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Interrupted Journeys: Part 5 Journeys in Mirkwood by elliska	8 Review(s)
Sulwing of Mirkwood	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009
You're going to be tired of hearing from me soon... :) I was just looking at the other reviews and I wanted to lend my sympathy with the rest to the poor, poor men. ;) Also...YAY! One of my guesses was right! Though not completely, I confess, because I really was thinking that the men would be evil. Whatever. Oh, I also wanted to apologize for using the wrong verb. Something about "let" instead of "leave." I am an insane perfectionist when it comes to things like that. It rankles me when I find errors AFTER I post a review. Of course, then, half the time I mispell words on purpose...okay, whoa, stop. SO SORRY. I JUST GOT COMPLETELY RANDOM ON YOU, WENT OFF ON SOME TANGENT. I APOLOGIZE! :( I love Interrupted Journeys!!!!!!!!! (There, that's better, right?) Author Reply: Never! :-) Yes, the poor, poor men had to have been stressed out by the end of this chap with elves dropping out of trees left and right. ;-) Good thing for Legolas and cousins they weren't evil Men. Though eventually in other stories we'll be back to evil men again, so the other part of your guess will come true eventually too. Hehehe! Typos. You are speaking to the queen of typos. And I don't think 'leave someone to do something is bad English, is it?' Not in my part of the US, anyway. :-) The wonderful thing about the review function at SoA is the ability to have a few 'tangents' every now and again. They are fun!

Sulwing of Mirkwood	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/8/2009
So so cool! I looove this story! :) Thranduil is very cool fighting and his relationship with his brother is very amusing... Legolas is so very wise (in this chapter at least) and would certainly have made his adar proud if he had seen what happened. I like how in the beginning Legolas leaves Berior to do the tracking and instead pays attention to their natural surroundings...it's sort of like how he lets Aragorn to do the tracking in the Two Towers. Finally, sorry I haven't reviewed in a while but I was dancing along my merry elven way when suddenly, from out of nowhere, popped REAL LIFE. :( Okay, now I'll go read the next chapter... :) Author Reply: when suddenly, from out of nowhere, popped REAL LIFE. :( Yeah, real life has a lot of nerve getting into our important time, doesn't it! I was feeling that last week with school too. I love Thranduil and so I absolutely adore getting to write about Warrior!Thranduil. And I think you're right Legolas did a really great job in this chapter. Thranduil would be proud. it's sort of like how he lets Aragorn to do the tracking in the Two Towers. Very true! Cool! Thanks so much for the review!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 3/2/2009
Sorry I’m late with this. I love how Berior seems particularly skilled in tracking – and that Legolas places unquestioning trust in his skills. The quietness of the forest was eerie so I was actually really glad when they reached the fire, despite not knowing whether it was made by friend or foe! It was very interesting watching the discussion as they tried to figure out what to do. And I like how Legolas steps in and just puts an end to it. He’s his Adar’s son ;-) So it’s Men. And oh my God, Galithil would have shot at them! Legolas is really great here, the way he keeps his head and forces Galithil to listen and decipher what’s happening. Of course, it forced me to do the same! And to be fair, Galithil did have a point that they didn’t know for sure they weren’t just trying to subdue her. I particularly like the way Legolas just accepts that he’s the one who should speak to the Men. Though Galithil’s well-placed arrow was very impressive, whether or not he should have done it! I can’t really blame the whole lot of them for fitting arrows to their bows. They’re young and in a scary situation and are reacting in a way that’s probably being drilled into them every day on the training fields where their teachers probably thought they had years to teach them that every situation is different. "If we let her go, she will run into the forest and a good deal more harm will come to her there