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Legolas's Begetting Day  by daw the minstrel 37 Review(s)
Eirinn LeighReviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/19/2016
Ha! A perfect ending! Very neatly - if sadly - wrapping up the missing men and missing mice in one go.

Author Reply: The ending with the mice was my favorite part to write. I made myself laugh!

daw

Asms2Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/9/2016
Aw this story is cute! The boys having the mice as "pets" was adorable. And the names "Blue-y", "Green-y", ect, totally on point. This must be something that a lot of kids do. I named my first hamster "nice-y". lol.

I enjoyed when Turgon asks about what a Begetting day means, and Thranduil is ‘dismayed’ to realize that they are all waiting on him to answer. And then Legolas is like “See I told you that’s what it means, and not what you said”. Haha. That scene was great.

Eilian struggling with the idea that he may be jealous of the new baby = aw! He doesn’t want to be replaced especially with his mother. Understandable.

It was also neat to see Thranduil’s flashbacks to that day.

Fun story!


Author Reply: For a long time, this was my favorite of all the stories I'd written, mostly because it was so much fun to write. And my very favorite part was the ending, when the mice got to have a point of view. So I love having someone else enjoy it too.

You have to wonder what Tolkien was thinking with that Begetting Day stuff. Way TMI.

daw

endorearwenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/2/2013
Excellent story, Daw! I LOVE the way you moved so fluidly between the past and present, each time stopping at just the right moment to keep me intrigued and keen to read on! How much trouble can three little boys get into?! Wonderfully innocent antics leading to nothing but fun every time! The friendship you have created amongst these three elflings is so precious you can't help but feel such fondness for each of them despite their sometimes annoying little traits! I feel for Thranduil and his misgivings about Turgon, but really, who could be so cold that they would separate him from Legolas? And, oh, weren't those mice something else! So clever to end with that little 'mouse' mother begetting her own surprise for the Lord and Master himself on such a special anniversary! Ha! Ha! :-)

Author Reply: Ending with the mice POV was my favorite part of writing this. So now Thranduil has his own "Precious." :-) They had much better names for themselves than Blue-y and Red-y.

For a long time, this was actually my favorite story among the ones I've written. I liked the humor, for one thing. A chattering pest. Hee.

yangyueReviewed Chapter: 6 on 4/25/2010
The ending with the mouse living in Thranduil's office is so sweet=) I love all of your stories with young Legolas in it has a family feeling towards it=)

Author Reply: The mice were my favorite part of writing this story. And since it was all about babies being born, the mouse got to have them too. :-)

I'm glad you like the stories!

HaldirrielReviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/14/2006
I have only recently discovered your stories. I eagerly look forward to reading them in the evenings after work and have managed to get thru most, if not all, of your beautiful stories in order. Legolas' Begetting Day is my favorite and I reread it occasionally. It always cheers me up and makes me laugh. I look forward to more of your young Legolas' adventures. There will be more, right? There was one story (I don’t remember title) where you mention that Thranduil is taking Legolas camping, but you do not expound on it. Perhaps you can write about their camping trip? Please? :) :)
Thank you so much for sharing all of these with us.
Haldirriel

Author Reply: I have to tell you, Haldirriel, "Legolas's Begetting Day" is my favorite story of the ones I've written. There's something about it that always makes me laugh and sympathize with Little Legolas and his friends and pets.

I'm writing less fanfic these days because I'm working on an original fantasy novel based on "Growing Under Shadow." But I have some notes for single chapter fic that I'll probably start working on soon.

Glad you're enjoying these, and relieved you didn't overdose! I seem to have written a bunch.

runnerbeastReviewed Chapter: 6 on 7/22/2005
What a wonderful story. I love your original characters as much as the canon ones. A friend told me about your writing and I'm slowly reading through all your beautiful stories in order and it is a total treat!

I'm so glad that Thranduil is getting more time now with Legolas before he's all grown up. I totally love little Legolas. And I must tell you I don't usually like little Legolas stories, but I'm absolutely glued here to your little Legolas. I just can't wait until he comes on scene again to find out what will happen, and what he's feeling and if he's doing ok. Eilian is a joy to read about. He's just mr. adventurous and there is always something new going on around him. I also must mention Maltanaur - he's awesome - I love how his character relates within the family unit. I think Ithilden is my favorite original character, maybe just because he's quieter and there is more going on inside and he's harder on himself, well maybe, they are all pretty hard on themselves. It's a complex family going through a very painful time. I loved how this story ended and we found out about the where all the little mice were and how they were doing. I used to own mice and they are wonderful pets if you keep their cage really, really clean. They can be smelly. =) You just write wonderfully! Your stories are a joy to read!

Author Reply: OK. Confession time here. "Legolas's Begetting Day" is currently my favorite among the stories I've written, so getting this nice review is like having someone praise your favorite child.

I also have to say that it's very gratifying to have someone new come to these stories and be able to make sense of them. I've let my number of OCs kind of spiral out of control, and I can't tell any more if new readers will be able to wade through them.

If you keep reading, you'll find some very early stories I wrote. Be kind!

