Jay's Drabblets by Jay of Lasgalen
LKK · 18 June 2004 · Chapter 13: Battle of Five Armies
Nice one, Jay. You paint a vivid picture of the battle.
Author's reply
I had great fun reading the chapter carefully and picking out all the references I wanted to use to bring it to life. I'm glad it seemed so vivid.
Bodkin · 18 June 2004 · Chapter 14: Oropher
Poor Thranduil - a disaster that led to his resentment against the other realms. And what a way for Oropher to learn that there is some purpose to strategy.
Author's reply
One day I'd like to write the story of Thranduil's experiences in that battle and his return home. Only one third went back with him. Oropher should have listened!
Karri · 12 June 2004 · Chapter 13: Battle of Five Armies
Nicely done, Jay. :-)
Author's reply
Thank you - I'm glad you liked it.
Elvenesse · 12 June 2004 · Chapter 13: Battle of Five Armies
You've manage to capture the essence of the chapter here and I like this line, 'Cold flame flickers from sword and spear and arrow, burning with immortal hate.' Very Elvish. Was this for the Hobbit drabbling on HASA?
Author's reply
I started reading The Hobbit again, because of Daw - particularly the later chapters. I had all sorts of inspirations to drabble various scenes! I've always liked this part, because I now imagine Legolas and Thranduil in the middle of the battle. The line you quote comes from a part Tolkien described - I'm glad you liked it!
LKK · 3 June 2004 · Chapter 12: Elvellon
Very nice, Jay. I liked the description of the stages Legolas went through in his developing relationship with Gimli. :)
Author's reply
Thanks. Bearing in mind their initial animosity, I didn't think it could be an overnight conversion! It had to take time.
Karri · 3 June 2004 · Chapter 12: Elvellon
I realize the focus of this one wasn't actually Thranduil, but you wrote him just beautifully. :-D (*sigh* yes, it's true, I am a little Thranduil-obsessed, but I am working on the problem by trying to distract myself with other elves.) Great work, Jay! You write these masterfully.
Author's reply
Thank you. The drabble was originally just Legolas and Gimli, but Thranduil insisted I showed that he *did* accept Gimli, and stopped all those nasty rumours! Thanks, from a fellow Thranduil fan.
lwarren · 2 June 2004 · Chapter 10: The Longing
The more I read about and consider the effect of the call of the sea on Legolas, the more amazed I am that he was able to endure for as long as he did. What power there is in a loving friendship! This drabble (I hesitate to call it a DRABble...) shines like a particularly lovely jewel and reads like poetry. He is truly torn in half - he longs for his beloved forest, but is captive to the call of the West. linda
Author's reply
I know - the term 'drabble' sounds horrible. There must be a better expression. The sea longing must have been terrible, but it was the mortal friendships, not the call of the forest, that held him to Arda.
Karri · 1 June 2004 · Chapter 11: Battle Beneath The Trees
Wonderful perspective and an oustanding use of so few words. :-)
Author's reply
Thank you. It can be difficult making the scenes work with exactly 100 words!
LKK · 1 June 2004 · Chapter 11: Battle Beneath The Trees
Very sad and quite chilling. The blackened skeletons image is very effective. Your prose has the cadence of poetry in this one, adding to the emotional impact. This one is one of your strongest, I think. A very good piece!
Author's reply
Although 'Thranduil had the victory' in this battle, there was much lost. It makes me wonder what Legolas found when he returned home.
LKK · 1 June 2004 · Chapter 10: The Longing
The first paragraph of The Longing is particularly lovely, Jay. The descriptions of the forest are very compelling. You make me long for the forest as well. I can understand why Legolas loves it so. Yet, the city has the call of the sea; a temptation that causes Legolas to endure the city. No wonder he's torn. Poor elf. :(
Author's reply
Hmm - I meant to show that Legolas is trapped inside Minas Tirith, because outside the walls he succumbs to the sea longing. I'll have to rephrase some parts of this! I'm glad that you liked the woodland parts -I wrote that after a walk at the weekend.
LKK · 1 June 2004 · Chapter 9: Love
Jealousy is such a common human emotion. No one is totally immune. So I imagine it must have been hard for Aragorn to deal with the thought that Arwen has such long-standing, deeply held friendships. No matter how noble Aragorn is, it must have been hard. It was nice to read a piece from Legolas addressing the situation. A good subject and a well-written drabble.
Author's reply
Thank you. Legolas has known Arwen for far longer than Aragorn has been alive, but knows he has no claims on her. This is also a 'letting go' for him.
daw the minstrel · 30 May 2004 · Chapter 10: The Longing
Poor Legolas. He never is going to find peace in ME again. What a loss for someone who was so tied to the woods.
Author's reply
Yes, poor Legolas. He knows now what Galadriel meant, but too late. He won't find peace in the forest any more.
Karri · 30 May 2004 · Chapter 10: The Longing
A wonderful drabble, Jay. I enjoyed it very much. :-D
Author's reply
Thank you for your comments - I enjoyed writing it!
rikki · 17 May 2004 · Chapter 8: Dagorlad
Drabbles are so hard to write as you have to be very careful with your words. I have enjoyed reading your drabbles. You have painted many word pictures in what seems like the minimum of effort. Looking forward to the next one.
Author's reply
Thank you for your kind words - I like writing drabbles, and certainly find some easier than others. I'm finding the companion piece to this, from Oropher's POV, much harder!
