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| A Question of Duty by daw the minstrel | 28 Review(s) |
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| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/22/2015 |
| Hey, I didn't know you wrote this. It must've been when I was really sick because I don't remember it. It's perfect though. It's that missing scene, that thread that needed to be tied up desperately. I'm in tears and since I have to dictate now I can't say more. Author Reply: Thank you. It was interesting to write because, as you see, there's no plot. It's all emotion. It's what these people feel at the end of a long battle and a long family life together. And because I've so written so much about them, I could understate it. Thank you for all you've done for me, Nilmandra. | |
| Annariel | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/22/2015 |
| Well yes this is a missing scene!! So glad it was written :) Beliond facing Thranduil and Ithiden... so scary!! I adore this elf family and I miss your stories. Maybe could you write about Legolas in Ithilien? I hope... Author Reply: Thranduil is one scary guy, and Ithilden is not much easier. But Beliond has known Thranduil a long time, and not much scares him. Still, I wouldn't want to be the one to do it. Thanks for the kind words. daw | |
| Alice | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/21/2015 |
| Ahhhhh! Another chapter! What a delightful surprise. I'm not returning every day to check for new stories anymore but I do come back every so often to reread your stories. Your stories are up definitely comfort reads for me. I'm just THRILLED that you are having a book published and will keep my eyes peeled for it in September. I miss your fanfiction though. Will you be returning to write anymore? I'm so glad this is a scene you wrote. After reading everything about Thranduil when Legolas was growing up (and about Beliond), it's such a necessary scene. While reading it I had this horrible fear that Thranduil was about to clap Beliond in chains for failing to do his duty. I find it so interesting to see how much the last few decades have changed Thranduil's perception of Legolas as an adult, dwarves and the world at large. A few centuries ago and Thranduil would have hit the roof at either Legolas going off to destroy the one ring or bringing home a dwarf for an undefinable long stay. It makes me so sad to think of everything that the Mirkwood family has gone through during the return of Sauron. Author Reply: How nice to hear from you, Alice! I was telling someone else that to me, Tolkien's tone is often melancholy. I think of Frodo, who saved the Shire which he was, to quote Bilbo, still in love with. And then he can't live there in contentment any more. Legolas's sea longing is like that too. Poor Thranduil. He's fought a long fight. Writing stuff that's not fanfic is fun, but trying to publish it is a big pain. However, I'll tell you that the book coming out in September has a pair of brothers I think of as young Ithilden and Eilian born into a different world. So I hope people like it. As for more fanfic, tomorrow is Nilmandra's birthday. Just saying. :-) | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/12/2015 |
| Oh, yes, the world has indeed changed, and nothing is as it was before. An Elf and the son of a Dwarf mistreated by the Elf's father are now friends, the Greenwood must heal as is true of the rest of Middle Earth, and many have suffered. But at last peace has come, even if it is but a brief time for those Elves who yet live in Middle Earth to make their choices as to stay or sail west at last. A wonderful tale, and I rejoice that you added this scene to it. Thank you so! Author Reply: Tolkien's tone has always struck me as melancholy or, at best, bitter-sweet. Everything costs and hard won battles don't stay won. But, as you say, for now, there's peace. Thank you for all these nice reviews. daw | |
| elliska | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/7/2015 |
| Oh my gosh! I am really seeing this. Happy Birthday to Meckinock! And what a present for all of us! I can't believe it. These are the scenes I've most wanted to see. And I love them. At least, he was the last time I saw him. This is not something I'd want to say to Thranduil! And facing Ithilden was not any easier! I loved this conversation. Well-written tension that depends on character development. And Thranduil's final words (in this part) to Eilian are perfect. Given the sum of your fanfic, this trust he places in who Legolas has become is perfect. As for the last part, it is so goos to see how everyone came through the war. Thranduil's reaction to Gimli and Legolas's Sea longing...perfect. I absolutely loved this. I am so glad you gave us this. Thank you! Author Reply: Thanks for the kind words, Elliska. I love Thranduil. I think sea longing would be almost beyond his comprehension (as would being best friends with a dwarf), but for one of his sons, he hides his own pain and does what that son needs. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/5/2015 |
