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| When Shadow Touches Home by daw the minstrel | 12 Review(s) |
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| Red Squirrel | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 12/20/2013 |
| Thranduil's memory about the Spring feast was so sad. I really liked the wife you gave Thranduil. I enjoyed the other story she was in. LOL @ Thranduil trying to get Legolas ready for the dancing. I don't know why but it seems ALL small children are just like that! Poor little Legolas...that brought tears to my eyes. His world was turned upside down with the death of his mother. Children are resilient but it does take time to adjust to such a loss. I also think he is picking up on the tension between his brother and his father. Author Reply: I've been there trying to dress a cranky child who decided he didn't want to be dressed. LOL. Poor baby Legolas though. So eager and then things don't work out at all and he's carried off in a screaming tantrum. Still, Eilian is good with him. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 9/19/2005 |
| I think thier father is harsh on his Middle son, he dosen't want to listen as he talks about what Legolas needs... Author Reply: Thranduil has trouble with Eilian. The two of them just seem to rub one another the wrong way, and it's very painful for both of them but especially for Eilian, I think. He's less sure of himself than he looks. He needs reassurance and love, and I think that's one reason his relationship with Legolas is so good for him. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/28/2004 |
| Thranduil's memories of his last night dancing with Lorellin were just heartbreaking. I can't help it, though - you've got Bad!Legolas nailed so well it makes me laugh. The scene with Thranduil trying to get him dressed for the dancing where he was going on about his clothes being too tight and ada using the wrong-color brush was so painful it was funny. Oh, and the outright tantrum at the dance, complete with being hauled away sobbing hysterically. But back to the dance for a minute - it's painful seeing Eilian and Celuwen's attraction to each other and know how long it will be before it comes to fruition! And I chuckled at Eilian's casual assumption that Celuwen always understood when he had to be somewhere else. Eilian's empathy for Legolas and his gentleness with him is really touching. It was cute to see him trying to put Legolas to bed. The one I really feel sorry for here is Eilian. He seems to desperately need a hug from his ada and ada is disapproving of him, as usual. It was too bad that Thranduil wouldn't listen to Eilian when he was trying to explain Legolas's feelings. Thranduil is doing his best but if he would listen a little better he might gain some insight into all his sons. Eilian's realization that he wasn't ready to die and that he was behaving recklessly, particularly the part about not wanting to die with the stink of orc blood in his nostrils, really made me think about his reaction to Elladan and Elrohir in "Good Neighbors". Already Eilian is analyzing his behavior and deciding to focus his anger constructively. Not that he won't continue to have his reckless moments for centuries to come, but at least he's examining his behavior and attempting to look at it in the context of his relationship to his family and his place in his society. It seems that E2 maybe didn't gain that perspective due to the isolated nature of Rivendell. Once they started down the path of professional orc-exterminators, there were no larger concerns pulling them back. Makes you wonder if Elrond was asleep at the wheel, though... Author Reply: Bad!Legolas is a ton of fun to write. Nilmandra says I can think like a kid with such ease that it's scary. I feel bad for Eilian too. Karen once wrote me an analysis of him that was right on. He looks self confident and easy going, but he's painfully in need of someone to love and approve of him. Legolas fills that role in some ways, but he needs Celuwen. And what you say about E2 seems right too. Eilian's relationship with his father and Ithilden may be troubled, but at least they're on top of what he's doing. Also, I'm thrilled that you're reading this, Meckinock, but you don't really have to review it all. :-) | |
| Lera | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/13/2003 |
| I am really enjoying this story. I've always imagined it must be heartbreaking to lose a family member especially a parent. As thank God it has never happened to me I have never known what it's like. Except now. You're giving me direct access to four broken hearts. It's really interesting how they all react differently. I must say I really, really like Celuwen. I think if I was an elf, I'd have been friends with her. Interesting how she was Eilien's first sweetheart. She's the opposite of him. But it's not surprising that he is attracted to her. I like that she doesn't seem like a silly, flirt. Good job on her. Author Reply: I just got home from out of town and found your nice reviews of "When Shadow Touches Home." I am so glad you liked Celuwen. I thought Eilian might be attracted to someone who was sensible and easy. And I thought that knowing her from childhood would make all the difference. I think he loves easily and then doesn't let go. Thank you for taking the time to tell me you enjoyed this chapter. | |
| Fadesintothewest | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/11/2003 |
