I'm writing only about elves, they seem so normal to themselves that it's hard to make them seen anything other than human, so it was fun to have a human look at them and roll his eyes.
Gwynhyffar
· 16 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
I loved coming home to an update on this story. :) Sinnarn is trying so hard to be sweet to his grandfather, but I suspect all may not go as planned. I almost feel sorry for Alfirin. Well, I would feel sorry for her if it wasn't so dang funny!
Can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's reply
Glad you liked it, Gwyn. I liked writing about Sinnarn's love for his grandfather. Thranduil needs that, I think. Sinnarn is sort of a complicationg free zone for him. He doesn't have to raise him, just enjoy him.
Bodkin
· 16 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Delicious. Unlike the rilliums. Which sound rather like the durian fruit. I love it that Sinnarn's affection for his grandfather is powerful enough to make him try them. And that he is prepared to dig up the stinking things and take them back as a gift. (I hope Thranduil is so pleased that he cooks a few to share with the Men of Esgaroth and Dale. They would be delighted by the honour done to them... Wouldn't they?)
I love Nalden tagging along behind Calylad and Sinnarn, too. And young admirers have their uses! Let me see. Padlock. I wonder if Legolas's recently acquired skills might prove useful somehow. Although he really doesn't want his adar finding out about them.
And Mannish rubbish!! Sinnarn definitely hasn't attended tact school. Even Uncle Eilian can manage more subtlety than that!
This when he approached Calylad and Nalden, they did not flinch, so he assumed he was clean enough was just so funny! I don't know why it cracked me up even more than the rest, but it did.
Eman of Esgaroth is lucky not to have Beliond on his tail. He doesn't seem to pack a great deal of diplomatic skill when dealing with Thranduil's close family - but then, in a way, it's not surprising he's shaking his head at the general weirdness of elves. He's hilarious over the begetting day thoughts, too. And never likely to be illuminated over the answers, because there are some questions you just don't ask.
Beliond was a little frightening. Yeah. Like water is a little wet. And liquid nitrogen is a little cold.
Great stuff. Looking forward to more. And in hope that Beliond looks at you with that expression and demands that you detail lots more of Mirkwood's history.
Author's reply
Durian! I was trying to think of the name of that fruit. Yes. I thought of the rilliums as kind of a cross between the durian and truffles.
It made me happy just to write that Sinnarn loved his grandfather. You know Thranduil just basks in that.
I got all excited when I realized that Maltanaur's grandson and Calith's son were not too far from Sinnarn in age. I think either you or Dot pointed that out to me first. Poor Calith. Nalden is such a sweetie.
I figure Eman is a member of an elected Trade Council in Esgaroth, just doing this temporarily. Sort of like presidents appointing their businessman buddies to be ambassadors to all the fun countries. Although I don't know how much fun Eman is having. And you're so right. He's never going to ask to be enlightened about begetting days! You have to admit, that whole concept is a little odd. What was Tolkien thinking?
Idhreniel
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
"Beliond was a little frightening." Hahaha this line made me laugh a lot! I just imagine who Beliond looked like when he passed by the man.
So, beloved Thranduil likes stinking mushrooms? Men are so curious, more curious than children? I can't wait for the next chapter!
Author's reply
Beliond is a pretty scary guy, as Legolas would tell you. He has to spend all his time on duty with him!
ScarlettPendragon
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Hi DAW!!
OMG!! You're back!! (**Glomps on and Hugs DAW**)
And with a fantastic new story - I cannot wait to see what Eman comes up with to complete with "Helad's" odoriferous gift!! And I love that even the less perceptive humans can sense just how scary Beliond is!! LOL
And Chapter 1!! I see Eilian is being his usual michevious self - I'm sure he'll manage to get in even more trouble before the end of the story!! And what was Legolas thinking?! I know he didn't really want to talk to the poor girl, but belching at her (clearly he didn't pick up all his bad habits from Gimli!)!?! He can thank the Valar that Thranduil (or Alfirin!) didn't catch him!!
OMG!! I can't even express the joy I felt at reading this story!! This is like meeting up with friends you haven't seen in a while, but whom you pick up with where you left off with immediately - it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside!! I am looking forward to more chapters - I'm just hoping nothing bad happens to Nalden in the next one!!
