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Eilian and the Lembas Maiden's Kiss by daw the minstrel	62 Review(s)
elliska	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/18/2006
Eilian searched the litter in his memory, trying to dig up whatever Maldor-given advice he had shoved aside. Snort! and he had eventually learned it had only one possible answer. Spit my tea on that one. As well as this: and follow the path of caution, assuming he could find it. Eilian is such a laugh in this. I swear he would just infuriate me. Normally I don't tend to think of him in a motherly way (far from it), but since he is young in this one, it slipped into my mind what it would have been like to be his mother. And I groaned. And along those lines--another story with a bit of the queen in it! Awesome! I love any glimpse of her. But Eilian's bet! Oh I roared at that. Especially given what we know of the future. What a brat! Celuwen's reaction was priceless and Eilian's cluelessness was too. And I laughed at Fendir's strategy and the conversation about playing fairly. This is going to be great! So glad to see another story by you, daw! Author Reply: Happy very belated birthday, Elliska. I've been experimenting lately with trying to get deeper into a character's personality when I write from their POV and also with using a bit more figurative language. Writing Eilian's view of things was a good chance to do it, especially since he's fun. Him and Beliond. They're both entertaining POVs to write. Being Eilian's mother would have made me nuts. Fortunately, Lorellin largely understood him, and he was eager to please her. I suspect he would have settled down a lot earlier if she had lived.

JustMe	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/18/2006
As always, I love your characters and I love your stories. I can't wait to see if the ever charming Eilian actually manages to steal a kiss from the very proper, very dignified Alfirin (it seems to me that I know the outcome of this little event - didn't you hint at this episode in one of your other stories?). If anyone can manage this, it will be Eilian. He is such a schmoozer! You just have to love him - and Alfirin has always been one of my favorite characters. I suspect that Celuwen may be experiencing a case of the green eyed monster right now. Gelmir better be careful or he may be caught in the crossfire! Thanks for sharing! Author Reply: I suspect Gelmir was caught in the crossfire on more than one occasion. He seems to have learned to keep his mouth shut. I was thrilled to read that Alfirin is one of your favorite characters. I find writing convincing female OCs is tricky, and Alfirin is pretty conventional partly because I was worried about making her a Mary Sue. But I think she's also much more determined than she looks, a fact that Ithilden eventually discovers too. :-) Thanks for the kind words.

sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/18/2006
Already we can see Celuwen getting a bit hurt with Eilian's light flirting with maidens. Of course Gelmir seems to be more aware of that than Eilian. I forgot that Alfirin was the same age as Eilian. I'm guessing that Eilian will kiss her (as the title suggests) and Alfirin, being surprisingly fiery, would do something to make Eilian know that she was not amused... But this is just my own guess. Author Reply: You're right, Sofia. Eilian is sooo dense about Celuwen that even Gelmir rolls his eyes. Alfirin is tougher than she looks, Eilian better watch out.

Kate	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/18/2006
I hardly ever review but I just wanted to tell you how happy I am that you’ve written another story! I'm not sure what's more exciting, the characters/plot or the words "in progress". The back-stories of your characters are so much fun to read! Could Celuwen and Alfirin be more opposite? It is nice seeing them like this, before Celuwen and Eilian are married (or Alfirin and Ithilden are for that matter). I could not help laughing through most of this chapter, considering who they all become. Thranduil and Lorellin are so in love... I always look forward to the family scenes. Seeing the four of them together is wonderful, yet sad at the same time. They all lost so much. Lorellin really is good for Thranduil. I do hope you write more with them as well as her with Eilian and Ithilden. So... will Ithilden the brother or Ithilden the husband find out about this litter wager? Or is this something better left untold? Author Reply: Hi, Kate. I'm happy I wrote another story too! Karen's birthday is actually Nov. 22, but I couldn't wait to post it. It's only three chapters though. I've been spending time trying to writing original fic and that seems to take most of my creative energy. I was pleased to see your comment about Celuwen and Alfirin being opposites. When I first introduced them, many stories ago, I was afraid they'd sort of merge into generic female love interests with different names, so I wrote out character sheets for them, and they are as different as their husbands are. Or they're supposed to be that different anyway. So good. It's only recently that I've felt comfortable writing much about this time before Legolas. Someone (Jasta, I think) suggested I write a story set when Legolas is little, before Lorellin is killed. That would be fun to do some time too. I suspect this is not something Ithilden needs detailed knowledge of. :-)

