Reviews (241)

White Wolf · 31 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

I'm glad you're back to a young Legolas story. I love it when he, Annael and Turgon are together. They are such a fun trio. I liked your description of the various arrows and their uses. It shows good research and adds depth to the young ones' training. I'm curious about the man who attacked the raft. That should be an interesting plot line.

Bodkin · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Do you think Turgon would have been held in the hands of Namo until he developed some common sense? The whole rebirth thing seems to require the awareness of and dealing with faults - so Turgon would have to deal with the weaknesses that brought him to his death. But Turgon's - complete lack of any grasp of personal safety or reasonable conduct - is such a part of what makes him charismatic, that without that he might actual turn out to be quite a boring adult. It would be really fascinating to have Annael, Legolas and Turgon reunited in Valinor - with Annael and Legolas, vastly experienced in all the perils of life in Arda throughout the late Third Age, encountering a Turgon who never really lost his naivety. Would they really have anything in common any more? - or would it be one of those school reunion moments, when you realise that this friend you have held in your heart over the intervening years is really a very uninteresting person with whom you have no point of contact beyond the fact that you were young together? I hope, one day, you decide to do a Legolas at 37 or so - just at the point when Alfirin and Ithilden may have learned to speak. It would be interesting to see if they ever managed to proceed beyond gauche before they were joined. I imagine Ithilden at least managed enough joined-up words to ask her to wed him.

The Karenator · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Nice set up. The men are such unpredictable creatures...still are for that matter. I can't wait to find out who this man is that caused problems as the raft-elves were polling down the river. I'm just guessing here, but I'm thinking he might show up again. Or at least others like him. The fletching of the arrows and the types of arrowheads used was interesting. Made perfectly good sense. Except to Turgon. “An arrow is an arrow,” I can't say I blame Legolas for being suspicious of Ithilden suddenly becoming so attentive. Of course, it's not Legolas that commands the commander's attention, but Legolas hasn't quite figured that out yet. I get the sense from Ithilden and Legolas's conversation about boys joining the military forces of the men that Legolas isn't quite sure what he thinks about that. There's no doubt that he wouldn't be allowed to join the forces yet, or that Turgon thinks that it's a good idea to skip training, but by his reflection on the arrowheads that pierce armor, it looks like he's pondering the seriousness of a boy being so exposed. Of course, a major tip-off that something is a bad idea is when Turgon thinks it's a good one. As always, I'm excited to see a new story. And as always, I look forward to seeing where we're headed. Carry on, Karen

Brazgirl · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Nice start! I love your Legolas and his brothers are really nice on this story. Ada Thranduil was also nice... And Legolas seems to realize what is going on between the couple!

emjo · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Yeah another story, and all the brothers are home. I'm excited!

thechevin · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

I was so pleased to see a new story and get involved once more in the lives of Thranduil and his sons There are already several distinct strands being made I think and I look forward to some Eilian and Thranduil moments as well as Ithilden and Alfirin and Turgon is there with his knowledge or at least what he sees as knowledge I think Ithilden is right about Legolas' friendship with this elfling I loved Legolas's noticing the tensions between his father and brother and his frustration with Ithilden and Alfirin seemed right on the button you could almost see him hopping up and down with a scowl on his face at their foolishness a lovely start

Lera · 30 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

I'm happy as always to see you've started a new story. I like this age. Good times. I thought it was sweet to see Legolas relishing time with Thranduil and I thought it was cool to see them doing such an Elfly father-son thing. Although of course my Dad cleans guns with me so it could be a father-daughter thing too. Speaking of girls, do you think the Elves ever had female warriors? I'm kind of leaning toward no. I thought it was interesting that the elleth took separate archery classes. I fence and my class is pretty male dominated. I'm trying to picture one of your masters(think Maldor) teaching a class of all girls. lol. I'm imagining me and my friends in his class. "What do you mean we can't talk? We're only stretching! We have not seen each other all week!" and then there's the great line: "Did you just call me fat? He just called me FAT!" I'm really not sure why my fencing instructor likes me. He seems to have solved the problem by immediately placing me in the drill line where he wants me-far away from Maggie and Kelly. lol. Good times. Hope to see an update soon! Have a good week!

Elena Tiriel · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Oh, wonderful! I can't tell you how great it is to have a Daw story to look forward to... otherwise, I might not be able to survive the next few days of absolute insanity before my country's presidential election! You know, you have a real gift: I normally have no interest whatsoever in weapons, but you got me all fascinated by arrows without my even realizing that they're something I don't care about... tricksy author! Hope your conference goes well for you, and that you find inspiration to work on the next chapter soon... - Barbara

Alice · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Yay, a new story! And it has men in it. I always enjoy looking at men from the elvish perspective and vice versa. I sometimes wonder what'd Thranduil would think of us today. Hopefully he wouldn't be too disgusted. I doubt he'd be impressed though. Stupid Valinor, calling the elves home. So, off to a nice intriguing start. I look forward to seeing what's up with Turgon and the arrow thing. Also what exactly that trade sabatoge is about. So please update soon! I'm enjoying little bits as usual. Like Ithilden and Alfirin making painfully slow, shy progress. Legolas is such a nice brother not to tease Ithilden about this later in life. I so would. But I'm not as nice as these brothers are. I think it's the age difference. Both Eilian and Ithilden are past the age where they lose their cool and scream and again, they'd feel horrible about screaming at little Legolas. However, me and my brother feel no such qualms even though we get along pretty well most of the time. I giggled over the line about maidens learning archery seperately because I'm in an all girl class right now and we're horrible to the male teacher. Hopefully the elleth are nicer to Pentellion than we are and don't act like my all female PE class did which is " You want us to excercise? That's so CUTE! He thinks we're actually going to get sweaty and stuff." (Snicker) I have this image of Maldor teaching teenage elleth and them doing what my all female spanish class does which is refuse to take him seriously do their own thing and him losing his temper and making one of them cry and then getting all flustered. LOL. I'm having way too much fun with the idea of the training masters teaching an all girls class, because girls aren't that bad. We're just different from the motivated, I must prove I'm better than you, boys. Ok, I'm done giggling now. Maybe. (giggle) Again, I look forward to the next chapter. The thought of Eilian and Thranduil helping Legolas make arrows is really sweet by the way. Gotta love family time.

