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| A Spring of Joy by daw the minstrel | 47 Review(s) |
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| Kristy | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2005 |
| What? Elian is an OC? Noooo. Ya'll are just playing with me! ::grin:: I had ROTK on yesterday and found myself thinking how cool it would be to see Elian and Legolas take out Oliphants together or to see Elian and Gmili interact! Oh My, Elian has a daughter! How wonderful. He's exactly the kind of male that makes the most wonderful of fathers to girls! Arda's revenge for his youth! I can't wait to see her turn Her Grandfather Thranduil into putty! Ohh the sinister presence outside Loriel's window just made me shiver in dread! (ever seen the Lion King? "Mufasa!" "Ohhhhhh say it again!") Author Reply: LOL. Well, Eilian is real in my head anyway, and apparently in yours, Kristy! I really missed Eilian in the last story because it was so concentrated on Legolas. Eilian's letters were the only times I was in his head at all, so this was fun to do again. I think he and Legolas would make a good pair in a fight. They'd know one another pretty instinctively. Everyone seems to be taking great delight in how poor Eilian is going to suffer as the father of a daughter. At the moment, he's reveling in her, which is nice to write about. The future is a little more iffy. I've never seen the Lion King, embarrassingly enough. Bad Things are in the woods here. Poor Eilian. | |
| Rita | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/10/2005 |
| I'm very glad to see Eilian fitting in so well in a settlement. He's come so far--I remember when he first married, Celuwen had to ask him to put his shirts in the laundry hamper and now he seems quite used to doing these little household chores. It was interesting to see that he is always a warrior first and foremost; at the first signs of something bothering the trees, his hand went to his knife instinctively. I suppose it's hard to forget that type of warrior training even in a time of peace. I quite agree with the other reviewers when they say that Eilian having a daughter seems like a bit of revenge for Sólith since he would now understand his father-in-law (Eilian would not want Loriel to bond without his permission). It's good to see that Loriel can bring them closer together, in understanding and also physically (they were sitting almost next to each other with only Loriel in between!) I hope Loriel has regular visits with Thranduil and her other relatives, as we would not wish to deprive them of such a delightful child. I'm looking forward to reading about how Legolas has settled into a life as Captain of the Home Guard in a time of peace. I wonder how he has adjusted since all he has known, from the time he was born and throughout his life, is a Shadow over their woods. I must say I was pleasantly surprised to see this story, Daw, as I was expecting a story about Legolas as an elfling and instead, I find a story about a different elfling. I know you were depressed writing about Legolas's grief in A Creature of Fire and were planning on writing something happier. Author Reply: I'd forgotten all about that shirt thing! You're so right. I think what's happened is just that he's moved out of the palace and is taking up his own life as an adult. He's always done that as a warrior. Now he does it at his home too. And as you point out, he's still a warrior at some level. Eilian would have a stroke if an older Loriel started spending time with someone who resembled him as a young Elf. He knows he was unsteady, to put it mildly. At the moment, he's only worried about her wandering around at night (shades of Uncle Legolas!). The next chapter is all about Legolas who is also relaxing into his Wood-elf role. So this story is happier just now. How long it will stay that way is a question. | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| Apologies for barging in on your conversation with other people… I fervently hope that Gollum's feet were webbed. In Chapter 5 of The Hobbit, ‘Riddles in the Dark’: “‘It must make haste, haste!’ said Gollum, beginning to climb out of his boat onto the shore to get at Bilbo. But when he put his long webby foot in the water, a fish jumped out in fright and fell on Bilbo’s toes.” Author Reply: Hey, Dot! Have I told you lately how much I love you??? :-) | |
| Lamiel | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| Eilian has a daughter! My goodness, who would've thought? And they're living in Celuwen's settlement? I guess that's reasonable, given the peace after Sauron was driven from Dol Guldur. I laughed long and hard at this line, "She loved visiting Celuwen’s parents, a flaw that always puzzled Eilian, given that he found Loriel to be unusually bright." Hee! The entire family interaction, both between Eilian and his daughter and Eilian and Solith was wonderful. You have such a talent for capturing the very real emotions and dynamics of family. Eilian's grudging understanding of Solith's perspective, now that he has a daughter of his own, is nicely done. And I was grinning at the line about Solith wanting to believe that Loriel was dropped down their chimney by an eagle. Now what is this webbed creature lurking about the settlement? I'm trying to think if any of Sauron's creatures had webbed feet . . . not Gollum, surely; he was still in his cave in the Misty Mountains at this point, and I don't think his feet were actually webbed in any case. H'm. Perhaps there's a particularly malevolent duck out there with a grudge against Eilian. Or perhaps not. Now if I may ask -- did Fanfiction.net send you a warning not to post reviewer responses, or are you simply being prudent in response to Thundera's notice? I'm trying to determine what to do myself, as