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Spring Awakenings by daw the minstrel	28 Review(s)
Tapetum Lucidum	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/19/2004
A new story! And I get 2 chapters at once?! Must be my lucky day! I'm glad you picked this one up just after Sacrifice Under Shadow. It was a big time of change for the two brothers. Beliond does a great job looking out for my favorite elf. If he ever needs another babysitting job, let me know. It is appropriate that he spend his off time away from his charge - even though he cares for Legolas, it is still a little too much like work. You always make Legolas' greeting of Eilian a joyous occasion. I am glad you continued it in this one. Their playful banter is always a good way to lighten a story. His greeting with his father was equally warm. I grinned at Thrandul's hovering over Eilian. Legolas must love it as well. I keep forgetting Sinnarn is grown and half expected him to throw himself in his uncle's arms. Dinner was a lot of fun. I think all parents end up giving most of their meals to their kids. Eating all of my food from my own plate is a distant, fond mememory. Ha! You showed us the letter after all! I had a feeling we might find out what was in it eventually. It was very well written, tentative and sincere. Eilian must be mad at Celuwen's father - What did he tell her about the prince? Eilian's joy at being unable to return to his patrol was very ironic. He is the king of the battleground but has finally found something more interesting. I look forward to seeing those charms at work! Author Reply: I imagine that Beliond and Legolas must need a break from one another. They are pretty much attached at the hip while Legolas is on duty. And I wanted there to be some warm family time before I started complicating things for the House of Oropher. Celuwen's letter was the first thing I wrote for this story. I needed to see what she had said! Thanks for the review, TL.

Estel_Mi_Olor	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/16/2004
Another story!!! Cheers! Thank you for the setting on this one, I was dying to know what Celuwen's letter said. I'm glad to see Eilian has recovered and the Long Winter finally over. And everyone is reunited again! I trust we will see a Thranduil-Legolas moment soon. Poor Thranduil. I hope someday Eilian and Celuwen bond, because they really are meant for eachother. Although, this is a good beginning. I noticed a typo though: "Eilian shifted impatiently. He had arrived at the infirmary early this morning only to find that Belówen was busy with an elfling who had broken his wrist, and he was going to have to wait. How much longer was the wretched healer going to be with the inconsiderate elfling? Unable to resist, he took a tattered letter from belt and began to read, although, in truth, he had read the letter so often that he had it memorized and did not need it before him to know what it said." In the fifth line of the above paragraph you have "tattered letter from belt," well shouldn't it be "his belt"? Just checking. Keep writing!!! Author Reply: Thank you for pointing that out! I fixed it. SoA makes fixing things like that really easy. I was dying to know what was in Celuwen's letter too, so I wrote it and then I decided to write this story. Thanks for the review, Estel.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/16/2004
I never really understood the seriousness of Eilian's injury. But now I do, and Im glad he's still alive... these stories wouldnt be the same without him! So does this mean that he and Celuwen are getting closer to marrying each other? Really good story. Hope next chapter's up soon! -sofia Author Reply: Eilian was pretty sick and it's made him take stock of things a little. He's never been very patient and he now is particularly aware of how important it is to enjoy life while you can, even if you are an immortal elf. So we'll see what the leads to.

Kay	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/16/2004
I am so happy to see this new story, daw, and it came with a special treat -the contents of a certain letter. Thanks! I wonder if Celuwen's father has any idea about the grief he has caused his daughter. He has much to answer for. I enjoyed the dinner scene. This was great: "And if they wanted to tease him, that was all the better, so long as Legolas ate the fish and Eilian obeyed every stricture the healers set for him." I do love your Thranduil! I look forward to more! Author Reply: I think that Celuwen's father does have a lot to answer for. He may have started out just protecting his daughter, but he let his dislike of Eilian get the better of him. He will be lucky if his daughter forgives him. And then there is that other protective father, Thranduil! I amuse myself sometimes by imagining him and Solith and Celuwen's mother (whom I had better name) planning the wedding. LOL.

