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Sacrifice Under Shadow by daw the minstrel	20 Review(s)
pipinheart	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/15/2005
Legolas might have to get them both back to camp if the search Party past them up..And Thranduil set a bodyguard watching him when he was young is that right? If so Eilian must have scared him...As a young one Eilian felt his father thought he was trouble, that must have been hard growing up believing that... Author Reply: Yeah, Thranduil set Maltanaur watching Eilian when he was quite young. My beta, Nilmandra, has a story called "Eilian's Begetting Day," which she wrote as a birthday present for me. Eilian is about 8 in human terms (20 in elf terms), and Maltanaur is watching over him in that one!

Kay	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/1/2004
Hello Daw! I reviewed this chapter at FFNet, but it never appeared, so I'll try again. From things you've said, I think that Eilian and Celuwen have a future together, but looking at his behavior in their earlier years, it will be a miracle if it happens. I really feel for poor Legolas in this chapter. Author Reply: Kay-- It's really above and beyond the call of good readership to review this again, and I appreciate it. I have to reward Eilian and Celuwen. If I don't, people will hurt me, starting with my beta.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/29/2004
very exciting chapter. I hope the other elves come by again! Legolas has done a great deal already. Author Reply: Legolas could use some help, but he's determined to succeed without it if he has to. Of course, Maltanaur is probably going nuts by now. :-)

Justafan	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
I love love Eilian's and Legolas's relationship; you do such a great job of portraying them as loving brothers. Poor Legolas, now in the position of taking care of his brother without any outside assistance! Thanks for this lovely update. Author Reply: Legolas is worried because Eilian is so precious to him. Now he should understand how his family always feels about him! I'm glad you liked the chapter. I'm working right now on what should be the last chapter in this story. I think it will be up later today.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
Clever Legolas! He’s great at adapting quickly to changing situations. My heart was in my mouth for that whole chase scene – especially when you said he only had two arrows left! I love the way you made the whole thing completely realistic as well, with the ice creaking ominously under Legolas’ step, and the water seeping into his shoe, rather than him just skipping easily across the pond. Legolas is really pushing himself, isn’t he? Pure adrenalin, I suppose – he keeps going as long as he needs to. I had to laugh when he uses his Thranduil voice to get Eilian to obey him – and it worked! I really like the moments between the brothers in this chapter. I love the almost flippant way Eilian says that “you turned up, red-faced and squawling, in the palace nursery.” I don’t know why…I think it’s just interesting to know one of Eilian’s first impressions of his baby brother. It’s funny, isn’t it, how things people say to us, or that we overhear, can have such an effect. I imagine it’s something most people can relate to. And as is often the case, Eilian seems to be more troubled by the fact that his beloved mother didn’t come to his defence than by the actual remark. He clearly views her as some sort of an ally. Eilian and Celuwen are so perfect together; it’s just such a pity that things went wrong between them. I suppose that it’s because they were such good friends that hurts run that bit deeper. I can’t tell you how fascinating it is to see the beginning of their problems and of Eilian’s more reckless behaviour. Brilliant moment, by the way, when they are all looking past Eilian, completely horrified, when Thranduil appears behind him! But it’s sad to think that this one moment between his parents, never intended for his ears, would affect him so much. I know Legolas maintains that it is due to the Shadow but the hurt has to be there for the Shadow to feed on. Could Legolas possibly move over and let me hold Eilian for a while??! “Even his father’s voice had sounded different. It was tight, as if Thranduil were trying to control words or even a cry that was threatening to escape his lips.” What an intense moment. I felt so bad for Thranduil. It’s almost painful to watch him so strained. Is this the moment he knows for certain that the Peace is ended? And poor Siondel! Who was it? His father? Oh look, it’s Maltanaur! Looking “dismayed”, no less. No doubt he’s just realised that Eilian NEVER does what he’s told… “Thranduil must have been seriously worried about Eilian to have set a bodyguard on him even before he became a warrior.” Does Legolas actually think that Thranduil never had anyone watch him?! “Was Maltanaur outside the cave here, Eilian?” cringe Still, I have complete faith in Legolas. And it looks like Eilian does now too!!:) Author Reply: It occurred to me that I should write a one-chapter fic about Legolas's birth, maybe during a conception day celebration. His family could remember the day he first put in an appearance. He's turning into a formidable warrior now, much to my fangurrrl satisfaction. It is sad that things are difficult between Eilian and the people he loves who so plainly love him back. But I'm afraid I already have many volunteers to comfort Eilian! My beta has long claimed that the fact that her real life name starts with C makes her a good substitute for Celuwen. Yes, this is the moment that Thranduil knows the Shadow has returned. That's the news that Ithilden brought home. As for Siondel, I remembered a moment I wrote in "Tide of Times." It's at Annael's coming of age and his father gives him his grandfather's weapons. I used that grandfather character here. Poor Maltanaur. I figured he was expecting Eilian to go to the palace and was moving alongside him and then Eilian unexpectedly turned aside. What a good idea about someone watching Legolas! I never thought of that! Poor Legolas. He knows what Eilian, in his stupid state, does not.

erunyauve	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
It was a rather brilliant idea for Legolas to get the orcs to follow him across the ice. Certainly, if an elf can walk on snow, you would think they would walk pretty lightly across ice. Eilian's reaction to his father's words seem pretty typical - his coping skills leave something to be desired, and he tends to get himself mired further in the mess rather than get himself out of it (which only makes him a bigger headache for his parents). In this case, he certainly picks the very worst time for it, but to be fair, he doesn't know quite what is going on. And I'm more impressed than ever with Maltanaur - having to look after an adolescent Eilian should, by all rights, have driven the poor elf to seek healing in Aman. Author Reply: Legolas is turning into a clever, brave warrior, at least when it comes to defending those he loves. Oddly enough given his proclivity to do daring things, what young Eilian needs is more self confidence. I think if he were more sure of himself, he would feel less need to prove himself (and usually he's proving himself to himself). I thought about having Maltanaur pop up here and there because Nilmandra wrote a one-chapter fic in which he watches over Eilian on his 20th begetting day. He's had Eilian on his hands for a long time, poor guy.

