Reviews (579)

Author's reply

I'm glad you like it! It's strange how everything shifts when you try looking from a different perspective. They sometimes try to show the world from an animal's viewpoint in wildlife programmes - it's strange. It must have been hard on Arwen to know that Aragorn would be around for such a short time - and to have to wait patiently for getting on for half his adult life to have her few moments of happiness with him. And odd for him - brought up among elves as one who would die and then to live among men with life spans half his. Small and fiddly buttons. Needing the long nimble fingers of an elf. I'm sure Legolas will be only too happy to help her! Aragorn may only have been around for a short time in their immortal lives, but he was quite key. Even without having married Arwen. I think they would remember him often. Although, by now, with love more than sadness probably.

Author's reply

I'm glad you're enjoying it! It has been huge fun to write. No plots. No sustained action. Just three friends talking and teasing each other. The only thing is that it has become so long it's probably off-putting to those coming on it now who think it will take for ever to read. Each segment, though, is (by my rules) no more than two pages of Word and nobody but the twins and Legolas are allowed to speak. (Occasional sleeping elflings turn up.) I do feel there is a whole 'fate' element that means that Arwen was predestined to be Aragorn's emotional motivation for carrying on dauntlessly through the long years of trial. I hope you continue to enjoy them - and last long enough to get to some of my favourites!

Author's reply

They can say anything to each other - and not mind. I think that's one of the nicest and most sustaining parts of their relationship. And I'm sure Elladan will get his own back. And this is therapy, right? Elladan needs the warmer water. And it will be easier to get him to do the exercises properly if it's not too deep. Being a mortal among elves must be very hard on both sides, I reckon. And then I got to thinking about Aragorn's life span being about double all other men's - and that must be hard, too. Neither one thing nor the other. I do really enjoy writing these. And no answers are ever required to the questions they ask, so they can throw anything in! (The next one turned very philosophical. But then Elladan demanded that I put something else in next, so it's now next but one.)

Author's reply

You have my sympathy! Elladan sends his - and asks if you would like him to send round his helpers and give him a day off. He can't send the pool, but he says that Elrohir has got very good at massage and Legolas can pour a mean Dorwinion. Still - resting gives you plenty of opportunity to work on your history. Good to hear from you! Thanks.

Author's reply

Legolas can do a pretty good Thranduil impression, too. Although I seem to recall E2 comparing it to a fluffy chick imitating an eagle. You wouldn't want to stop them having the fun of insulting each other, would you? They're like cheesecake (sort of) - fluffy on the surface, but with rich depths. I think the juxtaposition of triumph and tragedy, love and loss, selfishness and sacrifice is what makes LOTR so interesting - and such fun to play with. Poor Arwen. Poor Elrond. Poor Elessar. No neat and tidy endings and promises of eternal happiness. It's like putting the Scouring of the Shire there at the end, just when you think you've got to the peaceful return home. Up to yesterday a hot water bottle would have been better than a pool here. But apparently it's going to be warm for three whole days and then get colder over the three day weekend. Of course.

Author's reply

She might be quite kind to Elladan actually. She knows he's been suffering. But, on the other hand, she would not be pleased with Elrohir and Legolas! They'll have fun once they're in the water. They can dive for shiny things and splash all they want and Elladan's leg will benefit from the exercise. Bad enough with the different species living alongside each other with hugely different life spans - but the differences among the men are fairly huge, too. Aragorn might not have noticed much before he became king - too much of a wanderer - but after that, all his closest friends among men would have aged and died while he was still hale. He must have turned to the elves with relief. (And gained a better understanding of how they felt in relation to mortals, perhaps.)

Author's reply

It was! It was! Aragorn might well not have noticed others among men growing old so quickly before he became king, because he was never in one place long enough for the passage of years to make a difference, but I'm sure he found the company of elves a relief as the years passed. And he might have gained a perception of what it was like for the elves, maybe. I'm sure the proud son of Elrond (good phrase) will soon be joined in the water by the other proud son of Elrond and a rather proud prince. They might tease Elladan, but they wouldn't let anyone else do so. Elladan might even make sure that they join him with their clothes on, too! Miriwen is good at managing her husband - and he knows it. It would only take a look. (And he knows better than to bother her just now.) (Freedom! Freedom looms! Days free from the incessant chittering of little squirrel voices. I think the killer squirrels would make an excellent zoo exhibit - after all, they're a very rare species.)

Author's reply

Nothing is more infuriating than a slow recovery from injury - except having people hover over you while you have a slow recovery from injury. The adult pools are further away. And quite a lot colder. And I have no doubt at all that Elrohir and Legolas will be joining him in the elflings' pool. Possibly fully clothed, too! It occurred to me that if you were a man who lived about twice as long as everyone around you, it must be rather distressing to have lose your friends while you were still hale. A bit like being an elf (although less long term). It must be a relief to look at your elven friends and know that, barring accidents, they will be there for you always. I wonder if Aragorn gained a better understanding of the emotional difficulties of elf/mortal friendship once he was no longer a wanderer and he had to watch his friends age and die?

