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| A Spring of Joy by daw the minstrel | 25 Review(s) |
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| esamen | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/24/2005 |
| Wow. Lots of activity. So many cool things going on. Legolas and Beliond in Dale . . . when those two get around Men, it's always funny. That statue in the town's center was marvelous. Where do you get these ideas? I like how Legolas looks when he's around men. He's so powerful, graceful and deliberate, yet we (and the Men) see his latent dangerousness and his ability to intimidate. It's not completely concealed. His lineage and ability shows through all his restraint. I also like that you show Bard as a wily match for Elves, and not like a simpleton. After all, it was Bard and not Legolas who killed Smaug . . . Men must be good for something, huh. I can't wait to find out what's going to happen during the night. Surely you have something creepy, Gollum-y and dangerous up your sleeve for the town of Dale and for our hero? And then Beliond can get all upset when Legolas is too heroic for his liking? Hey, what does Beliond look like? Can you give us a visual? Oh, poor Thranduil in his prophetic, tragic dream. Trees in flames, huh? Are you alluding to the return of the shadow to Dol Guldur, or to the activity in Mirkwood during the war of the Ring? So many questions. I hope you actually answer some of them . . . and it's a pretty cruel cliffie ending there . . . I hope you update soon. Thanks for a great chapter! Happy typing, esamen Author Reply: I thought of the statue pretty late, actually. At first it was just a fountain, but then I thought that was boring so what else could be there. A statue. What of? And then I thought of the three leaders of the armies during the battle! So there you are. Your description of Legolas is much better than mine! LOL. He is all those things, and yet to himself, he's ordinary. Bard seems to me to be kind of a formidable figure, smart and commanding and not one to intimidate easily. I've never figured out what either of the keepers looks like. I tend to picture them as sort of burly middle-aged looking guys, but that's wrong for elves. I don't know. I'd have to think about it. Gollum was in Dale two nights ago (I think) so he may be on to something else by now. :-) | |
| Dot | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/24/2005 |
| It’s so interesting to see how Dale has changed. I liked the little moment when Legolas has to remind himself that these Men weren’t alive at the time that Smaug ruined Dale. It’s a clever reminder of their differences, as well as of all that Legolas has seen. I couldn’t help smiling at Legolas’ eagerness to see Bard again. He certainly seems a lot more tolerant of him than of the Master of Esgaroth, despite, as Beliond points out, the fact that Bard was certainly willing to fight for treasure, his by right or not. I love the statue!!! LOL. He has to tell Thranduil about that. I know I should be mulling over Beliond’s words and questioning whether any of them should really be viewed as heroic… but I’m too distracted by the fierce-looking elf. “Adar will be happy to know that the Men of Dale see him as so fearsome.” I nearly choked on my tea at that. Beliond is just wonderful. I can’t blame him for being sceptical of just about everything. I really enjoy seeing him and Legolas tease each other. Their relationship is so very different than that infamous time they visited the inn. I think Legolas meant to ask for Bard, not Brand, by the way. The official doesn’t seem very inclined to argue with Beliond. Hmm. And rightly so too. Bard seems as straightforward as ever. But he has a son now! I just loved the little gesture of the grim man tucking the child’s hair behind his ear. He’s absolutely adorable in his excitement about the elves. Apparently he wasn’t put off by the scary statue. I get a bit nervous about you introducing new children into a story like this one but at least we know for certain that Bain grows up!! “I will have another guest at the table whom you might find interesting. King Dáin is eating with us tonight.” LOL. That’ll be fun! There’s something rather sad about Thranduil trying so hard to figure out what the disturbance in the trees’ song could mean. I imagine waiting is one of his least favourite past times too. At least he has Mithrandir for company ;-) I think I’d be seriously worried if he showed up on my doorstep and starting asking about my family! I suppose he must get used to being greeted with a certain apprehension everywhere he goes… I love Thranduil’s complete faith in Legolas. I guess, though, it’ll prove to Mithrandir how dependable Legolas is and all this prepares Legolas for interacting easily and cooperating with other races too. “Look, Aunt Alfirin, I can close the gate myself!” That probably means she can open it herself too, Aunt Alfirin. Mithrandir seems to have found a captive audience for his little tricks. I wonder if she’s pulled his beard yet. I think I remember Sinnarn doing that. That dream was disturbing. I felt sorry for Lorellin actually, because she never had a chance to see her grandchildren, but my heart went out to Thranduil. How unspeakably awful for him to have the Shadow come back yet again. Hasn’t he had enough? And the trees bursting into flames! I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like for the elves when the forest burned. Sometimes it’s hard knowing what they’ll have to face! Oh well, that’s still a while in the future. In the meantime, I’m getting quite excited about what’s happening down south. I’d be scanning the treetops, waiting for them to return too if I could! I’m enjoying this story so much :-) Author Reply: Shoot! Bard, Bard, Bard. Not Brand. Yes, that's right. These people with almost the same names drive me crazy. At least they're better that Finwe, Finrod, Fingon, Fingolfin, et al. I thought of the statue quite late in putting this chapter together, and I laughed when I did. It would be odd for Thranduil to see himself, but then I suppose Bard and Dain already have seen themselves. I guess, though, it’ll prove to Mithrandir how dependable Legolas is and all this prepares Legolas for interacting easily and cooperating with other races too. Oh thank you! In all that Legolas stuff, it's been hard for me to articulate what's going on other than the plot, but that captures it nicely. I love the idea of a character like Mithrandir, who's a good guy but whose appearance is dreaded because of what it signifies. I think if I ever turn all this into original fic, I need someone like that. The vision of the Battle Under the Trees was horrifying to me. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/24/2005 |
