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Good Neighbors by daw the minstrel	21 Review(s)
White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/13/2004
I knew Eilian would be licking his chops at the idea of going after those orcs. When Turgon suggested he, Legolas and Annael hide that boy, I couldn't help but think of the time the three of them hid those mice in Legolas's room. I can't wait to find out how this plays out. That trio remains really good-hearted, no matter how much it may get them into trouble. Author Reply: Eilian is charmed by the twins. They're warriors after his own heart. Fortunately, I remembered in time that Maltanaur will have to go too, so he can ride herd on all of them. Poor guy! Bodkin mentioned the mice too and I also thought of them. It's like they've brought a stray animal home and hope to be allowed to keep him. The three friends are good hearted. They're also excited and fascinated by the kid, and doing something the adults wouldn't like is fun too!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/13/2004
Do the elflings not remember the mice? If they couldn't hide Green-y and the others, what hope to they think they have of concealing a man-child their own size who wears the uniform of Esgaroth? He's not going to survive on crumbs! Although, I concede, he is also not likely to climb on the apple tarts, or set up home in Thranduil's office. The child seems traumatised - and they are acting out of kindness (combined with a desire to push the boundaries), but they are going to be in so much trouble. And the child must have been famished to eat quantities of raw mushrooms - I hope they were edible. (Picked by Annael? Of course they would have been!) I wonder why he didn't try picking berries himself? Poor Annael - he is so used to being the star of this class. He is so embarrassed by his failure to bring back the food they need. (Legolas stars in archery - what does Turgon star in? Trouble-making doesn't count.) Sorion is a brave elf, but not a suspicious one - I somehow think he is not a father. The age thing is really odd with elves - age differences are so huge. I think there is a lot of 'stages of life' rather than years about it. Hindus, apparently, (yes, I was looking at somebody's RE work the other day, but my knowledge is limited to a 12 year old's textbook), put people into stages - the student stage being the first and equating with a lack of responsibility. I think that, despite being 2500 years old, the twins are still in that stage. Yes, they take certain responsibilities on patrol and behave like Lords in diplomatic situations, but it is really Elrond and Glorfindel who are running things. The second Hindu stage comes with marriage and the duties of a householder. Well, Ithilden may only be a mere 600 or so, and (as yet, until he learns joined-up talking) unwed, but he has the responsibility of caring for the military safety of the realm and he is definitely at this level of maturity. Eilian - maybe, as a captain he is second stage, whereas, at home, he is still first stage - which is why Ithilden wants to put him in charge and force him to behave with a maturity which, at only 90, should really still be quite foreign to him. I hope 3E have fun with the orc-slaying and learn a lot from each other. Eilian may be very young in comparison, but he has spent 20 years dealing with a problem that is fresh in their hearts. And actually, seeing men deal with grief might be good for all of them. And as for L, A and T - I hear ominous music. But I hope the boy can look forward to an improved quality of life as a result of their reckless? foolhardy? impulsive? kind? curious? actions. Author Reply: I thought about the mice too! "Can we keep him, Ada?" LOL. I don't think so. I figured the child had probably foraged some but had been hiding and fleeing mostly. I also thought he might not be as good at living in the woods. He's from the plains where there are farms and stuff, and in the army, he'd be fed from a supply wagon. At least that's what I thought. I just hope he washed the mushrooms. Good point about Sorion not being a father! I like your theory of the stages of life. I remember in your story you talked about something like this too, although that was probably in a review reply. I think you're right that the twins are not running things at home, or they'd probably be there. The responsibility would hold them there. It's hard to imagine what it would be like to have 2500 years of experience though, isn't it? These are not students like I see! On the other hand, Thranduil's two older sons have been pushed into early responsibility and I think that's hard on them. I'm still working out how the interactions of the Orc patrol will go. It's a challenge.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
It looks like the Three Amigos got their way...with no real concessions. Ithilden, however, was the one to watch. “But,” he said, holding up his hand, “we will do this in a way that will be most likely to serve our purposes and get you all back safely. If the Men will not cooperate, you are to come home immediately, and you are to take no unnecessary risks.” And here: In the moment before Eilian had arrived, Ithilden had decided that he was willing to allow the sons of Elrond to lead a force of Men in pursuit of the Orcs,... So Ithilden was 'willing to ALLOW' the sons of Elrond to pursue the orcs. Uh huh. Ithilden doesn't seem to get it; the twins were there for information, not permission. Don't you just love this oldest son of Thranduil? He's so used to commanding everyone that it never occurred to him that the twins were not under his command, even after they pointed it out. He was still thinking in terms of having some say-so about they did or did not do. Of course, he's right to be concerned about the Three Blood Brothers going off in pursuit of the orcs, but unfortunately, he controls only one of them. This kid that Legolas and his group found is an interesting fellow. What is he really running from? I can see how he would wish to get out of serving since he is so young, and he most likely was witness to the horrors that befell the men when the orcs attacked. Poor kid. He's young, and he's scared. I hope something good happens for him...because nothing good is going to come from hiding him for the Merry Little Band of Elves. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. Things are really heating up, and I don't want to miss a thing. (Does anyone hear Steven Tyler singing in the background?) Good show. Karen Author Reply: Oh you are so right! The twins were amused, fortunately, rather than offended. They knew they could do what they wanted to do and from their point of view, a visit to Ithilden is just a stop at AAA to get a road map. We'll see how things go on the mission. The kid is indeed in trouble, and being taken home like a stray dog is not the solution. But then the elflings really know that there's no long term future in what they're doing. They just couldn't leave him.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
Turgon's in fine form, as usual. And Legolas is still in that agonizing phase where he wants to do the right thing but can't quite figure how how to counter Turgon. The boy Rodda sure is a mystery. What is he hiding from? Has Ithilden been drinking too much Dorwinion? Eilian's supposed to be taking it easy and Ithilden's letting him go on an orc-hunt with revenge-mad Elladan and Elrohir? And trusting him to be the mature, rational one? I can't wait. Author Reply: Turgon is an author's gift! To myself in this case. :-) I have a general sense of how the Orc hunt will go, but the dynamics between the characters are much harder to write. I'm still feeling my way. I'll let you know when I have it figured out!

