daw the minstrel
· 10 August 2004
· Chapter 13: Joining the Party
Loved the idea that Thranduil did not want to take on the training of other people's sons. I can imagine the sons' dismay if he did!
Elrohir is turning out to be quite a good spymaster. I find that intriguing. And Elladan is a masterful director of the party. I find that intriguing too. I must remind myself that they are both married.
"Where there are forests, there will be elves." I love that! I hope it's true.
Oh my. The Lady knows Legolas. Is this his mother? That would be excellent.
Author's reply
I would love to see Thranduil taking on the training of a lot of spoilt brats. It would do them a power of good.
Elrohir is a little bit disgruntled about being away from home just now - and he is not going to let the token Noldor lordlings get away with much. Elladan and he seem to have grown up inside a bit.
Forests need elves. The Lady? - all will be revealed. Eventually.
Rose Sared
· 10 August 2004
· Chapter 13: Joining the Party
ohh, the milk fair son of the King indeed. Who is the mystery woman who he knows?
Can hardly wait, what a great story
Rose
Author's reply
I'm glad you are enjoying it. The mystery woman - all will be revealed eventually.
Next bit should be along soon.
Imrahoil
· 10 August 2004
· Chapter 13: Joining the Party
Are you heading to a family reunion, hm? Speady updates, please.
Author's reply
Updates should be fairly quick at the moment - and I must say reviews encourage me hugely!
Family reunion? Whose family?
lwarren
· 8 August 2004
· Chapter 12: In the Open
I was extremely glad to see Thranduil intervene on Calion's behalf and stop the beatings. He may wish the young elf to perdition, but no one will hurt him while he's under the care of the Elvenking. Calion ought to take note of that, because I sense he'll be put to the test very soon by those outside. So the "stirrer troubled waters" has a name now, and I already dislike him intensely...(off with his head!!!! ...sorry)
Twin ellyth! :-):-) It couldn't happen to a nicer couple ;-) and I think Celebrian's congratulations were somewhat "tongue-in-cheek"...she knows what's coming! Great stuff...that conversation in the tree.
I had my husband and son wanting to know what was so funny when I read that part about Galadriel (a big cat with a lashing tail...*vvbg*) and the silly advisor who insulted her in a half of a sentence...that takes talent! So the big announcement is coming the next day...can't wait!
Nessariel...he's really playing her like a violin...knows all the right notes to hit...and she knows better, but isn't strong enough to tell him where to get off! Silly, silly girl...and I'll bet she will pay a steep price in the end. Does this guy think that Thranduil's household is so inept that he and his idiots will be able to do them damage so easily? Boy, does he have a lot to learn...Wonderful, as usual, Bodkin...a clever mix of tension, impending elflings, and laughter!
linda
daw the minstrel
· 8 August 2004
· Chapter 12: In the Open
‘Twin ellyth,’ she said. ‘What joy you have before you.’ -- Oh, hahahahah.
I'm so glad that Thranduil stopped the beatings. I knew he would never put up with that kind of stuff. Nessa is a fool, but I suppose she's not the first female to be a fool like that.
Author's reply
Knowing laughter indeed!! (Mind you, they might be little monkeys, but I bet Elrohir and Sirithiel wouldn't give them back.)
I couldn't believe that all those loyal staff would be able to tolerate Calion - Legolas might be nobly forgiving, but I didn't think they would be. Thranduil would be furious, but not sneaky - he wouldn't tolerate abuse.
Nessa - yes, idiot. Letting her hormones overrule her brain. Never a good idea.
I'm sort of trying to fit the timelines in the the Paradise of Elves - which is pretty impossible because that is so episodic and unplanned. But I do recall E2L were visiting the new lands when Elrohir announced the twins, so put that in.
Rose Sared
· 6 August 2004
· Chapter 11: Meetings
Sorry, writing at the moment so reviewing is getting slack. But, by gum, what a great tale this is weaving itself into. politics, intrigue, adventures and scenery - who could ask for more?
