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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
hawkeye	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 12/8/2014
Ingwë must have felt like he was waking in a dream here, and I think that, more than anything else would be terrifying. Dreams can be frightening, but the knowledge that they are not real is some comfort, even if very remote. To awaken to something like a dream from which there is no waking would unnerve anyone. Here you can really see the effect of Ingwë's many years of experience with the Valar. Even in this bizarre situation, he is able to say with a clear head that he trust Lord Manwë completely. That kind of trust is only born of years and years of close friendship. It is, in many ways, more than that though. The kind of trust Ingwë shows for Manwë at least initially reminds me very much as that which a child has for a parent. Ingwë knows that it will be okay because Manwë has proven time and again that he is worthy of trust. Lord Námo even alludes to this when he says Ingwë will only return with one he trusts the most. There are misgivings though. Regardless of intent, Ingwë can't help but feel like he is being treated as though he is not to be trusted. Maiar, for all that they aren't Valar, are terrifyingly powerful beings. Having fourteen show up to "escort" him couldn't help but feel like overkill. Fionwë's responses are annoying enigmatic, whether or not he is intending to be difficult. I think that probably helped lead to Ingwë's eventual flight. Knowledge is power, and the shock of finding his people in such an outlandish state and the lack of answers finally got to him. (On a side note, when Fionwë said this: "Does my lord require anything?" I must confess wanting to slap him. I'm sure there is copious literature somewhere detailing the extreme foolishness of slapping a Maia, but still.) The way that the Valar and Maiar address Ingwë shifts a lot. I noticed that they call him (and other elves) "child" quite frequently. I suppose to them, even the oldest elves would seem very young, but I wonder if they don't see the elves, at least in some ways, as their children. Atar is definitely at work here. Ingwë, for all his fear, knows innately where the safest place is to run. But, in order to hear Him, Ingwë actually needs to stop and be still. That is so like Atar; not forcing or shouting, but always present and always calling to his children, even the wayward ones. Again, you did a beautiful job of showing how fear is cast out by perfect love. The damage to Ingwë's fëa is concerning. To be the king that he needs to be, Ingwë needs to be fully able to function. Between Manwë and Atar though, I'm sure he is in the best hands :) Thank you for another beautiful chapter, Fiondil. Author Reply: Hi Hawkeye. Yes, trust is certainly important here and it must have felt very twilight-zonish to Ingwë. As for Fionwë's annoyingly enigmatic responses, that is only from Ingwë's POV and he's in a sense tripping out here and he's not seeing or hearing things clearly, as you will see in the next chapter. At any rate, what you say about Atar is very true and I'm glad you liked that part of it. It will take a while for Ingwë's fëa to recover from the experience, but it will only make him stronger and a better king, I think. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 8/5/2008
"The Valar summon thee, High King. We are sent to escort thee." Ingwë stared at the Maia for some time. "And the Valar deem it necessary to send fourteen of you where one has always sufficed in the past? Have I fallen so low in their esteem that they must needs assure my presence by force of numbers?" Fionwë shook his head. "Say rather that our Masters value you too highly to do other than honor you with their most trusted servants as your escort." "And if I refuse the summons?" Ingwë asked quietly. "I do not wish to leave my people alone and defenseless in their slumbers. Someone needs to keep watch over them." Now Fionwë smiled and came to Ingwë, putting his hands on the High King’s shoulders with great familiarity. "Child, do you really think your people are alone? Look now." He breathed gently upon Ingwë’s eyes then turned him around. Ingwë gasped. Everywhere he looked Maiar stood, each beside a slumbering elf. Each one’s gaze was intent upon the sleeping form over which they stood guard, never taking their eyes off their charges. Ingwë felt faint and Fionwë had to steady him. "Come, Ingwë," the Maia whispered. "It is best not to keep the Valar waiting." I liked this whole part, not to mention Manwe finding Ingwe and holding him, and singing to him. I liked his explanation of what elder brothers were for. grin But the part I emphasized in that bit reminded me a bit of the "fairy ointment" in tales I'd read that when applied to the eyes, let you see things you didn't know were there before. ~Kaylee!!! Author Reply: I actually modeled this scene from biblical stories where the eyes of mortals are opened to the spiritual world by such measures.

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 2/19/2008
I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. I LOVE IT. It seems like each chapter gets better than the last. The Maia are guardian angels. I totally beilieve in them and feel that each one of us has one to guide and protect us too. You are amazing. Tari Author Reply: I've always figured the Maiar were more than just servants to the Valar but served a deeper purpose and wished to show it in this light. I'm glad you liked this and thanks for the compliment.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 2/12/2008
Ah, the need to find the Source, and the terror of finding it as well. A great and awe-filled moment (if a bit melodramatic). (And I speak as one who revels in pathos, you know--so discount anything I say anyway!) Author Reply: Hey, there's a place for melodrama, and this is one such. grin

hanci	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 2/14/2007
Ingwë is like a prince in certain fairy tale, except this is his city (and no roses around). I was relieved with Ingwë when he saw the Maiar guarding his people. I know they are in Valinor but... Ingwë's fleeing is like a nightmare, fear without reason and need to run. And he ran to Cuiviénen! After all these years, he still considers it his home. Of course, given he is running from his home in Aman, there are not many places to go, but still, it's nice. Good thing that the next chapter, hopefully with explanations, is already posted. (Now I know why Glorfindel isn't in this chapter; what a good reason indeed!) Author Reply: Ingwë's panic brought on by something similar to a psychic breatk probably caused him to retreat to a 'safe' place and what safer place is there for any of us but the place of our beginnings? For Ingwë that would have to be Cuiviénen.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 2/12/2007
Goodness! Ingwe has been very powerfully affected. Although it's very interesting to see his return to Cuivienen. It must be very odd to be as old as Ingwe and yet revert to infancy in the presence of the Valar. Although I suppose he's used to the Valar effect. Author Reply: I think the "return to infancy" is more a consequence of the psychic break that he is experiencing rather than it being a consequence of the "Valar effect" (I like that phrase) grin. Thus, his flight to the site of his own infancy.

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 2/10/2007
Okay, now that is really really creepy that the entire city is in slumber. No wonder Ingwe was freaked out! I think it is cool that Ingwe went back to Cuiviénen to find his peace. I also find it interesting that he seems to consider that a safe place and "home". He is such an amazing elf! Truly he is worthy of being the high king of all of the elves and it makes the Valar all the more awesome by comparison when we see the greatest of the elves curled up like a child in the arms of the Valar. BTW, 2 things: First of all, you have far more readers for this tale than actually leave you reviews because I keep hearing about this story as suggested reading from lots of unexpected sources. Second, has anyone nominated this story for some kind of award yet or is it too soon for the awards thing? I think it deserves one! Author Reply: Yes, the Valar, especially the Elder King, are truly awesome by comparison to anything (Eru excepted). And we all, I think, consider the place of our beginnings as safe and 'home'. For Ingwë, who was not 'born' in the same fashion as the rest of us, that can't be the womb but the place of his Awakening in Arda. I'm gratified that you are hearing about this story as suggested reading from different sources, though I would like to know what you mean by 'unexpected' grin. And, no, to the best of my knowledge no one's nominated the story for any kind of award. I have no idea what the process is anyway. If you want to nominate it yourself....

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