Tangled Web by daw the minstrel
Anonymous · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 17: Going Home
Beautiful story, Daw! It left me with goosebumps. Thank you for sharing your tremendous talent with us! - Barbara
Author's reply
I'm so glad you liked it, Barbara. Now that it's done, I can say I enjoyed writing it, although while I was in the middle of it, I wasn't so sure!
sofia · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 17: Going Home
good good story. I enjoyed reading it very much. the part with Tinar sitting silently over his older brother's body was such a touching part! Like that saying goes, " You never know what you have until you dont have it anymore." i think that fits so perfectly in with that part. And the image of a cranky beliond makes me laugh. I dont know why, but i think its funny. I loved the little conversation between Eilian and Thranduil. I think it discussed things from serious to humorous. and i think it was very well written. Untill the next story... -sofia
Author's reply
Thank you, Sofia. Tinar will go back to being his obnoxious self soon, but just now, he's stunned. And Beliond has always seemed to me to be kind of irritable. He doesn't suffer fools gladly. I imagine that if he were wounded and laid up in the healer's tent, he'd get cranky quite quickly. Legolas is lucky not to be around him. Thranduil knows his children well. He knows what Eilian is grieving over and he wants to help him. He sees that Eilian wants to help young people and he can think of the perfect solution: Have elflings!
rikki · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 17: Going Home
What a nice ending to such an adrenalin feast as you gave us this time. Grand babies, eh? I can just see the look on Eilian's face as he turns back to look at his Adar after that comment. And another wedding, Thranduil is thinking of the future of his family. I really liked the part where you had Thranduil thank Eilian and Legolas for their help in managing the armies while he took care of Sinnarn and Ithilden. This seemed to be something that both sons took on naturally as their responsibility - checking on wounded, seeing that the dead are gathered together, and organizing the searching for orcs. And recognizing that they are adults - well maybe until the next time Legolas and Eilian do something that will upset their Adar. Hoping that you go back and fill in some gaps in a younger Eilian and Ithilden. I find both of them to be facinating OCs and would really like to see more of them. Salarikki
Author's reply
Thranduil has just seen a lot of Elves die and he wants his sons and grandson to seize happiness now. And he doesn't mind ordering people around to get it! Have elflings, Eilian! Get married, Sinnarn! And it was good that Thranduil recognized that Legolas and Eilian had been doing hard things. He needs to do that more often, because as you say, the next time they annoy him, he'll forget. I don't like to write about Eilian or Ithilden apart from Legolas, which is why I've done flashbacks of them as younger people in a Legolas story. It feels too uncanonical to just have my OCs. Of course, Thranduil is there. Hm. I'll think about it.
insignia · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 17: Going Home
Excellent conclusion. Thank you, once again. It was nice to see Eilian and Legolas picking up the baton for Thranduil and Ithilden, and also to see that it was quite onerous for them but they did it anyway. I also liked Legolas's sorrow about the deaths of Nithron and Galelas, and also the other warriors. Very moving. So Eilian and Celuwen are to be thinking about progeny? Well, good and about time! It was also nice to see that when the two younger sons took on responsibility when Thranduil and Ithilden were looking after Ithilden and Sinnarn (I don't think that they have official positions for that?) it was recognised by Thranduil and he told them that he was grateful for it. Once more, I am looking forward to your next story. When/where will it be set? Best wishes. insignia
Author's reply
Thank you, insignia. You're right that Eilian and Legolas just picked up the slack as captains and as Thranduil's sons. I doubt if anyone would argue with their right to do it, but still they were taking on responsibility just because they thought it was the right thing to do. Well,Thranduil is thinking about kids for Eilian and Celuwen anyway! I think he'd like more grandchildren. My beta suggests a daughter for Eilian, one who would wrap him around her little finger. :-)
Estel_Mi_Olor · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
*Sob* What can I say? That was a superior chapter! One of your best. But so sad! Nithron, Todith, maybe even Beliond, gone. And there are others, nameless figures, Men, Elves, and Dwarves that we do not consider. Alas that victory should cost so dear. I never thought of the Battle of the Five Armies in this light before. Thank you for making it seem the right way, and not just some victory that is not appreciated. I believe Tolkien would thank you also. There is nothing else to say-oh yes, one more thing: My favorite scene in the entire chapter was Legolas weeping in Eilian's arms. Very well done-thanks for including that. Reality hits you hard sometimes. Keep writing, I am eager to see whether Beliond and Sinnarn will live.
