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Growing Under Shadow  by daw the minstrel 12 Review(s)
DotReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/7/2003
Woah, I think poor Thranduil has just about been pushed to his limits. I can’t believe he nearly struck Legolas – although I can certainly see how he could be tempted...

Legolas seems a bit confused, doesn’t he, about how exactly he’s at fault. I think Eilian is right – he was probably sorry he was caught more so than anything, and sorry that he would get into trouble. As for “I would not lie!” – has he forgotten his escape the night before already?! I have to feel sorry for our elfling – methinks he’s about to learn a very hard lesson. Especially as Thranduil will know very well that he had no intention of confessing if not for the situation with the swords.

I liked the scene with Eilian talking to Legolas. Sometimes it means more coming from a sibling than a parent. And if anyone knows about having to apologise to Thranduil, I’d say it’s Eilian…

Great job on the scene with the interrogation. You do scary elves brilliantly. I especially loved the line “his tone shifting gradually from a purr to a snarl”.
I mean, I’m a big fan of Thranduil and even I was quaking a bit!

On another note – I’m glad Cadoc was caught if only for Ithilden’s sake. Maybe Thranduil will have a little more faith in him now. Bring on the next chapter!:)

FadesintothewestReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/7/2003
AWww, was not too long for me! So it is coming to an end and legolas did indeed have to fess up to his role. I pity poor Legolas and the wrath he will incur from his angry father, and rightly so. Legolas, dear Legolas has a punishment coming in for me. Interesting enough, though Thranduil will have to take pause to consider that Legolas' disobedience gave him the evidence he needed.

Brenda G.Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
Whoa! Somebody restrain the King! I was almost tempted not to read any further once Thranduil started heating up. But then when Legolas entered the room, oh, boy... I don't know who needs my sympathy most - the Man or Legolas.

What really shook me up was Eilian's little talk with Legolas before they went to look for the hidden swords I was as shocked as Legolas to have Eilian explain that Thranduil was on the verge of physical violence against his own flesh and blood - not that you could blame him. This brazen disobedience from Legolas, directly upon the heels of his earlier misadventure (and the SAME misadventure, at that), would be enough to make anyone take a strap to the boy. Thank goodness that Legolas has some leverage because of his knowledge about the Man and the hidden swords, but that is the ONLY leverage he has. Despite how valuable the information, however, I don't think it will count much with Thranduil when it comes time for Legolas to take his medicine. Whew! The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I will say this much for Legolas - he shows the makings of the elf he grows into because he ALWAYS puts the interest of others before himself, nor does he save his skin to the exclusion of all others when push comes to shove. Even though he has been a bad elfling, you have to admire the kid for that.

So, Daw, will Turgon escape this time, as well? Will the Big Buck be allowed to live and be hunted another day in another story? What will Thranduil do to the Man? What will the Dwarves do to what's left of the Man once Thranduil is through with him? Will Legolas EVER get out of the dog house again? You've really got your work cut out for you, Daw, tying off the loose ends and trimming them up to bring this to completion, but you will. And you will do it in style, as usual.

What a great read this has been. Dare I say I am drooling for the finish??

Post soon!


Brenda G.


Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
Daw, you update too fast! (and I never thought I'd say that about anyone) - it's just that I don't have time to review your chapters before the next one is up.

Poor Legolas - I think he'll be for the high jump for this - Thranduil is *NOT* pleased about last night's excursion, is he? But it took courage to say about the man and the swords when it meant admitting where he'd been - I hope his father will acknowledge that.


Jay

LKKReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
I'm not sure how to feel about this chapter, daw. I'm glad that neither Rudd nor the dwarves are part of the phoney sword plot. It's good that Ithilden has been vindicated. I hope Thranduil remembers this. As for Legolas ... sigh ... it's good that his inner voice recognized the importance of the information he had and his princely conscious was willing to fess up to his misdeeds. I think I wrote in the last review that I didn't want to read the scene between father and son where the truth is "discussed". I still don't want to, which is probably why I don't know how to feel about this chapter and the upcoming one. But I will read it. Please ... be gentle.