Thank you so much for sharing this story with us!!
Scarlett
Author's reply
LOL. Hi, Scarlett.
I'm having fun with this story, although it's only one more chapter after this.
Legolas and Eilian both have been behaving in ways Adar might not approve of. And poor Alfirin. She has this all male household and she just wants things to be NICE. LOL. They do what she says, but they can't help themselves. They're male.
I'm so glad you're enjoying this.
emjo
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
As much as I like this story I would like to hear more about this family camping trip. Camping with Thranduil, Legolas and all the other fine members of the house of Oropher, count me in! Anyway another great chapter I can't wait to see what happens next.
Author's reply
As much as I like this story I would like to hear more about this family camping trip
It's happened before that I mention something in a story and people say, "Tell that story!" I mentioned the mice in the palace in "Tangled Web," and then wound up writing that story in "Legolas's Begetting Day." And then in "Legolas's Begetting Day," I mentioned that he had once been separated from his family in the woods and wound up writing that in "All Those Who Wander." So this could go on forever!
I'm glad you liked it, emjo.
Manderly
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Oh, this story is such a delight! You have left us with so many opportunities to imagine the different possibilities that it's impossible not to laugh at things that you haven't even written. Does that make sense?!
Sinnarn can outdo even Eilian in getting into mischief. It's amazing how one generation's difference can make Thranduil accept so readily everything, good or bad, that Sinnarn does and yet the king would pull at his every hair if Eilian had pulled the same antics. But then my own father is like that so I shouldn't be surprised.
I really had visions of Eman of being locked in the cave with those smelly rillium and thus starting a war between the Wood Elves and Esgaroth. The head-scratching over the idea of a begetting day by Eman had me sputtering over my keyboard.
I hope you have more of Beliond coming up. I miss the grumpy old bear and would love to see him carrying on in the role as the Mirkwood intimidator of Men.
Thank you for such an entertaining chapter!
Author's reply
Hey, if you want to imagine scenes and laugh at them, I'm thrilled! I do that all the time with stories I like.
Thranduil and Sinnarn have a close relationship that is precious to them both, I think. It pleased me to have Sinnarn think about how he loved his grandfather. And Legolas and Eilian must sometimes look at one another and roll their eyes. Indeed, I know they do. :-)
I too scratch my head a little about the idea of a begetting day. What are they thinking??? Beliond will be present in the last chapter. How could I do without him? After all, what we have here is a cave with a lock.
Dot
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Beliond is hysterical! He isn’t even bothering to be discreet any more, just stalking around after hapless Helad.
How adorable is it that Nalden trails after the other two?! It reminds me that part in Bodkin’s story when Siondel tells Emmelin how Sinnarn used to follow Legolas and Annael around. Nalden seems like a sweet kid. I do hope he’s not going to end up in trouble…
What I love most about this is how much Sinnarn obviously loves his grandfather. Even though I’d personally prefer someone show their love for me in a less smelly manner. And they’ve even been on a camping trip! Hilarious image of Thranduil calmly slicing stinky mushroom thingies and the guards backing away in horror :-D So, Sinnarn is planning on giving them to Thranduil uncooked and pongy?? LOL. Oh well, I suppose the cook would have to prepare them if the king ordered it. What’s Sinnarn done with the original contents of the bag anyway?
Eman isn’t Esgaroth’s chief diplomat, is he? Because he’s as obvious as Beliond juggling knives in a Dale marketplace. I just loved the whole part with him trying to figure out what’s going on. It’s just priceless. When you look at it from his point of view, elves are a bit odd! The scene with him looking in the bag had me in stitches, along with him pondering the ‘elven delicacy.’ And after Sinnarn going to the trouble of hiding it, Eman just drops the bag and legs it out of the cave. This poor guy is not having a good time in the Woodland Realm. And apparently, neither is Helad. For a moment, Eman almost felt sorry for the man from Dale. Beliond was a little frightening. ROTFL!
The child was too young to worry about. Ah now, see that coupled with him telling Sinnarn that he can count on him has me worried. But actually, I don’t mind what happens – I’m just thoroughly enjoying watching them all! I do love a good laugh :-)
Author's reply
Beliond operates on the principle that if Helad knows he's there, he won't try anything. And the poor man is a little rattled!
