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Reflections from the Paradise of Elves by Bodkin	9 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/15/2006
Yes, the idea of the twins trying to talk sense into all the "adults" is quite amusing, but I agree with their advice to Legolas. Author Reply: It must be really difficult to live in a world where you are always going to be in the middle between children and parents. But then, their parents are also sandwiched between them and their grandparents. It's a long time since Thranduil has found himself trying to placate his father and treat a careful middle path. I don't think he likes it much! They will all get on much better if they decide not to live on top of each other - and give it time.

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/3/2006
I had long wanted Oropher to return - and when he did, I thought it was great, especially the way his great-granddaughter (that's right, isn't it...'cause Legolas is the grandson...these elven families are SO confusing!) was there to greet him with such understanding. But I didn't think ahead to the problems involving the reunion of two kings of like temperament, and obviously the two have clashed...and wonders above, some of the clashes have been concerning Galadriel! I had to laugh at poor Legolas and his hermit wish! I can see why he would want to hit the road for a decade or two or three. As for Oropher, I think he just needs to get away and reconcile himself to his new body and life. The trip the twins suggested that Legolas take him on sounds inspired, Bodkin...soooooo?????? :-) As always, the interaction between E2 and L is amazing in its hilarity! I giggled all the way through it! Wonderful, as usual! linda Author Reply: Poor Oropher. He doesn't have a particularly easy personality, and he really did push himself into returning before he was prepared for the emotional interaction with others. And, I think, he doesn't really grasp the political implications. For some, Oropher is THE king - and Thranduil, much as he loves his father, isn't likely to step back and hand him back the crown. He's been king for over an age, through very dificult situations and these are his people. (I sometimes think that returning as a female might be easier - Laerwen, 'the Lady', was able to accommodate her role with reunion with her husband, because, although the forest people looked on her as their queen, that didn't preclude the arrival of a king. Oropher, on the other hand... Galadriel, poor thing, has become a bit of a symbol of the difference between the end of the Second Age and halfway through the Fourth. Thranduil has never wanted to dispense with his suspicion - but, deep down, he knows her worth and is using his newly-announced friendship to prove to Oropher how things have changed. Oropher does need to get away - not to some formal rehab centre, but to the quiet forest with a few trusted companions and spend some years gradually acclimatising to a new world - the trip with his grandson would be excellent (and might just happen!) but really he needs longer. And to be close enough for family, yet independent. And I'm sure he will find a load of Second Age elves willing to follow him even more deeply into the forest in search of a simple life. I'm glad you liked it. Thank you.

Bejai	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/2/2006
I must say, I love the idea that Oropher is back. (Having just written Oropher, I think I've fallen in love with him ;) )There is room for so many interesting personality clashes on so many levels. It's just so delightful that poor Legolas is caught up in the middle of all of it! Author Reply: I did waver over returning Oropher - even despite Redheredh's encouragement! - because he was clearly going to make things buzz. He is ... not the most restful of elves - and even an age or more in Namo's Halls isn't going to detract from his rather headstrong, impulsive and dominating personality. And Thranduil is his son! And he's been king for more than a very difficult age and isn't going to be too keen on having his adar come back and expect to resume his dominant position in the chain of authority. I suspect there will be tremendous personality clashes - until they come to living far enough apart to be able to see each other regularly and then have prolonged relative breaks! Legolas is, I think, somewhat gentler and more amenable (must take after his mother) and has only ever had borrowed authority - as Lord of Ithilien and Thranduil substitute in Aman. Returned kings must have had a dreadfully difficult time settling to a new life - bad enough returning as a modest craftsman who could set up his/her own workshop and only had a few family members to whom to adjust. Thank you - Legolas would be glad that someone is getting amusement from his suffering!

