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Glorious Summer by daw the minstrel	19 Review(s)
The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
Ya know, I kinda hope that Celuwen won't get too acclimated to walking on egg shells around Thranduil and Ithilden. I'm a firm believer that everyone in power needs someone who will tell them the truth. Thranduil's balance (Lorellin) is gone. Might tick off the good king every now and then, but it'll do him good to have Celuwen's uncensored opinions. And the one thing that Celuwen has to offer that no other advisor has is the king's son's happiness. Thranduil can always be sure that she is on his side, even if she disagrees with him. Ithilden seems a little testy when he met with Eilian back in his office. He asked Eilian for his opinion and then accused him of not liking that someone else was captaining his patrol. Ithilden needs someone to tell him to get over it too. He knows he should trust Eilian's sense of the forest! Males are all the same...pointy ears or not. The pre-meal confrontation was great. Everyone is in their own corner. The bell has rung and the fight is on. “Control your tone of voice, Eilian,” Thranduil interrupted sharply. “Celuwen has duties as my advisor, and neither she nor I have to consult you as to whether they should be fulfilled.” Okay, this made me laugh...in a sarcastic way. Yeah, Thranduil, let's back this train up. Switch the names to Lorellin and Oropher and let's see how Thranduil feels about the whole thing. Yep, yep, yep... In the scene where Eilian and Celuwen go to their apartment, I thought it was very insightful of Celuwen to realize that Eilian was subconsciously thinking about his mother. (What Thranduil was thinking is still a mystery...other than he's still mad at Eilian for the insubordination of bonding without consent.) Well, in my not-so-learned opinion, Eilian is the only one acting sane at the moment. He's the only one at home who is still serving in the forest, and he's well known for his intuitiveness about the dangers. And lo and behold, no one is listening to him. That does not bode well for Celuwen...or Legolas, I bet. Great chapter. I do love a good row. Eilian is going to be fit to be tied. I can just feel it... :>) Karen Author Reply: Thranduil sees Celuwen as an ally in settling Eilian down and, as you say, making him happy. He thinks of her as having good sense, although I think she's a little off her stride in the palace just yet. And actually, it would be very funny if Thranduil and Ithilden both learned that Celuwen speaks her mind, not shrewishly or nastily, but respectfully and honestly. At the moment, she's getting the new person's pass -- the one you get when you don't know any better than to do something. You can actually get a number of things done in that mode, but it doesn't last for long. I think that Ithilden actually took his annoyance at Celuwen out on Eilian. I love flawed characters! So you think that Thranduil might not have liked it if his father send Lorellin off somewhere Thranduil thought was dangerous? Why, Karen, I think you might be right! LOL Eilian might indeed be fit to be tied. I have plans for him! And Legolas too.

esamen	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
I am well, and you may believe that I speak truly when I say that Beliond uses every means possible to insure that I remain so. There are times when I am surprised he does not tuck me into my bedroll and sing me a lullaby. Legolas's written voice is different from his speaking voice, hmmm. Like most of us . . I like very much the way that you have Thranduil contrasing him with his other two sons. Lovely moment. It was my business,” Eilian snapped. “She is my wife.” “But not your property,” Celuwen said heatedly, her face flushed. “I want to be one of the guards,” Eilian told Ithilden, ignoring Celuwen. “You are not on active duty yet,” Ithilden retorted, his own voice growing severe. “And you have other duties.” “Control your tone of voice, Eilian,” Thranduil interrupted sharply. “Celuwen has duties as my advisor, and neither she nor I have to consult you as to whether they should be fulfilled.” “Please stop,” Alfirin pleaded. “I do not want us to quarrel during this time or during our evening meal.” Oh, I love it! Everybody, argue! Heh-heh-heh . . . family time. Bring on that Legolas action . . . I'm glued to the monitor waiting . . . THANKS for writing this story! happy typing! Author Reply: My beta asked me if Thranduil worried about Eilian when he was away in the same way he worried about Legolas, and sadly enough, I think the answer is no. I think Thranduil is still fretting about his baby, the child he raised on his own. He does have fears for Eilian, but I doubt if he worries in quite the same way. I thought the argument went along quite briskly and might be something we all could recognize unless we were raised by bears or something. Legolas will be back in the next chapter I think. I need to do some more stuff at home too, just to get things really heated up.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
He glanced around the room, taking time to smile at Celuwen, who still looked a little dazed to find herself at the king’s council meeting. She got over it pretty quick, though, didn't she? Whoo-ee! Nothing like an off-agenda proposal from the King's new upstart daughter-in-law to wake everyone up. If it were anyone but Thanduil, I'd say he bit off more than he could chew. But Celuwen might be the one who finds herself off-balance - it's starting to dawn on her that for the first time in her life, she won't be free to speak her own mind. Wait until she shows up at the settlement and finds out she's now considered The Establishment. Ouch. Eilian's reaction was understandable, given what happened to his mother, but the fact that he realized he can't keep Celuwen in an ivory tower is a good sign. I just hope nothing bad happens or he'll never let her out of his sight again... Author Reply: Celuwen apparently took the king's smile to mean make herself at home, and she did! She took on Thranduil AND Ithilden. But I think they both kind of gave her a pass, especially Thranduil. She may find that her ignorance helps her get things done now because she doesn't know better than to ask, and they are still being nice. But I doubt if she can do this for long. Eilian was in a tough spot. He really fears she's in danger, but what can he do? She never did pay much attention to him when she thought she needed to do something else. And I think in an odd way, he's jealous. She goes off and he's left reading reports.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
Eilian needs to trust his wife more. She can't stay there forever! It's gonna be intresting to see how the negotiation between her and Felas will turn out. So they have moved into the new apartment? Dont keep us waiting for to long. -sofia Author Reply: Yes he does, but he's so sure that she's going into danger and he remembers his mother. He must be in despair to see her go. I'm hoping it will be interesting to see Celuwen in the settlement, but you never know!

