Reviews (172)

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Galadriel must be feeling rather better - and managing people is a hobby! She does have people's best interests at heart though (although they might not agree). I think she'd like to smooth Elerrina and Legolas's path - but doesn't expect to achieve the impossible. Haldir will be more than happy to see Celeborn land - and will probably sneak off while Galadriel isn't looking! Taryatur might not be the easiest father-in-law - but what he wants is the absolute best for his children. Can't fault him for that, I suppose! And Linevende is worried about him. Legolas and Elerrina both had their guard down - didn't expect to meet here - and something happened that might have occurred a good long time ago, had they not been trying to be sensible. But now at least they have reached out to each other! They've just got to convince the rest!! Thank you - I'm glad you're enjoying it.

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They weren't expecting to see each other - so the barriers were down. Now, at least they have each other, even if the rest of the world will still need to be convinced. I like Finrod. He seems to me to be a very Third Age elf! He lacks the aggression and arrogance I see in most of the First Age elves - he's open-minded and curious about others. And honourable. Mind you, a few thousand years of being dead might have softened a lot of the others as well. Probably a prerequisite to being rehoused. And I find the complications just get more and more complicated as I think about them! Thank you - I'm glad you think that comes over.

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The poor things have lasted eight chapters - that must be enough for them! They deserve to get to the point when they at least have each other in their confrontation with the world! I think Nathroniel might be a cousin of Laerwen's - not close family, but enough Silvan power in her to make her a force to be reckoned with. (And ensure that Thranduil shows at least a little caution in dealing with her.) Poor Haldir! I think he'd rather be at odds with the locals than help with the haying - but when the Lady commands... Litheredh is growing, too - both he and Haldir are not quite the simple elves they were at the start of this. Camentur is straight (I'm glad you liked the simile!) and he has inherited it from his parents - poor Taryatur might be misguided, but he does want the best for his family and he is honest. Neither Elerrina nor Legolas expected to meet the other and so were unguarded - which freed them to respond to each other naturally. And now they just have to convince everyone else. I think the partying Wood elves might be OK with it - they were there and could probably feel the edges of their emotions. Unfortunately there are a lot who weren't... Is school over now? Time to put your feet up and hope for a class of mice for next year!

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There's something about a relationship that is mainly reserve and tension rather than ... romping. I find it far more moving to read about. I'm glad you enjoyed that! Poor Taryatur. He is tortured. He wants the best for Elerrina, but he is just too darn certain he knows what that is. Linevende isn't so sure, I think, but she has seen in him the damage that exposure to war can do - and she is torn between husband and daughter. I hope he concedes - but know that it is going to be a long time before he can rejoice in Elerrina's happiness. It's so easy to start off seeing these political problems from only one side, but I am finding that the more I think about them, the more complex they become - and the more difficult to solve. It's not just unreasonable Noldor, picking on the new arrivals, but people who are having their lands eroded and their livelihoods threatened - and you begin to realise that these are situations that, even with goodwill on all sides, are very, very difficult to settle. At least elves have time - though that isn't always a good thing! Galadriel is determined that Haldir should become more than he is at present. (I don't think she'd cracked it by Far Horizons. I seem to remember him being rather obnoxious. Maybe there will just have to be a Haldir tale, where he loses that country hick edge he enjoys so much.) The young elf amused me. I rather liked Galadriel feeding him all the pastries, too. He's probably rather older than he seems. Well... he's an elf. He's almost bound to be older than he seems. But he's discovered, I think, that he can jolly his father along better with a bit of humour than with confrontation. Finrod's discoveries - well! Bit of reference to the future there! Not to mention people's tendency to believe the worst. Legolas and Elerrina must have sunk about as low as they can go. Neither has openly acknowledged that they care for each other - they are both suffering alone. They are both sensible, dutiful people and cannot see any way forward. Something will have to break, I think. Don't know what yet! Thank you, Elliska. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

