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The Tide of Times  by daw the minstrel 17 Review(s)
pipinheartReviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/11/2005
Thranduil left the council, and he seems to know something is wrong at home at with Legolas...He did end up at Celuwen's house and she still makes Eilian stop in his tracks...

Author Reply: she still makes Eilian stop in his tracks...

That's a good way to put it!

ArbelethielReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/7/2003

Yay! another chapter! and this time I get to review before you post another *sheepish smile*.

Re: Thranduil leabing the Council, well, they had it coming. Combined with his need to be home for Legolas’ coming of age ceremony, I’d say it was inevitable.

Eilian may flirt with everything that’s wearing a skirt, but he is all Ceruwen’s. The minute he is free to bond, he’ll probably ask her. It’s rather tragic really. He is torn between his love for danger and his love for Ceruwen. He probably could ask to be transfered to the Home Guard so that she would accept him more easily, but he’d be wasted there and he knows it.

Children have an amazing memory! He met her shortly long ago and he still feels animosity towards her :D even though he cannot remember why he feels so. (In fact, he would probably be very ashamed of himself if he could!)

Thank you for this chapter, I’m looking forward to the next.

~Arbelethiel

Author Reply: Wow, those are perceptive comments about Eilian and Celuwen and about Legolas's probable feelings if he could remember why he disliked Celuwen. I think that Eilian and Celuwen are both in the same trap that you see Thranduil in (and Ithilden too): Duty leads one way and personal happiness leads another.


LeraReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/7/2003
I liked that you incorporated Curunir's using his voice to sway people. But man...wrong move Curunir! Making light of Eilien being in danger and of his scouting ability! Calling him a frightened scout. As though the shadow were nothing to be frightened of! Jerk.

Poor Legolas. Why the animosity toward Celuwen, Legolas? I know he didn't like her before, but that wasn't personal. Aw, well. He'll see she's nice. Anyone who'll hold your hair back while your throwing up...

I was thinking, if Eilien and Celuwen ever do bond, I don't think it'll be easy for Celuwen to be Thranduil's daughter in law. Considering both Tnranduil and Itheldien's feelings regarding the elves who insist on living in the unprotected settlements...it could cause some tense moments.

More soon please!

Author Reply: It's always easy to make light of the terrible situations that other people endure and we don't see, but Curunir made a big mistake, as you say.

I think Legolas is just feeling the animosity he felt the last time he saw Celuwen. He may get a different sense of her now and that would be important to Eilian, I think. I'm not sure how she'd do as Thranduil's daughter in law thought. That's a good point. She's not particularly accomodating and Thranduil expects to be accomodated!

Thank you for the review. I'm working on the next chapter now.

nanethReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/6/2003
How dare real life be so busy that I can't even stop to review a chapter in a timely fashion?

Another wonderful chapter! Thranduil's statement concerning sending his sons into battle really touched me. He has seen life for his sons change to such hard times, but the worst must surely be to send your own sons into battle against evil. I feel sorry for any father that would have to do such a thing.
I loved the tie between the manner in which Thranduil spoke to the council and his increasing anxiety for Legolas and his realm. Well done! And Thranduil snorted!! O.K., only with his advisor present, but I'm betting he wouldn't let one of his sons get away with that behavior. How funny!

Eilian's "small, dismayed sound" that he didn't even realize he made upon seeing Legolas was very touching. Those brothers love each other in such a sweet way.

Legolas and Celuwen together were great...he didn't even trust her word that he had broken his foot but had to check it for himself. I wonder if he remembers that scene from his childhood, or just suppressed it? Guess he still doesn't want to share Eilian with Celuwen!

Author Reply: I'm thinking that Legolas's hostility is just a remnant of a childhood event that he doesn't even remember clearly. How he feels about Celuwen will undoubtedly depend on whether he thinks she is hurting Eilian. And it amused me too, that Thranduil's anxiety and irritability made him less vulnerable to Curunir.

