Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Eilian and the Lembas Maiden's Kiss by daw the minstrel	20 Review(s)
mystarlight	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 7/1/2019
I knew it will be Celuwen. Love the plot!!! Hope you will write more about them.

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/22/2006
I would say 'poor Eilian' but I rather think he got what he deserved. Fortunately, Celuwen likes (loves?) him anyway. Very nice subtle use of the kiss, which we know Celuwen took seriously. And Alfirin handled herself very well. I wonder if these three ever mentioned the incident or kept it between themselves forever? Author Reply: He did get what he deserved and what he needed too. He learns from stuff like that. You'd think he could anticipate how it would come out, but no. He has to conduct the experiment. :-) Celuwen takes serious things seriously, as she says. He should remember that.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/22/2006
You know, adult Eilian needs to let Gelmir know that he appreciates his friendship because that guy put up with alot from Eilian's crazy ideas. "My naneth will check on us every time she hears a leaf land on the roof. She has grown more suspicious since the last time." See! Hehehe. Poor elf! And Eilian is so audacious. He just blows by the guards, strolls right up to the lembas fields and tells Celuwen to march off to the ME equivalent of the ladies room. Celuwen must really care for him. He is so clueless about his own feelings for her. That is so totally typically male (especially young male). That cracked me up. But Celuwen's part in this was so dear and sweet, even if Eilian didn't totally get it, at least he got it to some extent. I loved that part. And the end of the chapter with Gelmir reduced to muttering cracked me up. Poor guy! Author Reply: You're so right about Gelmir. He was a friend to both of them too. Maybe I'll have to give him a romance some time. "Clueless" is the right word here. Celuwen must have despaired. No wonder she kept him away for so long. He probably hurt her repeatedly. And I have to admit I cracked myself up by having him ask her if she wanted to retreat to the bushes.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
Oh, poor Eilian. Gosh, usually in your stories I seem to always be saying "poor Legolas." But Big Brother definitely got his you-know-what handed to him here. Agh, to be young and clueless and male! Alfirin comported herself beautifully, but it was Celuwen who really impressed me here. That was a pretty big risk she took, stepping out of her One of the Boys role to do the right thing and show Eilian what it was. And now, maybe, he's noticed she's a girl - hoorah. There were some beautiful descriptions here: He saw Celuwen's almond-shaped grey eyes, slightly arched nose, wide mouth, the parts that added up to the most expressive face he knew, one that at the moment was alive with disapproval. Then he shifted his gaze to Alfirin and saw with a little thrill that her hair was loose, tumbling in thick waves all the way to her hips. He could almost feel the way it would spring back if he squeezed it in his hand. I wonder how this will play out with Ithilden, who surely is not yet interested in Alfirin but who may someday have reason to remember this. Author Reply: Well, and "poor Sinnarn" sometimes. "Young and clueless and male" pretty well sums Eilian up at this stage. It was interesting to show the girls both in strong roles here and united in their feminine work with the lembas and in a kind of solidarity as females. These two make good daughters-in-law for Thranduil, but they also make good people in themselves.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
No, Alfirin didn't hit Eilian like I was expecting her to but I don't suppose she would anyway. Anyway she still managed to wound his pride. Celuwen kissing him was a nice touch. Author Reply: Alfirin didn't need to hit him. She can do more damage with her sharp tongue and scornful attitude. His pride is plenty sore. But Celuwen is willing to kiss it and make it better. After she squealed on him, of course. :-)

k_lara7	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
Eilian is fortunate to have such good friends. And yes, if it's something you don't want to tell your parents about it's probably a bad idea. He's lucky Celuwen was looking out for him and Gelmir was willing to give him support. Author Reply: if it's something you don't want to tell your parents about it's probably a bad idea Good point! Maybe Eilian needs that tatooed on his arm. As you say, he's lucky in his friends though. They seem to have accepted him as he is, which is something he needs just as much as he needs his parents' push to be better than he is. A paradox. :-)

erunyauve	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
>>"It was my affair. You are my friend, and you are upset, I think, probably by something that happened at training or at home, and when you are upset, you do stupid things. I hate seeing you get swept away into actions you regret when you come to yourself again." Celuwen has always known how to manage Eilian! I'm enjoying the portrayal of the lembas harvest - it has to have been important, especially to the Wood Elves, both as a source of food in times of scarcity and because of its connection to Yavanna and the earth. Author Reply: Isn't that lembas stuff interesting? I tried to base most of what I wrote on the short essay in "The Peoples of Middle-Earth," but Tolkien was not as clear as he might have been. I made up the vigil part, but not the part about using no blade or only the lembas maidens being allowed to handle it and only they knowing the secret of its making. And you're so right, that given its connection to Yavanna, it must have held mystical significance for all elves but especially the Wood Elves. Eilian is a blissfully clueless male. It'll take him years to wise up. He's lucky to have Celuwen.

