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Spring Awakenings by daw the minstrel	32 Review(s)
White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/26/2004
I liked Legolas's and Celuwen's talk. I'm also happy that Legolas has been promoted. He deserves it. I hope Eilian realizes he should be happy to stay close to home to be with Celuwen more, even though I know he's itching to go south again. Author Reply: I think that Eilian knows he has a good thing at home right now. All he really needs is permission to enjoy it without feeling like he's shirking his duty. And being ordered to stay home should do that, I think. Of course, he and Celuwen will now be living in the palace with Thranduil. And he'll be working all day with Ithilden. If that doesn't keep him on the straight and narrow, I don't know what will.

tigerlily713	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/26/2004
Great chapter! Interesting new turn of events as well! I look forward to seeing how Celuwen takes the news that Eilian is now Home Guard and I look forward to seeing how she handles her new opportunity as advisor. Great chapter! Lily P.S. Yes, I used to read your stories while in church. I was so enthralled with them that I would print them out and take them with me everywhere as I hurried to catch up on all of them! Author Reply: Celuwen will be overjoyed to have her new husband home. They really are besotted with one another. And she has something interesting to do too, so her new life is looking up.

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/26/2004
Oh, well done! You have satisfied (1) my cravings for Elvish romance and action--love that dressing-down from Ithilden-- (2) the need to see Legolas in all his youthful golden glory, and (3) my desire for Celuwen to spread her wings and fly! The perfect story for the modern woman in her office cubicle on Monday morning. Now all we need is a battle, an injury, and a bloodied warrior naked in bed getting a sponge bath and a soothing stroke on the brow. Can I help? Just got to have my cup of h/c refilled once in a while. Happy writing, Esamen Author Reply: Ithilden might be scary to work for. He's capable of kicking butt quite impressively. I've gradually been growing Legolas into what he needs to be to be in the Fellowship, and it is fun to see him strong and heroic. And Celuwen is going to make all the males sit up and take notice. Yes! This story is considerably happier than some of the ones I've written. No one got hurt at all, unless you count the thieves, and I don't. Glad you enjoyed it, Esamen. The final chapter is almost done.

caz - baz	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/26/2004
that was a great chapter everyone get's what they ummmm... deserve shall we say. hahaha. i'd hate to have Calith's job though. Author Reply: Calith has my deep sympathy. Tinar will be a pain and I can imagine Eilian tormenting Calith from sheer boredom. Even if he behaves, he'll be a trial to be around because he won't be in the best of tempers!

