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Interrupted Journeys: Part 6 Journeys Out of Grief by elliska	7 Review(s)
Charmel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/2/2010
I liked this chapter alot. Being a parent is a learning experience for both child and parents. Mothers can be wrong too and Grandmothers. I think apologies are owed all around. Legolas has to understand that it is Thranduil's right as his parent to set rules for him. Even those that he does not agree are necessary. You are not allowed to pick and choose which rules to obey. He even betrayed his mom in my opinion. She said she would speak to Thranduil, he should have waited. Also, When you violate a parent's trust, you are asking to have your privacy violated. I do not think Thranduil owes him an apology for looking in that case. For not giving him a chance to explain, definately. I also would not give in on the sword lessons, but I would come up with another way for him to learn to rule. I'm sure sitting in a few boring meetings would be ample punishment! Maybe helping with the metal issue or weaving the cloth! Now that's good punishment there. Author Reply: This is why parenting is soooo hard. A lot of times, I think there just isn't a right answer. You have to go with the 'best you can do' solution. I can't resist playing around with a few of your points here in the review, because you capture the dilemma so well. You are not allowed to pick and choose which rules to obey. Nope. And there has to be a whole new level to this when your parent is King. And when your justification for breaking the rule is 'I think my way is best since I'm the King's son and the realm needs this.' That sort of steps it up a notch. But then we have to throw in the fact that Thranduil made the rule without hearing anyone's input on it, not even his wife's. That complicates it. Messy is more fun. She said she would speak to Thranduil, he should have waited. Yep. You can't deny that. I think both Thranduil and Lindomiel would agree with that, Of course from Legolas's point of view, that 'mom intervention' was supposed to occur when Thranduil had let go of his emotions from recent events a bit and that was going to happen 'never' (as Berior put it, I think). But still, that's not really an excuse. This debate is going to play out in the next chapter (unless parts of it get cut--I've been cutting pretty heavily in this story). So I'd better leave that there. I also would not give in on the sword lessons, This one is tougher if Thranduil is convinced by Legolas's argument in favor of having the lessons. But it is a bad thing to reward misbehavior, no doubt. So this becomes really tricky. This definitely can't be cut as a discussion in the next chapter, so I'd better not give too much away. But it is the type of dilemma I would hate as a parent. As for some of your other comments, I haven't made all the cuts for the final chapter yet, so I hate to say for certain, but if certain things stay in there, I have to say you've been fairly prophetic. :-) Thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
Wait a minute, did Legolas just called his Father a fool? Author Reply: ROTFL! I guess he did, indirectly. I didn't catch that. Good thing Thranduil didn't either! I wonder if I can make that play into the dialogue in the last chapter somehow. Because that is funny! Boy would Legolas be utterly horrified by that. Thanks so much for the review! It has inspired a plot bunny.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
This is a great chapter. It remind me to be calm before go and yell, I mean, talk to my child, but it is so hard sometimes to have a cold head with so many problems around you. Good that Legolas has a grandmother to stop his father, at least for a while. It is so heartbroken to have Thranduil confronted with his "mortality". He could reason why he needed all the training, but he doesn't see that his child need it too. Everybody want their children to have a better live and try to shield them for the bad experinces that we had suffered, but at some point, children ned to be confronted with reality and it is better to be prepare. I realy felt so bad for him when he understood what the children were thinking and that he never thought about that, not even back in his youth, when he didn't expect his Ada to die. I suppose that Men are better in that cease, to prepare your children to live without you and to brave the world without your parents help. our description of his shock was very real. I can't wait for more, Thranduil really needs a vacation, if you want, you can send him to my home.... Author Reply: You've got it exactly, of course. Thranduil has just reached the end of his rope and acted in a way that he will not be proud of once he really thinks about it. I'm really glad you commented on Thranduil's reaction to Legolas's comment. Obviously that's hard for Legolas to think about, but I think it would be really hard for Thranduil to realize Legolas is thinking about it. He must have faced and accepted the possibility his potential mortality several hundred battles ago. But to realize your child get it too would be really hard, especially for a parent who has been so determined not to allow the Shadow to influence his family. Thranduil's vacation is coming, as you'll see. Thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!

perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
Uh oh. Thranduil was really out of his mind really, to have failed to think that the children might be thinking that he might too die one day. refusing to think that they were so affected, I suppose. His explosion was all I expected, His mom's reprimand was wonderful She was the only one at that point who could do it. But now he really really needs a spa appointment. With Lindomiel preferably. His reaction when he realizaed what the children had been thinking was heart wrenching. And poor Tulus. He's in for a nasty nasty time with the stupid son he's got in his hands. I am not sure if Glilavan's words to Thranduil in the last chapter were consciously devious or just casually impreccise, but the fact was that hemanaged to hit home doubly and create great trouble. And the kids are going to get more attention from Thrnaduil... you really sure you wanted that, boys? :-) Wonderful, elliska, thank you! Author Reply: Yeah, when Thranduil actually reflects on this, he is going to realize he is not thinking. He blew up. He probably has a right to, but he's not allowed. Poor elf. ;-) He will get a vacation of a sort. Not with Lindomiel, unfortunately. Because she needs a vacation too. And as you said, good thing for mothers. Only Dieneryn could have shut Thranduil down when he was really angry. You're right about Tulus's future. you really sure you wanted that, boys? ROTFL! Too true. Only once he calms down a bit! Thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/1/2010
I was thinking about this some more and was impressed by how much Legolas sounds like a young adult rather than a child. He's able to monitor his own actions, for instance, feeling surprise at how easily he lies for Galithil and controlling his face so his anger won't look like defiance. And he defends Galithil from Thranduil's anger, knowing how vulnerable his cousin is. That's all in addition to the way he's been thinking about the future. His father needs to adjust his thinking or there are going to be a lot more clashes between them. Also, poor Thranduil. He's facing his own limits here. Author Reply: Cool! Yes, Thranduil does need to readjust his thinking. Dolgailon suggested that to him, actually. (And if it doesn't get cut, so does Dieneryn in the next chapter). He (D) is a little closer to childhood, and Legolas and Galithil are not his kids, so it's a little easier for him to recognize that Legolas is really pretty mature in many ways. This is kind of MarySue-ish in a way for me, because (in my own mind, anyway) I was a pretty mature kid and it took a while for my parents to recognize that. So, that has crept into the story here (and in a few more places as we go along). Thranduil is at the end of his rope. Time to step back. Poor guy, indeed. I appreciate you adding this comment! I hoped Legolas would come across (to readers--Thranduil doesn't get to figure it out yet) just as you described, but having never been a parent, I wasn't sure he did. So this made me very happy!

CandissD	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/31/2010
great chapter! :) Please update soon! this part at the end cracked me up: He was so pleased that he managed to refrain from suggesting that the best way for his father to give them the attention they needed would be to give them swords lessons. lol! don't push it, Legolas! :) Author Reply: Galithil told Legolas that he needs to shut up. He really does about that, anyway. Don't poke the bear! I'm glad you enjoyed it and thanks so much for the review! I really appreciate them!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 1/31/2010
I like the little details like Galithil pinching his nose as Legolas cleans up after his painting. But how odd to hear Galithil being the rational, good boy! He's giving Legolas good advice but it's too late, sadly. I cringed when Thranduil asked him what he was hiding under the bed. It sounded so accusatory. And poor Legolas! Not only does he feel unjustly accused, but he's also humiliated by having his "amateur" paintings exposed and being treated so high-handedly. And then, he doesn't even have the satisfaction of being completely innocent. Thank goodness for mothers and grandmothers. I feel a strong desire to kick Glilavan up and down the Great Steps. The little weasel. Legolas made such a good argument and even better, he stood up for himself in a way that makes sense emotionally given recent events, but also just makes sense! Poor guilt-ridden Galithil. Author Reply: Yeah, that was a really ugly interchange, wasn't it? Thranduil was most assuredly not at his best. He'll get that after a bit of reflection. But Legolas is still really mad about the artwork. He may be mollified a bit that his father did eventually listen to his explanation about the sword lessons, but Adar is going to have to apologize for the artwork before Legolas will be willing to let that go. Thank goodness for mothers and grandmothers indeed. Dieneryn and Lindomiel (and possibly Hallion) are the only people that could have shut Thranduil down at that point in his temper. You'll feel an even stronger desire to kick Glilavan as this goes along. Thanks so much for the reviews! I really appreciate them so much!

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