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| Hunting by Nilmandra | 12 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| naneth | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| What a fun day for the elves and for your readers! The buzzing elfling was probably my favorite highlight of this chapter. What a hoot! Thanks for your help with AOL and the vanishing emails! Author Reply: I think Legolas will have good memories of this day - and probably will want to help all the time now when the warriors have a game day! Glad we could straighten things out with AoL. :/ | |
| sofia | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| I love reading about the games. It sounds so exciting. I love the part with the squirrels. Author Reply: The games were fun to write - these warriors work hard, play hard, and are very creative. I am glad you liked the squirrels too - good of the elves to use all the assets at their disposal! | |
| eokat | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| Another lovely chapter, Nilmandra. The love between legolas and Lauthron is so touching. It was so sad when they were talking of their Naneth's, especially after the death of Narawen and possibly soon to be capture of Celebrian. Also Thranduils thoughts of Elladan and Bregolas, 'Sons that would stand together, if need be, to fight darkness once again' beautiful phrase. I loved it. Eokat. Author Reply: Thanks, Eokat. I do enjoy Lathron a lot, and he does have a special bond with Legolas. This was bittersweet to write, knowing that Celebrian was soon to be attacked and then sail. Poor twins, poor Elrond :-( | |
| Melje | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| Yes! Elladan won! And he’s talked to Elrohir, and everything’s alright again. So Elladan did have the perfect chance to throw random wood elves in the dirt. I like the way you repeat situations, not only here, but in your other stories as well. Legolas is starting to get angry at the mistreatment of his brother, Elladan saves the day, “You were upsetting Legolas”. Real perfect. Too perfect. What do you think, could it be that Lathron had orchestrated it all, to show Legolas just how Elladan was feeling, back when they first met, and to give Elladan a much needed opportunity for retaliation? The part where Elrohir and Lathron talked about mothers was really touching. With their stay in Mirkwood, Elladan and Elrohir have come to realise just how much they take for granted - their safe home, their mother... - and I hope when they get back to Imladris they won’t forget it, and enjoy every moment of it before it’s too late. I laughed out loud when Elladan said, “Too bad you can’t speak to the squirrels”, and the wood elves started doing just that! It seems that Mirkwood still has a few surprises up her sleeve. But whatever would squirrels do with jewels? Perhaps Thranduil’s liking for shiny things has rubbed off on the rest of his realm, too? And, uhm, how much jewellery do the twins wear in their hair, anyway? I know that they have “stars on their brows” in Return of the King, but somehow I always took it too mean something metaphysical, not real jewels. I think two stars are more than enough already for anyone who’s not empress Elizabeth of Austria. And Elladan looked very handsome with his hair tied with a leather thong! Author Reply: Thanks, Melje. It would have been funny if Lathron had orchestrated that whole scene, but if he did, he didn't tell me! I thought it great that Elladan used that line against the wood elves though. The squirrels in my yard steal shiny things too. The star clasps are tiny things to hold the braids, so it isn't too ostentacious. I did like the 'star on the brow' thing, and took it as a sign of their heritage as Earendil's grandsons. And I agree - Elladan with the leather thong tying his hair back was just as nice! | |
| LKK | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| What a fun afternoon! I wanna go play games with the wood elves someday. :-) The bit with the squirrel and the star clasps reminded me of Karri's story "Of Squirrels and Mud Puddles". I know part of your idea behind this story is a response to her Wood Elf Magic challenge. Was the squirrel & star clasp an homage to her story? The apology scene between the brothers was very touching. I'm glad that Elladan got his chance to apologize even though Elrohir secretly feels that there was no need. Glorfindel was right; Elladan needed to apologize for his sake if not for his brother's. Speaking of brothers, I think little Legolas will favor Elladan more than Elrohir when it comes to how he reacts to his brothers being challenged or in danger. He doesn't like anyone messing with his brothers even when it's a game. There will definitely come a day when Legolas steps up to defend Lathron. Hopefully by then, he'll truly understand the difference between play and for real. Although, I suspect he won't like his brothers to be "beaten" even in play! LOL This may sound terrible, but I wish the injured Imladris elf would never recover. I'm enjoying this story so much I don't want it to end. I would love for the twins, Glorfindel, and the others to stay in Mirkwood for a very long time! :-) Author Reply: You know, I hadn't thought about Karri's squirrel, although I do love that story (especially the mud puddling eating Glorfindel). :-) I have about six squirrels I regularly feed, and they steal things all the time too. It was fun to make this squirrel helpful, for a trade of course. I think you are right about Legolas favoring Elladan in his reaction - I see Legolas as pretty protective - much as they are of him right now. Celebrian needed her sons home - it is so sad to think they don't have many years left with her in Middle earth :-( But, perhaps it would be fun for Legolas to visit Imladris at some point. | |