Elena Tiriel	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
Oh, dear, Daw. I have a very bad feeling about Celuwen's trip. whimper Please don't let her get hurt... that would destroy Eilian! He's been through too much already... - Barbara Author Reply: You make me sound cruel, Barbara! This trip should provide some excitement to all involved, I hope. :-)

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
Lots of good things in this chapter, Daw! I liked seeing the letter that Sorion was worried about, and Thranduil's reaction. It must be hard knowing his son is in the most dangerous patrol in the realm. Celuwen at the council was great - so she put her foot in it by bringing up a matter she should have mentioned before, but she stood up to both Thranduil and Ithilden! Go Celuwen! Then she has a different sort of battle with Eilian. Thranduil's response was great: “Celuwen has duties as my advisor, and neither she nor I have to consult you as to whether they should be fulfilled.” I found a couple of typos, though: In Ithilden's office: 'Eilian frowned. What in Arda was Eilian talking about?' Two Eilians - (not that that's a bad thing! Also, in the Council, 'The king very must disliked being surprised by his own advisors. What's going to go wrong on this trip to the settlement? Jay Author Reply: Oh thank you for telling me about those two things. I changed them right away on SoA. Ff.net is just too hard, but I should try to remember to changes them in my file. Lots of family tension in this chapter, preciptated in all innocence by Celuwen. I think that Thranduil is gentler with her than he would be with anyone else and he's still ticked enough at Eilian that he takes her side. Poor Eilian. Ithilden was also caught unaware and I thought he might be taking it out on Eilian a little in his office too. You think something is going to go wrong? Why, Jay! You think like an author. I was just thinking about "With Friends" today and wondering when you would have time to update. Soon I hope, but I don't mean to push. I just like the story.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
With a chapter title like this, what else are we expected to do!! The tension just builds throughout - Legolas's letter, Ithilden's office, the council meeting, Thranduil, all just lead us to Celuwen / Eilian trauma and first (married) spat and Celuwen going off into the woods with just two guards, just like Naneth. At least Eilian has the innate honesty to admit to himself that he hates being caged and should not want to cage Celuwen - and knows her well enough to realise that there are arguments he just can't win. But I have a bad feeling about this! Thranduil was less that impressed with Celuwen's unscheduled intervention - if anything is worse that endless council meetings, surely it must be endless council meetings where you know exactly what is going to be said, because it has all been past the censor before you start. And Celuwen's plan is not bad - although anyone else would have been eaten by Thranduil or Ithilden or both. There are some advantages to being the newly-wed daughter-in-law of the king. I think Celuwen has more to grasp yet than the etiquette of what frock to wear and how to deal with servants. And I'm not talking how to put things on the council's agenda! (Or marital matters.) She is now vulnerable in the woods in a way that she wasn't as the settlement-dwelling daughter of her adar. Just as Legolas was the object of a kidnapping attempt in OYIM, Celuwen has a greatly increased market value now. I can't wait to find out what happens. Author Reply: This chapter was fun to write. I've been doing set up for three chapters now, and in this one, I could sort of start to let my plot unwind a little. So yeah, some worrisome things happened. :-) Eilian is a good husband but apparently even good husbands can be possessive and bossy at times. But he's worried! He can't just let her go! One of the first things I was taught as a new faculty member was always let your dept chair know if something bad is about to happen so at least he doesn't get caught off guard. I thought Thranduil might prefer things that way too. But he is much gentler with Celuwen that he would be with anyone else. Thank goodness.

