Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Glorious Summer by daw the minstrel	26 Review(s)
Antigone Q	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/10/2004
Ah...so Legolas is learning about the fine line he has to walk between friend and leader. He'll figure it out though, he's a quick learner. I thought that Eilian feeling Celuwen's longing for him was a nice touch. It fits with what you have already written about the binding of feelings in marriage. I also liked that Celuwen figured out within a couple of seconds that Eilian hadn't asked Ithilden for permission to go "check on her," and her quick assesment of what that would mean for Eilian's relationship with his father and brother. I love seeing astute women in fiction! I see you ended with a cliffie - luckily, I have chapter six right here... Author Reply: I think Legolas does figure it out, but it may leave him a bit lonely, poor guy. Celuwen is very astute, and she and Eilan are well matched. Thranduil should bless the day they bonded.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/28/2004
Well, things are intensifying. Legolas is handling himself well. His patrol is making progress hunting the men. I think we're going to have to watch Riolith. Not only is he struggling with the shadow, but he's a devoted friend to the much more cautious new captain. I see a set up for some problems with this fellow. Would you like me to explain to him about how the shadow worms its way into your deepest, darkest fears and generally gets on your last nerve? I'll be like Lucy in Peanuts and set up my psychoanalysis stand for 5 cents per session...at my newly located branch stand in the southern most parts of the forest. 'Branch stand'...sounds like it's in a tree, doesn't it? Legolas's reply to Gelmir about 'doing something about Sorion' was very good. Quite the little diplomat...and officer. Have I mentioned in the last thirty minutes or so how much I like Maltanaur? He's got Eilian pegged. I loved how he knew what Eilian was feeling about Celuwen and just gently nudged him on. A very nice touch to their relationship. Things almost broke down when Celuwen asked Eilian if he had come to check on her. Telling the truth is always best...especially when you have a bond that sort of makes little white lies hard to conceal. Eilian's little early warning system is rarely wrong, and I see that this time is no exception. You have really left us hanging! But I note one important absence in the cabin...and he is more than armed and dangerous when 'his cub' is threatened. I can't wait to see what happens. Wonderful chapter, daw. Karen Author Reply: Legolas is handling himself well. I'm very proud of him. I am already using your concept of the shadow's effects (thank you very much), and Riolith is at least conceding that Legolas is doing OK. I suspect that some time on leave might set him right. And Gelmir doesn't seem disturbed. But it's fun to play with this small community whose members must get on one another's nerves sometimes. I think the fact the Eilian is truthful with Celuwen is what saved him. She sees his genuine worry, and as long as he doesn't interfere with her plans, she concedes his right to have it. Maltanaur is great. Hm. I wonder where he is? ;-)

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/28/2004
Oh you monster! How dare you write a cliffhanger! You never do this to us! And such a cliffhanger! Well it makes me glad I lost electricity...all the longer I waited to read this and therefore all the less time I have to wait for the update! Great chapter. I love the way Legolas deals with Gelmir. Very good! I love your adult Legolas and I think you do a great job with him. Of course the interaction between Sólith and Eilian is priceless in every bit. I liked most though how they both seemed to sense the need to hurry back to the settlement. Poor Eilian. "I'm used to it." He sooo is not. He brings so much of it on himself but he simply is who he is. Celuwen will be good at helping smooth things between Thranduil and Eilian I bet. She might be able to give them both the same mediation Eilian's mother once provided. Update soon. Please! Author Reply: First, I have to say I'm sorry about your electricity and all the other stressful damage that the storms are doing. That's it, isn't it? Aren't you in hurricane-ville? Anyway, I'm sorry. And then I have to say I'm not sorry about the cliffhanger at all! I hardly ever write them and I always forget how riled up people get. :-) Legolas does a good job with Gelmir and that can't be easy. Gelmir has known him since he was an elfling and has heard Eilian call him 'brat' on a regular basis. This must all be very trick for Elves, who stay adults for a very long time and don't have that passing of the generations thing. I do feel for Eilian. He needs to have an easier relation with Thranduil. I don't think it will ever be fully easy, but it could be better. And Celuwen will help! I have a draft more or less of the next chapter, but I need to let it sit now and then send it to my beta tomorrow. I think I hurried through the last part of it.

