Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Legolas's Begetting Day by daw the minstrel	31 Review(s)
Karri	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
The poor cook, but he took it reasonable well considering. I hope there weren't very many tarts on the tray. Well, one mouse down....three to go. Author Reply: The thought of mice on my food makes me wrinkle up my face. I am doing it right now. Although actually, I heard this very funny story on the radio about a woman whose car air conditioner spit out dog food every time she turned it on (which her dog thought was great). It was the dry stuff, I hasten to add. Turned out she had the bag of dog food stored in her garage and mice were getting into it and squirreling it away in her AC system.

naneth	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
Oh ho, the mouse-mania begins! What a delight to see some of the "inner-works" of the castle. I'm glad we got to sneak a peek into the kitchen and meet the cook and his assistant. You are going to tell us that interesting story of Legolas getting lost in the forest, right? It would be cruel to hint of such a story and not tell your faithful readers the complete story. We'll wait patiently (ha, yeah right!) until this one is over to hear it, but we do get to hear it, right? Right? Author Reply: Legolas lives in a quiet corridor but the palace must be like a business, I think, with people around all the time and things going day and night. Like a hospital, sort of. You want the story of Legolas getting lost?? The reason this mouse story exists is that Galion mentioned it in "Tangled Web," telling Sinnarn that the noise in the corridor was made by mice and that Legolas had once brought mice into the palace. So I'm writing this story. And now you want the further story that came up in this story? It's like the Quaker Oat Box! Maybe a single chapter thing some time.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
Some very bad stuff did indeed happen in Mirkwood while Legolas was busy questing, but NOT TO EILIAN, right!!!! Or come to that Ithilden or Sinnarn or Thranduil. Or Annael or Beliond. News as personal as the death of his brothers, nephew or best friends would have been sent to him in Minas Tirith and it wasn't, right? I love this story - it is just so sweet. Elflings and mice and courting Eilian and flashbacks to protective Ithilden and lovely naneth adoring her boys. And Turgon - when he was small enough for his . . . unruliness to be adorable rather than infuriating - before he was - what was it? - poisoned by testosterone. I loved the little elfling protecting his mouse from the exasperated cook. Red-y, Blue-y, Green-y and Brown-y. Wonderful names! And so typically Turgon for his to be red for danger. Also typical Annael the Wood Elf to have chosen green. Author Reply: Lovely reasoning, Bodkin! I'd have to look at the time gaps to see if there was time for messages to go. Legolas's family would not have known where he was at first. They had no reason to know he was in Minas Tirith, I think, right? Or did I miss something? The elfling part of this story is a lot of fun to write. They are so innocent and the love they show these appalling little rodents is really touching. And I need the flashback parts for just a little bit of edge. I'm also enjoying writing about naneth. I hardly ever get to do that.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
Legolas is very sweet in this chapter - worrying that Blue-y might be frightened, and that Annael might cry. Turgon is wonderful - 'I think you imagined that mouse' - fantastic line! And I like the Cook threatening him with a broom. Ithilden's memories and worries about Eilian are touching - he must have been frantic, knowing his brother's knack of finding trouble. The link with the current search is good, but I fear it will not have such a happy outcome. Jay Author Reply: Thank you, Jay. Legolas seems like a sweet kid in general to me, until he hits adolescence maybe. I found with my own son that testosterone poisoning was not a pretty sight. I love being able to bring Turgon back to life to declare that Cook was imagining the mouse. LOL. I'm having fun weaving the time lines in. We'll see how everyone does. Nilmandra was just after me about the lost Men today. She has strong feelings on these things!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
Dude, you've never read the Anastasia Krupnik books? Hie thee to the library, woman! They are so right up your alley. The author is Lois Lowry, they're a series of children's books about Anastasia Krupnik, daughter of a Harvard professor and a children's book illustrator, and her younger brother Sam. You will so love these books. It's interesting -- Thranduil has his hard-nosed, tough-bargaining moments, and then he has his marshmallowy spots. And you never know when you poke if you'll get Lordly King or Mr. Marshmallow. Thranduil probably thinks it's a good thing that Men are relatively short-lived, else they might figure out the pattern of soft spots. But they'd have to be awfully long lived, as I don't think that even Ithilden has figured Thranduil out yet. But we do know that Family In Peril gets him every time. On a side note, the Master of Lake Town seems to be pushing it. What is with the Lake Townies? They keep getting real jerks as their Masters. The one in The Hobbit wasn't a prize, either. Would have served Eilian right if they had come up with cider for him. You've got to be specific with kids, and cider is, after all, liquid fruit. In fact, it's much more identifiable as liquid fruit than wine is. Legolas seems to have a habit of hating Eilian's girlfriends on sight. Is this just the general girls-have-cooties stage that he's in, or is this just a repercussion of the unusually strong bond he has with Eilian? Or both. . . that would be evil. Perhaps she was not as oblivious to undercurrents as he had thought. No, Ithilden. Lorellin is a professional Nana. Nanas have eyes in the backs of their heads. They are never oblivious to undercurrents. It's their job to not be oblivious to undercurrents. Mouse in the kitchen! Mouse in the kitchen! One down, three to go. Author Reply: Actually, I use the public library for mysteries and book tapes and things like that (I have a 100 mile commute to work, so I listen to books),so I'm there a lot. I'll have to look for Lois Lowry in the children's section. I've gone over there to get the Harry Potter book tapes recently. :-) Thranduil is hard to figure out sometimes, but I think basically, he's just not going to let someone fall to the forces of shadow if he can prevent it. He doesn't give a rat's ass who the lakemen choose as the Master. They can live under stupidity, so far as he's concerned. But he wouldn't let an orc attack them. I think Legolas hates all the girlfriends because he is possessive of his brothers' attention, especially of Eilian's. Oddly, I think that if his mother had lived, he wouldn't feel quite so strongly about that, but with her gone, he's clinging to the family he has. I'm enjoying the chance to show her a little.