Alice	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
Tactical error indeed. Well at least Eilian eventually stopped being an idiot. He learns. That was one tense meal. I feel bad for Alfirin though. She really hates fighting and suddenly there's all this tension and then arguing. Things are complicated in this family, even more so now that Celuwen has not only been added to the mix but is also now a counselor. Eilian is going to have to learn to live with her and her job and Celuwen, Thranduil, and Ithilden are going to have to learn to leave any counsel annoyances behind in the counsel room, like the boys have to leave any warrior issues between them behind. I liked reading the bit in the office. I imagine Eilian took Tinar out to the training field with a very strong blessing from Ithilden. Ithilden only getting denied by his father is a good observation. Though having someone else stand up to him isn't exactly a bad thing, though I think he's going to have to get used to it. I really like Celuwen that way. She doesn't back down when she thinks she's right. Which she is in this circumstance. It should be interesting watching Celuwen visit her own settlement. It's probably a very good thing that Eilian isn't accompanying her on this trip. I doubt Solith has forgiven him yet. That's probably going to take several years and a grandchild. I laughed at the thought of Beliond tucking Legolas in and singing him a lullaby. Also at the thought of what Beliond's reaction might be to reading that particular part of Legolas's letter. Beliond's sweet, but privately so, very privately and he's willing to show you just how private that should be. I look forward to the next chapter. I would enjoy reading something from the POVs of the wives and the keepers. They have interesting views of being a warrior and what goes on in the kingdom. Author Reply: Eilian has a problem here. He is almost certain she's going into danger, so his instinct to protect her is strong, particularly given his mother's fate. But Celuwen is a separate person who needs to make her own decisions and is feeling kind of closed in right now. Of course, Eilian has found this month hard too, and I'm not sure she's as aware as she should be of that. I'll be that meal was really tense. I didn't have the heart to show it. This family's life is so complicated because of who they are. Celuwen stands up to Ithilden and Thranduil partly out of ignorance. She just doesn't know that she's supposed to cower. And much as he likes her, Ithilden is startled. I think he took it out on Eilian a little in the office when he got back. So you think Eilian should stay away from the settlement? Hm. Beliond agrees with you totally. The thought of singing a lullaby makes him want to smack someone. Although, I'll bet if Legolas ever married (maybe in Valinor?) and had a kid, Uncle Beliond would be putty in the kid's hands.

elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 9/19/2004
Do not worry, adar--yeah, right! Thranduil is the least worried amongst us after reading this chapter. I don't even know where to begin with this one. Celuwen just rushes right in where everyone else would fear to tread, doesn't she? Her idea is definitely a good one and how could she possibly know the 'right way' to make proposals but I can definitely see how putting the king on the spot like that would raise the tension. And it sure did. I was cringing and forcing myself to read that part, too afraid to see how it would turn out. It turned out well for her. Luckily. And Eilian's reaction was exactly what he would do. He walked right into it. Telling both Celuwen and Thranduil what they can do? Right. When Celuwen was so proud of her her news. Obviously he is right to be worried and they should all trust his instincts by now but of course people never do. This will be bad. I hope poor Legolas is not going to be in the position of having to make difficult decisions to defend Celuwen during this little adventure. Great chapter! You sure do know how to weave a complex, tense plot. I love how you start it out with Legolas telling his adar not to worry and then you lay out this whole string of things that we'd better be good and worried about. Why don't you apply for a sabbatical so you can dedicate an entire semester to writing (fanfic). Just don't include the word fanfic in your proposal. :) Think that would work? Author Reply: Celuwen doesn't even know she's being daring. She hasn't lived among court rules and she doesn't even know she's flouting them. Plus Thranduil is gentler with her than he would be with anyone else I can thing of with the possible exception of Alfirin. "I hope poor Legolas is not going to be in the position of having to make difficult decisions to defend Celuwen during this little adventure." Yes, and people in hell hope for ice water. I'm glad you feel the plot is tense. I was beginning to feel I was letting the opening set up go on for too long. What a good idea about the sabbatical!

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