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Good Neighbors by daw the minstrel	24 Review(s)
Tapetum Lucidum	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 12/25/2004
Uh oh - I think I just sent you a blank review. Eeek! I forgot about Maltanaur. I'm glad you remembered. He would never let the elfling go on his own. His greetings to the twins were a little big stilted - I imagine there is some history there. Maltanaur has a wicked sense of humor - He must be very accustomed to serving with that particular captain. I'm glad Eilian got to tell his little brother good-bye before leaving. It is hard to conceal much when you are young. You think you are cool but you are not. I liked the pucker between Legolas' brows - I saw it several times in the movies. It seems this group is always having food issues. Annael should plant a garden or something. The intimate dinner with Mithrandir was sweet. Legolas' interest in far away places started early. The comments regarding the men are aptly timed - they are indeed trouble. If the issue with Rodda is enough to throw Legolas off of his sword game it is a bigger deal than I thought. Sounds like he is more stressed than he is letting on. Poor Rodda - things must have been very hard on him since the orc attack. At least he is safe for now. Those 3 will take good care of him. Your siblings are playing an amusing role in this story! Author Reply: Fortunately, on SoA, deleting blank reviews is easy. :-) I almost forgot about Maltanaur too. All at once it occurred to me that I had to produce him. He's devoted to Eilian. He'd slap him around himself if he had to, but no one else is going to lead him astray if Maltanaur can help it, and he'd keep his disapproval private. Which Eilian takes advantage of! Turgon's little brother was fun to produce. He acts like the younger sibs of friends I had as a kid. What a terror! And yet, he 's cute. These three are going to try to take care of Rodda, but they may be in over their head.

White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/19/2004
I'm curious about Rodda's background. I'm thinking he's had a hard life. I felt so sorry for him, when he threw up. I remember the time Legolas had to work in the infirmary. Good detail to add. You said you were going to have the twins get a glimpse of Legolas. I liked the way you handled it. I know Eilian wanted to hug him, but at that age, Legolas definitely would have been embarrassed. I could just see Maltanour's expression when he showed up and found out where he was going and then said, "I am this one's keeper". I just had to laugh. Author Reply: The Terrible Trio is curious about Rodda's background too. I feel bad for him. Imagine how frightened and lonely he is, hiding out in an empty cottage among elves. That glimpse was fun to include. Maybe the twins will remember it someday. And poor Maltanaur! E3 is a bit of a handful. He must wonder what Ithilden is thinking to allow this.

robnrun	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/18/2004
So glad to see another section being added to one of the most realistic and well sustained back stories for one of Tolkien's most difficult elves. Especially with the twins! The issue of duty/responsibility seems to be a potential thread here among E3. One thing that has always struck me about the twins, and their responsibility towards Imladris, is the different nature of their home. It is very much the creation of a single elf as a refuge; it is not a city, kingdom, fief, or realm, it has a small centralized population. As such it wouldn't have the raft of domestic issues (and consequent levels of bureaucracy) which Lothlorien or Mirkwood has to deal with; nor the complex external issues which confront Mirkwood. Consequently the twins, even though they must have been well trained as diplomats, warriors, and probably scholars, would not have been required to be around in the same way that Thranduil's heirs would have been needed. In this case that lack of responsibility may not be a good thing. However, I hope that you explore further the value that the twins can bring to Mirkwood (so often they are shown as naive, decadent, Noldor (in the negative) pranksters when in Mirkwood). But especially in relation to men the twins, because of their background, can potentially be far more flexible, tolerant, and given to improvisation in diplomatic relations than seems to be the case for the Mirkwood elves. Maybe Elian can teach them about grief and they can teach him (and Thranduil) about creative diplomacy? Good work! Author Reply: What an interesting analysis of what Rivendell was like and the effect on the twins. I had thought that would much more comfortable with men than Thranduil's sons were, and I had also thought it was probably unfortunate that they had to leave home to fight Orcs, because they could have used the support of their family. But I hadn't thought about the kind of responsibility they may or may not have had at home. That's a good point. I'm not sure they're ready to be terribly flexible right now, because they're very focused, but they're certainly going to understand men better. I'm working on that now! Thank you for the review.