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/1/2006
Can I say again that I absolutely love these reflections? :-) Hehehe! The stir that Oropher has caused--I can so see that. But I would love to see Thranduil behaving as if Galadriel was his best friend. And this line: If you can deter Lady Galadriel from examining your motives by seeming mind-numbingly shallow, then you are worthy of respect! made me spit tea on my keyboard. I just love these. Author Reply: I half-wanted to return Oropher - but he was so clearly going to set the cat among the pigeons! A nice, loving returned wife is one thing - but your father and king, who might expect the obedience of a son and subject? Not to mention bring with him the prejudices and assumptions of someone who has not experienced the last 3500 years of change and development? Thranduil suddenly being overly friendly and considerate towards Galadriel I can just picture - Galadriel would probably be very gracious, but deeply suspicious. And Celeborn would simply be laughing his head off! And can't you see Galadriel closing her eyes and shuddering at the thoughts that go through the minds of adolescent elves - and them doing a high five at deflecting her interest and continuing to work at the technique. Although, if there were anyone naturally shielded against her interest, it should be her grandsons. Thank you. (How is little Legolas getting on with his friends and cousins - confined as they are in the Stronghold??)

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/1/2006
I seem to remember that once you wrote that there was a kind of self miposed rule in "Reflections" What is it? (curious perelleth) And so the twins chose to behave like empty head blondes to confuse Galadriel? Did they truly believe they actually succeded? This is great fun. But it is more funny to imagine Thnraduil pretenidng to be in such good terms with Gladriel for the sheer pleasure of enraging Oropher, while Galdriel doesn't really know what exactly to do with such apparent friendship and Celeborn just... ROTL? Author Reply: The rules for Reflections are simple - each one must be no more than two pages of Word, and no-one must speak except Elladan, Elrohir or Legolas. Occasionally other people are in the room - but they are usually either infants or asleep. And the word count varies from about 750 to 1000 words, depending on how quickly the conversation changes! I think there are two that only feature two out of the three - the one after Elladan's wedding only has Elrohir and Legolas, and I think the one where Elrohir's twins are being born only features Elladan and Legolas. I seem to remember reading somewhere of people using nonsense rhymes to try to prevent people reading their minds - and the twins probably found that Galadriel didn't probe too much if they were thinking of orc entrails or ellyth. Not, I would have thought, that she would have been unaware of anything important! Although, as her grandsons, they might be better armoured against her than most. I think Thranduil has seen in Oropher's prejudice that he has been guilty of lazy thinking, as much as he is pretending to like Galadriel just to annoy. I think he has realised that he is not really hostile towards her - and maybe their supposed antipathy has been more of a game over recent years. And maybe that he wants Oropher to understand that he can't command Thranduil's thinking - or assume that the world is still the same as it was at the end of the Second Age. I can just see Celeborn enjoying Galadriel's suspicion, though!

Redheredh	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/1/2006
We aren't call the Sandwich Generation for nothing! And now, E2L is part of it too. lol! But, confusing their grandmother with seemingly shallow thoughts really had me laughing out loud. They are to be admired for that! Well, good things result in Elflings 12 all the same. ;) Being a Colonial, I am not familiar with "Uncle Tom Colbey and all", but I think I get the joke and all. Another fun and at the same time insightful episode! Author Reply: Mind you - the sandwich when you are thinking 'elves' is triple decker or more! I can picture Elrond feeling a bit squashed between the twins and Celeborn and Galadriel at times. And even Galadriel might feel a bit pressed between the demands of being Finarfin's daughter and mother and grandmother to Celebrian and the twins. Every now and the just the thought of all of them being adult, demanding and in full control of their powers is --- exhausting. The twins might think that their shiny coating of frivolity diverts their grandmother, but I don't doubt she knows all she wants to! Although if there are going to be any people able to stand up to her, it would be her descendants. Ah. Assumptions are odd things. Widdecombe Fair, should you wish to know, is here:- http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiWIDDECOM;ttWIDDECOM.html Glad you liked it!