Author's reply
Thank you, Estel. Battle may be necessary but it is never pretty and this one was a bad one. Tolkien tells us that lots of people died, and my characters felt that. I'm glad you did too, even if it's kind of sick of me to be glad I made you feel bad!
Nilmandra · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
I am sure this chapter was emotionally draining to write, but it is brilliantly written. Seeing this battle from an active participant shows the grim horrors of war...and the sorrow of losing a comrade. I can only imagine what was running through Eilian's and Legolas's minds as they went to their father's tent. Poor Nithron - he died doing what his king asked him to do - protect my grandson. For love of Sinnarn and probably love of the one he served previously, he died to save him. Galelas too - stepping between Legolas and an orc. Heroic deaths; I am sure in Mandos's Halls they are honored.
Author's reply
It was draining. I was depressed all day yesterday, which is preposterous, given that I made all these people up, but there it was. I really like the idea of them being honored in the Halls of Mandos.
Casualis · 9 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
I have tried reviewing at FF.net but it wouldn't let me do it. But this chapter being a chapter I cannot miss reviewing, I will do it here. It was wondeful from the very first line to the last. I could feel the uncertainty of battle and the tears at the end. I'm just feeling so sorry for Galelas. At the beginning of your stories, he was a pain in the backside, but he grew in a strong and pleasant character whom I learned to appreciate. Anyway, that was a great update which left me strangely moved. Cas
Author's reply
Thank you, Casualis. I felt pretty bad about Galelas myself. The chapter was hard to write because the events were so grim. The battle was necessary but it was still horrible to experience.
Dot · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Oh daw, I could cry. I can’t believe I missed so many chapters. And it looks like it's nearly over too. I had to go to hospital unexpectedly nearly two weeks ago and I’ve been there since. But they took my gallbladder out on Tuesday and let me home yesterday so the first chance I got I checked your story. I feel so bad about not reviewing but to be honest I don’t think I’d be able to go back over all the chapters I’ve missed so I’ll probably just start again from the next one – I just wanted to drop you a line incase you thought I’d abandoned you! I had a quick read through what I missed and you’ve done such an amazing job. I thought the whole build up to the battle was so intense and you really showed how circumstance led them here, and how quickly events spiralled out of control. The battle itself was horrifically vivid and you drove home perfectly how appallingly pointless war is and what a dreadful waste of innocent lives. I particularly loved when you showed us little insights into the characters’ minds and I thought the elves really came across as being not just very capable warriors but truly loyal to each other. I have to go now (sitting in front of a computer is a little uncomfortable!) but I think I’ll have a little cry for Todith, Galelas and Nithron – I feel like I’ve lost some good friends! Oh, and Sinnarn and Ithilden. And Legolas, Eilian and Thranduil… Anyway, apologies again. I’ll get back on track with reviews soon, I promise:-)
Author's reply
I missed you, Dot! I'm so sorry about the hospital and the surgery and all the nasty stuff. I hope you feel better soon. I thought you were probably away on a fun vacation! :-( I feel particularly bad about Galelas and have to keep reminding myself that these people aren't real. But you are, and I hope you feel better soon.
tigerlily713 · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Great depiction of the battle! The eagles and bear and bats were wonderfully portrayed. I can't wait for more! Lily
Author's reply
Thank you, Lily. As I was writing this, it did seem as if all the creatures of Middle-earth were taking part in the battle. It's the kind of stuff Tolkien was so good at thinking up that just wouldn't occur to me in a million years.
White Wolf · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
This was a terrific chapter, definitely one of the most emotional. You described that horrible battle extremely well. Going from one individual battle to another in rapid succession, as well as describing the onslaught of each new wave of the enemy kept me on the edge of my seat, even though I knew the eventual outcome. I think revealing only Beliond's wound during the battle and then hitting us with Sinnarn's wound and the deaths of Todith, Nithron and Galelas all at once made it all so much more shocking. I wonder how Tinár (too bad it wasn't him instead) will react to his brother's death. The devastation of the battle, to me, was summed up at the end with Legolas and Eilian crying in each other's arms. I can't wait to see your description of the aftermath.
