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| All Those Who Wander by daw the minstrel | 14 Review(s) |
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| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/31/2007 |
Love it! You have to feel for Ithilden talking to his Adar. That took guts for him not to falter. Eilian was a handful, it had to be a challenge taking him on as Maltanaur has. Nice work... Author Reply: Thanks, Pipinheart. You're right. That was tough for Ithilden. But Maltanaur had convinced him this was the only way to save Eilian from himself, so he did it. Thranduil really is lucky to have Ithilden. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/14/2007 |
| Sorry I'm late. I've just now been catching up on my reading. I think my brain is recovered enough to deal with it now. It strikes me that Thranduil takes a much different attitude towards his sons' military service than any other king I've ever read about, right up to the present day. I suppose that's because other kings send their kids into battle to fight for Harry, God, Saint George, or whatever, and they have a reasonable expectation that their army will win, and that Prince Whosit will cover himself in glory. In Thranduil's case, knowing what he's up against, the best he can ever hope for is a draw. So there's no glory to be won to offset the risk. It must be difficult having all military decisions be family decisions as well. This scene, seems like both Thranduil and Ithilden are still figuring out how to adjust all their different relationships. Author Reply: What I thought about with their relationship was that they might have worked some things out but then you throw Eilian in there and all bets are off. Now it's the king's son and Ithilden's brother and they have to figure things out all over again. | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2007 |
| I realized as I read this, I was as knotted up as Ithilden's stomach. I was standing in his boots with him. "I believe you are asking about them not because he is one of your warriors, but because he is your son." A great line, cuts right to the heart of the issue. And pretty darn gutsy of Ithilden to say. "By the trust you have placed in me, the decision is mine to make, my lord, and I have made it." I like this one too. Poor Thranduil. Don't you just hate it when your own words come back to bite you in the rump? Give the kid a little responsibility and the next thing you know, he's armed with what you taught him. Like I said, poor Thranduil. The scene was a wonderful moment between father and son/king and troop commander. The lines shifted subtly. Assuming different roles at any given time must have been tough. I especially like near the end where Ithilden finally took a seat. This was another shift. The tenseness didn't disappear entirely, but the king/commander personas seemed to downshift into father/son, both with the same concern for what was best for Eilian. Very nice, Daw. I love a good scene with KING Thranduil. But I think I like it even more when he proves why he was considered the greatest of elven kings. He knew when to be king and when to be Dad. Oh man, you gotta love him. And Ithilden too. He's his father's son. Author Reply: Ithilden has no fear, which is one of the things I love about him. He judges Thranduil's reaction pretty well and has the self-confidence to believe he can let his father blow up and then come around. Not that the experience is a pleasant one, but he believes he'll survive. Sometimes that self-confidence slides into arrogance, but that's one of the things I love too. :-) Still those roles must have been hard to shift into and out of all the time. But I think you're right when you say they could communicate around their common concern for Eilian. | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/13/2007 |
| I did miss this, so thanks to G. for posting about it in LJ. Oh this is a great scene. "You can overrule me, of course, my lord. If you have lost confidence in me, I could step down as Troop Commander." Hah! Well played Ithilden! And poor Thranduil. How difficult for him to send all his sons into such danger and have it all culminate with the danger his youngest faced in the WotR. But I absolutely adore Thranduil in these types of scenes, so I loved this! Author Reply: Glad you liked it, Elliska. At this point, I think Thranduil and Ithilden may have worked out their relative authorities pretty well, but then became a warrior and suddenly there's a whole new set of problems to negotiate. Poor Thranduil indeed, having to put aside his fear and let his sons go. | |
| erunyauve | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/11/2007 |
