Nilmandra
· 25 May 2004
· Chapter 6: Heart's Desire
Ah, I like bedazzled Elladan. Its a fine state for him to be in.
I decided to test my query writing skills and moved your reviews. If you want them back, let me know. :-)
Author's reply
Ah, I wondered who to thank for their computer talents. They're fine where they are. I have now deleted the earlier versions to avoid confusion.
Elladan strikes me as the kind of character who would fall completely and instantly in love - he doesn't do things by halves. For Elrohir, on the other hand, love would grow. And Legolas wouldn't just end up with the bride his father would like, now would he? For such a sweet elf, he always seems to get into so much trouble!
Thank you for your assistance in fiddling with this tale - it was never intended to be more than a moment in time, but it has a life of its own and keeps growing.
Rhiannon
· 25 May 2004
· Chapter 6: Heart's Desire
I love all your little vignettes. Especially Chapter 2. I can just picture the twins and Legolas running from all the mothers trying to nab them for their dtrs.
Author's reply
Yes, I can't think of anything that would scare them more. Trolls - easy; orcs - two a penny; fire-breathing dragons - have them for lunch; but match-making mothers keen to collar them - you wouldn't see them for dust!
daw the minstrel
· 25 May 2004
· Chapter 6: Heart's Desire
Me again. Red hair? A Feanoriel?
Author's reply
Wouldn't that be delicious.
Author Reply: Collateral, maybe. Kin to Nerdanel.
daw the minstrel
· 25 May 2004
· Chapter 6: Heart's Desire
I am choosing to believe that Elladan's love is named Miriwen. Then she can fit into my world quite nicely!
But I can't figure out who the chestnut haired, green eyed one is. Someone whom Thranduil is trying not to hold a grudge against? (and that was funny) She must be Noldor?
Author's reply
That's what is in my mind!
I am deliberating trying to avoid specifics - it allows the imagination to run riot.
But I can just picture them. (Miriwen is a good name. It suits her.)
Author Reply: Some thoughts take longer to coalesce. The Miriwen - the Legolas's first kiss Miriwen? I thought she ended up with a healer whose name escapes me?
OakWolf
· 24 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
ROFL:Legolas as Aragorn's ada in law,LOLOLOLOLOL.....
Author's reply
Neither of them would know how to cope, would they!
Aislynn Crowdaughter
· 23 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
Hi! This part is unexpectedly earnest after the slightly ironic mood of the others, but I like it, too. And I loved the idea about Legolas telling Aragorn "stay away from my daughter"! This story is great. anyway, I think you should put all the parts as chapters in one story; it is irritating to have them announced as different stories when they are obviously just different parts of the same one.
Greetings to you,
Aislynn
Author's reply
OK, I will amalgamate the separate sections. I put part 2 in on its own because there really is not any consecutive thought or planning to them. They just arrive almost fully formed. However they do seem to be in sequence, so they should work as one.
They are fun to do! (And they just happened to be going through a serious moment here - they do have them, from time to time.)
Nikara
· 22 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
Very nice. Yes, this should be all part of one story. It would make the flow a lot better.
Author's reply
Thank you. Opinion seems to agree. I will assemble them into one, although they are episodic rather than designed to flow. In fact, there was never intended to be more than one, but they keep talking in my head as I am driving. Silly elves.
Elena Tiriel
· 22 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
Hi Bodkin,
I echo Jay's words. Nice story!
I also recommend sending an email to Nilmandra and Rorrah, asking if it is possible to copy reviews from one story to another. They *may* be able to do so, and since there is not a huge number, they *may* be willing to help you with this (it probably has to be done by hand).
Hope this helps!
- Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you.
I think I will try putting it together. Although the fact that it is not actually a story will probably show more - it just comes as bursts of frivolous conversation. Which do follow in sequence - at least at the moment.
daw the minstrel
· 22 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
This is sad, but I think Legolas is right. Arwen and Aragorn were fated for one another, although I suppose they could have refused that fate.
Author's reply
One of the things about fate, though, is its inevitability. And I suppose it becomes even more inevitable (tautology, I know) in a world where there are all-powerful figures like the Valar and the Istari who will intervene to ensure that what should happen, will happen. I suspect that Arwen became set up as sacrifice about the same time that Luthien met Beren - there is a completeness to the pattern. (Actually, even that was probably a set up, just like Elu Thingol and Melian.)
