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A Moment of Joy  by daw the minstrel 26 Review(s)
ElflingimpReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2006
That was great,your stories were among the first I ever started reading,I havent ever reviewed them but love all the characters. You have created a whole world and its nice to see a new story. Happy Birthday also Meckinock!

Author Reply: Glad you liked it, Elflingimp. I'm afraid I've let my OCs kind of spin out of control, but really, if you write about Mirkwood, it's hard not to because Tolkien told us so little about it. Anyway, this was fun to write. And maybe Meckinock will get around to posting another chapter of her story too!

lwarrenReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2006
I was so excited to see this story, daw, and had to take a few minutes from closing out the school year to read and review! Eilian and Ithilden are such wonderful characters - both so different, and not just because of the tremendous gap in their ages! I had to laugh at the very beginning where you said that Eilian was about 12 and Ithilden was adult because he was apparently born that way! LOL It certainly seems that way sometimes!

You did an excellent job of setting up the tension between the two brothers in that first scene with the arrow (the orc arrowhead as Eilian's prize - sounds like some gross thing a kid that age would covet, even an elf!) and I loved the glimpse of the part Lorellin plays in the family. You have often mentioned how she worried about her sons, and played the part of mediator/peacekeeper, especially where Eilian is concerned.

The construction of the waterwheel was priceless, and familiar - we have a competition sometimes where the kids are given a bag of objects and asked to construct a boat, then race them! The 3 elflings here sound just like some of my students - finding ways to make things work and using whatever is at hand to reach their goal!

The trip down the river on the rapids - I was glad to see Ithilden discover the excitement of it for himself, and the shattering waterwheel seemed the perfect ending for their 'moment of joy'! Great story, daw! You have been missed - I hope your original fiction you are working on is going well! Happy birthday to Meckinock, too! :-)

linda

Author Reply: Thank goodness for summer!

This was fun to write. I'm very fond of both these characters, different as they are. Each of them sees the world plainly, just not the same way the other one does! As I wrote Naneth's part, I could see again how much they all missed her, but especially Eilian, who needed her understanding presence. And of course, it's fun to have her nag Ithilden.

Do your students actually get in the boats??? I see the schoolboard's liability insurance provided fainting dead away. I've never characterized Gelmir much, but I decided he has a mechanical streak, so he was the instigator here in a way he seldom gets a chance to be.

What could be more fun than watching you stiff big brother get doused with water and then having the waterwheel blow up?

I hope my original fic is going well too. :-)

NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2006
Even hard-working tilting-whirling-wheel inspectors need to relax and have fun once in a while.”

You know, few of us may get that, but its an absoltuely hilarious line and so fitting for the occasion. Good story. I've missed these characters.

Author Reply: Sadly, I amused myself writing that line. I'm so pathetic.

French PonyReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2006
You know, I've been wondering for a while why it was that Thranduil and Lorellin decided to have Eilian so long after Ithilden was of age and able to take care of himself and in no immediate danger that would require both an heir and a spare. I think I've figured it out now. They wanted a kid. Clearly, they didn't get one the first time around.

And Eilian is such a typical kid, too. First he whines about having to go look at machinery, but the very next day, he's out there building it himself. And he's a bright kid, too. He and Gelmir seem to have figured out real quickly how the waterwheel works and what to do with it. I bet that Ithilden probably wouldn't have done that at the same age, because of lack of imagination.

And even if the wheel broke, it was so worth it for the chance to see it explode. Sometimes, failure is more spectacular than triumph.

Ahhh. The neighborhood bagpiper has moved on to spurts of actual melody.

Author Reply: And even if the wheel broke, it was so worth it for the chance to see it explode

Now that is just exactly Eilian's opinion too! Making the thing work was only a temporary goal. He and his buddies were after a good time all along. Ithilden is lucky he got invited too.

I decided Gelmir was the mechanic in the group. Eilian and, to a lesser degree, Celuwen are just enthusiastic helpers.

Glad the bagpiper is making music, as much as bagpipers can.

Alison HReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2006
Daw, that was so sweet! I was so happy to see a story from you, even if it was just a little birthday surprise for Meckinock.I love your stories.

Eilian was just adorable and his enthusiasm for life left me with a huge smile on my face.He certainly does look for the fun in every situation and I'm glad his Naneth sent Ithiden along to check up on him.

Ithilden....I must say that I have a huge crush on this character, too.He cares so much about duty that he forgets to relax, so much so that others have to gently remind him to have a life! His Naneth was smart to divert his interest to his brother.

I loved the whole situation with the water wheel.While it was dangerous, Ithilden was wise enough to let the children do their best to get the wheel working.Of course, he had to make sure that things were done correctly, even thought the outcome was always going to be disasterous.I enjoyed seeing Ithilden wading into the river and then getting soaked by the buckets---and the children then laughing their little heads off.That was so endearing.

The waterwheel was never going to pull the boat back but the ride Eilian and Ithilden experienced was worth it just to see the joy on their faces.That Ithilden was touched when Eilain wanted to ride the rapids with him was very moving and I loved the way you wrote that scene, with Eilain clenching his hands nervously.Ithilden wasn't going to disappoint his little brother!

The moment the waterwheel smashed I thought that one of the children would be injured.I was glad to read that Ithilden was in big brother protection mode, covering Eilain's head as wood was flying, but I didn't expect the children to howl with laughter after everything had settled.Then again, that is just like Eilian isn't it?

Daw, this was a lovely story and I really enjoyed revisiting your wonderful characters.Do you have more stories planned? I have missed your excellent stories and have been reading your earlier ones again.I hope that you have the time to write more.

Take care.

Ali.

Author Reply: I like writing Eilian with his mother still around and the Watchful Peace still in effect. He's full of life and energy and, I hope, wood-elfy in his need to play.

And I also like having Naneth nagging Ithilden a little. When we see this family later, after she dies, it looks like Ithilden is the 'good' son, but Lorellin always worried about him. She saw his seriousness as a problem every bit as much as Eilian's fecklessness.

See you and Ithilden are a good pair because in one way at least you think alike: He didn't expect the kids to laugh either! I'm sure this isn't the first grandiose scheme they've had go to piece. They'll just move on to the next one. And in the meantime, Ithilden had a good day. Now if he'd just get going on giving his parents a daughter-in-law and grandchildren!

Sharshus AureiliusReviewed Chapter: 1 on 5/26/2006
Awwww that was another great story from you! i have to say its nice to hear about a young eilian! All of your ocs are great, where do you get all your inspiration!

Author Reply: Thank you, Sharshus. I'm shamelessly fond of my OCs, so anyone who praises them is high on my list of good buddies.

I've been writing original fiction lately and was feeling particularly UNinspired today, so it's nice to hear from someone who hasn't noticed. :-)

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