Brazgirl	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/18/2004
I am getting more and more curious about this Rodda boy! What happened to him? Why did he vomit? I love the way you write the adults thinking about Legolas' dislike of public hugging!!! Author Reply: Thanks, Brazgirl. Legolas is working on finding out more about Rodda, but the boy hesitates to tell the elflings much. I thought Legolas was at an age when he wouldn't want his family hugging him in front of his friends especially. My son would have been horrified if I had done that!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/17/2004
I'm sorry I'm late with this. I've been kind of cranky all week, and today was a not-very-good day. I wish I had something more intelligent to say than that I really liked this chapter, especially the fencing drills (which I will have to walk through sometime), and that I really want three little Elflings or a nice wizard to take care of me sometimes. Author Reply: It's a terrible time of the semester, but there's a small vacation coming soon and then a bigger one. We get the whole week of Thanksgiving off! Yay! I'll send Little Legolas and his buddies over. Turgon may have to bring Amdir with him though. He's supposed to be 'watching' him. :-)

emjo	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/17/2004
Hi Daw, Just thought I would let you know how much I love this story! Legolas and Thranduil's shoe is kind of well... sweet. Keep up the good work! Author Reply: Thank you, emjo. I'll confess I liked giving Legolas that memory of stroking his father's shoe. It seemed to me to suggest something of how much he relied on Thranduil after his mother died.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/17/2004
Maltanaur looks a little skeptical about his Captain's ability to handle the twins, while Eilian just seems tickled to have somebody else filing the role of lightning rod for a change. It must be delightful for him to be in the company of someone more reckless than he is. Only I don't think anyone is quite prepared for the full fury of E2 unleashed... Maltanur's disapproving looks aren't going to be any more successful intimidating E2 than Ithilden's orders did, I suspect. These guys are a couple thousand years old, not accustomed to taking orders, and not quite in their right minds at the moment. Gandalf knows this and he seems awfully complacent -- wonder what his plan is. He has to have one...right? It's so darned hard to be Legolas, isn't it? He tries so HARD to be good, but his judgment always veers ever so slightly off course...with a little help from his friends. It's comical how their treating Rodda like a baby bird that fell out of its nest. I hope it was just the apples that made him barf. Author Reply: I think Eilian is looking forward to going after the Orcs but he may find that it's not as much fun as he thinks it will be. Or maybe it will that much fun. That would be kind of scary, actually. I think E2 are more or less humoring him right now. I'm not sure how fully formed Gandalf's plans are. He found the twins and could talk them into going with him and he thought that the experience of Thranduil's sons might be enlightening for them. But maybe they're not ready to be enlightened just yet. The elflings are treating Rodda exactly like a stray animal. Annael pets him and Turgon announces they have to feed him. I'm thinking that they won't be able to keep him though. :-)

