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Interrupted Journeys 12: To Fall into Shadow by elliska	9 Review(s)
Nora	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/14/2014
When will the next chapter be ready? It's been too long since the last update and I've already reread this story again. Please update as soon as possible. Author Reply: :-) Sorry! Work is killing me. But I am proofing the next chapter tonight. It should be up tomorrow night at the latest. Hope you will enjoy! :-)

Lenielestel	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 9/6/2014
Oh, wow. You know, the only problem with a story this good, is that one is never satisfied -- even the longest of chapters seems far, far too short when the utterly engrossed reader arrives at the end! And now the long wait begins again! This chapter was a great mix of relief and expectation! The implication that Conuion isn't dead was a great relief--I love Conuion! And Dolgailon is alive too, huzzah! But now I am terrified! They have laid hands on Manadhien at last, and that seems very....dangerous. I am curious about Gilavan's future actions, too. He seems to be something of a wildcard in the mix now. Dying to know what happens next! Please do not make us wait too long! :-) Author Reply: Sorry! It has been a long wait this time too. I've been incredibly busy. Work has a lot of nerve to demand so much of my time. ;-) I'm glad you enjoyed the last chapter. And glad you are worried. I'm afraid you should be. We have not seen the climax of this story yet. Close proximity to Manadhien is definitely more dangerous. I won't comment about Glilavan. He still has too much to do as yet. The next chapter should be up in the next day or two. Hope you enjoy and thanks so much for the reviews. I appreciate them so much!

ellon	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 9/5/2014
This story is incredible. The way you build up the tension and descriptively draw out the emotions of the characters and the actions surrounding them is really incredible. I absolutely love what you are doing with Legolas and the story of him growing up!!! Author Reply: The way you build up the tension and descriptively draw out the emotions of the characters I am so pleased with both those comments. Thank you! It is always hard to tell how these things come across after looking at the chapter so many times myself. I hope you continue to enjoy. Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate them!

indigo	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/31/2014
I forgot to add... Thanks for this--> "And I'll go ahead and admit this one: Legolas will get someone better than Aewen. She is a brat." :-) haha! And also, Thranduil will need a head surgery right? Do they have to shave his beautiful golden hair? poor him. Hair is one of those things elves find beautiful. It's sort of a marker for beauty. Haha! Author Reply: Sorry to be so long in replying! :-) Poor Legolas and Aewen! And poor Thranduil. Yes indeed. That sad fact will make an appearance. Thanks for the reviews!

indigo	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/31/2014
"I bet you've had a lot of time for re-reading!" yeah I did! Thank God you updated. Just so you know latest chapters of this whole series, I've been scheming through the story and checking if someone died. Honestly don;t want to read the part when you plug the cord on one of the characters. sigh.. Anyway, when I'm done scheming the story and everyone's safe, I read the whole thing slowly. Haha! You're evil! You put us readers on the edge. As for the current story, it amazing. Legolas is in a tough position. Only leaders can understand those decision and only leaders can manage the emotional consequences of it. I wish you could have written more stuff though. I hope the holiday will give you time to write more and update again. Hopefully, we get to hear about the stronghold, the two village Maethorness and galithil's, and tulus. I'm sure you'll tie that in with their trip to Rhosgobel. And I have a feeling that evil mistress will find her way out. I'm sure you know how to twist this! I have a question regarding the nazgul. During LOTR, legolas shot one and asked what it was. I know this is your story and knowing you don't want to deviate so much from the books and you're faithful to the books, but I'm just curious. How does this tie in with the books? The balrog, i can understand. The elves sorta have a hunch. LOTR excerpt: 'The Winged Messenger!' cried Legolas. 'I shot at him with the bow of Galadriel above Sarn Gebir, and I felled him from the sky. He filled us all with fear. What new terror is this?' 'One that you cannot slay with arrows,' said Gandalf. 'You only slew his steed. It was a good deed; but the Rider was soon horsed again. For he was a Nazgûl, one of the Nine, who ride now upon winged steeds. Update soon! :) More power to you and keep on writing! Author Reply: Again, sorry to be so slow. It's hard for me to believe that the holiday you are referring to was Labor Day. Holy cow! Legolas is in a tough position. I hope to keep him in an increasingly tough one for a few more chapters, actually. About the Nazgul, I always assumed Legolas was referring to not recognizing the fell beast, not the Nazgul himself. Maybe that he could not see the Nazgul (either because it was not wearing raiment or because the fell beast obscured him) and so Legolas did not realize what he saw--the fell beast--was not the actual enemy, but just its steed. I will be the first to admit, though, that I have my own fandom so firmly in my head that my beliefs about Mirkwood could easily twist my interpretation. :-) But you are very right. I much prefer to stick as much to canon as possible, personally. As a writing exercise, it makes things more fun for me. Thanks so much for your reviews! I appreciate them so much!

rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/29/2014
The chapter title says it all about Legolas. He faces so many choices in this fight, how to save his atar, how to save the villages, what to do with Glilivan, Manadhien and how to make those decisions in the best interest of the realm. Legolas must step up and become the kingdom's ruler in Thranduil's incapacity and make decisions that as he thinks that he has no experience to be making. All the while dealing with elves who are much much older than he and having a lot more experience. Every time someone steps back and says "My Lord" I want to wince at what Legolas must be facing. Thank goodness he does have good advisors with Radagast, Dolgailon and Engwe and the greatest teacher of all, his father king Thranduil. Then on top of that you throw in a ring of power that Legolas must fight rather than being overcome with the evil it holds. As a precursor to the One Ring it does show that Legolas is strong in his convictions and he will be able to resist the call of that ring that Frodo will carry during the journey to destroy it. Now the journey to Rhosgobel with the wounded and prisoners, Legolas must make more decisions which will lead to more death and destruction. Hopefully when all this is over, Thranduil will be recovered at some point and be able to absolve Legolas of some of the horrors that he will be facing. Thank you for posting this chapter. I hope you will post more as I would love to see how all this will end. Author Reply: I am smiling ear to ear at that summary. That is exactly it. Poor Legolas. I hope to drag him through those difficulties for a few more chapters. And, as for the ring: bingo. I'm having fun giving Legolas a taste of what his future holds. Thranduil will be recovered at some point and be able to absolve Legolas of some of the horrors that he will be facing. I have so many versions of that final conversation written, it's pathetic. Getting everything in that I want without dragging things out. Wow, that is hard. But fun. Sorry to be so slow. Again. I really appreciate the reviews so much. Thank you so much for them!

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/29/2014
What a nice surprise! you posted! I read it yesterday, but it was too late to comment. Glad to see that some people is alive! Dolgailon! and thank you for tell me that Conuion survived... Tulus, poor Tulus, always loyal to the very end. Glilavan is such a cretin, even if he went back to help Dolgailon. Legolas is facing a terrible choice, he has to choose between a Kingdom and a friend, hard, but not really an option. A Prince must serve. So, the harpy has a power ring! interesting. Did Cele..(OMG, don't remember his name!!!) gave it to her maybe? or did he teach her? were they in love? that is what Radagast mean about that it wasn't evil in the begining? And, was she ashamed that a Maia saw her as an evil being, she that lived in Valinor before? I love Legolas's frustation with Radagast interference in the harpy's detention! he should have killed her, no clemency, no judgement, nothing, a person like her alive is a problem. So, Legolas has felt a lesser ring influence before the Quest. Maybe that helped his endurance to the master ring's lure during the quest? And really like Radagast's advise about the Nazgul, it is only a shadow, that is... And Dolgailon and his ring. I was thinking the same, just open the hand , your chances to survive will be better with both hands. And his confusion on seeing Legolas there, priceless. Well, we see what is coming next, you have to give news of the King, the villages (I'm confuse, how many villages are going to be attacked?) Are they going to get help from the capital? And where is Fuilin? As always, great, great chapter!...more, please Author Reply: I am so sorry to be so slow in answering reviews (and updating). Poor Tulus indeed. But I can't give anything away about him, unfortunately. Glilavan I hope to keep you guessing about as well. And Manadhien: I love your comments/questions. Yes, she learned from Celebrimbor and Sauron himself, in my little world. And in my backstory for her, she did admire Celebrimbor to the point of loving him. But, if I remember correctly, he had another lady in canon. He certainly did not return Manadhien's affections. Yes, that is exactly what Radagast means--he remembers her from Valinor and she does have a moment of shame facing someone who does. Good catch. So, Legolas has felt a lesser ring influence before the Quest. Maybe that helped his endurance to the master ring's lure during the quest? Exactly. Fun to play with. I'll be doing so a bit more before the end of this. Hehe--poor Dolgailon. The House of Oropher can be stubborn. They need good advice sometimes. As for the rest--the next chapter should be up within the next day or two. Thank you so much for the reviews. I appreciate them so much!

