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Wood-elves by daw the minstrel	31 Review(s)
JastaElf	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
Oh come now, that was just plain BRILLIANT!!! What a marvelous story!! You just keep getting better and better and better.... And can I just say that I adore Maltanaur and Beliond even MORE now.... g The whole thing is just brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant. Such good characterizations... such wonderful dialogue and clever side-commentary... I loved Beliond's reaction to his elleth and her Lorien friend.... the comment about Laegcened making him polish his rattle and toys, and despairing that Thranduil would ever make an adequate Elfling....(snort, giggle...) g and this was one of my favourite paragraphs: "Beliond waited until Laegcened was well out of earshot, then took his time expressing his opinion of the captain’s parentage, physique, and personal habits. Thranduil listened with interest. He was always trying to expand his Silvan vocabulary." So understated and just plain PERFECT!!!! And the end bit... with them agreeing never to tell tales to each other's Elflings.... roaring with laughter OMG Maltanaur and Beliond would NEVER live it down!!!! Have we seen Laegcened before? Or (gulp!) did he get lost at Dagorlad? Marvelous tale, hon... when was Nilmandra's birthday? Author Reply: Bless you for finding this, Jasta! I'll post on ff.net eventually but it wouldn't let me upload the file. Nilmandra's birthday is actually Thursday but I had this written and couldn't wait to post. I so appreciate your kind words about the characterizations. I've learned a lot about writing in the last few years and hope to learn more. It was odd trying to imagine these guys as youths, really. I felt like one of Thranduil's sons unable to believe his father had ever been young. Laegcened is new. I figure he never came back from Dagorlad. Thanks, Jasta.

Gwynhyffar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
Oh my gosh, that was priceless. I LOVED the sword dance! Thranduil cutting that dwarf's beard had me howling and I have to admit that I couldn't hold back the giggles when the captain came over to reprimand them. I was wondering if anyone ever told Eilian about the incident. I suspect it may have come up, depsite Beliond's announcement that youthful actions would be kept amongst them. snort as if. Both Beliond and Maltanaur ended up being big blabbermouths.. well sort of anyway. I like that about them. I really like how you used Sindarin and Silvan and showed a mingling of the two languages. Great story, Daw, and somehow I don't think Oropher would have minded the sword dance all that much. Author Reply: I don't think Oropher would mind either! He might tell Thranduil to stay out of trouble. I could see that. But he wouldn't see a thing wrong with teaching the dwarf a lesson. Poor Laegcened! He must feel like he's holding this army together and discipling it on his own. The stuff about the languages was interesting, once I got to reading about it. Glad you liked it, Gwyn.

Nilmandra	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
What a delightful story! Thank you! But what I really want to know is how Beliond came to be just like the Captain he couldn't stand?? That is so funny. The differences between Thranduil the Sindar and Maltanaur and Beliond the 'less wise and more dangerous' wood elves was great. I like seeing them all so young and carefree like this. Oropher fit the profile - he can take care of himself all right, but he is also pretty impetuous and opinionated. And the dances were great - glad to see Thranduil thoroughly corrupted by the wood elves. Also sad to think that Beliond lost that wife and child. :( I assume that is what changed him so, that and Dagorlad. So much history, sorrow and joy, wrapped up in this. I liked it very much. Author Reply: You are most welcome! You know, I'm not sure Beliond gets to be exactly like that captain. I think even thousands of years down the road, with much sad experience under his belt, he's capable of doing what he likes, no matter what the rules are. Hence he can break into a spice shop and tell off his king. But life beats him up a little. He sees too much to stay so joyous and hopeful. It made me sad.

Sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
Beliond sure seems... carefree. Definitely not the same elf who now is a keeper to Legolas. As I say for each new story of yours, good good! Author Reply: Beliond is young, very young, and still hopeful and untouched by the sorrow that lies ahead. And yet, he's also capable of doing exactly what he wants, despite what authorities think, which I think is a trait he keeps. It's just that his beliefs come to be more in sync with those of the authorities when he gets more experience. Thank you for the review, Sofia. I'm glad you liked it.

