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Growing Under Shadow by daw the minstrel	129 Review(s)
xsilicax	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/6/2004
Happy sigh Every time Eilian calls Legolas "Brat" with so much love, I just want to wrap him up in my arms. Things I enjoyed the most about this tightly written piece: Seeing Ithilden standing up to Thranduil and not changing his opinons just because his father and superior disagrees. I thought that showed a great strength of will. Legolas, knowing that it would get him into trouble, admitting to having seen the Man and the swords. Self-sacrifice is a trait that will stand him in good stead when he fights for his kingdom. Watching Thranduil realise that his youngest is growing up. I particularly liked the 'ada' 'adar' touch. Any scene with Eilian g What I would love to see: Legolas learning to say no to Turgon! He is exactly the kind of friend that children love to have and parents hate to see. But he is fun! Thoroughly enjoyed each and every moment of this, Congratulations, Cathy. xx Author Reply: This story had a nice, tight plot which made me happy and made it easier to write. Legolas's brothers both can differ from their father more easily than Legolas can just yet, which I think is a sign that their parents did a good job with them. They are their own people. And Legolas grows into that too. I am so glad you liked the story.

FaerieQueen	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/3/2004
Congratulations, another charming Legolas story. I really enjoyed reading about Legolas maturing, and Thranduil having to let go of him, in a way. I liked the whole Dwarf-sword plot. I found it very amusing. Keep writing. Author Reply: This story had a nice tight plot. I wish all my stories did! But kid Legolas was enjoyable to write about. He thought he was so grown up and he just didn't have a clue.

Sofia	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 1/2/2004
And heres yet another great story. Turgon just cant seem to stay out of trouble and Legolas just cant say no. Now i go to read the story i purposely avoided until now to read. The Warrior is the last story you have right now, and I hope you come up with more idea's and start on other stories. Your a good author and im anxious to read your stories. Author Reply: Turgon is a fun friend who must make every parent in sight cringe. And I suspect that the things he suggest appeal to Legolas. Turgon suggests them, but Legolas is always intrigued. And, as you say, he can't say no. I am outlining another story right now! I'll be away all next week, but after that, I hope to be posting again.

bryn	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/22/2003
Yikes! Angry Thranduil is one Elf I would not want to face... Legolas seems to have barely avoided the King's full blown wrath. At the same time, I have to give him credit. It took a lot of guts for Legolas to admit what he'd seen, especially considering it meant implicating himself. I suppose that says something about Legolas' sense of duty. cringe Thranduil almost hit him? And how would Eilian know what an almost-moved-to-blows Thranduil looks like? Has Thranduil ever hit him? Probably grabbed him by the front of his tunic and given him a good shake or two--that, I could see. Thranduil hasn't actually raised a hand to any of his sons... has he? Eilian's advice to Legolas was wise, and so was Legolas' decision to follow it. Of course Thranduil would recognize where the advice came from... :) Oh I absolutely love how you inserted Alfirin into it all. LOL Good GRIEF is Ithilden thick-headed! The line, "Ithilden was suddenly aware that he had duties to attend to that did not include continuing to hold on to the healer’s daughter." is priceless! lol He wouldn't know love if it hit him smack upside the head. (Which it sort of appears to have done.) I bet Alfirin made the first move on him. grin Given Ithilden's I-Am-Strong-And-Stoic-Protecter ego, that's an even more amusing thought. I'm always saddened when your stories end, because I enjoy reading them so much. You could stretch these tales on forever as far as I'm concerned. Your development of Legolas' family is one of the strongest and best written on the web. I've yet to find another author who captures the mind and heart so profoundly. I would gladly--willingly--read tales consisting only of your OC's. They're so real and engaging... It's hard to imagine Legolas' family any other way without things seeming terribly un-canon. :)

LKK	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/12/2003
Thank you for being gentle, daw. :-) I'm very impressed with how you had Thranduil handle Legolas' punishment. I firmly believe that if Thranduil had given in to his urge to thrash Legolas, he would not have accomplished his goal of making Legolas understand the dangers and the wrongeness of his actions. (Hm, is "wrongeness" a word??) I feel that at Legolas' age, a thrashing would have bred resentment. Legolas would have focused on the punishment itself, not on the message the punishment was meant to teach. By detailing the real dangers of life beyond the palace and then by forcing Legolas to view the results of those dangers by working with the healers, Thranduil finally managed to get his son to understand the reality of what he said. It's said that Legolas will no longer simply accept his father's word on these issues, but that is a part of what all parents and child must go through -- despite what Thranduil wants. You depicted this eternal conflict nicely. Finally comment: Gelmir gets a dwarf sword!! smiles happily Wonderful story, daw. Loved it from beginning to end. :-) LKK Author Reply: LKK-- Thank you for the kind words. I appreciate your thoughtful analysis of how Thranduil should best treat his son. I thought about it quite a bit, actually. I thought that Thranduil lived in a world where Men probably did beat their children and that he would have done whatever he thought would keep his child from danger. But I also thought about how deeply Elves treasure their children and how clever they were. And I decided that Thranduil would hit Legolas only in a momentary loss of control, not when he had had time to think about it and that he would wish to act wisely with his son. So the kid gets to mop up vomit and empty bedpans. I think a sheltered son of the king might learn something from that! Anyway, thanks for the review. daw