I've never gotten notice of that kind or seen a warning posted on the homepage. Author Reply: I've been trying to figure out what Eilian would do in peace time and living in the settlement seemed the best idea. He's close to the woods, and he has a lot of freedom but it's balanced by a lot of necessary work. He has neighbors and his family. I think he'd do well there. Too bad the peace here doesn't last. I'm so glad you liked the family interaction. It's my favorite thing to write. I think that Eilian will be a loving father just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas, but I think it may be Celuwen who has to be the disciplinarian, and sweet as she is, Loriel may need a firm hand. I fervently hope that Gollum's feet were webbed. If you find otherwise, let me know. :-) Here's the scoop about ff.net. They are apparently claiming that there's no new rule but tht their rule against interactive fics bans reviewer responses. When I saw TT's notice, at first I thought I would just ignore it. But then last week, rumor had it that Cassia and Sio had a story yanked for doing reviewer responses. Since I was just getting ready to post this new story, I reluctantly decided to be cautious. It's too bad. I feel so ungracious not replying. I've been trying to send emails to people like I've always done with final chapters there, but I can't find some email addresses and there's at least one there that I can't seem to read right, since the email keeps bouncing back. | |
| Jule | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| Yay! I was thrilled to see this your story. I love this world you have created and have trouble remembering it is not cannon. Elian is a wonderful Ada just like I knew he would be and Loriel sounds both adorable and amusing. I can't wait to read about her and Thranduil together. I have to admit though I hope they move back to the stronghold very soon. The idea of Loriel being closer to that meanspirited judgemental Solith than she is Thranduil is sad. Solith still puts Elian down and makes it clear that he ius unwelcome even in front of his daughter. Celuwen was welcomed with love at the castle. Loriel will start to notice as she gets older. The best part about them having to move back would be watching Thranduil bond with Loriel and laugh at his son being an Ada to a lively little girl. I can't wait for the next part because whatever your write is always better than anything I could imagine. Julie Author Reply: Thank you, Julie. :-) My guess is that Grandfather Thranduil is just dying over the fact that this granddaughter who looks like his dead wife is in the settlement rather than the palace. He was doting enough with Sinnarn! Still is, for that matter. I think you're right about Solith too. He has to smarten up. He doesn't want to force Loriel to take sides because if he does, she's going to choose her ada, just as Celuwen chose Eilian too, and Solith will be the loser. The next chapter is pretty much all Legolas. I need to establish where everyone is and how they're doing before I get my plot too far underway. | |
| thechevin | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/9/2005 |
| What a treat Eilian and Celuwyn have a daughter and are living the pastorl life in the settlement this was such a delight but as ever there is that hint and then much more than a hint of danger in the air and the little girl senses it so naturally just like her very fond Adar I can't wait to see Thranduil with his grandaughter he will be putty in her hands I suspect I liked this glimpse into life in the settlements and its apparently idyllic lifestyle but something tells me it won't last As for the warning about OC's I am with the rest of the reviewers these characters are as much canon now as those Tolkein came up with therefore not OC at all! Author Reply: It turned out to be surprisingly easy to picture Eilian happy in this kind of life. He has friends, his family, and enough responsibility to keep him happy and out of trouble. I just couldn't picture him hanging around the palace and not getting restless. I'm very pleased everyone was so happy to see Eilian instead of Legolas! I find him easier to write, I think. Legolas is more complicated, plus he's one of Tolkien's characters so I tend to careful with him. In this story, which takes place only 60 or so years before the Quest, I need to be sure to have him be as much like Fellowship!Legolas as possible. That's what I've been growing him toward. | |
| French Pony | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005 |
| Hmmm. A disturbing, slippery creature with webbed feet skulking around eating baby birds. Survey says. . . one critter in Arda fits that description perfectly. Name begins with a "G" and ends with "ollum." Mazel tov to Eilian and Celuwen for having produced Flower Face (Flower Face is a good nickname. One of mine was DisgustoBaby). I'm just tickled by the thought of the relentlessly male royal family suddenly having a daughter in their midst. She gets all new clothes, all new toys, and all the spoiling rotten she can take. And Loriel -- named for her late grandmother, I suppose? It looks like she takes after Uncle Legolas, especially in the wandering off department. Fortunately, Ada has already had practice dealing with a kid who likes to wander. I bet that's an advantage of the distance between Elvish siblings. The atmosphere at Isiwen and Sólith's seemed exactly right. Loriel provides enough of a truce that Sólith and Eilian can ignore each other rather than carp or threaten. Sigh. That's how my dad used to get along with my grandfather when my sister and I were little. Author Reply: I've always been creeped out by Gandalf's description of what Gollum did once he left the mountains in search of Bilbo and the Precious, and I've never seen another story use that event. I find the Tale of Years to be very useful for generating plot ideas. I think an outsider might find Flower Face to be a little Disgusto occasionally too, but not her doting ada. He thinks she's beautiful and unusually bright. And I think Eilian will be a loving father to her, just as he was a loving big brother to Legolas. I'll bet Thranduil can hardly stand it that Loriel is living in the settlement and not in the palace! Loriel sits between Solith and Eilian at the table, creating a nice little neutral zone. | |
