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The Hunting Trip by Ithilien	18 Review(s)
chris (unplugged32)	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 10/16/2003
it's been a while since i've had time to read my favorite stories so i must apologize for this late review. lots of stuff going on in RL:) my poor, poor legolas, still lingering somewhere between life and death, his soul confused and tormented! wonderful work as always! the attention to detail, the 'in character' characters, the smooth continuation of the plot are just a few of the things i enjoy about your work. keep writing! i'm really excited about the next chapter:)

Capn Jak Sparrow	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/24/2003
I love your story Ithilien... just one thing... UPDATE! It's driving me mad!!! Please UPDATE!!!

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/16/2003
Ithilien Finally! I'm all caught up and have finished chapter 41. You have constructed a complex and vividly detailed landscape of people, emotions and terrain. You've given great depth to the emotional struggles of the couples and have given them their due rather than just merely resoving problems without cause. We can see the process and not just this out of the blue resolution. Some of their thoughts are funny, many heart wrenching and touching. One the few occasions when the opportunity presented itself to do in the old bat, I was cheering for one of our intrepid heroes to use the knife, but alas, they did not. They are just too good for their own good (It reminded me of those kind of movies where the scantily clad co-ed goes to investigate the noise and I'm screaming, "No, you dimwit! Run!" But if she didn't blunder out into the dark armed only with her thong and flashlight, there would be no story.) Your story device kept the show on the road and gave us insight into the characters. I guess they're better people than me. :>) Then Marius Suenor! I was screaming! It was a cute nod,(sarcasm noted),to the these great ladies of fiction. Even Faramir knows who they are. My, how they have infiltrated. I'm impressed with your imagination, your attention to details and the fleshing out of your characters. I have no suggestions except that you're a bit too slow with the next chapter. :>) Seriously, your story has been an incredible journey full of twist and turns, excitement and good characterizatons. I'm looking forward to more. ......> (my arrow's nocked and ready to shoot off to the next chapter.) Karen

*~SuGaR~*	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/14/2003
hehe...i lied, a few more things to say... fingernails...looks down at hands...funny stuff, toes suddenly astoundingly fascinating...looks down at toes, hey!!! you know what, they are!!!!!! but yes...I WANT MORE!!!! can't wait to see them kick Bregus' old witchy hinny!!! again LET THE EEVIL-WITCH-BUTT KICKIN' COMMENCE!!!!!!!!(yes i'm really done this time) ~SuGaR~

*~SuGaR~*	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/14/2003
sorry about the late review...stupid school... well, first let me tell you that i hate the way you end your chapters...argh...though this chapter was really really long already, but still!!!! just when the rescuing-justice-making-evil-witch-butt-kicking was about to begin!!!!!!!!!!!! alright!!! i was right about Aragorn!!...maybe i'm not so stupid as i thought i was...wait, maybe not...well they've finally got a plan, but now Arwen's in trouble, doesn't this ever stop???...but can't she talk to the dogs??...confused =S and yes, the amulet has come back!!!...but what about the halberd...argh can't wait any longer!!!! but then again, it will be strange when it's all over tear =( ahh mithril, i just wanna give Gimli a big hug!!!!!...Legolas too, but i'm not so sure that's a good idea right now...=( =(...sigh* i have to admit, lots of questions were answered(including about Mary Sue), but you still haven't said who the nice old lady was. i still think it's Kattica's grandmother though... oh, about the email thing, it's not over 2MB is it??? cuz i can't get more than that...i deleted the other stuff in my inbox, cuz if it is even slightly under i'd be able to get it now...i know, i know...you've probably already tried it a zillion million times and this is getting really(x100)annoying, but if it isn't over 2MB try to send it now...PLEASE!! if it is, then just tell my and i'll stop bugging you and go wallow in my self pity, k? well, once again a great chapter...jeez my reviews aren't really reviews are they!?!?!?!? eh, i only one thing left to say now....LET THE EVIL-WITCH-BUTT-KICKIN' COMMENCE!!!!! ~SuGaR~

lembas7	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/12/2003
ooh!! something is happening! Yes!! (Finally!) ooh - sooo excitied. I love this story (though i admit that initially i was put off by the drunk&hungover elf scene - I don't enjoy laughing @ my charachter's expense - it's a personality defect. However, things looked up from there) I was wondering what non-slash stories you would recommend, and maybe if you could urge Lamiel to continue the work on IN THE DEEP PLACES, which is excellent! Your story is brilliant, and i have high hopes for the rescue - never have i met such a convoluted, intriguing plotline - two thumbs up for being so believably creative (and for that spot of Aragorn angst about the sex-in-cave-while-friends-suffer bit. I'm not quite ready to forgive him for that. What can i say? I'm a hopeless romantic . . . j/k!! :P ) as well as keeping track of everything that's going on and not loosing any little bits here and there. I tend to do that in my own stories if I'm not careful/attentive, so i think it's great that you tie everything together so well. Much hope for the rest of the story - I have no problem with excessively long chapters, as long as action abounds!! ~lembas7

