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With Friends Like These by Jay of Lasgalen	7 Review(s)
Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/6/2004
I’m sure I mean to re-read this story after the last update and never did – it’s great to see it back, though! That punishment really was nasty. Hats off to them for doing it without complaint, especially as they could hear such enticing sounds from the feast. I loved your description of it in the opening paragraph, by the way. I don’t know if I’ve said it before but I’ve always admired your gift with language – you so often have such lovely sentences that make me want to read them aloud. Those lines about the work they had to do are so smooth and just roll off my tongue. Poor Elrohir. I suppose any guilt he felt was bound to be intensified when he realised exactly what the other two were missing. And deceiving his father must be weighing on his conscience. I don’t think I’ll ever feel adult enough to let my parents in on some of the things I did – but then, my escapades never involved trolls or raging water!! I guess, though, that at his age any knowledge that he did wrong is also going to be coupled with a fear that his father will find out later. I really liked the idea that the kitchen overseer (great term, btw!), Elrond, Celebrían and Thranduil were all looking after the three being punished! All three seem to have a very strong sense of honour and duty and their parents can at least be proud of how well they completed their punishment. Well, thank heavens for Glorfindel! I think Legolas needs someone like that. Although, he does have a closer relationship with his father because he doesn’t have anyone else, I suppose… But anyway, it can’t have helped Elrohir not to be able to share his strange experience with someone who might understand. Glorfindel must have been utterly horrified to hear about the troll encounter and I thought it was good that he reacted so angrily at first because it probably drove home to Elrohir what a dangerous thing he did and how his parents would react if they knew. But what was particularly touching was the fact that Glorfindel quickly realises how upset and overwhelmed Elrohir is and points out how well he reacted in an unpredictable situation. I hadn’t thought about it like that until now either. I think Elrohir has definitely learned his lesson and was at the point where he just needed reassurance. So yay for Glorfindel! Alright, I’ll stop mindlessly rambling now! This was great and I look forward to the next chapter of whatever story you choose! :-) Author Reply: At the start of the chapter, I wanted to paint a wonderful picture of the feast - and then show poor Elrohir scraping carrots! He feels guilty for dragging the others into this, and guilty for not telling his father the whole truth - not that he's lied about it. For him, the guilt is worse than the fear of getting found out. It's the honour thing again. I wrote most of this chapter when I was away on holiday - I had my laptop, but not my books, which I use to find names for miscellaneous elves. So the overseer is doomed to remain nameless. I really like Glorfindel - he and the twins are very close, and he knows the right things to say. Elrohir in particular confides in him. It's true that Legolas is closer to his father, but he doesn't have a Glorfindel - the nearest is Calmacil the healer. Thanks for the review - next story will probably be Along Came A Spider.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/6/2004
Stop! STOP! You're making me hungry when you described what they ate. At least the three was in it together, it would of been a nightmare if only one of them had to do all of that by themselves. Good ol' Glorfindel, always there when you need him. Can't wait for more. -sofia Author Reply: I think the three had fun working together, and it made the punishment not nearly so bad. The food did sound good, didn't it? I made myself hungry writing it! I'm getting to like Glorfindel, and he's a very good person for the twins to talk to about things. Elrohir will be having another chat with him soon in a different story.

Lianna	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/6/2004
Maybe it's best that Elrohir didn't tell his father. There will always be twinges of guilt for him, knowing that he didn't tell, and those twinges may help him to remember the importance of the lessons learned on this occasion. I say this as the grown-up incarnation of a 16-year-old who never told her father what REALLY happened on the day when she put that dent in his car. That incident happened more than 30 years ago, and I still feel more than a bit guilty. But perhaps more important, for three decades I have always been really, really careful to avoid repeating the extremely stupid and dangerous driving error that ruined the bumper of my dad's Pontiac. I do wonder about Legolas, though. He doesn't seem to have any Glorfindel-equivalents in his life. There doesn't seem to be anyone for him to talk to. But perhaps he feels less guilt anyway because Elrohir is the older one and because it wasn't Legolas's responsibility to know the hazards and peculiarities of the area around Imladris. Things would be different if this sort of incident had happened in Lasgalen. I suspect that this story is nearing its end. I will miss it. Author Reply: I know what you mean about those youthful misdemeanours. My mother is only now finding out about some of the things my brother and I did as children - I'm 44, he's 49. I think Elrohir will learn from this. You're right that Legolas doesn't have someone like Glorfindel. The nearest he's got is Calmacil, the healer, and Mireth, who helped look after him as a baby and again after his mother died. I don't think he has any secrets from Thranduil though, so will probably tell him soon. Because he doesn't have the extended family the twins do, he's much closer to his father. This story will end soon, but there will always be another one!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/6/2004
What a lovely elfling Elrohir is! (Actually they all are.) It's very difficult to confess to something when those around you don't want to admit to it. Glorfindel made an excellent solution. And Elrohir put himself in Glorfindel's hand without exacting promises of silence. (How long, do you reckon, before Legolas feels guilty enough to tell his adar? I don't think he'll be able to hold his tongue until he's adult.) I'm glad to see them working hard in the kitchens - and I think it's very funny that Elrond, Celebrian and Thranduil all sent messages to see that they had their own private party after they had finished their penance. Most enjoyable. More please. (I still can't get over your having killed off the elf. You'll have to write a different story with happier outcomes.) Author Reply: Killing the elf was AU. He's alive and well in all my other stories! Here, Elrohir is young enough to need to confess to someone, and to hug Glorfindel in thanks; but he's mature enough to learn from this experience and appreciate the true danger they were in. I'm not sure when the parents will find out about this. Perhaps they will work it out for themelves. If they knew now, they wouldn't have asked for the private celebration, that's for sure!

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/5/2004
Oh, I am glad that Elrohir got this off his chest. He did need to tell someone and be forgiven, and he can tell his parents in another hundred years or so. And a little kitchen work never hurt anyone! Author Reply: They say confession is good for the soul, and it certainly was in Elrohir's case. Glorfindel said all the right things, and Elrohir has definitely learned a lot from this escapade. I think working together with the chores helped their willingness!

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/5/2004
I'm so glad you came back to this one. It is one of my favorites. Poor twins and Legolas doing all those chores during the feast. Must be a little embarassing to not be at the feast held in your own honor for Legolas. Elrohir's little conversation with Glorfindel was interesting. I would pay to have a picture of the look on Glorfindel's face when he admited they saw trolls. That must have been priceless. I wonder if this will truly get past Elrond and Thranduil. Author Reply: It's been a while, but I didn't forget the story! The punishment is one they won't forget in a hurry, but they acquitted themselves well. Glorfindel is rather like an uncle to the twins, and has often heard confessions from them, I think - though not like this one! Elrond and Thranduil? Perhaps they will work it out - in a few years. Thanks for the review.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 31 on 12/5/2004
These three did themselves proud by taking their medicine like "men" so to speak. And then Elrohir apparently chose just the right confidante. Good for Glorfindel. He's right. The message got across and that's what matters anyway. Author Reply: They aren't the type to sulk and whine about their punishment, so got on with it. I expect the Dorwinion helped, too! I'm finding that Glorfindel has a very good relationship with the twins, especially Elrohir. The two will have another little chat soon, about a different matter that concerns them both. In this case, Elrohir badly need to talk to someone, and Glorfindel was there. Thanks for reviewing!

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