Author's reply

Good! I'm glad to have provided entertainment! I can see - sort of - that elves probably would have years when they wanted to produce offspring and then they would choose not to. Otherwise they'd be like mosquitos, with kazillions of the little blighters. But I do think that reunion after long parting would probably make even long-established couples more - shall we say - active again. And might well result in a rash of baby-boom babies. And I wonder what the effect of rebirth might be on the 'we're-really-too-old-for-all-that' elf. They might find that the whole surge of joy, energy, freshness, whatever, might bring them into 'season' again. Well - if you have to choose and organise what your husband is wearing, you're not going to have him clash with your beautiful outfit, are you? You'd want him in the elven equivalent of a penguin suit so he could set off your general stunningness. There will be more. Count on it! Thank you. Author Reply: I just can't get the deck of cards image out of my head! Legolas and Elerrina as the King and Queen of Hearts, I think. Elladan and Miriwen as the Spades and Elrohir and Sirithiel as the Clubs. (I have some pictures I have associated with these characters - and Sirithiel is a painting by Prinsep called the Queen of Hearts - (who made some tarts). But the Elrondionnath would make better dark cards, I think.) Maybe Thranduil and Laerwen could make up the set as the Diamonds?

Author's reply

The thing is, you just get to love all the extra people just as much as the originals. I am very fond of Elrin and Elrohir's twins and the rest - they've become part of the family as far as I'm concerned. And I'm just as interested in the ins and outs of Sinnarn's relationship with Emmelin as I am Legolas's - and equally intrigued by Annael's ancestry and Beliond's wife and son. They're all real. So maybe madness helps. I'll make a note.

Author's reply

Poor Elladan. But at least his leg is healing. Slowly. And he forgives Ellanthir - he knows that the kid can't help it. I don't know about more babies. It does all get rather complicated as they grow up. (Alfirin could do with one, though!) Actually, the hardest people to keep track of are those minor walk-ons who just get mentioned in passing. I'm having to make a list of names, so I can reuse them rather than just inventing another. It's all getting too complex just to remember it now. (I don't know how you manage all your characters. And with backstory, too. Must be talent. And organisation.)

Author's reply

Thank you - I'm glad you enjoyed it! Perhaps they didn't mean to abandon poor Elladan with the baby - it just happened as everyone was rushing around getting ready. Perhaps. And if the males in your life are happy to give up the responsibility for choosing their clothes, what sensible wife wouldn't dress them to her advantage? And they know better than to argue! Elflings are fine in infancy - but they take up a lot of space as they get older - note I am only dealing with it by showing them in smaller groups! Too many people together is just too complicated. I'm not sure if elfling production for the more mature elf is likely. (Part of me would love to present G and C with one.) But then what is the situation for the reborn? Are they more likely to have babies or less? What a decision. You fight with longswords? Goodness. Does it help with battle scenes? I'm most impressed.

Author's reply

I love the expression Nana-seeking missile. So clever and so apt. Do you think Legolas would make good arm-candy? Many males, I suspect, look on one of the plus points of having a wife as never having to think about what to wear ever again. (I don't think Miriwen will worry too much. She has a well developed sense of humour and will probably enjoy the incident!) In some ways it would be rather fun if Legolas developed a baby sibling, wouldn't it! But I'm not sure it will happen. (Candidly, there are enough people around now - it can get really difficult fitting them all in. Not so much here, as only E2L ever appear - so a throwaway mention here or there is all that is needed. But Elflings is developing a cast of thousands.) It would have seemed a betrayal, I think, for Elrond and Celebrian to have more children. Makes them seem more like a commodity than an irreplaceable part of your life - you cannot substitute a new child for one you have lost. After all, if you could, Galadriel might well have turned up to find that Earwen and Finarfin had produced another half dozen - or Elrond arrived to find that Earendil and Elwing had given him three or four siblings. That might be even more difficult to deal with than getting to know your parents after several thousand years of separation. Earendil's probably next. Although he's getting into charted territory now, which is easier in some ways, but trickier in others. And then, Elladan needs to get back on his feet. And I think I promised E2L some time in the woods. And Arwen is tapping her foot. Galadriel and Celeborn don't mind being left on their own for a bit, though. When shall I fit in the work I have to do?

Author's reply

The leg is taking its time - Elrohir was right that it was a very nasty injury - but it is recovering. I think Elladan will carry on with the bad jokes, though. Although the contrast between badly damaged brother and bad jokes will be less. Elves have so short a time with little children. They would be either totally inept or besotted, I think. And, for all the bold warrior on the surface, E2L are the besotted type. Ahh, for the days of changing baby boys, when this sudden fountain would spray everywhere! And the look little babies have on their faces at the time! Yes, I don't think they could have brought themselves to have another child - even if it were possible (I'm not quite sure whether elves can just have them at will at any stage in their lives.) I did have Elrond and Celebrian have a baby in one story, but I'm quietly ignoring that now, because I think they would have looked on it as an abandonment of hope. And E2 did come! In their own good time, but they did come.

