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Losses by daw the minstrel	18 Review(s)
Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/6/2007
You relaxed by writing one of the most frustrating and maddening scenes ever written?? Some people are so strange! I was delighted to see this because I didn’t expect it for another while. Even allowing for your well-known impatience ;-) But wow, Eilian is dense sometimes. Hats off to Celuwen because I wouldn’t be able to put up with him. I really liked the scene-setting – this tense conversation separating them from the celebrations nearby. Celuwen is written fantastically well. I can really feel the need in her for him to understand. I like her strength too in insisting that this is what she wants. It would be so easy to pretend that her adar was making her go. And my heart went out to her in her obvious hurt at the way clueless Eilian has been carrying on with the other girls. Though I must say, the firefly analogy was very poetic, Eilian :-) Celuwen has always been so much part of their gang that his realisation that she’s a woman hasn’t quite extended to realising that she’s a person who thinks and feels differently to him. “I expect I will serve in the Home Guard until I can talk Ithilden into sending me where I am really needed." I had to laugh at that because despite the cockiness, he actually sounds infinitely more sensible about than Legolas will when it’s his turn! Poor Gelmir. I always feel bad for him being the third wheel. What an awkward moment. Eilian seems a bit torn about which is more exciting – Celuwen or the horse. He’s so funny in a roll-your-eyes kind of way in how he turns it into a chance to show her what she’ll miss and to grab a moment alone with her in the stables. It looks like Celuwen had other ideas, though. I think it was at the point where the groom told Eilian about Thranduil’s excitement at the gift that I suspected that horse wasn’t coming back to the royal stables again. I love the horse wondering about Eilian! It’s a nice reminder too that elves work together with their horses. I did feel a glimmer of hope when Celuwen convinced Ganion not to ride but really, I should have known. Though it sort of amused me that it was all inadvertently her fault in the end because she stopped the race! I was a bit bewildered by the whole honour thing. I’m glad he’s aware of preserving his own honour and that of others but… well, he seemed a bit misguided to me. I thought maybe I was having trouble deciphering the male thought process so I was glad when Thranduil points out that it was more about pride than honour. Good old Thranduil. Oh how I cringed when he wagered his horse. And because he thought it would show Celuwen how much he valued what Ganion offered! Aaargh! I know I should forgive Eilian for being a fool because he seems to think in that one moment that he’s doing something right but it’s so hard to feel sorry for him when he just throws stuff away like that! Aaargh again! Of course, I still nearly cried when he lost. This is just not Eilian’s night. And what bad luck that Sólith and Isiwen happened to wander by at that point. Eilian was very dignified, though. I’ll give him that. I’d have been sobbing by then. I swear my heart rate sped up when Thranduil appeared. And he seemed to be having such a good night with Lorellin up until now. I thought it went ok, though. I mean, considering some of the scenes between the two of them… Eilian was brave and honest and Thranduil managed not to pin him to the wall with his jewelled dagger, which is what I would have done. I thought Thranduil did a good job in explaining where Eilian went wrong. Except I felt so bad for Thranduil and even though Eilian has learned a lesson, he hasn’t realised just how hurt his father is. Thanks heavens for Lorellin because Thranduil himself would never confess to pain at having his gift disregarded. But I don’t understand why he doesn’t get the horse back! I know it was Eilian’s stupid fault but it’s a horse! That’s like an idiot teenager losing the car in a bet. Surely Ganion’s parents won’t let him keep it. Surely Ganion himself won’t keep it once he’s sobered up. I’m not a massive fan of Lorellin but Eilian clearly listens to her and I thought she was very clever by using the gift he gave her to show how much he hurt his father. He needs to learn that his actions affect more people than he might think when he’s caught up in a moment of excitement. At least he sticks to wagering feathers, weapons and assorted items of clothing after that… There was something very lonely about the ending. He’ll figure it all out some day. At least we know that, even if he doesn’t. This was great, daw! I hope you enjoyed writing it as much as I enjoyed reading it :-) Author Reply: Oh yeah, this was fun to write. I'm not sure I pinned Eilian's reasoning down even for myself but I finally decided that was a sign he was confused. But at least he listens when his parents tell him how they think and feel about his actions. Celuwen engages in a wise act of self-preservation when she decides to go with her parents and remove herself from Eilian's presence. She probably thinks she can end the romance, but really all she does is delay things until Eilian has had a chance to mature. Which Eru knows he needed! One thing Thranduil taught all his sons was to be honest, and I think Eilian owns up to his faults because of that. He's honest with himself too, to the extent he's wise enough to recognize the truth. I suspect the horse will be coming back, but the damage to Eilian's reputation and relationship with Celuwen is done. Did you notice that the horse was blond and thrilled by the smell of the woods? :-)