Dot	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/11/2003
Hi. Sorry this is a bit late... What a really great chapter. Although I always get a bit sad when you finish up your stories... I literally had my mouth open for the whole first part of this chapter. It was so tense – I couldn’t believe when Cadoc grabbed Alfirin, and then Eilian suddenly appearing behind him and stabbing him with, of all things, one of the Dwarvish swords! deep breaths, deep breaths... Oh, and I loved the increasingly besotted Ithilden noticing things like dimples and pouts in the midst of all the chaos! I was so happy for Ithilden when Thranduil praised him – I get the feeling his father’s respect is the one thing that he truly needs. Eilian’s becoming rather wise. I like the way he encourages Legolas to realise what he did wrong for himself rather than just tell him. I LOVED the scene between Thranduil and Legolas! Thranduil really knows how to handle his son. He might not always think he knows what to do but by loving his sons as he does he knows how it will affect them if he is disappointed in or ashamed of them. Trying to impress a lesson upon them, like in this case how dangerous the woods are and obeying without question, is only effective after they have realised their wrongdoing. I have to say, actually, he is very creative when it comes to thinking up punishments. Mopping up vomit. Nice one, Thranduil. Ah, Eilian gets his captaincy of the Southern Patrol. It’s nice to see him happy, and it’s also great to see the trust and pride in him that Ithilden and Thranduil have. He seems strong enough to cope with the Shadow, but it was quite telling that he didn’t question Todith’s decision to leave. He must suffer more than he allows others to see. And he’s going to visit Celuwen? sigh That heart of his... And Gelmir might get a Dwarvish sword? LOL! You ended it beautifully with the lovely but poignant picture of Thranduil cradling Legolas. I imagine it must be hardest to let go of the youngest child when there will never be any more. I feel really sad in a way that Legolas is growing up and that no matter how proud he makes his father and how close they are when he is an adult, he has to make his own life and move out of his father’s protective arms. My heart breaks at the thought of Thranduil desperately trying to treasure such intimate moments between them now with the knowledge that things will never be the same as his son struggles to become an adult. I really enjoyed this story. Any more?! Actually, I’d love some day for you to write about what eventually happens to this family. But any more adolescent Legolas stories would also be gratefully received!:) Author Reply: Dot-- thank you as always for a wonderful review. Ithilden is fun to write about as his normally very up tight grip on things comes a little loose when he confronts Alfirin. And in truth, I did consider having Thranduil wallop Legolas but this seemed more creative as you say. I think of elves as subtle and creative with their children. I think that the next story I write will be set around the time Legolas comes of age. But I have a long list -- The Battle of the Five Armies, memories of the older brothers' youths, Eilian's bonding, Gollum passing through Mirkwood, etc. They keep flooding through my head. I just need to convince my boss that this is a better use of my time than what he pays me for. daw

Arbelethiel	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/10/2003
Well, I decided to be a good girl from now on, and to review. Another wonderful chapter as usual. Like Thranduil, I get a little frustrated at Legolas getting into trouble against his better judgment, but I suppose that with a friend like Turgon, he can’t help it. Lol at Ithilien finding the time to flirt with Alfirin in the middle of this affair. It’s cute, especially knowing they’re going to end up together. I find Kingly!Thranduil extremely sexy. I don’t know why, the display of authority, the self-confidence (arrogance?)? And I like his way of handling his children, all of them. His punishment for Legolas is fitting: the boy has to learn to obey orders without questions, if he is to be a warrior. Re: your language problem. The men of Dale could have their own language. So Turgon could have learnt the Dale language, but not Westron. It’s a bit strange, I know, but his education seems to be patchy in other areas too, so... ~Arbelethiel Author Reply: Oh. That would work and it's even possible. Maybe Turgon learned that language just from the contact Thranduil's people have with the Men of Dale. Maybe he's even spent time in Dale. I could even write about that! The people of Dale are probably still reeling. I too find arrogant, commanding Thranduil to be sexy. As well as scary! I think he does very well with his children, but I also think he would be terrifying to have as a parent. Eilian and Legolas are both very brave to be bad. daw