| Frodo3791 | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005 |
| Eilian has a kid and doesn't live in the stronghold anymore? I might need a moment to shake off the shock of this chapter. For a moment I was wondering if I was reading the wrong story, but I quickly fell back into the familiarity of Eilian and his thoughts. When you said that this was going to be an OC chapter, I had to remind myself that Eilian was an OC. Anyway, I loved hearing things from Eilian's POV again. It's strange seeing him as a father, but you definilty kept him the same Eilian as before. It's weird seeing him during a time of peace, though, but he's still not going to let his guard down as we've noted at the beginning and ending of this chapter. I wonder what is causing the upset... I like Loriel. She sounds like an adorable kid and I bet she'll turn out to have a bit of Eilian's spirit in her as well. I really loved the bit where she's telling her grandfather that she's going to marry her adar. Not only was it a cute delivery, but my younger sister used to say that when she was a kid. It's ridiculous but funny. Well, I can't wait to learn more about this particular story. -Frodo Author Reply: LOL. For a long time, I've tried to picture what Eilian would do if there was ever peace in the forest, and I've gradually decided that he'll need responsibility to keep him steady. He can have that more easily here in the settlement and be close to the woods too. So here he is, at least for now. This bit of peace doesn't last of course, so he's likely to have to go back to having responsibility of a different kind, but I think what he's doing now is a natural way for Wood-elves to live. And Celuwen likes it. I missed writing from Eilian's POV in "Creature of Fire," so I was glad to get back to it here. I think he'll be a very loving father, just as he was a loving big brother for Legolas. When my son was little, he used to say that what he wanted to be when he grew up was a daddy. I thought that was cute too. :-) | |
| Nilmandra | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005 |
| I love seeing this side of Eilian- husband and ada, settler - who carries water for baths and waits on himself, and helps to grow his own food. He and Solith have not killed each other, and they have their daughter in the village and a granddaughter to boot, so he really has little legitimate to complain about. I somehow suspect that Maltanaur makes regular passes through the woods though :D Author Reply: LOL. I've temporarily sent Maltanaur home to his wife. He has a daughter and grandchild too, as I recall. I think the grandchild is around Sinnarn's age. Any way, the fact that Solith has little to complain about doesn't mean he refrains from complaining. But there's more or less a truce, I guess. We'll see how this goes in the long run. | |
| ScarlettPendragon | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/8/2005 |
| Hi Daw!! Holy Cr@p!! Elian has a daughter?! Eilian and Celuwen are living in her father's settlement?! Eilian isn't a soldier, but a settler?! I am totally in shock - now I'm going to have to go back and read "A Tangled Web" (such a hardship, I'm sure **LOL**!) I actually thought this story took place right after "A Creature of Fire", and I was submerged in confusion - thank goodness you updated your story list or I would be completely lost!! ;>) I'm still a little weepy for Legolas from your last story, and I was thrown by the joyful vibe of this first chapter, but I am really looking forward to a (hopefully) happier story!! I think I might have a small idea about the creature who is distressing the trees (coughcough**likesrawfishes**coughcough), and I can't for the life of me figure out what *it's* interest in Loriel might be!! You will laugh, but I read your A/N that all of the characters in this first chapter were OCs, then I started reading the story I was indignant - I thought 'Daw is crazy, what about Eilian - he's not an OC'!! And it wasn't until I finished the chapter muttering under my breath that it actually occured to me that Eilian is in fact an OC!! **LOL** I just love your stories and this universe you've created so much that to me it's canon that Ithilden and Eilian *are* Legolas' older brothers!! Can't wait for the next chapter!! Author Reply: I knew this story would be quite a change from "Creature of Fire"! It's about 200 years down the road. And after the Battle of Five Armies, Tolkien does say that there was peace in the woods for years. It turns out to be about 10 years. So one of the things I was wondering was what someone like Eilian would do then. He's been caught up in the excitement of defending his home, so now what? I thought that he might do better in the settlement than in the palace and Celuwen would like it. At least now he has work to do and he's close to the woods. You can wait and I'll eventually have someone tell you what the sneaky critter's interest is in Loriel or you can take a look at what Gandalf says about him in Chapter 2 of FOTR. The sneaking is pretty dangerous actually. I DID laugh when I read what you had to say about Eilian being a canon character. I worry that new readers must be totally lost when they find this complex set of OCs. Ah well. Too bad. I can't go back now. | |