Gwynhyffar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2006
Oh, Eilian, you are playing with fire and don't even know it. I don't think anyone would approve, let along parents and masters. I very much enjoyed reading this, Daw. I can't wait for Eilian to actually TRY to kiss Alfirin. Poor little guy! lol I really really like seeing Lorellin and Thranduil together. It's the little things that say a lot, like her smoothing his collar - or his temper for that matter. She is the perfect counterpart to him. Author Reply: For Eilian, the outrageous nature of the wager is part of the attraction. How exciting! How fun! Until it's not. Writing Lorellin and Thranduil together is interesting. I've done it so seldom that it always surprises me. Glad you liked it, Gwyn.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2006
Eilian is mine! All mine! For today, no, this week, the whole week! What a delight start, Daw. The guys are hysterical. My favorite lines: Fendîr grinned. "And an excellent thing that would be. I am tired of having my face ground into the dirt. You will be a better person for letting the younglings chew on your ankles for a while, Eilian." Gelmir grinned. "I doubt if Celuwen cares about the pretty part, and she seems to find Alfirin uninteresting. No doubt she misses me and Eilian. We are far more amusing." Oh, Gelmir, you dog, you. Of course, she'd rather be with you and Eilian. snort Truth is, she might, but the way he said it cracked me up. But this exchange is priceless: "Probably," she answered over her shoulder. "Unless I decide to find someone to kiss, because after all it would only be a kiss." "Go ahead." He turned to his friends. "She never would." He looked for confirmation to Gelmir, whose eyes were on Celuwen's dwindling back. "Probably not." The corners of Gelmir's mouth twitched. Eilian assumed he found Celuwen's threat as amusing as Eilian did. I could hear the rise and fall of their voices. Eilian is certain Celuwen would never kiss a guy just for fun, and Gelmir isn't above twisting the needle a little into Eilian's confidence. Eilian has such a knack for screwing up. I loved the dinner scene with Lorellin arranging Thranduil's collar and exchanging little knowing smiles with him. Eilian peddled out of that hole he'd put himself in as fast as he could. "Are you arguing with me?" Yeah, I'd back-peddle too. Eilian didn't seem to miss much of the festivities at the river by having to deliver his forgotten message. But good old Fendîr wasn't about to give the game away. That was another great spot of dialogue. Celuwen's advice about Alfirin's interests did come in handy. Alfirin truly became animated when she talked about weaving. Eilian is feeling lucky. This is such a terrific birthday gift. I can't tell you how excited I am to read one of you stories again, but to know you went to this much trouble for me and for Elliska (I'm sure she'll be just as thrilled) brings a huge smile to my face. Thank you so much. I absolutely love it. Karen Author Reply: I'm glad you liked it, Karen, at least so far. You spend a lot of time around guys who would be the equivalent age, so if it sounds natural, I'm pleased. It's a tough age though. With his friends, he's all swagger and talk about kissing. But that comes in between getting chewed out by Maldor and jumped on by Thranduil, neither of whom wants any swagger. The girls, on the other hand, are doing something important and private to them. I suspect that to them these guys look like hormone-poisoned, unpredictable, strangely attractive aliens (which is an oral pun on Eilian's name).

Manderly	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2006
One thing nice about this site is that when someone has a birthday, we all benefit. Off to a very Eilian start! I had to laugh at the part about his being skeptical of finding the path of caution. Caution and Eilian seldom coincide, it seems. But Eilian is right. Maldor is being a horse's behind and that behind only got bigger as years went by. I remember Maldor being quite nasty to Legolas as well. So Eilian has himself a wager and Alfirin is unwittingly a part of it. Considering what the wager is about, no wonder Alfirin is still haunted by it years later. Author Reply: Eilian talks before he thinks, whether it's to Maldor or his betting buddy. I suspect the girls won't be too impressed. He always intends to do the right thing, if it would just jump out and stop him from doing something else first!