Sekhet	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/9/2003
Between RL and frantically trying to finish something of my own (not LotR!) I've been very remiss over the last few chapters. I've read them avidly and each time said to myself that I must review, and then get drawn into my own concerns and thinking 'I'll do it tomorrow..' and we all know when that day comes. And even though I've been remiss, I am HUGELY disappointed that it's over. I love your take on Mirkwood, I love the way that you're letting Legolas grow up but in a way that strenghens him constantly, and I love the characters you've introduced me to. I'm firmly of the belief that you're channelling the Great Professor - he's gifting you with his vision of ME so that you can fill in the gaps he didn't have time to write before the Gift of Men overtook him. What can I say? Every personality so true to themselves and the way you've built them, and all so very real. I think, after Legolas himself, my favourite is the utterly splendid Thranduil who's so far away from the grasping Midas character so often depicted, but with the traits there that Tolkein himself put into him in the Hobbit - but what you've done is give the reasons behind Thranduil's concern for emeralds and such like (if I remember my Hobbit correctly, they were his favourites) - he has a kingdom to defend, and he spends all his substance to do it, including (as we know) the treasure he has in his sons. If you'd like to send him over to be royal in my house, I'll even pay shipping. And I love the way that the story arc is true to itself. It must be so hard to go back in time and not lose sight of the stories you've already produced and be so consistent. Am awed by that. Thank you Daw. Please write another one soon. Very soon. Cheers Sekhet Author Reply: I am immensely flattered that you think I am true to Tolkien's vision. And what a great characterization of Thranduil's sons as his greatest treasure. Thranduil says he would be happy to visit you at any time! I have to work a little now, but I will be back writing again soon. This is much too much fun to stop. Thank you for your generous reviews.

Tapetum Lucidum	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/9/2003
You went straight into it didn't you? I thought we would get a little walk through the forest. "The scroll he had been pretending to read," very clever, you know he had to be as tense as a bowstring waiting for Eilian and Legolas to return. A very strong "Now!" has an excellent effect on terrified children. I was shaking in my seat just reading it. I'm with Ithilden, poor kid. Now who is the womanizer? In the middle of a very serious situation Ithilden stops to flirt with Alfirin. At least he had some good lines. Cadoc is not going down with dignity is he? I thought you might have to kill him off. It would be hard to find an appropriate punishment for someone who traded weapons with the enemy. At least it was exciting and I am glad Legolas wasn't there as well. I am also glad that the dwarves were cleared. Ithilden should be proud of himself. His flash of triumph was well earned. Thranduil's assessment of his son's performance was very sweet. Any child would beam at those words. Eilian's conversation with his little brother was very sweet, and I agree, motherly. Legolas needs someone to help him out, usually Mom intervenes on wayward childrens' behalf, and Nana is no longer in the picture. I am glad he has Eilian. It is good Thranduil gave himself time to cool off. I've had to do that more than once. Legolas took Eilian's advice to heart. I can't imagine actually getting down on my knees in front of my parents (maybe because we aren't royalty). It is another good example of your use of a royal perspective instead of a mere commoner. I liked the way Thranduil touched on all of Legolas' transgressions, instead of clustering them. He probably did not realize how many people he had hurt with his little adventure. Unfortunately, we all know he is going to do it again with even more serious consequences. The promotion scene was great! It showed how close the brothers are and how proud each one is of the others' accomplishments. I am glad Eilian has turned out so well. I am glad he remembered a sword for Gelmir! Your closing scene in the sitting room painted a great picture of the family. I am glad Legolas learned the importance of obedience and that he is old enough to help. Picturing him snuggling on his Ada's lap was very cute. I am glad Thranduil offered him more opportunities to "walk under the stars." His older brothers must have had more freedom at his age due to the lack of dangers and Nana to supervise. I guess that happens when you Grow up Under Shadow. Can't wait for your next one. I'm always sad when the tale is over. Author Reply: You are so clever to realize that Cadoc was done for. But I couldn't bring myself to write the scene in which Thranduil executes him or something. And I couldn't really decide what he would do anyway. After all, the elves kept Gollum and let him out for fresh air. Thranduil is a good father, but Legolas is lucky to have Eilian too (and Ithilden for that matter). I am still sad that Nana is gone. I really appreciate the thought and time you put into these reviews. I feel very rewarded when I read them.

JustMe	Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 10/9/2003
Very good wrap-up to the story. We got a chance to meet some of the characters from your other stories. I especially enjoyed the meeting between Ithilden and Alfirin. And Eilian to the rescue! He certainly earned/deserved the promotion. Speaking of deserving something - Cadoc only made matters worse by his actions. It was cowardly and stupid to do what he did. You don't mess with Thranduil! And when you do- you pay the price. The scenes between Legolas and Eilian and Legolas and Thranduil were especially poignant. We begin to see how the influence of these important people in his life eventually shape the character of our beloved elf. He is so lucky to have caring family members and friends. Author Reply: "You don't mess with Thranduil!" Indeed! That should be posted at all the entrances to Mirkwood. And I agree. Legolas is so lucky to have his family and friends. But I also think that he has the friends because of the kind of person he is. And I think that's true of Fellowship Legolas too.

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