Reviews (71)

Entmoot · 29 December 2025 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

I absolutely fell over laughing while reading this! It was amazing from start to finish.

Entmoot · 29 December 2025 · Chapter 1: Guests Arriving

The ending had me in stitches, oh my god. I was NOT expecting Legolas to do that. Eilian? Yes, a 100%. Legolas takes after him. thranduil had better watch out.

Marianel · 7 December 2015 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

And I forgot Eman of Esgarots thoughts of begettinfdays! My tears ran of laughter at his thoughts about that! 😂

Marianel · 7 December 2015 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Hahahahah ! That was one of the funniest fics I have ever read😂.All the misunderstandings and the poor unsuspecting men among them. Hahahaha! I loved the scene in the cave and Beliond and Maltanaurs overprotective suspicions! Sinnarn was so funny with the harp, hahahaha! I laughed so much at so many places in this story I have lost count!😂

endorearwen · 13 September 2013 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

A riot, Daw! This one was an absolute riot!! What can I say? About Legolas - take that! - enough said! ;-) By the way, I knew it was going to end that way... About Eilian - grow up! - enough said! ;-) About Beliond - get over it! - enough said! ;-) About Sinnarn - back to the forest with you, you silly creature! - enough said! ;-) About Alfirin - loosen up woman! - enough said! ;-) I simply adored the ending and the image of a very satisfied Thranduil chuckling and enjoying his rather favourite Dorwinian wine - he deserved a few blissfully joyful moments and this story definitely gave it to him! I do so hope that, one of these days, I’ll be able to learn from you and write humour into my stories as you do yours, Daw! This was hilarious!! I just loved it! :-)

erunyauve · 4 July 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

I can't help but feel sorry for the men in this story. And poor Alfirin! This was wonderful fun. (At some point, I'll review 'Spring of Joy', but I haven't yet forgiven you for killing Sinnarn!)

obsidianj · 8 June 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Oh, Daw. This story is hilarious. I'm still giggling. Poor Alfirin, that was not how she had planned her father-in-law's begetting day. But I think Thranduil got a really unforgettable day (and the rest of the cast, too). That should teach Beliond to be careful with his accusations and suspicions. If he wouldn't have been so suspicious, Sinnarn would still have the perfect gift.

pipinheart · 6 April 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Loved It!! This was great, I was worried when Maltanaur, Calith, and Beliond went into the cave with the lock on it...and they did get locked in. Those three pounding at the door, now that had me laughing.... Eilian and Legolas finding them, and Legolas not going to teach Elian to pick a lock, huh.... Thranduil had a laugh for his begetting day after all, them having a finght with that awful smelling stuff.... And Legolas thought he was letting her down easy, when she wants to avoid him after all.... Maybe he should have been nicer and told her that from the begining.... Great work!!! Update soon!!!

Mandy · 26 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

This was a fun story. Thanks!

Ithildin · 21 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Daw, I read this the other night, and the screen kept going all blurry (from tears of laughter) and I nearly choked trying to keep quiet (because my hubby was already asleep in the same room)! Oh, but I sooo enjoyed reading it! What fun! A good laugh was just what I needed, too. Eman musing about Elves celebrating begetting days; now that was just hilarious. I, too, have thought about how strange that custom might seem to humans that don’t know much about Elves. And Beliond is such a hoot! Griping about having two suspicious humans to spy on at once, and how lock pickers are so untrustworthy, even as he picks the lock himself (a skill Maltanaur knew about, I notice…) and Legolas getting to show off his own, recently learned lock picking skill – to Eilian no less. The unbelievable stinky rilliums, Thranduil's original motivation for eating them and Beliond's reaction to the thought that he might still be doing it, the keepers and Calith locked in the cave, the fungi-fight, Beliond rounding on Legolas – the list goes on and on. So many priceless moments! And poor Alfirin! But I sort of know how she feels. And Thranduil, too. A couple of years ago we had a birthday party we will never forget. Two of my teenagers had a chocolate-icing war and no gift we could have given my Dad could have brought more laughter or enjoyment for any of us. I was soon laughing so hard I gave up worrying about the potential mess and just enjoyed watching the fun. And I must add that I'm glad chocolate, at least, has a nice, pleasant aroma. ;-) Hmm, Beliond, Maltanaur and Thranduil in their youth – now there’s a corner of the sandbox that is virtually undisturbed – here’s hoping it won’t always stay that way! I have grown to love your cast of characters, Daw, and I miss them between stories. It was good to visit with them again and I'm already eagerly awaiting the next tale! I hope all goes well with your original fiction, too, and I look forward to reading it when it becomes available. Ithildin *(

White Wolf · 20 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

This was a riot. I loved it. Who says elves are always dignified, straightlaced and never get dirty? This was a Begetting Day that Thranduil will not soon forget. And he doesn't even know everything that went on! As always, looking forward to the next story.

