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A Journey Of Discovery by Jay of Lasgalen	10 Review(s)
Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 8/21/2005
Hmm. It’s difficult to know what’s the right thing to do about telling the twins what happened when they were born. I know that they don’t find out for many years and I’d tend to agree with Elrond that they’re too young to at this stage to be told but I can see Celebrían’s point that they deserve to have an explanation. I certainly wouldn’t like to be the one making that decision. I was glad to see Elrohir recovered – except for the spectacular bruise, of course! I just love reading Butterbur. He does tend to ramble, doesn’t he?! I laughed at the explanation of why the inn has been run by the same family for years, about the man taking the girl’s name. LOL. I liked the conversation between Elladan and Elrohir. Elladan seems so in awe of what his brother did and yet so concerned too. It must have been frightening for him to see Elrohir collapse like that, no matter how well he is now. And I can’t blame Elrohir for being curious about his ability. It’ll take a lot of self-control for him not to experiment again, especially if he feels someone needs his help. I thought Elrond and Celebrían handled the ‘promises’ discussion very well. I loved how bewildered and happy Appleton was to have his dog back. Poor Elrohir, though. And I thought you did a great job with the ‘trial’. It was probably the best way to sort it out and I particularly like the sense of a close community. They all know each other and despite being understandably frustrated with these boys, they all genuinely want to help them too. I do feel sorry for Will. As hard as it is to say, I get the impression that he would indeed be better off away from his mother. I was glad Elrond was able to reassure Elrohir that he’s not the only one to feel the strain of healing and let him know how proud he us. Very sensible of him too to make Elrohir promise to wait until he’s properly trained. Author Reply: To be honest, I think this would have been the perfect opportunity to explain why Elrohir developed this ability so early - but as the revelation didn't come until much later, I had to come up with a convincing reason why! Both twins are fascinated and curious about this new-found talent, but a little wary of it as well. Elrohir will certainly do his best to keep this promise - but I can foresee some circumstances when he may not have a choice. The 'trial' had the dual purpose of punishing the boys, and making them mend their ways. Life would have been difficult for the whole town if they had continued as they were. Thanks for the review!

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/21/2005
I was out of town and this was a nice surprise to come back to. I liked the town meeting and how the boys were handled--just what they needed, obviously. Poor Will. His life will likely be better now. And I liked the conversation Elrond had with the twins. Poor things have had a rough time of it. Elrond needs to help them find a pet when they return to Imladris. I felt sorry for them losing Draug, but of course they had to. And one detail--I really like Butterbur in this. He seems exactly right. And I liked the story about one of the Butterburs only having daughters. That made me laugh since my huband gives me a joking hard time for not taking his name when we married. Great chapter! :-) Author Reply: As this story is set a very long time before we meet Butterbur in LOTR, I wasn't sure it would be believable for the same family with the same name to still be running the Pony. This seemed a way around it! I think the boys will find life better now - tough, but better. They need discipline - and they're going to get it! We'll meet Draug and everyone else one more time when Elrond's family return to Bree on their way home.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/20/2005
Although they are quite excited and worried, this would've been the perfect opportunity to tell the twins about their birth. But I see, you can't write it, because Elrond waited nearly two thousand years longer ... that's the problem if all the stories are to fit together, isn't it? But I love exactly this - it is a little universe of his own for every author, and I love to discover the little pieces that connect the fics. I love the idea Elrohir has not only healed Draugs injuries, but the problems of his old age as well. No wonder poor Elrohir was so exhausted afterwards. Well, I seem not to be the only one who doubt Elrohir is able to hold his promise not to use his abilities again without proper training. It is still a long way to Mithlond, and knowing you, it will not be without incidents ;-) The punishment for the boys was appropriate, I think. They both need someone to lead them because Will's mother doesn't care for him at all and Bob's is obviously not able to achieve anything with her son. Author Reply: It can be tricky to keep track of what happens when, so that I don't contradict myself. I wish Elrond could tell them now! Elrohir will need training in his new skills, so he knows what he's doing, and heals only that which needs healing. As for that promise - well, we'll see. This punishment should be just what these boys need to teach them the right things. Hopefully.