| >>Thranduil gave a short, incredulous laugh. "Are you defying me? I am your adar and your king." He dropped back into his chair. >>"You can overrule me, of course, my lord. If you have lost confidence in me, I could step down as Troop Commander." Great moment here - Ithilden has to establish his authority as Troop Commander, both as a son and a subject. And a good king picks the right advisors and lets them advise him. >>Then I intend to instill an acute fear of the Valar and more importantly of me before you send him anywhere." >>"I had plans to do that do that too, and I think Maltanaur has similar intentions." >>Thranduil leaned back in his chair, raised his eyes, to the ceiling, and smiled. "Perhaps your naneth will want to have a word with him." Poor Eilian! I'm sure orcs must have seemed welcome company after his family got through with him. Author Reply: The layered relationships in this family have always interested me. How do you separate king from father? Warrior from brother? Commander from son? They must have had to learn to do that and then probably had to keep relearning. On the other hand, Eilian needed someone to point him in the right direction on occasion. :-) | |
| Redheredh | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/11/2007 |
| That was very entertaining! I just might be joining Ithilden's fanbase. Happy Birthdy, Gwynhyffar! Author Reply: Thanks, Redheredh. Ithilden basically kicks butt. | |
| Manderly | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/11/2007 |
| Wow! That was some confrontation between Thranduil and Ithilden! If I were in the same room with them, I'm sure I would have been forced back flat against the wall by the force of their wills. Good for Ithilden! Not many people (or in this case, elves) can stand up to the full might of Thranduil, but Ithilden did so with such admirable self-discipline and calm (at least on the surface, but Thranduil doesn't need to know that, does he?). Ithilden's right too. Had he wavered in his decision because of Thranduil's so very imposing demeanor, he would have lost all credibility as the commander of the troops, as well as Thranduil's grudging respect. Thranduil needs his totalitarian control checked once in a while and Ithilden did so wonderfully. Thanks for sharing this added chapter with us, Daw. It's always such a pleasure to see something new posted by you! Author Reply: Thanks, Manderly. I'm interested in how these people sort out their various relationships, and with Eilian a new warrior, the balance has changed. Ithilden and Thranduil may have sort of understanding on the extent of Ithilden's authority as troop commander, but maybe Thranduil didn't think that should extend to Eilian. And Thranduil really is seeing Eilian as his son, not a warrior. So it was fun to try to watch them "negotiate." | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/10/2007 |
| Yay!! Now, have you noticed that people seem to keep asking for Ithilden? What does that tell you?! This is excellent. I loved it from the moment Ithilden braced himself outside the door. For some reason I really liked the fact that Thranduil was looking at the map rather than sitting at his desk. There’s a real sense of what’s going on in his realm and that Thranduil is constantly working to find ways to stop the spread of evil. It sounds like I wouldn’t have wanted to be Deler when those spiders got so close… I do think Ithilden was right that Thranduil wanted to know what Eilian was up to because he’s his son. I wouldn’t blame Ithilden for not wanting to tell him about it anyway. But I bet Thranduil jolly well will ask Eilian. Apparently, even what Ithilden is about to tell him won’t drive it out of his mind. I admit I laughed when Ithilden used Maltanaur as a defence. Well, why not I suppose. He does know what’s best for Eilian as a warrior. A bored Eilian is not a good thing. I knew Thranduil wouldn’t like the decision but I shrank back in shock when he jumped up like that! Whoa! Fair play to Ithilden for holding his ground. I know he believes what he’s doing is right but I imagine the fear of giving in and allowing Thranduil re-gain his influence over these decisions keeps him going too. It must have taken a lot of work to win total control over the troops in the first place, no matter how much Thranduil trusts him. "You can overrule me, of course, my lord. If you have lost confidence in me, I could step down as Troop Commander." That was very well phrased on his part – if Thranduil interferes now, he’s taking away all the trust he puts in Ithilden. What a very touching moment when Ithilden sees Thranduil’s hand tremble. I’m thinking that’s not just from fury. Thranduil might be outraged that Eilian is being sent south but his reasons – that Eilian is undisciplined, careless and too new to the job – are