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Interrupted Journeys 9: Bitter Paths by elliska	10 Review(s)
perelleth	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/17/2013
Hi there, elliska, first of all, I apologize for reviewing three chapters in just one review, but you know, extenuating circumstances and all... I feel guilty enough right now stealing time from work to read fanfic! Congratulations on being so brave as to have Legolas become a kinslayer... and getting away with it! :- It was very well contrived. There are also a few things I loved that I think maybe have not been singled out in reviews, so there you go: First, the fact that Annastor would feel the consequences of killing something other than an orc, and asked Legolas about that. I really liked how you realt with all the impications, the reasononing and what not, but having Annastor's shock at his first kill being one of the thngs that made legolas turn again his actions in his mind -how he feels about killing orcs, not to mention another elf- really helped give the matter the importance it should have according to Tolkien's rules: taking a life is always a weighty matter, moreso for an elf, and so in fiction we should treat that event differently than they do in, say, "law and order" or other tv proceduras, so kudos on that! The second, you don't try to assuage or justify the implications of Thranduil's poor choices, and how his short temper, and lack of patience may have made this mess worse that it needed have been. I bow to you on that. It doesn't make him less likeable, but more realistic. The fact that he never ever stopped to think that once Maidhien was engaged with Galithil it must have meant something for her father and his loyalties -he's never seen Dannenion as a father, thinks he's the only one with a family to cherish and protect- must be kicking him in the gut for a long time. I love it when our favourite characters are ar from perfect. Also I feel so bad for poor Tulus, and Dolgailon,too, who is a character I really like, though sadly he getes very litle screen time, and then he looks like a complete fool, like today! :-) Anyway, again congratulations on your choices and plot developements! Author Reply: I totally understand. I pleased you have time to do any reading at all given how busy you are (I bet you're glad to have free time too!). I am really enjoying playing with the kinslaying/killing aspect of Tolkien's world. It is very different, the way Tolkien set this up, then most books. Killing isn't an easy solution. It is a very weighty matter. That makes for some great tension. I like not perfect characters. Thranduil at his angriest is awesome. I love seeing, reading and writing that. But it has to have its consequences. Here they are. Tulus and Dolgailon both have a healthy amount of suffering left to do. We see some of it in the next installment. Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much and I hope you continue to enjoy!

Charmel	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/14/2013
OK so I have read this several times over the last few days and I decided not to be so hasty to review. Only because, usually I wind up having much more stuff to say and don't want to review twice. I'm pushy enough dont you think? Anyhoots. Loved the chapter. Brilliant as always. I'm sorry to hear this is going to be over so soon, though I am dying to know how it ends. Legolas I think now understands his father more and how he could conceive of executing an elf. Not so easy to stand on that principle when you are trying to protect the ones you love. Hopefully he will reflect on that later. Tulus, so many bad choices. I get the feeling that before he sails, Manadhien will find her end at his hands. Thranduil, I just love that elf. He wants so badly to do the right thing to protect his people and his family. It is so hard to do that when people are fighting against you. Even those who claim to support you. How hurt he had to have been when his own son thought him so callous as to want to execute people all willy nilly. Legolas should have known better after that conversation in the village. Side note - it would be nice to see more of Thranduil's ability over fire and whatnot. hint hint. Also, I need Berior's adar to be ok. Thank you. No more killing of good characters. You can ruff him up a little though. :) Poor Dolgalion although, he was warned that that Glilivan was not what he seemed. Lots and lots of emotion going on. Waiting very impatiently for your next update. Soon. Please. Author Reply: OK so I have read this several times over the last few days and I decided not to be so hasty to review. Only because, usually I wind up having much more stuff to say and don't want to review twice. I'm pushy enough dont you think? LOL! Not at all, but I know what you mean about thinking of things to say later. I do that all the time! We will definitely see Legolas contemplating more what all this means to him in the next part of the story. It is basically dedicated to that sort of reaction. Tulus definitely has a lot more in store for him in this story. I love Thranduil too. He is awesome. He is also at the end of his tolerance here. Hurt and disturbed by all that has happened and with every right to be so. (And we will definitely see more of Thranduil's elven magic before the end. I love that too!). Dolgailon was warned, but he is hurt also. We'll see more of that in the next story. Thanks so much for the reviews! I hope you continue to enjoy!