Estel_Mi_OlorReviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/21/2004
Oops that was me-sorry, I accidentally sent an empty review. My computer is crazy, you see. Either way, I loved that chapter! The end was hilarious. Magnificence, Splendor, and Precious!!! Clumsy Ones, and Singers! Ah, the world is so amusing through a mouse's POV. (Is that gramatically correct??) And how appropriate that Precious should choose Thranduil's room to have her babies in. I hope we'll see them again soon!

I liked how the chapter started off with the flashback, cutting right to the chase, literally. Eilian is very resourceful and I'm glad he and Maltanuar made it out ok. But Legolas's birth was so touching! Especially how both brothers were dazed by him at first. I don't know if I can imagine self-assured Ithilden holding a little baby and wondering what to do with it. This chapter also made us realize how important Legolas is to his family.

Thanks again for this great fic, and how exciting, you've written more! Well off I go!

Author Reply: Switching to mouse's POV was fun. To themselves, they're so important (just like the rest of us) and their names reflect that. And their view of the world shows that they recognize the elves as in tune with nature and the orcs as not.

Eilian did a very dangerous thing and better hope that Maltanaur, Ithilden, and Thranduil never find out about the details because they will take turns killing him, each in his own unique way.

I'm glad you liked the story, Estel. I hope you had a good time on vacation.

mistry89Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/16/2004
I don't seem to have added my 2 cents worth .... so, I really enjoyed this, the contrast in time/space and tone was great. I don't need drama to enjoy Legolas is an elfling, so it was an extra treat ... a value-added story, if you will. :)


There are many quotable bits, one of my favourites being:

"Legolas was enjoying it too, but he did not like leaving Eilian alone with Amelith. She smiled too much."

Heh! Perspicacious little thing wasn't he?


Thank you (again) for a great read.

Author Reply: Thank you, Mistry. I'm glad you liked it. I wanted some drama around Legolas's birth and Eilian always is willing to provide it.

You made me laugh with that quote. I think Legolas may believe that Eilian needs to be guarded so he shouldn't leave him alone. Otherwise, who knows? Someone might take his brother away. I remember feeling that way about leaving my mother home with my little sister when I went off to kindergarten.

daw

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/14/2004
Being away from the internet for two weeks is the only downside of a holiday! It was great to get back and read this chapter. Eilian is both courageous and very lucky, he could so easily have been shot! The welcome Legolas was given by his parents and brothers was lovely.

I loved the ending of this with the mice - their own names are so much nicer than 'Bluey' etc, but I love the fact that they like their ribbons. There is going to be a family of mice in the palace? Legolas will like that, and no one can tell him they'd be happier in the forest! I hope the paper lining the nest was not too vital.

And the Men have been rescued!


Jay

Author Reply: Eilian did a very dangerous thing. He had better hope that Thranduil, Ithilden, and Maltanaur never hear the details or they would each kill him in their own unique way.

It was so much fun to take the POV of the mice! They are obviously very important in their own world (as we all are, I guess). Legolas may be pleased there are mice but I suspect that Thranduil will not be!

I wanted to suggest that the mice somehow contributed to the Men's rescue by startling the Orc, because I wanted to pick up Tolkien's theme that even small creatures can have a big effect.

Glad to have you back, Jay. I hope you had a good holiday.

lwarrenReviewed Chapter: 6 on 8/11/2004
I really wanted to review this chapter by chapter, but I also am facing *trumpets of doom*...the start of the school year on the 18th. So I waited until I could really sit down and not rush.

This was a great story, and I especially loved the way you tied the present events and the past (Legolas' birth) together. It made for some tense moments, what with escaping mice, crashing elven musicians, female unmentionables appearing, orcs, and Elian, complete with his "How to Elfling Sit and Have Your Elf Maiden, Too" instructional guide. (I have noticed that he certainly seems to spice up the action, and I have become particularly fond of Maltanaur and Beliond and their relationships with the Princes of Mirkwood.)

And let's not forget birthing baby elflings! The way that sweet child wrapped the entire family, including the reluctant Elian, around his tiny finger showed the closeness of this family (and I always enjoy an appearance by the Queen, though it makes me sad, too. :-/ )

The whole tale (tail?) was terrific, but the ending with the mice was priceless. The names!!!!! How cool were they? Reminds me of a good spider named Charlotte trying to describe her friend Wilber (RADIANT, SOME PIG, etc.*vbg*). I can just see Thranduil when he makes the acquaintance of his Preciousssss *falls off chair laughing*...In the immortal words of that ancient and knowledgable turtle, Crush..."You so rock", daw!!!! Thanks for taking all your readers on a very enjoyable ride!!

linda

Author Reply: My school year starts on Aug 23, so I hear you!

I enjoyed trying to tie the two time lines together. I thought the battle stuff for Eilian gave the story a little more weight than the slapstick of the treasure hunt. And I have to admit, I always think twice before I let Eilian on stage because he tends to steal the show. My beta has suggested that I write a story from the point of view of the wives and the two keepers. That might be fun! Maltanaur sure doesn't hesitate to tell Eilian what to do, but his affection for his charge comes through loud and clear.

I also liked having a chance to write about Lorellin. I hardly ever get to do it and she so plainly doted on her sons. She was good for all of them and Thranduil too.

Using the mice pov at the end turned out to be just a kick. I thought they would be the center of their world, as we all are. And to themselves they're very important, after all. And I think the tale of the mice might not be over yet, given that mouse-lings are about to make their appearance. Poor Thranduil!

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