Me.
Loving it, do it more.
Rose
Author's reply
Keep writing. That is VERY IMPORTANT. Politics, intrigue, adventures, scenery - drat, where is the romance?
I'll try to keep it coming fairly quickly, while it has the momentum.
Ellie
· 6 August 2004
· Chapter 11: Meetings
I am really enjoying this story. Keep up the good work! Keep up the frequent posts!
Author's reply
Thank you. It's fun to write - except it is getting a bit complicated! Frequent posts are on for the time being - I'm about 5 chapters on, but I'm trying to spread it just a bit so I stay ahead.
lwarren
· 6 August 2004
· Chapter 11: Meetings
I am enjoying these stories so much, it ought to be against the law! :-) I have not been reviewing (I know....bad!) but will try to remedy that...besides, am still recovering from Legolas getting shot! You really have a political rat's nest going here, ya know? That last chapter "Justice" was just great! Now, for the present chapter...I was just wondering...about the mystery Lady and her apparent interest in golden-haired elves...she wouldn't be looking for Thranduil, would she??????? Hmmmmm? I cannot believe you left us hanging like that...or maybe I can! ;-) Anyway, the whole process of exploration is so interesting, what with the experienced dealing with the inexperienced, and add to that the saboteur...such an interesting mix! Haldir, bless his male heart, sounds like the typical male patient (and I don't mean how he is acting either - what a great picture you painted of him, all laid up and twitching *g*). The conversation between Glorfindel and scouts about naneths was also a riot! Just a great chapter...please don't keep us in suspense too long! *vbg*
linda
Author's reply
I am so flattered. Poor Legolas - but he's had far worse injuries. It upset Elerrina more than it did him. The background is getting rather complex - and the cast list keeps growing . . . (I'm trying to stop it - it's not the characters - it's trying to come up with appropriately elven NAMES.) Golden haired elves - well - there are others around. Haldir - that reminds me - I am going to have to get him out of his sick bed. (I like trying for a bit of humour - after all, elves are supposed to be light-hearted. I'm glad it worked for you!)
The wait for the next chapter won't be too long - I'm a bit ahead of myself at the moment.
daw the minstrel
· 6 August 2004
· Chapter 11: Meetings
So contact is made at last. I like these very skilled wood elves - slipping among the friendly trees. They seem so self-possessed and competent. But I still know nothing about who is sabotaging things.
Author's reply
I'm kind of visualising Native Americans, fascinated by the strange new arrivals. They are Very Good in the trees, but it's more that it's their forest and it works with them.
The saboteurs are going to become more apparent soon. Promise. Although I can't remember which chapter.
(Have you decided on your next project??? It's been a whole week now!)
Anonymous
· 6 August 2004
· Chapter 11: Meetings
Oooo. This is getting very intersting. I'm dying to know who these new elves are and why their lady is interested in golden haired elves.
Author's reply
Well, doh, in Homer Simpson language. Who isn't interested in golden-haired elves? (And dark-haired elves, too, actually!)
It will become clear. Eventually.
Thank you for reading.
finafyr
· 6 August 2004
· Chapter 11: Meetings
As usual this chapter is good.. just enough mystery to keep a person coming back for more..
it is a strange thing to know that there are people out there that actually think that the elves in Valinor could be content to sing and make merry.. and those that do obviously have not read the Silmarillion.. this story that you have been writing has very totally shown the effect of to much leisure time.. I think that the elves that have never been across the sea and fighting all the horrors are going to be at an extreme disadvantage....
they actually think that they are going to successfully come against seasoned warriors.. and the likes of such leaders as Elrond and Celeborn and Galadrial.. not to mention Thandruil.. he managed to protect the people in his realm sans ring..