French Pony · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Where did Eilian get the peacock feathers? Those are real exotics. Eilian really loves Legolas to give him something so pretty and so exotic. But only the tip would be really good for arrow fletching, so you'd need a couple of feathers per arrow. Maybe Eilian has enough to make one special arrow that will save the life of some very lucky Thranduilion later on. I bet Penntalion really likes teaching Legolas. I can just imagine all the other little boys being so easily distracted and Legolas being the only one really fascinated by arrows. And I bet that learning to shoot with different kinds of arrows will come in really handy when Legolas is off to war and having to shoot with arrows that he can pick up off of dead enemies. Good old Turgon, a font of information. He was probably the one who told Legolas that Orcs eat people. I wonder if the fact that he has no warriors in his family is part of his problems. Most of the Elves seem to have warriors in the family, and it seems to be an occupation with some prestige attached to it. Maybe Turgon gets overexcited and overcompensates? His little tidbit of information and Ithilden's reaction to it makes me think of a great parental guilt trip that could come crashing down about Sinnarn's head and shoulders when he's about the age Legolas is now: Sinnarn: Aww, Ada, I don't wanna tidy my room/set the table/do the yardwork! Ithilden: Listen, kid, if you were a Man, you'd be in the Army by now and really have to work! But first Ithilden has to get over the awkward stage with Alfirin. And Legolas and Tonduil have to get over the awkward bit of trying to deal with the idea that they might become related in the foreseeable future. The Elves are getting ripped off in trade. . . this will not a happy Thranduil make. And if Thranduil ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

Manderly · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

What a wonderful surprise to see a new story from you! And with a young Legolas too! Thank you! That was quite an interesting lesson on arrows. I had thought the difference would be in the type of bow rather than the arrows. Shows how much I know about archery! I must echo Turgon's ignorance - an arrow is an arrow. So the Men are at it again, or is it Man? I always find it interesting to see Men from the elves' POV. Thranduil is not pleased already, and it's only the first chapter. And Legolas is like a sponge, absorbing every bit of news that he can snatch. Really looking forward to see how this story unfolds.

Jay of Lasgalen · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

I see the potential for lots of conflict here - between the elves and men, between Thranduil and Eilian (again!), between Legolas's friendship with Turgon and his family - in short, another story by Daw! This is an interesting start. Jay

esamen · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Yay! an new story from Daw! Legolas contemplated that idea, and then abruptly thought about the narrow bodkin arrow tip that Penntalion had said would pierce armor. Hmm! Where are we going with THIS tale? I like it very much already. And I enjoyed the arrow lesson. Wonderful stuff. Can't wait for more! Thank you!

Bodkin · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

What a good start. It's great to see Legolas on the cusp of adolescence - still quite cute but beginning to ask questions as well as learning the value of keeping those observations to himself. And Turgon! There is no doubt but that he is the type of child who would cause you to throw a big farewell party if his parents decided to move. I'm surprised Thranduil didn't invent an assisted passage scheme especially for him to persuade his family to emigrate to the West. Legolas's skill with the bow is already well developed - he had already thought about a lot of the variations caused by different arrows. He's just the kind of young person who can do all the stuff about trigonometry and trajectories and things, until he learns it's called maths. I loved his delight at making arrows with his adar and his being torn about the chance of working with Eilian too. (And Eilian is hurt again! I'm not surprised Legolas has seen enough wounds. Shame he's got another few thousand to a) see and b) endure.) I have to admit to some confusion about your summary though - am I being totally thick? By the way - Ithilden and Alfirin: yes!! They can stand and look at each other now! And - and they can manage hello and goodbye! I should think they drive Tonduil and Legolas potty.

sofia · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

great start to another story. I think that the lone man was one of the men from the east. -sofia

elliska · 29 October 2004 · Chapter 1: Arrows Fly

Oh goody! Another story. This one looks good. I love the idea of having a look at Thranduil's interactions with his Mannish neighbors. Legolas must have loved getting to hear some news for once. Especially on top of spending time with both Thranduil and Eilian. Trust Turgon to already know about something like that though. And to know that boys serve in the army too. That discussion and the lesson about arrow tips used for war instead of hunting could not possibly lead Turgon and Legolas' little minds in any direction they should be going in. Ahhh Ithilden and Alfirin again. Are you going to put poor Ithilden through another round of toture in this one? Poor elf. Legolas' reaction to that was funny too. Young people just don't get it when their elders are enamored of one another. But my favorite line in the whole thing had to be: But Legolas had recently been studying the Last Alliance with his tutor and the thought had occurred to him that his own grandfather must have struck Gil-galad as an excellent example of just such problems, so he did not think that Men were the only people likely to balk at serving under a commander they were not used to. There is just something funny about Legolas having traitorous little revelations like that. You have to wonder what Thranduil would think. So glad to see another story.