LKK

nanethReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
Oh my, really, really ugly indeed! Thanks for updating so quickly, even if this chapter left my tummy tied in knots. You did a great job creating a very tense scene. I can so easily picture Thranduil moving his hand in his desire to strike Legolas-while at the same time he surely wanted to scoop him up and give him a huge hug. Parenting a strong-willed child is no picnic!

JustMeReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
Well, I must say I admire the courage it took to admit to his indiscretion. Even though he knows he will be punished for disobeying, Legolas still had enough sense of duty and common sense to divulge the information he knew was vital to the investigation. I liked the way Eilian took his little brother aside and gave him advice on how to act properly when dealing with his father's wrath. Sounds to me like someone speaks from experience! Hopefully, Legolas will take his brother's advise. And hopefully, the information provided will prove important enough to calm Thranduil down a little bit before he doles out the punishment. But I have a feeling that this will not be the case. Maybe I should start baking those cookies now, 'cause I have a feeling that there will be an elfling in need of comfort very soon!

ElemmireReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
Dare we hope the second one is close on its heels? I loved Eilian's talk with Legolas btw (both what was and wasn't said!)


Elemmire

The KarenatorReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/6/2003
Wow! I was on the edge of my chair from the beginning. Thranduil, with his finely tuned daddy radar, knew something was amiss with his youngest. Even Eilian was picking up something odd about Legolas's unusual fatigue. Will the elfling ever learn that he cannot get away with anything?
The scene with the men was very good. It was tense and tightly done. Thranduil makes such an imposing figure and his oldest sons are very good with their supportive roles. I loved it when Eilian smiled and then wipe that grin off his face. And Ithilden commands with the flick of a finger. I envy him.
I was glad to see Legolas come clean and it certainly must have been a difficult decision knowing he would be punished. But he was able to put the greater good over his own fears. Remind the king that the kid is not all bad.
I suppose my favorite scene was with Eilian and Legolas in the garden. Eilian certainly seems to have experience with the errant son part. I can imagine that Thranduil has come close to wanting to beat the tar out of Eilian a few times. Eilian certainly recognized the signal when Thranduil brought his hand up. Would he have intervened? He was shifting restlessly. Still, I can't see Thranduil so out of control. It was also interesting that Eilian can recognize his father's desire to protect Legolas, but is less insightful when it's him. I would, also, like to know what brought him to his knees before his king and adar. The thoughts I got about him on his knees were not fit to be discussed with an elfling in attendance. I've just got to get out of the Eilian bathing mode. I'm beginning to get concerned about the mental health of a grown women trying to sneek peeks of a full grown, sculpted, long legged, long haired, piercing blue eyed...... Oh. The story......This chapter was one of my favorites. Everything is coming together and you managed it as skillfully as ususal. I'm looking forward to the last chapter. Karen

TolkienFanReviewed Chapter: 9 on 10/5/2003
Whooooooo boy! Remind me not to get on your Thranduil's bad side, whether by naughtiness or by treason!

Although, I do hope that Thranduil learns a few things:

First, that Ithilden was correct in his judgement that the dwarves were not involved. Thranduil really needs to trust his son's excellent intuition, and to not step on his toes (by mustering troops without consulting him, for example).

Second, that shielding Legolas from unpleasant truths about the Mirkwood situation isn't a good way to ensure his compliance, nor is it entirely possible. Legolas is too smart to not notice when tensions increase.

Third, despite his fury at Legolas' disobedience, that it is still a lesser crime than the one perpetrated by Cadoc, and that indeed some useful information came of it.

I hope Legolas learns what he needs to, as well. Sigh. I'm glad he recognized that admitting his disobedience, and thereby risking punishment, was a greater good than keeping quiet under the circumstances. (Almost makes up for lying to the guards last chapter ... but not quite.) That shows a foundation of integrity that I hope Thranduil recognizes.

(Hmmm, I wish I knew what it was that caused Eilian to be so familiar with the concept of begging for forgiveness on his knees ... think you might write something about that sometime? Pretty please? Very few OCs are of such quality that they deserve their own story, but yours do.)

And I keep thinking of Turgon ... guess he's just a lost cause. I did appreciate his loyalty to Legolas in the last chapter. Wonder if he will now be punished for his naughtiness, since it will probably come to the attention of the king? If so, it will probably be too little, too late. Unfortunately.

Really looking forward to your next chapter! Thanks!

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