A King's Promise by Jay of Lasgalen
Kelsey Estel · 9 April 2005 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
That was so sweet! I had tears rolling down my face at the end! Too, too cute. Great job, Jay.
Author's reply
Thanks - I'm glad you liked it. This made a nice change from the angst I usually write!
LKK · 21 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Beautiful, Jay. My favorite things: the emphasis on keeping your promise, Legolas's understanding that his father has king things to do, Thranduil's statement that a letter from his son was far more important than a letter from Elrond or Galadriel, and finally Thranduil's Ada promise. Although I could never think up a response to your Farewell challenge, I thought the challenge was a great one. You should offer up more challenges. :)
Author's reply
When I first suggested the challenge, I had no idea what my own response would be - but I knew the letter was from Legolas. I'm glad you like this glimpse of little Legolas. Even at this age, he's had to learn important things about responsibility and duty, but the most important is knowing that both his parents love him. Please give the challenge a try!
elliska · 10 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Too sweet. Little Legolas and Good!Ada Thranduil. I loved this. Great response to a great challenge topic.
Author's reply
Thanks! It makes a nice change to write pure fluff for once.
Nilmandra · 6 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Elfling Legolas is adorable....and he knows just how to get his Ada's attention. Poor Lanatus will just have to get over himself :-) I am glad Thranduil kept his priorities straight.
Author's reply
How could Thranduil possibly resist that letter? He knows what the important things in his life are, it's just that 'king things' (and Lanatus) get in the way sometimes. Lanatus thinks that paperwork and protocol are the important things in life!
fael bain · 6 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
A short but very sweet story, makes me feel all fuzzy inside! I've always loved your little Legolas stories, and this is clearly no exception!
Author's reply
I mostly write angsty stories, so sweet and fluffy makes a nice change. I enjoyed writing this, and I'm glad you enjoyed reading it.
kirienne · 5 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Jay, This is sooooooo sweet. I could just 'see' the smile on Legolas' face when his ada came into the room. You have a wonderful way of capturing that special bond between father and son. It was delightful to see Legolas' naneth in the story too. I had been feeling a bit sad today, for no particular reason, and reading your cute story put a big smile on my face.
Author's reply
I'm glad I cheered you up, Kirienne! I liked writing little Legolas when he still had both parents to love him. Here's another thought to cheer you up: an adult Legolas, still wearing nothing but a smile!! :-)
LOTR lover · 5 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Oh, lovely. That was certainly a letter Thranduil could not ignore! And he was rewarded for his efforts afterwards, too . It's a win-win-win situation.
Author's reply
Yes, I think all three enjoyed the evening. I think if Thranduil had forgotten again, he'd have been sleeping in the study that night!
jenolas · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Very nicely done, Jay. Legolas is such an adorable child, but already very wily! I enjoyed this very much.
Author's reply
Thank you. Legolas adores his father, but sometimes resents the time he spends doing king things. Thranduil tries hard to balance the two.
eokat · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
This is so sweet. I liked it immensely. Nice to see any mention of legolas'mother,she is not in many fics. Eokat.
Author's reply
I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's the first time I've had Legolas's mother as a character, in other stories she's been mentioned only after she died (a few years after this).
lwarren · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Just came from reading daw's response to this challenge...thought I might find a little story here from you, Jay! This is great...Legolas is such a sweetie, and his letter so straightforward and touching - as only a child's can be! "Are you going to go do King things now?" *sniff* I'm glad Thranduil got his priorities straight - how he could he possibly turn away after a question like that? It's almost as good as the "big puppy-dog eyes" I'm sure accompanied it? Telparion is good, too, promising retribution if Ada didn't come through for the little one, and the promised reward for her husband was just what the King ordered ;-)! Just a good, warm story for a Saturday morning after watching all the sadness on the news. Thank you, Jay! linda
Author's reply
Thranduil knows what his priorities are, he just sometimes forgets or runs out of time. His priorities are right there with his wife and son. Poor Telparian died a few years after this story, so I'm glad she and Thranduil had their early night!