Author's reply
Thank you, White Wolf. The chapter was hard to write, mostly because the action was so horrible. The general outline of what happened is Tolkien all the way. I just showed it from my characters' points of view. And it's also Tolkien who says that many elves died and few escaped uninjured. So you see that too. By the time I was at the end, I want to cry too!
Bodkin · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
On a lighter note - (sort of) - it sounds really vindictive the way you keep saying 'I really wanted to kill Sinnarn'. What has the poor innocent elf ever done to you!! You can't kill people just because they take up space round the dinner table! Two more chapters? Aftermath and Returning home? Please. (More if you like.)
Author's reply
LOL. I have nothing against him. I just thought it would dramatic and fitting. I think I have just one more chapter, but I am bad at guessing how long it will take me to tell my story.
esamen · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
For on the mountain, on narrow paths from its northern side, a second force of Orcs was now streaming, hurling rocks and then descending along the spurs so that now it was Elves, Men, and Dwarves who were caught between two armies. Oh, Daw! I was SO worried! I was afraid to read to the end of the chapter! And I even knew how the battle turned out! I have to go pull myself off the floor now, drink some water, and wait until my pulse slows down before I can get back to work! My heart was actually pounding as I read. And you EVIL author woman -- saying in the introduction that someone was going to die -- if you had killed off one of the brothers I would have come up to Iowa and come after YOU. Even losing Beliond would have caused me to take avenging action. Better be careful about what you do to your fan(atic reader)s. You might develop a monster that gets out of control (didn't Mary Shelley do that once? Maybe that's a good idea after all, on second thought). Well, I am giving you the award for Most Suspenseful Fan Fiction Ever Written. I have never, ever read any fan fic before that made me feel like I didn't know how it was going to end. I think it is because you have created so much of this universe yourself. Fantastic -- Amazing -- what great writing! More, please, after I have a chance to recover! Esamen
Author's reply
I'm glad I don't have to keep looking over my shoulder to see if you're after me, Esamen! I was constrained in who I could kill by two things. First, I have a story set later (A Question of Duty) in which Annael, Amdir, and Beliond all appear, so they were safe. Second, at the end of "The Hobbit," Thranduil appears to be in a pretty cheerful mood, so I finally decided that none of his sons or Sinnarn had died. Otherwise, Sinnarn would have been a goner. You are really so kind about this story. I can't thank you enough for telling me how you reacted.
Duchess · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Oh my, how very, very sad! I'm sniffling here at work, trying so hard not to cry, but it's hard. Too many dead! This is terrible, but battles often are and all our favorites couldn't live through it. Oh my, are you terribly drained? Considering I am from just reading it, I'm betting you are and need hugs to boot, so here ya go. {{{{{hugs}}}}} Thank you for such an action packed, emotion packed, surprise packed part... even though all surprises were not good. I'd completely forgotten about Bard being able to do THAT! My little brother is saying, "I told you, he was a Druid!" lol Well done! You deserve an award, you really do!
Author's reply
Oh thank you! I needed that hug! This was actually terribly depressing to write, and the depression is lingering even today. I just felt so terrible for them all but especially for Galelas. At least Nithron and Todith had long lives. Sigh. I expect Mandos will be kind to them all in the Halls of Waiting. They died heroes after all. Beorn's ability to shape change is just so strange that it's easy to forget. But Tolkien says he was at the battle in bear shape so there he was.