than with us," the man argued. Good point. I think I like these Men. It got very tense there for a moment with everyone aiming arrows at each other. What a surprise it must have been for the Men that all the Elves were children! I like the conversation between Galithil and Legolas. It’s so realistic that there are opposing views and it’s actually reminiscent of Thranduil’s council meetings! So the Man speaks Sindarin! Well, Legolas’ instincts should tell him to trust him ;-) These folks have an interesting story. And they certainly sound trustworthy. Even knowing the children were safe, my heart was in my throat reading about their fathers trying to find them. I was glad Conuiön was there. It’s easy to think Dannenion was being idiotic (and ok, he kind of is) but he’s not used to being a warrior, and following orders and strategy. Aradunnon and Thranduil are obviously better at it, even in their worry but still, I’m glad Conuiön was there. That was a heart-stopping moment when they came across the dead spiders. And then, oh no – live ones!! Ok, I’m sure the next part was incredible but I have to confess I skipped through it. Sorry. Ick. "In the future," Thranduil said, when Aradunnon jogged up alongside him, "when both of us may potentially be in a battle, we must agree in advance who will command it," he observed dryly. ROTFL!! I love that moment. Thank heavens the adults finally got there. And they’re a lot faster than the children at assessing what’s going on. That was a great moment when Conuiön snaps the twig. And it’s clever of Legolas to remember not to give anything away about who’s who. It must have been a pretty amazing image when all the adults appeared. Though I suspect the Men wouldn’t appreciate it as much as I would have ;-) "And we did kill them both” sigh If only it were that easy. How does Barad know how to address Thranduil? Intriguing... I wonder if the healers will be able to help the wounded Man? It doesn’t sound good, though obviously Legolas wouldn’t realise just how slowly Men heal. I’m glad they’re going back to the stronghold – I’d like to hear more about them! And I’m glad everyone’s reunited. Great chapter, as always. Author Reply: I am so very sorry for being so long in replying to this. Comprehensive exams ate up all of my time this week. What a review! Oh my gosh! I love your comments about how the children thought through this whole mess. I had a fun time imagining how they'd react at this age (when they think themselves fairly capable) to something like this, especially given Legolas and Galithil's background with Men. It is a situation that lets Legolas and Galithil's different strengths and weaknesses really come out. And they are still children too, so, given that, they really did well. ;-) it’s actually reminiscent of Thranduil’s council meetings! Hooray! That's exactly what I wanted. That's where these kids are headed, of course, and what they are learning. To think and debate. It's what separates them from people like Anastor and Noruil. It’s easy to think Dannenion was being idiotic (and ok, he kind of is) but he’s not used to being a warrior, and following orders and strategy. Aradunnon and Thranduil are obviously better at it, even in their worry but still, I’m glad Conuiön was there. Again, that's exactly it! And why Thranduil is feeling a little sympathy for him up to a point. Dannenion did some stupid things, but at least he tried to help find his son, which is a step in the right direction for him, and he doesn't have any experience with things like scouting in enemy territories (or much less full scale battles), so he did ok. Mostly. Ok, I’m sure the next part was incredible but I have to confess I skipped through it. Sorry. Ick. ROFL!!! You killed me with this. Good thing you skipped it. Lot's of nasty spider action. ;-) Poor Men. All the adult Elves suddenly appearing must have been about it for them. Barad gets at least two more scenes in this story and perhaps one in the next one, depending on how I edit it. They are Good People. Legolas needs to learn that about the Dunedain. ;-) "And we did kill them both” sigh* If only it were that easy.* Exactly. That's the key. It's just going to take a lot for Galithil to actually grasp that. Pity. Thanks so much for the review! I love them!

