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Stirrings of Shadow  by Fiondil 9 Review(s)
BodkinReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/24/2007
How to impress the Rohirrim: be on friendly terms with a bunch of dangerous elves and trust them enough not to flinch when they aim arrows between your fingers.

And it does make sense that QEtQM would be using Rohirrim to shake loyalty to Thengel. Outside dangers pull a people together against a common enemy. Divide, as they say, and rule.

Author Reply: Dangerous elves, indeed! *grin* As to whether the QM has any direct link with what's going on in the Westmark remains to be seen, yet certainly, the dictum "Divide and rule" hold true, whoever is utilizing it.

Linda HoylandReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/18/2007
I just loved the image of the Elves washing dishes, a delightful scene !

Author Reply: Thanks, Linda. It's one of my favorite scenes, too.

Beruthiels CatReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/18/2007
The Rohirrim are certainly getting an education from Aragorn about elves! The shooting display-I can just see them backing off thinking; Oh, *#%&!! Aragorn's response was priceless; (kinda makes me wonder what he would have done if the arrow had pinned the bowl to the table instead, but that would have been a major insult to their hosts)
Washing dishes-another Rohirric assumption about elves just got turned upside down... This just keeps getting better!

BC

Author Reply: Well, someone does the dishes in Imladris, and it ain't dwarves! *lol* Glad you enjoyed this chapter, Cat. I had a lot of fun writing it, especially the last scene with Thandir and Aragorn. One wonders if they haven't played this sort of game before.

Reviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/17/2007
You write the mercurial moods of the elves better than anyone else I've read. Just wanted to let you know I'm enjoying your story!

Author Reply: Thanks for your review. Writing about the otherness of elves when dealing with humans is not easy and I appreciate it when readers tell me I've gotten it right. I'm glad you are enjoying the story.

ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/17/2007
I loved this chapter,it was well worth waiting for! Thandir and his elf friends are most amusing and dear old Aragorn knows how to handle them,but a girl fainting at Thandirs beauty!?(poor thing) althou I can't say if I would be affected any differently LOL

Author Reply: Glad you liked this chapter. Thandir does grow on one, doesn't he? *grin* As for his beauty, I can't say *I* wouldn't faint from it myself either so I don't blame the girl for doing so. *lol*

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/17/2007
Aragorn knows his limits when taunting Elves, and just how to do it. And of course he has no fear of the arrow aimed precisely short of him, does he? But it would certainly cow the rest of them!

As for Cedric and his grandchildren--I know how THAT goes! (Grinning)

Author Reply: Aragorn does indeed know his limits when teasing Elves and who is to say that this isn't a game the two of them haven't played before. Of course, it goes without saying that such a stunt as Thandir pulls would have impressed the Rohirrim to no end.

Raksha The DemonReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/17/2007
I love the image of the three High-Elves washing dishes while Aragorn dries. You do a wonderful job on conveying the sheer age of these Elves, as well as the contrasts between them and the rough-hewn but tough Rohirrim, and Estel himself.

Please, please, dont' kill off Thandir - he is such a great character!

Author Reply: Never fear. Thandir will actually accompany Elrond West along with his two children to await the release of his wife, Eluwen, from Mandos, though that's 64 yeqars away. I'm glad you like the image of the elves washing dishes. I don't think the citizens of Dunwulfstun ever recovered from the shock of it though. *grin* I'm glad that you think I'm doing a good job of conveying the sheer age of the Elves (rather hard to do from a mortal POV) and contrasting them with the Rohirrim as well as with Aragorn.

EdlynReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/17/2007
How am I to write coherent review when I am snickering with delight over that last bit with Aragorn and Thandir? I can just see it happening, meldonya!

Ah, the plots multiply and thicken. Indeed, it makes sense for the raiders to appear to be Rohirrim. It certainly sets things up for waht will amount to a civil war on multiple fronts.

I know that Thengel's mother is out to get him but I'm seriously wondering if there's more than one person (or entity) interested in breaking the King's rule and taking the Riddermaerc. Time will tell.

I'd love to know what Thandir's comments to his companions were when Aragorn summoned them to supper but since I'm not fluent in any form of Elvish, I suppose I'll just have to imagine what was said. Though I am certain that I don't want a look like the one Thandir turned on Estel turned on me.

This continues to be an excellent story and I'm looking forward to its continuation.

May you live blessed,

Edlyn

P.S. And I haven't given up on reviewing Elf, Interrupted. I've just been busy. I will get back to doing that as soon as possible.

Author Reply: There are of course several groups, not necessarily working together or even aware of each other's existence, who are attempting to undermine Thengel's rule. There are many who see him as an outsider, having removed himself from Rohan for some thirty years, so there's a great deal of resentment on that score. It doesn't help of course that he returns with a foreigner for a wife and his children speak Sindarin more fluently than they speak Rohirric.

I never really intended to have elves figure so prominently in this story which I thought would be a "human-only" story with the elves on the periphery. But Thandir has sort of taken over the show and every time I think I've gotten rid of him and he's on his way back to Imladris he shows up again. *sigh* Anyway, he does sort of grow on you, and I had a lot of fun wth him in my other story "Elladan and Elrohir's Not So Excellent Adventure", so I don't mind playing with him in this story.

Calenlasss GreenleafReviewed Chapter: 12 on 5/17/2007
Aragorn’s smile deepened as he calmly picked up a spoon, dipped it into the trencher and took a sip of the stew, smacking his lips appreciatively. Then, before anyone could respond, Thandir pulled his bow off his shoulder, whipped out an arrow and shot it so that it rammed into the table within a hair’s breath of Aragorn’s hand. Everyone at the table rose in shock, backing away. Everyone, that is, except Aragorn, who’s only reaction was to move his trencher half an inch to the left, as if to give the arrow more room.
Loved that paragraph. :) And also Thandir.
Why must you create such admirable elves? Now I must live with he fact that you, and you only, own them. *glare*

~Calenlass

Author Reply: It's my favorite scene in the whole chapter also.

Hey, nothing stopping you from creating your own admirable elves. *snicker* And I may own them, but I'm willing to share.

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