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| Spring Awakenings by daw the minstrel | 22 Review(s) |
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| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| My favorite part of this was Legolas asserting himself as he did. Someone should be sure to tell his father how well he did, and judging by what we have seen of Galivion, he will do so. He actually does a nice job helping a young 'diplomat' learn the ropes. The king should hear about his good deeds from someone too. Anyr is a little too easygoing; he is fortunate Legolas thought to go check on Tuilinn and the children. This brings back visions of the great floods a few years back when the Red River went from its normal short width to being about 50 miles wide - and the stories of schools and nursing homes and other places where vulnerable people lived being moved rather heroically to keep them from harm. Fortunately for us, we have helicopters. Being rescued by Legolas must be nearly as exciting, but I fear for them up on that flet now too! Author Reply: Masterful!Legolas is very appealing, isn't he? So is heroic!rescuer!Legolas. My inner fangurl is working overtime here. I thought Galivion was helpful too. He tries not to interfere, but it's his job to offer advice. Thranduil does need to be told! Floods are scary things, ugly too. And in all truth, being trapped on a flet with seven little kids would be alarming for me! | |
| LKK | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| I'm so proud of "Captain" Legolas. I'm sure his brothers will be as well. Hopefully, his father will be in a good enough mood that when he hears about Captain Legolas' flood waters adventures, he will be proud as well. I know Thranduil will *eventually* be proud for Legolas was a true son of the realm this day. I thoroughly enjoyed Tinar's dressing down. He deserved it, big time. Legolas' speech was exceptional for one who was so angry and cranky at the time. The part that impressed me most was Legolas' acknowledgement that he knows his promotion to Tinar's commanding officer to be temporarily. Even in the heat of anger, he still managed to remember that their superior-subordinate relationship is for this mission only. The fact that he remembered probably won't help him any with Tinar once they return to patrols, but it speaks well for him nonetheless. I guess Anyr proves that not *every* elf was the wise, foresighted, super-human that we like to think they were. LOL I think he needs a reality check. Finally, I hope the food thieves don't come from the man village because I like them. (Hm... the phrase "man village" makes me feel like I'm reviewing The Jungle Book or something! LOL) Author Reply: As a parent, I would love to hear about my kid doing this well. Someone needs to tell Thranduil and Ithilden too. Eilian is busy. I can't imagine Tinar and Legolas in a patrol together again. Geez. It would be constant pain. And whoever is their captain would have to deal with it. Ithilden needs to think of something to do with Tinar. The "man village" -- I like it! | |
| Antigone Q | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Anyr doesn't have the good sense Eru would give to a bean sprout, and how he got to be leader of the settlement (Anyr, I mean, not Eru) is beyond me! Imagine leaving small children and one adult alone near a flood. If schools and day-care centers are near a disaster area, where is the first place that gets evacuated? Honestly! I loved Legolas finally telling Tinar where to get off. I still feel sorry for Tinar, but not so sorry that I didn't think it was fun to see Legolas give him what-for. I was also very impressed with Legolas during the flood - and impressed with Tuilinn,as well. She seems to have kept her wits about her in a nearly impossible situation. She must have been _very_ glad to see Legolas. Maybe she will forgive him for snapping at her earlier...though it wouldn't hurt for him to apologize. I can't guess who else might have taken the food. Could Dwarf prints look like Mannish prints? Could it be Men from some other settlement? Either way, bad news - Anyr's lack of foresight strikes again. On the other hand, one can only guess that whoever took the food was hungry. How many more complications is Legolas going to have to deal with? I hope Thranduil gets an earful about the wonderful job Legolas did in such stressfull circumstances. In addition to Legolas deserving to have Thranduil be proud of him, it wouldn't hurt to have Thranduil in a really, really good mood when he hears about Eilian and Celuwen. Author Reply: I wouldn't want Anyr making plans for me. I suppose the elves thought that the ground was higher where they were. I truly enjoyed writing about Legolas telling Tinar off. I love masterful Legolas. Sigh. And Tuilinn was amazing. It must have been terrifying to be alone and responsible for the kids. This was fun to write all the way around, actually. Thranduil really does need to hear how great Legolas has been. It would make him feel good. And I'm so sorry, but Eilian is going to beat Legolas home. Do you think he wants to hang around with his inlaws? | |
