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| Tangled Web by daw the minstrel | 19 Review(s) |
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| Tapetum Lucidum | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/3/2004 |
| Ithilden's pondering over sleeping under the stars was a nice way to start the chapter. He doesn't spend enough time being an elf. Sounds like Thrior is more than competent to help him out at this exciting meeting. I loved the other Elf Lords' reactions to Ithilden's presence. They might as well have jumped up and down and sang with glee over Thranduil's absence. Curinir seems disgruntled about the whole production. Excellent job with Ithilden's gut reaction - don't trust the wizard - then his response to his mellifluous voice - suddenly he trusts him. Saruman is powerful but no one can shake him off like Thranduil. Tinar is always great for some comic relief. I guess he hasn't completed his sentence in Ithilden's office because no one will work with him anywhere else. If I were Calith I would send him on a long, long, long errand. "Not trusting himself to speak, Legolas nodded to them both ..." LOL! It would be hard to keep a straight face. Umm, maybe Amdir shouldn't have been send to Rivendell with the Ring delegation. Apparently his feelings were long harbored. Ithilden's practical take on the food situation was a good one. Great suggestion to cook it downwind. Now if Mithrandir would only smoke his pipe the same way... It sounds like the Gray Wizard is up to something as well. He will be a strong ally for Ithilden. Sinnarn day dreaming about Emmelin was cute. I don't think he should tell Annael that he was noting his daughter's beauty rather than searching for spiders. Alfirin is wise to set down the law in the family room. Legolas is becoming quite the diplomat between Celuwen and Thranduil. I imagine their "little discussions" happen frequently. I doubt Eilian is home enough to be much help. I am looking forward to more of the council! Author Reply: Oh, you're so perceptive about Saruman. Ithilden sees him and feels something is wrong but can't put his finger on it. Then the nasty wizard speaks and Ithilden is under his spell. He wants to believe, after all. But Thranduil would probably be just as happy kicking him down the stairs, which is one of the reasons the rest of them are happy that Thranduil stayed home. I love the elven king. I think that sending Tinar on long errands is probably how Ithilden deals with having Tinar around. And actually, Tinar is going on these errands by himself, so you have to hand it to him for bravery. He's just a pain in the butt to have anywhere nearby. Ah yes! Mithrandir is up to something. More on the Council coming right up, with Mithrandir's thoughts revealed. | |
| Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/3/2004 | |
| Oh, yes. Amdir will perform so admirably with the stubby little creatures in Imladris that I'm not surprised that Legolas can already see his potential as a diplomat. I love this one so far! Author Reply: LOL. Hey! Sarcasm about Amdir? Who would have ever expected that?! I'm glad you're enjoying the story. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/3/2004 |
| I really like all the little details added in this chapter: Ithilden's noting the food and not to hunt around Radagast's cottage; Saruman's voice; Tinar and Calith - and the little details about Calith's past; I like what Legolas notices and stays out of - he is into nonconfrontation! Good thing he picks his battles wisely. I like seeing Celuwen with Thranduil and I love them arguing - and even more so that no one crosses Alfirin. These types of details just make these OC's (and the CC's) come alive. And yesterday was great fun! Author Reply: The women do seem to be pretty unintimidated by Thranduil, don't they? I'll bet Lorellin got whatever she wanted. Maybe he's just so glad to have these nice ellyth loving his sons that he's willing to give ground. And I appreciate your comments about the details. Maybe I'm learning patience too (and I was always more patient than Thranduil :-)). I had a great time visiting. It felt like old friends. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/3/2004 |
| Second Reading Ithilden - the sight of Glorfindel making him feel like an excited elfling. Ahh. I would love to see Ithilden in the days of his innocence, before all the troubles of the world descended on his shoulders and he was pushed into becoming sensible, reliable, dependable, etc in defence of his homeland. I don't imagine his years of light-heartedness lasted very long. It's not much fun being the heir. Author Reply: I'd love to see Ithilden as an elfling and maybe I can do it some day. I like to keep canon characters at the center of stories if I can though, so that one would have to be about Thranduil. Hm. It's possible. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/3/2004 |