caz - baz	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/28/2004
ok here goes a flame... ...mental blank, oh dear... I've never really flamed anyone, well not intentionly anyway, usually it just comes out if i'm really peed off, so umm... yeah. I hate you I can't believe you left it on a cliff hanger. umm... yes that was my feeble attempt to flame you. Stop writing so well and I'll send you a proper flame. caz - baz ps: I hate cliff-hangers. Author Reply: That was excellent for a first try! I'm working on the next chapter. I have about 2000 words done, so it's coming along. daw

Susanlu	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/28/2004
¡°I cannot help it. It appears to be a family curse.¡± Alas, what an authentic joke! I like to see Legolas's self-mockery about his family background, for it has caused him enough disadvantages and he has the right to take some retrieve. So the action scene is present? I strongly suspect that Eilian and Celuwen will get help from their baby brother (in-law) at some emergency moments. Perhaps because today is Mid-Autumn festival in my country, and the entire family is supposed to gather round to enjoy the moon and eat moon-cakes, ect. Though it's impossible that Thranduil and Ithilden will join them, I hope the three in the royal family can be together at least, and I would willingly donate my moon-cake to them ^o^ Author Reply: What a lovely idea! What's a moon cake like? It's funny how Legolas's rank has made things harder for him, and yet I think you are right that it has. I suspect he was promoted partly because of who he is. He was born to be a leader, after all. He is also competent of course, but there were other competent people. So now he has to earn the respect of his warriors, which he is doing. Yes, indeed. Baby brother is on the way!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/27/2004
Legolas handled Gelmir exceptionally well. It's so hard to stand up to a family friend like that. Legolas not only did it, he did it nicely, so as not to let Gelmir down. Gelmir gave him a friendly poke, and Legolas neither overreacted nor underreacted. Poor Gelmir must be feeling like a real fifth wheel here, and it'll probably be good for him and Legolas to start becoming real friends. Celuwen's idea to sleep in the flet was a good one. With both Eilian and Sólith in the house, each with a claim on her affections, that'd just be way too much testosterone to have sloshing around that little cabin. And I'm sure Sólith has no desire to hear Ada's Little Girl going at it with her husband. To his credit, Eilian is at least trying to be diplomatic. I'm sure it's Celuwen's influence rubbing off on him. She knows that he has conflicts with Thranduil, and now she can feel it through their bond. I think this will bring out her maternal instincts. She sounds like she'd like to smooth things over, not just the immediate "Eilian marrying rashly" problem, but the deeper conflict of personality. Maybe she might take Lorellin's place as the mediator between Eilian and Thranduil. They both like her, and more importantly, they both seem to have a lot of respect for her. The alarm is interesting. I can see where it would provide a great alert that someone was nosing around the tree where the flet is. On the other hand, it probably chimes in the breeze and gives false alarms. And, while a flet by itself would be well hidden, a setup of ropes and crystals would give away that there is a flet in the tree. So there's both advantages and drawbacks. I bet it's pretty, though. I also think it's a safe bet that the sword currently threatening Eilian's ribs probably does not belong to Sólith, though I'm sure Sólith isn't too put out to see it there. Author Reply: Ooh. I think I like the idea of Legolas and Gelmir becoming friends. Legolas needs a friend here. It's hard for an officer and the king's son to have friends, but Gelmir has had practice with Eilian, so he knows the problems. Celuwen was a little annoyed with both Eilian and Solith. She wants them to just act their age, for pity sake, and instead they act like dogs marking their territory. In the past when I wrote about her, I consciously tried to have her NOT mother Eilian, on the grounds that he needed to be treated as an adult and his father did not do that. So far as she was concerned, his choices were his own. But I do think she sees the pain he's in and wants to change things. Several people have pointed out the problems that wind would make with that alarm system, and I did think that the flet would be well hidden on its own. Hm. I think elves are able to hear what's struck the chimes, be it wind, raccoon, or Man. How's that? :-) It would be amusing if it were Solith poking Eilian with a sword. He could say "What's this? A Wood-elf warrior caught unaware?" LOL

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/27/2004
LOL, you are so mean… ;-) Sorry this is a little late – I had to go to Limerick today to see a friend and am only just back. Legolas seems to be doing well with his little patrol. These Men must have got quite far into the forest if they’re that close to Home Guard territory. At least Legolas and co. have picked up their trail. Although, if the tracks are that obvious they might want to watch out for a trap. I’m just dying to know who these Men are who would have the guts to mess around with Elves in their own forest! Hmmn, Gelmir. I really do like him and I feel sorry for him being parted from Eilian and not being with his two best friends to share their happiness. But sigh he just shouldn’t have chanced his arm at taking advantage of Legolas like that… I think Legolas is inclined to realise a little too late into conversations that people he has always known are now under his leadership, but it’s a great pity that he also has to learn to now be wary of their motives, especially if they’re people he’s always trusted. At least he and Gelmir didn’t actually