The most tragic aspect is not so much Arwen's eventual death - after all, elves did die in battle - but the eternal division of the first and second born. When Celebrian sailed, it was sad, but they all knew that they would be reunited in time, but Arwen and Aragorn will be divided from their family even after death.
La famille Elrond get a fairly rough deal one way or another.
Nilmandra
· 22 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
"She was the foundation upon which Elessar built his House."
People tend to trivialize Arwen, say that she had no real role in Tolkien's world, and she was just a wall decoration. I agree with your line here - she was his foundation, she gave him strength, she believed him and she was incredibly brave to leave her people entirely to be with him.
Nicely captured.
Author's reply
I do think Tolkien is pretty unreconstructed. His female roles are not the best drawn or the strongest. Even Galadriel, mega-strong elf that she is, is shown as being masculine in her power (Nerwen). Though I suppose that is fairly normal in what is a boys' action tale.
Arwen is important - she is Aragorn's motivation, and she is strong, but it is a kind of feminine passive role of standing by her man. There must be a great deal more to her than that.
It is actually the things that are beyond the story that make you see her as powerful - like taking up the role of Gondor's Queen as the only elf to live in the city, living with death and disease, enduring the loss of her kind, and all the while knowing that her happiness would last for such a short time - what is a hundred years when you are almost three thousand - and never knowing how long she would survive Aragorn.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 22 May 2004
· Chapter 5: What if. . .?
I like the sad and melancholy tone of this part of your tale. How different things could have been - but I love the idea of Legolas as a protective father defending his daughter from a scruffy Dunadan! I've always felt their families would be delighted if Legolas and Arwen married, and have played with the idea myself.
BTW, I think it would be easier to read as one story with separate chapters, but I'm not sure you could do it without losing reviews already posted.
Jay
Author's reply
Thank you. Despite the tendency of casual chat to be frivolous, it would be hard for this lot to avoid serious topics completely.
- I was thinking of just leaving the ones already there, and going back to the first one and then adding all the others as subsequent chapters. That would keep the reviews on the originals, but enable anyone to read the lot as part of a sequence. I cannot think of any other way of doing it.
Nilmandra
· 19 May 2004
· Chapter 4: The Opposite Sex
Poor Legolas! He needs an elleth, really. Well, so do the twins. And then they need elflings who are MORE mischievous than these three ever were. :D
Author's reply
Don't they just. The kind of elflings who never mean anything bad, but just tumble naturally from one disaster to another. Rather like their fathers. Wouldn't you just love to see the smugness on the faces of Elrond and Thranduil as they watch their sons try to cope!
daw the minstrel
· 19 May 2004
· Chapter 4: The Opposite Sex
All right. I definitely think there should be a maiden and she should be crazy about him. Why not???? He needs someone! He's lonely!!!
Author's reply
Yes, poor Legolas needs 'lurve'. But it would be terribly difficult to provide him with a maiden to satisfy all his fans, wouldn't it? Though I think he might have his eye on someone!
Arwen Baggins
· 19 May 2004
· Chapter 4: The Opposite Sex
Of course the prince of Mirkwood doesn't have his eye on a lady! Who would want to marry a prince anyway? *snickers* Poor lad, all he wants is an adventure and then he finds a lady friend instead. What did you say her name was again? You know you can't keep the secret forever! Come on! Or I'll have to restort to virtual tickle-torture! :)
Author's reply
Poor old Legolas can never get a girl really, can he? There are too many people who would hate it. Same with the poor old sons of Elrond. But a suggestion of a possible love interest (denied) - perhaps.
Arwen Baggins
· 19 May 2004
· Chapter 3: Maturity
Responsible adults indeed! You would think 4,000 years would leave you plenty of time for maturity...and you would be wrong! Very wrong!
Author's reply
They are male - enough said. Have you seen males of all ages when it comes to sport? And male bonding exercises? Big kids.
(Always bearing in mind there are exceptions. Just to cover myself. Can't see Elrond as a big kid. Or Thranduil.)
