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Interrupted Journeys: Part 4 Journeys of Discovery by elliska	7 Review(s)
Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/28/2006
rushes in…slides to a halt I’m here! So sorry this is late :-/ It sounds like things have been tough in the Woodland Realm. I really like the way you show us this in little ways like Legolas being reluctant to go in to breakfast because they’re living on such plain food, set against Thranduil’s worry. Lindomiel too seems worried and weary, even as she tries to help her husband. I love seeing those two together – and the idea of them spending this time together first thing in the morning always delights me :-) I kind of felt sorry for Legolas – but I can see why Thranduil wouldn’t be too pleased at the thought of his son overhearing/passing things on. And it seems the elflings have managed to get a little outing out of all this! I cringed when Galithil mentioned the bows at the breakfast table. And then he starts the “why” and “not fair” whines! He really has no sense sometimes. Legolas seems to spend a lot of time trying to smooth things over after his cousin has spoken. Galithil has so many good qualities – like bravery and loyalty – that could be encouraged and make him into a worthy adult but the challenging of authority and disregard for rules means that all he’s doing is earning the distrust of those around him. I was torn here between thinking he’s a nitwit and feeling bad for the opinion that the adults have of him. I notice he didn’t quite answer Dolgailon’s question…Eep. I hope I’m wrong. Dishonesty is not something that his family will take lightly. I have to admit I laughed when Thranduil lost his patience about Anastor’s and Noruil’s parents – even though he definitely should have had more restraint! But really, I wouldn’t have been able to hold my tongue either! As long as it doesn’t get back to them what the king thinks. Lalfien and Eregeth sound… stubborn. And once again Legolas steps in. You know, he would make a good diplomat. If circumstance allowed him to take that path, of course. Well, my heart stopped for a moment when Galithil burst into the clearing! I was so afraid of what it was he’d stumbled across that had made the other two string their bows. It was a very tense moment as the children backed towards the trees to get into safety. I was glad that Eirienil, the voice of reason, was there but Anastor and Noruil are idiots. I couldn’t believe Anastor wouldn’t let his sister go with them to safety. For some reason Galithil’s comment, “If I ever have a sister, I hope I treat her with more care,” really touched me. And then the two boys flee into the trees when the boar charges and let Maidhien go last! And then you leave us with a cliff-hanger! So what happens?? If Galithil does have the knife, now might be a good time to pull it out. I hope none of them get injured trying to save Maidhien. But I hope she isn’t hurt either… Ack. Next chapter please! (Er, no pressure of course!) Author Reply: Oh my gosh, Dot--I never got the notification that this was here. I am so sorry for not responding sooner! I'm glad you commented on the difficulties the folks in the Woodland Realm are having this winter. I enjoyed thinking about all the foods that might be available around them and that sort of thing. And I love Thranduil and Lindomiel's time in the garden every morning too. They both need it sometimes. I'm also glad you laughed at Thranduil's little comment. I laughed myself when I wrote it. Those two families have to be on Thranduil's last nerve. Legolas and the possibility of diplomatic roles is something you will see--there are Men in Dale and soon to be Dwarves in the Lonely Mountain. Someone must deal with them politely and I don't think it will always be Thranduil. ;-) But Thranduil is learning that one of his son's strengths is diplomacy. Galithil is his own worst enemy as several people have commented. He may be headstrong--I don't think that trait is necessarily uncommon in his family given the little canon we have surrounding Oropher and Thranduil--but his heart is in the right place, as we will continue to see. Unfortunately, people like that often have to learn some lessons the hard way (gee--I wouldn't know that from experience, would I?). :-) But this incident established some emnities, friendships and loyalties that are going to have longterm importance in this story in several ways. The cliffhanger went for a week longer than I intended, so I am fininshing up the next chapter and will post it later today. Thanks so much for the review, Dot. I really appreciate them.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/24/2006
