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| The Seeds of Time by daw the minstrel | 17 Review(s) |
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| meckinock | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| I loved seeing the family here through the lens of Lorellin's unique personality. It's clear she loves them all, but she's not so saintly that she can't see Ithilden as a humorless stick-in-the-mud and to connive at finding him a wife. But while she clearly thinks her husband and eldest son would be happier if they would manage to lighten up a little; she's also wise enough to see that there are times when their jobs are downright grim, and pep talks won't help. Like Perelleth mentioned, the foreshadowing here and the little images of a future that will never be are painful. Seeing her laughing and teasing Thranduil about having another baby, knowing what's in store for them really illustrates how not just her life was lost, but also the shared future they all hoped for. But see Legolas so proud of his little friends! The fox and rabbit game had me laughing. Legolas is so deadly earnest about the game, eagerly taking instruction and working out in his mind the finest details of acting like a tree, and trying ever so hard to follow the steward's instructions to the letter. Well, at least until Legolas blinked. Why had he not thought of that? Turgon was very clever. I could just see the lightbulb going off in his little head as Turgon managed to re-wire all the connections. So this is where it begins. No, Legolas!! The moment that touched me the most was the one at the end of the fire-jumping scene, when Eilian realizes his mother has witnessed his final stunt. Lorellin and Eilian are so comfortable together it's almost painful. He seems vulnerable here, not because he fears her disapproval as is so often the case with his father, but because he trusts her, and her calm understanding seems to steady him. Having seen what losing that calming, steadying influence does to him, it's bittersweet to see this moment. Author Reply: Turgon was very clever As I typed those words, I laughed, because on one hand, I could see how a kid like Legolas would be fascinated by Turgon and love the excitement and unpredictability of playing with him. On the other hand, I could also see why Thranduil and Lorellin might be less enthusiastic. Turgon is just a law unto himself. He sees the world in creative ways and, unlike Legolas, spends pretty much no time at all trying to figure out what he's "supposed" to do. I've been interested in writing Lorellin and Eilian together. She understands him in a way Thranduil does not (although Thranduil understands part of Eilian's experience in a way she doesn't too). So she sypathizes, but she can also see when he's going over the edge. And he listens to her when she tells him that, probably because he knows she sypathizes. I'm learning about these characters by seeing them with her. | |
| perelleth | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| Speaking of well known fates...this chapter is so full of foresights! A pity that Loirellin willl never get to see the wonderful wife that will one day catch Ithilden...or feel how much her sons really need her still. Not to speak of her husband. And Eilina, playing dangerous games and his mother managing to calm him down with sweet, worried care, rather than with stern disapproval. Surely Eilian did lose a lot when she died. This story is turning out so telling, after all we know of the aftermath! Wonderful! Author Reply: You're right. In a way, the tragedy of Lorellin's death isn't exactly that it happened. After all, the elves knew she would be reembodied in Valinor. She would have a long and happy life. But she missed so much and her family missed even more. They were all different people when she was there to be part of their lives. And I think that's particularly horrible with children. | |
| nessie | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| Ah! I'm sooo glad you're writing another one! And this one features Lorellin, w/o flashbacks! This gives us even more of a chance to see her and her family interact with each other. She really was their rock. Anyways, I see this is when Legolas meets his lifelong friends too! Eilian is still acting foolish, but I think that it's actually toned down since his mother is alive. He seems to feel more guilty about throwing himself in danger while she's around as opposed to Thranduil. I'm sure if she was still alive, there'd be a few more Thranduillions running around. And of course, I've always loved Gelmir. He needs a wife. And a hug, it looks like. Great story so far, as always! Update asap! ~nessie~ Author Reply: Thanks, Nessie. I think Lorellin was central to her family. They're all happier and better people around her. Her loss must really have been devastating to all of them. You know, I don't think I've ever developed Gelmir the way I have Legolas's friends. Maybe I should do that sometime. | |
| sofia | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| Sorry again for my other review, pressed the wrong keys... (I always seem to do that) I remember playing something similar to fox and the rabbit when I was young. Good fun. Aha, so now we start the three elflings spying on Eilian game. I remember other stories when they did this, and it never turned out good. Author Reply: Hey, I love getting reviews, even blank ones! LOL You are so right that the three little ones are fascinated by Eilian and get themselves and him into all kinds of trouble by doing it. | |
| vaske | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| When Lorellin was wondering about the right maiden for Ithilden it made me really sad to know that she won't be there to see him find his wife. It's moments like that that make this story bittersweet sometimes. I loved Legolas being a tree, it's facinating to see the world through his eyes. Author Reply: I'm really pleased you called this bittersweet. It seems to me that Tolkien's story is bittersweet and really melancholy even at the end. But yeah, you're right. Lorellin would have liked Alfirin and seen the good she did for Ithilden, how she appreciated him and brought him out of himself. Legolas as a tree was a lot fun to write. This felt like a wood elfy game. :-) | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| Poor Eilian. Such an adrenaline junkie. He doesn't feel he's alive unless he's taking risks - and only more risks ease the pain of the last. Whether on patrol, drinking and flirting, fire-jumping or whatever, he has to keep moving. I'm glad Lorellin saw him - and that he saw her seeing him. It might give him pause. More, probably, than doing his best to set his hair on fire and scorching his tunic. And I'm not glad that Legolas, Annael and Turgon saw him - since he's now shown them two things that he would be mortified to have them copy. Ithilden is being so stiff and duty-ridden that he seems about to shatter. Not even noticing Naneth's selection of suitable maidens - or the game of getting him to meet them. And Thranduil is leaning on Lorellin for uncomplicated love and support - and to remind himself, I think, of the reasons why they do this. (Saucy of him to suggest that he is willing to keep practising the techniques for producing babies, even if he's not keen to have any more. Which he wouldn't be, the way things are going!) I'm glad that Legolas is beginning to take those first steps away from his mother's side. He's going to need that smidgeon of independence to help him survive what comes. And Annael is a star right from the start - I love the way he listens to the sound of the 'rabbit'. While Turgon's response to the game is just so totally Turgon! Legolas makes a gorgeous little tree - and he's learning so much, just from being around these elflings who will become his friends. A lovely evening - but the echoes of pain and grief and loss are still in there. Poor Lorellin. She wants everything to be perfect for her family - but it can't be. The world intrudes on them and the fuse is burning. Author Reply: One of the things that occurred to me while I was writing this was that Lorellin watches (literally watches)and tends to them all, even Thranduil, and when she died, there was no one to do that and they all were set adrift. Thranduil tries; he really does. But it asks a lot of him to do what she put most of her attention on when he has other important things to do. The elfling game was fun to write. I had to think about what kind of play elves might value and encourage in their children. Turgon continues to crack me up. | |
| Jay of Lasgalen | Reviewed Chapter: 4 on 3/25/2007 |
| Eilian is lucky he only singed his braid! As the fire was built higher and higher I had a nasty feeling that he'd be hurt more. It's not good that the elflings watched though - especially Turgon! I just know he's going to copy the game. Legolas being a tree was sweet - I loved the bit about the squirrel and the robins :>) Jay Author Reply: This is the youngest I've ever written Legolas (except as a newborn), and I am having so much fun trying to make him a little elf but also a little boy. Eilian is wrestling with Shadow, and he scared Legolas. Turgon, not so much. The kid is unstoppable. | |