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| Sacrifice Under Shadow by daw the minstrel | 167 Review(s) |
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| Kay | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 3/1/2004 |
| Hello Daw! I reviewed this chapter at FFNet, but it never appeared, so I'll try again. From things you've said, I think that Eilian and Celuwen have a future together, but looking at his behavior in their earlier years, it will be a miracle if it happens. I really feel for poor Legolas in this chapter. Author Reply: Kay-- It's really above and beyond the call of good readership to review this again, and I appreciate it. I have to reward Eilian and Celuwen. If I don't, people will hurt me, starting with my beta. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| Well, it looks like mine was one of the reviews of your last chapter that ff.n ate, so I'll leave your note for this one here. I remember that I enjoyed your last chapter, as always. I think I noted that the males in Annael's family have a rather disturbing habit of dying young, and that Annael should watch his little Elven tuchis during the Battle Under The Trees. How good for Legolas and Eilian that everyone finally met up at the end. Legolas took a big risk in leaving the cave, but it paid off in the end. I suppose it's not so big a risk in the winter when there's snow and you can leave a trail, but wandering around when people are looking for you is a Bad Thing To Do. If their signal is a birdsong, is it enough different from a real bird that they know it's Elf-birdsong and not bird-birdsong? It's the sort of signal that would be real easy to identify in winter when there are no birds around, but maybe more difficult in summer when they're competing with the real thing. Ithilden drinking. Ithilden. Drinking. Yeah, he'd be the morose kind of drunk. Ithilden's entire life seems to have turned into an Edward Hopper painting once the Shadow came back. He is very lucky to have Eilian around. I hope he takes the time to tell Eilian that. Eilian strikes me as someone who needs more reassurance of being loved than he gets. His family just assumes that, because they know they love him, he knows that, too, but he isn't nearly as self-confident as they think, probably because he's got Ithilden to live up to all the time. Author Reply: It occurred to me as I was writing that chapter that Annael's family had suffered a lot of tragedy. The thing was that in "Tide of Times", I had said that the knife his father gave him had belonged to his grandfather who was one of the first of Thranduil's warriors to die when the shadow returned. So it was either use that or kill somebody else, and the fact that Eilian knew Siondel made it better to kill his father. (Geez, I sound a little off in that explanation.) I thought that Legolas would try to get back to camp. He had a fixed destination and wasn't just wandering really. But your question about the bird signal made me think. It would have to be different enough that the Elves recognized it, but not so different that anyone else noticed. I supposed that's possible, especially with wood-elves who are so at home in the forest. Loved your observations about both Ithilden and Eilian. Poor Ithilden. He's a guy who feels responsible when things go wrong and boy are they going wrong. And Eilian does need to be reassured I think. Indeed, I think one reason he is so fond of Legolas is that because Legolas was little, he was completely uncritical and open in his love and Eilian needed that. Sorry about the lost review. | |
| mistry89 | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| Well, that was quite a journey, and a realisation for them all too. Legolas has proved himself in battle, under pressure, and when alone. It opens with Maltanaur thought "Clever elfling" of his ruse with the orcs, and ends with Thranduil wondering where the elfling has gone (me too, I think I'll have a re-read of the little Legolas stories A little more of Elian's (and Mirkwood's) past revealed, and a (possible) hint towards Elian's future. A really satisfying chapter, and I'm sorry to see the story end. Thank you. Cheers, Helen (and I'm worried, as I've staved off reading A Question Of Duty until now and then ..... I'll be all caught up & hoping you have written more!) Author Reply: Legolas has become a full adult. It's taken me a long while to get him there but I am very pleased with the way he's turned out (I sound like Thranduil, don't I?). I think I'll write about elflings again next, maybe just in a single chapter story. I miss them. | |
| Ana | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| Hi! I almost crying, laughing the next moment... this chapter was incredile. You trully are the greatest. Eilian did what seemed the only thing he could do. He took his strong, dependable, self-possessed older brother in his arms and held him while he wept. ... so sad and yet so beautiful... Despair born of love and fanned by the Shadow nearly made him sink to his knees, and he knew with certainty that he would not be able to bear it if Eilian died in his care. “Stop scolding him,” he snapped. “The Orcs had been hunting him in particular. Did you know that?” Gelmir brought a water skin that he had warmed near the fire, and Legolas snatched it from his grasp and held it out to Maltanaur. “Fix the herb,” he commanded. Beliond spat a word that made Legolas blink. If nothing else, having had Beliond for his keeper had expanded his vocabulary considerably. “You had better be grateful that I need this crutch to hold me up,” Beliond went on, “because if I did not, I swear I would beat you with it. This was funny... Beliond is so ql. Still, Legolas was in a dangerous place with no one from his family to protect him. I cannot really explain why I love this lines, but they are my favourite. Tnx for writing your storys... Ana Author Reply: Ana- I'm a little embarrassed to tell you but I enjoyed reading these lines over again in your review. I got kind of caught up in the emotions of my characters while I was writing this story, and you've picked out some things I liked. You can thank my beta for the bits here about Maltanaur and Beliond. She encouraged me to write more about the keepers in this chapter and those two quotes are part of what I wrote in response. Thank you for your continued kind words, Ana. | |
