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Interrupted Journeys 11: In Foreign Lands by elliska	6 Review(s)
picara	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/22/2013
I must have missed this. I loved the feast and the dance (poor Legolas). And the news about why Barad dislikes Forwed so much. Goos reason. I got a kick out of Lindomiel's 'negotiating' Forwed. That didn't go well. And Tulus is in a really bad place.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/3/2013
Elliska, I also meant to say that you did a really great job of working out what foods would be available to which peoples. That was interesting and world building. Also, you clearly showed that Legolas is old enough to be a sexual attraction/threat depending on your POV. Author Reply: I love the world building potential when two cultures come together. It really is the best for that sort of thing. Threat! Poor Legolas, I so don't think he'd see himself that way yet, but I bet there were a good many men at that dance that saw him and his cousins exactly that way. Again, thanks so much for the reviews!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/3/2013
Well, I can understand the Barad and his brothers now, they are Duneden, aren't they? they are there only because their sister married the future King of Dale, they are not really subject of Forwed, something like advisers and family, I will think. And for their sister to be the future Queen, they are a high noble family among the Dunedain, I will think. The Dale's men are not Dunedan, if I recall or are they? Gosh, I need to re read Tolkien!!!! In any case, the Dunedan had a very high code of honor and having bastards children around was not really part of that code. I don't know what to think about Forwed, I think that he is a very commun case among leaders of those times, not better not worse, his Father was really an exception. I laughed with Legolas, his naivety was spectacular, the Mirkwood elves need a little more interaction with humans. That is something that the Imladris elves have done better. His interaction with the girl and the explanation after the debacle was just priceless. The feast description was great, their awed to the sauces and vegetables, the butter and cream appreciation and Ice Cream, CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM! those elves will never being the same. They will want to go back to Dale all the time now. And Legolas thinking about how much wastefulness in a feast, considering other needs is just a credit to his parents' teachings And Tulus, poor Tulus, this is the most overused comment in this stories. Author Reply: Catching up... Yes, Barad and his brothers are Duneden. They are from Gondor and they are noblemen there. Their sister will be Forwed's Queen. They've got no tolerance for the type of behavior/attitude Forwed is demonstrating. I want Forwed to be a mixed character. He will be important in a future story, when the dwarves come to the Lonely Mountain (because he will be king). (As for canon and the Men of Dale--Tolkien doesn't say. We know the Northmen, who settled east of the forest and eventually became the men of Dale and Laketown, came from the same stock as the Rhohirrim, but some of their original princes were from Gondor. In my little world, the line of kings of Dale have a trace of Numenorean blood, but not much). Legolas is so innocent. I had fun with that. Poor young elf. :-) And chocolate! Yes, I can't imagine life without chocolate. Tulus has some rough stories in front of him. That's all I'll say about that. Thanks so much for the reviews. I appreciate them so much.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/3/2013
speculation over whether rat would be a lighter meat, like quail and pheasant, or a redder meat, like deer or...whatever this meat was on his plate LOL. Ah, yes. Mystery meat. I knew it well in college. Forwed needs to learn some diplomacy, or at least how to listen to people, if he expects to be a good ruler, or even to negotiate with elves who have thousands of years of experience on him. It's also telling that he didn't know how much Dale paid for boar now. That is, he didn't know what he was bargaining over. That's not just impatience. That's neglect. I do give him great credit for caring for his realm's orphans though. Reluctantly give him credit, like Legolas. Forwed is such a mixed bag, he's hard for an elf to comprehend. And ah, cross-culture courting! A place ripe for misunderstandings. Berior is the one who really made me laugh. He is totally out of his realm of experience. I have to admit that I was as bad as Legolas in guessing what the girl thought he was suggesting re inviting his cousins along. "I think I will be much safer with the armed men than I was dancing," Legolas replied with a dry tone. "At least I will recognize an attack from one of them." LOL. QFT "Lord Legolas's arrows were all inside the line. Again," he declared. All the elves cast a startled glance at Barad. His expression did not change a bit. Hee! Good for Barad. But poor Tulus. I held my breath as he circled in on his prey, especially once he'd been spotted by the hawk. And then he finds his son. I understand his dilemma. I don't think I could do in my son either, no matter what he did. I was glad to see this chapter appear, Elliska. I think it's a really strong one. Author Reply: Catching up... Hehe! I had fun with the mystery meat. Couldn't resist. Food is such a fun cultural thing. Irresistible. Forwed is a mixed character and I want him that way. He's going to be king of Dale when the dwarves go to Erebor and wealth sweeps in. That should be fun with Forwed in place. Poor Berior and Legolas. I wanted it to be a bit of a mystery, since we are in Legolas's POV. He had no clue. Poor kid. Barad is a good character. :-) I like his attitude. And Tulus--the noose is tightening around his neck. The next few stories are not ones he will enjoy. Thanks so much for the reviews, daw! I really appreciate them!

rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/3/2013
Oh, what a meaty chapter that you have given us (pun intended). Cultural differences can certainly lead to some rather embarassing incidences. Thank goodness Barad stepped in before Legolas was assaulted by his dance partner. Even though he would be considered grown in mannish culture, his ignorance of sexual mores was touching and rather funny. Chocolate! Things that seem so normal to our way of life being a rare treat highlights the lives of elves to their mannish counterparts. I had to laugh about the turkey, chicken, duck, etc. roast that Legolas was agast about. I wonder what he would have thought if Fengel had served a dish of bird tongues? OMG! What are you going to have Tulus do to solve this conrundum he faces? How is he going to kill/capture his own son and return him to his king? He can't ignore this anymore and hope that somehow it will become all right. Fulin will kill Tulus if he catches him and he isn't going to surrender to the other elf either. I am so glad that you are feeling better. RL, on the other hand, is a relentless master. Author Reply: Catching up.... Meaty! LOL! Cultural differences are always a great source of fun and conflict. Food in particular. I used to take students abroad and there was always one good reaction to some food in every trip. Bird tongues! Ew! I am having a good time with that in this story. :-) Thank goodness for Barad and his experience indeed! And Tulus. He is in for a Very Bad next few stories. That's all I can say about that. Thanks so much for the reviews and the well wishes. I appreciate both so much!

KGR	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/2/2013
I was so excited to see the new chapter. I've been worried about you since you had mentioned in your reviews you were sick. Hope you're feeling better and that things are settling down for you. Loved the feast. It was so fun to see the Elves' reactions to the different foods. It made me view chocolate in a whole new way. And those birds sounded delicious, even if it was a little over the top. I wanted to punch Forwed at times. For being 50 years old I'd think he'd have a little more tact then he's been showing. Founding an orphanage is his only redeeming quality so far as I can see. He certainly has a lot to learn about politics and Elves. I can certainly understand Barad and his brother's dislike of Forwed better now. Poor Tulus I can't even imagine how hard it was for him to contemplate killing his own son. I hope that having to room with orcs will make Glilavan realize how evil Manadhien really is. Any Elf who willingly allies with orcs is worse than an orc in my opinion. I missed seeing Dolgailon in this chapter. I'm anxious to hear what the villagers have to say. I love your stories and hope you get the next chapter up soon. God bless. Author Reply: I am catching up...again...I'm glad you enjoyed the feast. Food is always a source of entertainment during foreign travel, that is certain! Chocolate, I think, would be pretty exotic for the Woodelves. Personally, I can't imagine life without chocolate. ;-) Forwed is a mixed bag and I want him that way. He will be king when the dwarves come to the Lonely Mountain. I want him to be a bit of a complication in that. Tulus is in for a rough ride in the next few stories. The next one focuses on Manadhien and that village. Thank you so much for the reviews and the well wishes. I really appreciate them both!

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