Wait. . . the winter is over already? How long have those kids been punished for? More than half a year? Not one of Thranduil's smartest moves. No wonder the kids have been getting resentful. Half a year of an open-ended punishment that is suspiciously beneficial to the adults is not even close to good discipline. It's completely above and beyond what their naughtiness merited, and it's beginning to look more like spite and viciousness than discipline. Thranduil is damn lucky that Legolas is still speaking to him. Legolas has the patience of Nilmandra to put up with something so patently unfair for so long. And Lindomiel is just sitting there and letting Thranduil continue in his stupidity. Not a good showing for the grownups here. Any of them. Dolgailon's behavior towards Galithil regarding the knife was completely uncalled-for. Set against that, the scene with the boar was instructive. The kids are right now having an object lesson in why one should only handle weapons with proper care and how to deal with an emergency. It's going to be far more effective and lasting than any punishment that the grownups could mete out. The grownups will have to handle the aftermath carefully, though. Ideally, they should provide comfort and take care of the kids, trusting that the lesson has been sufficiently pounded into little heads. But, knowing the grownups, they'll probably turn this into an excuse for more scolding, lecturing, and confinement, even though it was Anastor and Noruil who actually shot the boar. I'm a little confused about the name of the girl threatened by the boar, though. She's variously referred to as Maidhien, Maidhiel, and Madhiel. Sounds to me as if she went through several name changes there. Author Reply: Hi FP. I think between letting thing go so long between updates and just a loose storyline, I let the time line get a little confusing. The first chapter in this story is set on the very first nice day of Spring. I imagine the moonbow chapters, where the kids earn the punishment, are only a few days after that. In the last chapter, I think Galithil said that they had been good for almost a month. And I imagine this current chapter is just a few days after that one at the most, since the parents are just now hearing about the bows for the first time that the kids saw in that last chapter. So it is still relatively early in the same Spring as the first chapter. The poor little kids have been under this punishment for a month--I don't think that's too unfair given that they promised to mind Crithad and then snuck away from his house to do something they knew they weren't allowed to do that was also very dangerous. But I think it is in the next chapter (not the one that concludes this 'cliffhanger' chapter, but the one after that)where things loosen up a bit for them anyway. Sorry to have been so unclear. Its my fault. I do think I'll defend Dolgailon though. When my niece stays at my house, since I know she is fascinated with my archery equipment, if I found any part of it missing, I think I would definitely question her about it. And if she was snotty about it, I'd probably have a little more to say to her, even though I'm not her mother. Dolgailon was worried his little brother was going to get into trouble and he was just trying to prevent it. And I think the boar incident will be instructive. Not the way I'd like my kids to learn, if it were me. But instructive just the same. Some people, like Galithil, learn best that way, I guess. Fortunately, I think the grownups handle this fairly well in the end. Thanks for pointing out Maidhien's name problems. I will go fix that right now. Thanks for the review, FP.

Idhreniel	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/23/2006
Terrible cliff!!! Please don't kill me with curiosity!!! Great, great to read from you again Elliska! I needed to have some good reading and your fic provided me with that. I love this chapter. My favorite line definetelly was Thranduil muttering to himself that those elfings, sons of probably more creepy elves, were stupid - to say in few words!!! He is just the best. I like the way he and Lindomiel raise Legolas. Thank you for the update! Hugs, Author Reply: Hi Idhreniel! Great to hear from you again too! I know the cliffie was mean--I did try to wait to post it until I was sure I could get the next chapter posted quickly, so you shouldn't have too long to wait. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter and that line. I liked it too--had fun writing it. Thranduil is great, isn't he. I just love him. :-) Thanks so much for the review!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/23/2006
Are you sure 'Galithil' doesn't mean 'own worst enemy'? Legolas picks up instantly on facial expression and body language and knows exactly when to hang his head and when to be sincere. Genuinely, too. He's just responsive. Galithil, au contraire, is responsive in a totally different way - he responds by challenging. He is brave, though - and caring and willing to risk himself for others. It wouldn't surprise me particularly if he were to jump down from his tree to try to save the elleth. Thranduil does have a point about Legolas not listening to conversations - after all, he never knows quite what topic will be absorbing the adults who surround him. I'm glad the elflings are behaving sensibly - even if it is causing Galithil much pain. I hope he hasn't lifted Dolgailon's knife. It would be a very stupid thing to do. The food shortage is worrying - but at least it gave the elflings a chance to get out in the forest and pick some nice healthy greens. Noruil and Anastor are a complete blot, though - hardly surprising when you see the way their mothers behave. Two families that could do with some intensive rehabilitation there! And isn't it just typical that the very moment that the mothers let the elflings out of sight something goes wrong! Author Reply: LOL! That must be the secret Silvan meaning. :-) And you are quite right about Galithil, in many ways, as you will see. I think Galithil is smart and naturally challenges what he disagrees with. That would be tough for a parent, I imagine. Legolas is curious enough to be a challenge too, but you're right that at least he is a little more aware of consequences. Noruil and Anastor are definitely a product of their parents. I agree they need some rehabilitation, but the parents there are pretty set in their ways at this age. Not a good thing for anyone involved. Though in the long run, you can learn from a negative example too. Yes, poor Lindomiel--she was just trying to let them have a little fun. Not going to work as she had hoped. Thanks so much for the review, Bodkin!