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Good Neighbors by daw the minstrel	28 Review(s)
Tapetum Lucidum	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/13/2005
The only bad thing about a laptop is that is really hard to leave a coherent review when people keep talking to you. How rude are they?! I think it is hilarious that Turgon is so certain his parents won't believe his little brother. It is so true! Poor Rodda - he is truly terrified. I hope he didn't accidentally shoot an elf. Your young Legolas is so compassionate, I think that is part of what keeps getting him into trouble. I liked hearing about Elian's little insecurities and the handshake thing was amusing. Elrohir handled it very smoothly. You did a good job on your men from Esgaroth. It was clear that you gave them a good blend of wanting to recover their dead as well as extracting their revenge - Very realistic. Eilian's internal musings suited him as well. His memories of his mother are obviously still very painful. His thoughts of Legolas and Celuwen are very sweet. Ithilden is, indeed, very clever. Maltanaur would have fallen over laughing at the thought of Elian's musing in sensible actions. Maybe now he understands why Ithilden has to be so clever. Your orc hunt was very cleverly written. Eilian is wise not to trust those twins! Thranduil is summoning a merchant to speak with him?! I think the guy is going to learn some new negotiating skills. I feel kind of sorry for him. Lunch was a most interesting affair. Men are a rather mixed lot but it was good to hear Thranduil admit the same thing about elves. Legolas' increased appetite si probably going hand in hand with his growth spurt. Sometimes I think my boys are going to eat me out of house and home. It is also good to eat a lot at meals to cover his extra, stolen food from the kitchen. The orc battle was well played. Eilian is a true master at that game, even with a band of misfits. He was correct in not trusting the twins completely. His comments on their recklessness were true enough but not what the Perehdel wanted to hear. Maltanaur was wise to intervene. The findings in the cave were rather gruesome. Poor Rodda really has no one to go home to, his fears of punishment seem unfounded. I am glad Eilian has moved on with his grief. yay! I have a lot more to read! Author Reply: You provided me with a good chance here, TL. I finished this story at the end of November and my brain is such a sieve that I had to go back and reread to see what you were talking about. (Lunch? What lunch?) Usually when I first finish a story, I'm sure it's terrible. I'm sick of it and wish I could write better. But when I go back after a while, I think, 'that's not so bad.' And I'm now far enough away from this, that when I went back to reread, that's what I thought. So now I feel good. :-) Writing about the twins and Eilian was a delicate task. I didn't want to make the twins look crazy or bad. They're suffering. And I wanted to show how Eilian is drawn toward their feelings and then shaken by that fact. And then, in the meantime, here's the younger set, hiding the boy, fending off Turgon's little brother (he's fun), and trying to figure out what to do. And they are SO in over their heads. Maltanaur must have gotten some satisfaction from watching Eilian give other people orders not to be rash. LOL

Joee	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/1/2005
I am almsot done this excellent story, but a thought just occured to me. I realise that you write these stories out of order, but I thought I would point out that in Prodigal Sons, Turgon can't speak Westron and yet, in this story, he can talk to Rodda. Somehow I doubt that Rodda can speak elvish, so the only conclusion I can come to is that they are all speaking Westron. Am I wrong in thinking this? I have no real objective in mind by pointing this out, so you can take this information and disregard it if you like. Author Reply: Ah, Joee, you're so clever! I confess I knew that I was going to have a continuity problem here, but I just couldn't face the thought of writing my way around the language difficulty. So I decided to ignore it and hope that readers wouldn't remember. But on SoA especially, the readers are phenomenal, so you weren't the only one who noticed this. I don't know how people do this. I have to look everything up even in my own stories. I once had a reviewer ask if I knew the name of Siondel's father (Annael's grandfather) and I said no, and then a different reader pointed out that in "One Year," I had Siondel introduce himself as Siondel Someone-ion, so his father's name was whatever I had put there. How did that person do that?