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2004
Hi daw, Under such delicate circumstances, Ithilden handled Tinar well. He could not allow it to look as if Legolas had complained, or it would put Legolas in an awkward position in his future dealings with Tinar. And since Legolas had handled the situation well, it would undermine Legolas's authority and ability to deal with Tinar. I thought Ithilden dealt with the issue quite well. He made it plain that the complaints were not from Legolas and was a concern that had been repeated over the years from many sources. But that Tinar...I think my favorite part was when he went to sit down without leave to do so and then suddenly realized what he was doing. And of course, not only can Ithilden win a battle of wills, but he is second only to Thranduil in the staring contest. That even made me uncomfortable, but I also got a smile out of it. Doesn't it just make you wonder what goes on in Tinar's head that he's not 'gotten it' after centuries of serving the realm? And what to do with Eilian? Again, Ithilden rose to the top like cream in his dealings with his younger brother. Of course, it helped that Eilian has finally started to realize what a big change this marriage has been for Celuwen, and the adjustments will not come as easily as he thought. Even Eilian seems a little ambivalent as to what he really wants to do now that Celuwen figures into his decisions. Funny how that 'lived-happily-ever-after' fairey tale just flies right out the window when reality strikes home. Who knew Prince Charming's socks could smell so bad? Or that the Fair Lady 'needs' to brush her teeth first thing in the morning? Or that the transition for Celuwen wouldn't be a piece of cake? A rude awakening, I'd say! And the Prince and his new Princess have to live with Thranduil...IN THE PALACE! Legolas's first taste of command! I almost feel sorry for Eilian having to live with The Brothers Perfect. I really think one of the 'perfects' should screw up soon. Eilian needs a little reassurance that he's not an Elven genetic accident. Of course, Tinar may make him feel better about himself. :>) “She has grown into her own role over time, and we have all benefited from her efforts to care for us, but she had to learn the management of the household on her own, with help from my steward, of course, but also with him looking over her shoulder as she took on areas he once controlled.” He paused, and Celuwen lifted her eyes from her sewing to look at him." See! Thranduil is no dummy. He knows what it is likely to be like for the two sister-in-law's to forge a relationship on the same turf. Of course, he is also smart enough to try and find Celuwen her own niche. Fortunately, it's one that will benefit them all. And yes, Eilian has met his match. I'm sure Thranduil will enjoy seeing his son come to realize that his new wife can more than hold her own. I think Thranduil may have learned this same lesson himself once long ago... And it was a good thing... :>) Good chapter, your dawship. I'm really 'really' looking forward to the party. I have my gown pressed and my slippers oiled. Let the celebration commence. Carry on, Karen Author Reply: Ithilden is good at his job and has kicked recalcitrant warrior butt before. I have to admit I sort of like him when he's in this kind of mood. He's a lot like his adar, and I have a VERY soft spot in my heart for Thranduil. Eilian is learning that being bonded goes on forever, and that's a good thing, but it's also a thing that takes some adjusting to. And his father and Ithilden are seeing to it that he had plenty of time to adjust. He was dreaming if he thought this author was going to send him off and leave Celuwen on her own. Get a grip, boy! Legolas does look a little too perfect in this story, but that's ok. He's screwed up in other stories and lately I've been wanting to show his strengths because he's grown into them quite nicely. He gets a pass this time. I've written the part of the next chapter that's about Thranduil and Eilian meeting. Celuwen's parents have arrived. And today I'm going to write about the party! It seems a fitting end for what has been one of the happier stories I've written.

Estel_Mi_Olor	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2004
Alright! Ithilden deserves much applause! I loved his telling off of Tinár. I always hated that conceited prat and I couldn't wait for someone to tell him what Ithilden did! Three cheers for Ithilden! I am so happy for Legolas and Eilian! That life is working out for them. Legolas will serve very well as a lieutenant. Thranduil and Celuwen will also got on capitally, since their personalities are rather different. At least their temperments are! I wonder if the party is actually going to happen in this story...pardon my sarcasm. Thanks again and keep writing! Author Reply: LOL. I am getting ready to write about the party right now. It's going to happen! Ithilden is a scary guy, I think. I wouldn't want him mad at me. And Legolas will indeed be a good lieutenant. He's a very faithful warrior.

Antigone Q	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2004
Tinar surely won't enjoy being right under Ithilden's nose all the time, but probably it will do him some good. I don't envy Ithilden, though, having to deal with Tinar and Eilian together constantly. I was guessing that someone would tell Eilian he had to stay home for a while. Eilian took the news with better grace than I thought he would, and that makes me feel better because it shows that he has been thinking about what Celuwen might want and need, too. Ithilden did a good job of handling the whole matter with tact and delicacy. He and Thranduil are much alike in many ways but Ithilden seems to have a better handle on dealing with Eilian. Maybe the epiphany Thranduil had earlier will change his relationship with Eilian for the better - and of course, Celuwen will help, too. One of my favorite moments was of Legolas earnestly promising his brother he wouldn't disappoint him. He's so sweet! So Celuwen will be one of Thranduil's advisors? What a good idea! I picture Celuwen as a strong-willed person though, and thinking of she and Thranduil working together - I forsee some tense meetings at times. Though on the other hand, Celuwen may be subtle enough to work around Thranduil's stuborness, and Thranduil has shown a deep respect for women in general throughout your series (Er, except for the one who was committing treason, but, you know, that was a special circumstance.) So maybe not as much conflict as I was thinking. Guess you'll have to write a sequel so I can find out (hint, hint). Well done! Author Reply: I loved the idea of Ithilden "giving Tinar the benefit of his personal supervision." I wouldn't want him doing that for me, I have to say, although his aide seems to like working for him. In lots of ways, Ithilden IS better at handling Eilian than Thranduil is. He's more disengaged, I think, despite the fact that he loves Eilian. Thranduil is emotionally entangled in all sorts of ways he's only beginning to recognize. Legolas is a sweetie who is willing to do what is necessary even if it involves working with people he doesn't like. Like dwarves, for instance! And Celuwen and Thranduil will undoubtedly have their moments. I can picture them arguing, while Eilian cowers in a corner.