Freja	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/6/2007
I'm with Gwynhyffar! I don't feel sorry for Eilian - he really wasn't showing very much of his good qualities. I actually had to stop reading for a few minutes when he bet the horse his father had given him - I just knew that it would end badly (and not because I remembered the outcome of this from your other story), and the disrespect he was showing for the gift given with love and joy was almost too much to bear for me... And it really didn't help that he was sure he wouldn't loose! I'm glad his mother put things into perspective for him including how much Thranduil had been hurt by his actions. Thank you for another great story, Daw. Author Reply: You had to stop reading? Wow. It's a good thing you couldn't reach through your screen and pop Eilian one. He was bad and it's a good thing he had parents who cared enough to tell him so. Thanks for the review, Freja.

The Karenator	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
What a nice surprise! Actually, it's better than nice; it's wonderful. And Eilian, oh my Eilian.... Yeah, boy, he impressed Celuwen all right. Made a clean sweep of it, in fact. Threw in the parents too. All of them. It's a good thing Eilian had no designs on being a lawyer. He blew his case all to Mordor. He called Celuwen's father stupid! As an impartial observer, I'd agree Solith has his moments of Eilian-ish pigheadedness, but it's probably not a good idea to tell the girl you're trying to woo that you think her father is dumber than dirt. Well, they (the Official US Dept. of They) do say a girl marries a man...or Elf...who is a lot like her father. Hmmm. I'm on Eilian's side though that moving out into the forest was asking for trouble (even if he did get to 'right' for the wrong reasons). I've not noticed the Shadow being overly impressed by Elves squatting in the middle of its path. If that plan had worked, the Elves would have still been living where Oropher planted his flag when he got there. Oh, Solith.... No. Anyway, back to the horse escapade. Eilian's heart was in the right place to not want to take Ganion's knives...after Celuwen pointed out that was just wrong. And Eilian did want to look good and all. He probably really didn't want the knives, but I bet he wished he'd thought to mention it before Celuwen brought it up. But you know, it's all about honor. And never having a knife contest with a drunk. Oh Eilian.... Even the unnamed horse thought Eilian had a braid loose. To Eilian's credit, he owned up to his boneheadedness by telling his father the truth right away. Poor Thranduil. I felt his hurt and disappointment. It seemed to me his anger was tempered by this. I loved his line about Eilian leaving him speechless at times. I also liked his differentiation between honor and reputation. So true. And the consequences were just. Eilian got the M-e version of turning over the car keys. Naneth always has the right tone and words to put the period at the end of Thranduil's sentence. She goes right to the heart of the matter, just at the right time when Eilian has to make sense of what he's done. The bracelet was a great illustration for her to use. She left him thinking on the right track. Things are not always as they seem. The meaning of winning and losing is something he'll probably contemplate well into adulthood and beyond. Like when Flower Face brings home a little pointy-eared worm he doesn't like. So the moral of the chapter? Never play a game of HORSE with a drunk? I absolutely loved the chapter, daw. Thank you so much. When I saw the alert, I was surprised and thrilled. It's always good to read anything you write, but it's extra special to have you remember me when you do it. Since I'm totally in the swing of a new daw story, I hope there's more to come. I didn't see 'The End', you know. Again, thank you. Author Reply: You're entirely welcome, Karen. I originally had a line in there that I cut in which Eilian says only Celuwen's father would live near the Stronghold during the Peace and move to the woods when the shadow returned. He's just so contrary! I guess it was training for Celuwen to put up with Eilian's less rational moments. He never would have taken Ganion's knives though. As you say, what use did he have for them? And I think he knew taking them would be wrong. But he and Gnaion both are deep in testosterone poisoning and unable to just act reasonable. It seemed to me Eilian is unlikely to be careless of his honor, but he's sure willing to be careless of his reputation. Bless Naneth. Nilmandra suggested she give Eilian an example of what it felt like to have a gift treated carelessly, and it worked out well, I thought. This is the end of this one though. Nilmandra also said it should be multi-chapter but I don't think I could stand being around Idiot!Eilian that long.