lwarren	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/24/2004
Well, do I feel really stupid! No wonder I didn't know what had happened between the twins and Eilian as I missed an entire chapter! How on God's green earth did that happen? Oh well, now I get to review this one too! does a happy dance You know, daw, strokes chin in a very intelligent manner many things can be explained if one reads a story IN THE ORDER IT IS WRITTEN!!!!! Now I see why Thranduil suspected the cloth merchant, and why Legolas was taking clothing to Rodda...exasperated huff I loved the conversation at the table (while Legolas was eating) about Elu Thingol and his treatment of Beren and his attachment to the Silmaril. Thranduil's slightly scandalized thought of what was the tutor letting his child read anyway was so typical of a concerned parent when their kid comes up with some kind of weird information or something. The battle with the orcs was well-written, and Eilian made a very important discovery about himself. His need for revenge still could manifest and he didn't like it at all. I hate to say this, but I think he's right to give E2 a wide berth right now, at least 'til they get themselves back in order again. Now Legolas and Co. are planning to help Rodda escape to a new life (Woodland Witness Protection Program, right?) and I'm going to reread the next chapter again with all this new information I've miraculously discovered!!! :-) Great chapter, daw! linda Author Reply: You know, I didn't want to say anything directly, but it occurred to me that that might have happened. I'm an unnaturally fast updater, and people sometimes do miss chapters. Actually, I'm impressed that, except for the E3 situation, you seemed to have no trouble following the other chapter! You're a teacher, aren't you? Did I read that somewhere? Anyway, if you are, I'll bet you've seen that what-is-my-child-reading-or-being-told-anyway attitude occasionally. Tutoring Thranduil's sons might be a challenging job. I find battle scenes hard to write. Peter Jackson says that what matters in a battle scene is not the large scale part of it, but the small, in tight, pictures of the central characters. (And if only he'd remember that!) I've tried to follow that advice, and what mattered here to me was that the twins be scary, beautiful, and deadly, and Eilian see his own danger and react to it. Maltanaur must have been thrilled!

White Wolf	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/24/2004
Oh my. Now we know what is wrong with Rodda. Poor boy, having to see what he obviously saw. I'd be sick, too. I think Eilian seeing the brutal effects of the pain the twins are in has brought his own pain at his mother's death back to him rather forcefully. It doesn't look like he's adjusted as well as he thought he had. Author Reply: Poor Rodda, indeed. He breaks my heart. The elflings are doing their best to care for him, but he's really suffering. I think that you're more or less right about Eilian. That's why he reacted to strongly to the twins. It was his own feelings that really shook him.

caz-baz	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/23/2004
I've only just caught up with this story. the past few weeks have been a little bit hectic. I like the story though. I really just want Legolas to tell his dad or at least Mithrandir, I'm sure if they knew the facts then they'd be more than happy to help the little fellow. I feel sorry for Elladan and Elrohir and it's intresting how Eilian has realised that the pain he felt isn't all in the past. Caz-Baz Author Reply: "Eilian has realised that the pain he felt isn't all in the past." -- That's a very sharp observation, Caz-Baz. You're right. And knowing this has shaken Eilian a little. Legolas definitely needs to tell an adult. The kids are in way over their heads. I think it's hard for kids to do that though, especially when another kid has begged them not to tell. We'll see.

thechevin	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/23/2004
And of course everything begins to fall into place and once again I had not made the connection! I thought it was telling that Thranduil thought nothing of the silk for his robes but would fight to get the wool for his people's cloaks and of course Legolas giving away his clothes at this time is bound to lead to questions The twins are frightening and their grief is so raw and visceral I was afraid for Eilian that he would be drawn into their fury thank goodness for Maltanaur who radiates calm and control and quiet support just when it is needed most Fascinating study of grief and despair and what it does to you Judy Author Reply: Yay! I'm glad I surprised you. As I wrote this chapter, I was pleased to sort of snap the Rodda and Orc raid puzzle pieces together. Everything looked much more orderly after that! I love Thranduil. He really does think about the good of his people. And Legolas is generous. Of course, if he's like a 12-year-old human boy, he doesn't care about clothes at all and would happily wear the same thing day after day until it fell to pieces. But I do think that the adults around him are more likely to notice a few items of missing clothing than he thinks they are. Eilian was a little frightened himself. That's why he reacted so strongly to the twins, I think. But it didn't hurt them to hear what he had to say. Grief and despair. Yes. More of that coming right up!

lmw	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2004
It's interesting to see Eilian concerned about the 'risks' that the twins take! I'm sure he's heard those words himself. This is the first hint I recall that Turgon is bothered by the lack of parenting, it does show why he is the way he is, I guess. Quite the cast of characters in this story, sometimes I forget that this is possible. As always, enjoyed muchly, waiting for more. Author Reply: I'm having fun writing about the twins, but in this story, I'm really interested in them, not for their own sake, but for the effect they have on Thranduil's family and particularly Eilian. That's why I haven't been inside their heads at all. And Eilian is so upset at them, I think, mostly because of his own reaction. Poor Turgon. The Elf Child Welfare Society needs to send a SWAT team into his house to kick his parents' butts.

Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2004
Poor Rodda. What exactly has he done that he thinks his own people will kill him on sight? Perhaps he is overreacting and blowing everything out of proportion? Kids do that on a regular basis. I hope that is the case. It is touching though how the elflings are helping him, but I am waiting for adults to burst in on them any time now. That was some fighting scene! All three E's in action. What else can we ask for? I really like the way that you let us into Eilian's mind as the attack unfolds. Seeing the twins being so reckless in action may be more useful than all the lectures that Maltanaur or Thranduil may pile on him. Perhaps Eilian can now let go of some of the grief for his nanneth and go on with his life, as Maltanaur has suggested. What he said to the twins about Legolas, and himself, being unhappy if he had been killed was both funny, and touching. His little brother's well-being is never far from his mind, even during battle. Author Reply: You're right. It's best to keep in mind that Rodda is just a kid and may not have the best perspective. I find battle scenes hard to write, but this one was kind of fun because of the three E's. To me, the most interesting part of any battle scene is the reaction of the people involved. I thought that crack about how he'd be unhappy to be going home dead was funny too, although no one else seems to have noticed. :-)

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2004
Somehow, I think that when Rodda is found out (and he will be found out), there will be somebody happy enough to see him that they won't string him up instantly. Although now I am more curious than ever to find out what he did that he thinks is a hanging offense. Legolas is clearly starting to do some real thinking about ethics, both in his lessons about Thingol and in his daily life with Rodda. It's so hard to do the right thing sometimes. Especially when "the right thing" has so many different meanings. Yeah, the twins are dangerous in the state they're in. Raise your hand if you're surprised. . . no hands. Fancy that. They may need to work this out for themselves, but they are endangering everyone around them. I wonder if Legolas could use a set of Eilian's old formal robes. Yeah, they'd be hand-me-downs, but silk is tough and wears well, and Eilian probably didn't wear them very long, so they'd be in good shape still. No shame in wearing hand-me-downs, and it's been long enough since Eilian fit them that they'd look new again. Author Reply: I feel bad for Rodda. He's even more miserable than the twins. I think that as the son of a king, Legolas is particularly likely to have lessons in things like history and ethics. I think they'd make him think in somewhat larger terms than his friends do. Unlike Eilian, who was very young when his mother died, the twins are adults with a great deal of experience under their belts. That doesn't mean they're behaving well, but it does mean that they may have some perspective that Eilian didn't have. You know what? I bet elf children wore their clothes out more than human children do because they grew more slowly so the clothes would fit them for a longer time. However, if Legolas is like human boys of the equivalent age, he couldn't care less about what he wears, so this can probably all be worked out.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 11/22/2004
g Excellent chapter all round. Now that I’ve decided to just sit back and watch events unfold instead of trying to figure out what the heck is going on, I’m feeling all excited rather than tense. I’m really enjoying watching all the pieces come together. That part with Nyndir was a nice little insight into the workings of the household. I never really thought about where they’d get their robes, clothes, etc. from. That Cudry is rather foolish to try to cheat the elves like that. Although, Thranduil is in a bit of a tough position if it means that his people will have to do without warm clothing in the winter. Whatever about himself and his sons making do, he can’t really ask it of anyone else. Nyndir clearly knows this. What’s he going to do? Pay for it with jewels? Or just ‘gently’ point out to Cudry that it’s mighty suspicious how he knew of the raft incident so quickly and got in touch so fast with exactly what they needed… I’m suspecting this guy took rather drastic measures to boost his earnings. “Mortals will do almost anything for gold and jewels.” Hmm. He thinks this while looking at a picture of Menegroth?? He’s not wrong, of course, but either he never examined events with an impartial eye or he’s chosen to forget some things he’d rather not acknowledge. These arrows keep cropping up. It seems they’ll probably have a role to play. It’s rather sweet to see how disappointed Legolas is that the archery class was cancelled. I know those arrow hunts! Wasn’t that what Eilian was doing the time he went swinging across a river or ravine or something on some precarious rope swing thingy he manufactured? It does sound fun! Elu Thingol, eh? I was just thinking that Eilian studied him when he was a lot younger, but then Legolas mentioned he’d read about him before too. I couldn’t help smiling at Mithrandir’s rather less-than-discreet way of suggesting to Thranduil that men aren’t all bad and perhaps in some ways they and elves aren’t very different. I felt bad for Thranduil because these are obviously somewhat painful memories for him but it was good to see how objectively Legolas looks at history. It’s amazing to think of what Thranduil has lived through but in some ways living through history must cloud his judgement, while his sons have no emotional link to what they study and can view things more clearly as a result. I’d love to hear Thranduil talk about his past with his sons, but maybe the fact that he apparently doesn’t means that they haven’t grown up with innate prejudices from hearing his version of events – even though Legolas does seem to share his distrust of dwarves. I wouldn’t fancy being in Galeril’s shoes