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It cannot have been easy for Elerrina and Legolas to overcome the objections of those around them - and they are both the kinds of people to whom duty is important. But, on the other hand, the recognition of one elf for the other who completes him/her seems to be very strong and instinctive. They would have been very miserable, I think, until they made their own decisions. And even then, it's not going to be easy. Linevende, I think, places more confidence in Taryatur's opinion that she should - but she accepts that he has a greater understanding of those lands east of the sea that she has never seen and she has seen the damage they did to him and doesn't want to expose Elerrina to that in her husband. And, perhaps, there is a time when attraction is just that and it can be prevented from going further. Thranduil - well, you would expect him to explode and refuse to hear of the match, but he can be surprising and he is a practical elf. Nisimalote is growing as a character - she is closer than her mother-in-law to the passions of a new bond and has probably more grasp of pure emotion. Galadriel has plans for Haldir, I think. Not ones she expects to come to fruition any time soon, but if there is anyone capable of working on a long-term plan ... And it's easy, when you start these stories (I find) to view everything from one side and see the opposition as being totally unreasonable, but the more you think about it... The local farmers have a point. It's not that all the elves won't be able to settle down together into one people, but it's not going to be the work of minutes. In fact, being elves, it's not going to be the achievement of a couple of ages. You want Legolas to have a happy moment? I'll see what I can do!

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Thank you. This is fun to write. I can't help but feel sorry for Legolas here - the poor elf has over three centuries between his arrival and Thranduil's, so he has to face a lot of ups and downs. There will be more fairly soon!

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Yes, I think Legolas and Elerrina need to have a little time together! Poor things, theirs is a more complex situation than it seemed at the outset. It's not just Taryatur who is not thrilled by their interest in each other! I find that as I write this I am becoming ever more aware that every story has not just two sides but an infinity of them! And that everyone's perspective has its point, too. Trying to accommodate them all must be like trying to mould water - and then at least half are going to dislike what you do! The next chapter is only part-written, I am afraid - but hopefully it won't be too long in coming!

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This is such a complicated situation! It started off appearing quite simple, but I am afraid that the more I think about it, the more aspects appear - and everyone seem to have a point. I reckon about the only people who will be unconditionally happy for Legolas and Elerrina might be the guest stars - Aule and Yavanna. Pretty much everybody else has their own reasons for seeing this relationship as a complication. I'm quite looking forward to Thranduil's arrival - it might be the only thing to break the stalemate and stop them all going round in circles.

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Legolas and Elerrina have a very complicated situation to face - she will not be any more welcome to his people than he is to her parents, and they are both trying to be sensible. But elves, I feel, know their match when they meet and at the very best neither of them is likely to marry elsewhere - at the worst, I suppose, they might continue to be very unhappy for a very long time. Elrond probably has a better idea of the complications of two unsuitable lovers drawing together than most! And keeping busy is one way to distract yourself. Legolas must feel very alone at the moment. Elerrina's parents are part of her problem but at least she has her brother and sister-in-law to support her. And the politics! Well, they just go on getting more and more complicated. Good job Galadriel is an old pro when it comes to dealing with difficulties. And Haldir knows better than to fight - he does have some sense! Things must start turning round soon ... I hope.

