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My Dear Bandobras by Le Rouret	7 Review(s)
Aislynn Crowdaughter	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 9/2/2004
Ah! So, this was the heartless and cruel reprimand Laustaire the unhappy servant-slave to be was getting from her unfeeling and cold bethrothed! A gentle reprimand that perhaps she should learn some of her future duties and get accustomed to them and a delay of the wedding for a year so that she might have time to do it. "Difficult as this was to do I went in mortification of spirit unto my betrothed, enlightening her as to my resolution and defending my judgment in this, that we should say not this spring but the following, so that she and I shall be the better acquainted, and she the better able to take up her duties as my lady. That she in her pretext disappointed me I could not help but reveal, though I refrained from harshness knowing her to be very young and perhaps ignorant of the distress she has caused; she railed against Dúrfinwen and Seimiel but I defended them saying they did naught but that which I as their lord did properly require of them." - yep, sounds a bit different of Laustaires version of that conversation in her letter! I think he was still too gentle with the girl if she can rally so against him, and he ought to have much doubts about her "pricklings of concience". I am in apprehension of that Tounament, if she is organizing it! As for Legolas dreams about taking Bandy to Valinor, it shows that e needs to dump the wedding for good, and soon. If he is to wed anybody, it needs to be a Lady who is as much a compagnion to him as his mortal friends, to help him over the inevitable loss of them when they die. Laustaire will never be such a compagnion; she is a burden, and if the wedding takes place, he soon will be as much to her. Oh well, I hope she blows it. Aislynn

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/29/2004
The author has stated that this (and The Green Knight) is (are) kinda like LotR meets Ivanhoe in the flowery language department and Legolas is NOT gay. To be perfectly honest, I don't understand how people can get that impression at all. He loves Bandy almost like a son, or even just as a very dear friend, but most assuredly NOT as a lover! insert heebie jeebie fit at the thought Legolas was feeling ashamed of not thinking of his betrothed in those wishful thoughts because he really does NOT want to get married at all still and just hasn't realized it yet. My opinion, you can't hold the author to that, okay? LOL

Carol	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/28/2004
I've been enjoying this story, and enjoying the reviews too. It's fun to watch people get so caught up in events. Until the last couple of letters, I had regretfully been thinking that Legolas really wasn't being fair to the Infant. His reasons for marrying had nothing to do with love, and everything to do with what he could get out of the arrangement: a treaty, a dowry, someone to labor for him, and someone to bear children for him. (Even in the earliest days, when he was most smitten by her beauty and his aides pulled the stunt of writing his proposal without his knowlege, his reasons for putting the brakes on were that it would jeapordize the treaty.) Given his culture, there's nothing disonorable about these motives. What was unfair was that he made such an arrangement with an ignorant young girl, never made his expectations clear, and then rushed off to do everything except get to know her. I felt for Legolas, but feeling for him and approving of his behavior weren't the same. Now, though, he has started making things clear - and I don't think he'll be well repaid! Despite being spoiled rotten, the Infant is evidently clever, skilled at manipulation, and hardworking (when she chooses). And she's furious and likely to get more so. I see plenty of trouble ahead. And now on a different note... Early on in this story, it seemed to me that the tone Legolas took toward Bandy was almost more suited to romance than to an adult addressing a child, and that anything of that sort would really be quite creepy given Bandy's age. Then nothing came of it and I decided I had just been reacting to the flowery language, as well as looking for disaster (that author's note really did cast an air of doom over the early chapters). But now suddenly Legolas is talking about desires which should not be filled, and how it's shameful that he doesn't think of his wife in this... It startled me, and I read it again, wondering if I was taking it wrong. My conclusion was that it wasn't completely clear what Legolas meant, but it was certainly an easy paragraph to read romantic interest in. (Fortunately, it's not quite as creepy now that Bandy's older. Still creepy though, since Legolas hasn't seen Bandy since he was a kid.) So I'm wondering if either there is interest (which would lead to trouble), or if other characters will gain the false impression that there is (which would lead to trouble). I was relieved to see that I was the only one to form this impression though, so hopefully I'm probably seeing things that aren't there. It's strange how a story can be so funny, and yet also leave you genuinely feeling for the characters.

Joana	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/28/2004
Delayed? Not cancelled?! Oh... I just hope that during the tournament something may reveal how bad she is and get this wedding over for good! "...she railed against Dúrfinwen and Seimiel but I defended them saying they did naught but that which I as their lord did properly require of them." Of course. We were expecting her to do something like that... "...indeed Andunië has said unto me that she has thrown herself into the preparations for the Tournament with all enthusiasm and interest, applying her energies to its workings and heeding instruction with meekness" Smart, isn't she? Fortunately there are smarter people around!(I hope.) Congratulations on the wedding of Seimel with Kaimelas. I hope she knows what she is doing and is happy.

Ms. Whatsit	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/27/2004
dances I bet she won't change. She's got something devilish planned. And as for Bandy...well. Perhaps the sad part of this story has more to do with Hobbits and the Gift of Men than any ditzy elf-maid.

Lamiel	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/27/2004
At last. At long last. If the princeling hasn't yet attained enlightenment, at least he is on his way. I can only hope that he will be wise enough to see through the tramp's ploy at pretending to organize the tournament. And thank the Valar for Kailemas. I was growing somewhat concerned about this Seimiel - I think some of your readers were in favor of her ensnaring Legolas instead, and I am grateful that that particular possibility is gone. Whew! "It is very difficult to write when one's head is being wrenched from side to side." Hee!

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/27/2004
A delay is good, wonderful even, but still not as good as breaking off the engagement entirely. sighing with relief at even the briefest of reprieves My fear that she is pretending to go along with his orders has been realized, however and I fear what she may do in retaliation to the two she named. What the heck is this about Seimiel and Kaimelas? WHERE did that come from? Is she saying yes to his proposal because she feels there's no hope with Legolas whatsoever? How depressing! :(:(:( That's not going to be a happy marriage, I'm afraid. pouting now I find it very telling that Legolas made no mention of Laustaire in his wishful thinkings of traveling with Bandy all about Middle Earth and love that HE even remarked on it as well! gleeful chuckling How anyone could misconstrue THAT as Legolas being gay is beyond me though, because it's obvious he cares for the Hobbit more like a son as well as a dear friend by far over anything else. (Can you tell I'm still irked by backreading your reviews of this fic? lol) Kaimelas is funny, jerking Legolas' head about while removing his braids when he's trying to finish the letter. vbg That's just the sort of funny touch I love to this particular story. Please do keep up the great work, as often as possible. :):):)

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