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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	10 Review(s)
demeter d	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 8/1/2022
I only first discovered Fiondil's work when Elf Academy Two was beginning. So I joined his universe very much "in progress" as it were. I was only familiar with the rich history he had written for these people through references made in the stories. Over the years since then, I have slowly picked up the rest. I believe the message of this chapter summarizes, for me, the heart of all of Master Fiondil's comment on Tolkien's world. "Tell me again how much my Adar loves me..." Over and over in all of his stories, our friend Arthur shows us just exactly how much he believed that our "Atar" loves us. Reading his work, I can imagine him in the light of that love. I would like to copy all of his writings, so that when the day comes that this site is gone, I can still read that message of hope.

hawkeye	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 10/20/2014
This was a very strong chapter. I grieve for Finrod that, ultimately, he will never be with the mortals he loved so much again. His attitude towards mortals reminds me of the same Glorfindel had towards Finrod himself before his talk with Lord Námo, only on a grander scale. The fault itself is interesting because, like most faults, it starts out as something good and admirable and then turns into a flaw when taken to the extreme. Caring for mortals is not wrong in itself, and certainly not a sin like some of his cousins committed, but taking by trying to make them his own, and thus really attempting to supplant Eru, was wrong. I wonder if he will not always be bereft not being able to be with them. I suppose though that in the end, he would not need to be bereft as he has lost no more than anyone else who has treasured friendship with a mortal, except for the loss of his self delusions. The stripping away of self delusions, I think, is the most terrifying part of judgement. We like to think that we can live without them, but really truth is both a beautiful and terrifying thing. I'm not sure there are many things, if anything at all, that is more terrifying that Truth. Because of that, I'm not really surprised that it has taken this long for Finrod to remember his own judgement. Now, perhaps, he will be able to carry on fitting the pieces of his former life back into the life he has now. Námo's being there made all the difference, and as someone who is perhaps closer in relationship to Eru, I think Finrod really needed him to be able to face the memory. Again, Námo fills the role of Counselor and Consoler so perfectly. I think it was also vitally important for Finrod to experience the embrace of the Other. Despite the delusions and the mistakes, there is still love unimaginable. Námo's comment about it being even better has me wondering if an experience like that might not destroy or damages the feä. Perhaps not if you were a Maia or one of the Valar. Still, it made me laugh as did Finrods reactions to the memory of being an elfling. I know it would be hard for me to face Manwë, or any of the other Valar after that. Another wonderful chapter. Thanks for sharing! Author Reply: The stripping away of self-delusions is very hard and Truth is, as you say, both beautiful and terrifying. Most of us, though, would rather stay with our self-delusions as being safer. Finrod, on the other hand, really had to face the Truth if he hoped to progress in wisdom and degree beyond where he was because the Valar needed him to move forward if their plans for him were to bear fruit, as we will see much later in the story. Námo was really the only one of the Valar who could have been there for Finrod, since this was something he does with all the fear under his care, to one degree or another, being there for them as they face themselves, comforting, consoling and ultimately supporting them through the terror of coming face-to-face with Ultimate Truth. And, yes, the full experience of Love would destroy any incarnate without there being someone to mediate it for them, as Námo does for Finrod. Thanks for a lovely review, Hawkeye. I appreciate it very much.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 7/29/2008
Well, I'm glad "little Finda" had his "atto" and "emme" to help him after his Judgement. And I'm also glad he remembered his promise to be good for his atto, and went with his "unca' Namo" (my fingers wanted to type "unca' Fiondil" snort) like a good little elfling. hugs little Finda And I'm also glad that not-so-little-Finda had Namo there to help him cope with his memories. Namo's pretty handy if he can conjure baths out of thin air. wry grin That was nice of him. And I'm glad Finda decided to keep the toy. But since when is Finda Namo's favorite elfling...I thought Glorfi was! pretends to pout grin ~Kaylee!! Author Reply: Námo is pretty handy to have around, that's for sure! LOL Anyway, I think with Námo every Reborn is his favorite elfling at the time that he is dealing with them. grin

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 2/13/2008
AWWWWWWWWW. What a sweet chapter. There are days when I wished I were youger again. But I don't think I'd like to go all the way back to infancy. I do love those Valar. Tari Author Reply: Well, he didn't go all the way back to infancy, more like a toddler. grin

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 2/12/2008
Have you ever read any of the Anna books by Fynn? He commented she'd discovered SEX in her appreciation of God's relationship with us--more than what we know of the act between ourselves. I think Finrod has experienced that. Author Reply: Sorry, I've never heard of these books. What Finrod experiences here goes way beyond and subsumes the sexual, elevating it to something that is beyond mere words to describe.

Nieriel Raina	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 6/1/2007
I am still reading, albeit, slowly. I still love every minute and have snorted in laughter so many times, my nose hurts. This chapter was anythign but funny though. Excellent insight into these characters. I am curious though. How so you figure elfling ages? I know by 50 they are equivalent to an 18-20 year old, but I thought LACE says they grow the same as humans the first three years, then slow down? How do people figure this stuff out? Is there a chart somewhere? NiRi Author Reply: I'm glad you are still loving every minute of the story, even the non-funny parts. As for determining the human equivalent of elfling ages, the ratio is .42. That means, take the elf's age and multiply it by .42 to determine what the human equivalent is. This ratio is derived by dividing 21 into 50; 21 being the agreed-upon "coming of age" for humans. You can do the same in determining the equivalent ages of hobbits by dividing 21/33 and getting a ratio of .64. This is all based on Tolkien saying that elves came of age at when they were then considered adults though they continue to develop and mature for another 50 years.