Yanic	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
Woohoo! Go Alfirin! Finally explains what she meant in Joinings. I have to say though, the idea of having an Eilian as a child is terrifying. He's way too good at sneaking around behind the adults. It's amazing that Thranduil even had Legolas after going through the trials of Eilian, lol. And Celuwen giving him a kiss, too cute. Too bad he didn't figure things out earlier and save her a lot of heartache. Thanks for the quick update! Author Reply: Eilian is very lucky he had wise and firm parents. He could have grown into a completely irresponsible adult, despite his good heart. But Thranduil puts his foot down about the message to the healer, for instance, and Lorellin backs him all the way on that one. I suspect Legolas had to convince a lot of tutors, masters, and officers that he wasn't like Eilian before they relaxed around him. Celuwen's heart is already lost, though she'll spend years trying to pretend it isn't so.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
Eilian possibly wouldn’t be so suspicious about people watching him if he didn’t have a guilty conscience most of the time. Life held so many good things. What was wrong with reaching for them sometimes? Hmm. Fair enough, but I think he has yet to realise that it depends on how he does the reaching and who gets hurt along the way. I’m laughing at the idea that Fendir is always hovering around Alfirin when Eilian turns up! But it would take a lot more than that to turn Eilian from one of his schemes. He’s far too clever at thinking up mischief! And apparently Gelmir’s mother thinks so too… I do always admire the nerve of Thranduil’s sons, though, in just walking out past the guards like that. Without being able to say how, he knew when he and Gelmir drew near the first pair of lembas maidens. The life of the forest flowed around them, as a stream flowed around pebbles lying in its bed. Oh, I love that. You do a great job in creating the idea of something sacred and special. And then along comes Eilian. What an actor! Of course, Celuwen knows exactly what he’s up to. The funniest part of the whole piece is when he tries to get rid of her. Or sorry, help her think of an excuse to leave, I should say. Retreat to the bushes indeed. I like how Eilian picks up on the tension, even though he can’t quite put his finger on what’s happening. Well, he found out pretty quickly when Alfirin slapped him away… Go Alfirin! It was great to glimpse how strong a person she is. (Sorry Eilian.) I was very glad that Celuwen told Alfirin what they were up to. She didn’t deserve to be used for a wager. I think Celuwen could forgive a lot from Eilian because she knows what kind of a person he really is but she can’t see him treat other people badly. “You are my friend, and you are upset, I think, probably by something that happened at training or at home, and when you are upset, you do stupid things. I hate seeing you get swept away into actions you regret when you come to yourself again." She understands him more than he does himself yet. It was such a lovely moment when she kissed him. I thought it was rather brave of her when she is starting to feel something deeper for him and she knows that he still thinks they’re the same friends they always were. "I deserved it. I was being a troll's tail end." But she got that much through to him! That part and his thoughts about hiding things from his mother show just how much Eilian is influenced by the females in his lives. Yet he loses both of them for a while. sigh But for now I’m glad he’s ending the night feeling happy and at peace, even if he can’t quite figure out why. Oh well, one day he will. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to the next morning! Author Reply: Thranduil has always said that Eilian sees no reason he shouldn't have what he wants, and in some ways, he's right. Eilian puts the realm first and serves as a warrior, and he'd sacrifice for his family or even his warriors, I think. But beyond that, he sometimes flounders. He needs Celuwen, but even she waits for him to settle down a little before she's willing to let him too near. She knows he could hurt her. The lembas stuff was interesting to me. At first, I was just trying to think of what the girls could be doing that would keep them out all night because I needed Eilian and Gelmir to be out all night. So I had to think of girl elf things, and lembas came to mind. Then, as I started to imagine it, it kind of took hold in my head and I liked the idea of the feminine realm that will always be a mystery to Eilian and Gelmir. It sort of fit with the kiss wager too. Celuwen sided with Alfirin on that one. I think Celuwen is so firmly lodged in Eilian's heart that he almost doesn't notice her presence there. But he was hers from the time they were little. There never would have been anyone else. Not really.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/20/2006
But if I were in a position of responsibility in relation to Eilian, I'd watch him like a hawk, too. That boy just doesn't know the difference between can and should. And I'm with Gelmir's mother! I'd sit outside Gelmir's door armed. With Gelmir's father under the window. And be deeply relieved that Thranduil's finest warriors were keeping them safe when Gelmir stayed with Eilian. Of course, she's deluded - teenage boys are only safe chained in dungeons. And even then ... Thranduil is going to be so displeased when he finds out. And if Lorellin digs beneath the surface she might be even more displeased - even if Eilian has sensed the edge of a lesson here. Then there are the girls - Eilian has probably just mortally insulted every lembas maiden in Mirkwood. And he still won't understand. Testosterone poisoned, the poor boy. I love Alfirin. She's so soft and gentle that it is a delightful surprise to see her administer a jolt to the self-assured Eilian. And great to see Celuwen disconcerting him further. I hope Eilian pays up the swan feathers and keeps him mouth shut. I so enjoy spending time in this world. I get withdrawal symptoms without regular doses. And this story is a delight. Author Reply: That boy just doesn't know the difference between can and should. Oh, that captures it exactly. He needs a strong dose of sense, and I'm afraid only time will provide it. I recall my son being that way with what he could do on the computer. His skills so exceeded his experience. I'm trying to remember if I've ever shown Gelmir's mother. I know I haven't shown his father. Maybe she hauled him home in "Celuwen's Begetting Day"? She must want to tell Thranduil to get ahold of his kid. Of course, the king would be only too happy to do that if he could figure out how. Alfirin is one strong person. It's a good thing she mostly lets Ithilden think he's in charge. And when she doesn't, I'll bet he backs down fast.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List