News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
| About Us News Resources
Login
Become a member
Help
Search
|
|
|
| Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil | 11 Review(s) |
|---|---|
| hawkeye | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 10/10/2014 |
| They both lose! I laughed when I read this, and I'm so glad Arafinwë was laughing too. While I did feel sorry for Amarië when things didn't go as planned, it was a very interesting look into Sindar and Noldor culture interacting. My initial thought, and this probably comes from Amarië's perspective, was to see the Sindar as sort of the backward children who behave the way they do because they are uncouth and know no better. But I think there is more to it than that. As the son of a lord of the Noldor, Laurendil certainly understands the traditions and expectations of Noldor society, so does Finrod for that matter. Also, Laurendil is not the only Noldor elf in the delegation. What is really happening, I think, is a clash of cultures and perhaps even of values. In some ways, I think Noldor society is stagnant (not all all areas, for sure). They do things out of tradition because they have always done them that way. It is tradition for tradition's sake, and living in Aman without the presence of others (men, dwarves, etc), their paradigms haven't been challenged as much. The Sindar bring new ideas, new traditions and perhaps more importantly, new experiences that have shaped their values. For example, when Arafinwë first meets Laurendil, he comments that Aman doesn't need warriors to which Laurendil responds that they don't need them yet. The Sindar value the warrior culture from experience that the Noldor who have stayed in Aman lack. Here, to the Noldor, Sador hasn't done anything to particularly warrant great honor. But to Laurendil, Manwen and even Finrod and Glorfindel, his sacrifice is worthy of great honor. Consequently, Laurendil insists that Sador sit that the high table, much to Amarië's frustration. Lucky Sador gets his lecture in a hot bath. I wonder if he knows about this part of the ritual or if Finrod plans to accost his brother the way Námo accused him and Glorfindel *laughs* I want to see Arafinwë's face when Sador sings verse thirty one for him. I wonder if his reaction will be as priceless as Finrod's was. And oh my, Amarië's temper. I have to applaud her for keeping it as long as she did. I think that she really did learn something from Lord Námo. Finrod's reaction to being called Finrod Felagund was a surprise, and I think it surprised him as well. Poor Eärwen though. Ammë's are always proper like that, I suppose, though I imagine she and Arafinwë managed to raise a few eyebrows when they were young and in love. Varda shocked Manwë. I think I cheered at this point. Even after how many thousands of years, he still doesn't know it all. Oh, and being accosted by Lord Námo in the middle of your bath would be a rather... memorable experience. I hope you put that scene somewhere in your stories, my friend, because I really want to see Finrod and Glorfindel's expressions. Thank you for a chapter full of laughs, Fiondil :) Author Reply: Hi Hawkeye. You're right that the Sindar and those Noldor who once resided in Beleriand have different cultural values that clash with those of the Noldor of Aman, who are more, shall we say, uptight about propriety and all. The Sindar and Exilic Noldor operate under different cultural parameters which may appear crude to those of Aman. Sador, of course, is well aware of the initiation traditions, so no worries there. Finrod was indeed surprised to hear Amarië address him by his Sindarin name and title. It was the last thing he expected to hear from her. And sorry, but I don't put the scene of Námo accosting Finrod and Glorfindel in their baths anywhere. I'm afraid you'll just have to use your imagination as to their expressions, which were no doubt priceless. *grin* Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. | |
| Amony | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 8/8/2014 |
| perhaps if you are going to continue tales from vaire's loom, you can write the story about the meeting between Lord Namo and Finrod and Glorfy :D :D :D :D ........ and the priceless look on their faces :D :D Author Reply: Thanks for the suggestion Amony. I'll keep it in mind but I can't promise anything. :-) | |
| Kaylee | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 7/28/2008 |
| *raises eyebrows* And where, pray tell, did Varda learn the words to verse thirty-one? *snicker* Well, at least Amarie kept her temper this time...well, for longer than she did last time, anyway. *snorts at Finda and Glorfi throwing their clothes off so their atar and Laurendil's would both lose the bet* And Amarie called him Finrod! And threatened him in a way that would make Lady Vaire proud, LOL... "Wait until you're married, dears..." I love it! *grins* And Olorin saw the whole thing!!! ~Kaylee!! Author Reply: This was a fun chapter to write, especially from Amarië's POV as we see her struggling to keep her cool and be the new and reformed elleth. As for where Varda learned the words to verse thirty-one.... she is a Valië... I'm sure she has her methods. *grin* | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 2/12/2008 |
| I think that if turnips are involved I'd rather NOT hear verse thirty-one myself! heh! And I was wondering when they'd see to it the bet was mentioned--but I thought this was a rather--public--way of making certain both Aranfinwe and his counselor were reminded of their words and put on notice both had lost! Author Reply: Well, with Glorfindel and Finrod, they tend not to do anything by half-measures. *grin* I'm sure many people at the feast found it amusing. | |
| Nieriel Raina | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 8/10/2007 |
| I love this chapter. I must say it is one of my favorites, mostly because I love the idea of Glorfindel dancing around without a stich of clothing. *blush* Well, I can't help it! He is my favorite elf. *grin* And Finrod just adds icing to an already scrumptious subtlety. Oh yea, and Varda singing verse 31 is perfect. *wink* I love how emotional your elves and Valar are! I hate it when I read elf stories and I feel like they are Commander Data from Star Trek. I much rather real, living feeling elves, and the touch of mischievous is wonderful. I'm still here re-reading slowly (don't you just hate real life sometimes?) and looking longingly at my inbox wishing for an update. Got one from Bodkin but that isn't nearly as exciting as getting one from you. *pouts* Great job and all that verbal praise stuff. NiRi Author Reply: Hi NiRi, Glad you enjoyed this chapter so much, even the second time around. *grin* I never liked stiff elves or Valar either. They're no fun to deal with. Give me someone who's emotional or at least looks like they're alive and there you have it. Updates will be soon, but don't expect anything as frequent as before for a couple of weeks as I'm traveling and can't always get to a computer. | |