thechevin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
Well I didn't expect either of those two scenario's which either means I have no imagination or rather (and more acceptably) you are a very clever author I know I should have forseen Ithilden's reaction he is his father's son after all but to place Eilian in charge well I guess the same argument holds true! As for the human child yes I know there were man ypointers twards this but I still thought it was a dwarf Must pay closer attention Judy Author Reply: You know, I'm always certain that I'm completely predictable so I'm glad to hear that I'm not! The fact that you thought the boy was a dwarf made me laugh because it reminded me of Hobbit the Dwarf Child, who wandered into my story "Tangled Web."

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
it seems to me that that boy was the one who shot the elves on the raft. If the boy is the person who shot it then it is intresting to notice the uniform he is wearing. Next chapter should be intresting to read. -sofia Author Reply: The boy is a mystery, that's for sure. :-) I'll get to him eventually. The elflings are bringing him home like a stray dog at the moment.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
You know, I was thinking about that boy again. Apart from the fact that Legolas & Co is going to be in so much trouble (and that's if the boy doesn't kill someone with one of their monogramed arrows--if he does they are going to be beyond trouble), you know that boy is in a lot of trouble too. The punishment even in current day USA for desertaion during wartime is death. Even Turgon can't hide that kid forever. If he doesn't get away, something bad is going to happen to him and that is going to be hard on Legolas and his friends. There is really nothing good that can come of that. And I noticed in some of the other reviews that you were going to bring in Maltanaur when Eilian goes out with the twins. Goody. I love him and it hadn't ocurred to me yet that he'd have to have a part once Eilian goes orc hunting. As for 'themes' in your works--honestly that is one of the things you do that I admire most. It is definitely not preachy. They unify your story's plotlines. More than that, I think they are what makes your stories a cut above most that are simply 'action' pieces. Don't get me wrong. You've got enough action/tension in these things--please don't turn it up or I might have a heart attack. But you've got more than that. If makes wonderful reading. Have a safe trip and enjoy visiting with your mother. Author Reply: The arrows are still the ones from the armory rather than the ones the boys made but those would surely be identifiable too. The boy certainly does look to be in trouble. I've been writing about Maltanaur this afternoon and was glad to see him too. I imagine he'd take a jaundiced view of the twins. :-) Thank you for the nice comment about themes. I sat here and smiled a lot about that one. Author Reply: Elliska-- I just got back into town and found the Yahoo discussion about the Enchanted River. I swear to you that I had plans for that river in my notes for my current story before that discussion started. I don't want you to think I stole your idea. Maybe this is just an idea whose time has come! daw

