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


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

The Seeds of Time by daw the minstrel	17 Review(s)
ponypetter	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 4/1/2007
Lothiriel is so much more understanding of Eilian's personality than Thranduil. I just have to imagine the scene that would have resulted had Thranduil been the one to interrupt that game. Author Reply: You're so right. I can just hear Thranduil lecturing about being irresponsible and impulsive. Too bad Eilian doesn't know about some of the wilder things Thranduil did as a youth.

Idhreniel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2007
It was odd to see someone in the family watch Eillian doing foolish things and not go after him to kill him. Still, the queen was very, very worried. I like her so much! The best part of the chapter was the interaction between Thranduil and Laurellin... they are such a nice couple! Author Reply: I may have told you before, but I was surprised at how different Thranduil feels when seen through Laurellin's eyes. Around her, he's romantic and vulnerable and I've never been able to write that side of him before.

obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/30/2007
Oh, Eilian. This is the second time he does something dangerous in front of the children. Turgon is an eager watcher and probably will soon try fire jumping. Legolas is more scared than thinking of mischief. I love Lorellin's handling or better not handling of Eilian here. She just has to be there and look at him to calm him down and make him think about his foolishness. And I think that is the difference between her and Thranduil. She makes Eilian think about his actions, Thranduil spells it out and therefore raises Eilian's defenses, which gets him angry and so he runs into the next foolish situation. The Fox and Rabbit game was cute. I loved little Legolas earnestly playing the tree. And Turgon was just Turgon, redefining the rules and giving the Steward a headache. Author Reply: Poor Eilian. He doesn't deliberately do crazy stuff in front of the kids. He was saving a 'boat' the first time and this time he didn't even know they were there. But you have Turgon nailed! Lorellin makes Eilian feel that she understands him, so I think he's better able to accept her judgment, whereas he knows Thranduil doesn't understand him. Thranduil says as much on a regular basis. But then, Lorellin doesn't understand Ithilden either. I figure the poor Steward went home and had to lie down. LOLOL.

erunyauve	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/28/2007
>>"Good," the steward said. "You must also make only tree noises." >>Legolas nodded. That made sense. He hummed a tree song under his breath and then murmured like fluttering leaves. ::g:: I so love your Wood Elves! >>Turgon's eyes were huge in his flushed, excited face, but Annael was looking at Legolas, whose face was pale. Legolas's hands were pressed against his chest, as if trying to shove something back. He was frightened, Eilian realized with vexation. Oh, not good, Eilian! >>"Is she angry?" Gelmir asked. >>"Not really." Eilian wriggled his shoulders. Just as long as Adar doesn't find out (even if he is the original fire-jumper). Author Reply: I had a lot of fun making up an elfy game that seemed consistent with wood elf values. Learn to track? Yes. Respect both fox and rabbit? Yes. Be a tree! Yes! It's hard to classify Thranduil, I think. I mean, I'm sure you're right and fire jumping is probably in his past. But I suspect he may always have felt in control in a way Eilian wasn't. I actually wondered if Naneth might have fire jumped in her day!

Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/27/2007
Poor Eilian, always getting caught in the act! I suppose his guilt in causing his little brother a fright is probably enough punishment for him, not to mention the guilt in causing Lorellin a fright as well. I wonder whether a mother and son talk is forthcoming. For his sake, better a mother and son talk than a father and son talk. I can just imagine Thranduil's (or Ithilden's) reaction if he had witnessed Eilian's little death defying leap. Eilian is pretty imaginative when it comes to find ways to thumb his nose at death and Lorellin must have nerves of steel to go about so calmly considering she must know all Eilian's little tricks. Author Reply: Thumbing his nose at death is it exactly! And at the general horror he felt over the state of the southern woods and Fithral's terrible fate. If the universe thinks it can scare him, it can just take that! Thranduil probably engaged in some dangerous play himself when he was younger, but he still wouldn't be happy with Eilian. Thanks for the review, Manderly.

White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/26/2007
"I need you, my love, so perhaps you will postpone thinking of another baby." He bent to murmur in her ear. "We can go through the motions, of course. I would not want to forget how." I love that. It's a good thing it was Lorellin and not Thranduil who saw what Eilain and his friends were doing, or things would have gotten very ugly very quickly, especially if he knew Legolas had been watching. Turgon is likeable, but we know what a bad influence that naughty daredevil turns out to be on Legolas and Annael as time goes by. I shudder to think that Elfling Fire Jumping may be in their future. Author Reply: I was just telling Elliska that I'm surprised by how different Thranduil feels around Lorellin. Her presence gives him an opportunity to let a different side of himself come out. And she cushions his relationship with Eilian, because you're right. That would not have been a good scene for Thranduil to discover, although I suspect he might have played some dangerous games as a young adult too. In fact, I know he did. :-) I love Turgon. He's so much fun to write.

