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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	6 Review(s)
hawkeye	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 10/3/2014
This is an interesting turn of events. I am a bit confused though. Olórin says he's a servant of Lord Námo, but I thought he served Lord Manwë? Or is it possible for the Maiar to serve more than one lord? I recall you mentioning in Findaráto Diaries that he moved around, he was even working for Námo there as well. Olórin was an interesting choice for this, though I agree, he is every good at what he does. It's easy to forget, with the Valar around, how old and powerful the maiar are in their own right. Netilmírë obviously has quite a story of her own. She obviously knows Lord Aulë quite well. In some respects, I think her anger might be at herself aside from just at her husband and the Valar. I think she is angry at herself for not doing something to either prevent her loved ones leaving or even from going with them herself. Often we regret more what we don't more than what he have done. That's just my guess though. Either way, Sador will be good for her just like he is for everyone else. The mention of Eärnur has me very curious, especially after reading Findaráto Diaries. It's not the same Eärnur, but I might have a guess as to who he might be ;) Dare I hope that we might see Finrod's friend back in the near future? Yes, university can be hectic, but I really can't complain too much. I'm studying what I love, and that in itself is a gift, I think ;) I do enjoy your stories very much and appreciate you being patient. Anyway, thank you for another lovely chapter. Author Reply: Hi Hawkeye. Olórin was a Maia of Irmo as well as Manwë and spent time with Nienna and because I wanted a canon Maia (only 3 are actually mentioned in the Silmarillion) on the scene, I attached him to Námo. The reason for this actually goes back to my story "Wars of the Valar", but Tolkien does state that this particular Maia served more than one Vala. And the Maiar are merely lower-tier Ainur, and while they are not as powerful as the Valar, any one of them has the power to snuff out a galaxy with a single thought. Netlimírë was a surprise. I wasn't expecting her to show up. Her history is rather sad and we'll see how Sador helps her to come out of her shell. We'll see Eärnur, Finrod's friend from Lórien, later on in the story. He'll actually have an important role to play. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. I appreciate it.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 7/28/2008
Olorin's wonderful here ^_^ and I like his careful handling of Netilmire to bring her to the safe place she needs to be in so Aule can come and comfort his forlorn "daughter". Aule's wonderful with Netilmire here too. I wonder exactly how she first got to meet him...I know, I know what Lady Yavanna says about her just turning up covered in clay and she didn't know where she got the clay. That's what intrigues me. Where'd she get it? Voronwe...That's Sador's Quenya name, according to that pest Celepharn. wry grin I wonder how he's doing? lol. ~Kaylee!!! Author Reply: I have no idea how Netilmirë got the clay... if the Valar themselves are clueless, I doubt anyone will tell me. grin Just one of those random acts of chaos that makes the universe interesting.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 2/12/2008
Quite a momentous day for the poor lady! Heh! But at last she is awakening as well. And our Olorin, who in his time served all the Valar at one time or another, is helping set things right as has become his primary calling. The one Maia whose compassion has never been questioned. He who in the end was the proper foil for Sauron himself. Love this chapter. Author Reply: Olórin is something of a Maia-of-all-trades. grin Very handy to have around for those 'sticky' moments.

