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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	9 Review(s)
I2J9WSJ4l4k	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 12/2/2015
Loved this. It is indeed one of most very siaepcl things we share about our little boy, especially because of how our relationship with that song, and the natural ritual of singing it to him, keeps evolving. He never asks me to sing it, though I still do at night sometimes, along with the Beatles' In My Life and my made-up version of the Beach Boys' Surfer Girl ( little Sammy, little one ). For the first year and a half or so, though, Close to You was an almost-daily naptime favorite. It's nice to think that maybe that, plus all of your nightly singing, helped it become the happy sing-along Sam and his mama share now. I suspect as the years go by, that song will continue to mean more and new things to us. Such a brilliantly simple little song, though really it only seems/sounds simple. Of all the things that can instantly get to me, it's singing/humming it to myself when I'm alone. Makes me think of his smile and his giggle. And it takes me right back to the my first moment alone with him after he was born. I don't know if I mentioned it at the time or not, or anytime since. You were out cold in the moment once he was out, and you had your first amazing moment with him, your terrified, mildly panicky, drowned-in-tears eyes went from settled to plenty sedated. I watched as they warmed and examined him, until it was time to cut his cord something that, as I think of it now, still turns my stomach a little, yet in the moment seemed perfectly logical, very fatherly and (for chrissakes!) the LEAST I could do after watching your abdomen get pounded like a wad of dough by not one but two obstetricians.After that, they told me to get lost. Well, not literally, but they sent me back to the now-empty room down the hall, where we'd been for the last 30-some hours, quietly and nervously waiting. I stood there, still in my scrubs, for about five, maybe 10 minutes longest, loneliest 5-10 minutes of my life until they wheeled him in on a tray to quickly do more little tests (and shots? I forget, some of it kinda blurs) and then I had another five, 10, 15 minutes with him alone? Could've been an hour for all I know. Time pretty much stopped.And I cried. No, sobbed. Hard. And lots. Hard not to well up now just remembering it.And I held him close, as he got quiet and dreamy again and I sang that song.Couple of times, too such a perfect lullaby, you can just keep going back to the first verse, start it all again, repeat the on the day that you were born part. Why'd I sing it? Cuz I'd already been singing it to him for months?Why'd I choose that song, anyway? Cuz it was the way I felt the first time I sang it. It was as close to him as I could get.

hawkeye	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 10/3/2014
Netilmírë is lucky to have such a close relationship with Aulë and Yavanna. Even though time isn't a bit issue for them, I still found myself grieving for the time that they lost together when Netilmírë was so angry. But grief is like that. Perhaps now she won't be such a... difficult person. Interesting that Námo had to be the one to intervene. It was also interesting to see him caring for his brother Valar, not just the Children. Even though he's usually associated with the Children, I think caring for other Valar and Maiar would come naturally to Námo. For all that he's seen as a judge, which he is in a sense though he's not a brutal tyrant, I think his role involves quite a lot of caring for the spirits of others. Perhaps that is more of a healer's purview though. Netilmírë must have quite a history with Aulë and Yavanna, especially if she was around them when she was ten, which is really young for an elfling. Their "fantasy" was cute, but real too. I think they really do see her as a daughter. I know they said that, but often I think words like that get tossed around easily. Either way, I really enjoyed them in this chapter, stuffed toys and all. Thank you for brightening my day and for sharing this chapter! :) Author Reply: Hi Hawkeye. As Námo said, as soon as someone enters his Halls, their family becomes his responsibility as well. While Námo is primarily the Judge (that's what his name means) and Doomsman of the Valar, his favorite role is that of Counselor and Consoler. And for Aulë and Yavanna, who, as pure spirits, aren't able to procreate, having an adopted daughter (or son) from among the Eldar is the closest they'll ever get to having that kind of family relationship. To some extent, the Valar view their Maiar as their sons and daughters, but I think when they "adopt" an incarnate for that role it means something very special for them and they do not bandy such words about lightly. Anyway, I'm glad I was able to brighten your day even as you brighten mine with your thoughtful reviews. Thanks. I appreciate it.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 7/28/2008
I know I technically began my review of this chapter in the last one. I think this chapter and the one preceding it are two of my favorites; I love seeing the Valar in these parental roles. I think Aule is the perfect atto here and Yavanna is the perfect emme; they're just what Netilmire needed. I'm glad she finally opened back up to them!!!!! ~Kaylee!! Author Reply: I'm sure Aulë and Yavanna were very happy that Netilmirë finally opened up after more than a thousand years! Oh well... better late than never takes on a whole new meaning when applied to immortals. LOL Glad to know that these two chapters are two of your favorites.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 2/12/2008
And in the end Sador's death gives peace to them all. Interesting how Earnur keeps creeping into your tales--the Earnur who was Laurelinde's friend; this Earnur who was friends for her Vornondwe, for whom Sador appears to be named.... Don't know how much more I can read today, of course; but I'll do what I can. Author Reply: Well, these Eärnur are different people, of course. I see the name as being somewhat common especially among the Teleri (the name means "Sea-servant").