French Pony	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2006
I hold fast to my opinion that Maldor is indeed a horse's behind, and should not be teaching novices. If one does not want one's trainees to use a move, then one should not teach it. If one wants to teach a move, one should teach it thoroughly. Demonstrating and then declaring that they are not to use the move until later is stupid, if only because there will always be students like Eilian who will pick it up from one observation, but not have enough time to practice it right. I was under the impression that lembas production was limited to Lothlorien, but I'm probably mistaken. In any event, it's kind of fun to see Celuwen and Alfirin being adolescents together. Author Reply: You are undoubtedly right about Maldor. At any rate, he's a bad teacher for Eilian. Very bad match. The lembas stuff proved interesting once I got looking stuff up. There's a short essay in "Peoples of Middle Earth" in which Tolkien says that lembas originated when Yavanna made it for the elves Great Journey. Since then, the highest woman in any group of elves "great or small, had the keeping and gift of the lembas." It grew anywhere in ME except in shade and could be planted in any season except when there was frost. The "maidens of Yavanna" handles the grain and Tolkien gives both a Quenya and Sindar name for them. So from that, I inferred the production of lembas was wider spread than Lothlorien, but it's easily possible I'm wrong. I haven't seen a lot about lembas in fanfic and I tried to do my research but you know how easy it is to miss something. Tolkien was darn prolific and also self-contradictory.

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2006
I laughed when I saw the title of the story, and I laughed even harder when I saw the title of the chapter. I figured we were in for some classic Eilian :-) And what a rogue he is! This is such fun. Poor Eilian and Maldor just don’t seem to get on. Eilian’s never liked him, right? But then, does Maldor get on with anyone? Hmm, maybe Solith… I love how Eilian instinctively performs the right move against his opponent but hasn’t actually thought through what could have happened. I don’t think that’ll change much as he gets older! I like him at this age – thinking he’s doing right most of the time but landing himself in trouble and not sure how he got there. Alfirin and Celuwen made me smile. I nearly fell off my seat at this line, though: Like opaque water, it filled him with an urge to learn just how deep it ran. That’s an uh-oh moment if ever I saw one. He’s so dense, though, in the way only males can be, to make a game out of kissing Alfirin in front of Celuwen. Oh well. He’ll learn. Eventually. His father had evidently just arrived, and his mother was smoothing out the collar of Thranduil's tunic. melts I love seeing these moments between Lorellin and Thranduil, even though they never fail to make me a little teary. Like that little one between them after she thanks Eilian and probably making him feel like he was glad to do what he was supposed to do earlier. Something tells me that Thranduil was probably just about to launch into a “damn right you’ll do it” speech… ;-) This lembas stuff is fascinating. Especially as it’s a part of their culture that we haven’t seen before. Poor Alfirin doesn’t seem at all comfortable around Eilian!! But in fairness to him, he’s giving it his best shot! Fendir made me laugh. Clearly, he sees no point in making things easy for Eilian! I’m still grinning at the end. I’d feel more sorry for Alfirin but something tells me she’ll be well able for him. In fact, I’m sort of starting to feel sorry for Eilian… I know this is rushed but it’s very late and I just couldn’t hold out until tomorrow. You’re not the only one with no patience ;-) Great story so far! I can’t wait to see what happens. And a very happy early (and late) birthday to the birthday girls. Author Reply: Thanks, Dot. This was fun to write. "Dense" is an apt description of Eilian. He's so intent on what he's set on doing that he never stops to think if he should be doing it in the first place. Lorellin was a good complement to Thranduil. She certainly wouldn't undercut what he had to say to Eilian, but she also saw a way to help Eilian do what he should and not dig in his heels and resent being told off. The lembas stuff was interesting when I got into it. I haven't seen a story that deals with it either. It seemed to me to be an interesting female realm in the male world Tolkien gave us.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/17/2006
Ahh. ... ... ... Alfirin's suspicion is very wise. And trust Eilian not to be able to leave well enough alone. Not a concept he can grasp. Fingers crossed he comes away a wiser elf. Thranduil would be eternally grateful. Author Reply: My guess is that Alfirin knows warg dung when she hears it. Thranduil is lucky he doesn't know everything that goes on really. He's happier this way. I used to think that when my kid was away at college too. Some things weren't meant for me to know about.

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