Lera	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/15/2004
Ahh...spring. Ahh...a new story by Daw the Minstrel. I'm so happy. It's cool that you started where you left off from Sacrifice Under Shadow. When Legolas decided he didn't blame Beliond for not wanting to upset Thranduil, I couldn't help but remember when they first met and how much Legolas resented Beliond's very presence. I think Legolas's change in attitude shows his maturity. That baby throwing snowballs is very much a grown up! And then off Beliond goes to the woods. Are we ever going to hear his story? Someday maybe? Eilien, I'm sure you're more interesting to look at than a brick wall! You know, I knew he was hurt(obviously a poisoned orc arrow is bad) but I was surprised he was still home recuperating. Like it actually comes time for Legolas to come on leave and Eilien's still home. I'm happy for Thranduil. He's obviously so happy to have all his boys at home. And all his sons are very lucky that they have this kind of home to always come home to. Thranduil is such a good ada. You know, after reading your Thranduil, I cannot read evil, mean, dispasionate Thranduil stories no matter how good the author. I laughed about Legolas being so excited about a warm bath. I'm about to go take a hot shower and am really looking forward to it after a working three hours at a barn. I can't imagine going as long as he has(three months?) without really bathing. I imagine the winter must have made bathing even more dificult if not impossible while you're living outside. Speaking of which, this winter was really bad, wasn't it? So often you read about kingdoms where when food is scarce, the royal family at least still has plenty of food, even though it's often at the expense of the peasants. But I get the feeling the Thranduilions aren't doing that. Irritating settlement. It was amusing hearing Thranduil's thoughts about them. I have to sympathize with him. And yet, I really like Celuwen. If she thinks living where she does is so important then it must be. I can't help but wonder about those family dinners(after she and Eilien are married because eventually they WILL be, right?) with her and Thranduil at the same table. Maybe living in the same house all the time. Where would she live, if Eilien's away? But anyway things could get interesting, especially if her family visits. What a sweet letter. So sincer and personal. I love Celuwen. Bad ada! Bad ada! Intercepting letters. I wonder how she got hers sent out. I suppose it would be easier to send a letter. Well, can't wait for the next chapter as always. Ciao and God bless. Author Reply: Legolas is an adult now, with only a few more steps to take before he's ready for the Quest. Eilian has been very sick, but he's on the mend now. And I'm am such a big fan of Good!Ada Thranduil that I can't read the other stories either. The Long Winter is actually part of Tolkien's account in the Tale of Years. He says there was flooding in the spring and there was great scarcity. I think that Eilian and Celuwen would both have in-law problems if they ever bonded. It's sort of amusing to think about the whole family together for the ME equivalent of Thanksgiving or something. Celuwen is head over heels in love and has finally admitted it, poor thing!