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Legolas must feel he's going round in circles chasing his tail, like a particularly manic pooch. And moving on to the point when you shake in the presence of your admired might not seem an advantage when you are under the impression that you've reached as far as you will be able to go. If they acknowledge their desire ... love ... interest ... maybe it'll help. Maybe. Or maybe it'll make it worse. Nisimalote can see all round the situation - I think she might be a bit wary about actually pushing Elerrina forward. After all, her father-in-law wouldn't be keen! But, on the other hand, her bit of detachment probably makes her a much better judge of what should happen. (I enjoyed making this high-born Noldor lady into someone who expresses her creativity in the kitchen. It's so easy to decide that females have to be masculine to display independence - when, actually, being able to seek fulfilment where you want is true equality.) It's so true that the 'smile and nod' method of disagreement is fun, effective and infuriating, depending on how it's used. (I should imagine Galadriel's a professional.) And - it's exasperating in a way - the more I think about a situation the more shades of grey it develops. It's so easy to think 'bad, selfish Noldor' - but there is so much more to this situation than that. We have a horde of immigrants moving into settled lands - how would we react to that? Who is right and who is wrong? And the answer is usually neither and both. And it won't do Haldir any harm to be exposed to the complications of elf-management. It is so very easy to set people against each other - and so hard to promulgate harmony. And you're right - *he* must be starting to move. He was pretty firmly entrenched by Far Horizons, and we must be - well - more than half-way towards Thranduil's arrival now. Definitely wiser not to aggravate a Lady. Watch and learn. That's his motto. Well, watch and learn and reveal the minimum, I should think. Thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

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Politics and families. Combine them and the problems confronting them must seem mountainous! Taryatur may well be getting to the point where he has to judge which is worse: miserable together or miserable apart. Galadriel is, I think, just (just, hah!) aiming to smooth relationships and keep things even, so that Celeborn doesn't have too difficult a job when he arrives. Finrod's spy ducked out without leaving a forwarding address - but I have my suspicions as to who was managing this task for the High King's son. I think Legolas sometimes underestimates himself - he has spent most of his life being one of the youngest of elves, surrounded by those who remember Doriath and Sirion and Dagorlad. It must be hard to feel you can measure up to legends. I think he might underestimate how much his people appreciate him. But you're probably right - they're a bit stymied until the Big Cheese arrives. Which must be getting closer!

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Legolas and Elerrina are, perhaps, a little too resigned to the impossibility of their love - but he is being a responsible regent and she is a loving and dutiful daughter. I don't think either of them is quite ready to decide that these relationships cut both ways and that people and parents need to take account of their views on the matter. Nisimalote is right - they are hurting themselves by pretending they can spend time together as friends. They have moved beyond that - even though they have done nothing more than speak and look and touch in the most formal way. They need to acknowledge that, I think. We'll see what happens next. Hopefully it'll be a bit more positive!

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Everything seemed quite simple at first - but every time I try to think about how someone else sees the situation, it gets more and more complicated and multi-layered. And the trouble is, everyone is right. Of course, everyone is wrong, too - but isn't that just life! Galadriel knows what Legolas might not fully understand - you can't please everybody. You just have to decide who to offend and how much. If you know who Finrod's scout it, do tell me. I thought I had suspicions, but he ducked out of the way and dodged the paparazzi. I think it will take Thranduil's arrival to break the stalemate, but I don't think he's due to arrive in the next chapter. The one after, maybe.

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Poor poor Haldir! He's not designed by nature for diplomacy. But he does need to mature a bit and expand his horizons! It's so tempting to think of Celebrian as being the natural heir of her adar, grown up in Lothlorien - I have to keep reminding myself that she'd been married and Lady of Imladris for nearly a couple of millennia before C & G took on the role of ruling the Golden Wood. Mind you, if she looked at him with the authority of her parents, I can't see him being able to refuse. Even if she did put him in red. Elerrina is just so much more comfortable in Haldir's company - she has no desire at all to behave inappropriately. You never know, Taryatur might even come to like this elf! And I can see Galadriel bringing her attendants round to running their own Mafia. It would be very convenient to have an expanding Blessed Realm - and the Elves of Ennor would think of it as a carefully managed adventure playground, with all the real dangers carefully excised. It's still a good way before there's any happy ending. Mind you, even the happy ending has its problems. I'm glad you enjoyed it. The next bit is coming along rather more slowly, but it won't be too long.

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I like puns! It can be almost impossible to avoid innuendo at times, but I try! Of course, you have to realise it's there... Legolas is doing well and settling into a kind of roving ruler role (alliteration!) but it is tougher than it sounds - he can't really settle anywhere. Wherever he hangs his hat it's his home. Poor elf needs a family! Thank you. More soon - but the next chapter isn't rushing to appear.