| Ah, beautiful. I just loved Legolas realising with a shake of his head that of course these short-lived creatures wouldn't remember where the king used to keep his house. And the statue! Amazing. I'm glad they managed to make a fair representation of the three heroic leaders - and I do feel that Thranduil ought to come and see it. Beliond is so delightfully suspicious - but with a wicked edge of . . . not so much wit, as sarcasm. And Annael is so open and sunny. They make a superb couple of stooges. Tell me - has Legolas found any use for his lock-picking skills yet? Beyond freeing the odd skin of Dorwinion from the locked wine cellars, that is. Cute litte Bardion. I'm not surprised that Bain wants to come and play with the elves, although I can't see him making it to visit Thranduil unless he goes soon. It would be rather fun to see him and Loriel together - he might be quite surprised by what an elfling can do. Although I do hope that does not include putting herself at risk. Still at least the odds aren't too bad: three adult females (four if Elowen plays), occasional uncle and grandfather and a Home Guard of warriors. They might be able to keep her where she is supposed to be. Having Mithrandir tell you how much he relies on you and counts on your friendship sounds very ominous. As does Thranduil's dream of Lorellin. I hope it is just a general foreboding of things to come and not a threat to any of Mirkwood's finest. They have enough troubles coming - and Flower Face needs her adar to come home just as much as he needs to return to her and Celuwen. And Sinnarn needs to come home too. In fact they all do. With nothing more than minor movie injuries. Please. Author Reply: I had trouble remembering that these men wouldn't know where the king's hall used to be. But then, on a smaller scale, I'm always shocked at what my students don't remember. Oh, lockpicking. I have this note for a possible story in which Maltanaur and Beliond do something foolish and Legolas and Eilian have to bail them out. At one point the brothers look at one another and say "Surely they didn't?" Anyway, in the notes, it says, "There should be lockpicking." So my answer is I don't know if Legolas has found use for that skill yet. :-) Bain is a canonical figure, the father of Brand, who died during the defense against Sauron's forces. But you probably knew that. I'd be scared witless if Mithrandir looked at my kid and said how useful he looked! | |
| Alison H | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/24/2005 |
| I'm sorry that I haven't reviewed the last few chapters but I just want you to know that I'm loving this story.Your writing simply gets better and better! Legolas was very witty when meeting King Bard--I loved his teasing of Beliond concering King Dain! I laughed out loud when Legolas informed his grouchy keeper that HE would be sitting next to the dwarf! Loriel is just the most adorable child! She has Thranduil wrapped around her finger but it is a good thing that she is Eilian's daughter for he knows what she may be capable of.Poor Thranduil--no wonder he has to tell others to watch that she doesn't wander.Mind you, you could have really tortured him and given Loriel a twin sister!! I feel ominous music soon as both Legolas and Thranduil are thinking of Eilian and then that terrible dream that frightened Thranduil out of his wits.They will need all their strength as a family very soon. Oh, and I loved your subtle wording of Thranduil's thoughts about Gandalf and his gratitude to the King's sons.We all know how his musings turn into reality sooner than he would like.That was a beautiful touch and I really felt sad for Thranduil then even though we know the outcome! Bravo, Daw on another excellent story.Next chapter soon, please! Take care. Ali. Author Reply: When you tell me my writing is getting better, you make me feel very good, Ali. My beta is a huge help, but other than that, I just sort of struggle along by trial and error, and it's not always easy to see the errors. I like writing about kids in general, although twins might defeat me. I've never been close to a set of twins, so I don't know very much about how that might work. But I have a kid of my own and have vivid memories of how charmingly self-centered they are. "I'm here!" they cry, believing that will bring nothing but joy. At least, they believe that if they've been loved as this little girl has. It would be very scary to have Gandalf estimating the strength of your children, I think. Poor Thranduil. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 5/24/2005 |
| Only a dream maybe, but one full of foreboding and ill-omen. The tree-tops burning seems particularly sinister. Poor Thranduil, to dream of his beloved wife and have it turn sour :( Loriel's fascination with Mithrandir is funny. Perhaps if he were to command her to stay in the palace, she'd obey. The visit to Dale was light-hearted - I loved the statue of Thranduil, and this line: 'Legolas caught a glimpse of Annael smiling and Beliond narrowing his eyes.' It sums up the differences between his two companions perfectly! I wish the elves would catch Gollum - but I know they can't. Ah well - the abortive search is intriguing. I hope we catch up with Eilian next (before Loriel does.) Author Reply: The burning tree-tops came from my idea of what the Battle under the Trees must have been like. I think the Wood-elves were probably driven back right to the stronghold. What a horrible thought. Surely kids of all races must have been intrigued by Mithrandir, even if he's just smoking and not setting off fireworks. I've had some trouble working out for myself what the search through the Mannish towns must have meant for Legolas. To me, all of this is preparation for the quest. I suppose if nothing else Gandalf sees him as someone who can be sent on missions. | |