I amost feel sorry .. almost.. but not quite.. for the unknown plotters.. they do not stand a chance..
shooting Legolas.. humph.. grrrrrrrr
I am also not surprised that elves that once lived in Imladris and other elven havens would want to find a more peaceful place than the inhabited lands..
oh and if I had a choice of who the ruler is my money might be on Melian.. but that is just a thought..
and yes your story is one of the stories that I look for several times a day.. and here it is 12:30 at night and I have to get up early.. but I just had to read what you put up today. you are a really wonderful writer..
Author's reply
Goodness - thank you. I think the busy elves could probably be content - it is idleness that usually causes problems. And they are a proud bunch - there are bound to be disputes, even if they don't indulge much in crime or physical violence.
Yes - the leaders of the Middle Earth elves are far too experienced for the Valinor lot - and they know the difference between important and irrelevant.
H'mm - I'm not fond of the plotters; not after . . . oh, better not mention that yet!
I hope the story continues to hold your interest. I'm on chapter 18 now, so updates should be fairly frequent for a while.
Anonymous
· 4 August 2004
· Chapter 10: Justice
"‘Any threat to my friend, or any member of his family, or household, or race – and I will have a knife at your throat faster than you can say Feanor – understood?’"
That is a good line! Love it!
Author's reply
And very Elladan, I feel.
(It's difficult to say - yes, I liked that line, too, when you wrote it - but I did! There are some others here and there as well, that make me grin.)
Alice
· 4 August 2004
· Chapter 10: Justice
I'm really enjoying this story. I can never decided which plotline I want to get back to faster. There's Glorfindel and Rindor the spymaster with a spy in their midst and a mysterious creature watching them and reporting back to his mistress. There's the trouble at home with Calion and Legolas now being forced in one another's company for a century. Let's hope that they become friends because otherwise that century is going to be very, very long. There's trouble at home and abroad. It's all very interesting. I look forward to the next chapter.
Author's reply
It is getting quite complicated to keep track of everything that is going on! (But it is fun!)
I tend to think that these elf lords probably had pretty big households full of people working in stables / gardens / kitchens and so on. It would probably be possible to have Calion shovelling manure for a century and see very little of him. (Although I doubt that will happen!)
Lots of trouble. I don't think that will stop just yet.
Thank you for reading.
Anonymous
· 4 August 2004
· Chapter 10: Justice
Oh that was priceless--that is a punishment MUCH worse than exile. Very good for you. Great chapter.
Author's reply
It could be considered a way of punishing the victim as well as the criminal - but it seemed a good way of having someone pay off a debt to society. And knowing you would spend a period of years in service to someone you sinned against would be a pretty good deterrent.
Thank you - I hope you continue to enjoy it.
daw the minstrel
· 4 August 2004
· Chapter 10: Justice
The image of people drawing away from Calion was great. You can see how isolated he feels.
Loved the tension in this:‘She and Nisimalote and the little ones will be safe staying with Naneth.’
Drawing a sharp breath, Legolas gave a brief nod. ‘They had better be,’ he said.
I also liked Thranduil and Elrond plotting on how to keep their sons safe. They seem to have accepted their sons as adults, which is interesting. Of course, that doesn't stop Thranduil from being ticked off when Legolas asks for mercy for Calion. What a funny sentence though! Legolas and Calion are condemned to spend a century together. How awful! LOL
Celeborn is bad to laugh at Galadriel and Thranduil, who are both so irritated.
Author's reply
Poor lad - his family isn't up to much, abandoning him like that. He must have felt a complete leper. Even his name made everyone draw away from him.
Worrying - E2L have achieved the hostages to fortune that they have never had before. It's all very well being reckless when it's just you, but there's a whole new meaning to safety when it's your kids.
I think Thranduil and Elrond know they're adults deep down, even though they would quite like to keep them locked away with Naneth - and they now have younger ones to shield, too.