caz bazReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/6/2003
i did mine in a Lacrosse match - at the beginning of the match too. somebody trod on me with their studded boots and if it wasn't broken then it was definetly broken at the end of the match as i was sprinting around on it causeing more and more pressure to it!
hopefully Legolas is back on his feet soon! My friend is so evil - he cut his hand and it had to be bandaged up for a few weeks cause he cut it down to the bone and his friend, who's in a wheel chair, said 'do you want a hand?' he finished the job he was doing whilst glaring at his friens and then said, 'how about a standing applause?' sorry i have a really random memory and little things trigure it as many of my friends will tell you.
poor Eilian i feel sorry for him, Thranduil and Legolas. Do i have to read a book to find out all the background information relevant to this story? ahh god! i have this massive pile of books to read and the image of adding another to that pile is terrifying - i would of read 1/2 of them by now if it had not been for school and all the work that they have all just decided to put on us.
I'm glad i've got this to read or i think i'd be totally stressed out the whole time but school's just got us a foosball table - been spending all my breaks on it and forgeting about being responsible and actually doing some of my work - i don't think i'd make a good daughter for Thranduil.
can't wait for the next traumatic chapter! sometimes i feel sorry for Legolas with Tolkein making him famous and then PJ making him world famous.

Author Reply: You shouldn't have to read anything if you don't want to, although reading Tolkien is kind of a treat really. I'm glad you are enjoying the story.

Camp6311Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/6/2003
Loved the council scene. Thranduil is a hero to anyone who has ever sat in that type of meeting, where all the players want to do is discuss and discuss and never take any action.

Not so sure I like the reappearance of Celuwen. (Could just be jealousy on my part) She reminds me of Erendis from the story of Aldarion and Erendis from Unfinished Tales - strong-willed and uncompromising. She and Eilian may be in love with each other, but could they build a life together?? Suppose we will just have to wait and see.



Author Reply: I think that Celuwen is uncompromising and very self-possessed, and I think that's part of what attracts Eilian to her. She seems a little unattainable which makes a nice challenge for him. But what she's doing is protecting herself. She knows that he's reckless and that if she let herself bond with him, she would be lost if anything happened. And then also, she feels it's her duty to fight shadow too, not to leave it to him, so she knows that she could die and she doesn't want to leave him alone and grieving.

DotReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/5/2003
That was a completely engaging chapter – I’m constantly amazed by your level of detail!

Ah, you’re right – Thranduil doesn’t need someone to tell him something is wrong with Legolas. I love the way he felt a slight uneasiness and then suddenly realised that it was something about Legolas that was troubling him. These elves seem to have such a strong familial bond – it’s quite touching really that he sensed something was amiss all the way in Imladris. I liked as well that at first it was his general tie to the woods that was disturbing him before he focused specifically on his son. I suppose with a tie as strong as he has to his home the fire’s destruction must be unsettling him too.

The council scenes were done really well. I thought you wrote Curunir’s dialogue brilliantly. He makes everything sound so reasonable that it’s only because we know the part he will play that we can see the way he is purposely stalling any specific action. It almost seems that he is influencing them by the way he speaks, and it is only Thranduil’s preoccupation that prevents him from falling under the same spell.

Go Cirdan! I think Thranduil might have an ally there. I loved Thranduil’s little hissy fit. About time he lost his temper. Mithrandir is right that the other realms suffer too but Thranduil’s people are in constant danger – his patience lasted a lot longer than mine would have! O.k., so it was a little rash, but I still think he chose the only way he’d get his point across...

Yay, Celuwen! I’m just dying to know what you have in store for her. C’mon, she’s perfect for Eilian... He certainly seems to still love her. I doubt many people would render him speechless. She seems very compassionate, not only in tending Legolas but ensuring that Eilian eats and understanding his anxiety. Poor Eilian. I think these boys need their ada back.

Legolas’ return to consciousness was very descriptive. Ouch. And is it just me or does he spend a lot of time having ladies he doesn’t like hold his hair back while he vomits??! I thought it was interesting that he felt immediate dislike for her for no apparent reason. I suppose subconsciously she must remind him of a tough time for him, even though he was just an elfling.

Actually, this must be a really awkward situation for Celuwen. Her settlement is in danger, she has an injured elf who doesn’t like her in her house and she finally came face-to-face with Eilian, having successfully distanced herself for so long. I must say, she’s rising to the situation admirably and seems to set aside her own emotions in order to look after others. No doubt if Thranduil isn’t too busy blaming these settlement elves for this accident, he’ll appreciate what she’s doing for his sons. Speaking of Thranduil, will he back home in the next chapter...?!:)




Author Reply: Thranduil won't be back quite yet. The trip takes too long and there are things happening in the settlement still. And I did like the idea that it was Thranduil's irritability that made him less susceptible to Curunin. I really liked getting this review. It made me feel like you were so attentive to the story! Thank you so much for taking the time.

tigerlily713Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/5/2003
Yes, we try to be perceptive. Your story allows us to view the obvious as you write it, but there is also much emotion and communication that we are allowed to play around with, without being told exactly what is what. I appreciate that a great deal. Wonderful chapter! I almost felt nausious just reading it. Head injuries are no fun. ~Lily

Author Reply: Lily - what a wonderful thing to say because that's exactly what I hope will happen: I'll tell what happens and readers will make sense of it. I find that readers in this fandom (and especially on this site) are plenty smart and don't need to be led by the hand. Indeed, then enjoy figuring things out.

JustMeReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/5/2003
Wow! That family connection "thing" is pretty awesome. I'm not entirely sure I would want something like that though - my son would probably give me a heart attack every 5 minutes! I can understand Thranduil's frustration. I have been to meetings that seemed to be going nowhere and I wish I could react the way he does - well, maybe just once! I think it would be fun, but I wouldn't want to face the aftermath of my actions! But then I am not a King either - I'm just a lowly peon - so I guess thats the difference!
Eilian in the "protective older brother" mode is really rather fearsome! It seems that everyone is protective of the "brat". I guess being the "baby" has its advantages as well as its drawbacks! I pity that healer! Eilian will be dragging her out of bed if he thinks something is wrong with Legolas. I hope that his romance with Celuwen picks up a little steam. I really like her and I think she would be a good match for Eilian. Hopefully, Legolas will revise his opinion of her. I don't know why he seems to dislike her, but I would think it would be important to Eilian that the two of them get along. I can't wait to see how this all plays out - I will be anxiously awaiting the next chapter.

Author Reply: I'm with you - I wouldn't want to know what my son was doing and, even more, I don't want my parents to know what I'm doing! I hate meetings. Thranduil is my fantasy alter ego. Legolas has no real reason for disliking Celuwen. He was jealous of her when he was little and that just came back to him.

Tapetum LucidumReviewed Chapter: 6 on 11/5/2003
"I do not agree," - in his pleasant,soothing voice. You can't trust that wizard, he will put a spell on you with that mesmerizing voice. Thranduil is way too mad to be won over so easily. Great way to incorporate Tolkein's descritiption of Saruman's skill. Thranduil's evaluation of Elrond's family was once again on target. He has learned the hard way that they must stand together or they will fall. It is a subtle but important point to make - El and El go into battle of the own accord while Thranduil directs his sons into the fight. He certainly does not force them but it is by his command that they go. That is a lot of parental guilt to deal with.

What is Saruman doing with his wave and shrug - well, it didn't work on the King of Mirkwood. He is way beyond simple mind tricks at this point. I LOVE his ties with both Mirkwood and his children - that is very cool. I don't think Curunir meant to attack the king's family directly but he really put his foot in it that time. I am glad Thranduil jumped to Eilian's defense. It must have been devastating to watch him return from the shadowed place but then for someone to dismiss it so easily must have really riled him up.

The concept of time for the elves was very well handled. It does not pass for them as it does for the rest of middle earth. I don't blame him for storming out of the council. It seems that Cirdan may be a good ally. I agree with Thranduil - even more frightening, something was the matter with Legolas. What could be more important?

Poor Eilian - can one elf handle so much emotional baggage in one place. Of course he was thinking of Celuwen but then he was overwhelmed with worry for his baby brother and she was suddenly much less important. Well done. His little brother will always be and elfling. Ouch - his back sounds very painful. Well, Eilian certainly reacted strongly to his brother's rousing. I liked the way he stormed off and demanded the healer. It must have been hard for him to leave again.

Our poor confused baby - it is hard to wake up from a sound blow to the head. The confusion over the combs was very cute. The poor elfling has had various women hold his head when he pukes. It must be embarrassing for the elf creeping up on his majority.

I thought it was strange that the villagers didn't know this was the son of the king in their midst right away. I don't think Eilian or Legolas would be ones to brag about it but gossip would fly. Somehow I expect him to call for his Ada when he wakes up. With their connection surely he would be dreaming of him. I hope Adar gets there soon. I am worried how angry villagers will transport the wounded son of the king when they are forced to flee their homes due to a perceived lack of protection by the monarch.
Your updates make me so happy! Thanks for doing it regularly!
Tapetum

Author Reply: I think it must be so hard to be Thranduil and to order your sons into battle. He winds up using them, sacrificing them in a way, for his people. That's a lot to ask. But Thranduil is so preoccupied with his sons that Saruman's charm goes right over his head and he just gets mad when it seems as if their sacrifice is unappreciated. Eilian is as over protective of Legolas as he thinks his father and Ithilden are of him! Silly elf.

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