I thought of that line in Bodkin's story too, the one where Alfirin worried that they would go off and forget Sinnarn someplace and he was her greatest treasure. I love that story.
My favorite line in this chapter was the one where Sinnarn thinks it took all his love for his grandfather to make him eat the thingies. Thanduil needs that, I think. There's a special tie between these two that they each value. The thingies shouldn't have been pongy because they shouldn't have been cut into yet, but the shovels nicked them and they've been tossed around a bit since then.
I figure Eman is a member of the Trade Council in Esgaroth and as I recalled they elected their officials. So he's probably some merchant doing this for a stretch of time. Poor guy. He'll have tales to tell when he gets home. And no one is going to make him eat those things!
thechevin
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Oh what a lovely dance you are leading all of us, such complicated steps we have to follow to try and keep up with the elven shenanigns.
Does Thranduil have any idea of all that is going on around him or is he determinedly keeping his head below the parapet and letting them all get on with it.
Sinnarn is so sure his gift will be welcome but I am beginning to wonder especially since he doesn't think the cook would enjoy having it in his kitchen, I do like Nalden he seems destined to grow up just like his father I do hope we see more of him again.
As for the two men no wonder they are confused and anxious, Beliond following you around is enough to spook anyone
I can't wait to read the next part although I echo the words of another reviewer it is a double edge sword since that means we reach the end of the story
I do believe Afirin will have her wish about this being a begetting day Thranduil will never forget!
Author's reply
I have to admit I hesitated a little when I started laying this story out because I knew I would be jumping around a lot from character to character and as I say, there's a cast of thousands. So I was afraid it would be confusing. But then I decided I didn't care! LOL. It was too tempting.
At the moment, Thranduil is trying to convince the men to do as he wants and ally with him and one another. The other thing he's doing is whatever Alfirin tells him, which I think is wise in a situation like this. She's like a general arranging her troops. Of course, she doesn't know what some of the troops are up to.
Glad you liked it!
perelleth
· 15 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
ROTFL! cross-cultural parties! I love that!
Eman of Esgaroth is really having a bad day! The forest food of impredecible,maddening elves, the kids storing stinking gifts away and laughing at him, grooms in silken finery... A couple of days more there and he'll start looking for the blackboard were begetting day duties are allocated! :-)
Seeing the elves from a Man's POV was greatly done, Daw. Now I'm soo looking forward to what type of smelly thing Eman comes across as Thranduil's present!
And, of course, there is a mad one after HElad. No wonder the man looked tense!
Author's reply
I'll bet you've been to your share of cross-cultural parties too!
Eman's POV was fun to write, particularly the stuff about the begetting days, which really doesn't bear too much thinking about. Only Tolkien's dignified elves could have carried that idea out!
Yes, I think Helad has reason to look tense. Beliond isn't even trying very hard to stay out of sight. He wants Helad to sweat a little. I guess everyone needs to amuse themselves.
French Pony
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Ah, excellent. A French farce. Just what I needed tonight.
Now, Sinnarn is very clever, finding truffles without the aid of a pig. But he clearly hasn't learned anything about appropriate behavior, if he thinks he can just go dumping someone's birthday present off in a corner just so he can have the bag. Ah, teenage hormones. At least his heart's in the right place.
Eman, on the other hand, is just massively dumb. Very weird that he'd recognize Thranduil's youngest son and his grandson, but not the middle kid. But I love his thoughts on the Elves celebrating begetting days. I must admit, similar thoughts have occasionally floated through my brain, too. And his thoughts on the belching were wonderful. One of my aunts (not the one with the weddings) is a talented belcher, and Mom Pony occasionally threatens to send her off to the Middle East for her behavior. Not that this makes any difference, of course.
My brain is turning into guacamole. Signing off.
Author's reply
Hey! Sinnarn put Helad of Dale's present in the treasury or someplace (probably). And he needed the bag. And he does love his grandfather, which I find touching. I think Thranduil needs that.
I had that same thought about Eman recognizing Sinnarn and Legolas, but not Eilian, but it was too late to do anything about it. I decided he got introduced to them either in the Great Hall or at the party, but Eilian kept out of his way. And thus, I salved my authorial conscience. :-)
Poor Eman. He's completely at sea.