| tigerlily713 | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Once again you have proven how adept you are at action scenes. Even when in it water, and not orcs that are threatening our favorite elves. Great chapter! Lily Author Reply: Thank you, Lily. I had a good time writing about Legolas as a hero rescuing the damsel in distress, telling off Tinar, etc. He's growing up and turning into Legolas of the Fellowship! | |
| Elentari | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Whoohoooooooo! this was wicked cool, daw. I like the way Tuilinn is so gentle and so brave. a tad snapppish, too, but it makes her much more real. And I hope Anyr comes to his senses after that. Gosh, I have my heart on my throat with that guy! Author Reply: Poor Tuilinn. I can't imagine how scared she must have been. But I loved letting Legolas be the hero who comes to her rescue. I'm not sure Anyr has any senses to come to. | |
| Ms. Whatsit | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Ha! I was right! Legolas got to rescue Tuilinn after the settlement was flooded! *feels inordinately pleased with self* Poor Legolas! Tinar, Anyr, floods...could this get any more difficult? He'll have a hell of a time explaining the story to Thranduil, that's for sure, though I bet his dad'll be pleased. He handled Tinar like a pro. I wonder what he'll do about the stolen meat--it seems like he can't do anything, as there's no evidence. He'll probably just have to give Anyr a stern talking-to about guarding the food. And watching Legolas interact with the kids and Tuilinn was adorable. You write politics very well. I'm amazed at how wonderfully complicated this situation has become, when it seems straightforward on the surface--very realistic! Author Reply: LOL. You did indeed predict that. It's always interesting to me to notice what readers see coming and what they don't. I outline the story ahead of time so I know most things from the start and sometimes it just seems obvious to me and I'm surprised that anyone else is surprised! This will make an involved tale to tell Thranduil who may be distracted by other matters. I doubt if Legolas will tell Adar all about Tuilinn, although it would be nice for the king to hear about the rescue. This mission did seem simple back when the only complication was explaining why Thranduil couldn't send as much food as the settlers had asked for. It's been fun exploring politics and elven and human quirks. | |
| Tapetum Lucidum | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Legolas is lucky to have such a good friend in Annael. He can curse freely in front of him and express his opinion about certain thick-headed bureaucrats without worrying about the consequences. He can even smirk about time well spent with pretty maidens. I liked how Legolas handled Tinar - he finally put him in his place. It will be about impossible for him to serve with the senior warrior anytime in the near future. He will be lucky if Ithilden keeps them apart. Good job using Ithilden as a role model for the rookie emissary. He couldn't learn from a better elf. At least Anyr can't deny that it was a human who took the food. The were lucky to find the tracks. It is not certain that it was their allies who did it but who else knew about the food and where it was kept? Tuilinn's little inquiry would have been much better received if she had left out "that you think." It did come across as accusatory. Legolas is rarely testy but he did not handle the mini-inquistion very well. I hope he gets a chance to apologize later. Nothing like a heavy downpour to improve your disposition. I was glad to see both diplomats realize that the flooding on hand was more important than the missing food - at least for the moment - and throw their backs into saving the remnants of the village. Tinar stepped in it again and I loved Legolas' response. It is good to see him pick up his crown and wear it. He does it so rarely. "Anyr's strong point does not seem to be planning for possible probelms." - LOL - that is the understatement of the year. By the way, did they think to leave a guard with the rest of the food this time? I guess when you are shoveling sand, it is easy for your thoughts to wander to pretty maidens. It was a good thing that the prince arrived in time to help the fair maiden in distress. I liked his field promotion to Captain - I hope it will stick soon. His actions were very heroic. Thranduil would be proud. I hope he remembers to tell his father about that part of his little adventure. What is it about little boys and sword. We had to make a No Swords at the Dinner Table rule. Anduril and Sting can reck a table pretty fast. I think Legolas will get a chance to apologize... Too bad there is such a big audience. Author Reply: We took our son to a Renaissance Festival once and bought him a wooden sword. He was ready to leave immediately afterwards. He thought he had everything he needed to make life perfect! Legolas and Annael are very comfortable together. Annael doesn't mind 'my lording' Legolas when it's appropriate, but he's also willing to rib his friend in private. In contrast, Tinar is an ass. I truly enjoyed writing about Legolas chewing