Alice	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
Aww, man, young Beliond, Maltaunar, and Thranduil! It's so exciting! I really liked this. It's so strange seeing Thranduil as a young warrior under the authority of Oropher and Laegcened. As well as seeing him somewhat seperate from the wood elves. When he's their king in later stories the fact that they're silvan and he's sindarin never even comes up he's such a part of them and they're such a part of him. He knows them as shown by the whole you can't govern wood elves, only serve them. Very insightful about the wood elves, particularly when we think of those stubborn settlement elves in later stories. I really liked seeing Thranduil's captain. It's interesting how much more stiff and formal he is than the later captains of Lasgalen. That's part of why I liked this story. It had such a different feel than the other stories. I felt like I was truly in the first age. I'm delighted that you decided to post Nilmandra's birthday present for the rest of us to enjoy. Author Reply: You know, it was strange to write about Thranduil under someone else's authority too. I felt like one of his sons, unable to imagine him as a youngling. And these Sindar are in transition here. Several thousand years down the road, they'll all have changed. It's hard to think in those time scales. Glad you liked it, Alice.

Laureleaf	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
It's good to see that Legolas's mother was not his only source for his mischievous nature! I like the younger versions of much older characters...you have an inate ability of creating your universe within Tolkien's! Author Reply: Thank you, Laureleaf. Actually, I like trying to fit my original material into Tolkien's world. It give me limits, but it also give me ideas. For me, it's one of the pleasures of fanfiction vs. original fic. Thranduil is daring enough and self-assured enough to get into trouble with the best of them, especially when he's with his Silvan friends. It's a good thing the sons never find out all this stuff!

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
sigh This is fantastic. You write a fabulous Oropher. One of my favourite parts is him caressing the willow branch. You really paint him as someone who so close to nature, with a wildness to his spirit – and we also see fieriness and passion and independence in him. And his stubbornness and ability to exasperate people. He’s such a presence, even though he’s really not the focus of the story. So that’s what happened to Thranduil’s mother…! I love the banter between Thranduil, Beliond and Maltanaur. The best line is “Do you suppose the old goat will give us any free time?” and Thranduil thinking for a “mad moment” that he meant Oropher. ROTFL!! I have to admit, it’s really bizarre seeing Maltanaur and Beliond so innocent about some things. Considering how well-travelled and knowledgeable they become. It’s interesting to think that at this point in time, of all the things that separate them, it’s the experience in Doriath that really sets them apart. It seems to be there the whole time. It’s fun, though, to watch them tease one another about the Silvan/Sindarin differences. And I did laugh at Thranduil trying to look fierce on approaching Amdir’s flet, even though I’m sure that’s not the reaction he was going for. Erm, he might want to learn something about dealing with dwarves about weapons… One of the most interesting things is seeing Thranduil’s feelings when he’s not in a position to do anything much. We can already see his temper and his cunning - and he’s reserved too in way, which Thranduil of your later stories still is except that he’s grown so much in confidence. He reminds me a little of your Legolas here in the way that he knows how to have fun, but he’s very conscious of doing the right thing. Until his limits are pushed… And oh my gosh, is that Beliond’s future wife?? I loved that part. Tinondel had a very narrow escape! I’m still grinning at this: “I recognized you immediately. You are everything Arriel described and more.” By the way, Beliond is not going to be pleased that we’ve all seen him blush ;-) Venison sandwiches, some mead and a little dancing. What more could an elf want? I can see Thranduil adopting some of these practices for his feasts… Does Beliond know he’s missing knife-juggling? Oh well, Thranduil will put them all to shame juggling – what? seven? – one of these days. I adored the sword dance. It sounds so beautiful and dangerous. And what a wily devil Thranduil can be! Then the dwarf’s beard drifted to the grass, like down blown from a thistle. That was an incredible moment! Go Thranduil! “He slipped. He is sorry. It will not happen again.” And go Laegcened too! I feel bad for him, actually. He clearly lays great importance on discipline and obedience. And he’s landed with a bunch of half-wild wood-elves. Considering that I’ve never heard of him before, I’m guessing he doesn’t survive wood-elf impulsiveness at Dagorlad :-( “My adar says you cannot govern wood elves, only serve them and lead them.” Ah. See, that’s why people loved Oropher so much and what will make Thranduil such a fine king. And good old Beliond even managed a quick vocabulary lesson. How I’d love to know what he said! This was excellent, daw. I loved seeing them in their wild youth, getting used to new things and having a little cultural education. Seeing Thranduil embracing the Silvan folk as his people is wonderful – and I bet in the not-so-distant future he’ll be looked on by outsiders as “exciting, dangerous and slightly mad” too ;-) Author Reply: Thank you, Dot! Have I ever told you how much I love your reviews? I had to think a bit to fit characters I'd created into the world Tolkien gave us. I'd already suggested Thranduil was a child in Doriath, so that gave me a time frame. And if Beliond and Maltanaur are Silvan subjects of Oropher, then I thought they'd have been youths in the Greenwood. So that then raised the question of how Thranduil saw these new people and adjusted to them. It seemed to me that Oropher might feel as if he were coming home, but Thranduil seemed more controlled than his father, so he might have taken a while. Of course, he was young, so he might be more flexible too. And I figured Oropher brought some Sindarin with him and some would adjust better than others. Actually, I think warriors like Maltanaur and Beliond learned a lot from Laedcened that allowed them to survive Dagorlad, even though the captain didn't. But man, they must have driven him nuts! I think that's Beliond's wife, yes. :-)