I spent ages - (well, some time, anyway)- thinking about elves and punishment and came to the conclusion that they were not likely to go for violent sentences, or have prisons - and would probably be more into community service, with exile from society for the worst offences - and taken to an extreme, if you offend against a person, you owe them, so being forced into a period of service seemed appropriate - a bit like weregild, it would be a way of paying off your debt.
I think Celeborn finds the Galadriel/Thranduil edginess quite amusing - and feels they should outgrow it.
Bejai
· 3 August 2004
· Chapter 9: Safety Lines
I've just been a terrible fanfic reader recently, and haven't left you reviews for the last little while. But I'm still avidly reading and enjoying this story. I particularly loved the interaction of Finarfin and Celeborn in this chapter. I've always thought that any meeting between them would be very interesting. Keep up the great work!
Author's reply
I'm glad you're enjoying it. It's getting rather complicated - I've developed quite a big cast list.
It's bad enough meeting in-laws when you're young - imagine not getting to know them for over seven thousand years (ish) - and then suddenly becoming the kids instead of the older generation. At least, I'm trying for it. Luckily, I think Finarfin is a nice elf - but he has been a king for a long time.
I hope it continues to work for you.
daw the minstrel
· 2 August 2004
· Chapter 9: Safety Lines
It's interesting to see this whole big web of politics and intrigue here. And I can see why they'd be worried about the children.
I love the way Elrohir draws the wives into spying. I think they'd be quite clever. But again there could be danger. Poor Elerrina. She's not used to this kind of thing at all, not like Miriwen.
Author's reply
I think Miriwen has her feet more firmly attached to the ground - and, of course, coming from Middle Earth, she is rather more aware of nastiness. Elerrina comes from a family that has sheltered her - and controlled her, too, I think. She has been badly frightened, but I don't think she really understands the implications.
A lot of the spying is just listening, really. Which is something most people don't do. I think Elrohir is very good at putting small bits of information together.
Children make easy targets - and it would make it easy to control the adults if you threatened them, but I don't think these nasties quite know what they have bitten off. I suppose, at these ages, (little) children are easier to guard - because you know where they are. Adolescents would be harder to look after.
Nilmandra
· 31 July 2004
· Chapter 8: Finding the Way
The perpetrator of the Haldir attack better hope that said elf's screaming hoards of fan girls don't descend on him and knock him senseless.
So we have a watcher, and he reports to a Lady who watches the woods? Yavanna, perhaps? And who are her servants?
Author's reply
Haldir fans - a very dangerous bunch! Perhaps they'll all arrive and come to the rescue of the poor suffering elf. Or not.
The Lady - h'mm. Not telling. I only hope I can do denouement.
Thank you for reading.
Rose Sared
· 30 July 2004
· Chapter 8: Finding the Way
I am sorry to be slow reviewing, for some reason I neglected to request e-mail of when this great tale was updated, remedied now I am pleased to say. The plot thickens indeed! Leggy with holes in him, Haldir having difficulties with gravity, and mysterious watchers and Ladies. What fun.
More more soon, this is great stuff.
Rose
Author's reply
When I first glanced at your kind words, I thought I saw Haldir having trouble with gravy!! Could be fun!
The plot thickens like treacle. Soon I will not know which way to move. Shouldn't be long before the next part arrives.
Hope you continue to enjoy it. Thank you for reading.
Jay of Lasgalen
· 30 July 2004
· Chapter 8: Finding the Way
Ai, poor Haldir! While I was hoping he might fall in the river, I didn't want him to fall out of a tree! Who pushed him? The mysterious watcher, or one of the plotters? If they can shoot Legolas and nearly kill Haldir, what else may they do?
I'm going on holiday on Sunday; PLEASE update before then!! (no internet access for two weeks :( :( :(
Jay
Author's reply
He was going to fall in the river, but the dratted elf just went and fell out of the tree first! It's very frustrated. Wet elf seemed such a good idea - bloodstained doesn't work nearly as well.