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/17/2004
What a thoroughly enjoyable chapter this was! We got a little bit about everyone. I had completely forgotten about Maltanaur! That scene in the stable was just great. He’s so suspicious about this excursion. Like Eilian would ever do anything that Ithilden mightn’t like…;-) I kind of feel sorry for his wife, actually. He must never be at home unless either he or Eilian is injured. It seems he isn’t exactly impressed by the twins, or Elladan at any rate. I suppose he’s not used to having to stand on ceremony even around Mirkwood’s royal family and probably wouldn’t relish serving under these two, who aren’t exactly at their most approachable right now. Plus, if he’s seen them on the training field then he’s probably recognised heightened emotion in them and has a fair idea of what could happen when his own sometimes-reckless charge ventures off in search of Orcs with them. I can almost hear him wondering to himself whether it’d be better to have Eilian or this rather arrogant elf in charge. He’s so funny too, though and it’s so obvious how fond he is of Eilian. “If you three are plotting something, you will have to learn to look cooler than that!” Those elflings are hilarious. They’re lucky ‘twas Eilian who came across them and not Ithilden or Thranduil. Poor Legolas, though. I completely understand why his family try to shelter him from the world but sometimes he probably is better off knowing what’s going on rather than trying to piece it all together himself. He’s not stupid, in fact he’s quite perceptive, and he knows that Eilian is more than likely going to be in a dangerous situation. The love between the two brothers is always just so heart-warming to see. And Legolas really is the anchor that Eilian needs. I think that more than just learning how important family is, particularly in times of trouble, Eilian has really learned to see his own worth in their eyes. I would say that’s something that Elladan and Elrohir also need to realise. And while we all probably feel a certain sense of victimisation when bad things happen and it’s natural to become somewhat self-absorbed or try to find something to conquer the sense of futility, it’s probably good to remember that we aren’t alone and to draw comfort from those who offer it. Plus, the twins can look at Thranduil’s family and see that it’s possible for life to go on. Of course, in a way it was easier for Eilian and his family because Legolas was a small child with needs and wants that had to be looked after. The twins don’t have that. Maybe they just need to get to the stage where they realise that even if they don’t think they need to be at home, their father needs them to be there. I don’t know. I just feel so bad for them. And I still think Eilian could help them. It’s just fascinating to watch Legolas as this elfling who is totally enthralled by Mithrandir and the tales he has to tale and longing to meet the “legendary figures” in them when we know the journey they’ll eventually face together. I loved the little memory of Legolas with his hand on his father’s shoe. I remember something about how he wouldn’t leave his father’s side for a long time after his mother died and would play at his feet, sometimes patting his shoe. So sad. He seems to remember the moment, though, rather than the feelings that went with it. For all that Legolas thinks his father almost reads his thoughts sometimes, he himself is quite good at reading his family’s behaviour. I thought it was rather interesting that he doesn’t think Thranduil and Ithilden quarrel. I suppose any disagreements they have are about work and both of them are well used to leaving it behind them at the end of the day. It’s funny that Ithilden is really the one person who’ll stand up to Thranduil, and he’s also the only one who never really gets on the wrong side of his father. I suppose it’s all a matter of respect, really. So it must have been some scene in Thranduil’s office if there’s still tension between them. Thranduil seems to be growing less and less infatuated of men by the day. He’s a wise and wily elf and a great king to his people but Thranduil does have the weight of history to affect him. It makes me wonder, if he didn’t have Ithilden would Mirkwood have been even more isolated. Thranduil probably does know the worth of men but it mustn’t help matters that one of his sons is now possibly in danger because he’s gone to help them. What struck me, though, was that he neither questions nor dismisses Elrond’s foresight. It’s quite amazing sometimes the things that they accept. But Thranduil does seem to accept men will take over as the time of the elves ends. It’s a real reminder of the agelessness of elves and their understanding of the overall nature of life. He knows things will change. He’s just going down fighting, I guess. LOL at Legolas carrying a sack full of apples next to his brother and Ithilden not even noticing! I’m still laughing at that… But the poor thing really seems to be going slowly mad when it comes to Alfirin. It’s like she’s the one thing missing in his life. I do love the slight departures now and then from competent and capable Ithilden to dreamy and slightly clueless Ithilden. Of course, he has probably has other things on his mind as well. Flippin’ Galelas and that irritating brother of his… Tinár obviously doesn’t have a protective bone in his body and now Legolas knows that Orcs were about and that the incident is probably not unrelated Eilian going off on a “special mission”. Oh well, that was bound to happen, I suppose. That sword lesson was interesting. It sounds like it would actually be very graceful to watch once they’ve become more skilled. I’m going to be so very knowledgeable by the end of this story about arrows, woodcraft and swords…;-) Turgon seems to be thoroughly enjoying their little adventure with Rodda. It’s quite touching to see how they care for the boy and do their best to bring him food. That child is never going to get any rest, though. He must be constantly on edge. I get the impression that he’s someone who’s seen more than anyone should have, especially a child. I’m dying to know what his story is. And he’s sick now too – and possibly from more than gulping down apples. He seems to be utterly miserable. Turgon just doesn’t have the sense not to push matters that the boy obviously doesn’t want to discuss. Those elflings are in way over their heads, despite their good intentions. I thought it was good of Legolas to clean up, although I suppose he does know how to do it by now. You do know you have a recurring vomit, uh, motif in your stories, don’t you??! Darn Amdir! Doesn’t he have any friends of his own?! I was just hoping we’d find something out and all. Maybe next time… I really did enjoy this chapter. It gave me a lot to think about too. This is such a great story. :-) Author Reply: I almost forgot about Maltanaur too! Now that would have been hard to explain. As it is, he's not happy about E2, probably seeing them as a bad influence and possible source of dangerous suggestions. He's into protective mode immediately, and Eilian knows it and thinks it's funny. Bad Eilian! I think you're right that Eilian has been really saved by the presence of Legolas. Legolas loves him unconditionally and openly needs him. I think Eilian is both flattered and made more sensible by that. And I think that's exactly the kind of thing the twins need. They can keep on being warriors. More power to them. But they need to find their better selves again and be able to see their father's and sister's needs too. In my opinion, Ithilden has been very successful in achieving an adult relationship with his father, which Eilian has not done yet. Bodkin suggests that's because he had his mother around for a good long time and was fully adult when she died. Eilian was only 70 when that happened. I'm very interested in the weight of history that you mention. I have some stuff about it in my notes for this story. I think that the younger generation is not weighed down by it and that helps them move forward. Even Ithilden, who is rather rigid, is much more willing to deal with dwarves and take men as allies. I've kind of gotten carried away with research for this story. First I did all the Tolkien history stuff and then all the woodcraft etc. I love it. It makes things seem so much more real to me. The elflings treat the boy rather like a stray animal they want to keep as a pet, but I think it's dawning on Legolas at least that Rodda needs real help.

