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| A Creature of Fire by daw the minstrel | 321 Review(s) |
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| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/13/2005 |
| Dumb or what! Of course if Legolas is 290, then Sinnarn is 290 - 40 or so. It's odd how you can get the timeline on one and then mess it up on another. I'm surprised at Calith's self control, too. Those oliphaunt paperweights would be in shards if I had to share an office with Tinar. (They probably are in Calith's imagination.) And I would take great pleasure in devising a need to send messages to VERY distant places. I'm sure Thranduil needs to send an elf off to Far Harad for some reason. A reason that requires Tinar to place himself under an oliphaunt's foot. His arrogance is just so total - no matter what happens it proves his own perfection. Apart from elflings, Tinar is another reason I would like to see a post Tangled Web story. For the first time, his self assurance was cracked a little by Galelas's death. It would be good to see if someone managed to hammer in a wedge that lets out some of the hot air. Beliond, perhaps. Author Reply: I finally got around to adding this story to the chronological list of them on my profile page. I know I'm confusing sometimes because I jump around. It's hard for me to imagine Tinar ever changing, but I suppose it's possible. Elves had a lot of time and perhaps they're more able to learn from experience than we are -- although as I consider the sons of Feanor, I'm not sure I see signs of that. | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| Its taken me some time to review, as I let my imagination wander to how exactly Eilian could help there at the end. I do like the time you are taking to set up the story emotionally, for us to see the relationships among the characters and to establish Legolas's maturity. And really, Calith does need to do something to Tinar - he deserves some humor for having to put up with him all the time. Ithilden is fortuante that Calith does not mutiny. Author Reply: Eilian is, as we now know, resourceful. I'm sure he could help in many ways. :-) Sometimes I feel like writing a story is endless setup leading to a chapter or two of action and then the finale. But I'm having an interesting time experimenting with using Legolas's POV only. If I ever get to writing that story from the POV of the wives and keepers, maybe I'll have to throw Calith in too. | |
| Alice | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| Oh, my poor Legolas. I suppose you have to respect what the canon implies and leave him single or else kill of his one true love tragically (which you'd better not do). Still though he's lonely. And lying to himself about having nothing to envy. Foolish elon that we love. And you just had to have one of his warriors die on him, didn't you? Honestly Daw, just keep shoving the angst on top of him.(grins) I love Annael and his family. Legolas has been adopted. It's nice that Beliniel is kind of mothering along Legolas with Elowen. You set the scene nicely by the way with Legolas coming into the kitchen to find a pretty maiden there. My first thought was "set up!". I'm glad to see Legolas is just as quick on the uptake. It doesn't surprise me that Elowen and Beliniel are attempting to put pretty maidens in his path. Frankly, I'm surprised Thranduil hasn't started doing the same thing. I also enjoyed Legolas's brothers interacting with their respective wives. Heh. Personally, I thought it was rather brave of Legolas to make certain insinuations about what his formidable commanding officer was about to do with his wife. But then, Ithilden is his brother and Ada will know what happened to the baby if said baby doesn't come back out of the troop commander's office. I liked seeing Eilian and Celuwen's arguement (though Legolas didn't). I really am fond of that girl. So, my last scatterbrained thoughts. Sorry for the general scatteredness of this, but I just got back from London and am still a bit jet lagged. Oh! I wanted to tell you how much I've grown to love your original characters. Like I was reading the story and scrolled down to the next section and was like, " Gosh, Legolas again?? When are we going to get to the other characters?" Oh and one more thing, Calith deserves a medal or the elvish equivalent for putting up with Tinar in a small, enclosed space. I'm sure the rest of the troops of Greenwood would strongly agree. Update soon! Author Reply: Oh dear, Alice. I don't know how happy you're going to be with this story. I plan to follow Legolas throughout it, without cutting to the other characters. I thought I'd do it as an experiment, but it's already driving me crazy. I have to resort to devices like Legolas overhearing Eilian and Celuwen. In LACE, Tolkien seems to say that marriage is the normal state for elves, and particularly given the idea of bonding, I think an unmarried elf is going to feel like there's an empty place inside. Especially if he's surrounded by happily married folks. I hesitated about letting Legolas imply that Ithilden and Alfirin might be going to do more that eat egg salad sandwiches at that picnic, but I thought they were all adults, and he might joke a bit. I'm so jealous that you were in London! Did you have a good time? Was it a vacation? | |
| Brazgirl | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| Hi Daw! Nice start! I am curious about this one. And I was so willing to read from you again, especially a fic about Eilian and Celuwen post bond. And there it is! I like this Legolas introduction and his little metting with the people he most cares about. Annael's mother is a nice woman! I was so sorry when her husband died... I still do not quite believe you killed him. Anyway, Legolas is a witness to his brother's love for their wives in many ways; while Ithilden and Alfirin are a little bit more restricted, Eilian and Celuwen clearly love each other and have no doubts in showing it. And that was makes even the description of their relationships unique. And poor Legolas and Thranduil in the middle of all this! I am happy to read from you again. Author Reply: Sadly, I don't know how much we'll see of Eilian and Celuwen because I'm planning to follow Legolas in this story, but I hope we at least get glimpses of them. In his essay "Laws and Customs among the Eldar," Tolkien says that marriage is the normal state for elves, so I think Legolas might be feeling a sense of something missing right now, especially when he sees the happy marriages around him. And I love Annael's family! I still feel bad about killing his father. | |