Edlyn	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 4/13/2007
Mae Govannen, meldonya! I hope you had a good week. Today it is still colder than usual for April but the sun is out at last. Of course, tomorrow it will be wet and cloudy and and even snowing because I'm supposed to move furniture to my apartment from the old house. There's a rule somewhere that says the weather has to be bad on a moving day, I think. So in the meantime, here's my review of of Chapter 21: I think that Sador was a bit surprised to be told that by rights he should be a master but also very relieved that she was going to treat him like a new apprentice. He's still pretty diffident and unsure and by going through the "steps" any other apprentice would go through, he'll end up much more comfortable and secure in the working of his craft. Besides it must be a relief to be treated normally in this at least, because there's really nothing normal about his life at this point, whether its the level of society that he is living in or his status as a Reborn. Netilmirë's reaction to Sador's mentioning his age at the time of his death is not only a reminder that death is NOT a natural state of the firstborn, but that the mindset that allows things such as Kinslaying was not intended to be a part of their make-up either (or of Men's for that matter--thanks a LOT, Melkor!--please note bitter sarcasm). Yes, Sador's had a long time to get used to the idea and what a blessing that is. I find it telling that Sador seems to have no resentment about the fact that his life was cut off in such an untimely fashion (unlike Glorfindel, in my opinion, who's resentment about the fact that he was killed still seems to subconsciously direct some of his actions and less thought out comments to Lord Námo even after all his years in Mandos). When Olórin suggests that they have some tea, I kept hearing his words in Sir Ian McKellan's wonderful voice (I was watching his "Richard III" last night; that voice should be illegal, particularly the way he uses it to have Richard seduce Anne in the morgue. THAT was an UTTERLY creepy scene.) Olórin is indeed very good at what he does. I wish some of the therapists I've had to deal with in my life would have had his competency and kindness. And Olórin IS kind, even when he is being stern. I was tickled by Netilmirë's thought that she wouldn't mind losing to this particular Maia and her giggling like an elleth with her first crush. Actually, this scene did more to create a visual image of Olórin in my mind than in any other. Sometimes the fact that we know he was embodied in Middle Earth as an old man tends to colour our ideas of what he looks like in Aman; even if it isn't really sensible, given that at this point in time, he hasn't gone to Middle Earth yet. I think that Netilmirë's anger and frustration in this scene is a good sign. She seems to have kept her feelings bottled up inside for a very long time, except for those feelings that helped her play her persona of the sharp, not to be messed with Master Potter. She's been locked inside herself such a long time, with all the hurt and sorrow and it's been eating her alive. I suppose she's been spiritually and emotionally fading all these centuries and only sheer stubborness has kept it from becoming a physical fading. The trouble with locking herself in however, is that she's locked everything and everyone else out, including Eru and the Valar. Sadly, this isn't an uncommon thing, particularly among Men. That we aren't owed explanations by God, but are occasionally gifted with one (whether by inspiration, intuition or finding a passage in a holy book that is pertinent to whatever problem we are facing) is another parallel between Netilmirë's situation and our own lives. When Olórin points out that one reason (but not necessarily the only reason) that Voronwë had not yet been released from Mandos was her anger and and bitterness, I felt such a wrench in my heart. I don't think that Netilmirë truly believes that was her fault that her husband died, but she's opened herself up to emotions again and she's going from one extreme to another at the moment. Actually, she's rather like a lot of the Reborn in that way right now, isn't she? But the important and crucial thing is that at last she has called upon the Valar in her distress, opening the door that they've been patiently waiting on the other side of for so long. And given who (and what) she is, it's not surprising that when she thinks of the Valar her thoughts fall first on Lord Aulë and Lady Yavanna. She is beginning the process of being spiritually reborn here. The initial words that Lord Aulë has with her certainly echo Lord Námo's words to a number of his new charges, as well as the ensuing catharsis, and following comfort and eventual "tucking in" to bed for a healing sleep. It is sad to think about how long she locked herself away from the love of Eru and the Valar. Thank goodness, the door is unlocked now. It is awfully dark behind a locked door. I can imagine that a hug from Lord Aulë would be utterly delicious. There's something about being enclosed in arms that are so much stronger than your own that is absolutely comforting. For that while you can let go of being a grown up and feel like a child again. It's too bad that when we become adults those moments grow more and more rare. It is so easy to identify with your characters, meldonya. I think that is why I love this story so much. I can find bits of myself in even the less admirable characters (because of course none of us are perfect) and find it reassuring that even those characters live in the love of the Valar under Eru as I live in the love of God. May you live blessed! Edlyn Author Reply: Netilmirë's reaction to hearing how old Sador was when he died is also a reminder that there's no such thing as being too young to die. Death comes to all at any age. Olórin is indeed very good at what he does, which is why he is so successful in his incarnation as Gandalf/Mithrandir. Tolkien states that this particular Maia spent time learning Pity from Nienna, so it stands to reason that he would practice compassion on all. As you say, the trouble with locking yourself in is that you tend to lock others out and that's particularly true when dealing with God. I try to make all my characters accessible to my readers, even the less admirable characters, otherwise, what's the point of writing the story in the first place? If my readers don't care about the characters why should they bother to read the story?

hanci	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 1/8/2007
Well, no wonder the Valar sent Olórin on Arda, he's really crafty. (I can just see Gandalf's eyes, twinkling and kind and expressive. - But it's hard to do so without the beard, which of course he wouldn't have by now...) It should be easier to forgive dying than leaving for middle-earth... Author Reply: Yes, Olórin is rather sneaky, but then he's learned from the best, hasn't he? "It should be easier to forgive dying than leaving for middle-earth..." Perhaps, or perhaps not. Netlimirë seems to have had to deal with both situations and that combination might have made it difficult to resolve her feelings about either.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 21 on 1/4/2007
I'm glad to see Netilmire recovering. Although I don't blame those left behind by the exiles for resenting their abandonment, it doesn't seem as if those who were killed could exactly have helped it. I'm wondering if there might be a connection between Netilmire and Sador that is deeper than a shared interest in pottery. Author Reply: Netlimirë's resentment would be typical of many of the elves who remained in Aman and when those Exiles who returned via Mandos are being released before the innocent victims of their rebellion, that resentment can easily deepen. As for any deeper connection between Neltimirë and Sador, well....

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