Edlyn	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 4/24/2007
Hello, meldonya. I had hoped to have reviewed this chapter right afer "Judgment Recalled" but unfortunately, dealing with unhappy real world events had to take precedence (the elder brother of my 18-year old niece's best friend died unexpectedly in a scuba diving accident). Coming back to this story has proved to be quite comforting amidst the grief. I know the "hero"/primary protagonist of this story is Glorfindel but I find that I am making more emotional connections to Finrod the more I read about him. This doesn't mean that I don't care what happens to Glorfindel, but that if Finrod should disappear completely from the story, I would feel bereft (but not anywhere near the way Finrod felt at the realization that he'd never again be with the Edain). Having realized this, I wondered why I felt this way and lets just say I ended up doing quite a bit of self-examination and thinking while trying to find an answer to my question. Over my life I've discovered that truly good writing will do this, whether is it a fictional story, a philosophical essay, a religious exegesis, a newspaper editorial, or even a playscript. The whole issue of judgment that runs through this tale brings to my mind a quote from Socrates: "An unexamined life is not worth living"; which examination by itself can result in being completely unable to move forward, to being frozen with one's mind picking apart every single thing one's done, or sitting in fear and horror at truths about oneself one doesn't want to admit to the point where one isn't "living" at all. I think Finrod's examination of his life (and likely anyone else's) in the Mahanaxar would have left him trapped like that except for the Valar's timely and appropriate interventions and comments which assists in moving him on to the very necessary catharsis and processing of what he's discovered about himself. Oh, dear, that makes the Valar sound like counselers and therapists in a psychology practice! I found it interesting that after his examination and catharsis, Finrod took himself to an emotional time (and place, perhaps) long before he would have been capable of making the decisions he did that led him to become on of the Exiles. After such an overwhelming experience, being a toddler again where he would only have the most basic of responsibilities and a sure knowledge that there would be someone to take care of him and set boundaries and tell him what the rules are would be comforting and above all SAFE. I can certainly understand Finrod's embarrassment at remembering being a toddler. For all that he is more mature in his rebirth than Glorfindel and Sador, in a lot of ways he's still that young teenager who wants to sink into the floor when his mother brings out the baby pictures. Oh, yes, all of us wish that things in the past could be changed and it's so hard to accept that they can't be changed. The outrage that Finrod expresses is certainly something that I am familiar with. None of us likes to feel as though we have no control over things and the anger and resentment that we feel because we CAN'T undo things is reasonable so long as you are able to eventually let it go. I was very glad to read that Finrod managed to do so, and thus continue growing up. "...in a desperate act of blind estel, he flung his fëa into the abyss..." I truly think that this bit is the most powerful part of the chapter, meldonya. Making that leap of faith is so incredibly difficult, letting go of our fears and trusting that when we leap we will not fall to our distruction but be caught up is so very, very hard. Neil Gaiman wrote a story in his Sandman graphic novels where the protagonist discovers that sometimes when we fall we fly, which was almost as powerful for me to read. I loved it that Finrod decided that he still wanted his stuffed toy. I think it showed that he's finally accepted a lot of truths (including that yes, he did spend nearly a yen being a toddler and learning to reemmber and enjoy simple things). And I think what I truly love about Lord Námo in the latter part of this chapter is his obvious care, patience, and love for Finrod. The sheer kindness of providing the bath and then staying with Finrod through the night really touched me. Thank you, meldonya. I am glad to be able to count you among my friends. May you live blessed, Edlyn

MithLuin	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 1/25/2007
This chapter is simply amazing. The knowledge that Finrod, Friend of Men, will never again meet a mortal has to be...gutting. It also helps to explain his anger and insolence. I was having trouble picturing Finrod the Wise mouthing off to the Valar like that, but in light of this....he would be very angry indeed (even if he didn't know why). I have to admit, though, that I was a little nervous for Manwë. After all, this is an elf who had just killed a werewolf with his bare hands! :> The experience of divine love at the end was very cathartic. To know that, somehow, even the judgement was for his good. Your writing is beautiful and eloquent, in such an economy of space. Author Reply: I'm sure Manwë was a little nervous for himself as well. LOL Thank you for your review. I pleased to know you think my writing is beautiful and eloquent. These two chapters describing Finrod's judgment were not easy to write on several levels but I knew they had to be written so we would understand the extent of what Finrod sacrificed and lost in dying.

hanci	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 1/24/2007
It seems Glorfindel isn't the only one with possessive feelings... Poor Finrod. The elves judge themselves? No wonder it's such a harsh experience. The stuffed toy is from Námo? That's great! Author Reply: I think that we ultimately judge ourselves and we are usually far harsher than we need to be. That's where Eru's unconditional love and forgiveness comes in handy.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 28 on 1/20/2007
It's a tough business, facing what you are and what you have done - and beginning again. It's not surprising the reborn have a special purity to them. Although it's probably a good thing that the Valar are likely to be able to be in more than one place at a time - or at least that they don't have transport difficulties - because they are likely to be spending a lot of time trying to help their nurselings through this process. Finrod is beginning to remember and deal with even more uncomfortable ideas - and I suppose it is important to come to terms with all his past. And he has the time. That's one thing the elves have to spare. Author Reply: Yes, that's one thing the elves have over us — time to spare. It's very difficult for anyone to face what they are (truly are) and what they have done (truly done) and then begin again. Having the Valar around, especially someone like Lord Námo, would be a great help in coming to terms with all this.

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