Bodkin · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Lanatus - isn't he the one from whom Elladan pinched one boot?
Author's reply
It certainly is - he's a pompous prat, I'm afraid, which is why he was so pi**ed off when Thranduil downed tools.
Bodkin · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Oh, this is delightful. Poor little Legolas having to write to his adar to remind him to come and say good night. I love the seal with the thumb print - definitely worth keeping - and who could resist the note. The advisor didn't stand a chance against that kind of pressure. And Legolas is already learning about keeping promises and being a noble and worthy person - and developing a close and loving relationship with his adar, which he will need all too soon.
Author's reply
Poor Thranduil felt terrible when he got that letter and realised he'd been neglecting his son. What else could he do but drop everything? Legolas is learning that his father sometimes has to do 'king things', but will always make time for him as well - which is not a bad grounding for a child.
nat · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
awwwwww hooooww cuuuuuuuuuteeee!!!! eeeeee big grin on my face the whole time i was reading it...awww i luv it
Author's reply
Thank you! I was aiming for 'cute and fluffy' when I wrote this - I'm glad I succeeded.
Lianna · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
How sweet. I can just see my own son when he was about that age -- five or six, I think, when he was beginning to be able to read and write but still had no shyness about running around with no clothes on. I think Thranduil learned an important lesson here -- and I loved the Play-Doh seal. Your faithful readers would not have minded, though, if you had chosen to continue the story a bit farther in the direction where you seemed to be going at the end...
Author's reply
It's nice to see Thranduil in a happy family scene - Telparian died a few years later, so I wanted to give him some time alone with her. It's a fluffy story, though, so goes no further than the bedroom door (this time). I have a recipe for play-doh made from flour, salt and vegetable oil, so I thought little elves might play with it!
Dot · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Oh, how lovely. A wonderful reminder of the important things in life. I like Lanatus trying to be strict with the errant king who’s refusing to do his homework. Thranduil is wonderful. It must have been hard for him to hear Legolas asking his mother if Ada will remember him tonight. I love that he apologises so easily to both of them and shows Legolas that doing things with his son are more important than “king things”, while ensuring that he still understands that sometimes he does have to be king. What a good father he is! Legolas is just so cute. I think what I like most about this piece is the fact that his disappointment stems only from the fact that he clearly adores his father and wants to spend time with him. The bond between him and his father that helps them through tough times in your later stories is very obvious here. Oh, and Legolas is very, um, creative in making the seal! I do like Telparian. Apart from the fact that she’s great with Legolas, who clearly relishes her praise and attention, there’s a strong sense of both strength and playfulness in her relationship with Thranduil. I don’t doubt for a second that he would have regretted it if he hadn’t come to their son this night. She seems willing to forgive, though, when she sees how sorry he is. I love the ending – there’s a definite spark there between the two adults that makes me smile to see. This is such a heart-warming family picture. I really enjoyed it :-)
Author's reply
Lanatus turns up in several stories. I'm afraid he's a prat who wouldn't understand the importance of the occasion. I think Thranduil had a hard time with him! It was also difficult for him to balance being both King and father, but I think he managed it well. Ah, the seal. It was 'unfamiliar', and I wondered what the heck Legolas could have used! I've never written Telparian before - she made her debut when she died, leaving a traumatised Legolas and Thranduil behind. It was nice to give her and Thranduil the hint of a happier moment.
Karri · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Oh, delightful! An excellent job with the challenge, Jay.
Author's reply
Thanks, Karri! I enjoyed writing it.
daw the minstrel · 4 September 2004 · Chapter 1: A King's Promise
Oh that is so sweet! What a wonderful family picture. It's those little things that make all the difference to children, and to their parents too.
Author's reply
I liked the chance to show Telparian here as Nana, as well as good!Ada Thranduil. This is an important time for all of them. I remember when I was that age, the worst punishment of all was not having a bedtime story.