| Ah, how lovely to see something new in your Mirkwood! You are one of the handful of Elf-writers who always delight me. In fact, I think you have influenced some of my own interpretation of Legolas. I love the way you portray Thranduil's reactions. He keeps his dismay to himself, and only allows his pride in Legolas to show. I also love his reaction to Gimli as well. I've always thought he'd be more reasonable about his son's friendship with a Dwarf than some portray him. I miss your stories, but congratulations on being published! Author Reply: Thank you, Dreamflower. It's funny how we Tolkien fanficcers divide into tribes sort of like the people of Middle-earth. At the end of THE HOBBIT (Tolkien's, not PJ's, bless the man's brilliant but twisted heart), Thranduil seems to me to be willing to make peace if only for practical reasons. Of course, later in Tolkien's timeline, Legolas is still hostile to dwarves, so I suppose Thranduil could have been sharp tongued in private. But surely by the time Legolas came home, Thranduil had put some things in perspective. All out war might do that for you. IOW, I share your view. :-) I miss writing these stories. At some point, I'll probably see what else I can do. It's too much fun not to. The Hobbit writers awe me by their continued productivity. | |
| Ces | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/2/2015 |
| Oops! That should have read I'm now going to go back and read all your stories! Author Reply: LOL. I thought that might be what you meant. | |
| Ces | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 6/2/2015 |
| I think you'll find that there are a lot of fans still around waiting for another story of our favorite family! Thanks so much for giving us this look into what happened in Mirkwood while Legolas was away. It's always good to see Beliond again and the long friendship he and Thranduil share. Elian is still the same I see and of course came through without a scratch. Thranduil's welcome to Gimli shows just how far he has come. Not totally accepting dwarves but seems to realize what Gimli means to Legolas. Please think of doing another story with all our old friends! I'm not going back to read all of your stories. Author Reply: I love Thranduil. And I've never made a big thing of it, but he, Beliond, and Maltanaur call one another "old friend," because that's what they are to one another. They go back a long way and have a deep sense of the way evil comes and goes. I'd like to write more fanfic. At the moment, I'm outlining a new original story and I have trouble generating more than one story at a time. I'll finish the outline and see if I can come up with some fanfic ideas I like. Ithilden does have that daughter waiting to be born. Thanks for the review, Ces. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 5/31/2015 |
| My nerves have just about recovered from the excitement of seeing an alert for a new chapter by you. I miss these characters! Well, mainly Ithilden, but all of them really. And the world and lives and relationships that you built for us. Thranduil's anxiety about Legolas really came across but I was particularly moved by the way he sees empty spaces where his son should have been. And poor Beliond. Having to leave Legolas and then tell not only Thranduil but Ithilden and Eilian too. I love that Thranduil and Beliond can read each other so well - Beliond answering what Thranduil really wanted to know and Thranduil realising, depsite his own shock and fear, how difficult it is for Beliond. They're both doing a hard thing trusting in Legolas to be the warrior they've made him. "Ithilden's office," Eilian said. Hee! Eilian hasn't changed too much ;-) Legolas' return was gorgeous. Particularly the way Thranduil is restless and seems to feel something is going on. Then when he touches his son to reassure himself, it was a lovely gesture that tells us what a void he'd left. Though I was braced for him discovering Legolas isn't back forever. Gimli! His appearance made me smile. Thranduil, of course, is wonderful. But my own heart lurched when he caught the look that told him all is not well. The ending was heartbreaking. They're both being brave in the leaving and the letting go. A poignant image to finish on but a really great chapter that's the perfect addition to the story and such a fantastic surprise for us all! Best of luck with the book. I'm dying to get my hands on it. I found your short story 'Winterturn' on Goodreads and really enjoyed the glimpse of your original characters so will be looking forward to more! Author Reply: I figure this was the first time Legolas was away from Mirkwood for an extended time. They'd miss him even if he weren't doing something insanely dangerous. Thranduil had to have felt helpless, and for him in particular, that's a horrible feeling. Poor Beliond. It's not like he thought this was a good idea, and he's a father who's lost a son. But again, Thranduil comes through. It's very odd but the look between Gimli and Legolas about sea longing was something I really liked writing. I like character with secrets, and while this wasn't exactly a secret, it was something Thranduil didn't know and needed to be told. Glad you liked it, Dot. It was fun to write these guys again. | |
| Fantasia | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 5/30/2015 |
| OMG, OMG! I will consider this my early Chritmas present, Thank you, I will always read your stories. I have missed them a lot. Finally your book is out. Good luck, I'll buy iy for sure. Will you be writing more fanfic? Author Reply: You're very kind, Fantasia! I'd like to writer more fanfic. I've one other idea sort of stirring around too, and I do miss Thranduil and his family. The trouble is I seem to be able to work on (obsess over?) only one thing at a time, and lately, it's been whatever original fic I'm trying to write. I'm glad you liked this. daw | |