argue; Gelmir didn’t seem to be too bothered as long as he knows for definite where Legolas stands. That’s twice now that he’s defended Sórion. That has to earn him some respect by Riolith. It seems, though, that by being given the title of the lieutenant he is becoming, he is also more and more distanced from the others in the patrol. What a great lieutenant he is becoming, though! He’s really learning how to handle himself and others. Riolith seems a little too loyal to his friends – there could be trouble if he’s the type to hold onto a grudge. I imagine he’s the kind of person who’s probably grand most of the time but you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of him... I had to laugh when Eilian gets totally distracted by Celuwen’s presence nearby – how sweet!! I love Maltanaur. He has this gift for seeing right to the heart of the situation, especially if it involves Eilian being in trouble. He seems to be the only one who has realised that Celuwen might not be too thrilled at her husband’s arrival, no matter how convincing a story he conjures up. You know, I really like Isiwen. She seems to want nothing more than her daughter’s happiness and I can totally feel her gratitude as she sees Celuwen so full of life after they had come so close to losing her to her grief. “But why are you here?” Trust Sólith to ask the one question that Eilian didn’t want to be asked. And ask it repeatedly. I’m glad Eilian was honest with Celuwen. Lying would really have got him nowhere. I don’t blame Celuwen for being bothered by the fact that he’s basically checking up on her but at least she seems to accept that he believes his reasons are valid. LOL at them trying to come up with sleeping arrangements. That was far too good an opportunity to torment Sólith for Eilian to pass up. That alarm system is a nice little invention. I’m kind of picturing wind chimes, though - but they must be a bit different or they wouldn’t be much use on a windy night! Celuwen is actually being very patient with him. I mean, he’s annoyed her father and she knows he’ll have annoyed Thranduil and Ithilden. “But I hate to see you at odds with your adar! It pains you when he is angry with you, and do not try to tell me that it does not.” I think he’s really lucky to have someone who knows him so completely. I don’t think that even Legolas realises how much it hurts Eilian when Thranduil is angry with him; he just knows that he himself doesn’t like it when they’re at odds. Maltanaur probably does, of course, but he’s not going to make it all better with a little kiss… Celuwen must have made very convincing Bambi eyes to get Sólith to ask Eilian along. Either that or she and Isiwen totally ganged up on him. What a fun outing it must have been. I had the tiniest moment where I could understand Sólith’s frustration at being reassured of their safety and then being asked to move yet again. But I quickly squashed that feeling. “Then he turned, stepped into the cottage, and froze when someone shoved the point of a sword into his ribs.” What?? Why that cottage? Where are Celuwen and her mother? What just happened to Sólith? And more importantly, where the heck is Maltanaur?! Aw, c’mon, daw… You can’t do that to us… :-( Author Reply: The tracks were obvious to Elves anyway. These Men are not used to Elves and probably think they're being very sneaky. They have no idea at all what they're getting into. I think your assessment of the conversation between Legolas and Gelmir was right on. Gelmir probably would have liked it it Legolas backed him up, but he wasn't too upset when Legolas didn't and may even have gained some respect for him which will probably be useful then things start happening. Legolas is learning a lot here, but it does tend to distance him. Not that he's ever just been one of the guys, the king's son with his body guard by his side. I had originally intended to have Celuwen be more angry at Eilian for showing up, but when I thought about it, I couldn't see why. He wasn't questioning her competency to do her job. He was just worried about her safety, genuinely worried. He would have left her alone to carry out Thanduil's mission. It wasn't that at all. So I had her understand that, especially since he was truthful with her. Her real concern was the damage he had done himself by coming without clearing it with Ithilden or Thranduil. I did picture the alarm thing as being like wind chimes. I just didn't think far enough! Maybe they don't use them when it's windy? Maybe it doesn't get very windy in dense forest? Maybe their hearing is good enough that they can tell the difference between wind and intruders? Hm. I think that Eilian is very good at hiding his hurt, but he's been damaged by his troubled relation with his father. I'm thinking of letting Celuwen help make that better. The only thing I would point out about that particular cottage is that it's near the edge of the settlement. When Eilian and Maltanaur arrived, Eilian said it was the first one. Maltanaur is dead in a ditch. Haha! Only fooling.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/27/2004
great chapter, its just that... I CAN"T BELIEVE YOU LEFT IT THERE! -sofia Author Reply: Sorry! LOL Actually, I'm not sorry. It was fun. :-)

White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/27/2004
Oops. Eilian is a lot closer to the danger than he realized. You're not normally a cliffie type-writer, but you sure left one here. I loved the quiet moment Legolas spent under the tree. I've always tried to have times like that in my stories to show his connection to the nature he loves. I also like the respect his warriors are beginning to give him, not as their prince but as their leader. Author Reply: Yes indeed. Eilian was right that danger was nearby. :-) Legolas is slowly assuming his role as a leader. His warriors have been watching him and judging him and he's come out pretty well. So now they're ready to trust him.