| thechevin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| You can not imagine my dleight when I saw an author alert announcing a new story from you and already I am caught up in the lives of all the various characters that live in and around Thranduil's halls. Tinar is his usual ebbullient self that paper weight may yet come to be used for more than holding down reports! Ithilden is such a good brother and commander his care of his warriors shows itself quite clearly as does his careful handling of his youngest and sometimes prickly brother It must be hard for Legolas to see his friends and brothers settled and so obviously happy when he is alone As ever Thranduil shines he gives his son a gift but also ensures that for once the horse is trained as it should be, his pride in his son and his love were plain to see So Eilian is off to live in a settlement and Legolas to the northern patrol I wonder how those two things are linked? Thank you for starting another intriguing tale Judy Author Reply: You can't imagine my delight to be writing again! I really miss having a story going. Ithilden is very patient in dealing with Legolas's understandable feelings. I think he's a good commander, and in this case, he was willing to treat Legolas like any other competent captain. I think Legolas probably appreciates this. He doesn't feel like Ithilden coddles him. He feels like Ithilden respects his strength. I think Legolas is feeling the contrast between his own lonely state and the happy marriages around him. And he's a little vulnerable because of his time in shadow. Clever Judy. Linked? We'll see. | |
| Yanic | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| Oh, jeez that would have been awkward if Eilian and Celuwen got it on in the garden... would probably lead to a brotherly chat which I would find very amusing. I wonder if Legolas's family wonders why Legolas hasn't found anyone yet? I feel bad for him, all alone with everyone else paired up. Anyway, wonderful story can't wait for more! Author Reply: "Awkward" doesn't begin to cover it! Legolas was probably very relieved that Celuwen said no. I've been thinking about the fact that in "Laws and Customs among the Eldar," Tolkien says that marriage is the normal state for adult elves. So you'd think that an elf who wasn't married might feel like there was something missing. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| Yay! This looks great, daw! I’d really been missing these characters. I so wanted Calith to throw that paperweight at Tinár’s head. Too bad he has enough self-control not to. I really liked the scene between Ithilden and Legolas. Ithilden was wonderfully gentle with what he knew was a difficult topic for Legolas but he still treated him as an adult. It sounds as though the Shadow in the south was beginning to take its toll on Legolas and this was compounded by the death of this young warrior. What a terrible duty to have to return the body of a warrior to his parents. I really feel for the parents who are so desperate to know about their son’s last moments. But there’s something very sad too about the fact that even for elves, after a while in a situation like this no death is particularly unique and there seems to be the suggestion that even Naran’s may not have stood out for Legolas had he not been already feeling the effects of the Shadow. Still, it must be hard for the captains and for Ithilden who repeatedly have to explain to parents that their son is dead. And that little reaction of Ithilden’s when Legolas claims Naran was too young for the southern patrol suggests that it wouldn’t take much of a push for Ithilden to feel guilty too. So Legolas is heading north? Is Sinnarn still in that patrol? I imagine Ithilden knows very well that Legolas must be feeling at least some sense of relief. I like that he reassures him that he’s done a good job and should just take advantage of this new posting if he can. I loved that moment where Ithilden knows Alfirin has arrived before Calith announces her! “She seems to think I will not eat unless she feeds me. We are going on a picnic.” Uh-huh. Calith must get a great kick out of those two. It’s so good to see them still so much in love. I presume they still ‘picnic’ in the same place. I wonder if Thranduil ever goes and visits his and Lorellin’s special place? He wouldn’t want to pick the wrong moment. It’s always great to see Annael! And Elowen, of course! Beliniel and Elowen turned out to be a right pair of matchmakers. Legolas seems to be feeling his age in this story. He keeps thinking about how young everyone is. I had to laugh when he says, “Unfortunately, I am gone a great deal.” Well, no need to give her false hope anyway! She seems nice enough too. It must be strange for elves. Theoretically they have all the time in the world but it doesn’t seem to stop Legolas, at any rate, longing for what everyone else seems to have and feeling different because he doesn’t. It’s one thing having his older brothers find love and marry but he has a grown-up nephew now and Emmelin must be an adult too, right? Legolas must feel a little left-behind sometimes. I really enjoyed the part with Thranduil and the horse. “And the stablemaster and his assistants have done an excellent job of training him. I think you will find that he will obey well and will carry you with or without tack.” LOL! Thranduil has apparently given up any hope of Legolas ever training a horse properly. The amused stablemaster made me laugh too. It’s good to see that Legolas and Thranduil can joke about Legolas wanting the horse to be fast without either of them getting frustrated. His