Tapetum Lucidum	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2004
Ithilden had quite a morning. He must have been exhausted by lunch time. I LOVED his dressing down of Tinar. It was long over due and it was good that the source of the complaints actually came from outside of the military. He cannot blame this one on jealousy. Ithilden has learned much from his father. Tinar showed his complete lack of sense by disparaging Legolas to Ithilden. Even if it were true, it would have been a bad, bad move. Two lines really stood out: "You will do exactly as I say and will be pleasant as you are able to be while you do it," and "or I will send you home to permantly plague your poor wife instead of your fellow warriors." I was LOL! Oh to be a fly on the wall for that discussion. I am sure Eilian will occasionally have a few choice words for Tinar as well. It should be a very entertaining time. Poor Eilian! He thinks it is hard to snuggle in the mornings now... wait until there is an elfling pouncing into his bed. I thought some time in the Home Guard was an excellent idea. I guess I am not quite as dense as Eilian because I saw it coming including the real reason behind it. Maybe I saw it because the author led up to it so well... I think some settling in time is definitely in order. Eilian will have fun torturing Tinar and I am sure he will find Something to make his blood sing. Ithilden finally got a break with his meeting with Legolas. It is much more pleasant to praise someone than to discipline them. You summed up the youngest's character well with the line "I like Sorion, and I would do my best for you even if I did not." Legolas is such an earnest young elf. He really wants to please everyone. I would love a scene with Beliond and Legolas traveling back to the Southern Patrol. I imagine his guardian would have a lot of helpful advice for the cub's first command. Thranduil and Celuwen's little discussion had an excellent tone. You could sense Celuwen's nervousness and Thranduil's attempt to ease it. I think he would be smart to use her knowledg and perspective in the capacity of an advisor. Celuwen would not be afraid to speak her mind. I am looking forward to the ceremony. I am glad you took the time to flesh out all of this aftermath. It would have been easy to quit and leave us wondering but you have done a good job with all of the details. Author Reply: Ithilden is scary when he's mad, just like Thranduil. And can you imagine Tinar's poor wife? Geez. I'll bet she occasionally asks herself what she was thinking. You and I think alike about Eilian, TL. No way were Thranduil and Ithilden going to send him off with a brand new wife in the palace. They're both married Elves. They know what it takes! Legolas is gradually becoming Legolas of the Fellowship. My inner fangirl sighs happily. And Celuwen will be one of the best things to happen to the royal family in a long time. You are, however, mistaken in thinking "It would have been easy to quit and leave us wondering." My beta is merciless about the last few chapters of a story. She wants all the threads tied unless I have a darned good reason not to! Bless her.