	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/14/2013
Just a lurker de-lurking briefly. I loved the last part. It reminded me of movie Legolas when he says, 'you would die before your stroke fell.' Legolas can be provoked to anger and you showed that well here. While I'm here, I also liked when Dannenion said the villainess is like a spider and her servants a web. That seemed very Mirkwood. Author Reply: 'you would die before your stroke fell.' Legolas can be provoked to anger and you showed that well here. For a friend, yes he can! That is exactly what I was thinking of when I wrote that. And I'm glad you liked that line. I added it at the last minute and liked it too! Thanks! And thanks for the review!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/11/2013
Many things happened in this chapter, but my general feeling when I finished was sadness, so sad. I want to emphasize, how impressed I'm with Legolas, he is so mature and wise, he has learned well all his lessons. I always wanted to hate Tulus' son, but life is not black and white, and if you see the situation from his POV, he has a valid reason or reasons to despise Thranduil. I mean, not really, but there are aspects of his life that in the hands of a master of manipulation as Manadhien, they can be twisted and used very effectively against Thranduil. I suppose that most of the "villains" believe themselves right. So, let me congratulate for your main villain, Manadhien, she is a very resourceful, Machiavellian and perfect opponent. I think that Thranduil is too emotional for her, he will need a little more help against that kind of adversary, she is not the one that you can cut with a sword. Celonhael, where is he? and the prisoners? Author Reply: I'm probably cruel, but I'm glad it made you sad. It was hard for me to judge if this chapter had any real emotional impact, so I'm really glad it did! Legolas is doing a great job! But he's at his limit. We'll get to see a bit of that in the next story. Glilavan is not a likeable character. But you are right. He has his reasons and when they are twisted by someone like Manadhien, they are powerful. No black and whites, like you said. It's more fun that way. Thanks so much for the reviews! I appreciate them so much and I hope you continue to enjoy!

c_belle_a	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/10/2013
This chapter is so amazing- I love how everybody (especially Legolas) is at their breaking points and there is so much tension here. I absolutely love the loyalty between Legolas and Tulus. Legolas defends Tulus almost like a second father, and is like the good son Tulus never had! The fact that Legolas grown up is so evident in this chapter- especially when he threatens Glilavan with that knife. And what a shock that was to his cousin and uncles! I wonder, does Galithal et al know that Legolas killed Demil? A couple of things, however, are making me feel uneasy. Why did Tulus/ Dannenion not tell Thranduil that Manadhien is ruling that village in the south? I'm sure she and her most loyal and powerful supporters have already fled, but the support of all those villagers surely poses as a threat to Thranduil? He should know so he can visit the villagers and make them realize how awful Manadhien really is, and that they are not protecting the south as much as helping Manadhien revenge some age long grudge. Also, what does "take the final step" mean? Once again, great great chapter! Thank you for writing! Author Reply: Legolas and Tulus are completely loyal to one another, and that is what makes some of these revelations so difficult. No, no one but the people present know what Legolas did. There will be more about that in the next installment. Some of your concerns are eased in the last chapter, but hopefully, I can soon give you new ones. :-) Thanks so much for the reviews and I hope you continue to enjoy!

picara	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/10/2013
This was a great chapter. Very tense. Everyone and not just Legolas seems to be approaching their breaking points here. I want to feel sorry for Tulus. I really like him and I believe he is loyal to Legolas. He certainly seems to prove that at the end of the chapter. But the problem is, he knows exactly where Manadien is. So does Danenion. She seemed to have a pretty good set up in that village. I doubt she left it. And no one is telling Thranduil that. That scares me. There has to be a reason and I hope it's not too terrible a reason. (PS: Did you know the chapter at FF is a dead link? Something is messed up there). Author Reply: Glad it came across as intense. It was hard to write. You will see your worries come to their end in the next chapter. Or perhaps (hopefully) you will develop new worries. ;-) (Yes, I had a heck of a time at FF getting the last chapter to post. They eventually had to do it for me. Something in it was buggy and they fixed it.) Thanks so much for the reviews!