LOTRFaith
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
(grins) A thus... The plot thickens...
Author's reply
I hope so! There's not a whole lot of plot, though, just silliness. :-)
Yanic
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
Hahaha! Beliond from a human's perspective is still hysterical. What are those things? Are they an actual type of... thing? I was very happy/sad to see another chapter, happy because it's another chapter and a fabulous one to boot, but sad because it's one chapter closer to the end. I really can't wait to see how this all ties together. I have a suspicion that it's going to be very funny.
Author's reply
I made the things up. As a matter of fact, for most of my draft, I had "thingie" in the slot where the name is now. Then I made up the name (rillium?) and did a global search and replace. Beliond makes me laugh. He must be intimidating the heck out of Helad.
pipinheart
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
I have to agree with Sinnarn and friends, Eman is a little nosey, but he sure got his nose full of that awful smell. I hope when it is cooked it taste better...
Eman dosen't understand Elf culture for sure, still thinks Eilian is a groom...
Beliond isn't keeping it too secret about keeping an eye out on Helad quit a bit...
It seems he never takes a break, always the cautious on is Beliond...
Update soon... Great job...
Author's reply
LOL about the pun on nosy Eman. I never thought of that but you're right and it fits.
Beliond could sneak up on Helad if he wanted to, but he sees no need for secrecy at the moment. Maybe he even wants Helad to know he's keeping an eye on him. Less trouble that way!
Glad you liked it, pipinheart.
Alice
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift
I have a confession to make. I figured you'd be updating today so I've been hanging around online for the past forty minutes waiting to see if you would update. It was totally worth it though. Oh so many fun moments in this! I love Sinnarn. And Nalden. Oh god, their poor parents though. How on Earth did Ithilden, responsible must help daddy fight the orcs when he was four Ithilden, wind up with Sinnarn? I loved having most of this in Sinnarn's point of view. Though I really want to know what exactly he was digging up. Hee. Eman is so very lucky. I was so sure he was going to get padlocked in the boat storage cave. Oh teenage boys, you cause so much trouble. Eman's point of view was great too. Poor guy. He and Helad are going to wind up bonding over being surrounded by a the hippy woodelfs and stalked by the creepy one. That line about Beliond being frightening cracked me up. I cannot wait for the next chapter.
Author's reply
I'm so glad I obliged you, Alice!
How on Earth did Ithilden, responsible must help daddy fight the orcs when he was four Ithilden, wind up with Sinnarn?
That's exactly the question Ithilden is asking himself. And then he looks across the dining table at Uncle Eilian and his eyes narrow.
The boys dug up this fungus thing I made up. I thought of truffles, which grow underground like that and decided to just crank it up a little.
Eman is very lucky he didn't get padlocked in the cave, that's true. :-)
meckinock
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 1: Guests Arriving
I really missed these guys. It made me feel all warm and happy to see them again. And nothing's changed. Legolas is still as awkward with girls as Eilian is suave and debonair; Alfirin can still whip up a state dinner standing on her head, and Beliond is still slinking around spying on Men. Loved his crack at Legolas about listening to his hare-brained brother for once. Auntie Mame was delightful. And I truly enjoyed seeing Thranduil being made to enjoy himself. What makes me think it won't last?
Author's reply
It made me feel all warm and happy to see them again. I just sort of let myself go and played with the characters I'd already created. Glad you liked it.
Did you break down and pay for internet?
Idhreniel
· 14 March 2006
· Chapter 1: Guests Arriving
Great to read from you again! And thank you for writing about a party to my dear Thranduil...
The whole chapter was nice, as ever, but there are some lines that, for me, make your story so great. That exchange of smiles between Thranduil and Ithilden was an example. Eilian cleaning his fingers on his robes another. These small details make de difference. And, of course, our great Beliond staring at the men. He could not miss the party, could he?
I am curious to know what Bram sent Thranduil... will you tell us? And how about Legolas? Did his father also hear his protest? Hahaha!
Author's reply
Thank you, Idhreniel. I love Thranduil and I think he needs to have his family showing their affection for him. Alfirin is good at that kind of stuff.
I'm happily reading about the details you like. :-) Legolas was bad and he better hope his father and Aunt Glilan don't know it.