pipinheart	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007
Eilian in his sorrow has gone to fire jumping.I am curious to what guilt he holds. Fire jumping is dangerous, but I'm sure he didn't intent Legolas and his friends to be watching. His mother didn't seem to pleased at all. Very nice...update soon... Author Reply: Eilian is, as you say, sorrowful. He's also touched by Shadow and doesn't realize it or admit it. He needs to learn to handle the assault on his spirit, but that will take some time. Thanks, Pipinheart.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007
Lorellin at the feast is just wonderful. Worrying over Thranduil and Ithilden and the foolishness of the younger elves and whether there is enough meat for everyone...she is so what everyone needed. Thranduil's arm came around her shoulders and pulled her against his warm side. He kissed the top of her head. I just loved that. What would he do without her indeed! Poor things. And I absolutely loved that game! Very clever. I love that both the rabbit and the fox are worth playing. And Turgon certainly is himself in it. His fate is a pity. He would probably have been an outstanding tactician, he is so creative. And Eilian is certainly himself too. Counting his kisses and fire jumping. Poor little Legolas (I hope that didn't remind him of the funeral he just saw). Eilian regrets that! So much that he abandoned his kisses! Great chapter! Author Reply: I'm amazed at how different Thranduil is around Lorellin, at least as she sees him. A whole part of him disappeared when she died. Poor things, indeed. I never thought of Turgon as a tactician, but if time and experience had ever managed to temper him, he'd have been brilliant. What a good idea. Legolas stumbled into an edgy young adult male game and it kind of scared him. There's stuff going on in that scene that's beyond him yet and Eilian was doing a dangerous thing. It's a good thing Nana came along and Eilian reassured him. Thanks for the review, Elliska.

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007
There is definitely a need for some good hard partying here. I like that each member of the family reacts to the party's offerings so typically. Lorellin glides around to oversee and make sure that things run smoothly, Ithilden ignores the fun and tries to concentrate on work, Thranduil does a much better job of balancing work and pleasure, and Eilian and Legolas run off to play with their friends. It looks like the funeral made quite an impression on Legolas, and I like how all the grownups help him deal with that impression without making a big fuss out of it, just making it seem like something normal. If an elf child has to grow up in a world with regular funerals, there are definitely worse ways that he could be introduced to them. Eilian is a good soul, taking care of Gelmir. Kisses will keep, and he'll always be able to get them, but his friend needs him now. Author Reply: You're right that they're predictable in what they do! And Lorellin is keeping an eye on them all. Maybe Ithilden will eventually gain Thranduil's sense of balance. I suspect Alfirin eventually helps him to it, as Lorellin may have helped Thranduil. I like how all the grownups help him deal with that impression without making a big fuss out of it That's true. They accept his interpretation, answer his questions, and keep him busy.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007
People have a real affection for Lorellin, don’t they? The group of Eilian’s friends made me smile. It’s interesting how much is kept from her and yet she accepts that and focuses on her role to provide strength and comfort and love when her warrior family are too weighed down by duty and care to even realise how much they need those things. I like how her instinct tells her to pull Thranduil and Ithilden away from business and yet she realises that their attention must be needed. I know it’s heartbreaking that Legolas loses his mother so young but you know I’m kind of glad in some ways that the rest of them had this child to draw them away from the despair and responsibilities into which they might otherwise have sunk. Speaking of Legolas, he’s absolutely adorable the way he natters about his new friends! And I loved the game. It’s such an elfy one! Legolas makes a fine tree. He hummed a tree song under his breath and then murmured like fluttering leaves. Oh, that’s gorgeous! Annael has the makings of a great tracker there – and Turgon makes me laugh out loud. He has his own logic and once he gives voice to it, suddenly it seems to make such sense. It was good to see Tonduil and Miriwen make an appearance too. I bet you’re having a ball thinking of games for these elflings. Like Fithral," Legolas said. "His body got too small for his spirit, so he left." Ouch. He says it so matter-of-factly too. I’m sure I’ve said “poor Gelmir” after every chapter so far but I’ll say it again. Poor Gelmir. Is he being dosed with dangwath? At least he has the sense to listen to the healers. Watching Eilian and Amadith flirt was fun. He’s such a charmer. It’s no wonder the females can’t resist him :-) I knew when I saw Tithrandir that this was not going to be a relaxed gathering. I bet the fire-jumping was quite something to watch, though! And Eilian, of course, finds release for his tension the only way that works for him. I was seriously wondering if someone was going to be hurt. He’s a lucky elf that he was only singed! He frightened Gelmir, I think. I wouldn’t be surprised if Eilian wasn’t the only one picturing Fithral’s funeral pyre again. Three small faces gazed at him, and behind them, her hand on Legolas's shoulder, was his mother. Uh-oh. Though I did laugh at how exciting Turgon seemed to find it all! I feel bad for Legolas and clearly Eilian does too. I like that the first thing he did was try to reassure him. To be fair, he didn’t know he was being watched. But I can hear Thranduil saying that’s no excuse :-) Lorellin really does seem to understand Eilian’s need for an outlet and to push boundaries. But that was outright dangerous. And her reaction has made him stop when having his tunic and hair burnt didn’t. I suspect Naneth wouldn’t be too thrilled if his easy flirtation with Amadith went much further that night either. I was glad he made the decision to leave and take Gelmir away from there too. They’re all so worried. They need some peace, not just in the wider world but in themselves. I wish I knew they were going to find it :-/ Author Reply: I know it’s heartbreaking that Legolas loses his mother so young but you know I’m kind of glad in some ways that the rest of them had this child to draw them away from the despair and responsibilities into which they might otherwise have sunk. I have to say I never thought about it from that angle but you're absolutely right. What would they all have been like if Legolas weren't there needing them and anchoring them as a family? Eilian is away and I'm not sure he'd come home as often. Thranduil would be in deeper despair if Legolas didn't need him. Ithilden would probably slip farther away into himself. Turgon makes me laugh too, as he runs shrieking from the circle. I think the steward running the games probably went home and had a stiff drink afterwards because he knows this kid is on his hands at every festival for years to come. Lorellin does understand Eilian and he responds to that, I think. He knows she's not going to come after him with the kind of angry disapproval Thranduil would, and he responds to her all the better for that. Thank you as always for the review, Dot.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List