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Interrupted Journeys: Part 6 Journeys Out of Grief  by elliska 5 Review(s)
CandissDReviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
Wonderful chapter! Can't wait to read more! :)

Author Reply: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks do much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

perellethReviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
Thranduil is great here. He's juggling well his own grief, his parental role and the king. Time to cool down was really an improvement for both father and son, but really, I was glad that Legolas too got a reminder of his responsiblties as a prince of the realm. Balancing family and duty is going to be more and more difficult as they grow up, so it's good that he was reminded of this.

I believe my truest victory against Sauron is the fact that he cannot repress the spirit of these people Indeed. I really like these insights on Thranduil's beliefs, the drivers of his policy and what he thinks is what he is defending: not a land or resources but a spirit, the basics to what he must turn to when he has to make a decision. And how you show it was a process along the years, with mistakes and discussions and advice from different sources ( particularly loved the hint at Radagast) He comes out as a great king, here, loved that.

Good job, elliska!

Author Reply: I'm glad you liked Thranduil here. I worried a bit when I was choosing what to post for this chapter how his little speech to Legolas would come across, so I'm glad you liked it. Thranduil is a great king. I'd take him for a boss any day.

Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

FantasiaReviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
I loved the whole chapter, every sentence. I find a little funny that Legolas still resents his Father for invading his privacy. I do understand, I try to give my daughter her space, but I remember when I grew up, my Mom was the Queen of our home and there were nothing that we could keep secret and we couldn’t even to complain...It does sound bad, but it wasn't really bad, she really never on purpose invaded our privacy, but if it happened or she thought that was necessary, Oh well, you have to live with that and accepted, we just knew that that she had the complete authority and we had to respect her no matter what. I suppose that it was a different time and also, a different culture, I've realize now that live in USA, that Latin culture is very different in the relationship between parents and children. Anyway, I'm talking nonsense...I can feel Thranduil pain and his frustration for not being able to change the situation, his acceptance that some events are out of his control.

You know what I really like in your King Thranduil? How he really strives to be a fair King, he really takes his time to listen, he recognizes if he is wrong, he explains his decision the best he can and most at all, he puts his people interest and welfare first to everything, they are his most important priority and nothing will top that, not even wife and son. For him, the Kingship is for serving, not for taking privileges. Sadly, it is very uncommon in our World. I have a very cynical POV with politicians, I grew up in a dictatoship regime, and believe me it will be a better World if we have more Thranduil around.

Now, Galithil and Maidhien scene was delicious, what a beautiful first kiss. I just feel sorry for them; they will have such a difficult road. I was expecting some of her relatives to pop out and make their kiss impossible.

Thanks and waiting for more.



Author Reply: :-) I actually can identify with your mom being the Queen. Mine was too. I wonder if that is why my Thranduil is more willing to be sympathetic in this area. LOL.

it will be a better World if we have more Thranduil around.

Darn right! I'd take Thranduil for a boss any day. I'm he comes across that way to you because that is exactly how I want him to be.

I was expecting some of her relatives to pop out and make their kiss impossible.

You can definitely count on her relatives to make this way more difficult for them. You are definitely right about that.

Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much!

DotReviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/15/2010
I love this story. Not only do I eagerly check for a new chapter every Monday morning – I won’t mention how disappointed I get when it isn’t there, lol - so I can enjoy it with my mug of tea as the perfect start to my day off but it keeps me thinking about what I’ve read for the rest of the day. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been out walking or hoovering the house or just having a lie down and found myself pondering the reactions of your characters to whatever’s going on in the chapter! Therefore, I’m the worst in the world for not reviewing it. I do realise that. So I just wanted to let you know that I am reading and I am enjoying it immensely and I am sorry I don’t tell you often enough.

Author Reply: I am so glad you have enjoyed it Dot! I'm glad it's good tea-drinking material! :-) I love a bit of fanfic with my tea in the morning too. Never worry about reviewing. I am the first one to recognize that a lot of the time we are just lucky to find time to read for a few minutes. Thanks so much for this review though. I do appreciate it so much!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/14/2010
I love Legolas's concentration on his art, and also the way everyone else so clearly sees how fine his work is even when he doesn't.

It's interesting that at the start Legolas feels at odds with his father, annoyed at him and believing the feeling is mutual, when Thranduil seems to have moved on. It was clear how hard Legolas found it to forgive what he sees as an invasion of a part of his life he'd kept private and about which he feels self-conscious. I suppose that offense was made much worse by Thranduil's accusing manner. If I'd been Legolas, I'd have found that hard to forgive too. But he stretches and grows quite nicely when he considers his father's feelings.

I liked Thranduil talking about the ways the world is beautiful in itself. Those details were lovely.

It's good for Legolas to hear Thranduil's explanation of how he's waiting for a weapon or advantage against Sauron. That must be hard for impatient Thranduil, as he himself acknowledges. Thank goodness for Mithrandir.

"The ability of the people to continue living their lives happily. Merrily as when I first encountered them. I want them to meet on the Green every night to sing and dance and play games of skill or chance. I want you to paint and your naneth to weave and Rodonon and Hallion to keep their library. I want us all to have the freedom and the will to do what Illuvatar intended for us--to create beautiful things and enjoy them together. As long as we do that, Sauron has not won. Not all victories are won on the battle field. I believe my truest victory against Sauron is the fact that he cannot repress the spirit of these people.

That's a great passage about how hope and joy are kept alive even when times are dark. And it makes Legolas's painting not just a nice but otherwise irrelevant detail.

And look at Maidhien offering a traditional cure to Galithil!

Do I see a little bit of foreshadowing in the elven prince who speaks to ents? I wonder if Legolas remembered that mural when he went in to Fangorn.

Author Reply: Poor Legolas and his painting. I think we are usually our own harshest critics and imagine how hard it would be to compare yourself to someone who had been doing the art you enjoy for thousands of years. I think that would be intimidating! :-) I am glad his struggle to get past that and grow a little came across.

Yes, naturally Legolas will be remembering the 'I'm waiting for the advantage Mithrandir hoped for' conversation during the Council of Elrond!

I'm glad you liked that part you quoted. I enjoy thinking about the contrasts we see in Quest!Legolas. On the one hand, he sometimes seems a little too merry, trotting off to look for the sun, for example. And in other places, speaking exclusively to experienced warriors (like Gimli), he says much grimmer things like 'such is the way of the world to find and to lose.' If Legolas is the age I make him, he sees both the Watchful Peace and its failure. And he'd certainly have the chance to lose a lot (and he will, in this story, lose nearly everything by the time of the Quest). Still he has enough hope to go on the Quest. That is what I see as his defining characteristic as the Elf on the Quest old enough and educated enough to know how unlikely the Quest is to succeed, yet he goes and keeps up hope while in the Company. So I enjoy playing with where that hope/merry spirit vs the more grim Legolas comes from in him.

And it makes Legolas's painting not just a nice but otherwise irrelevant detail.

Cool! Because the part with the painting really used to be in another part of the story which I have decided not to post. I liked it and decided it actually seemed more relevant here than where it originally was, so I worked it in. I'm glad that worked!

And yes, Legolas will definitely be thinking about that mural and the accompanying story his naneth used to tell him of the ent and the elven prince when he goes into Fangorn! I had fun playing with that!

Galithil has had such a difficult time. He deserved a little kiss. :-)

Thanks so much for the review, Daw. I really appreciate it.


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