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/23/2006
A cliff hanger ending? Tsk, tsk, Elliska! What's gotten into you? I was happy to see this chapter and enjoyed reading it. Sounds like Legolas is gradually learning some lessons about things like eavesdropping anyway, but I despair of Galithil. I notice he didn't actually say he didn't have his brother's knife. Author Reply: :-) I was happy to finally find time to get this chapter out--hopefully I timed it right so that nothing at work will get in the way of the next part, else I will feel bad about the cliff hanger. I think Galithil's family despair at times too. You are quite right that he didn't really answer Dolgailon--pity Dolgailon didn't catch that. Obviously if a lesson is learned here, it is going to be learned the hard way. Poor kids. Thanks so much for the reviews, daw!

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/23/2006
Hey! What happened there! How you dare! Growls boarlike Poor Galithil. I cannot help wincing every time he has an interaction with a member of his family. It is funny, how Araduronn can be mistaking the approach, when he is likely to have been the same bundle of energy and apparent rebelliousness in his childhood, but then, that was so long ago... ;-) And Dolgailon is not being more successful... Experience is the only way with such children, but at times it is so hard to allow them room for their own mistakes. Galithil is now bottling up so much that he is likely to explode in the worst manner. Poor thing. I smiled when they began running free, and annoying the girls for the sake of it... very springy. And poor Legolas, "spying" on his parents and then being caught, and lectured by adar even if protected by nana.. LOL! Thranduil sounded truly, coldly, almost scaringly annoyed! I wonder what he would say if he knew that the children had been spying his audience with the dwarf! Educating a bunch of elflings is not a minor task! Now, seriously, you are not intending to let us here for too long, are you? Is Dolgailon knife appearing here? I am shuddering at the very thought! Good chapter elliska! Author Reply: Hehe! I at least waited to post this until I was fairly certain I'd be able to get the next chapter up quickly. I imagine Galithil's family members wince when they have interactions with him too. I think he would be the hardest sort of child to raise. I think he and his father are probably a little too much alike and that is driving Aradunnon nuts. And poor Legolas. His father would be furious if he knew the elfling had found that door into the throne room. I'm glad you thought of that as you read that part. I laughed about it myself. Thanks so much for the review!

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/23/2006
There are terrible punishments for authors who leave us hanging, not knowing if an INNOCENT child is about to die. Unfortunately, the boar might be thinking she looks like a good meal next to aspargus too. What a lesson for her brother to learn.. .and all the children. I liked this chapter. Your dialogue flowed very naturally - I think you do well writing conflict! The children are believable.. Galithil especially with his orneriness. I did finish your earlier story (still need to write a review) so I have a better understanding of who all these characters are.. and yeah, a bit headstrong runs in that one's blood. His parents must despair that he will grow up, while reminding themselves that Oropher at least made it to adulthood. Legolas is trying hard at diplomacy even at this young age. Lalfien and Eregdeth should learn a little of that. I suspect Lindomiel will sorely regret allowing the children to race ahead. :( Author Reply: There are terrible punishments for authors who leave us hanging, not knowing if an INNOCENT child is about to die. Hehehe! Coming from the site owner, no less!! I think I'd better pay attention. ;-) Seriously, I've been hesitating to post this, knowing it was a cliffhanger and how unstable my schedule is. But I won't leave it hanging too long, I promise. And I am so relieved the dialogue seemed to flow in this. The girl that had been beta'ing this story for me for all this time is even busier at work than I am and simply does not have time for anything anymore. This is the first chapter that I've posted without hearing her thoughts first. Made me a little nervous. And these kids! I think it would have been tough to be a parent in Oropher's family. :-) Thanks so much for the review!

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