Elflingimp	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
That was really exciting I could just picture their dance while I was reading it. I was sure someone was going to get seriously hurt , well the dwarf kinda deserved it, but I cant imagine a dwarf without a beard!! Great story and Happy Birthday Nilmandra!! Author Reply: Thank you, Elflingimp. I think the guys captain was sure someone was going to get hurt too--at his hands if they not by one another's or the dwarf's. The beardless dwarf made me laugh. Nilmandra's birthday is actually Thursday, but I couldn't wait to post. I have no patience at all. Maybe I'm a wood elf. :-)

NaughtyNettie	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
This was great! I loved seeing Thranduil, Beliond and Maltanaur when they were young and had no real worries or cares. And Thranduil wonders where his boys get it from :o) Author Reply: Thranduil wonders where his boys get it from Yes, indeed! It's not badness. It's just a wild joy in life in the woods. And this was a time of peace, although Oropher apparently never trusted it completely. So some dancing, some mead, and little dangerous play! Just what young guys of almost any species enjoy.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 6/20/2006
"Tell you he despaired of your ever becoming even an adequate elfling?” What a brilliant line. I laughed out loud - and that, let me tell you, is a rare thing! (I think I love Beliond more than ever. And Maltanaur - I'm not surprised Nindwen wasn't rushing into matrimony!) And the sword dance! Just sparkling. Thranduil seriously doesn't seem as impetuous as his father - if it hadn't been for the influence of certain wood elves - wood elves who are having boot troubles - he might actually have been quite sensible! I thought we were about to have dagger juggling - but it turned out even more exciting. I suspect Laegcened and his rigidly controlled braids did not survive Dagorlad, poor elf. Imagine taking a disciplined soldier and putting him in charge of an army of wood elves! Under the control of the more-than-a-little impulsive Oropher. He must have looked on death as a release. Gorgeous story. Requiring half a dozen more readings to relish the nuances. Author Reply: Thank you, Bodkin. The Thranduil we see in The Hobbit looked hot tempered and independent to me, but not impulsive or undisciplined, but what little we know of Oropher suggested he was on the wild side. At least to me it did, although we're guessing about most of this of course. I thought it might have taken a while for Thranduil to learn to be a wood elf, but in the end, it's the way elves were meant to be. And I had the same thought about Laegcened and Dagorlad.

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