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Interrupted Journeys: Part 1 New Journeys  by elliska 4 Review(s)
LackwitReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/11/2004
I like this chapter. I read the original on scribeoz and think you have done an excellent rewrite- tightened up and focused the story, which originally I found rambled too much.

I can't even imagine dating someone 1/40th my age O_o No wonder Thranduil is taking it cautiously :)Lindomiel is a very nicely balanced OFC. Excellent story so far.

Author Reply: Yes, I agree. It definitely needed this. I posted it too soon on ScribeOz and as I did, gave it more thought again which led to the rewrite. I think this is tighter too and I like it better. It had been over a year since I had reread this early stuff and I hadn't realized how much work it needed. But the up side of the hurricanes was that I have been trapped in my house with nothing to do for a total of six days so that let me dedicate that time to rewriting the first three parts of the larger series. They are all much improved. I wondered if anyone would have read both and what they would think so I'm glad you mentioned it!

1/40 is a scary thought isn't it :) Hope you continue to enjoy it and thanks for the review!

daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/11/2004
How wonderfully ironic that Marti's interference actually may have made Amglaur see Thranduil in a better light rather than a worse one.

Lindomiel is showing herself a good potential queen, so far as I'm concerned. She's open to other people like the Men, which is good because she might have to entertain all kinds of folk.

Thranduil SO does the right thing in telling Lindomiel abut what happened with Marti. It's best not to hide things. They take on added significance if you do.

Author Reply: Yes, I think Marti got exactly what she deserved. When I first wrote this, I just kind of wrote along thinking more about how I thought these people would react to these situations than anything else. Then, when it was written and I reread it I thought to myself how funny it was that Marti caused exactly what she wanted to prevent. But given these people's personalities, I can't see them reacting any differently. I agree that Thranduil did the right thing by 'fessing up. But I really cannot see him doing anything else. I'm not sure if I could really find solid, direct justification for it in cannon (never tried, think I will) but I just can't see Thranduil as anything but totally honest. And for something this important, I think he'd be way too smart than to mess around with it. Thanks for the review!

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/11/2004
Marti is either very brave or very foolish or both to think that she can slander Daddy's Little Girl and Momma's Little Boy and get away with it. Dang, but she's got two angry parents on her case now, and she's just managed to drive the two lovebirds closer together, right to the brink of actually getting engaged. Somehow, I think this wasn't what she intended.

The fact that Lindomiel and Men get along so well bodes well for her future role as Queen. Thranduil clearly doesn't do negotiations with Men with any sort of grace or skill, but Lindomiel is a natural at it. If she becomes Queen, as long as Dieneryn is around to run the household, maybe she could become the contact point with the Men. They know her, they clearly like her, she likes them, she's skilled at politics and quite able to take care of herself -- what's not to like?

Ooh, potatoes! Boiled, crushed and mixed with olive oil and herbes de Provence -- best thing in the world. And they come in all colors, too! I think I'll go to the farmers' market today and get a bag of blue potatoes. Those are fun. And nice fresh venison . . . I think I should either get off this train of thought at this station right here, or I will need breakfast before continuing this review.

So. . . how 'bout them [insert your local sports team here]?

You know, I think Thranduil and Lindomiel have just gotten themselves engaged. Oh, they'd deny it to the high heavens, and there weren't any rings or any formal statement of betrothal, but they can't go back on things now. Thranduil has just stripped his soul bare in front of her and she embraced it. I think that I'd call them engaged from this moment on, no matter when they get the rings.

Author Reply: Yes. This isn't turning out like Marti wanted it to turn out, is it? Her little outburst backfired on her very badly. Wait until the next chapter to find out how badly.

Why did you have to go and mention blue potatoes--it is a two hour drive to the market for me and there isn't enough gas right now for me to make that kind of a drive. Can you send me some blue potatoes express mail? :)

As usual, you have me laughing.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 19 on 9/11/2004
Lindomiel is clearly exactly right for Thranduil, despite being only one fortieth of his age. And Thranduil is being very controlled here! Even Amglaur seems to be reluctantly acknowledging that they are right for one another.

I love her excitement over the men's camp. And Thranduil's instant focus on the hunting. And hers on the smell and the hairiness! And Amglaur's aside to Thranduil about dwarves. (Especially considering the eventual affection of Legolas for both hairy, dishevelled and unwashed Aragorn and even more hairy, etc Gimli.) Have we seen the introduction of the potato to the Elven diet?

Lindomiel has a good political awareness, too. Her awareness of how gossip and public opinion can affect a ruler is very shrewd.

H'mm. Shadow and darkness sensed when Marti is draping herself over him. Pay attention, Thranduil. Beware of the obsessed elleth!

Author Reply: Poor Thranduil had a very rough day, didn't he? Yes, he was controlled. I do not see Thranduil as a natural diplomat but I do see him as a quick learner. I think he figured out his second day in Lorien that arguing with Amglaur accomplishes nothing. Besides that, he bears a very small amount of blame here so he is treading carefully. I think Amglaur's face might crack if he had to smile at Thranduil but he is hard pressed to hate him now. At least that is something.

I'm glad you liked the part with the discussion about the men. It is actually a cut of a larger original bit. I considered cutting it entirely because it doesn't really advance the plot here but it is referenced later in another portion of this series and I thought maybe a little levity wouldn't hurt to break up some very difficult conversations for poor Thranduil. And it is kind of funny in light of Legolas' future acceptance of such things, as you said.

I think Lindomiel sees a little more of the danger Marti represents than Thranduil does at this point because she has actually seen/heard the gossip Marti spread about her. But I think if she is a king's cousin, she would have a grasp on how politics work. And you would have to be able to handle such things to accept Thranduil's life and be part of it. His is not an easy reign. He makes a lot of decisions, one can imagine, that are going to be very difficult.

Thanks so much for the review.

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