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/29/2014
I have to admit I feel sorry for Glilavan. I want Legolas to help Tulus. And yet, I realize this is one of those painful, terrible decisions a ruler has to make. Legolas is impressively commanding in this chapter. What a great job you're doing on growing him up. So I don't understand rings of power entirely. Basically, I thought there were 9 for men, 7 (is that right?) for dwarves, and 3 for men, and then the One Ring. Those are the ones Sauron made. Manadhien says she made this one. So that means she worked with Sauron when he was making the rings, right? Obviously I should look up my ME history and am too lazy. But a ring of power sure explains a lot about her actions. And she is one stubborn Elf. Pinned to a tree by arrows and pulling herself off. Actually there were a lot of grossly injured people in this chapter. It's a good thing Radagast is around to help in more ways than one. I liked the notion of the mithril rings belonging to the two sons of Oropher (who was another ring maker-crafty elves), and it was a touching moment when Legolas restored Dolgailon's wedding ring. Great chapter, Elliska. I cheered when I saw it. Author Reply: Oh good, I want you to feel sorry for Glilavan. :-) It is a tough choice and the one Legolas has to make is not the one Glilavan would make (or even most people would make, maybe, unless they were trained to command). I want to twist the knife a little with Tulus, Glilavan and Legolas ever this. It has impact later. I'm glad you asked about rings. :-) I knew someone would. Gandalf says to Frodo: "In Eregion long ago many Elven-rings were made, magic rings as you call them, and they were, of course, of various kinds: some more potent, some less. The lesser rings were only essays in the craft before it was full grown. To the Elven-smiths they were but trifles--yet still to my mind dangerous for mortals." So that is what I am playing with here. In my little story, Manadhien and her sister studied smith craft in Eregion, even under Annatar himself. She made a lesser ring of power, using his craft, and it enhanced one of her native abilities, persuasiveness (somewhere Tolkien wrote the lesser rings might have, in some cases, enhanced people's skills. I can't remember where. I think in Leaf). I'm enjoying giving Legolas a small taste of what he will later face. :-) And I could not resist contrasting Oropher's symbolic, but in Legolas's mind, much more important, completely non-magical rings with Manadhien's. I like the idea of Oropher making symbols of his new authority for his family. Yes, some people here have nasty injuries. I'll be glad to be away from that. It is so hard to write! I'm glad you enjoyed. Now I am off camping! Which I will enjoy. :-)

Zardi	Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 8/28/2014
It was such a treat to check the site this evening and see a new chapter to this story, right at the top of the front page :D I hope you'll be able to update more often, but of course work has to come first :) So that's Manadhien's secret, or at least one of them! I wonder how much of her horribleness is really her, and how much of it was Sauron twisting her to his own ends. It's disturbing how powerful she is, to have created that ring that could even have such an effect on Legolas. Though speaking of Legolas, I was very impressed with him and his maturity this chapter. I also wonder how Thranduil is doing, and can't wait to see his reaction to Legolas' taking charge. I hope he gets a chance to feel proud before all the upcoming deaths come crashing down on them. I'm really looking forward to the next part. Whenever it comes, it will be worth it! Author Reply: Gonna try to stay caught up this time! :-) I'm glass you enjoyed. I hope to update way more often too. This is a holiday weekend in the US and I hope to take good advantage of it by working on the next chapter. Indeed, one of her secrets. And a big one. She is naturally persuasive and the ring enhances that strength. In her case, to no good end, obviously. :-) I'm glad you thought Legolas did well. There were a lot of tough choices for him to make here, and mostly he is making them right. Thranduil will be the judge of that, or so he thinks. I imagine pride and horror are what he'll feel when he gets the whole story. Thanks so much for the reviews. I appreciate them so much!

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