Alice	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/17/2004
Ithilden's going to have to figure out other places where Alfirin hangs out. Their younger brothers' newly developed hostility towards being walked to the training fields is putting a crimp in their relationship. I kind of wonder if Alfirin didn't start walking Tonduil because of the possibility of a certain Troop commander's presence. At least their younger brothers are getting more attention out of the deal. Amdir is so funny. I had fun picturing the looks of horror on Turgon and the gang's faces when they heard Amdir knock. Typical little brother behavior, thrusting yourself in where you're not wanted. I'm enjoying Maltaunar's presence. I like how he referred to Eilian as Captain. Smart move, reinforcing who's in command. I feel bad for Maltaunar's wife though. She had plans for him darn it. I look forward to the next chapter, and seeing how long Legolas and the gang can keep their little friend a secret. Not long I'll wager. Update soon! Author Reply: I think your suspicions about Alfirin's motives are well founded! Ithilden might consider approaching her more directly, but he does that by the time we get to "My Brother's Keeper," so I have to move slowly here, more's the pity. I thought Amdir was typical little sib too. He probably adores Turgon and his friends and wishes they would play with him. You're making me laugh about Maltanaur's wife. I wonder just what her plans included?

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/17/2004
When Thranduil finds out about the boy, and I'm sure in time he will, he will not be a happy elf. I think the boy ate too much too fast and that caused him to vomit. Its nice to read about a brothers caring for their other brothers. My brothers certainly don't act that way towards me. -sofia Author Reply: I do love the way Ithilden and Eilian especially treat Legolas. I think it might easier for them to be loving because they're far apart in age, so they don't see the little brother as threatening and bothersome in the same way humans only a few years apart might. My brother never treated me as nicely when we were kids either, and I'm sure I was mean to my little sister.

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