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I think Celebrian just thought it would suit him. And be different. I don't think Galadriel would be too bothered. I wonder what dye they would have used ... google will probably come in handy again. I see a sort of colourless hair - it would look blond if you were wearing dark colours, be sort of shadowy with greenish hints under the shade of trees - I wanted Laerwen blondish to make Legolas more likely to have his father's colouring. Oh well - it's all in the imagination! Dark dark for the Noldor - Mediterranean dark, but Teleri more Northern European. I don't think either Elerrina and Legolas are going to be really comfortable about anything until they concede that they will have to face down the opposition and fight for a life together. Galadhel, huh? It sounds a bit funny - but I expect I'll get used to it! Thanks.

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Well - three hundred years, you know. And a lot of ground to cover - people to represent, family objections to consider. The pace is going to be fairly slow. I have never been forced into a decision as to whether Elros or Elrond was older - but Elrond is his direct descendant in these lands - and the elves might feel differently about mortal descendants. Then, of course, elves - for all their reputed equality - seem to apply Salic law when it comes to descent in the female line, which complicates matters. On the other hand, Haldir might well decide that discretion is the better part of valour - and that his lord's wife and daughter can command in his absence. He's not a courtier - but I would think Galadriel is prepared to do his thinking for him and - er - guide him. And not RED red. Very dark red. To set off his light hair. Might cause a lifted eyebrow from Celeborn when he arrived. Not very Galadhrim - but Haldir's in no position to object. (Light hair - the sort of shade that takes on colour from what's around it.) And, tied in with the Salic law bit, male and female might be a bit more equal among elves than among men, but I don't see many ellyth in positions of political power. I'm sure they would rather enjoy circumventing male schemes. Elerrina is greenish-eyed. (That started when she was first mentioned. They've become more greenish-grey now.) Boys' toys. Boys' games. They're much happier with them. And it's one way of getting them away from listening ears. I think the Silvan would be worried that they were being offered something wrapped in really fancy paper, that turned out to be very disappointing. Finrod probably does know more than he is revealing - but that's politics. Poor Legolas - Elerrina is just more comfortable with Haldir. She can be friends with him, since she's not longing to do ... other things. Nisimalote is younger and more romantic - and Linevende (and Elerrina, come to that) don't want to hurt Taryatur. And Linevende is right that she needs to think her way through the complications of the relationship - elves can't pop to Reno for a quick divorce if things don't work out. And being soul partners is still not going to work if you can't deal with each other's experiences or live in their world. I hope Legolas gets the honey out of his hair quickly - it could make a nasty mess. Berry is proving a good friend - which is good. Legolas is beginning to settle to his role, I think, and his friends are helping. Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it! By the way: one Noldo, lots of Noldor; one Sinda, lots of Sindar... Is there a singular noun for one of the Galadhrim?

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Oh yes. Elrond's wisdom includes not arguing with Celebrian when she tells him he looks good in blue. Don't argue over things that don't matter to you - I think it could be summed up like that! Haldir is going to be the face of the Galadhrim, whether he likes it or not - and, to give him his due, he will put up with it. Galadriel is quite capable of pushing their cause, but they do need someone to be seen as their representative, as she is not. She'll keep control of the politics, though. Taryatur won't be much fonder of Haldir than he is of Legolas, but at least Haldir isn't Oropher's grandson! And Elerrina is easier and more relaxed in his company, because she doesn't have all those nerve-endings zinging at her. Finrod and Legolas are moving cautiously - but, being the Blessed Realm, they are moving with good will towards a satisfactory solution. Elerrina needs to know why her father objects - and she and her mother are both keen to protect Taryatur. (I doubt he realises how much they try to cosset him.) In a way, understanding his objections makes it even more likely that Elerrina would try to resist the attraction. Not that she will succeed, but at least she will not be completely blind to the possible shadows left by living in a world at war. Poor Legolas! I hope he gets the honey out of his hair soon - it's sticky stuff! He is doing a good job of trying to keep on top of everything and deserves a bit of encouragement. Thank you. The next chapter is coming a bit more slowly, but it won't be too long delayed!

