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Paths Taken  by daw the minstrel 26 Review(s)
meckinockReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/22/2004
Oh, lovely! Nothing better than a sweaty, half-dressed Ithilden except a sweaty, half-dressed Ithilden "reduced to idiocy" by a maiden! He really does need a vacation. Too bad he's not going to listen to his father!

Author Reply: Indeed, Meckinock! But she seemed impressed. Maybe he could make progress by taking his shirt off more often. :-)

tigerlily713Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/10/2004
Poor Ithilden. Alfirin was no doubt unimpressed my his display, and Pentallion is likely not so pleased either. Great chapter. I've got more to read if I want to catch up! Lily


Author Reply: Well now, Alfirin might have been impressed by *part* of his display! I know I was!

lwarrenReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/7/2004
terrific chapter, daw! *sigh* i especially liked *pantpantpant* Ithilden's new mode of attire *hyperventilate*...elf skin is to be appreciated whenever possible *faint* !!!!! ;-) Seriously, I enjoyed the very controlled Ithilden's very embarrassed reaction to Alfirin. She seems to reduce our heir and warrior to mush! A camping trip? Hmmmmm, sounds like elf-mischief to me (of the Legolas kind :0 ). Still, the elfling is definitely looking forward to some time with big brother. Should be fun! I wonder what could and will go wrong?

linda

Author Reply: LOL. I have to admit I *appreciated* sweaty, shirtless Ithilden too. And he's funny. He can kick the butt of the other swordfighter and order around every single warrior on the field, making them jump to obey, but Alfirin reduces him to a babbling idiot. At least she can see what she might be getting. He would appeal to me, I can tell you!

KristyReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/7/2004
I just plain love little Legolas. I want to take him home with me and bake him cookies.

You must spend time around young people. You write them very well and very convincingly. I can't wait to see what happens of the camping trip.

I also like how we're seeing more of Ithilden in this story. Will we be getting to see some of his courting of Alfirin? I hope so. (or have you already ritten it somewhere that I missed?)

Anyway, I'm very happy that you've started a new story. I enjoy tem so much!

Author Reply: I spend a lot of time around young adults, but I have a son. My favorite camping story for him happened when he was around the age Legolas is now. His whole grade went winter camping for a week, and when he came back, I opened his suitcase, expecting to have a ton of laundry to do and found everything still neatly folded and untouched. He had changed his socks once because they got wet. I just unpacked and put everything away again!

We're not going to see too much of Ithilden and Alfirin here. They don't get married for another 13 years (I know that, because I wrote about it in "Joinings") so they need to go slowly. I'm having fun with them though. Maybe Ithilden is never going to have to speak a coherent sentence to her and can just get away with taking off his shirt! It would work for me.

Estel_Mi_OlorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/6/2004
Another great chapter, Daw! Ithilden must be the ideal elder brother, the attention he is giving to Legolas is so sweet. I am highly amused at his overdue leave. Just like Ithilden to make sure everyone else has had a break, except himself. I seem to remember another story of yours in which Dwarven blades were a problem...but wasn't Legolas a little older? I could be confusing things, but Legolas seems to be very young in this story. Ithilden's awkwardness where Alifrin is involved is charming. I love to see the self-assured Prince falter...:) The upcoming camping trip will be interesting...and something tells me that all will not go well...

Author Reply: This story is set immediately after the other one about the Dwarven weapons. Legolas is supposed to be more or less the equivalent of a human child of 11 or so. He's not yet a teenager, but he's not a child either (not that Thranduil has noticed that part).

Alfirin seems to reduce Ithilden to a blithering idiot, poor guy. It's nice to know that it will come out ok.

caz - bazReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/6/2004
that is so sweet. i wish my brother was alot older than me then i wouldn't get bossed around by him and maybe the time we spend together wouldn't be wasted arguing and trying to out do the other.

i'd like to read about Legolas and Ithilden as they're rarely together, it's usually Eilian and Legolas.

Author Reply: Legolas might disagree with you about the bossing around part! Ithilden can be pretty bossy too. But it is true that Ithilden and Legolas are so far apart in age that they don't feel competitive with one another. Legolas knows he's his father best kid and Ithilden knows he's the trusted oldest son.

I'm having fun writing about them together, so I'm glad you like it.

Rose SaredReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/6/2004
How do you write so fast and so well? I am in awe and green with envy. I join the majority in enjoying nekkid (well half) elf and lots of swash and buckle in the sword department.
Love your relationships, and OC's of course, as ever.
Rose

Author Reply: It doesn't feel to me as if I write fast. It feels as if I sit and stare at a paragraph for a long time! But in the case of the paragraph about Ithilden in his sweaty, shirtless state, that might have been coincidence. ;-) Thank you for your kind words.

JebbReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/6/2004
What a lovely chapter Legolas with his archery and Ithilden sparring and half naked now what a mental picture that summoned up no wonder Alfirin was rendered speechless Perhaps Thranduil could raise some extra money for the treasury by selling tickets to all the maidens of Mirkwood next time this occurs I would certainly buy one!
Ithilden reduced to stammering and blushing what power that maiden has!
And Legolas the optimist he hasn't said yes yet! although he has learned he doesn't like telling lies to his Adar or the consequences either I suspect.
Well done Ithilden's aide at getting him to take a break has anyone suggested to Thranduil he might try it sometime?
The camping trip sounds a great idea but somehow I don't think it is all going to be a bed of roses
can't wait to find out more

Author Reply: The sons of Thranduil had a good morning on the training field (and so did the female onlookers at the adults end of the field). And I think that Ithilden's awkwardness around Alfirin is a sign of how far gone he is already. He's normally pretty self-confident, as she should know, since she's seen him giving orders and snapping at people.

Legolas must have some of Eilian's optimism! Although, as you suggest, he may also just have gotten tired of mopping up vomit. :-)

Camp6311Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/5/2004
Add me to the list of those ogling sweaty, stripped to the waist Ithilden, sigh, you do like to make your readers squirm.

Those dwarves, what a pain! You should at least consult with your customers on goods they've paid for before you implement a design change, even if the new design is superior.

A camping trip, sounds fun, and how could anything possibly go wrong with Ithilden in charge. :)

Author Reply: With Ithilden "in charge" indeed! I'm sure that Legolas will jump to obey just as all the warriors do!

I could picture the Dwarves saying to one another, "If the pointy-eared fools can't tell these swords are better, to Mordor with them. We refuse to explain ourselves."

erunyauveReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/5/2004
Yes, Thranduil *was* supposed to take Legolas camping, wasn't he? I have a feeling, however, that Ithilden's leave isn't going to be quite as restful as he thinks (remind me not to ask you to help plan my next vacation in Mirkwood). Thranduil really does need to trust Ithilden a bit more. And I loved Calith's sneakiness and Ithilden's suave (not!) manner before Alfirin.

Author Reply: I have to say that camping (ie sleeping in the dirt) with a boy Legolas's age strikes me as a little slice of hell. But then I'm not such an outdoorsy type. I had to sit and think for a long time to come up with anything people might do while camping that would count as fun. And apart from a nice walk in the woods, none of it looks that great to me.

Ithilden and Thranduil are learning to work together. It must be hard for Ithilden to do what his king and father expect and still be himself, with his own strengths to contribute.

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