News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Sacrifice Under Shadow by daw the minstrel | 20 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| Tapetum Lucidum | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/23/2004 |
| I forgot about Thranduil's tie with his sons. Can you imagine laying there, knowing something terrible has happened and being able to do nothing about it. Especially if you were the king - you have all of the power of the realm but still can do nothing. I would go insane. The food rationing plan sounds like a good one - hopefully everyone will agree. If Beliond is lucky, he is unconscious and doesn't know his charge is missing. Maltanaur, on the other hand, is having his millenia of patience tested. Waiting for the snow to stop falling must be torture. I really liked your notations about command structure. It must be hard for the younger elves to lead under the scrutiny of the two ancient, experienced warriors. They do a good job not interfering but the lieutenants must constantly feel their scrutiny. Legolas truly showed his colors in this situation. He took his own life in his hands to save his brother. It is more than sitting passively in the shadows, hoping no one finds them. He went out, found the orcs, laid his trap and now is in danger to protect his brother and his captain. I think the best thing about Legolas is that even if it wasn't Eilian laying there wounded, he would probably do the same thing. I enjoyed his questioning at the end of his section - he is brave but still worried to death. That is true courage. His reflections on his differences with his brother was touching. Of course Eilian didn't react strongly to the shadow. He didn't really understand what was happening at the time. He has fought it ferociously since then. Eilian's delerious reflections about Celuwen's flash of leg had me cracking up. It was a rather sudden revelation that she was indeed female, and not one of the guys. It was nice to see him as impatient as his little brother at the feasts. The conversation he overheard between his parents must have about broken his heart. I am sure he had no idea just how much they worried about him and his antics. I hope it straightens him up a little - not completely - but a little. "We should have another baby," those dreaded words. Sounds like his rescue is at hand. The biggest act of bravery was not his diving off of a cliff into rocky water, or even Legolas leading the orcs on a merry chase. It was your husband going to the store and buying a feminine hygiene product on his own. He if far braver than my spouse! ;) Author Reply: Sometimes I regret having given Thranduil that link to his sons. It's something else I have to take account of now. But I liked the idea of showing his love for Eilian, which is not always to see I think. And I hate to think what Maltanaur would have done if Sorion had not given in so gracefully to his demand that he lead the search team. Ignored the lieutenant, I suppose. He's been ignoring Eilian's protests for years. I have been trying to grow Legolas into Legolas of the Fellowship and I'm glad you seem to think I'm succeeding. In the quest, he did take his life in his hands to save people he didn't even know. He saved the other Fellowship members on occasion of course, but the quest was about all of ME. Celuwen as a girl--what a shock to Eilian's system! And yet, I thought the fact that they have known one another forever would make love come more easily for him because he doesn't see her as *just* a girl either. I too thought he might feel bad about his father saying they had enough problems with him. And Lorellin is already plotting the birth of a blond elfling upon whom Eilian will dote. Yeah, my husband was too rattled to be embarrassed I think. Beside, it was 6:30am and no one was around. :-) | |
| caz - baz | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/23/2004 |
| awww, that's so cute! i'm so glad you didn't take long getting the story up. Eilian and Legolas are going to have a lot to answer for when their keepers get a hold of them. i can't help but feel sorry for Eilian. He and Celuwen should get together. You're to cruel to him and poor Thranduil left to fret at home knowing his son's in danger. you better post more soon or i think i might die with anticipation so if you don't here from me... 'till next chapter. Author Reply: Yes, indeed. The keepers will not be happy and both brothers will be lucky if they get to take a potty break by themselves for a while. Cruel?!! Well, yes I am. ;-) | |
| Jebb | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/23/2004 |
| I was so glad to see tht Thranduil has made an appearence and that his senses have not deserted him when it comes to his sons wellbeing since he hasn't yet connected Legolas to the worry I hope it means he is not going to be hurt? Loved the story of Eilian and his early life it shows also the influence the queen had on her husband and how he must have missed her so much when he was left to raise his children alone I think the princes guardians are not going to be pleased when they catch up with them 'But if at least one of Thranduil’s sons was not injured now, they would both be by the time Maltanaur got through with them.' This made me smile thank you for such a lovely update Author Reply: Legolas's wound is healing nicely so Thranduil is no more worried about him than he always is about a warrior son in the south. I think that the loss of Lorellin was devastating for all of them, and not just for her husband or little Legolas. She was good for serious Ithilden and clueless Eilian too. Maltanaur is ready to do damage and the Brothers Thranduilion should hope he finds some Orcs to do it to. | |
| Fadesintothewest | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/23/2004 |
| I really enjoy reading about Eilian and Celuwan's younger years together, it makes it all the more sad that they cannot be together. I sure hope you don't keept them apart for too much longer. Their love needs to be celebrated. Legolas, what a brave, thoughtful and caring soul he is, tending to his brother so thoroughly. I only hope Legolas doesn't get too hurt in the process. Author Reply: Eilian and Celuwen are just moving tentatively toward one another. In more peaceful times, I think they might have done all right. Lorellin would have stayed alive, for one thing. But the Shadow is going to make it harder for Eilian and Celuwen now. Legolas is making me proud! His nana is not around,so I will be proud in her stead. | |