Morn	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/9/2013
Just as everything is coming together and everyone back Celonhael is missing... I do not like the sound of this! I thought you were being very mild with everyone whole (ish) returning home. I was expecting a wrapping up to the whole thing now not another escapade with those noldor. Why do i have a feeling he won't be as lucky? :( And tulus! I do not think i could've felt anymore sorry for him. Comparing that ellith to his wife and what a stupid decision. Lets not confess, lets attempt to kill legolas again. He's as crazy as marti! At least dannenion seems to have come round to the king at long last. Hopefully dolwon will too. Looking forward to more. :) Author Reply: Yeah, you will see the ending is not so mild. Or lucky. Tulus is in a bad spot and it will get way worse. He will pay for the choices he made. Glilavan is definitely lost. Thank you so much for the reviews! I hope you continue to enjoy!

Katrina	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/9/2013
Oh my God. I don't even know what to say- this was probably the most intense piece of writing I have read in a long time. The term "kinslayer" just took on whole new level of meaning for me. I quite literally felt my blood boiling at Glilavan. What a despicable idiot. But wow, what a dramatic way to exit!!! Nope, I'm not going to confess to my crime. Instead, I'm going to show everybody just how much I hate you by trying to kill the prince in front of the king and his council and in the Great Hall. And if my father happens to be caught in the middle of it all, oh well, too bad. Jeez. How is Marti so powerful? How did she persuade Glilavan to commit such atrocities? And what to do with Glilavan? I say send him straight to Valinor. Marti's house is banned by the Vala, but as Glilavan is not related by blood, could he still go? Furthermore I am really afraid that Tulus will fade. His own son not only betrayed his trust, but quite literally was fine about killing him. Tulus doesn't deserve that, and I hope he will be able to recover. I also have a very very bad feeling Celonhael. Missing, last seen with Fuilin and Mauril...nope, that doesn't sound good at all. Can't wait for the next chapter, keep it up! Author Reply: I am so glad it came across as intense. It was a really hard chapter for me to write and judge how it was coming across. I'm glad it is making you think about kinslaying. I really enjoy how Tolkien sets up for us how horrific such acts are for elves and how completely unacceptable they are. It makes for some great tension, all the way around in this world and I am having fun playing with it. How is Marti so powerful? How did she persuade Glilavan to commit such atrocities? Good question. Not without help. That will come out by the end. Tulus is in for a lot more angst in this story yet, as you will see. Thanks so much for the reviews! I hope you continue to enjoy!

CandissD	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/9/2013
What a chapter - I was on the edge of my seat the whole time! When Hallion and Dolgailon said they let Glilavan go back to his cottage I almost jumped out of my chair too. Can't wait to see how it all pans out. It's amazing how much Legolas and his cousins have grown since the beginning ;) Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed it! And glad it seemed tense. This was a hard chapter for me to feel I got right. There will be more 'how it pans out' in the next story. Hope you continue to enjoy! Thanks so much for the reviews!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 2/9/2013
I liked the bit near the opening where Thranduil notes Legolas's shortening temper as a sign of how close he is to his limits, and also the contrast between the young guys leaping the wall even if they are "tired" and the adults going sedately through the gate. But it was only on rereading that I noticed how carefully you set up Tulus's and Dannenion's whispering on the way home. The discussion of whether threats of death help or hinder the cause of justice was interesting. Ordinarily, I like wrathful Thranduil but he apparently caused some problems he didn't intend. Poor Tulus. I can't imagine how a parent makes that kind of decision, though I suppose Glilavan eventually gives him lots of help. It's also interesting to see Thranduil judging Legolas's behavior and general maturity and wisdom in matters ranging from what he says to the door guards to potential treasonous actions. I was pretty shocked that Dolgailon let Glilavan just toddle off to his cottage. I guess no one filled him in on what he should suspect and, as I recall, they're friends. I assume Glilavan was so close because he was meeting with someone? Or maybe helping Fuilin and Mauril? Have you done something to Celonhael??? Glilavan has nerve if not courage! Wow. He just keeps digging himself deeper. And what does Tulus mean when he says he'll take the "final step" just not in a way Glilavan anticipates? Author Reply: You have to imagine that Legolas, though he did handle himself really well, has seen and done about all he can manage. So, I had fun working that sort of thing, and Thranduil's reaction to it, in there. And I love wrathful Thranduil! Thranduil kicks butt. ;-) But in this case, he over did it maybe. Poor Dolgailon, he had to be really disappointed, in Glilavan, but mostly in himelf. That is only about to get worse for him. We'll see a bit of his reaction in the next part of the story. And Glilavan! Yes, he has a lot more trouble in him before this is all over. But he gets his eventually. :-) Thanks so much for the reviews daw, I appreciate them so much!

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