insignia · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Really enjoying this story, and this chapter was a nail-biter indeed! I was worried that you might be about to kill off Eilian, as we saw him thinking about going back to Celuwen - and then we didn't see very much of him at all for the rest of the battle ... Your picture of Legolas's slight uncertainty when he realised that Thranduil was going to be in command was interesting, implying that Legolas has more confidence in Ithilden than in his father. But then, he has never been under Thranduil's command so I suppose it was natural for him to go on thinking that Ithilden would be in charge. I liked the way you wrote the battle. It was very realistic (to me, anyway) and showed how individuals got caught up in the adrenaline rush and came down to (middle) earth with a tremendous bump. I have not read the Hobbit (what heresy and what an admission, but I couldn't get into it when I tried it after reading the Ring trilogy) so I was seeing events for the first time. It all held together really well for me, and the bats sound just disgusting! It was reassuring to see Eilian and Logolas comforting each other. Although I like your stories for their character portrayls, I also like it when you get into action sequences - more direct thrills and tension! Will we be seeing any of your writing for events post RotK? Thanks again. insignia
Author's reply
I have to admit I was toying with readers a little about Eilian. I didn't show him and then I had Legolas be summoned to Thranduil's tent first. But in the long run, Thranduil's sons and grandson survived because of the good spirits the king shows at the end of "The Hobbit." He just didn't seem like an Elf who was grieving for a personal loss. The outline of the battle (including the bats) follows Tolkien as faithfully as I can but I tried to make it more personal by showing how it looked to the warriors who were in it. I think that to them it was exhilirating and chaotic and terrible all at once. So when the adrenaline drained out, as you say, they needed one another's comfort. I won't write about post RotK right away anyway. I'll go back in time probably, or maybe do some stuff that happens between this battle and the quest. Gollum crosses Mirkwood twice in search of his lost preciousss and Gandalf got the wood elves to help search for him. That has always struck me as a good Southern Patrol activity.
Jebb · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Oh so many lovely elves killed and Sinnarn badly injured death and despair and horror which is of course what happens in battle this was very sensitvely handled and close to the battle in the book but much more personal because you feel you know the elves who have been killed poor Ithilden to lose so much and come close to loosing even more Adar wil need all his strength for his family now but who will give him support I wonder thank you
Author's reply
Thank you, Jebb. In a way, I'm glad you thought the battle was horrible. I meant it to be horrible. Even though the Elves won, the battle itself was painful and chaotic. Ithilden has taken a blow to his most vulnerable area: his care of his family. I think he took the death of his mother hard (as they all did) and he's really bent on protecting those he loves. Seeing his son fall in battle must have about killed him, even though it turned out that Sinnarn was only injured. And Thranduil is wonderful with him, becoming adar again for this oldest, strongest son.
Jay of Lasgalen · 8 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Poor Todith, Nithron and Galelas! I'd guessed Galelas would die - maybe his family will realise what they've lost - and probably one of the keepers. I was afraid for a moment that you might kill Sinnarn as well. Nithron's death is going to be hard for Sinnarn and Ithilden to deal with, I think - besides their grief, Sinnarn is going to blame himself. Thranduil was awesome, as always, and Ithilden's reactions were very well portrayed. I also liked Eilian's and Legolas's reaction when they were told to go to Thranduil's tent. They must have feared the worst. I'm looking forward to the aftermath of battle, and everyone's reactions to the dreadful losses. Jay
Author's reply
I really wanted to kill Sinnarn. It would have been a more dramatic move. But at the end of "The Hobbit," Thranduil is so cheerful that it didn't seem possible he had just lost a beloved grandson. Killing Sinnarn felt uncanonical, even though he's an OC! Ithilden is interesting to write about. I think his family is his vulnerable point, particularly his wife and son. He's so controlled and strong, but those two are the ones who give him a life away from duty, who allow him to be himself and not just the troop commander.
Bodkin · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
What a powerful piece of writing. Love the chopping and changing of POV - really echoes the chaos of battle, and the huge number of wounded and the revoltingness of bats feeding on the wounded. Poor Legolas and Eilian - and Ithilden. The First Big Battle must be terrible traumatic, even to those who have been fighting in skirmishes for hundreds of years. I am glad that, if one of the keepers had to go, it was Nithron, whom I felt I knew less. I was afraid Maltanaur was for the chop after the way his wife greeted him earlier. I thought Galelas would be killed - I had him on my list as sacrificing himself to save Eilian. And Todith. But I thought Thranduil seemed too cheery later for any of his immediate family to have been killed - although it will take all of them a long time to recover from the grief caused by this battle. Now I know who has been sacrificed, I can go back and read it again more slowly to pick up the details. (I have to say this is a much more dramatic version of the battle than in the Hobbit. And knowing more of the characters makes it much more involving too.)