him out. Legolas woke up crabby and got crabbier as the day went along, and I can't say I blame him. He's had a lot of irritating things happen in the last few days, starting with his leave being used to deliver food to Anyr in the company of Tinar. Ithilden intends to make Legolas a lieutenant soon. I just have to find the right moment. And it is too bad that there are seven little kids watching the grown ups. Otherwise being stuck on a flet might not be so bad! | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Dun dun dunnnnnnn! Will Anyr get his act together? Will Tínar ever shut up? Will Galivion ever drop the Captain Obvious act? Will Legolas get anywhere with Tuilinn? Well, the good Lord willin' and the creek don't rise . . . oh, wait . . . All kidding aside, this was a really good chapter. It had its Moments, such as Legolas proving that hanging with Beliond has expanded his vocabulary (which I thoroughly approve of, by the way -- if you need to curse, you should be able to do so fluently and creatively, ideally in several languages) and the bit where he sees the flooded-out house and starts sandbagging for all he's worth. He'd be a real help along the Mississippi levees in the springtime, wouldn't he? And then the chapter had the Big Thumping Moments o' Wonderfulness. In specific, Legolas as Badass Alpha Male, which he pulled off brilliantly. Especially considering that he's the baby of the family, with not a whole lot of chances to perfect an Alpha Male act. Speaking as a) a firstborn and b) one who does a not-too-shabby Alpha Female spiel with extra Yiddishe Mama, I'd say he's up there with the best. And believe you me, I know from Alpha Dog acts. The physical intimidation, the absolute, I-can-do-no-wrong assurance and the quick cutoff, all nicely executed. Bravo, Legolas! And bravo also for Detective Legolas, looking for clues and withholding judgement until he knows for sure what happened to the food or until he finds it. Jumping to conclusions is a bad idea, and that is why Legolas is the expedition leader and not Tínar. The kids are great. Once the immediate danger is over, adult Tuilinn is a wreck, and the kids think this is just the most interesting thing that has ever happened to them. They're right, of course. Author Reply: You're very funny about the creek! I have been amusing myself with the idea that Beliond is a world class swearer and the way that rubs off on Legolas. I suspect Thranduil may not have heard about this aspect of Legolas's education. And I have to admit that I enjoyed writing about domineering Legolas. He may not have had many opportunities to practice but he has plenty of role models! The kids were plenty scared but I'll be they recover faster than Tuilinn does. | |
| Kristy | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Ok, in the beginning Anyr was an annoyance, but now. . .how can these elves follow him? He left ONE elf alone with 7 children and a rising river!!!!! I mean idealism is ok, but stupidity and irresponsibility is not. What if Legolas had not remembered them?'' Thank goodness Legolas showed up to help Tuilinn, she would have been swept away saving the children and it would have been Anyr's fault. Bravo Legolas and Tuilinn!!! Legolas is really doing wonderfully this trip, saving children, managing a difficult hippie-elf, courting a maiden, and finally and scathingly putting Tinar in his place(I loved that part)! I see the Legolas of LoTR shining through in this chapter. He is growing into that role well. ::in a timid and slightly pleading voice:: But what happened to Eilian and Celuwen? Author Reply: What would have happened if Legolas had not thought about the children does not bear thinking about. Poor Tuilinn, struggling on her own. She must have been terrified. Legolas did do well with Tinar. I enjoyed writing that part. The last time I saw Eilian and Celuwen, they were sound asleep, wrapped in their cloaks and his blanket. When I go home from work tonight, I'll see what else is happening with them. | |
| Estel_Mi_Olor | Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 4/6/2004 |
| Wild applause for Legolas! Tinár's scolding would make even Thranduil proud. Looks like Legolas has more of his father in him than he realizes. Anyr does not seem like the ideal Elf to lead this settlement, perhaps someone with more...ah...decisiveness and...leadership skills would be better. It's nice that they decided to help the men, but someone should have looked to the Elvish village. Legolas deserves many thank yous for taking care of that. I take it the next chapter will be about Eilian? Oh please update soon, for both your plots in this story are equally captivating and engrossing. Thanks again and keep writing! Author Reply: I did like seeing commanding!Legolas in action too. Anyr must be driving him to distraction. The only thing one can conclude is the Valar must look after fools, because otherwise Anyr and his people would not have survived. They are very lucky Legolas thought of the children. So are the men, for that matter. Those were their children about to be swept away. I doubt if they'll be happy. The next chapter will indeed be about Eilian. :-) | |