meckinock	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
Oh, Eilian. Eilian, Eilian, Eilian, Eilian. Eilian. Celuwen is a saint. That's all I can say. I think anyone else would have given up on him. And poor Thranduil, having his gift thrown away like that. I'm glad Lorellin was there to give Eilian a smack upside the head to make him realize other people's feelings were hurt by his actions. Oh, Eilian. Author Reply: Eloquently put! LOLOL. The fool eventually learns some stuff and grows up, but he puts a lot of other people through pain first. He never means to do it. It just happens.

Idhreniel	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
It is so good to read from you again! I just love your OC's. When I read about the wagger... I knew Eilian would do something impulsive. I still love him. Hehe I like his mother... and the bracelet thing. Smart queen! Thank you for one more wonderful story, Daw!!! You made my day (and it sucked today, believe me.) Hugs, Author Reply: Thank you, Idhreniel. Thank goodness Naneth was around when Eilian was growing up. His youth doesn't bear thinking about otherwise. Sorry you had a sucky day. Eat chocolate. That's what I always do. :-)

Gwynhyffar	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
I don't feel sorry for Eilian (Poor Thranduil)! I am probably supposed to, but I want to smack him. Hard. He had my sympathy until he bet his horse. I even forgave him his foot-in-mouth disease with Celuwen. That was BEFORE he bet his horse. His horse that he had been bragging over, that he enjoyed and thought was great. ... that his loving ada had been so happy to give him! Bad Eilian! You hurt Thranduil! Bad Eilian! That being said... :D I loved this story! Poor Thranduil. Yes, Eilian is bad. Poor Thranduil. I will eventually forgive Eilian-maybe I should read a story where I felt sorry him. I felt sorry for Thranduil, though. Naneth is wise in how she gets Eilian to see the real consequences of his actions. Poor Thranduil. Seeing the alert for a new daw story made me happy today. (Poor Thranduil) Author Reply: LOLOL. You Thranduil-lover you! I don't know if you're supposed to feel sorry for Eilian or not. He's pretty stupid and thoughtless here. And I had no choice about betting and losing the horse, because in "When Shadow Touches Home," that's what I said happened. So I was trying to figure out how he ever came to do such an insane thing. He learned from the situation, which is about the best you can say about it. He never gambled for large stakes again. And maybe in the long run, Thranduil would count that a victory. Sorry, Gwyn. Sorry, Thranduil.

Fantasia	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
Daw, As always, thanks for posting this story, it is great. I have missed your Mirkwood royal family a lot. There is not many goods fics around lately. It sounds as a complain and I know that you are busy writing your original novels, but can you dedicate a little time to Mirkwood? I remember this incident for one of your previous stories, I remember Sólith telling Eilian how irresponsible he was, how he had lost a horse in a game and so on...I think that I will read that one again. Just for the records, I love Eilian, and the whole family as well but, he is my favorite (Legolas is the second one) Again, than you very much, I really enjoyed, please more LONG stories...I don't want to sound ungrateful...just I miss good fics. Thanks, Fantasia Author Reply: I miss good fics. You and me both! It seems to me that the LOTR fandom is dying back and I really miss it. You could look at older stories you maybe missed. I don't mean mine, really, but Nilmandra's, Meckinock's, The Karenator's, Bodkin's, Dot's, Jay's, etc. And if you're into Eomer, Lialathuveril is wonderful! Thank for your so kind words, Fantasia.

Jay of Lasgalen	Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/5/2007
Oh ... Eilian!! I want to slap him and hug him at the same time. He tries so hard, yet squanders something he doesn't realise he values until it's too late. He always has the best of intentions, yet everything seems to go wrong. I love his mother's method of making him realise the cost and true price of what he's done. Poor Eilian - I always want to make things better for him! Jay Author Reply: Young Eilian is maddening. I wonder if that's his wood-elf heritage, something that wouldn't matter if they were at peace, because time would cure it. He does seem to grow up eventually. Thanks for the review, Jay.

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