| Glory - another chapter. I get so excited! I loved the reference to Amdir and the stubby ones - I recall he was an utter pain with them in A Question of Duty. No matter how much Legolas tried to be big brotherly and help him, Amdir is still Turgon's brother! Ithilden is showing his quality - good reading of Saruman's character, hope he does not let himself be won over. Elrond altering how Galadriel thinks - h'mm -could happen - maybe - one day - perhaps. Mithrandir insisted on the meeting place? I wonder what he has in mind - teaching by showing perhaps. They won't listen, but maybe if they see. I can understand Cirdan not wanting to come - must be like going round in circles. Love the Tinar moment - he is just beyond redemption. Nothing dents his self-esteem. Little Legolas is acting in charge of the Home Guard. How the little ones grow up! (Though he is still Ada's little elfling, and mustn't assume too much or contradict his adar!) I really hope that Sinnarn and Emmelin marry - I want Annael to join the family, although that would still keep him on Legolas's generation level as the adar-in-law of his nephew. (It would be quite amusing if Legolas married his best friend's daughter - making Annael his father by marriage!) Nice to see Tonduil - and I like the weaving in of the financial constraints of long war, with the cost of metal and the number of horses. It goes a long way to explain Thranduil's reaction to the dragon's hoard, without making him avaricious. Which he isn't. This is far too long - but never mind. Keep going. (Plotting this one must be really complicated.) Author Reply: Yes! Amdir actually WILL be sent on a diplomatic mission to Imladris and have to deal with dwarves. How unsuitable is THAT?! I had fun trying to refer to his actions in that other story, even though they haven't happened yet. I thought about the fact that Ithilden had met Saruman only once years ago and that Saruman might not yet have been corrupted then, so he might see a change in Saruman that the others don't. But boy, the minute Saruman opens his mouth, he's in charge. Except with Thranduil. :-) I thought folks might like to see how Tinar and Calith are doing. Poor Calith! The idea of Annael as Legolas's father in law is funny. What must it be like to be an elf and have such generational confusion be common? It's beyond my imagination. Complicated to plot?? I am looking at my notes and wondering what on earth possessed me to try this one. | |
| erunyauve | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/2/2004 |
| "And if Elrond could be persuaded, then he, in turn, might be able to work on his formidable mother-in-law." ::snort:: Or not. It's a pity Celeborn isn't there - I think he's the only one with much chance of influencing Galadriel. "he still felt like an excited elfling on seeing him." I can imagine! I should think that any elf would go as slack-jawed as a fangirl who has just met Orlando Bloom. "His father had indicated with some satisfaction that he thought that Círdan too was growing impatient with the Council’s endless, fruitless debates." The Círdan fan in me would certainly agree, but in all seriousness, that might indicate why Círdan sent Galdor to Elrond's council. I loved the scene with Calith and Tinár - between them and Thranduil, I can imagine Todith tearing his hair out by the time Ithilden returns. Your use of the Voice of Saruman was a great tidbit, and it does help to explain how he held sway over the Council for so long. Author Reply: I thought about having Celeborn at the meeting too but I already have so many characters to manage that I'm beating my head against the keyboard. Sigh. What must it be like to be an elf child who is taught history and then see someone like Glorfindel or Elrond who was in the history they were taught? It's very hard to imagine what being an immortal must be like. Poor Todith. My guess is that Ithilden just sends Tinar off with messages as quickly as he can. I doubt if he lets Tinar hang around the office too much. Saruman just amazes me when I think about it -- double crossing the Council and trying to get the ring before Sauron did. He just didn't care who he made into an enemy! | |
| The Karenator | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/2/2004 |