| Jebb | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| I think that was one of the loveliest stories you have written so sad yet full of love and family strength. Eilian is a wonderful character and obviously much loved by his family and minders! There was so much to enjoy in this last chapter Maltanaur and Beliond and Lorellin and of course Thranduil thank you for a wonderful few weeks it was quite a ride Judy Author Reply: Jebb/Judy-- Thank you. I really enjoyed writing this one. It felt emotional to me too, despite the high level of action in the early chapters. Eilian is funny because he drives those who love him crazy at the same time that they really do love him. You can kind of see why poor Celuwen had to stay away. And I especially liked the chance to show a little more of Lorellin. She was such a loss to all of them. | |
| caz - baz | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| finally, you got it all up. i don't think i can read another one of your stories until the whole thing's posted next time. well untill the end of your next story. caz - baz Author Reply: I'll take it as a compliment that you wanted the whole story, Caz-baz! And I will love hearing from you whenever you decide you are willing and able to read. | |
| mer | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| The End? Not for me, I continue to think of your story. I enjoyed reading your take on Legolas protecting Eilian-it was so moving. So, when's the next story coming? Will it be forward on the timeline or back? I can't wait! Author Reply: Mer-- I love the idea that my story continues to live in your head. I have always enjoyed writing about the bond between Legolas and Eilian, but I knew I had to let Legolas grow up. So for me, this story was a way to keep that bond but change it into one between equal adults. I'm glad you enjoyed reading about it, because I certainly enjoyed writing it. I think I'll do a couple of short fics that may take us back in time, but then I want to do the Battle of the Five Armies sometime. We'll see. Work is pressing right now, I'm sorry to say. | |
| Kalile | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| I remember the first time I saw a deceased body and my reaction was not so far removed from that of Eilian's. What a shock to the system it must have been for Eilian to realize that violence and death has now become part of his once safe, little world. Wonderfully done. Would it be odd for me to say that it was surprisingly refreshing to see Ithilden break down before his younger brother? In front of Thranduil he is the troop commander and to Lorellin he is her oldest son, but Eilian has never really thought of Ithilden as being anything more than...well, Ithilden. It adds a welcome break from the tension the two sometimes have in their relationship. I think I'm more afraid of an angry NanaMaltanaur than an angry NanaBeliond (although I'd rather not face either.) I can't help but grin at all the scenes of those four interacting...it's so immensely dysfunctional yet undeiable sweet at the same time... Yay! A happy Eilian at the end of one of your fics...it has been a while since that's happened! (My interpretation of the note is that it said very little and instead included some "steamy elleth sketches.") Err....that's my story and I'm sticking to it! Thank you, your minstrelness. You make me want to call my mom...and I think I will. Toodle-loo. Author Reply: I thought that Eilian's reaction to a dead elf would be especially strong since he would not be expecting any elf to die. What he was seeing would be almost incomprehensible to him. And I too enjoyed (?) Ithilden's weak moment. I figured everyone needs comfort sometimes; no one is always strong. And it was good for Eilian to learn that. My beta encouraged me to expand the scenes with Maltanaur and Beliond in this chapter and I did. And as usual, my beta was right, because readers seem to enjoy them. The keepers kind of make me laugh too. And yes, a happy (if wounded) Eilian. We'll have to see if he can manage to stay that way. | |
| LadyJules | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| Thank you for another wonderful part of this series. I found these stories a month ago and love everyone of them. Thranduil is a great father and I love reading about Legolas growing up with his 2 grat older brothers and friends. Ithilden and Eilian are both well written believable characters that I care about. Finally I love Legolas, especially your Legolas. Thanks for writing Jule Author Reply: LadyJules-- Thank you so much for your kind words. I am always thrilled when a reader tells me they just found the stories and read them all. That tells me they were caught and THAT is so satisfying to hear. :-) I have to admit that I am shamelessly fond of Legolas's brothers. Legolas is at the center of this series, but its writing about his interaction with his family that is most fun for me. | |
| Lyn | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 3/1/2004 |
| What can I say? The BEST!! Author Reply: Thank you, Lyn. That's a lovely thing to say! | |