Lera	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2004
That was such a fun chapter! I'm so glad you let us be the fly on the wall in Ithilden's office especially while he was "talking" to Tinar. Ithilden is not acustomed to losing battles of wills, but he'll have his work cut out with Tinar. I'm praying Tinar doesn't have any elflings. Valor have mercy on them. But oh, poor Calith. He'll deserve a huge raise by the time this year is over. Both Eilien and Tinar. Making Eilien stay home for a year seems fitting to me. I'm so glad for Celuwen. At least now she's got a job and won't be sitting around the palace and will feel useful, plus she'll be able to visit her family. Yay, Legolas! A promotion. Pretty soon he'll be ready for the fellowship I think. How long til that happens? How old is he right now? I can feel this story drawing to a close. It was so fun. It was kind of a nice light hearted change after Sacrifice Under Shadow and Fire and Shadow. I'm very sorry I didn't have a chance to review your last two chapters. I enjoyed them! Until next update then! Author Reply: I certainly hadn't pictured elflings for Tinar! More likely his wife won't let him near her. Eilian and Celuwen are on their way to a life together, I think, although I suspect all will not go smoothly. He's pretty volatile and he's not going to change much. In my world, Legolas is about to turn 279 in May of the year 2759 Third Age. Legolas goes to Rivendell in the fall of 3018, so another 259 years. The Hobbit takes place in 2941, 182 years from now. Lots of stuff happens in between, but I think I'd like to write about the Battle of the Five Armies soon. I'd been intending to put off Eilian and Celuwen's bonding until after that, but I decided I couldn't wait!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/25/2004
Thanks for the congrats, daw. I was only kidding about the “go me” so you had me chuckling for the day after I read your reply:) Excellent, excellent, excellent! I was so happy when I saw the title of this chapter and I don’t think I stopped grinning for the entire thing. Well, maybe for some of the Eilian parts… sigh I do so love Ithilden when he’s like this. He’s almost as scary as Thranduil. I can only imagine how shocked Ithilden was when Galivion told him of Tinár’s behaviour. Obviously he’s had problems with him before but the way he behaved on this mission was just so appallingly disrespectful… I don’t know how Ithilden had the restraint to stop himself flattening Tinár the moment he set eyes on him. “I suppose Legolas complained.” I actually have fingernail prints on the palms of my hands from trying to suppress my irritation at him! I’m even getting stressed reading back over it now…! “Orc dung” LOL! That’s brilliant. Can I use that? Not that I generally have need to be insulting people but if I did… I loved the bit as well where he tells him to “think about what you might be doing other than being wonderful.” Wow, Ithilden could really cut a person in two with that tongue of his if he wanted. He’s going to be a messenger?? That’s perfect! Let’s hope that there are suddenly a lot of dispatches to be delivered or Ithilden – and poor Calith – will have to put up with him hanging around the office. Seriously, however you came up with that one, it was inspired. Oh, and I really want to meet this wife of Tinár’s. Any chance she might be attending the feast?! “You have terrible timing, brother.” How frustrating it must be for Eilian to be constantly, uh, interrupted;) “And what else has Adar been doing?” Ah, spoken like someone who has a lot of experience with Thranduil scuppering his plans. I can see how this would upset Ithilden, though. It must be annoying enough that sometimes he will have to follow Thranduil’s orders instead of his own decisions but then to have someone, especially Eilian, presume that everything he does is according to what the king dictates must be rather hurtful. Routine paperwork, eh? Poor Eilian. Still, Ithilden has always seemed genuinely happy to have his brother’s help – he clearly values Eilian’s experience and judgement no matter who else does or does not. That’s such a funny picture of him wandering around outside, reading dispatches. Wound or no wound he isn’t going to sit down for very long. Especially if Tinár is around! Eilian was hesitant about the south! He was hesitant! He really does love his wife. Obviously he wants to go back to the south at some stage but I’m so, so glad he doesn’t want to rush off back there just yet. I admit I was half afraid that Eilian wouldn’t realise just how hard things would be for Celuwen – but he does, and he wants to stay and support her and I’m just so proud of the scamp right now! “Eilian looked startled. “Really?” You know, it’s quite sad, actually, that he is so surprised at this. No matter what, Thranduil has always been worried about his sons when they are injured and cares for them unfailingly. I