Noor · 20 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Daw, You incorporated Beliond and Malthanaur being locked and Legolas freeing them by using the trick that Beliond had taught him..........I remember you saying that you wanted to use this in a story. Well done again! Noor

DJ · 19 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Another Daw story! I'm thrilled to find it, and disappointed that it's so short. Although I doubt you could have carried on the farce much longer. I love your original characters, and we got to meet a few new ones in this story. At the beginning of one of your previous stories--the one where Elian and Celuwyn were married with a little girl and living in a settlement--you apologized for starting a story without any canon characters in the beginning. I finshed the chapter and immediately thought, "What does she mean, no canon characters? They're all canon characters!" And then I realized that you hadn't included any characters mentioned by Tolkien and that was what was "non-canon." Well, you've developed your characters so well throughout your stories that they've become "canon" to me. If I were able to visit Legolas and Thranduil in the Woodland Realm, I'd expect to meet Eilian and Ithilden and (depending upon when the time-and-world-machine landed me there), their wives and children as well. I'd expect Maltanaur to be spending time with his wife and family, and Beliond would be on retreat in the woods. This chapter was really something. Maltanaur and Calith suspicious of what the man was doing near the cave after all of Beliond's suspicions earlier. As soon as Maltanaur said he knew someone who could pick locks, I knew he was going for Beliond. And once Legolas' keeper and Eilian's keeper and Ithilden's aide were all in the cave (having left the lock hanging on the door), it was just a given that one of the boys would come by and lock them in! Beliond goes back a long way with Thranduil, doesn't he? In the story where he and Legolas, Eilian, and Maltanaur go to Dale, I remenber him juggling knives, and talking about Thranduil's knife-juggling abilities, and how he had to keep them from Oropher. And here he's talking about Thranduil only eating rilliums to annoy Oropher. Did Thranduil introduce Sinnarn to rilliums because he sensed a kindred spirit? I'm not sure Alfirin would appreciate it if Sinnarn brought rilliums home for dinner, and if Alfirin was upset, Ithilden would be upset that she was upset. Once the keepers and the aide were locked in the cave, it had to be Legolas and Eilian that discovered them. And there was no need for Eilian to run back to the palace to look for a key, because Legolas could pick the lock, since Beliond taught him how after their visit to Dale. And he's not going to tell Eilian where he learned the skill. The rillium throwing scene was funny. Legolas actually threw one at Beliond! Their relationship is loosening up a little, but I wonder if Beliond extracted some revenge. Okay, Thranduil was pleased with his gift from Dale. So he finally got it after Sinnarn took it out of the bag to use the bag for the rilliums. But what the heck was it? At first I thought it was a really big bag, and and since Beliond was following the man around, I thought the bag might have contained someone being smuggled into the palace as a spy. But then Sinnarn looked in the package and all he would say was that it was a fine gift. So then I thought, well they're men, and maybe they thought it was a fine idea to have the M.E. equivalent of a stripper bursting out from the bag a a surprize for Thranduil. And Sinnarn thought the whole thing was a fine joke. But when Sinnarn used the bag for the rilliums, I knew my imagination had run wild, since the bag would have been much too small for a person. So what was Dale's gift to Thranduil? This was a wonderful, funny, cast-of-thousands farce, Daw. Familiarity with your other stories made it even funnier--Legolas and Eilian rescuing the keepers who are supposed to rescue them, the very suspicious and cautious keepers getting locked in the cave in the first place, Beliond and Legolas both exercising their lock-picking skills. Oh, and the poor maiden dragged to the party by Legolas' match-making aunt. Legolas and Eilian reversed roles here, with Legolas making a fool of himself to drive the maiden away, and Eilian sensibly saying, "Why do you not tell her you just want to be friends?" Then when Legolas actually takes that advice--at least that's what I think he was about to say--he was so firmly rejected: "If you were the last elf in Arda..." I can see Eilian hearing that a lot, but Legolas? Thanks for a great story. DJ

yanic · 19 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

I LOVED the Beliond/youngster fight. I love the old crab and his behavior was so funny. I'm trying to think of all the stuff that I liked about it- but it was all of it so great chapter, very funny!

Idhreniel · 19 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

I don't recall laughing so much because of a fic like I did reading yours. Beliond's lines were all amusing, especially when he says he cannot be everywhere to spy the men or when he calls Eilian an imbecile! Or the keeper's assumption about the men... this was great humor, for sure!!! Thank you for the delightful reading!

sofia · 19 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Loved the story. My favorite part was when you wrote: “My rilliums!” Sinnarn cried. “Your rilliums?” Beliond echoed. He froze in place, glaring at Sinnarn. “Yes, I was going to give them to Grandfather and now you have ruined them!” With a roar, Beliond grabbed a rillium and flung it at Sinnarn. that just makes an awesome image, don't you think? I also loved how you Beliond and Maltanaur stuck in a cave with a horrible smell with calith.