Author's reply
The bats were disgusting. I took them straight from Tolkien, but he writes this battle from a bird's eye view and when you look through the warriors' eyes, it's much worse. He also says that almost no one escaped unwounded. Very sobering. You made very acute guesses about who would die and why. Sinnarn is alive only because of Thranduil's good cheer in the last chapter of "The Hobbit." I wavered about killing him even for the first five or so chapters of this story, but in the end, it just felt too uncanonical (even though he's an OC). Maltanaur was a possibility, but my beta was very distraught by that idea! She loves the guy. And Nithron was the easiest for me to part with too. The chapter was gut-wrenching enough to write without making it worse. Actually, Galelas did die for Eilian in an indirect way: he stepped in between an Orc and Legolas, who was carrying the wounded Beliond off the field. And he did it because he knew how Eilian felt about his younger brother. I feel the worst about him. Surely Mandos will be kind.
Elena Tiriel · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
This is extremely powerful writing, Daw. I cried both times that I read this chapter. I have read that part of the The Hobbit very recently, but your descriptions pull me into the battle in a very personal way that Tolkien's didn't. The messages to Legolas and Eilian that they were to go to their father's tent were heart-wrenching... it's like when you get a phone call at 3 in the morning, and you want to yell "Just tell me *who* died!" I hope you can recover soon from writing such a wrenching chapter... - Barbara
Author's reply
Thank you, Barbara. I used Tolkien's wonderful account of the battle and tried to show it though my characters' eyes, from on the ground rather than from overhead, so to speak. And from on the ground, there's chaos and terror and savagery and pain. It was hard to write. Dorothy
Alice · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Man, you killed Galelas! And Nithron and Todith and possibley Sinnarn! I'm not surprised but I'm not happy either. I really liked Galelas. A good friend of mine has a family like his and I always felt a certain affection for him. Poor elf. And then you killed him. (sighs)I knew you were going to do it to. Darn it. Oh well, the nice thing about your stories is that I know you'll probably do one of Legolas at a younger age and Galelas will still be alive in that one. I just hope Galelas's parents finally realize just how much he meant to them if a little bit belatedly. This was certainly an exciting chapter! Scene where someone's in serious trouble, scene change before you can see who's dead and alive! That certainly kept the dramatic tension high. I kept reminding myself that Beliond,Amdir and Annael where all alive and well in A Question of Duty. That entire battl scene wasjust scary though. I mean there were not only orcs and wargs in a horribley large number but there were bats too which I kind of pictured making everything dark. Squeeky also. Not a fun battle to be in. And it was a full-fledged battle not the normal quick, almost squirmish battles the woodelves normally take part in. There was an actual army. I did enjoy this chapter though. I liked how Sinnarn saved Annael. If he lives through this I don't think he'll have any trouble with convincing Emmelin's parents that he is worthy of their precious baby. I certainly think so. He's shown real nobility and character and courage in this story and I'm really attached to him. Please don't make him die. (does puppy dog eyes)And I liked how Eilian disapproved of Legolas's hero worship of Bard. Me thinks the elvish captain is just a teensy bit jealous. Heh and Beliond had lively language. I kind of wonder where exactly he picked all of those vivid words from. I'm sad about Nithron and Todith too. What a horrible way to get promoted. Nithron was cool though. The keepers have a serious job that when you think about it boils down to throwing yourself in front of an arrow meant for your charge. That takes serious bravery and loyalty. I really hope Thranduil's payingthem well. I don't doubt that he does. Well, lovely chapter. Don't keep us in suspense too long about Sinnarn's fate.
Author's reply
I feel terrible about Galelas actually. I have to keep reminding myself that none of these people is real. And yes, you're so right. It's comforting to know that I can bring them all back to life just by moving to an earlier time frame. The battle was tough to write about. I had to follow Tolkien's outline, which, as you say, was much more full-scale than the little skirmishes in the woods that I usually create. The more I read Tolkien's description, the more respect I had for him. He was just masterful at giving a sweeping picture of the battle without getting too specific. Sinnarn will survive. I suppose I'm giving away a plot point, but not a bit one. As I read the end of "The Hobbit," Thranduil just doesn't act like someone who has lost a close relative. And yes, indeed, Eilian was jealous of Legolas's reaction to Bard. I wonder how he'll feel about Aragorn?
Lera · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Oh, my gosh. This is so sad! I am crying right now. I liked Todith every time he appeared, from when Legolas was first in his patrol, from when he took Ithilden's place while Ithilden was with the white counsel. Oh, Galelas. Poor, poor guy. And Nithron. He saved Sinnarn and now Sinnarn will have to live with that. If he lives. You won't let him die will you? This is so sad. But I must give you credit, this was a bloody battle and you were true to that. How did you ever decide you to kill? Did it make you cry? Well, I can't end this with "great chapter" like I normally do. I'm too sad. I don't really know how to end this review. Thank goodness for the eagles I guess.