pipinheart	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/19/2005
This is very nice, Poor Elrohir is confussed and worried about his gift...I believe their mother is right and should be told why Elrohir gift perhaps came earily,because of his birth.Yet that might make him nervous...Love to hear more of what those troublesome two can get into... Author Reply: Elrohir is proud of his new skills, but now he's had time to think about it, he's a little wary of the sheer power he possesses, and the potential for things to go wrong. I wish Elrond could have explained why it happened - but I've already written that the twins don't know about Elrohir nearly dying for a long time yet.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/19/2005
Well - it's a good long while before they do find out about the circumstances surrounding their birth. And it was, as I recall, rather a shock. Would it be better to tell them now - I don't know. After a shock and far from home - circumstances probably not ideal. I don't think the 'don't use healing again; you're not ready' promise is going to work either. Picture: Elladan gravely injured. Elrond not available. Does anyone really think that Elrohir wouldn't dive in to save his brother, even at the risk of his own life? Or that he wouldn't think the result outweighs the danger if it were his mother who was hurt? Or Elrond? I'm glad Draug/Garm is so well - and returned to a second youth. And the unofficial council of Bree seems to have come to very reasonable and non-violent conclusions in their dealing with the two boys. And, hopefully, some steady discipline and hard work will give the two of them something else to think about. Will could do with being removed from his mother's care. And Bob obviously needs more than his mother can give him. (I wonder if Will is the long-divided ancestor of the lovely Bill Ferny?) And the adventure goes on! I hope we get to see Mithlond. But I doubt they'll get there without more adventures. I look forward to them! Author Reply: Yes, it would have been far better to tell the twins now - but as I couldn't do that, I had to give Elrond a halfway reasonable excuse not to. Will Elrohir be able to keep this promise? The picture you describe could well happen at some time... ;) Discipline is something the boys have never had before - Will because his mother didn't care; Bob because his was far too soft. It'll be a hard lesson for them to learn, but gives them a chance for the future. I'd already considered Ferny being a distant descendant, but haven't made up my mind on that one!

LOTR lover	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/18/2005
I'm glad you updated, Jay. I'm enjoying this story very much, even though I haven't reviewed till now. I'm glad that Elrohir discovered his abilities, even though the poor dog had to suffer. And Garm got an extra benefit from it--poor Elrohir was like a fountain of youth to him! Looks like he wasn't just healing a wound; in his inexperience he was healing the ravages of age as well. No wonder it took so much out of him! It's a good thing that boy knocked him away from the dog, after all. Elrond and Celebrian are certainly wise parents. I both do and don't agree with Elrond's decision not to tell Elrohir about the circumstances of his birth--he should be told, yes, but on top of everything else that's happened, that might well be too much information for him. Better later, but as Celebrian said, not too much later. I like the punishments the Bree-folk gave the boys. Will does get a second chance, and maybe he'll come to be sorry for what he's done. The other one though, Bob, doesn't seem to be very grateful for his new job. Sometimes I wonder which kind of mother is worse--Will's sort or Bob's. Again, I'm glad you updated. I always enjoy reading your work. Author Reply: Thanks for breaking silence - I know there are far more readers than reviewers out there! Elrohir didn't really know what he was doing, and his healing was completely undirected and uncontrolled. It was good for Garm/Draug, but not so good for Elrohir. That's why Elrond wants him to wait, and learn to use this skill properly. Yes, Elrond should have told his sons what happened when they were born. Unfortunately, the twins are going to have a long wait before they find out. I'm glad everyone seems to approve of the boys' punishment. It seemed the most practical solution, and gave them the best chance of turning over a new leaf.

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/18/2005
I like the use of justice in this small town....put the boys to work, get them apprenticed so that an adult is in charge of them, as they need (and want). I think the elves would like this kind of justice. I was just thinking too that Elrond made the twins make a promise they really couldn't promise to keep :/ Author Reply: I didn't think that the elves could really play much part in the dispensing of justice, but they'd approve of this. The boys have mentors now, to set them a good example, and will learn a trade. You think this is another promise destined to be broken??

Lianna	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/18/2005
Great chapter, but... Why do I think that Elrohir's promise not to attempt another healing is going to be broken? And soon! Author Reply: Thranduil once said 'never make promises you cannot keep'. I think Elrond should have considered that too.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/18/2005
The "trial" was interesting. It's hard to know what a society like that would do with such boys and your solution seems a good one to me. I've been reading about life in medieval villages and a lot of crime was punished by fines. Crime was a source of income for the lord, it seems. The dog was charming. Too bad Elrohir couldn't keep him. I'm not sure that keeping the circumstances of Elrohir's birth from the twins is a good idea. Secrets often come back to bite you. Author Reply: It was dificult to think what punishment could be meted out. Locking them up wouldn't achieve anything constructive (and I imagine Bree only has somewhere where a drunk could be kept overnight). A little hard labour, and setting them the right example in behaviour by getting them both away from their unsuitable parents seemed best. I rather wish I hadn't already told the story where Elrond tells Elrohir what happened - this would have been the right time to do it. Although Elrohir can't keep Draug, I've other plans there ...

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 7/18/2005
It's ironic that, for all his talk of honor and truth and keeping promises, Elrond can't bring himself to tell the twins what happened when they were born. But people can be weird like that, I guess. Celebrian is right; the twins have a right to be told before they find out on their own, but we don't always get what we have a right to. The people of Bree seem like good folks. They really understand that it takes a village to raise a child, and the village comes to pitch in with these two. But there's still Harry to be dealt with, and he may return to make trouble later. Author Reply: You're right, this would have been a good time to tell the twins what happened when they were born. The only reason Elrond didn't is that I've already written the story where he does finally tell them, around 2000 years later! Don't worry about Harry. He saw the error of his ways for himself, and wasn't involved in the attack on Elrohir anyway.

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