Duchess	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
Oh, poor Turgon, having to give up his favorite mouse like that. giggle Poor Cook, having to throw away all those tarts and now make more. trying not to snort For such little things, mice can be a BIG bother, can't they? lol Eilian is definitely sneaky, sending them after wine like that. I agree with Legolas in not liking his brother's "friend" too much, she's an opportunist, if you ask me. Humph! Technically, Eilian shouldn't be in trouble for Legolas and his friends bringing mice in, Thranduil and Ithilden and even his caregiver were all there when the critters came in with the boys. Why do I doubt it'll be seen that way though? vbg Author Reply: You know, Duchess. I think you are right! I can just see Thranduil demanding to know where Eilian was when the elflings were creating havoc in the kitchen and wherever else they manage to get. If I were Cook, I'd be upset at the sight of mice dancing on my baked goods too. Cook and his assistant were quick to see Eilian's plan about the wine, weren't they? They must know him!

Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
What a delightful chapter. I was laughing throughout. The kitchen scene was hilarious and I was amazed that pots and pans did not go flying in all directions at the sighting of Red-y. I guess the elflings have no idea what contortionist creatures mice are. A closed door is certainly no deterrent to their escape. I am glad to be reading about Turgon again. I've missed him. I like Legolas' thoughts on Eilian maiden friend and his instant dislike of her. He is not breaking tradition at least - he has yet to like any of his brother's maiden friends, at least in the first encounter. And there is Ithilden, reliable and responsible as always, trying to shield everybody from worry and harm. Author Reply: I have to admit I laughed while writing the kitchen scene. I could just picture the kids running after the cook, shouting "Don't hurt him!" LOL Of course, if mice had been dancing on the tarts in my kitchen, I'd have been swinging a baseball bat at them. You are so right -- Legolas hates all girlfriends. He's possessive of his brothers, especially Eilian. And it struck me that Legolas's birth in a time of turmoil might look unwise and burdensome to Ithilden, poor guy. Eilian was born during the Watchful Peace, so he has not seen this before.

rikki	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
One mouse down and three to go. I just have this feeling that the night will not be complete until Eilian's girlfriend sees one, and the last one will have to be for Thranduil. Legolas and friends certainly keep things interesting in the palace. Without Lorellin, Thranduil really has to hop to keep up with his youngest son. I think Lorellin managed the oldest boys better than Thranduil ever suspected. Legolas doesn't like the girlfriend, that is not a good sign for Eilian. Little siblings can really wreck a date when that happens. :)) Ithilden is such a sweetie. He is such a protector of his family. Even before Legolas is born he is worrying about sending him out to protect the forest. "Another brother to send off to face the Shadow, Ithilden thought bitterly, and I will not be able to assure his safety either. For a moment, his breast boiled with anger at his parents for putting him in this position again." Though he finds out later that his naneth is probably more aware than he thought of his concern for both his brothers. I can't wait to find out how Eilian and Maltanaur escape the orcs. Though the readers know that they make it home, there is enough tension regarding the whole episode to make it exciting to see what happens next. Author Reply: You and I think alike, Rikki. :-) Imho, Lorellin was a wonderful mother. She loved her kids and was wood-elfy enough to want to play and just celebrate the day. Her loss was a tragedy for them all. Legolas has never yet liked one of his brother's girlfriends. He was slow to warm up even to Celuwen and Alfirin. As a matter of fact, he once threw a tantrum at a feast, screaming and kicking that he did NOT like Celuwen and Eilian should dance with him. He's very possessive of Eilian in particular, I think. When I was outlining this story, I tried to think about what Legolas's birth might mean to each member of his family, and I thought that for Ithilden, it would look like just one more responsibility. Thank you for telling me that about the tension. I do appreciate knowing how it looks to you because I'm not always confident in my own judgement on stuff like that.

Elvenesse	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
I'm sorry, I can't type. It was supposed to say 'home' not 'hope'. Author Reply: Maddening not to be able to edit it, isn't it? :-)

Dragon-of-the-North	Reviewed Chapter: 3 on 7/25/2004
LOL - wicked, wicked Eilian... He deserves something of a punishment for making his little brother pilfer wine for him! They should indeed have sent some cider up to him... I do like Cook's assistant! g I enjoy the different time levels in this tale very much - the memories are just perfect and very typical of those people remembering. Dutiful Ithilden being all responsible and trying to keep harm away from his parents, Eilian, once again, in the midst of an adventure (and I still do wonder if ever the orcs will win and really get him...). And of course, the mice would not stay where they are supposed to stay! "“I think you imagined that mouse,” Turgon declared." - sometimes, I do love that little troublemaker elfling! :-) Good luck to the men of Laketown, but hope is dim, I guess (hm... who's captaining the Eastern patrol?). Lovely chapter once again! :-) Author Reply: Eilian is kind of bad, sending the elflings for wine. g Cook and cook's assistant know that but the kids don't. Who knows what Eilian's eventual fate will be? I think he's in good shape when Legolas goes to Rivendell, but some very bad stuff happened in Mirkwood while Legolas was away, as you know. Turgon cracks me up. I'm SO glad that I can go back in time and resurrect him.

First Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Last Page

Return to Chapter List