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| Fire and Shadow by daw the minstrel | 176 Review(s) |
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| endorearwen | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 9/23/2013 |
| An excellent illustration of 'perspective' and how it changes the shape of things, Daw! I thoroughly enjoyed not being able to figure out what had really happened until we reached the end and had seen the situation through so many sets of eyes! I also thought it was a good lesson in realizing that no one person's actions/decisions are the catalyst for any given outcome - regardless of how much we burden ourselves with individual responsibility for it! We're all interconnected and the choices we make will necessarily affect those around us - no man is an island. My favourite parts, of course, were the private, quiet moments wherein Legolas (and I) learn more about Ithilden - the brother, not the troop commander. The lesson of taking every chance for joy that you come upon is not an easy one for 'old souls' who enter life always understanding the responsibility they are meant to bear. Fun, happiness, joy - these are not comfortable places for the Ithilden's of the world. In many ways, allowing oneself to savour them is like a betrayal - to the memory of the dead, to the sacred trust that you're burdened to carry, to your duty of being strong for everyone else. Yet, those were the feelings Lorellin wanted for her family - and especially that son whom she knew with certainty was unlikely to experience very much of because of who he was and who he would become. It was so nice to see how that tender spot in Thranduil which is still so deeply bonded to Lorellin can influence him from time to time. My eyes filled when he agreed to join Legolas on the camping trip. Too few are the moments Legolas gets to share in privacy with his father and they are treasures for both of them. Although you didn't speak to their time together, I expect that Lorellin was spoken of often during those short hours they shared under the canopy of stars... Finally, I must say that it is interesting to see some changes in Eilian's character. Against all possible odds, I think he might actually be maturing! If that is the case, then I think we have all learned something important about how great his love for Celuwen actually is - despite the appearances to the contrary that he seems content to display in public. Yet, I remain uncertain about whether or not he is truly worthy of her! (Interesting, isn't it, to consider how long you could flirt about with someone's heart when you had all the days of Arda to finally win them back? The race of Men have so few years of life by comparison that making huge romantic errors is far more costly to one's ultimate success for happiness with another. I guess it's that perspective that sometimes makes Eilian's actions seem a bit 'frivolous' to me...) In any event, yet another wonderful story, Daw! :-) PS - LOVE reading about the ever growing bond between Beliond and Legolas! Author Reply: When I was posting this, readers were very annoyed at me! They had to wait for each chapter and poor Legolas had been knocked silly, so they had to learn things as he did. Because Legolas was little, it's easy to think he missed his mother the most of the three boys, but Ithilden lost a lot too. She'd have helped him be happier. And Eilian and Celuwen would be long married by now! He's one of those people who never let go of someone they've come to love. Celuwen lodged in his heart when they were children. He just had to realize it. No other girl ever had a real chance, which is why it's so easy for him to flirt. He's just killing time until the real thing is possible. One of the interesting parts of writing this was letting Maltanaur take charge once Eilian was missing. Most of the time, he pretends he's serving under an officer like everyone else, but no one outranks him when it comes to Eilian's safety. As always, thank you for this kind and thought provoking review. Author Reply: PS. I also meant to say that Sinnarn came into focus for me in this story. He's sharp, like his father, but more cynical, rather like Thranduil. And he's scared silly that he'll wind up having to rule. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 10/15/2005 |
| Legolas tied too his keeper, I am not sure who I feels sorrier for Legolas or Beliond.. Very funny... Another Letter returned for Eilian, he has so much on his plate u feel for him, and hopefuly stop treating Legolas like a baby... Author Reply: Eilian is struggling toward seeing Legolas as a competent adult. They all are really. It must be maddening to be the baby in a family like that. Thanks for all these reviews, pipinheart. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/15/2005 |
| Legolas gets away from the medicine but then he had wanted it it seems....Ithilden seems to tell story to tell Legolas something and to comfort him, he is a good brother... Author Reply: Ithilden is not as openly affectionate as Eilian is, but he's loyal and he loves his family. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/15/2005 |
| Now that he remembers he may wish he hadn't...He tried to save the dwarf family but a situation occured he didn't know how to handel...His anger with Eilian mad him go off himself... Author Reply: Exactly. He wishes he didn't know what happened now. He saw a terrible thing. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 10/15/2005 |
| Legolas seems to think he can perhaps help Amdir, be a responsible Elf, just because of Turgon. He is like Turgon, but not as bad I think... Legoas found Eilian not lettin him do anything, perhaps he is a little too protective.... But he has remembered some... Author Reply: Eilian will do reckless things himself, but he doesn't want Legolas doing much of anything! And yes, Legolas is remembering. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 10/15/2005 |
| An unsure Ithilden, its nice to see the earliy years, you have to feel for his keeper him being the only son of the King a big responsibility... Legolas is trying to find information, might be easier if he told someone, they might say what happened... Author Reply: An unsure Ithilden is certainly a novelty! It's hard to remember he was an only child for about 600 years. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 10/15/2005 |
| Legolas really should say something about not remembering... proubly happened when he hit his head. Am curious what happened that Sinnarn is in trouble... Author Reply: Good! You're supposed to be curious. When I first posted this, there was a several day wait between chapters and people were really curious. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 10/15/2005 |
| Nice to be able to get a look at Ithilden when he was younger...and he under Beliond command,seems he was a smart Captain, since not much is said on him... Author Reply: I wanted to write about younger Ithilden and this was the best I could come up with. The flashback is a little awkward, I think, but it was fun anyway. | |
| pipinheart | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 10/15/2005 |
| A Dragon, how nice...Legolas was hurt, poor him....Eilian now Captain to Legolas and sinnarn, I wonder how he will handle his nephew who is much like him... Author Reply: Eilian must have cringed at the idea of having both his brother and his nephew under his command. That wouldn't be easy for anyone. | |
| nessie6 | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/24/2004 |
| This story was a little different from the previous ones, but it was good nontheless. I felt really sorry for the poor Dwarves...Actually, I assumed that even children Dwarves have beards, because it's kinda funny to picture it. Really good story! Author Reply: Yeah, it was different because of all the flashbacks. I wanted to have younger Ithilden but I didn't want to lose Legolas, so this was the only way I could think of to do it. I had enough trouble thinking of female elves with beards! | |