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
To Dot and Daw both... Huckleberries are the smaller, wild version of blueberries. It's really freaky when you're out picking these things in the woods, busy stuffing your face when suddenly you smeall and hear something quite large on the other side of the small thicket of bushes and realize you're sharing personal space with a bear. Yes, personal experience and I ran like the wind! LOL I'm actually kinda surprised the Elflings didn't cross paths with a bear (considering they'd just been tracking that particular animal) when they found the berries to pick. I really hope Turgon and the Man child don't have a brush with one in the dark later as that's infinitely worse than a daylight encounter! Yeah, again that's personal experience and NOT recommended. chuckling Author Reply: Oh cool bear story! My brother was out walking his dogs once. They had wandered off in the woods and then he could hear them coming back toward him barking excitedly. They had driven a deer across the path once and he thought they must have found another one, and then he realized that they were driving a bear toward him. He had been told that he should play dead, but what he did was scream and run as fast as he could. The dogs shot past him on either side and then slowed down, presumably because they didn't need to outrun the bear, just my brother. Anyway, eventually he had to stop running and the bear was gone, so it worked out.

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
Loved both the new parts! :) Oh my, you'd think after all this time they'd know not to do something like this, but nooooo. chuckling And lending Rodda an arrow each? shaking my head Completely incriminating! sigh Boys, boys, boys. Poor Ithilden, he soooooooooooo got played and doesn't even realize it yet. Oy ve! Author Reply: The boys are still using the armory arrows rather than the ones they made, but those arrows are pretty identifiable as coming from the Mirkwood armory. I don't think it would take a genius to guess where Rodda got them, especially if he's tucked away in the cottage next door to Turgon's. LOL about Ithilden. I don't think he scared the twins much. They were going to do what they were going to do. It's Eilian Ithilden is concerned about. And I think he's also a little concerned about the men who died on his borders. He feels some obligation there, I think. It's interesting to me to think about the weight of history on an elf like Thranduil. For him, Dagorlad is part of his lived experience. It leads him to think in certain ways. Ithilden is not as caught up in history.

Brazgirl	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/12/2004
One of the stories you mentioned to me I had already read; it was a great one, I must say! That one Legolas is playing orc and he doesn't want his brothers to go. Very sad. Ithilden will have some trouble with Thranduil... yes, he will!!! I hope you will post their conversation. I love to see the King mad at something. It makes him powerful... even more than he already is. I can't believe in those boys! As always, this is so typical of boys at their age. This urge for adventure and mystery, new things. I just wonder what is going to happen here. Annael's sadness was very sweet. Poor guy! Author Reply: It's hard for me to picture Ithilden and Thranduil too much at odds. They're very alike, but Thranduil is worried about the impact of the sons of Elrond on Eilian and I don't blame him. I think that would be his main concern. And then, he would wonder about the difficulties of a mixed force of men and elves from two different places fighting together. He might worry that that would foul up the works. I'm glad you think the boys are typical! They aren't bad. They're just inexperienced and, as you say, interested in adventure and mystery. I did feel for Annael, whose woodcraft is a matter of great pride for him.

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