ANA	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/15/2004
How wonderful, a new story from you! And the title is so appropriate as spring is getting near (I hope). Your summary made me laugh - love and disaster - yes, describes Eilian's situation perfectly, unless you decide to be kinder to him in writing about his love life. Can't wait for more! Author Reply: It's snowing here right now, so I don't know how close spring is, but I have hopes too. Love and disaster is actually a pretty good description of Eilian in general, although I hadn't thought of it that way!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/15/2004
Yay! I was wondering what you’d have in store for us next, and I’m so glad you’ve decided to continue “Sacrifice under Shadow”. First off, I just want to say that I loved your beautiful use of language in this chapter. You created such a wonderful sense of the land beginning to awaken after a long, tough winter and of how it brings with it a sense of newness, of a freshness that the elves revel in. It really made me long for those lovely, bright days when the sun has a warmth in it again and you just know that the dark, wet, cold days have been left behind for a long while. Then I remembered I live in Ireland and our warm weather is likely to be a Tuesday afternoon at about three o’clock sometime in August… Ah well. Beliond accompanied him almost to the door? It looks as though after the last, um, incident he isn’t about to let his charge out of his sight very easily! I actually really like the idea of Beliond spending his time in the forest, amongst the trees, sleeping under the stars. At first I thought it was quite a lonely picture but I think it actually gives him a lot of depth as a character and shows that there is more emotion to him than one might think at first. Of course, it would be quite funny if it turned out that he wasn’t actually going camping at all but had some secret life going on….slaps wrist for fantasizing about poor Beliond All of the reunions were so heart-warming. I’m glad Eilian recognised and thanked Legolas for what he did, and I love the way he did so in such a brotherly fashion, both of them knowing he meant it but yet the moment was never allowed to be too awkward. And I do love Thranduil being Ada! I even had a lump in my throat when he gave him his fish! I do like that you ensured that we see them also suffering the effects of the harsh winter, that the king and his family are not well-fed while their people starve but rather must accept that things are not as plentiful as before. I have to smile when I see Thranduil so pleased to have his family together. It’s wonderful to see them laughing together and he clearly delights in it if he allows them to tease him! I imagine nothing brings him greater joy than to have them all together, with none of them in danger, pain or despair. Aha! I suspected Sólith was intercepting those letters. Celuwen’s letter was beautifully written, by the way. And she seems to have finally given into her true feelings! That certainly explains Eilian’s happiness. She expressed herself very eloquently. I can completely see how she struggled and the reasons why she tried to convince herself that they should not be together. I just hope that Eilian’s illness hasn’t meant valuable time wasted. But then, surely even those pesky settlers would have heard that the king’s son was so ill… Oh, I meant to say that Htranduil’s comment earlier about the settlers was brilliant – he really summed them up perfectly, with just the right amount of sarcasm! LOL at the “inconsiderate elfling” remark! I had to laugh too at Belówen’s bewilderment at Eilian’s lack of insistence to go back on patrol. If only he knew why Eilian wanted to be at home a bit longer… I have to say, he actually seemed a little disappointed that they didn’t have their usual argument;) “Then we had better find out if you are.” I’m so glad Eilian has Legolas there. His baby brother seems to be taking his role as protector very seriously, doesn’t he? Or maybe he has just come to realise that when Eilian’s mind is set on something else, he never takes sufficient care of himself. But things seem to finally be going well for him, I’d hate to see him mess it up. Although, someone is bound to, I suppose… You’ve really brightened up my day by posting this new story – thanks, daw!:) Author Reply: It's snowing here today, Dot, so don't feel bad about your weather. I have to say your idea about a secret life for Beliond immobilized me for a minute as I stared at your review and my brain started bubbling. Wouldn't that be funny? I can imagine a young warrior Legolas following Beliond and finding out all kinds of stuff. I'll put it in the hopper! It seems to me that Elves are rather egalitarian. I can't imagine Thranduil scarfing up rich food while his people go hungry. And I do like seeing the royal family having a good time, whether it be by snowball fight or teasing. The first thing I wrote for this story was Celuwen's letter. It seemed to me I needed to know what was in it before I could go on. She does love him. :-) Legolas is actually more responsible that Eilian, despite the fact that he's younger, I think. Thank you for your kind remarks, Dot.

Justafan	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/15/2004
Yay, I'm so glad that you wrote another story! How like Celuwen's father to keep the letters from her. I confess that I had thought that Celuwen did it, but her sweet letter explained it all. I loved this beginning and can't wait to read more! Author Reply: We'll have to see how the proposed visit to Celuwen and, inevitably, her family goes. Eilian is a brave elf!

tigerlily713	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/15/2004
Great chapter of a great new story! I am so happy to see more of this wonderful saga you have created. The characters you have developed are so consistant and brilliant. I eagerly await more! Author Reply: Thank you, Lily. You are very kind. My beta said that Eilian was very Eilian-ish in this chapter, which pleased me.

White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/15/2004
It's great to see Eilian on his feet again. Thranduil must be thrilled to death to have all three of his sons together, and the two youngest safe, for a while at least. Glad to see the letter from Celuwen. I hope I hear distant wedding bells ringing! Author Reply: Thranduil is indeed pleased with his family right now. Who knows what the future will bring?

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