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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux  by Fiondil 8 Review(s)
hawkeyeReviewed Chapter: 39 on 12/10/2014
Even as well as he knows Lord Manwë it must have been a bit awkward (at the very least) waking up like that. Poor ellon. I was a bit surprised at first, seeing the Valar in a more technical? context. The more I think about it, the more it does make perfect sense. Still, it will take a little getting used to. It does add a lot to the story though. Ingwë has taken this whole thing surprisingly well, even though this must all be freakishly foreign to him.

Manveru's mistake really brings home the point that the Valar and Maiar, for all their power, are not omniscient. I think this is an important point because it really highlights both Atar's place and his presence. Glorfindel, though he did over react a bit (who can blame him?), responded appropriately by refusing to go to the mountain. From his perspective, he had been told by the Valar themselves not to go on the mountain. It would hardly seem appropriate for him to take a Maia's word for it, however well meaning the Maia might be.

Atar is a work again here, looking after his children in their flight. As a warrior, again, I think Glorfindel acted appropriately in seeking to protect the king. Unfortunately, also again, his actions are misplaced. This is the second time Glorfindel has "been" to Gondolin in a short time. It will be interesting to see how this affects his maturing.

Neither Glorfindel nor Ingwë were exactly punished, but I thought it interesting that Manwë went out of his way to make sure that Ingwë was not in trouble where Námo didn't do the same for Glorfindel. Perhaps this has to do with the age difference between them. Glorfindel did act out more than Ingwë did, but surely he was running to Another no less than Ingwë, yet the response was quite different in his case. My guess is that, as a reborn, Glorfindel is quite unpredictable, even to the Valar themselves. Hopefully the experience of Love Imperishable had a restoring and healing affect on Glorfindel's fëa. I found it interesting that even the Maiar, who are closer to Atar, were awed by what they witnessed.

I really enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for sharing :)

Author Reply: Hi Hawkeye. The Valar are first and foremost scientists. They would have to be in order to bring the universe into existence with all its laws of physics and such and I try to show this here.

Ingwë is not in a happy place for sure and he is seeing a side of the Valar he probably hasn't really seen before.

And of course Glorfindel would take the prohibition too literally instead of checking to see if it was still in effect (as it wasn't in this case). Námo's treatment of him when he finally caught up with the ellon is different from the way Manwë treated Ingwë, but the relationship is different and a Reborn's unpredictability, especially when that Reborn is Glorfindel, does play a factor.

I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for taking the time to let me know. I appreciate it.

KayleeReviewed Chapter: 39 on 8/5/2008
Oh, Glorfi, Glorfi, Glorfi...whatever are we going to do with you? You even give the Valar pause. Thank Iluvatar for Erunaro, whose brilliance got them on the right track (he's almost as brilliant as you, meldonya!)

*amused* So Glorfindel stole a sword. What is it with these Reborn and stealing?

So...Lord Namo punished him by filling Glorfi with divine Love? That's a punishment? *ponders*

~Kaylee!!

Author Reply: He didn't so much steal it as borrowed it. I'm sure he had every intention of returning it to its proper owner... eventually. *grin* Only Glorfindel thought he was being punished or should be punished. Námo of course wasn't punishing him at all, though he played Glorfindel's game so as not to make things too confusing for the poor ellon. Glorfindel already was suffering a psychic break and Námo didn't want to make it worst. Filling him with divine Love was Námo's way of bringing healing to Glorfindel.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 39 on 2/12/2008
Hmmmm. I'd recognized the moebius strip, of course. I still don't quite understand quite why all fell asleep, though.

Author Reply: Well, the Valar were singing a lullaby and I think they were hoping that there might be some healing for everyone who heard it. Probably worked for most but not for all the elves.

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 39 on 2/14/2007
Oh, I don't know what to say... there's so much about this story that just grabs my heart and wrings emotions from me.

I bow in utter respect for the vision you have of the death and rebirth of Glorfindel, and how you describe the Valar--particularly Namo and Manwe.

I look forward to your continuation of this tale--and will avidly pounce upon your next update. :)

Author Reply: Thank you. I really appreciate your support. I've been having a great deal of fun with this story, especially with writing about the Valar, trying to make them each as individual and as interesting in their own rights as possible. I'm glad I'm succeeding, at least in some small way.

hanciReviewed Chapter: 39 on 2/14/2007
Time dilation, wow. And they are able to map it! And they plan a rescue mission! But I don't think everyone would go to Cuiviénen, I suppose they would flee to a safe place of their past, so those born later would (have to) run elsewhere?
As always the conversation was just great, "I doubt if I could repeat the performance..." and "We may have a problem..." :o)
Glorfindel's first reaction is to arm himself, it shows that he has had different life than Ingwë (or perhaps had had fits better). Passing through the mountains? Interesting. Why bother going over them when through is faster? :o)
The care the Maiar have with him, it's almost funny to see how many Maiar it takes to handle him.
It's a closure, to see Gondolin dead. Perhaps he needed to see that, just as Laurendil and others needed to see Finrod.

This story is wonderful, surprise in every chapter.

Author Reply: Yes, it's probable that each elf would flee to a different place and time where they felt 'safe'. For Glorfindel that would be Gondolin, but the Gondolin he finds is not the Gondolin he remembers and begins to realize that the Past is not necessarily a good place to be in, so it is a type of closure for him.

I did have a bit of fun, in a Doctor-Whoish sort of way, with the whole time dilation, temporal displacement and space-time continuum thing. Just goes to show that the Valar were way more advanced than they tended to let on. *grin*

And the Maiar are remembering that this particular elf fought and destroyed a Balrog. You do not want to mess with this guy, so they're taking no chances.

Glad you are enjoying this story so much.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 39 on 2/12/2007
And, somehow, I'm neither surprised by the fact that Glorfindel was similarly affected, not by his choice of destination. Sad to return to the destroyed Gondolin, though, and walk its streets again. But, perhaps, necessary. Sometimes we need to confront the past before we realise that it is past and we have moved on. Maybe Glorfindel will trail less grief for Gondolin after this.



Author Reply: Yes, hopefully the experience will help Glorfindel to move on, to put the Past behind him and simply take joy in the Present in hope for the Future. He's lost much, but he's gained much, if only he can accept it.

vampfan30Reviewed Chapter: 39 on 2/11/2007
the places this story goes - I have trouble keeping up sometimes!It just keeps getting better & better.....I often find it hard to review due to the lack of words.....

Author Reply: Well, if it makes you feel any better, I have trouble keeping up sometimes myself! LOL.

Glad you are enjoying the story so much.

EllieReviewed Chapter: 39 on 2/10/2007
I pity poor Glorfindel. Even when he tries his very best to obey and be good, things seem to happen to him. I hope he has found some missing healing now by seeing and realising that Gondolin is no longer home or at least not a home he can return to any more. Maybe he will settle more in the present in Valinor now.

I thought it was terribly funny that the maiar surrounded him with drawn weapons to keep him under control. Feisty little bugger, isn't he?

Can't wait for another update!

Author Reply: Most of us, I think, cling to images of the Past that we hate to give up, little realizing, or just refusing to realize, that the Past is Dead and is no longer a good place for the Living. We can learn from the Past, we can treasure its memories, but we can never live there again. Glorfindel has discovered that here and will hopefully, as you say, settle more in the present in Valinor now.

And the Maiar (and Námo) weren't taking any chances. They respect Glorfindel too much to take him for granted.

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