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Haldir has a strong sense of duty, though - and, you never know, he might turn into a real ladies' elf! Or not. Galadriel is the High King's daughter - so would be bound to end up with a bevy of maidens attending her. I reckon she would go out of her way to choose those who were rather more strong-minded and individual. They're not doing anything that detracts from their Noldor roots - and is it their fault that elven politics seems to overlook girl-power? You never know, Galadriel might even be grooming some of them to strengthen Noldor/Galadhrim ties through marriage. Maybe. Actually, I can see Calisse looking at Haldir with despair, too. His disinterest must be a bit snubbing! And it's not as if he's a good dancer, either. Finrod - not being directly involved - can see that there might be advantages to a match between Legolas and Elerrina. And he's male. How could he not tease? Teasing is a sign of liking someone! Nisimalote is currently doing the character development thing that seems to attack minor characters half-way through a story! It's a good thing for Camentur that his wife is actually very fond of him - because those were fightin' words! Bonding for elves really is for ever - I think Linevende is being sensible to tell her daughter to take enough time to be certain before making any commitment. It's very easy to see what you want to when you're that attracted to somebody - Elerrina has to know whether she is willing to understand the darker side of Legolas. I don't think his experiences have affected him as badly as Taryatur's did him. Legolas grew up east of the sea and has known the good as well as the bad - but he has experienced many things that Elerrina never will, and she would be silly not to realise it. It's one of those duties of leadership, isn't it, to put yourself in the position of planting a tree or having a go at throwing a pot or something. Helping with the honey harvest isn't too demanding - just sticky. And he didn't get chased by bees! Thank you. There's probably still another century or so before the twins arrive. But time passes quite quickly in the Blessed Realm, so things will probably start to hot up soon.

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Poor Haldir. He was rather expecting that helping organise the Galadhrim involved the woods - with maybe a bit of sabre-rattling. Calisse seems to get a lot of the irritating jobs here - hopefully, one day she will find herself doing something she enjoys. Galadriel is daughter to the Noldor High King - I'm sure she would have had a group of ellyth to attend her... And she would look for the more intelligent and open-minded - and perhaps those who are just a little bit different and on the outside of standard Noldor society. (You want to know their stories? As if this world wasn't getting complicated enough!) Nisimalote is growing as a character. There's a bit in Far Horizons I'm going to have to try to find - where Camentur says that she might look like a proper Noldor lady, but there's a lot beneath the surface. And she's young - and more romantic than Linevende. And less worried about upsetting Taryatur - after all, his injuries are well-buried and he hides them from his family all he can. I've spent a lot of time looking up stuff about glass-making and Venetian beads - google for images and you'll find a lot of the things I've been looking at. I liked her working at developing her craft - and fathoming how and when she would continue with it! Thank you. The story continues to complicate a bit - but they have 300 years before that ship bearing certain important elves arrives. No rush then!

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You're right. Legolas has grown up in a world where hard experience teaches endurance. He relies on friends and family to provide continuity and misses familiar people - and has to deal not just with death in battle, but has had to face time. Taryatur left safety to fight at the Valar's call and was thrown into alien experiences before being suddenly transported back into the security of the Blessed Realm. I think the transition might have been too much for him - he needed longer to adjust and learn to live with his actions. I think Legolas and Taryatur will come to an understanding - some time. It's just not going to be easy for them. Taryatur has been burying his pain for over two ages: it is going to take some time for it to surface enough for him to be able to excise it. Haldir isn't really intended by nature to be a diplomat. But he is prepared to do it - if that's what needs doing. And Galadriel will provide all the instruction he needs! I think he'll hate it, though. Thank you - I only hope I can keep up with the increasing complexity!

