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Lighting Fires  by Gwynnyd 13 Review(s)
LisaGReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/12/2010
Excellent "growing up" story! I just adore brother fics and this one was especially fun and interesting. I love the way Elrohir managed to convince Estel to study harder, not just learn fighting disciplines. But then he also learned a lot about his little brother and that they were restricting him to severely. I would love to read more brother stories!

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/7/2008
Incredible tale. I am sending a private email, but had to put publicly that this was incredible.

Incredible *goes away shaking her head in amaze*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/6/2007
He hasn't met or slain the right dragon yet? An interesting explanation! But it has Estel thinking, at least. Wonderful!

perellethReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/11/2006
Delightful tale, Gwynnyd, from the light beginining to the serious developement and ending. I think Erestor needs to revise his teaching techniques. ELrohir showed that he is a wonderful teacher apart from warrior. His was a lesson in easing the learning process, Erestor would do good in taking notice..and in being proud of his former student.

Apart from the always intersting reflection on teaching and learning techniques, I really liked your obvious knowledge of open air techniques (or deep research? ;-) It gave the whole piece a sense of reality that was very much needed in a lesson like this. Elrohir was a great big brother, taking his responsiblity so seriously and finding a way to boost the boy's interest in his studies without betraying the secret. And Estel did learn a lot of lessons here!

And I cannot help thinking that Estel being 11, this could almost be considered as an informal pre-test for some kind of rite of passage he would soon have to pass..;-)

A lovely, deep tale in many levels. I enjoyed it very much

Author Reply: Poor Erestor probably feels very harassed trying to keep up with Estel.

And it was all 'deep research'. I am such a city girl, but I know how to use Google!

I had not thought about a 'rite of passage'. I'd love to read a story you wrote on it, though.

Thanks!

grumpyReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/10/2006
Just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed reading this story. It was great, and I was right there with Elrohir and Estel on their misson. I do believe that Elrohir got through to Estel, on why he needs to learn. Thanks for the good read.

Author Reply: You're welcome! And thank you for the kind comment.

We know that Aragorn did grow up to be a wise king, but I know he could not have been born that way. It was a lot of fun thinking of ways he could be nocked down a peg by a caring big brither without damaging himself or anyone else. Glad you enjoyed it!

viggomaniacReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/10/2006
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The plot could have been predictable but you gave it a wonderfully unique twist. It might have seemed at times even to himself, that Elrohir was being a bit harsh with Estel but that wasn't the case at all. He simply needed Estel to truly understand what the realization of his desires would mean in a true life situation. The way Elrohir teaches Estel his lesson (and the value of lessons) made for very entertaining reading. Despite his mistakes, Estel still shows good qualities throughout though at times it may have been a little hard to see them. When Estel thinks that he has 'killed' Elrohir by his inattentiveness and poor judgment I, along with Elrohir, felt terrible for him. A very touching moment there.

Poor Estel. It must indeed have been difficult to comprehend why his own lessons were so much more complicated than those of others near his age (another point brilliantly brought out in your story, BTW) and frustrating for Elrohir to hold in. That Elrohir has the inner strength to withhold comfort from Estel during some of the more difficult parts of this 'lesson' seemed very realistic. And what valuable lessons Estel learns this day! When Elrohir makes it known to the boy that he descended from kings and the difference between being a good soldier and a leader of men, I could almost picture Estel's change of demeanor. The ending was very satisfying. Thanks so much for sharing your story. I would recommend it to anyone who likes LOTR fiction.

Author Reply: Thank you!

I do think that you never know what might be useful. I shamelessly cribbed the geometry from a biography of Julius Caeser I read once. The way I remember it, one of Caeser's lieutenants gave him a quick estimate of how wide a river was that way on one of his campaigns.

I think Aragorn grew into the man he became, and was a quite normal child (as much as he could be under the circumstances). I'm not even sure JRRT realized what a hard life he was giving this Man.




BodkinReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/9/2006
This is a lovely tale. Elrohir makes a great big brother - and I think he is right to question Estel's lonely development. The kid is growing up so quickly and outgrowing his friends so that he is always alone. Estel reacted very well to the 'test' - and even picked up the idea that education had some value. Very responsible of him! (Although it's unlikely to endure beyond a few tedious lessons.)

I thoroughly enjoyed this - and think that Elrohir makes a great teacher. His adar should be proud of him.

Author Reply: Yes, I am sure Elrond was proud of Elrohir, after he stopped damning him for his interference. Elrond was probably carefully planning out how soon Estel was exposed to things and Elrohir upset the applecart. LOL

Estel does have to grow up to be Aragorn, so he can't be stupid. And yes! I'm sure he still skipped when he felt it 'necessary'.

Thank you!

Gwynnyd

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/8/2006
Elrohir was too hard on Estel here. Yes, it was an important lesson he had to learn, but he's only 11! It was funny when Estel began to argue the point Elrohir had been making though :)

This has been a lovely tale. I like anything with the twins, but this one with just Elrohir and Estel was a refreshing change.


Jay

Author Reply: Having Elladan and Elrohir double-teaming poor Estel seemed like too much. Yes, I think Elrohir was hard on Estel, but as a brother, he could get away with being harsher. He'd also given Estel several chances to get the point and the kid missed all of them, the way kids do (my kids at least! LOL).

Thank you!

Gwynnyd

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/8/2006
Nice story, Gwynnyd. One of the things I liked best was the way it put a new twist on a common fanfic story idea. I've seen stories before where Estel believes he's ready to fight orcs and thinks the adults are holding him back needlessly. Almost invariably, in these stories, he runs away and gets in trouble. Your story was much more realistic. Elrohir behaves like a wise elf, as does Erestor really. And Estel is a more realistic kid.

I also liked the way concealing his identity from him meant he had a hard time understanding why he was being educated as he was. That was something I hadn't thought of.

Author Reply: I am very much of the 'be as realistic as possible - this is history' school. The idea of a hidden prince is very romantic, but it must have been very hard to be that kid.

I am tickled pink that I worked in an idea that you had not thought of.

Thank you!

Gwynnyd

Idril CelebrindalReviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/8/2006
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! I found myself nodding my head or smiling to see the beginnings of the tracker/healer in Estel. The strong bond between Elrohir and Estel was a great touch.



Author Reply: I like to think that Aragorn grew into the man he became, and that he could have made other choices, not that he was perfect all along. It makes him so much more interesting.

Thank you!

Gwynnyd

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