LKK · 17 May 2004 · Chapter 8: Dagorlad
Very touching. I especially liked the description of Thranduil's tears as "scalding". That is an evocative word choice, much more descriptive, with a far greater impact than the usually used "hot". Good job! :)
Author's reply
It seems clear from 'Unfinished Tales' that Thranduil was part of that first assault on Mordor, and probably at his father's side. It can't have been an easy time.
LKK · 4 May 2004 · Chapter 7: I Remember
Men curse their failing memories as they age; elves' memories do not fail, as I understand Tolkien's elves. But not all memories should be kept pristine pure, and men are the luckier race in cases like this. A very sad drabble.
Author's reply
I think what happened to Celebrian would be devastating for any family. But for Elladan and Elrohir, who found her and brought her home, it would be much worse. They would have seen everything that had been done. It would be better if they could forget.
Elendiari22 · 30 April 2004 · Chapter 7: I Remember
Have you ever written a story about celebrian's capture? I think you ought to, if you haven't. This is such a sad drabble.
Author's reply
I think this must have been a desperately sad time for the whole family. I now have another plot bunny to add to my collection! Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Caddy de La Bris · 30 April 2004 · Chapter 7: I Remember
It is Celebrian, isn't it? Respectively it is Elladan or Elrohir, thinking about Celebrian. But what are her thoughts? Have a nice and sunny weekend. Caddy
Author's reply
I had a long weekend (though not particularly sunny) as we have a May day bank holiday today. Yes, it's Elladan, thinking about his mother. One day I'll write something from Celebrian's POV.
LOTR lover · 24 April 2004 · Chapter 6: We Are Not The Same
I think it must be Elrohir speaking, Jay. I think that Elladan, being the older twin, might unconsciously feel sometimes that Elrohir is his shadow, and I think that Elrohir would, also unconsciously, pick up on that and wish to be the--mmm, what's the word I want here?--dominant? one. As if, being mirror images, one has to be the original and one the image. If Elrohir shares that feeling sometimes, this drabble would be the result.
Author's reply
Yes, I think it is Elrohir, but could apply to either. I think he would feel a little overshadowed at times, as Elladan tends to more forceful. Your comment about the contrast between the original and image is interesting - I hadn't seen it that way.
LKK · 24 April 2004 · Chapter 6: We Are Not The Same
It must be hard to be constantly thought of 1/2 of a pair. Couples have a similar problem, but not to the degree that identical twins have, I'm sure. The fact that the speaker feels and knows his brother's inner secrets must make it harder to keep a sense of unique self. Speaking of self --- I noticed you didn't give any solid clues as to which twin was speaking. Maybe they both feel that way, which would be the ultimately irony of all! Although my guess is that the speaker is Elrohir. Good drabble, Jay.
Author's reply
I think they probably do both feel the same way at times - it could be either twin speaking. But I think I had Elrohir in mind when I write this.
kate · 24 April 2004 · Chapter 4: Thranduil's Heir (Version Two)
This is more elfy, but I liked the other one too.
Lasse-Lanta · 24 April 2004 · Chapter 6: We Are Not The Same
How many twins haven't felt this way through out history, nice take on Elladan and Elrohir.
Author's reply
Glad you like it. It's how I imagine twins might feel - though I have no idea really.
daw the minstrel · 23 April 2004 · Chapter 6: We Are Not The Same
I like this one too. It rings true of what I know about siblings, even twins (and there were two sets in my mother's family). But the way elves share thoughts and feelings would make the situation even more confusing and you captured that very well, Jay.
Author's reply
I feel that the twins themselves are not sure about their feelings - they want independence, but cannot imagine being apart. I know a set of identical twins, and their parents are trying to persuade them to go to different universities. I have no idea if they will succeed!
LKK · 11 April 2004 · Chapter 5: The Dead Marshes
Eerie, Jay. Of all the creepy places Tolkien wrote about, the Dead Marshes disturb me the most. (The movie version didn't help matters in the least!) I shudder to think of Oropher lying there among the dead. I can easily understand why Thranduil would have nightmares. And now, Legolas might have them as well. Ai! Thanks for creeping me out. You did a very good job with this one. (Seriously. No sarcasm intended.)
Author's reply
Inspiration for this came from the chapter where Gollum talks about 'dead faces in the water', and also from UT where it says that Thranduil 'had seen the horror of Mordor and could not forget it'. I'm glad you found it creepy - it's meant to be!
LKK · 11 April 2004 · Chapter 4: Thranduil's Heir (Version Two)
Version Two of this chapter is definitely more elfy, Jay. Legolas' birth has become an occasion for joy for all in the forest -- flora and elf. On the other hand, that deep personal sense of awe that Thranduil felt has diminished somewhat. The moment is no longer the solitary thoughts of a overawed father. Does that make Version Two worse than Version One? Not necessarily. It depends on what you want to emphasize -- the birth celebrated by all of nature or the birth celebrated by the father. I remember you saying you had rewritten this due to a comment for Version One that Thranduil could have been any father from any race. The comment is valid. But there's also merit in the idea that a father of elf newborn would feel the same sense as the father of a hobbit newborn or the father of a human newborn or the father of a dwarf newborn -- a common experience that unifies the races. So which version is better? That all comes down to what you intend to emphasize the most and what the reader prefers to experience the most. Personally, I like Version One better because I felt more emotional after One than Two. But that's not saying that One is a better drabble than Two. Only that One effected me more.
Author's reply
I agree entirely - although I like version two, and the whole of Lasgalen giving thanks, the whole point of the original was to show the mighty Elven King as awestruck as any new father. But I got some harsh criticism for it not being elfy or even Tolkienesque. (Some people don't get subtle). I let the negative reviews get to me. So many thanks for your comments!