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We've got 300 years to get through before the remaining characters arrive and things start to get sorted out - and there are threads heading in all directions! Elerrina's mother has no experience of life outside the Blessed Realm - I think that might make her respond to the world beyond purely through Taryatur's experience, and he was clearly more distressed than many others who were there. It is fascinating to wonder why some react so much more violently to horrible experiences - and I think he is extrapolating from himself to Legolas, while Legolas actually has completely different hang-ups. It is so true - and unfortunate - that moving anything forward is a matter of small cautious steps and constant reassurance, but that absolutely anything can set things back years. I sometimes wonder than anything positive actually manages to get done. At least in the Blessed Realm most people are trying to work together - but it won't stop a minority digging in their heels and fighting like dinosaurs to exclude anything that is different.

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Legolas has been landed with a very complicated role. And it seemed so straightforward at first glance! He's never really in the right place at the right time and he's constantly trying to soothe ruffled feathers. It's getting better in some ways - he is getting more good assistants - but, on the other hand, more people are starting to look to him for general support and specific aid. And in reality no-one is ever totally right - there are always buts and ifs. (It is possible to be totally wrong. Possible but unusual. Usually there are qualifications there, too.) But it is so hard to get someone to see the other side if they are determined not to acknowledge it. Linevende and Taryatur are serious and honest and they have a point - but it doesn't make them right either. But it does mean, I think, that their worries need to be taken into account. Love, romance and matrimony are terribly serious commitments among elves - there's no going for an annulment after the first couple of months because you find your parents were right. Better to proceed cautiously if you think there might be more to building your relationship than a desperate attraction. I suspect Taryatur will come to some accommodation with Legolas in the end. He's just not willing to remove the blinkers yet. But they have time - and lots of it.

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Thank you. I'm glad you feel that this is what Valinor should be liked. I do feel that elves are curious, exploring, involved, occasionally contentious sort of people and that they wouldn't change just because they were in Valinor. Before the Flight of the Noldor, they had a drive to learn and change things and discover more - and they still would! The new arrivals would have slightly different priorities, I think, and there would be trouble settling in - but, if there is one thing elves have in plenty, it is time. I am fairly sure that this story is likely to go up to the solution of certain difficulties! Which probably puts it sometime around the later stages of Ripe for Change and, naturally, before the beginning of Far Horizons. It is getting increasingly complicated fitting all these stories together! I'm glad you are enjoying reading these stories. They are great fun to write.

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I am sorry to be so long getting back to you - it's been a long week. Don't tell anyone, but the marriage of Elerrina and Legolas - her red-headedness - and all sorts of other things - just started out as throwaway jokes in Reflections! It's only as some of those elements swell into stories of their own that the enormous complications of this relationship become obvious. I reckon Galadriel knows what two fear calling to each other looks like. She doesn't even need foresight to know that Elerrina and Legolas are going to find it virtually impossible to deny their attraction, however inconvenient it might be. And, if she wants to ensure that the girl knows what she would be taking on, surely that is a sensible thing to do? Berry is a nice name! Simple. Rural. Fruitful. I can live with that. Names are so difficult - they can distract me for hours. I occasionally call people ... until I can get back to a dictionary, but I spend so much time on them! Yavanna would have taken an interest in Wood Elves, I'm sure. Her kind of elves. Living with and enhancing the world as it is rather than trying to make it something else. Taryatur is a well-meaning, upright elf. He doesn't want his daughter to have anything to do with Legolas for reasons he, from experience, considers quite valid and sensible. He is not going to indulge in dishonourable behaviour - that would be taking something from himself. Although the strain of behaving in support of the descendant of Oropher's house is painful, doing anything else would be worse. Poor chap. He's onto a loser, I'm afraid. Thank you. I'm glad you are enjoying it.