Littlefish	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/12/2003
Yes!! They are all together now, and plans are being made for a rescue. This is so exciting. The climax is approaching, and the tension within this chapter kept me on the edge of my seat. The chapter was wonderfully long, but I think I still moaned when it came to an end! I WANT MORE!!!!! ^_^ I think you did an excellent job in the first section with Aragorn reflecting back on what had happened to bring he and Arwen to the others. I think you saved time here by not going over every little detail, but you still gave us enough not to leave a blank gap. You also did a wonderful job showing Aragorn's immediate seizure of control. He and Arwen are the last to find out what is going on, but he is the first to really take control and begin forming a decisive plan. He doesn't play around with the situation, but immediately works to use what time they have to their advantage. Perfect characterization here! Oh youch! Just when I begin to think we are making progress, you throw in the little section with Arwen. Well, we have learned that she is good at thinking fast, and hopefully this trait will serve her well in escaping the dogs. I don't think Aragorn would be too happy if anything should happen to her!! It looks as if poor Eowyn has a broken arm. Mattias doesn't look to be in too good of condition either. And I won't even mention Legolas!! Thank the Valar that Gordash and Kattica have finally arrived. This marks the beginning of the end, and I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve for us next. I hope to see another update soon. Great job, Ithilien!

Thundera Tiger	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/11/2003
Oh! Oh! Oh! I know this! Congealing! Things are "congealing"! Yes! What a word. Oh, and if you ever have the need to use such a wonderful word, you are more than welcome to borrow it for a day or so. I certainly wouldn't deny you the privilege. Not after a chapter like this. The first part of the first section was seriously impressive. I love the way that you tied everything together along the theme of an elven rope (pun somewhat intended). But in all seriousness, it was a stroke of literary genius. The progression of the tale as seen from Aragorn's point of view was very much like moving along the rope with him. It wound and twisted, but never lost its focus and never lost its anchor. I don't know if that makes any sense, but it's the impression I received. And then we reach the end of the rope, more or less, only to discover that we're about twenty feet short. It's days like these when you wish you could have stayed in bed. Aragorn's reaction to what I can only assume was a rather hurried version of everything that has transpired is beautiful. He's completely shocked and stunned. You've captured his almost inability to comprehend it really well. I love the fact that you likened it to a ghost story told around a campfire, because essentially, that's what it's become. (Especially with Bala.) It's almost too dreadful to be true, yet Aragorn has to face the fact that this is what has been happening while he's been gallavanting about in the dark with Arwen. I also love the nice, long look at everyone through Aragorn's mind. There's a reason this guy is king, and you definitely show us why. He has an ability to see the potential in others as well as their weaknesses, and I love the evaluation we get on everyone. Especially interesting are his thoughts on Kattica, and I couldn't help but be reminded of his conversation with Arwen. Initially, he wants to protect and shelter her, but I think he's learned his lesson. Either that, or the situation is too desperate. In any case, it seems like he will be using her, much as he might dislike the necessity, and toward the end of the story, you show us that this is indeed the case. Arwen's decision to go off alone was very much a telling moment. There have been many tests throughout the story for Aragorn and Arwen, but this, I think was the hardest. And as a testament to both, they passed. Before, in the caves, they were still linked by the rope. There was still a way for Aragorn to get to Arwen. But now, that is no longer the case. The rope is cut and Arwen is heading off on her own. Moreover, there's a mad woman out there who seems to have a fettish for elven hearts. Kudos to Aragorn for having the courage to let his wife go. And I liked the fact that after she departed, Aragorn picked up the fallen rope. We've still got that rope in there, and I appreciate its symbolism. I also believe that Aragorn's method for getting into Henneth Annun might involve it. On a lighter note, the idea of tatooing dirt beneath the nails as a right of passage had me laughing hard. Very nice touch. And for some reason, I failed to mention your stab at Mary Sues in the last chapter, so I compliment you on that now. It was hilarious. Moving on (boy, this is turning into a long review) Gimli has a plan! And he has a brilliant way of telling it. He gets out all the possible disadvantages first so that they can be debated and over turned before he actually tells the plan. It enables the plan to be evaluated on its own merit without concern for pregnant woman taking too much of a toll. Nice strategic move, Gimli! So it's the mithril that will play a key role! I should have known better. You wouldn't have inserted that point about the mithril without having it play a key role later. And Aragorn has an Idea! Yipee!!! And we've still got that rope. I'm having visions of Aragorn or Faramir swinging in from the waterfall window on the rope, but that might be a little far-fetched and overly dramatic. Or maybe not. But I'm certain that the rope is going to be key. Arwen seems to have found the dogs. This could be problematic. On the upside, she's also found that braided bit of hair that once belonged to Legolas. I'm going to assume that this was not by accident and that between her own elven abilities and the hair, she's going to get the dogs to stand aside. But I won't rule out a good fight sequence, either. I also like the contrast you provide between Legolas and Arwen. Arwen is not nearly as comfortable in the trees as Legolas. It's an interesting point, and one I'm glad you brought up. And then you give us an extremely creepy final chapter. Ugh. Creepy doesn't even begin to describe what is happening here. We start with Eowyn and a recap of what's happened from Mattias's rather bewildered point of view. And we are also told that Bala does indeed now inhabit Curtik, which wigs me out to no end. Ugh. I think something has congealed in my stomach. And then we find out that Legolas might be giving up the fight for life. And when Eowyn tries to rouse him, she fails miserably. If I remember correctly, Bregus did something to him, so there's probably more at work here than just the sea-longing. But the tension has reached an amazing high, and I'm on pins and needles. But the really creepy part of this section is Curtik's arrival as Bregus. I was almost nauseous at the implication that he and Bregus had been...well, my stomach is already starting to churn, so I'll stop there. Ugh. But I couldn't help noticing that Curtik/Bala seems awfully touchy. (Ugh) And that was how Bregus tried to control Aragorn, Faramir, and Gimli earlier. And Bregus seems...distracted. Not good. Definitely not good. I think Curtik/Bala has more control here than anyone believes. Of course, this could buy Legolas some time since Bregus isn't set on getting an elven heart, but still... And then the cavalry arrives! The cavalry consists of Gordash and the pregnant Kattica, but I'll root for them anyway. Aragorn, Faramir, and Gimli can't be far behind. Oh, you've certainly set things up well, here, and I feel like I'm poised on the edge of the cliff. I am almost tempted to encourage you with a promise of a soon-to-be-updated "Fear No Darkness," but that wouldn't be fair to my other stories. Oh, but the temptation is very, very compelling... Update quickly! glances at review length Sheesh! Sorry about all that. But you did say this was your longest chapter to date, so I feel justified in giving you my longest review to date.