ones that get a person killed. I like how following that moment Ithilden switches to “adar” rather than “my lord.” "Maltanaur says Eilian needs the challenge, Adar. He promises to look after Eilian, knock him around a bit if he needs it, and bring him home if he refuses to listen to reason." I was glad to see him put it like that. That’s the kind of thing Thranduil needs to know. Eilian will be in the best place for him and even though it’s dangerous he’ll be kept as safe as possible. Then I intend to instill an acute fear of the Valar and more importantly of me before you send him anywhere." "I had plans to do that do that too, and I think Maltanaur has similar intentions." Go Thranduil! And Ithilden. And Maltanaur. And probably a few others. Not to mention that Naneth will probably let him know he’ll break her heart if anything happens to him. Hmm. If I were Eilian, I’d be wondering if it’s worth it! "If I thought there was another way, I would take it." I love that. I believe him, and so does Thranduil. And I’m glad they ended the conversation on good terms. Poor Ithilden better get used to many of his triumphs being bittersweet. This was wonderful, daw. A fantastic scene between my two favourite characters. I loved seeing Ithilden stand his ground and do what he thought was right, even when everything about the decision was difficult. But then, I think they both showed great courage here. And a very happy birthday to Gwynhyffar! Author Reply: have you noticed that people seem to keep asking for Ithilden? What does that tell you?! I know you're kidding, but I've actually asked myself that. I think it's taken me a while to know him, and readers have picked him out as someone who's wonderfully commanding but has this secret vulnerability. At any rate, he does seem to be growing on people. Though you did see him first. :-) At this time period, Eilian is a new warrior, so I figured he, Ithilden, and Thranduil would still be sorting out their relationships. Ithilden has never commanded a brother before, after all, and Thranduil has never let someone else make decisions for a son. And Eilian would have a whole new set of relationships with both of them. So this would be one of many moments in which they sort things out. And Thranduil is frightened, poor thing. Eilian must look really ripe for trouble. But he trusts Ithilden and Maltanaur and really even Eilian, and he lets his second son go. Glad you liked it. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/10/2007 |
| Wowo! We Ithilden's fans are two points ahead! Happy birthday Gwynn! and a wonderful present for both of us! Ithilden was truly brave, it took sheer courage, I believe, to do this... "Instill the fear of the Valar and, most important, of me! LOLOL! THrnaduil is so cool when angered! The tension was perfectly clear, and Ithilden's struggle was wroth the effort. I wonder if Eilian ever wondered what may have cost his brother to win him that position! Wonderful. This trend of adding chapters is making me long for some time to go and re read, daw! Author Reply: Thank you, Perelleth. Ithilden is a guy who does what he thinks is right, even when it's unpleasant. You have to admire him. Oh wait. You don't need to be told that and neither does Gwyn. :-) I'll bet Thranduil tried to scare the wits out of Eilian before he let him go. Probably people all along the line did that, starting with Thranduil and ending with Todith, who wound up at Eilian's captain. | |
| Gwynhyffar | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 6/10/2007 |
| *squeeeeee* My two favourite elves- Scary!Angry!Thranduil and Determined!Ithilden!! Ithilden has guts, that's for sure. I don't think I would want to face down Thranduil in any situation, let alone one where he feels he has to protect one of his sons. He definitely knows how to argue with Thranduil, telling him that if he isn't doing a good job then he'll step down. I suppose he's been through trying to be convincing to Thranduil thousands of times already so he knows that after the initial blow up, the king will sit back down and listen. It's good to see them together where they disagree because I think it really shows how much Thranduil trusts Ithilden's judgement, even if he disagrees. This was a WONDERFUL thing to wake up to this morning, Daw! Thank you!!! Author Reply: You're very welcome, Gwyn. Happy birthday just a couple of days early. Ithilden is a tough guy. In lots of ways, he's Thranduil's closest confidant, and I think the king trusts him as he trusts few others. Of course, Ithilden has a lot of years on his younger brothers, and his mother was around for all his growing up. I think all that together let him establish himself in a way Eilian and Legolas have to do later. Glad you liked it. | |