Great beginning!

Tenderhearted and teasing elves, new love, and a happy ending! Waiting for spring and a new beginning - kudos!

I have loved how you've delved into Bard's character, and those of his children - especially little Tilda and Sigrid! Poor Bain hasn't gotten much attention since the outset; but little Tilda is a such gem! And Sigrid shows just how much parents influence their children's basic cores, negatively or positively, as the case may be - whether they realize it or not. Great job! And it is so sad that Kili comes into his responsibilities bearing such sad and heavy burdens. More than pleased with all of this, too. Thranduil, although stern, has much to be admired for in protecting more than just his own; and while not a seer of the future per se, he is a font of wisdom in ruling.

Wow! The details you have put into Thorin's last stand, and poor Fili's death are outstanding! You truly made me feel sorrow and empathy for the Dwarf King. (I guess I'd have to be either a woman of Mankind, or a Hobbit, because although I love the elves, I don't see myself as one because they are such beautiful, lofty beings in Tolkien's mythos, and I feel so much smaller as a person.) All the players you write here are so well portrayed, except the villains - being so cliched. Not a criticism, really, though because one despises bullies, criminals, and cutthroats and I guess it is hard to fill them out with any better qualities.

My, my! Not liking Gandalf much? I think it must needs be remembered that even this Istari, who would later give all in the confrontation with a Balrog, was not the true plotter in events, because even he had the Powers and Iluvatar over him as well. Yes, he kept things hidden and secrets he had to keep, and wasn't always forthcoming with his knowledge, yet there was a reason for that: spies and dark creatures serving Sauron, or even wrong thinking elves or Men, might turn things to the advantage of the Enemy to the hurt and harm of all. It was also a difficult road Gandalf had to travel, wandering Arda, unknown and underappreciated, in the guise of an old, mistrusted conjurer keeping his powers cloaked, hidden. Only a very few appreciated him, and counted him a friend, in a manner of speaking. Then there's Saruman, who turned from the White Counsel and his own purpose, proudly seeking power for himself, which Gandalf had no part in. Yeah, I guess I'm sticking up for Gandalf, though I understand Thranduil's fury and bitterness. He could only see Gandalf from one perspective, and I think the elf King misjudged the Istari. Thank goodness Thranduil has his children helping ground him, or he'd truly be a far more insular and cold-hearted ruler.

PegasusWings recommended your story, so I found it after having just finished reading her Walking Through Worlds Beyond. As this is the first month of 2019, I count myself happy to having discovered a couple of well written stories concerning elves. Thank you very much for posting, and even though your chapters are shorter, they are well crafted and keep me interested.

Sooo beautiful that i did not want it to end.
I liked your version better that the movie. Please continue with the story.

hey mckeown! sooo...i was just re-reading this fic and i was struck once more by the idea that it would be magical if you wrote a fic about when Thranduil found Taureil!just puttin that out there again.

Oh. My. God!
This is the best Hobbit fic I have ever read!
Despite being completely alone in a room, you managed to make me smile so damn hard!
That I was afraid my heart would burst from all the warmth!
Just look at me blabbering!
this is what you have done to me!

You write very well!

Awww~! I have a genuine smile after reading this chapter!
The farewell was absolutely beautiful!
The last goodbye started playing in my head...

The last sentence was well used!

This is an awesome story!
Please keep updating!
I haven't had the chance to voice my thoughts on each chapter. as I was to keen to move on to the next!
Still, I shall try and review EVERY. SINGLE. ONE!

I absolutely adore this masterpiece! Had I discovered it earlier, I would have asked you for more Kili, but what you have here is still wonderful. I hope you one day decide to write a sequel.
As for your little poll about Middle Earth peoples - I've always wanted to be a "lowly Silvan Elf". Lol
Brilliant job here!

Ah...I'm afraid hat I've too excited and happy with what I read to gather my words in a measured way. There is so much to say, and I don't know if I'll be precise enough about the details. But her it goes...

Wherever I watched or read about the Hobbit, the negotiations between Bard and Thorin felt unsatisfying due to the differences in the ideals of their races and Thorin's greed had loopholes, could just have been an misinterpretation from the Men and Elves. After all, in the book, and and even somewhat in the movies, Bard, still a commoner at the time, came to one of the most proud Dwarves Kings with a threat and a demand. But the dialogue that you've written here was just as similar to respect the book's spirit and events, and twice, no thrice as rich and sound! Every possible misinterpretation was mended, Bard spoke in true diplomacy instead of the hash and invasive attitude Tolkien had given him, or the threats Jackson had let filter in the scene. No, here Thorin's antagonism makes much more sense. His reasoning, just on the brink of paranoia, but grounded, tightly bound by rightful racial pride, as he make a show of the information Croäk has brought him...it's simply delicious to read such lines, ser!

Every character you portrayed was very intriguing. Especially Thranduil, Bard, and somewhat Kili. I'm not sure about Tauriel, though. Her horrid characterization in the movies had left me very wary; not just her unbelievable romance, but her repeated insubordination, and downright betrayal of a king ridiculously patient with her (I still don't understand how the other elves weren't annoyed by that blatant favoritism, in fact). That's how annoyed I felt about her.

So, I don't know. From the way you write, I'd rather get to have you present us an OC elleth for a budding romance with the Lord of Dale. But well, maybe you'll save Tauriel's character just had you did both Thranduil and Bard. ...Thranduil. I'm not going to list the reasons for which you've wrote him wonderfully perfect, because I'd exceed the character limit for reviews. Not even kidding, you know. You made such a good job with him that it put every one else interpretation f his character to shame. His motives, body language, thoughts, more dated foresight, hopefulness, the interactions with his men, er, elves, and the way he is see by Bard and Kili, as it develops...

I don't know how I'll cope with the emptiness once the story will come to an end.

My favorite thing are the easy read and engrossing way you brush politics and the friendship between Thranduil and Bard. (If this continues in the chapters I've still to read, I'm going to need you to take my money, dannit!)

I've only read so far, but I'm quite taken with this story! Man what a work you'be done with this! it's just as solid and almost as rich as the movies themselves!
It's certainly just as much interesting from my personal taste.

My goodness, this is fan-tasty call *runs away*