luinthien	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/11/2003
WOW! you did it again! I'm relieved that Aragorn and Arwen are finally out and able to start helping their friends. The whole gang is almost back together. But poor Legolas! I'm getting very concerned about him!! Hurry and heal him! The whole scene with Bregus and Bala/Curtik YECHHH- no wait- DOUBLE YECHH very creepy and gross! Way to go! I can't wait to find out what our heroes have in store for Bregus! Can't wait for another chapter!

Tapetum Lucidum	Reviewed Chapter: 41 on 9/11/2003
Man - I'm late. My dog had puppies over the weekend and I am so behind. You, Daw, Jasta, Cassia... What to read? Aragorn and Arwen's escape from the cave was excellent. I enjoyed your dissertation on the qualities of elven rope. It was very clever. I wish I had a coil. I won't tell you what I would do to Legolas with it... The part about the fingernails had me LOL! I think my children have tatooed their fingernails as well. They are clean for about 5 minutes after bathing, then they are dirty again. Arwen's elven glare must be as potent as Elrond's if she had Aragorn squirming. He must be worried. Poor Arwen! Surrounded by wild dogs in the woods! Your point about her being Noldor vs. Legolas' Sindarin heritage was well made, it explained her path well. I guess she cannot talk with the beasts as the woodland elf can. I hope her new bracelet can be used as a distraction while she leaps into the trees. It would be very handy. I hope someone finally makes it to the soldier's camp. Eowyn is as tough as ever. She is up and about with her broken arm worrying about my favorite elf. At least she is married so I don't have to be jealous. Your description of her concern was very sweet. I could almost see the worry in her face. Bregus' children have some serious sibling rivalry issues to resolve. She is obviously quite disturbed if she is making out with one son while forgetting the other is missing. Mattias found a sensitive spot didn't he? The family dynamics will be interesting to watch as the battle unfolds. I hope Mattais lives to care for his child... We'll see. It looks like everything will come together in the next chapter or so. I am really looking forward to it. I am glad everyone won't be magically healed and get on with life unscathed. It sounds like even Faramir will still have to come to terms with what Bregus did to him back at the camp. Great Job!

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