| Nariel | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 6/17/2007 |
| WOW!! Fiondil, this was very eventful... I liked the part where Finrod and Amarie kissed. AAAHHH... It was SO romantic. Now that kiss gave Amarie something to remember after a whole AGE to ponder mistakes and such and such. Author Reply: Glad you liked this chapter, Nariel. I had a lot of fun writing it, especially the kiss *lol*. Yes, I suspect that that kiss gave Amarië lots to think about. | |
| Edlyn | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 4/18/2007 |
| Ah, this was such a FUN chapter to read! First of all I am very proud of Amarië for holding her temper as well and for as long as she did. I've been an autocrat and hall steward for a couple of SCA events and can entirely sympathise with her. Well, I have to admit that I'm an SCA "Court junkie" and don't find such functions tedious, but then again, I don't have to do it "everyday", like she does! It's tough enough when your plans for a small dinner party get overrun, but to have the same thing happen at a huge formal court feast... I'm betting the inside of Amarië's cheek is bruised from biting down on it and counting to 10 or 50 or whatever. I'm sure that the elves of Tol Eressea know what protocol is...they just don't seem to put a lot stock in it! I'm glad she went to Glorfindel for more information when her friend couldn't answer her questions. I can also understand why she focused on the fact that Sador can't wash his hair until the following evening. It was likely the one thing that was comprehensible to her out of the whole description of events. This really demonstrates the difference between life in Aman and in Endorë, doesn't it. No wonder there is such tension between those in Aman and those who remained in Middle-Earth, there is a positive chasm of non-understanding between the two groups because of the cultural differences that developed do to the groups' different experiences. Bawdy songs at feast! Oh, reading about that brought back some very fun memories! At least they weren't sung at Court! The Elf and the Fruit Vendor! And Amarië finally loses her temper and it's th best thing she could have done. "Finrod Felagund! You put your clothes on right now or so help me my next tapestry will show you in all your... your glory and I will hang it in the front portico of the palace for all of Tirion to see!" It's a good thing I was the only person in the office (every one else was at lunch while I litened for the phones) when I read that! (That reminds me of a rather--umm. explicit--painting on the front portico of a house I saw in Pompeii when I visited the ruins in the mid eighties; it's pretty much in the same vein as Amarië's threatened tapestry. I don't know who was more embarrassed in our tour group, the men or the women!) Oh, the Kiss! that whole sequence was absolutely perfect, meldonya! It's quite obvious to me that the long-existing emotional chasm between Finrod and Amarië is being quite effectively bridged. Then after all this wonderful goodness you give us the Valar listening to Olórin’s report of events and the surprising intelligence that our so-proper Varda is far more earthy than anyone excpected! My face is hurting from the amount of smiling I'm doing but I don't mind at all. Thank you again, meldonya! May you live blessed, Edlyn Author Reply: This was such a FUN chapter to write, too! I wanted to show that Amarië was more or less a reformed elleth, but that she did have her limits. One would almost think that life had conspired to make this feast one that would test her resolve to "be good" and she must have thought that as the evening progressed and nothing seemed to go right, as far as she was concerned, though no one else seemed to feel that way. Her referring to Finrod by one of his Sindarin names shows how far she's actually come in her rehabilitation, which is what stuns and then delights Finrod, leading to the Kiss. The "Elf and the Fruit Vendor" sequence with Finrod describing his reaction to the song the first time he heard it is my personal favorite. Hïs "I must have looked ridiculous" points to how unassuming and not "on his dignity" Finrod really is as a person, whatever his social standing. The fact that he is willing to share his experience with everyone shows that he is not afraid to look ridiculous before others either. I imagine that many of the Amaneldi watching Finrod and Glorfindel strip were shocked to the core, but were even more shocked to see their king laughing at the ellyn's antics rather than becoming angry. Arafinwë is proving to be less of a stickler for protocol than many of his courtiers probably like. Too bad. Finrod, Glorfindel and Sador are probably the best thing to hit the Noldorin court in a long time, little though the Amaneldi appreciate it at this time. The sequence on Taniquetil, I think, points to the fact that our perceptions of the Valar, individually and as a group, are probably dead wrong on many levels and we should not assume that just because they are spiritual creatures, they do not enjoy earthly pleasures or take delight in the earthiness of the Children. Varda's admission to being "fond" of verse 31 is an example of this. | |
| hanci | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 1/18/2007 |
| Really mood-lifting chapter. That was a feast to remember. Even Amarië got something out of it, despite the beginning. I love her thoughts on the events and everything. I completely forgot about the bet... Author Reply: I imagine many readers forgot about the bet until the end and after the more serious chapters, especially the last two, one needs a mood-lifter. | |
| J | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 1/17/2007 |
| I liked the last part of this chapter very much, espcially when Varda states that she likes verse thirty-one! I cannot imagine Varda as such...that was amusing! Author Reply: The Valar are not as straight-laced and overly serious as most people like to think. As sentient beings, like ourselves, they necessarily have a sense of play about them and I try to convey that with scenes such as this one or showing Námo taking bets with Irmo or Manwë (and usually winning). | |
| Laureleaf | Reviewed Chapter: 25 on 1/15/2007 |
| I quite emjoyed this one - you were able to show how each of then continue to grow, yet still hold onto that mischevious elfling deep inside. And the valar's take was just plain fun. Author Reply: Yes, they are all maturing, even some of the 'once-born', like Amarïë. And the Valar are just full of surprises, aren't they? | |