was going to say that I wish Eilian could see that not everything Thranduil does is an attempt to annoy him, but it’s not really that – it’s more that Eilian jumps to conclusions and often presumes the worst of his father before remembering all the good in him. Anyway, if Thranduil were that angry, surely he could have just sent Eilian off and then he wouldn’t have to put up with him around the palace. I love the idea that elves place so much importance on the concept of family. I mean, that even the king, who is determined that his sons perform their duty, would rather Eilian stay at home with his new wife and help build their marriage than return to protecting the realm. I think it says a lot about their culture, and even more so about Thranduil himself as king. “You fight with discipline and courage. You get along well with your fellow warriors. You are a quiet but trusted leader.” How wonderful for Legolas to know that his captains think so highly of him. It must be great too for Ithilden to hear such glowing reports about his baby brother. And yay, Legolas gets a promotion! He really deserves it, especially after being so disciplined when dealing with an injured Eilian and then having to negotiate with that infuriating elf, Anyr. “I like Sórion, and I would do my best for you even if I did not.” Aaw. That’s such a Legolas thing to say. And it must seem even more endearing to Ithilden after dealing with Tinár! By the way, it’s just amazing the way you’ve managed to move everyone around like that – not just Eilian and Legolas, but Elorfin and Sórion too. I’m beginning to think your job is just as hard as Ithilden’s is! I was delighted with the little chat between Celuwen and Thranduil. I had to laugh at Celuwen being put to work sewing a dress – I take it she didn’t have “a suitable gown”, then! I was glad to see him acknowledge how difficult it was for Alfirin, and clearly Celuwen too, to adjust to palace life. And he’s so sweet about making sure she looks after herself. I’m not used to sweet Thranduil, it’s rather unsettled me…;) I love that he obviously likes her so much. It’ll probably be beneficial to her too. And she did get a job! Good. It sounds like something she’d be good at and that she might like too. Hopefully, anyway. It’ll be kind of amusing now if she’s off visiting settlements and Eilian’s the one at home worrying about her instead of the other way around! I can’t help but wonder, though, what would have happened if she hadn’t agreed to Thranduil’s “suggestion”… Anyway, I absolutely can’t wait to find out what happens between Eilian and Thranduil. Oh, and will Celuwen’s parents turn up for the feast?? Are you sure you can’t get, oh maybe ten or so more chapters out of this…?!! Author Reply: Ithilden can be absolutely overbearing when it suits him, and that's probably handy in his job. But it's hard to make a dent in Tinar. The messenger job was the best one I could think of for him, where he might be useful and would do the least damage. And he's not likely to give much lip to Ithilden! You are welcome to tell anyone you like that they are spouting Orc dung! I have a confession to make about Eilian wandering around while reading boring stuff. I tend to be rather -- what word to I want? -- restless myself. I once broke my foot and thought I was going to go crazy. Anyway, this past week I had to read a 200-page dissertation that nearly knocked me out. And I found that pacing my office and the hallway outside while I was reading helped me concentrate. So when I wrote about Eilian on Friday, I thought about that and decided he would do that too. Eilian once said of himself that he learned slowly, but he did learn. And I think that's what's happening with him and Celuwen. He was clear on the fact that he loved her, REALLY loved her. Tolkien says elves rarely make a mistake about such matters. But he was so intent on getting what he wanted that he didn't think much beyond the bonding. And now he has to go back and figure out things he should have thought of ahead of time. But at least he's doing that. I think that Eilian and Thranduil both jump to conclusions about one another. They have had so many clashes that they start by assuming the worst, instead of the best. I'm hoping they'll work themselves into a little better understanding in the next chapter. Remembering that there are unseen characters, captains already in place and so on, can be hard, and then I do have to figure out realistic ways to dispose of them. I enjoy the challenge of doing that though. One of the things I like about fanfiction is that I am supported by the world Tolkien has already created, but I am also restricted by it, so it's like a puzzle to work my way around that. I have to admit I had thought about the irony of Eilian being left home while Celuwen went to visit a settlement on Thranduil's behalf. And it made me laugh!

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