| websterans | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| I love the picture of elves at play that you put forth here. It really matches with my image of them, powerful, good people, valueing their children deeply, merry, playful, and yet wise, fearing the darkness and yet loving middle-earth beyond measure, feeling a bond with their home through long ages. Author Reply: Oh, that was a lovely description, Websterans. What a great summary of the wood elves, and yes, exactly what I was hoping to convey, although you said it more eloquently. | |
| carrie | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| This is another wonderful chapter, so full of warmth. I thought that the competition was so much fun and as I was rooting for Elladan I am extremely pleased that not only did his team win, but that he got to grind Sadron's face in the dirt at the same time!! This tale very much has a kind of bitter sweet feel to it I think; I find that although it is full of warmth, fun and love you are reading in the knowledge of what comes later and that inevitably I think colours my reading of it, especially wih the references you make towards the twins mother and so on and so forth, it feels very much like the last sunshine before the storm really hits. I loved the scenes between the twins in this especially the later one, when Elrohir braided his brother's hair and gave him his hair clasps, I must say it made me eyes well up, it is astonishing at how much emotion you can manage to get into one small paragraph!!! looking forward to the next as always Carrie Author Reply: You are right, Carrie, about this story being bittersweet. I admit it was intentional - for soon Imladris will feel the affects of shadow in a very personal way. I am glad the twins have each other, but my heart absolutely breaks for Elrond at being without Celebrian for all those years and then losing Arwen forever to Luthien's choice. | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/30/2004 |
| Great slice of life chapter, thank you. And this is lovely: "Where each twin usually wore four, now each had two," I get all sappy when I hear that silly old song "Two Little Boys", and this reminded me (all too clearly) of the song .. *sniff* Author Reply: Oh, I don't know that song, but I did like Elrohir doing that. He is so sensitive - and always makes things right. I am glad you liked it. | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/29/2004 |
| LOL! It was almost 'toss the elfling', eh. ;-) That was a fun chapter! I enjoyed it very much. :-D I also enjoyed the serious touches --- Legolas upset by Lathron's capture, and Elrohir comforting Lathron as he thought about his mother. Nicely done! Author Reply: I am glad you liked it - someone just reminded me of your squirrel in Squirrels and Mudpuddles. I hadn't been thinking of him when I wrote this, but we are influenced from many places and you had a great squirrel. Fortunately, this one was willing to be helpful! | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 3/29/2004 |
| Nilmandra, What a delightful chapter. If Legolas were any cuter, he could stop the shadow with his infectious giggle. The scene where he was 'the clue' was great. What a trusting little fellow to jump out of the tree right into Elladan's arms. Good thing Elladan was paying attention. Buzzing elfing alert! I'm glad the twins are back to normal. That's nice to see..not that I was too worried. I don't think there's anything that could separate them for long. The games were wonderful. What a good imagination you have. I wouldn't have been able to come up with much more than pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey. It was such fun to read. Well...and Sadron got a face full of dirt and grass. Payback can be dirty. :>) The ending with Thranduil was nicely done. This was my favorite line: "Thranduil set him on a stool near the table almost reluctantly, for he enjoyed having an elfling to hold as he moved among his people." Ah...such a good ada. I really enjoyed this upbeat and fun chapter. I'm looking forward to the next chapter. That wasn't the end, was it? I'm not finished with this story yet...I hope you'll cooperate, my sweet adorable child. :>) Karen Author Reply: I'm afraid my sweet, adorable alter ego has fled, and Nilmandra the cruel has surfaced to end this story. It was great fun to write, just a slice of everyday life with our wood elves and Imladris elves. I had a lot more ideas for the games, but I'll save them for another story and another get together. Thanks for the review! | |