| The first thing I have to review- It was so wonderful reading about Eilian and Celuwen, although I know that theirs is a sad tale of love impossible. Eilian has been through so much, and is such a deeply feeling even for one of elf kind, but he hides behind his dashing demeanor and his lust for adventure. It's as if he is running away. But I am glad that he recognized that he was only aiming to get himself killed. Ai and little Legolas. I think this portrayal is very well done as it is obviously not your sappy sad child tale that is easily resolved. Instead, Legolas is behaving in ways we the readers do not like, we *know* Thranduil does not approve, but such is grief- messy, painful and not easily dismissed. I eagerly await your next chapter! | |
| Strange Blaze | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/11/2003 |
| Wow what a great chapter! I really really like Celuwen. I think everyone's problem with Miri was that it was LEGOLAS, so I'm thinking that since this is Eilian you might get away with more. Lol. Plus so far she seems to be a more likeable character, and she genuinely likes Eilian, as opposed to all the competition there was for Miri. I really love your portrayal of Legolas in this chapter...this is exactly how children in my experience have responded to grief and things they don't understand. It's great that Eilian and Thranduil and everyone are so patient with him, understanding what he's going through. Where was Ithilden during the dancing? Did I miss that part? | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/10/2003 |
| Daw, Another good chapter. Poor little Legolas. My heart goes out to him. In his memory, a dance was a good time, but in his reality, it was such a horrible reminder that his nana was gone and not there to dance with him. Thranduil's memories about the spring dance were such a sweet path to tread. I loved the image evoked of dancing with his wife and his sleeping son nestled in his arms. Poor Thranduil,too. I like Celuwen. It sounds like she would be good for Eilian, but as Thranduil says, the timing is bad. Eilian has apparently learned a good lesson from his little brother's behavior and his own when he frightened himself so in the race. Seems like a privotal moment in understanding himself and his actions. He's a good guy, just suffering the pains of loss and growing into his own. And yeah, I think Thranduil has a quandry in determining what to do about Turgon. I like the little hug he gave Legolas. I agree that most Turgons are rarely all bad; most are really hurting themselves inside for whatever reason and use this acting out behavior to try and find some order to their confusion. Rarely, are people (or elves, as in this case)all bad, but have behaviors that run amuck. I have always kind of liked Turgon. I agree with Adar that he is a bad influence, but I can't help wanting to hug him and help him find a way out of whatever pains him. It's sad that he ends so tragically, but that happens all too often in real life....as it does to those who don't do anything to warrant such drastic consequences. All this just to say, I'm enjoying this story as much as all the others. I look forward to Chapter Six. | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/9/2003 |
| Hi Daw, This is a wonderful, very touching chapter! It made me a bit teary to discover that wee little Legolas had been looking for to the dancing because Nana and Ada had danced with him with last time. Poor little guy still has a long way to go in recovering from his grief and building a secure relationship with his Ada. Excellent work! Looking forward to the next chapter. | |
| Brenda Geraci | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/9/2003 |
| This was so good... How I love this family of Elves. Poor litte Legolas. Losing someone is a huge turnabout in one's life, and it must be doubly hard on the young who have neither the years nor the experience to understand the loss. Thank goodness the elfling has such a wonderful family to support and sustain him through this most difficult time of his young life. It is fortunate that Eilian has had time to do some serious thinking as to his own behavior and what is at the base of it. I'm glad he's home for a stint to get his head on straight and his priorities in order. You've done a masterful job of touching on all aspects of life - whether lived by elf or human - and the struggles that are common to both species. Life is not easy for them, just like it is not easy for us. Elves and humans basically ask the same questions and fight the same battles inwardly and outwardly. You've done an exceptional job of helping your readers slip inside the skins of your characters and to see life through their eyes. Very well done. Can't wait for Chapter Six. Post soon...please? (P.S. Thanks again for your advice.) | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/9/2003 |
| The changes worked wonderfully ;) beta is very very pleased. Thranduil at the begining is perfect - you can see he is tired of the day to day stuff and how much he misses his wife. He is reactive with Eilian - he knows he is and yet seems helpless not to be - he can't seem to change that. But Eilian gives, thank goodness, and Thranduil's fear is revealed. Legolas is ornery - excited but not - just a little study in contrasts. He is remembering Nana, remembering the dancing. Oh, and then Ada doesn't want to dance; Eilian is off with some maiden and this dancing is nothing like the last one. ok, I cried for him this time. Poor little elfling. Temper tantrums are not the norm, but he is one hurting and angry child. Fortunately Eilian has had his own little revelation, so he can see Legolas' pain more clearly. I like Celuwen - she is a believable characters and I like that Eilian has someone like her in his life. Thranduil is still snapping at Eilian at the end. He is so worried about the external - and he loves his sons and wants them whole and well and happy - but his own pain is blinding him. I am glad Legolas has Eilian right now! | |