sons will never stop thinking that Thranduil’s hand could be behind their transfers, though, just as he’ll probably never stop wanting them somewhere safer and hoping that they won’t react badly to whatever change it is. The Eilian/Celuwen scene was very interesting. They’re both feeling a bit stifled but the one time Celuwen actually wants him to get away from home he feels he should stay there! I can see Eilian’s point that it wouldn’t feel right to him to be off taking it easy while others continue the fight but Celuwen’s argument seems fairly sound to me. He’s on leave anyway and doesn’t seem to be expected to do very much and she’s a settlement advisor. Having said that, I wouldn’t exactly go encouraging him to defy the king! But I think she’s right, that Thranduil wouldn’t object - as long as they phrase it properly. He might just warn Eilian repeatedly of what behaviour is expected from him. Keeping away from Sólith might be a good idea, though… At least Eilian and Celuwen’s relationship benefits from the odd argument or two it would seem. Though there could be something in the air that’s making them all a little frisky. The last image is a rather lonely one, though, with Legolas trying to convince himself that he’s happy. If he stopped thinking about maidens one might actually come along. That Tuilinn is up north somewhere too, isn’t she?? I was going to say that I think it’s great the way he can recognise when he just doesn’t make a connection with a maiden and then chooses not to pursue something that he knows won’t have a future… but maybe that’s part of his problem. If elves really know when they meet the right person, what does that mean for more casual relationships? Poor Legolas could do with Eilian’s flirtatious streak but he just doesn’t have it. He could always take heart by how happy Ithilden is now and how long he waited!! Anyway, this story looks absolutely marvellous already. You’ve done a great job in showing how Legolas has grown not only by his reactions to people and events around him but by the way others treat him too. I’m dying to see how he gets on with his new assignment and where you’re leading us with all this despondency about maidens. I can’t wait to see what becomes of Eilian and Celuwen’s latest predicament too and, of course, I’m all excited at the prospect of Smaug! :-) Author Reply: One of the things I wanted to do in this opening chapter was show the stage of maturation that Legolas is at. And the scene with Ithilden was meant to suggest just that. Ithilden is a good commander. He supports Legolas, who is feeling some anguish about a warrior's death, but I think you get the sense that he would do that for any captain and that he sees Legolas as capable. At least, that's what I wanted. I had to feel my way along, remembering that Legolas is an adult. I laughed at the image of Thranduil going to reminisce in the spot he and his wife held as special and stumbling on Ithilden and Alfirin. That would be entertaining! For me anyway. It must seem to poor Legolas that everyone but him is bonded to someone. Supposedly that was the natural state of affairs for Elves, at least according to LACE, so not being in that state must produce some sense of something missing. Actually, I think Thranduil wouldn't mind at all if Eilian and Celuwen go off to a settlement. Once I thought about it, I had to think that Eilian was probably driving Thranduil crazy. He's around without much to do. The king has to be asking himself what that's going to lead to. Nothing good! And Celuwen sees that too, I think. | |
| sofia | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| this seems like a good beginning. I love how the two woman are playing matchmaker. -sofia Author Reply: The two matchmakers are very fond of Legolas and want to see him happy, but he and Annael are kind of taken aback. I have to admit I laughed while I wrote it. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Sofia. | |
| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| So Legolas has set himself up to fall in love with the next girl he meets. Too much Hawt Elf Secks going on all around him. Not to mention Annael is just such a happy hubby. Someone told me once that guys are like turkeys - once their button pops up, they're done. I think Thranduil's youngest son is definitely done. The conversation about the dead warrior was well done, especially the part where Legolas commented on how young he was and Ithilden immediately reacted, since he was the one who made the assignment. Even he's not immune to guilt. Eilian cracks me up. You know he hollered like a banshee when Ithilden ordered him back home, but now he's dragging his feet to leave and visit the settlements. My money is on Celuwen in this contest. He doesn't have a prayer. I like how Thranduil and Legolas's relationship is maturing. There's still a little overprotectiveness and defensiveness, but they're trying. Bring on the dragon! Author Reply: Yeah, Legolas is ready. He's a little vulnerable from his time in deep Shadow, and everyone around him seems to be happily paired. I'll have to see what I can do for him. :-) Eilian makes me laugh too. Thranduil really should be grateful for Celuwen's presence. It's true she's sort of saying that Eilian should just do as he likes, but she's really good for Eilian. She's telling him to grow up, which with her help, he's doing. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 3/12/2005 |
| Nice set-up, Daw. I like Annael's matchmaking, and Legolas is feeling the emptiness too, when he sees Ithilden and Alfirin; Eilian and Celuwen. As I recall, he's encountered a dragon before, and has bad memories of them. I wonder how he'll react this time? It's sad that Dale, where he visited in the last story, will be destryed, too :( Jay Author Reply: Poor Legolas. It must seem as if everyone around him is happily paired, and then, he's vulnerable right now because of his time in the south. Still, he's a stable enough personality that he can also joke a little and see the sense in being away. Eilian would have screamed bloody murder. I'm hoping the dragon stuff will be convincing. | |