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 2/9/2008
That's my perseption of the Valar and Maiar too. Any chance you'll move back to the States? Tari Author Reply: Only if Númenor and Beleriand both rise again. grin

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 2/8/2008
I am at loss for words. This chapter was so touching and filled with so much love. This is how I would prefer to see the Valar. They can admonish when necessary, but also show great love and understanding. They remind me of our guardian angels. I don't know why, but they do. Tari Author Reply: Perhaps because they are, or rather, the Maiar are. At least that's how I see them: the Valar as Archangels and the Maiar as Guardian Angels. Works for me. grin Anyway, as I've pointed out in other responses to reviews, these beings stood before the Throne of Ilúvatar... how can they not be joyful and loving (save one), even someone like Námo? To make them out as cold and forbidding and disinterested in the doings of lesser beings makes them no better than the pagan gods of our own world. That may be how they are perceived by us, but that's not the same thing as saying that's what they are. Glad you're enjoying the story so far... it only gets better. LOL

Edlyn	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 4/13/2007
I really dislike saying this meldonya, but after the last chapter, I felt a bit let down by this chapter. I hope I can find the words to explain why I feel this way. Technically, it's well written but it feels--the only word I can think of right now is "flat." With the parallels of the experiences of the Reborn I guess I expected something more spiritually robust. It is impossible to miss the connection to baptism and the renewal of baptismal vows inthis chapter but the effects on Netilmirë seemed far more physical than spiritual in spite of the transformation of the bathing chamber to the pond and back. I think that is where my my problem lies. I see the transformation happening around Netilmirë, but not feel the transformation that is happening within her. Of course, this could be that I am re-reading the chapter after participating in an incredibly powerful Easter Vigil Mass where eleven people were baptized and the memory of that may be colouring my perception. Perhaps it is that once Yavanna pushed her into the bathing chamber Netilmirë was left to herself. There was no one there to reflect the experience happening to her. I did like the bedroom scene, the stuffed toys, and the fact that Netilmirë was easy enough with Aulë and Yavanna to tease them. The bit of reminiscience regarding their first meeting was lovely as was the inclusion of Netilmirë in the embrace of Eru at the end. I'm sorry that I couldn't be more positive in this review. It's still a good story, and as I said above, I may reread this in a few weeks and feel differently when my own recent spiritual experience has faded in my memory a bit more. May you live blessed, Edlyn Author Reply: I can understand your disappointment but I think you are bringing much into this chapter that I never intended, especially some of your assumptions, one being that this is a "baptism" scene, when it isn't; the other being that only ecstatic religious experiences matter (or at least, this is the impression from reading your review that I've gotten). The clue to how to read this chapter is Netilmirë's sense of disorientation and disconnect between her hröa and her fëa when she wakes up. At this point she neither needs nor wants an ecstatic experience. What she needs is groundedness. She needs to reconnect with the divine, not through spiritual ecstasy but through physical actions. Her bath is just that, a bath. I could have just as easily had her washing dishes or hanging out the laundry. It is in the ordinariness of our everyday activities where most of us encounter the divine. The Zen poet, Busho (I think that's his name), says it best: Before Enlightenment: I chop wood, I draw water; After Enlightenment: I chop wood, I draw water. Netilmirë is in need of spiritual healing, not through the ecstatic, which is transitory because we can't exist forever on the heights, but through ordinary tasks, such as washing one's hair or taking a swim. The bathing pool expands to the pond simply because Netilmirë needs further physical movement to help integrate her fëa with her hröa, to achieve "at-one-ness" with the divine which manifests itself as much through the physical world as through the spiritual. For both Elves and Men, who must necessarily exist in both worlds, sometimes the physical avenues towards spiritual union is our only means, or at least, it's easier to access the spiritual through the physical. And Netilmirë is not left entirely alone. Yavanna is still with her in spirit as evidenced by the fact that she speaks to her mind-to-mind and offers her approbation for her feelings, allowing Netilmirë the space (literally) that she needs to complete her healing. I know that some of the most spiritually healing times for me have been at the end of a hectic or unpleasant day when I would draw a bath and just soak, consigning both the Past and the Future to their proper spheres and existing (even if it's only for 20 minutes) in the Now and therefore in the Presence of God Who Exists always in the Now. And I always seem to know when it's time for me to get out of the tub. It's as if something or someone tells me that it's time. Unfortunately, here in China, I don't have a tub so I cannot indulge in such things, but I do know how I've always felt afterwards and this is what I tried to convey, however poorly, in this chapter. I don't know if any of this will help you to see this chapter differently, but hopefully it will offer you a different insight to the dynamics of spiritual healing (at least as I imagine it). Netilmirë's case is different, necessarily, from that of the Reborn, and as it is not Lord Námo who is effecting the healing (even though he helps make it possible), then the nature of that healing will not follow the usual pattern seen with the Reborn. And given that the Valar involved (Aulë and Yavanna) are "earth-centered", then it stands to reason that their methods of effecting Netilmirë's healing will involve the physical (bathing, swimming, the bedroom scene) rather than the spiritual. Hmmm... I think, for once, I've written a reply that's longer than your review. grin

hanci	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/8/2007
Yavanna really has nice bath. :o) And if Netilmirë has been alone all this time from Alqualondë, all this must be even more powerful. Is Sador related to her somehow? -sorry for this somewhat disjointed review; I usually mark my thoughts on second reading and then give them some form, but today the second part seems to be missing... Author Reply: That's all right. Any kind of review is welcome, disjointed or not. As to Netilmiré and Sador's relationship, if any, only time and the Valar will tell...

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 1/4/2007
It does everybody good to be cossetted now and then - and Netilmire is definitely better for it! Author Reply: Yes, we all need cossetting every now and then, even if that cossetting is done by our own selves rather than by others who care for us and love us. A little TLC definitely goes a long way.

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