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/27/2004
Oh, Wow! Eilian is vindicated in his feelings that something's amiss . . . but oh, at what a cost! And now he can flourish his warrior's skills and win his father-in-law's grudging approval -- oh, what a story! I love it! Now, is Legolas going to arrive on the scene too? I just can't wait! This is great! There were so many wonderful moments in this chapter -- here are a few that I really admired: *Legolas sat leaning against a tree that was humming with sleepy nighttime life and watched the stars emerge.* I love this because I relish the connection with the woods that Thranduil and his sons have. Plus it's just such a wonderful moment, to visit the woods in the middle of my work day. *Legolas blinked, suddenly uncomfortably reminded that Gelmir was no longer just his brother’s friend, one who had always teased Legolas almost as if he were his own younger brother. Gelmir was now a warrior in a patrol that Legolas was leading, and Legolas strongly suspected that at the moment, Gelmir was trying to take advantage of their long-term acquaintance.* Great leadership insight. I wish that all bosses were so careful of manipulation and gossip in the workplace. *He stared at her, with his breath quickening a little. “How could I not come?” he asked, his voice cracking a little. “I thought you were in danger.” * Oh, the sweet pain of love . . . this is a really fresh view of Celuwen's and Eilian's love for each other. It seems to have intensified since they married. Nice work in showing the deepening of their relationship, especially in that mind-soul bond that the Elves have. *Sólith nodded to Maltanaur, who regarded him from beneath half-lowered lids. Eilian had to suppress a grin. His keeper might be willing to surrender him for punishment to Ithilden and Thranduil, but he would defend him from anyone else with the ferocity of a mother bear protecting her cubs.** You know, I think that your whole concept of the "keepers" has been absolutely brilliant. The keepers can watch, comment, appreciate and care for our heroes in a way that verbalizes and intensifies the readers' attention. It's a great way of heightening the best moments of the story . . . the heroic moments . . . hey, I like all the love and kisses, but for me, the heroic actions and hearts of our men (not to mention their beautifully muscled archers' arms and shoulders :-) ) are still the joy and center of the story. I hope you don't mind me referring to Legolas et al as "our" heroes and "our" men . . . I have really internalized your world, haven't I? On to the next adventure . . . now, my heart's wish is to see great things happen and especially for my gorgeous heroes to come in for some much-needed h/c. . . . happy typing! Author Reply: Eilian has indeed been proven right, but I'm not sure he's happy about that at the moment. :-) One of the things I think Legolas is doing here is learning to function well when he's under stress and near to shadow. I think he needs to be able to do that in order to serve the Fellowship well later, so I wanted to show him learning that. He's also learning to be a good second in command. He's loyal to Sorion (even when he doesn't necessarily agree with him) but still obviously supportive of his warriors. I think that will be useful too. I'm having a good time exploring the idea of bonding a little. I think that Eilian and Celuwen are still frequently surprised by what it means, and so am I! The keepers have turned out to be interesting characters too, much more so than I expected when I first created them. I think in Eilian's case Thranduil really chose wisely. I think that Maltanaur's affection and support have helped Eilian in more ways than Thranduil ever expected. You can call these characters "ours" as much as you want! I'm glad you're so invested in them.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List