Arwen Baggins
· 19 May 2004
· Chapter 2: New Dangers
*giggles* I can't quite picture Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir being afraid of little elf kids...no, wait, yes I can! Poor lads! I pity them!
Reminds me of when I was volunteering in a summer daycamp, I had two kids attatched to my legs, one holding onto me from behind and I was *trying* to get everyone rounded up for the next activity. Kind of a hard thing to do when I you have three hyper kids literally hanging on to you and you can't move, plus untied shoelaces didn't help the situation...
Author's reply
Kids of all kinds can be pretty terrifying - and these three are accustomed to dealing with most problems by firing arrows at them.
I think they are even more scared of the mothers of eligible elf maidens - these three must be a pretty good 'catch' as husbands. It's one thing picking your own beautiful elleth, but none of them want to get caught! On the other hand - their fathers wouldn't be happy if they were just plain rude.
Safer to keep out of the way.
Elemmire
· 17 May 2004
· Chapter 3: Maturity
LOL
:),
Elemmire
Author's reply
Thanks
Beren
· 16 May 2004
· Chapter 3: Maturity
I love this story, its really funny. love the idea of the mothers in law!
Author's reply
Thank you. It comes in bursts, so it's not really a complete story - just a series of conversations. (But I rather like the matchmaking mamas-from-Mordor, too - as a concept, mind. I wouldn't want one!)
daw the minstrel
· 16 May 2004
· Chapter 3: Maturity
Hehehehehe. They are so bad! Maybe Elves always have an inner child waiting to come out in times of peace. Of course, I'm not sure that explains Elrond or Thranduil.
Author's reply
I suppose you could always blame Elrond's sobriety on his human blood - but maybe it's because both Elrond and Thranduil are parentless (though not perhaps in the Blessed Realm), so they are in charge of their environment.
It must be quite difficult to be three thousand years old or so and still have your parents in the prime of life running their kingdoms / havens - especially when they are mega-responsible and in control. You probably would feel reduced to infancy quite often.
And being reunited with old friends has probably made them revert rather - like a school reunion.
Nilmandra
· 13 May 2004
· Chapter 2: New Dangers
Oh,my poor deluded elves! They need to learn to 'go courtin' and have a good time! Really, how bad can it be? :D
Author's reply
I suspect they wouldn't mind the courting part - it's the being caught!
daw the minstrel
· 11 May 2004
· Chapter 2: New Dangers
On the other hand, you three fools, ellyth might prove very entertaining!!!
Author's reply
I do so agree - but who wants matchmaking mammas! I can just see them, eyeing up the delectable threesome and licking their lips. It must feel like being a virgin at a vampire convention.
Lindelea
· 11 May 2004
· Chapter 2: New Dangers
I started cutting and pasting parts that made me chuckle, but there were altogether too many.
Very clever! Scintillating dialogue (always wanted to be able to say that), great sense of timing.
Was very glad to see part 2. Is there a part 3 in the offing?
Author's reply
Thank you. I managed to use the word 'redolent' in something or other. I enjoyed that! Is that sad?
Part 3 - don't know. It depends on inspiration striking. Hope so - it's rather fun writing these.
Hiro-tyre
· 19 April 2004
· Chapter 1: First Impressions
That's great. I love this. Very profound. What does one do when there isn't anything to kill?
Author's reply
I don't have much problem myself, but I can't imagine the sons of Elrond coping very well in the absence of orcs.
Lindelea
· 19 April 2004
· Chapter 1: First Impressions
You know... I never quite looked at it that way before.
I liked the part about "about the same. Less tree-climbing, perhaps."
LOL
Author's reply
Thank you.
Aislynn Crowdaughter
· 18 April 2004
· Chapter 1: First Impressions
Hi!
LOL, what a desperate view of elven paradise! The elves of Middle Earth musdt really be bored out of their heads in this peacefull world, more so than the Vanyar and Teleri born in Aman who never knew anything else; and especially the young ones who did not grew world-weary before the went over the sea just to meet their family again (or, as in Legolas case, to answer the sea longing). One can almost understand the rebellion of the Noldor in this light...
Well, I suppose Legolas and the twins could always decide to go for the Telerian way and keep up sailing. At least thze sea might give a bit excitement. For a time. Until the next day at that fountain.. (taking up a pebble - plunk!).
Aislynn