Estel_Mi_Olor	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
That was a very riveting chapter. The beginning with the frozen pond had me a little worried. But if Elves can walk on snow without sinking, then surely they can run across a frozen pond. Ai, Eilian, does he never desist? No wonder Thranduil didn't want another child. Oh, and thanks for clearing up my previous doubt about the child thing. Legolas seems very prefessional when compared to Eilian in his younger days. I wonder how he's going to do it. I mean he will have to carry Eilian across the snow for a great distance. The Elven Patrol will move quickly, acually no. They have wounded too. So ha, that will work. Ok, well don't leave us at a cliffhanger for too long. Keep writing! Author Reply: Legolas is very competent, isn't he? Still, you are right. He has a tough task ahead of him. The Elves' camp (where the wounded and blissfully ignorant Beliond is) is about 15 miles away, although the patrol that came out to do battle took shelter from the storm closer than that. The patrol's wounded were sent back to the camp and may have reached it by now, in which case Beliond is probably making a pain of himself. :-)

Any	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
You updated! :) Finally!!! :) You wouldn't believe how many times I checked this site to see if there was a new chapter! I still love every bit of this story - well, just like all your other stories as well. Legolas is acting very smart in this chapter. His masters and father probably wouldn't approve his little frozen-pond-stunt but, hell, it was the best thing to do in this situation. Wouldn't have expected anything less from him! :) I might be wrong but I take it you wanted to characterize him as a responsible and cold-headed yet bold, maybe even somewhat reckless warrior here. No way would he take the safe path if taking the dangerous one could help keep his beloved brother safe! I like that characterization! I think in some ways he's the perfect cross of Ithilden and Eilian. Like, his brothers are the trial runs and he's the perfected end product. lol I also like the way Eilian reacts to Legolas taking care of him in this story. First he seemed to be a bit ashamed that his little brother has to take care of him because he's injured and too weak to look after himself. And maybe he also feels a bit guilty because there's no way he could protect Legolas should something evil, orc e.g., come upon them. But after realizing the "brat" is a mature, skilled warrior, he allows himself to lean on him, not only physically. I mean, in this chapter here, he seems to feel utterly safe with Legolas at his side ("What ever you say, brat"). That's a very nice point in this story. For the flashback-part: I think the way Celuwen reacts to Eilian's "macho"-behaviour (sorry, can't find a better word for it at the moment) is very realistic! I would react in no other way! gg Men can be so stupid at times! lol I mean, Eilian is too stupid/occupied/self-blinded he doesn't realize that he actually is falling in lover with her - or already is in love with her. And of course, he also has no clue that she's in love with him and that he's hurting her feelings all the time. What a twit! argh But typical male! Anything else I'd like to say? Mhmm... Ah, yes, I love Legolas' and Eilian's mother in this story. She seems to be a very nice, caring character. And her motherly gentleness is the perfect counterpart to Thranduil's fatherly harshness. It's very realistic, I think. Well, sorry for rambling on endlessly, but I just couldn't help it. I'm really looking forward to the next chapters! Update soon, hear me?!! SOON!!! ;)) ~Any Author Reply: I was a little slow updating this time, I know. Work was really busy and depressing this week. But now it's the weekend! Yeah! I loved your analysis of how Legolas combines the best of his brothers. He is so lucky to have this loving family, and also to have had older brothers who softened his adar up a little! The relationship of Eilian and Legolas is shifting, but I hope it is still as close and loving as it has always been. I can see them being a really dangerous team of warriors because of their deep understanding of one another. Maybe they could even sense one another more, and certainly they could read one another better. Clueless!Eilian is so frustrating to watch. Poor Celuwen. She doesn't admire him without question and she doesn't baby him and he isn't adult enough yet to respond to those qualities well. Lorellin's death was a true loss for her whole family. I think it did push Thranduil into being a little softer with Legolas than he was with the older two because he was the only parent.

LOTRFaith	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
Whoa... Legolas is on thin ice;-) Usually either thin ice or hot water, lol... Hmmm. Very interesting... You have a very good grasp on the birth order. Eilian was the baby of the family and then Legolas came making Eilian feel rather left out. I know exactly how he feels... But very well done! :-) Namaarie~ Author Reply: Young Eilian is on thin ice, too, actually. I don't think Thranduil is going to put up with youthful nonsense for too much longer. I have sometimes wondered about sibling rivalry among Elves, and I do think that Eilian might have occasionally felt that his parents loved Legolas more than they did him. But I also think that Elves love children and I think that Eilian would have been charmed by the baby immediately. That's my theory, anyway! Maybe I'll write about that some day. They can all remember Legolas's birth, maybe on his begetting day or something.

Jebb	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 2/28/2004
At least young Eilian seems to realise that Thriwien is not a patch on Celuwen even if he hasn't guessed why yet. Thranduil was very restrained over the drinking but for how long I wonder especially given all the other things happening in Mirkwood but I think the title thin ice reflects Eilian's immediate future as much as Legolas' crossing the pond to escape the orcs Another wonderful update thank you Author Reply: Yes, Eilian appreciates Celuwen even when he is so stupid about her. I thought Thranduil was thoughtful to take Eilian away from his friends before he scolded him. And I am so pleased that you saw the pun in the title!

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