Lianna	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/1/2006
While I can sort of sympathize with both Thranduil and Oropher, I think they could both learn something by looking at Legolas's life. Legolas is an adult, too, but he has never had and never will have any independent authority whatsoever. He's the son of a king and grandson of a king, yet he himself is basically a noble nobody -- with annoying in-laws. Yet he manages to cope with life reasonably well (with a little help from his friends). Thranduil and Oropher could find a role model in the younger generation. Author Reply: Independent authority is probably something that is much harder to surrender once you've had it! Legolas did, in a way - he was lord of Ithilien, and he arrived in the Blessed Realm some 4 centuries ahead of his father (my world). He would have been seen by the people of Lasgalen as their natural leader until Thranduil arrived. I imagine, though, that he saw himself as deputising for his father which would be different. Oropher and Thranduil will shake down - but at the moment Oropher is probably seeing Thranduil as the son he was and Thranduil is wanting to show himself as the king he has been for an age. And I don't think they will be able to live together - they are both too strong. They will get on much better when Oropher strikes out on his own. But at the moment he is too new to this world to be able to cope. Poor Legolas and his annoying in-laws. Still, at least they live a long way away! I'm sure that makes him feel considerably more generous towards them. Especially when he considers that he is the one who has Elerrina with him! Thank you for reading!

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/1/2006
Poor Legolas - it must be hard to be caught between warring elders who, as he says, should know better. I can see it would be difficult for Thranduil as well - getting used to being a son again after so long; and for Oropher. He left behind a son (I imagine Thranduil as relatively young when he became king) who has now been king of his people for thousands of years. Thranduil has suffered much loss which has changed him immensely, but Oropher probably expects him to be the same. I love your Elvish version of Uncle Tom Cobley. I have an idea! They can all come to Widdecombe to get away, if they like - it's not far from here. I promise to look after them all. Jay Author Reply: I see it, in some ways, as being part of the difficulty of having elves ever unaging. Getting wiser, in theory, but, once adult, remaining in full control of their powers. Legolas - and the twins - are, by anyone's count, adults, but their parents and grandparents and so, ad infinitum, just have more years. And I cannot help but feel that there would have been some competition between Thranduil and Oropher. Oropher is not, to my mind, the most sensitive elf. Thranduil would, deep down, feel the need to assert himself and make plain that he was not the son who had been left behind to rule the remnants of Oropher's people. (I am not going to use the word 'decimated' - that really irritates me. Not one in ten killed, but one in three.) Come to Widdecombe - that's a good idea! And they can all ride on the old grey mare. And come round for tea - scones and clotted cream.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 79 on 2/1/2006
Oh goody. I'm glad to see another episode of this story. How you do several stories at once is completely beyond me, Bodkin. I'll bet Oropher stirred up everyone around him when he lived in ME too. I suspect he and Thranduil are too much alike to live close comfortably. the expression is intended as an elven equivalent to 'Uncle Tom Cobley and all' Oh, well that clears it up. Author Reply: This episode has been waiting since the end of November - the link with Elflings 12 is probably because they were written about the same time. Reflections tend to arrive when they arrive - and there are usually several waiting to be made public. I'm OK with coming up with short tales simultaneously - but I do regret having longer stories running alongside each other. Poor old Ripe for Change has been abandoned for months as the Arwen story took over. Oropher does seem to me to have been a rather obstinate person - not, probably, very understanding. Thranduil would have coped with him when he was accustomed to the son's role - but he's been king for a long time and I would imagine there would be, all unknowing, quite a lot of jockeying for position between the two. Not, of course, that they didn't love each other. Are we being sarcastic here, professor? Isn't it interesting how assumptions are often proved to be totally inaccurate. I thought everyone knew the song Widdecombe Fair! Probably because it was one of those learned-at-your-mother's-knee numbers. But, should you want more detail, it's here - http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiWIDDECOM;ttWIDDECOM.html with music 'n' all!

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