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The First Journey by Manderly	6 Review(s)
lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 8/5/2004
Ahhhh, the feast! Legolas gets the first taste of the meat..er, fruits of his labors. But first, CHORES! Let's hear it for chores for all elflings and human kids! :-) Of course, then there is wine and elflings...Tavaro, I hope, is preparing a good story to explain all these "infractions" isn't he? I really love those bodyguards...secretly loving the fiddlehead/mushroom hunt, and getting kissed in the bargain! They are the best! Awwwww! The knife exchange at the end between the two friends was a perfect ending to a wondrous evening for Legolas! I keep saying this - what a great kid - to notice, let alone appreciate, the simplicity of Roitar's knife as symbolic of the simplicity/strength of their friendship. AWWWWWWWWW! Just great! linda Author Reply: Roasted wild boar and wine, what more can an elfling ask for? I can imagine what Thranduil has to say about that, but hooray for indulgent big brothers! I keep thinking that the bodyguards must be having the time of their lives. Somehow I don't think Thranduil would be as an entertaining charge as the elfling. The knife exchange came to me as an afterthought as I was trying to wrap up the chapter. I am rather surprised (but pleased) that readers have commented so positively about it. Thanks for your reviews!

Firnsarnien	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/27/2004
Wow, Leggy does lead a pretty sheltered life doesn't he? His lack of understanding of the day to day chores of these settlement Elves is really astounding. I even feel sorry for him, it's not his fault. And he tries so hard to fit in. Poor him, he's missed out on so much, being the son of a king, yet, he's been spoiled and priveledged beyond the understanding of most save his siblings. He walks a fine and hard line, doesn't he? sigh I guess that is part of what makes him so wonderfully charming. another sigh I love the way he immediatly wants to help with the preparation chores and even seems eager to do it. He's such a sweetling. ;) I think my favorite part of this chappy is when Arandun is thinking how much he has enjoyed this assignment and Baragallon has too. Neither will admit it though, it wouldn't be "manly" to do so! LOL Yup, that's definitely a guy thing! LOL And the way Arandun fidgeted at the kiss given to him by Roitar's mother! LOL That was priceless. I could just see him stammering and his face turning red! LOL I guess this 'guy thing' is also why Legolas wouldn't let Arandun take the splinters out of his hand either, hmmmm? ;) Blech, blood on Tavaro's tunic! Double blech! No wonder poor Leggy became alarmed! You would think that since I grew up on a farm and witnessed plenty of animals being butchered and processed, I would be used to the blood. And I am, a little, but, blood on one's clothing is certainly different from being on the ground and on the animal. And as I've grown older, it bothers me more now than it did when I was younger. It's even hard for me to eat the meat of an animal I've seen butchered. And the smell! I just can't seem to do it anymore. Sometimes, becoming a vegetarian is pretty tempting. I was almost sure Legolas was going to become ill at the sight and smell of the meat. I guess he still has the resiliance of youth, no? Ah, and leave it to Legolas to be so humble and not want to draw much attention to himself over his heroic deed. Can this little Elfing be any more perfect! sigh, sigh, sigh! ;) I loved this line Tavaro utters, "I am sure Adar will have my head for this, but since we have overstepped so many of his rules already, I do not suppose one more infraction will do further irreparable harm. Just half a goblet, Herendil. I do not wish to deal with a drunken elfling tonight." I love that! Just loved it! Yup, poor Thranduil, I'll bet he's spinning in his bed! ROTFLMHO! If he only knew!!! Oh good golly! I loved the exchanging of daggers at the end. That was so sweet. Poor Roitar, I can just see his hesitance to accept that jewel encrusted dagger. And how he must have felt when all he had to offer was his plain little dagger. But, Leggy sees past that of course, and knows the offer comes from his heart. To Leggy, that is all that is important. Thranduil and his older sons have sure raised Legolas right, haven't they? They've instilled in this little Elfing everything they should have. Too bad our youth today can't be more like Legolas. Perhaps our world would be a better place. Especially our schools. I should know, I'm an elementary teacher and I see firsthand what most of our youth of today are lacking. And sadly, for the most part, it's not their fault. The fault lies with the parents. Too bad more of them cannot be like Thranduil either. :( Ah well, at least I can come here to get away from it all and dream a little! :) Well, the end of another wonderful chappy. It was so nice to come back from my backpacking trip to find two of them. I can't wait for the next one! :) Author Reply: Your reviews are so wonderfully long and detailed that it's a total treat to receive and read them. Thank you! Backpacking? How brave! I am afraid that I've been spoiled by modern day conveniences of soft beds and tiled bathrooms. I think if I have to slaughter animals before I consume them, I would definitely turn vegetarian. Legolas is rather sheltered, isn't he? But if all kids behave like him, then I think all kids should be sheltered, pampered and spoiled like him. I totally agree with you say about kids these days. People are far too quick to blame the kids for their behaviour when parents should be also held accountable for their children's actions, at least to a certain extent. I will try to get the next chapter up very soon!

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/26/2004
It is lovely to see Legolas adjusting to life among 'normal' elves. I can just picture him looking out of the corner of his eye to make sure that he is doing things right - and not really realising that not everybody has a guard following them everywhere. It is so sweet to see him with a friend, doing boy things and switching knives. Lovely tale. Author Reply: Thank you for your review. It's been quite enjoyable trying to write about life among 'normal' elves. I don't know whether what I've written is in accordance with Tolkien standards. I'm pretty sure I'm probably off course quite a bit but that's the joy of fanfic - we can fill in the blanks with our imagination as long as we stay within certain perimeters. Thanks for reading!

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/25/2004
I loved these last two chapters. The boar hunt was exciting, and the description of the forest at night simply beautiful. Legolas did very well to kill one of the boars, but I bet his brother was petrified! The feast sounded delicious. I like the small details, like Legolas not realising the amount of work that goes into a feast, and missing hot water. How mean of Thranduil to only let him drink the dregs of other people's wine! Jay Author Reply: Legolas is certainly learning a lot on this journey. Tavaro is probably picking up a new thing or two about his brother as well. I got the idea of Legolas drinking the dregs of his family's wine goblets from the memory of my nephews of being allowed to drink the last remaining drops from their father's beer bottle. They loved it as it made them feel all grown up to be drinking like the adults. But when you think about it, it does seem mean and miserly of Thranduil, and of my brother-in-law, to let their sons drink only the dregs.

	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/25/2004
Oh yes. There are sooo many things that adar is going to say about this little expedition but most of them will have to be to Tavaro since he's the adult that gave permission. I really like this manderly. I've enjoyed yout others but I think you are really getting into this now. Author Reply: I cannot help but feel sorry for Tavaro who is really caught between trying to be a good brother and a responsible figure of authority in Thranduil's absence. I opted mostly for the good brother. I figured that Thranduil was probably well aware of Tavaro's rather lax rule when he agreed to let Legolas go on this journey. I am glad you like this story. I am rather surprised that readers are drawn to this story even though there is so little action and/or excitement. I guess not everybody wants blood and gore all the time.

daw the minstrel	Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 7/25/2004
I thought this in a previous chapter too, but good for Legolas for helping so readily with the chores. Of course, Tavaro is setting a good example, but still you have to give the kid credit. Or maybe you have to give Thranduil credit for raising him right. And what a sweet exchange of gifts between the friends. Author Reply: I think the credit really belongs to Thranduil. I am a true believer that a child's behaviour is always a reflection of how he/she has been raised - except of course if my child is being totally detestable, then I would readily deny any evidence of parentage to that child.

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