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/28/2009
OK, men, but not bad ones, apparently. Poor ones, with an elven girl in their hands and elven children ready to rain them with arrows, and a brother wounded, and the girld crying as if they were killing her! They really showed great control, these men. The battle was great. And I really love the not so smooth relationship between Thranduil and Aradunnon, sibling rivalry showing up even in 'after' battle. But both were tense, also, what with the prospect of their children lost in that spider infested area! These two guys haev a rough time when responsility and family clash at each step! That is one of the things that I love most of these story arc, the look at both public and private lives of the ruling family. This is most entertaining, elliska, I am so glad that you are finally finding time for updating! :-) Author Reply: I am so, so sorry to be so long in replying to this. Comprehensive exams sucked up every minute of time that I was not at work for the last week. Hehe! Yeah, you do have to feel sorry for the poor men, don't you? They must be about at their wits end. Barad did behaving very wisely, lucky for him or else things would have been worse for him. Poor Thranduil. I am an only child, but I imagine even if you do feel some sibling rivalry, you still must really count on your sibling always being there for you. And that is doubly true for someone in Thranduil's position, with Aradunnon being his troop commander. The family/politics thing must get very confusing and entangled. I really enjoy that too. Thanks so much for the review, Perelleth. I appreciate them so much!

Ces	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/26/2009
Great, great story so far and definite cliffhanger throughout this whole chapter! I love seeing Thranduil in action - we don't get enough of that! And his humor - "In the future," Thranduil said, when Aradunnon jogged up alongside him, "when both of us may potentially be in a battle, we must agree in advance who will command it," he observed dryly. - had me snorting my drink through my nose! Legolas is already showing definite signs of leadership, isn't he? The way he speaks with Barad - not automatically thinking bad of him is the sign of a coming great leader. And Barad has to become one of my favorite OC's. I can't wait to read more of him. I see you told Jay in her review that Thranduil is in for more of a rough time. I have to admit I'm wondering just what that is - poor elf! Looking forward to more! Ces Author Reply: I love that you said this was like a cliffhanger all the way through! I'd really hoped it was tense, but it is hard to judge for me. Action Thranduil is awesome! I love him too. And I'm glad you liked Thranduil and Aradunnon's little joke. :-) Barad is neat. He is a really good man, even if he is bringing some really scary news to Mirkwood, as Thranduil will see. Yes, this story is hard on Thranduil. Definitely. But I'll leave people wondering why. :-) Thank you so much for the review! I really appreciate them so much!

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/26/2009
Oh, what a tense chapter! I'm glad that the camp that Maidhien barged into was filled with Men -- friendly ones -- but she was having none of their explanations that they wanted to help her.... poor, frightened girl! But the Men kept their wits about them during both of their encounters with the "more dangerous and less wise" wood elves... a good thing! Thranduil had a couple of decidedly "less wise" characters with him, who were not even disciplined warriors... as much as he must have empathized with their concern about their children, it must have been a pain... they didn't even understand that keeping their mouths shut was for their own safety! But it was a bit... dismaying to think that, though the children managed to kill a couple of the giant spiders, there were 50 more just hanging around to make mischief rolls eyes.... I am of the firm opinion that spiders should be no bigger than what you can squash with the heel of your boot. Well done, Elliska! I can breathe again! (For now... can't imagine you'll let that go on for too long....) - Barbara Author Reply: Poor Maidhien. She really panicked. She'd never seen Men before and she really wasn't expecting that on top of the spiders. Thranduil had a couple of decidedly "less wise" characters with him, LOL! So true! Dannenion and Dolwon definitely are the epitome of more dangerous and less wise! You cracked me up good with that. You would hope all the children would think about the danger they were in and how lucky they were when they think about the fact that it was 50 spiders, not two. But where would be the fun in that?! This is just the beginning of the story, after all. They can't learn too quickly. ;-) I'm with you in preferring my spiders in the itsy bitsy variety. Thanks so much for the review! I appreciate them so much!

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/25/2009
I like Barad - and I tend to trust men who speak Sindarin, as they must have been around elves for a long time. Thranduil and Legolas were both excellent as well - I loved Legolas leading the elflings and his sound reasoning and battle strategy. And Thranduil is, as always, just wonderful. Thank you for not ending this on a cliffhanger! Jay Author Reply: Yeap, the Sindarin made a big difference for Legolas too. He knows men who speak Sindarin are ok. :-) I just love Thranduil and he is going to have such a rough time in this story. Poor thing. Thank you for not ending this on a cliffhanger! :-) I know, I've been bad. I almost never do cliffhangers but this story lends itself to them so much. Sorry. ;-) Thanks so much for the review!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 2/25/2009
I like the little detail of Legolas trusting Berior to find Maidhien's trail. It's a good thing when an author doesn't give all the achievements to the MC. Actually, I liked Aradunnon commanding the battle too. Thranduil should let him do that! I think I was as dismayed as the kids were when they heard the scream. The confrontation with the men was tense because so much could go wrong. Thranduil's heart must have stopped when he recognized Legolas's fletching on the arrow in the spider. And I sympathize with Dannenion, but he's an idiot. At least he and Dolwon fought well once he'd attracted the spiders. I'm with Conuion. The spiders still look hungry to me. Dannenion wouldn't miss a leg, would he? The men are having a bad night with two groups of armed elves training arrows on them, even if one of the groups contains children. Legolas thought quickly to leave his father unidentified. At least the leader has the good sense to know that if one of the adult elves revealed himself, the men were getting a break. Author Reply: It is really fun thinking 'ok, this character will be good at XYZ' and planning stuff like that. Even if those character details can usually only work themselves into the story in small ways, like Legolas trusting Berior to track better, I still really like doing that. I enjoyed writing the children's confrontation with the men because there was so much potential for disaster. I'm glad that that tension did come across. I'd hoped it would, but it's not always easy to tell. Poor Thranduil. He had a rough night between seeing that Legolas actually fought a spider and Dannenion's idiocy (even though Thranduil sympathized with D's sense of urgency, he was still an idiot). I laughed when I read your comment about his leg though and said 'What about their legs--they don't need those--they look tasty' out loud right at my desk here and some students clearly think I've lost it! Conuion definitely agrees with you though. Poor men, they've had it rough. Better Elves than spiders though! ;-) Thanks so much for the review, daw! I appreciate them so much.

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