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| Growing Under Shadow by daw the minstrel | 13 Review(s) |
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| Fadesintothewest | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/18/2003 |
| I certainly do not think the story is developing slowly. No, the plot thickens, and I have a feeling Legolas and co. are going to get into a heap of trouble with the men and the deer! Thranduil sure knows how to read Legolas :) | |
| Tigerlily713 | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/14/2003 |
| What a delightful chapter! I read in while in church...bad Lily. Anyway, I was almost sure those heavy footprints would be Orcs, or that the trio would follow the Men's raft all the way to Esgaroth or something horrible like that. Good to see you have a firmer grasp on reality than I do. And yes, that underwear website was very...ummm...interesting. I love seeing names I recognize on the world wide web. Makes me a feel a bit less insignificant. Lovely chapter; I think I had a few people reading over my shoulder in church! | |
| Sekhet | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/14/2003 |
| Daw First of all, profoundest apologies for not reviewing this before now. My only excuse is that I'm deep in finishing a story of my own – not LoTR. I don't write within LoTR – and it's rather dominated me for the last few days. I think I'm on the home stretch, but have hit yet another little arid patch (sigh). So, back to your excellent and amazing story. I think that I confined my comments on chapter 1 to squeals of joy – they haven't abated in either of the subsequent chapters! Things I really loved : "Tinár had… managed to antagonize almost all of his fellow warriors with an arrogance that was outsized even for an Elf." That made me laugh! Even Eilian then, knows that the elves are little superior! And Gelmir's threat to shoot Tinar was priceless – although I think the revenge that Miri eventually inflicted on him was almost as devastating and more fun. And shooting Maltanaur – I'm surprised that hot tempered Eilian didn't feed the idiot to the next spider they came across. Eilian is learning to control himself. I had to laugh over the "fearsome and cool" description. He is Thranduil's son, after all. Nice little sidelight into Turgon's homelife, and interesting that Legolas does recognise his friend's shortcomings. A pity that Turgon is so fascinating - doubt Thranduil would agree! And I liked the way that Legolas is growing up and thinks he's too old for embraces – my nephew was exactly the same at about 10 or 11. At fifteen, he's affectionate and loving again. Hormones, eh! You don't mind adolescents having them, but WHY do they insist on inflicting them on the rest of us? In the next chapter, it's interesting to see that the Elves' contact with men is to trade for weaponry, and an intersting light on Elven society that this is a skill they don't have for themselves. Loved the bit about the other man not being able to meet Ithilden's eyes and Ithilden's vague interest in why – although I do wonder if Cadoc presages the Easterlings of twenty years later, with his interest in what's going on around him. It may be no more than curiosity, but then again it may be a lot more than that… The rafting adventure was really exciting – I got a little worried about my favourite elf! Just loved the bit when they got home and Thranduil's reaction to this damp, muddy and limping little elf-child – and the part where Legolas stood on one leg, pressing his foot against the other, was priceless. Kids just do things like that. Thranduil was amazingly restrained, I thought, and is a very wise father. The way that he knew from the unexpected embrace he got that Legolas had been frightened by it, and his resignation about it all, was incredibly good and spot on to the character you've created for him. Very well done – I'm loving this, as usual Sekhet | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/13/2003 |
| Ah, the dwarves came through so far… I really liked the look at Ithilden in this chapter. It’s interesting to see his worries and his attempts to ensure that his people have sufficient armour, probably much as his father did. It’s also such an insight into their society, particularly the part about how so few elves are apprenticed to armourers; they seem to craft weapons out of necessity but rarely out of pleasure. It’s kind of sad that he can only appreciate his troops in terms of how deadly they are but at the same time it says much about him that he is so determined to offer the realm the best protection possible. Great job with the little adventure! It was so vivid that I was seriously worried there for a while! And I hope Legolas has sense enough not to mention any similarities between Turgon and Eilian at home… So they found the buck’s prints? I sense another adventure coming up….! I loved the “voice of Thranduil” bits as well – so touching and, well, kind of funny too if you don’t mind me saying so! Lovely ending! I’m still smiling at the scene where Legolas kissed his father. Although, surely Thranduil doesn’t really think that the wrecked raft means the end of adventures for Legolas and his friends…?!:) | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/13/2003 |
