Pretty good.

please continue this. I love your stories. they alternate between hysterically funny and so sad. Would love more

Really, I know what you mean now when you said too much had changed since you first wrote these stories - I couldn't imagine a gentle soul like Brethil being so intolerant towards anyone, even an Orc, can you imagine? Especially after reading Acharn's xmas tale, which makes Brethil's behaviour in this story particularly hard to believe. Well, it certainly is fascinating, reading your older works, watching your talents sharpen and hone - unfolding like a flower into the TreeHugger-style we know and love today _ I'm such a brown noser. *heckle* But I mean what I say!

well once again you have pulled at the heart strings i have read the follow up an orc in rivendell which i will issue bravos for as my system went haywire and couldn't review it. wonderful ending and i guess got the fairy tale after all. back to this it broke my heart to think that egla ash is begin so cruelly treated how could you! still you are the mistress and we your humble readers i am sure there will be a out come worthy of you great writing skills o treehugger. i look forward to reading the next installment even though i have read them backwards

your humble reader

a...

You have quite a good creative mind. It's good to get some background on Legolas and Aragorn's friendship, and to see them kicking (expletive delteted) together before FotR. Can't wait to continue making my way through your tales and finding out about Egla Ash, the corrupted.

The End? It is a good thing there is another story, but I really don't know what to expect anymore...the ending of this one was tragic, I think...but I suppose that makes it more likely, more real.

On a somewhat lighter note, I was glad to see that Gandalf might like to meet an Orc like Egla Ash. I think you are right in assuming that. : )

Again, the end was very sad. It was painful to think of Egla Ash singing that way... I would say more, but don't think I really need to.

-Aranel

An action-packed chapter! I don't see too many of those (I read too many sappy things...), so it was a nice change! Your descriptions are wonderful...I think many people are afraid to really describe a battle scene (although injuries are another story...). Excellent, excellent. It was gruesome, but a good read.

Gandalf is here! And just in time too...

I'm glad Estel is all right (I never know what to call him...he has so many names), and I hope Legolas is doing better soon. The combination of the feeling of failure and a horrible battle wound would not be the best thing...

I am wondering how Gandalf will respond to the story of Egla Ash...I suppose I will have to continue and find out...

-Aranel

This is one time when I'm glad that I'm a late reader! Your original readers must have been on edge waiting for the suspense to end!

I really don't know what to think...Legolas must be very torn...

I am off to read the next chapter right away!

-Aranel

So many things can happen on a journey, can't they?

The description of southern Mirkwood was great...very helpful. The trees there do not sound nice at all. I think even a Wood Elf would not like them.

And the spiders! They are just awful, aren't they? (Although I did find their conversation amusing.) It wasn't very pleasant to think of that one unfortunate orc...and the battle between the spiders, Estel, and Legolas sounded bloody and tiring. Thank goodness they got out all right.

Of course, getting out to arrive at Dol Guldur fairly soon would not be my first choice if I were in their shoes...

A great chapter, if not exciting! I liked the bit with Arwen at the beginning as well.

-Aranel

Estel is here! That appears to be a good thing. I was very excited when I learned that he trusted and even seemed to like Egla Ash! Of course, I suppose a ranger would know that appearances can be deceiving...

And they are headed for Dol Guldur...I really don't know what to say about that...

-Aranel

O...a chapter to raise some questions...

Egla Ash continues to astoud me. I think more would have sunk it by now if I were not going through the story so quickly (for me), so I am happy to be reminded of his nature. I was reading this chapter and all of his thoughts, and it happened to strike me: gosh! Egla Ash is very poetic!

Shriekers, hmm? That does not bode well...and Dol Guldur could never offer anything even remotely better than Emyn Mor Esgal...

I'll keep reading!

-Aranel

Dear me, I accidently skipped a chapter. Everything makes more sense now...not such a surprise. : )

So Thranduil has stepped in...I suppose it only makes sense from his point of view, for his son has befriended an *orc*...

The bit between Legolas and Egla Ash was very nice...I am glad that Egla Ash was shown the care & acceptance of a friend. It is only too bad that so many of us in real life are not so accepting. : )

Lovely chapter...and it has cleared things up a bit too! I will have to be more careful next time!

-Aranel

Hmm...this chapter was quite the opposite of the last one, but good nonetheless. This has been a good read so far, and I'm excited to read more (although I can't right now).

The attacks (from both parties) were very well done...the "victim's" unawareness was mentioned and explained, which I appreciated.

I liked that Egla Ash entrusted the Oak tree to relay his last words...a nice way of reminding us just how important trees are in the lives of Wood Elves...

My...we have complications, don't we? These Emyn Mor Esgal Orcs certainly had everything planned out. I can see how both Legolas and Egla Ash would be quite worried...

Nice touch to have Egla Ash calling to Elbereth...

Good thing Legolas has quick reflexes...

Am trying to keep this short, but my rambling tendencies have taken over again. I'm looking forward to reviewing the revised chapters of the fic following this one...for then I can ramble all I want!

-Aranel

Ah...tag. I haven't played that with my own friedns for quite some time...although I've had many opportunities to chase children (including a deaf one...he was nearly impossible to catch). The game sounded splendid...it is no surprise that it cheered the prince at least a litle. It has become quite elaborate too, has it? *grin* I especially liked the bits mentioning the "loser's/it's" sudden irritation with the game when their part was not going as liked. So typical... : )

Brethil sounds like a good OC...it is hard to find fics where the OCs are as well-developed as the other characters. Although you mentioned that Brethil, Tavor, and Tanglinna do not play large parts in your unrevised versions, I think it still shows that they were somewhat rounded in your own mind...

I had to grin at Brethil's assessment of Egla Ash...calling him "it"... He did a very good job of keeping his mouth shut...something I find rather difficult at times...

My, my...this is getting much longer than intended...I had better go. I am enjoying this quite a lot, revised or not.

-Aranel

Here I am! I will only leave short reviews, since you say you are revising everything.

What a wonderful bridge from "Have Hope..." It starts mainly where you left off, but gives us a good summary and an idea of what might happen next.

I have to say again that Egla Ash is so well done...I was fairly sure that it was him singing at the beginning of the story, but if I had not read "Have Hope..." first, I probably would have assumed it was Legolas...you have a keen knack for showing us what kinds of conclusions we often jump to!

-Aranel