| Lera | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/22/2004 |
| Wow, what a role reversal! I love seeing Legolas take care of Eilien. How strange it must be for Eilien. And it was great seeing how Eilien really knew Legolas was a warrior when he left to lead the orcs away. The entire time Legolas was gone, I was afraid Eilien would do something like try to walk outside and help or something that would kill him. But oh, my gosh! He's in really bad shape. I'm worried. I love how you work the flashback stories into the the story. It's fun to see Eilien pre-ruthless orc killing machine. Thranduil has never understood this middle son of his, but he loves him so much none the less. He's worried about Eilien, but not about Legolas? Legolas must be going to be ok. It was so sweet when Legolas has the thought: "I'd better be careful or Eilien won't survive." So unselfish! A true warrior! Author Reply: I doubt if Eilian *could* get up and walk out of the cave. Although, you're right. You never know. I can picture him leaning with one hand on the wall and limping toward the opening with his sword in his hand. (No! Bad picture! Make it go away!) Legolas's wound was slight and is healing. He's not in real danger from that. In truth, the whole reason he has that wound is so that Eilian would send Maltanaur away with Beliond rather than Legolas. I needed to get them both separated from their keepers. So it was a pure plot element and not really meant to be serious. I think it's not always easy to see Thranduil's love for Eilian because he's so exasperated with the kid most of the time. I wanted it to be clear that Thranduil holds this child in his heart, just as he does the two who are more like him. | |
| erunyauve | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/22/2004 |
| It's a very good thing for the world that Thranduil did decide to bring another child into it! And yes, Maltanaur is going to be angry, but I don't think it will be amusing (though, obviously, Eilian isn't quite in his right mind). Poor Thranduil - it's a good thing he hasn't got that twitchy feeling about Legolas as well. Worrying about Eilian, when there isn't a thing he can do about it, is bad enough. Author Reply: Maltanaur has got to have a pretty remarkable sense of humor to have put up with Eilian for all these years. But no, I suspect he won't be amused at all when he realizes what happened. | |
| Karri | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/22/2004 |
| Ai! That's a dangerous game Legolas is playing. I hope he doesn't get himself in over his head. I'm glad to see Maltanaur is finally on the hunt, but methinks the searchers need to search a little more thoroughly. Will Thranduil be ariving in the south? Hmmm....it will be interesting to see. Author Reply: The problem for Thranduil is that he has other responsibilities. And also, I'll bet he's had this feeling about Eilian before, only to have it go away and have his son come home on leave a month later with a small, fading scar and a grin on his face. Maltanaur is going to be in a state when he realizes what happened. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/22/2004 |
| I love bossy Maltanaur - we see true colors here. Eilian and Sorion only think they are in charge :D Legolas leading the orcs away from Eilian is frightening. He is playing with fire, letting them get that close. I admit to hoping he would let them catch occasional glimpses at best, but I do like that he is picking them one at a time too. The dream worked well. Poor Eilian. His gameplaying nature and recent storytelling put him in the right mood to 'hide'; after all, Legolas did say still and quiet. And now help has passed them by. I am grinning in delight, though somehow that feels rather evil :D Oh well, evil!beta! Author Reply: Oh, yeah. At first, I had written that Maltanaur and Beliond "pretended" to follow orders but that seemed a little strong, so I changed it. Still, it has the ring of truth, doesn't it? I thought that with the snow and all the Orcs would have to be close to actually see Legolas. You live in blizzard country. You know what it's like. Sometimes you can't see the house across the street. Evil!beta indeed. | |
| sofia | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/22/2004 |
| First of all, Im happy up updated so soon!! Im so glad Maltanaur is finally going to go after his charge and his charges brother. I love how Lorellin dances with the little elflings, they must be happy. Author Reply: I had the weekend to write and enjoyed doing it too! Yes, Maltanaur is on the hunt and nobody better get in his way. And I don't think it's even the threat of Thranduil's wrath that motivates him. He is as fond of Eilian as the rest of us are. Lorellin is a wonderful elf-woman. She loves children and is plotting already for the birth of a certain blond elfling. :-) | |
| Lyllyn | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 2/22/2004 |
| I'm glad you're posting so rapidly; thankfully you write fast or had the chapters mostly done before you started. Once I start reading I want to read it all as soon as possible - a tribute to your writing in general, and particularly your skill with plots. Which is not to mention your excellent characterizations. You have done a wonderful progression over the stories of Legolas' maturity, here is clearly a full adult, and a seasoned warrior. I'll hope for the rest soon! Oh, and I still want to know what becomes of Tinar. Thank you for the gripping story! Author Reply: Tinar! I haven't trotted him out in a while, but he's there, in my desk drawer, waiting to emerge when I need a buffoon. I'm glad you're enjoying this, Lyllyn. I write fast, I guess. I have a fairly detailed outline before I start, and then I just write fast. I write scholarly stuff as part of how I earn my living, and I teach writing and editing, so text production is not the hard part for me. | |