Nilmandra · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Especially considering that Legolas and Sinnarn are not too far apart in age, it must really steam Legolas to see Thranduil indulging him. LOL. Ok, I admit I laughed myself silly. This was great lunchtime fodder yesterday. Beliond wouldnt' trust anyone like himself, and Maltanaur, for all he is a kinder and gentler elf, is not much better. Legolas and Beliond though - I'd love to see how Beliond reacted to him after Thranduil left!

emjo · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Wonderful Daw, just wonderful! I think I was laughing just as hard as Thranduil. I hope the next story isn't too far off I miss your great stories!

Frodo3791 · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

It was so great to read another one of your stories. I could just picture Legolas, Eilian, Sinnarn, and Beliond throwing the rilliams at each other... would have been a priceless scene. The story all together was a very amusing one. Can't wait to see what's next from such an entertaining writer! -Micah

Manderly · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Oh Lord, I can't remember that last time I laughed so hard over a story! This was absolutely priceless! Who would have thought that this would end in a rillium throwing war? Almost as bad as tossing stink bombs around, and with Beliond leading the charge of all people! I love that guy! That grumpy old bear really is a child at heart (the child being Dennis the Menace, no less). At least Thranduil thought it highly amusing. I wonder what the Men thought. If they thought the elves had some pretty bizarre customs before, I can't imagine what they think now. The stories about these elves that they will spread once they get back to their home turf will not doubt cause a stir or two. Poor Alfiren! I wonder how many more Thranduil's begetting days it will take before she can live down this one. Thank you so much for this top-notch entertainment!

Jay of Lasgalen · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

What on middle-earth are rilliums? They stink to high heaven, and if you cook them the wrong way they're poisonous. They remind me of Japanese blow fish. And of course, Thranduil likes them! (I liked the bit about him proving his daring to Oropher - sounds rather the sort of thing Eilian would do ...) I knew, the moment Beliond et al went into the cave, that they'd get locked in, and you didn't disappoint me. That was fun, but I loved the rillium fight at the end - and Thranduil not quite containing his laughter. Yes, this is a begetting day he'll never forget!

perelleth · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

I'm still chuckling, this was priceless! I loved seeing Beliond and Maltanur on assignment, in a secret mission,and with the inestimable help of Calith, who goes to check some boats and ends up locked up in a stinking cave... of course, he can always borrow Beliond's argument about a well-set trap... Anyway, poor Belioind took the worst part. In Legolas' place I would have doubted whether to free Beliond or rather send someone else to do the job... just in case. HE and Eilina doubling up in luaghter can not have helped their case for innocence, but in the end they all managed to give Thrnaduil a nice present... Poor Ithilden, he missed the party! Hilarious Daw, seriously. I had the greatest time picturing Beliond's anger rising to full steam in that cave, while Maltanaur tried to keep calm and poor Cálith wondered what he had done to end up in such tight and smelly place! It is well known that Eman and Helad took to drinking together after their visit to Mirkwood's stronghold.

meckinock · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Oh, forgot to say, I can just see Helad and Eman bonding for life over this.

meckinock · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 3: The Best Laid Plans

Hey! We never get to find out what the gift from Dale was? No fair, Daw. Beliond is so adorable. How dare Thranduil let in more Men than a hard-working spy be reasonably expected to keep track of? And Maltanaur didn't miss much, either, for all that he's just sitting there taking it all in instead of stalking around. Go Maltanaur. I love seeing wily Maltanaur, paranoid Beliond, and prissy Calith out on a mission together. Too wonderful. Although I don't want to think too hard about what it is that Beliond fell in. The food fight was the best, although this just points back to why people write males instead of women in Tolkien. Personally, I'd MUCH rather be slinging rillians at my brother than embroidering and packing picnic baskets. I loved it when Thranduil showed up in the middle of it. Yes, I imagine this will be a begetting day he remembers for a long, long, time. Great story, Daw.

meckinock · 18 March 2006 · Chapter 2: The Perfect Gift

Eman is definitely growing on me, which is saying something after his bull-in-a-china-shop routine of the last chapter. I love it when you turn a relationship around and let us see it from another perspective. His amazement at the public marking of begetting days and his pondering of how exactly the elves know when to mark them had me honking. And I can certainly understand his obsession with finding out the nature of the Gift. On such minutia have matters of diplomacy always hinged. Eman must be really stumped now. The description of the aroma of trilliums were lovely, too. Sinnarn is such a good boy. Aren't grandparents a hoot with their food preferences? If I recall, my grandfather thought pickled pigs' feet were quite the treat. I can just see Thranduil out in the woods, squatting by the fire happily carving up trilliums into a frying pan while his troops back as far away as they can manage. I loved Sinnarn's distracted observation of Maltanaur as he leaves with the lock ("Calylad's grandfather" LOL. Sure, he was just sitting there soaking some sun into his old aged bones. Snort. I'm sure he didn't notice anything amiss... To Mordor with diplomacy LOL. I loved Eman's observation that if the Men of Dale are dumb enough to gift the King of Mirkwood with possum dung, negotiations could be a lot easier than he expected, and his observation of Beliond trailing Helad with all the subtlety of a rabid bloodhound. This is a hoot and a half.