| Glorfindel! Okay...I'm calm, I'm calm. Ithilden is certainly making a good showing. Not only does he have patience, he is cunning. He seems to have the strategies of negotiation at his disposal. Unfortunately, it will require time that apparently he knows is limited--won't be making that family wedding it seems--and the mysterious hints dropped by Mithrandir that time is awastin'. So what's Gandalf got up his sleeve? And Curunir is certainly a bit of a priss pot, isn't he?Finicky...finicky...finicky. Even if I didn't already know I don't like him, I wouldn't like him. But, you've given him the subtle air of someone not to be trusted. I'm with Ithilden--he should be double checked on a regular basis. I see Legolas is still adjusting to being home. I imagine it would be quite a change after being away on patrol for so long. But he's Elf enough to handle it. And Tinar is still Tinar. He's thicker than a brick...Eru love him. I'm still enjoying the view into Sinnarn's head. You're rounding him out nicely. He may bear many of his Uncle Eilian's characteristics, but you've given him a personality unique to him. Well done. I fear he has a way to go before he wins Annael over. Who can blame the concerned adar? The interesting facet you've added to Thranduil's personality is what a push over he is for the females of his family. We've not had much of an opportunity to see him interact with females except in flashback to Lorellin and the cousin of Lorellin--whom we will refrain from gossiping about. Not that he doesn't say his peace or argue his point, but these little skirted ones sure do get more leeway than those in leggings. I can just imagine how much he enjoys them being around and how much their presence also makes him ache for Lorellin. Poor king. It was extremely interesting to see some new canon characters brought in to hang out with your fun OC's. I can't wait to see more of the Council. Carry on, your dawness. Good form as always. Karen Author Reply: I think that Thranduil is wily at meetings too, so Ithilden learned from a master. And I actually hesitated about including Glorfindel because I was afraid he would take over part of my story. But I can also imagine a couple of good scenes with him. I hope. :-) If ever anyone was weaving a tangled web, it's Curunir. Imagine trying to go up against both Sauron and the other members of the White Council! I can see why PJ just had him be a creature of Sauron because it would be too hard to deal with him in a movie (or three) but Tolkien really showed him as one bold wizard! I've always thought that Lorellin must have had Thranduil wrapped right around her little finger. And the guys can only stand to one side and shake their heads in wonder. Thank you, Karen. PS I went to meet Nilmandra for the first time yesterday and it turns out she really IS a sweet child. ;-) | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/2/2004 |
| Everyone is being highly diplomatic. I smell a rat. This is a state of affairs which just begs to go downhill. Fast. Slalom. Hey hey, it's the Calith And Tínar show! Wacky bureaucratic antics galore. At least there's entertainment around Ithilden's office. I'll just bet he's glad to be out of there for a while. It looks like Thranduil needs all the help he can get with the spiders. I wonder if it might be worthwhile for him to deputize a few soldiers to help train the settlement militias. It's not like they're going away -- the settlement Elves are notoriously stubborn. He might as well take advantage of any civilian help on offer. That would satisfy him as to the ability of the settlement Elves to spot spiders, and it would satisfy Celuwen that the settlements don't need to move just yet, if they can be useful in their present locations. Author Reply: I thought folks might enjoy a glimpse of Calith and Tinar. Poor Calith. I imagine he is overjoyed when Tinar gets sent off with a message, preferrably to East Outer Mirkwood. That's a good idea about training the settlement elves. Hmm. I wonder if they're trainable? I mean, I wonder how happy they'd be to listen (not if they can be housebroken). | |
| Manderly | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 6/2/2004 |
| I think Ithilden would do well in the power meetings held in today's boardrooms. He definitely has more patience than Thranduil, but then he hasn't been at this for as long as his father so there's still a bit of novelty there. I see that Tinar has not changed a bit. Ithilden will have to work harder on him when he gets back. Maybe next time someone should try slamming his head in the drawer rather than the fingers. Might smack some sense into him, though unlikely. Poor Legolas, getting caught up in other's arguments all day and having to tread on eggshells. I like the womenfolk in Thranduil's household. They can certainly hold their own among these stubborn males. Author Reply: Ithilden is very strategic, but then he's had to be in working for and with his father for all those years. You don't get far with Thranduil by just butting heads. At least you don't if you're male. The womenfolk seem to do just fine that way! Thanks for the review Manderly. | |