when it comes to studying Dagorlad, though. And I do like that at least by the end of the conversation Thranduil is beginning to admit that fault can also be found with some elves, even if it is just to himself so far. Amdir’s so funny. If he’d leave out the bit about fighting Orcs people might be more likely to believe him. Or maybe not. If he’s anything like his brother he probably has a vivid imagination. That poor elf is probably thinking that sending him off to fight Orcs mightn’t be such a bad idea… I really feel sorry for Turgon. Pretending he doesn’t care about his arrows and that he deliberately isn’t going to finish them probably seems better to him than admitting he needs help that the adults in his life just can’t seem to offer. The three of them should have met in Annael’s or Legolas’ home instead when they were making them. So the elflings have a plan? A boy with three arrows wandering through a dangerous forest in the hopes of coming across some men who are friendly enough to take him in sounds like a marvellous idea and sure to work… Still, I’ve got to hand it to them – the elflings may be misguided but they’re doing their best for him. Nyndir seems to have a good idea of what clothes Thranduil’s family have – or at least whoever told him does - so I doubt Legolas could take many, but it’s good of him to be generous when he knows he has more than his friends. Is Nimloth still around or was that only when he was very young? Those palace cooks are going to start thinking there’s something wrong with him too if he keeps asking for food! The battle scenes were very exciting! I wouldn’t have liked to be in Eilian’s position. He’s probably not used to wondering if his warriors will actually follow his orders or not. The battle itself had me gripped. I’ll never love reading about battles but you write them so well that they really come to life for me. Those men are so brave. And it seems in the end that they’re much easier to command than those twins (I must try not to call them elves so!). I just knew Elladan and Elrohir would go for their swords sooner rather than later but I still groaned when they did. And I think I groaned even louder when the sight of them (fantastic image, btw!) resulted in a shiver of excitement in Eilian. Eilian snapping at the twins was just brilliant. Sometimes I just love Eilian. Never as much as I do Ithilden, mind, but still… He was great here. Those two may not have really endangered their fellow warriors but by switching to their swords when they still had arrows left they deprived the others of any choices. It worked out well enough but the decision was Eilian’s to make, not theirs. “I have been where you are now, and, in the long run, it occurred to me that I was being a selfish ass.” Yes! You tell them, Eilian! Actually, I must admit that I have to keep reminding myself not to just automatically take the sides of Thranduil’s family against these two strangers – which is testament to your gift for creating characters I feel close to, I might add! The twins must have truly suffered in the year that Celebrían lingered but I really do think that Eilian is right when he reminds them that at least their mother will find healing and was able to make that choice. It must be frightening too for Eilian to see now so clearly how his own behaviour all those years ago must have affected his family. Perhaps he shouldn’t have yelled at them but it’s exactly what I’d have ended up doing and maybe his words will make a difference, even if it’s not anytime soon. Ugh, I don’t even want to think about those bones. Ah, and there’s a missing boy! I’m still wondering what he did, because it’s beginning to look like all he did was run away. Which is perfectly understandable and probably the best thing to do, although he might feel ashamed for doing so. The poor thing could have seen his father killed. He must have used his arrows for something, though... I’m dying now to see what happens with Rodda. And for Eilian and the gang to go home. And for Thranduil to confront the merchant. Oh, wait – I forgot again that I was going to relax and just let things happen and not get too tense… I’ll be here serenely awaiting the next chapter whenever you’re ready…;-) Author Reply: When I wrote this chapter, I hoped that at least the E3 and Rodda parts of the puzzle would snap together. I don't think there's a lot of this story left really because it's all supposed to sort itself out soon. I think that Thranduil and most older elves would be kind of weighed down by the history they've seen. Thranduil is rethinking his relations with men here because his sons are doing it, and they don't have that burden. I thought Amdir and the neighbor were a hoot, actually. How would you like to live next door to that family? I feel so bad for poor Turgon! I created his parents and now I want to strangle them or at least sic the Elf Child Welfare Society on them. I'm thinking that Nimloth is still around some, but Legolas is in the hands of the weapon's masters in the mornings and his tutor in the afternoon, so she probably does running-the-household kinds of things. She was probably the one who told the steward that Legolas needed new clothes. And yes,I suspect that the adults know more than Legolas thinks they do about exactly what clothes he has. My beta is Nilmandra, and she's written about the twins and has a quite different take on them than I do, which made negotiating this chapter interesting! I think that the twins are right about some of the things they tell Eilian: the men were having trouble; there were few enough orcs that they were not in much danger. But they also should have left the battle decisions to Eilian. He really upset most because of his own feelings, I think, what the twins made him feel. So he chews them out. And frankly, I don't think it hurt them and it might help. They're fun to write about in this kind of story because they feel very mysterious to me. :-) Ithilden appreciates your support. He doesn't have enough fans!

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