Author's reply
In truth, I am still depressed from writing this chapter. I usually write first thing in the morning, but today I just don't feel like it. Oh well. The air conditioning repair guy is coming anyway. Sinnarn will be ok. If you look at the end of "The Hobbit," you see that Thranduil is in a pretty good mood and I didn't think he would be if a grandson had died. That's what made me decide not to kill him actually. I made a list of OCs and thought about who would be well-known enough that readers would care about them. Also I wanted a person who would be significant for each of the sons of Thranduils. And in "A Question of Duty," which is set later, Legolas is captain of the Home Guard, so that made Todith a likely target. I feel really bad about Galelas. Todith and Nithron at least had long lives, but Galelas just had such a crummy family and he was young. Sigh. The next chapter should be happier -- spring after a long winter, as Tolkien says.
French Pony · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Especially interesting to read this chapter immediately upon coming home from fencing class. For the record, I immediately recognized the tension of waiting for the battle to come to you rather than rushing out to meet it. It's a great strategy, and it's one of the two hardest things I've learned in the past year. In fact, just tonight, I was fencing with a B-rated fencer (I'm unrated, mainly for lack of money) who will take every advantage I give him if I move too quickly. So I forced myself to wait, even after I was ahead 4 - 2, which is the biggest lead I've ever had on him. And even though it took all my concentration not to charge, I refrained and scored the winning touch on a riposte! All of which is to say that I know from battle, and you wrote it very well, and I should know. Now, let's see how I did on the Fickle Finger of Fate wagering. . . Hmm. Galelas, Nithron and Todith. I figured Todith would get iced, just because you have too many characters whose names start with the letter T, and neither Tonduil nor Tynd were in the battle that I noticed, and Tinar is such a great irritant. Todith seems to have worn out his welcome. Legolas doesn't need him any more. I also figured either Galelas or Gelmir would buy it; Galelas because you've turned him into a sympathetic figure a la Boopsie suddenly getting assertive right before B.D. loses his leg, and given him a Heart-Wrenching Scene (sort of like what would have happened if Faramir had been killed, I think); and I kind of figured Gelmir's time was nearly up because since Eilian and Celuwen have gotten married, he's been kind of a fifth wheel. But he had that other wound, so I guess he gets a pass. As for the keepers, I wondered if you'd kill off any of them. I was almost hoping you would, so we could see if they'd actually do their jobs to the ultimate and take the bullet for their principals. But I guessed Maltanaur instead of Nithron, so . . . close, but no cigar. And Legolas seems to be taking care of Beliond much more than Beliond takes care of Legolas. Our boy's growing up, and is almost to the point where he can tell Beliond to put a sock in it and go back to Mirkwood without him. Also fun to see the Eagles in action. I figure Tolkien never could figure out what to do with them, because the few times he mentions them, the POV characters just have time to cry out that the Eagles are coming before they conveniently pass out. I have finally gotten to see Eagles in action, and I am content. And I did spot the entrance of what I assume is Beorn, though Legolas doesn't seem to recognize him. Funny, that. I wonder how common bears are in Mirkwood, or how much the Elves know about the Beornings. Finally, a lovely scene of the family elders being completely incapacitated and needing to rely on the younger children for help. That's how Eilian and Legolas will know they've finally arrived at full adulthood; the responsibility of caring for Thranduil and Ithilden has fallen on their relatively young shoulders, and they have risen to the occasion. Good for them. Now let us all sing for the dead.
Author's reply
Your fencing must really give you a different and more insightful perspective on stories that involve battle and particularly those that involve swordplay. I don't like competition in general and avoid it when I can, so I have to guess at a lot of these things. You're good at guessing who was going to buy it! Todith was an easy decision. In "A Question of Duty," which is set later, Legolas is captain of the Home Guard, so this opened the way for that. I considered Gelmir, because I wanted someone who was reasonably close to Eilian, but I thought Galelas would be more heart wrenching and once I had decided I couldn't kill Sinnarn (Thranduil is much too cheerful at the end of "The Hobbit" to have lost a son or grandson), Galelas was it. And I also considered Maltanaur, but he turned out to have a keeper of his own in the form of my beta, who is very fond of him. I thought there probably would be bears in Mirkwood. It's the right kind of climate and forest, and Beorn seems to have bears visit him. As to whether the wood elves would know about Beorn, that's a good question. Now that I think about it, I'll bet they do. Maybe Legolas doesn't though. :-) Let us all sing for the dead indeed. I think the funerals of the Elves will be back home, but we have to bury Thorin.