Author's reply

Poor Elladan. He'd probably tell you that he was a bit uncomfortable, but he'd be all right in a minute. He and Elrohir are close enough that they know exactly when they need to be worried about each other - and this was a so worried that we've got to get him out of here and to Adar as quickly as elvenly possible. I had to stick the poor elf with a bad injury if I wanted him still to be incapacitated by the time the infant was born. Elven healing can be darned inconveniently quick at times! Thank you. Earendil next. Then probably an update on the state of the nation leg. (How's Daeron? And his adorable family?)

Author's reply

Elrohir is enough of a healer himself - and close enough to his twin - that he knows serious when he sees it. Elladan is lucky that most of his body didn't end up under the horse, and that the mud slide was pretty fluid, without much in the way of rocks. He's going to be mending by the next one. In case you were concerned about him! He says not to worry - his Adar can fix pretty well anything he or Elrohir can throw at him. He's had plenty of practice. (Although Elrond raised his eyebrows and told him not to count on it.)

Author's reply

It wasn't originally part of the set - being a bit too serious for a Reflection. Yes, it is what had Elladan splinted and on crutches when Ellanthir was born. It had to be a serious injury, so that elven healing didn't have him bounding around again too quickly. Elrohir understands Elladan's reactions very well - and knows when the injury is serious. I expect Elrond was impressed by the whole body splint - he will probably introduce it into healer training. The next Reflection jumps forward a bit. But I think the outcome will be OK. E2L are skilled and experienced to the point where they don't need to waste time in discussion - which is very helpful. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Author's reply

And the socially aware Linevende would certainly not wish to offend Galadriel. (Celeborn, of course, is a Sinda - not quite one of us!) At least elves don't mind the cold. And to Legolas even the rain is a pleasure when in a peaceful AIL and NIL free world. This was fun to write. (They all are, really. But some just flow.) I'm glad you liked it.

Author's reply

I shall have to apply my mind to other desirable situations in which to place scantily-clad elves. Legolas has always known his in-laws weren't exactly keen on him - they didn't jump for joy at the wedding. They sort of became reconciled to the idea of them living in a civilised situation - but a forest! What an idea! The twins know how to deal with stressed out Wood Elf princes - Legolas will be much better able to deal with the in-laws when he gets back. Thank you.

Author's reply

It was a very nasty accident. (It had to be, really, to have Elladan still hobbling around only partly healed when the new baby arrived. He was lucky that Elrond was near enough to bring all his skills to bear.) Whingeing is a good word. Often associated by Australians with the word pom, in order to insult us Brits.

Author's reply

It is fun. The other qualification is that it must never go over two pages of Word. The word count varies from about 750 to 950, depending on the amount of conversation. (The more conversation, the smaller the number of words.) But it is the only thing I write where I have to keep going over it and pruning bits to make it stay within a certain length. But the only time other people are actually there, they tend to be asleep or else E2L are observing from a distance. This was a bit more dramatic than most Reflections. It's a good thing that they can whip him back to Elrond quickly - he needs a super-healer to piece this leg together. (It had to be badly broken, otherwise elven healing + Elrond would get him back on his feet too quickly, and he's still hobbling for a while. I think he will end up with a weather ache.)

Author's reply

Sorry. A certain elf lord will not be appearing. Lord Elrond is barred from Reflections! It's an E2L only zone. However, this actually happens before the latest Elflings, in response to Jay's wish to know how Elladan got injured. So he survives and is soon joking again. Elrond is next due to feature with his adar.

Author's reply

I think there must have been elves other than Finwe who died from injury. I mean - if you fall off a cliff, or your boat sinks way off shore, or a horse lands on your head, even elves must be too badly injured to live. Although it must be a terrific shock to those around them. It's actually quite difficult to imagine a bunch of millennia-old adults who have never experienced death - but Valinor probably contains lots. It's only a cliff hanger in a way, since this happens after E2L come back from taking the in-laws to Galadriel, but before they get home - so before Ellanthir is born. It would be a bit cruel to give him another broken leg just after recovering from that one!

Author's reply

That sounds nasty. Elladan does tend to respond to crises with attempts at humour. (Though some would say he fails.) For him to feel bad enough to take - willingly - a nasty potion, he must be feeling BAD. You know he recovers though. This chapter actually comes in time scale between the return in the rain (last Reflection) and Elflings 7 - when he is unable to walk with Miriwen. I wasn't going to put this one in and just leave the accident to the imagination, but Jay wanted to know how Elladan managed to damage himself. So Elrond won't say he'll be OK. But he will. (Elrond can't be in a Reflection. He's barred. It's E2L only.)

Author's reply

When mentioned, it seemed, of course, a natural addition! And the ground gets very unstable when it has been raining that hard! Lack of complaint is a serious worry with injured males. Although, with elves, you wouldn't have to worry about them making a terrible fuss about a cold. It is a very bad break - but you know that he recovers! Typical horse. Animals and elflings: they are good at landing on their feet. Tulog (I think that's what I called him) has bad bruising and shallow cuts on his side, but he's not even limping.