No internet access! Modern definition of hell. I've e-mailed you some updates - you have advance knowledge.
daw the minstrel
· 30 July 2004
· Chapter 8: Finding the Way
This is very intriguing. I am dying to know what Rindor has to say. The glimpses of a presence in the forest and mention of a Lady are tantalizing.
Author's reply
Little, probably. Rindor has been trained to let as little as possible out! But, unless the story goes on for ever, something will have to emerge at some time.
The forest - yep, - there at least I know the answer. Cue for mad laughter.
Anonymous
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 7: Fishing
I've really enjoyed this and Paradise of the elves too but now you've really heated this up. Shooting an arrow onto the range while anyone in on it gathering arrows would be a no-no a elfling would know better than to do. This definitely would border on kinslayings and I think send panic through Thranduil's blood. Of all the elves to try it on, a Sindar! Oooo I can't imagine the reaction to this could be too good. I am really enjoying these stories. Very original ideas you have and you write them very well.
Author's reply
I don't think the twins and Legolas are too impressed. I'm sure there will be repercussions.
If I were Thranduil I would want a) revenge and b) to get my son out of there as quickly as possible.
I am glad you are enjoying this. It seems to be insisting on becoming rather more of an epic that initially intended, but I hope it continues to work for you.
Nilmandra
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 7: Fishing
Wow, that was rather shocking! An elf shooting at another elf? All this pettiness? Someone needs to insult them by telling them they behave too much like humans, but I suppose the Valinorians wouldn't understand. Still,they had to have been surprised by how cool and calm the twins and L handled it. I think they need to move too :/
Author's reply
Does being an elf exclude pettiness? I think all sentient beings are likely to behave badly from time to time - even elves. Although it mostly seems to be among the younger, idler, more immature and indulged elves.
I could see the native-born being numb with horror and not knowing what to do, while the twins and Legolas responded with cool efficiency. After all, it is not as if he hasn't been shot before in centuries as a warrior. Though not (unless accidentally) by an elf. But who seem to find weapons and warfare most exciting - those who have no experience to inform them of its unpleasant side.
They do need to move. (Someone once did an experiment with rats, where they lived in a perfect environment with plenty of food and comfort, but they were overcrowded - and the males started killing each other and the females got depressed and (I think) ate their young.)
Finafyr
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 7: Fishing
Sweet Eru this is good.. it is also interesting.. I like it .. it shows that Valinor is not Heaven.. that the blood of the elves that were in on the rebellion and the kinslaying is still there.. and that restlessness can lead to stupidity.. and that a life of "Bliss: can sometimes lead to boredom and petty jealousy... very very good..
Author's reply
Stupidity nearly always leads to disaster. And arrogance - they are a pretty bad combination.
I cannot imagine all those elves of different backgrounds skipping around singing joyful songs all the time - their characters are too strong. Young males are statistically the most likely to cause trouble, often for no more reason than 'because they can'.
I'm glad you are enjoying it.
daw the minstrel
· 28 July 2004
· Chapter 7: Fishing
‘Hold them all you can, child,’ he told their naneth gruffly. ‘They are small for so short a time and leave your arms empty for an eternity.’
--That is so true! I wish I'd understood it better when my son was small.
I love the fact that Elrohir seems to be making a spread sheet. Perhaps Excel would help him!
So Nessa is being courted as part of a plot? That would sting! It's a good thing she doesn't like him much.
Holy cow, someone SHOT Legolas? And they're in Valinor! Geez. I do like that Thranduil and Galadriel apparently think alike.
Author's reply
I'm beginning to feel a bit 'empty nest' - they still come and go, but they only need the wallet. And it must be worse for elves, who really are bereft for ever.
Perhaps Elrohir should invent the computer. I can see him using Excel - and Powerpoint.
Plots everywhere, I'm afraid. I'm scared I'm going to get completely lost among them all.
I tend to think that Thranduil and Galadriel have quite a lot of similarities - if only they could see it.
Poor Legolas. At least the injury is not too serious.