Ms. Whatsit · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
This was an action-packed chapter--it went by in a whirl and jumped from one emotion to the next, very much like a real battle. I had Todith, Galelas and Sinnarn marked down as Likely To Be Killed. I was, sadly, right about two, and not-yet-wrong about the third, it seems. What a way for Legolas to become Home Guard Captain, hmm? And poor Galelas. Legolas doesn't know about his death yet, it would seem--that would hit him hard, I think, since even though he never really liked Galelas, he did train with him at a very young age. So few people write battle scenes well--and you did. I knew what was going on at every moment but still had this overwhelming sense of chaos that would naturally be part of a battle. I thought Legolas looking back to Dagorlad was a good touch. I bet it did look a bit like that to the Wood-elves at first--especially if you consider that some of the warriors were probably *at* Dagorlad. Nithron's death was particularly touching because as Sinnarn's bodyguard, it's his *job*--as it is Maltanaur's and Beliond's--to die for his charge, but we don't really notice it when we read about him. The other characters just sort of thought about the "keepers" as funny old curmudgeons, and most of the time don't think about what their job means--and now it's driven home to them. If Sinnarn lives, he'll have a hell of a lot of guilt to deal with. (Poor guy--haven't you been mean enough to him?)
Author's reply
I'm glad the battle went by "in a whirl." It felt endless as I was writing it because I was following Tolkien's outline rather than doing the little skirmish things I make up on my own. I think that Legolas will feel bad about Galelas, especially since I meant to imply that he died jumping in front of that orc that attacked as Legolas was carrying Beliond away. Galelas was supposed to save Legolas (even though he doesn't like him much) because he knows how precious Legolas is to Eilian. I thought about Dagorlad as I was writing because Tolkien does say that the elves charged first. I thought that was very wood-elfy! And Sinnarn will recover, although you're right that I have been mean. :-(
erunyauve · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Beautifully done - you illustrate the battle in a way that helps it to make sense from the point of view of the warriors rather than a bird's eye view as it is told in The Hobbit. And I'm a little sniffly over Todith and Galelas and Nithron (Sinnarn *will* recover, right?). Galelas' family will hopefully realize what they've lost, though it won't do him much good now.
Author's reply
Thank you, Erunyauve. That's just how I explained it to my husband when I was working on it: it's the battle as seen from on the ground rather than overhead. Sinnarn will recover. I did seriously consider killing him, but in the end, felt that I couldn't because Thranduil is just not sad enough at the end of "The Hobbit." As for Galelas, I just hope Mandos is kind (he died heroically, after all) and he finds a nice maiden waiting for him in Valinor.
Anonymous · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
All I can say is Wow. This was great. I actually was afraid you'd killed Eilian since he said that about his wife and then disappeared from the text for a length of time. The scariest was, of course, the Thranduilion being called back to adar's tent not knowing what they'd find there. I expected Todith to die because Legolas has to be captain of the home guard when Gollum escapes. But I did not expect Galelas or Nithron. Too sad. Very tense. Very well done.
Author's reply
Yeah, I was toying with you a little about Eilian. :-) I tried to pick a person who would mean something to each of the three sons of Thranduil, but I didn't think I could kill anyone too close to Thranduil because he's pretty cheery at the end of "The Hobbit." So that narrowed my choices. I was sad and tense writing the chapter. I'm glad you enjoyed (?) it.
maya_ar · 7 July 2004 · Chapter 16: Battle of Five Armies
Well done! An excellent account of the Battle of Five Armies. I enjoyed the depiction of the emotional impact of the advances and reversals on those fighting. cheers, Maya
Author's reply
Thank you, Maya. Tolkien gave me the outline of the battle, but it was interesting (and disturbing) to work my characters into it and see how it looked from the ground.