| Daw, I didn't even touch anything that time and the review just went. It is supernatural! I'm a litle afraid....... My favorite part of this chapter was when the Little Explorer skidded back into the palace and Ada looked at his grimy little foot and he stood up and placed it against the other leg. (whew...I'm hurrying before I get cast into the depths again.) What a wonderful little behavior that is so realistic for that age. You do an extraordinary job of working in those kinds of age appropriate behaviors in your stories. I find them very pleasing and they always give me a happy smile. You said you thought the pace was a little slow. It may be a bit slower than usual, but I can't think of anyone I would rather take a slow stroll through Mirkwood with than this royal family. I see what I think are set ups for the future. I would not have noticed it had you not mentioned it. By the way, some of my best friends are geeks, (I am, of course, ultra cool and therefore mainly unproductive. It takes a lot of time to be so detached)....So...isn't being a geek a good thing? I mean, we don't like to wait on your next chapter. :>) Seriously, I'm enjoying this story and look forward to where your little clues lead us. Karen | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/13/2003 |
| Daw, The weapons shipment looks good, but I didn't like the way one of the men kept looking around. I have a bad feeling about him. And Ithilden make a mistake in payment! This man has been listening to dwarven gossip. Well, the Adventures of Huck, Tom and Jim-Bob got off to big start. I was glad to see Legolas recall his adar's words about swimming instead and staying clam when they found themselves in the river. And then they found the mega deer's tracks. I see another adventure coming on. | |
| Brenda G. | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/13/2003 |
| Well, I have just finished Chapter 3 and liked it very much. I keep trying to visualize what Legolas looks like at this stage. It gave me insight when you described him as thin when he stood before his father. Most kids his age are very lean, I suppose because they are (1) young and (2) active. I'm sure his hair would already be about as long at this stage as it will ever get. He invokes protective feelings in me as I read about him, so I can well understand Thranduil's tendency to be a mite overprotective of his youngest son. What a treasure Legolas is and with a good father to guide and mold him. The older brothers must either cringe or smile a lot as they watch Legolas taking the paths growing up that they have already traveled. It might be very interesting when you finish your stories of Legolas to backtrack and give us some insight into Eilian'a and Ithilden's more memorable moments of childhood. The older brothers have many fans in their own right by now. I, for one, would love stories like that. Well written, well done... Don't you ever get tired of praise??? Post again soon. I'm always ready for more good stuff from you. BG | |
| naneth | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/13/2003 |
| What a delightful "Tom Sawyer" type adventure for the young ones! Legolas is a very brave young man-he conquered his fears and kept his head. Well done! Love the scene with his father when he tucks his injured foot against his other leg. I've seen children do that so often. Well written as always! | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/13/2003 |
| Another chapter! I do like your tales of little Legolas, and the fun he gets up to with his friends. It's interesting to see the normal childhood pursuits contrasted with the adult concerns and growing shadow. The raft sounds great fun! We have an annual raft race here, down the River Dart, with about a hundred rafts entered. My son (19) has taken part twice with his friends - and their raft was certainly 'unique', I've never seen anything like it. He had better luck than Legolas, though, and finished the course both times. Most of them sink! Jay (envying you the quick updates - new work committments leave me less time for writing. But I'm about halfway through chapter 9 of The Search.) | |
| LOTRFaith | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 9/12/2003 |
| Hey Daw:-) Great chapter. I really like Turgon:-) He has the slight arrogance and full confidence in himself that usually seems to bode not so well. :-) I have taken your suggestion and ;-) I hope you will enjoy the results. Don't worry about reading it though. I know how busy life can get. I will most likely be posting on Sunday the 14th. But anyway enough of me. I love your stories and often go back and read them all just for the heck of it! Namaarie! LOTRFaith | |