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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	9 Review(s)
hawkeye	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 1/23/2015
dies Oh my, this was too funny. I teach English, and I've had this happen several times with students. Not to mention it reminds me of several of my own experiences in Japanese class. Like Finrod with Celeborn and Thingol, I wished the ground would swallow me. Poor Eärnur pats him on the back I suppose in comparison to Finrod and even Laurendil, Eärnur is quite young. I can sympathise with his frustrations. Hopefully he takes Finrod's advice and doesn't ask anyone else for a translation laughs Even though it's appeared that way, I was absolutely floored when Eärnur said that none of the healers have to learn Sindarin. One would think that the language loving Noldor and Vanyar would at least be happy to have another language to learn. Of course that could just be the linguist in me coming out. This is by far the happiest that I've seen Laurendil. Interestingly, even though they didn't spend the time talking about his fears, I think the Sindarin lesson probably did much more for him. The cliché that laughter is the best medicine does hold some ring of truth. Ultimately it's hard to heal if the spirit is weighed down. On another level, I'm not sure "talking" about his fears in a scheduled time and manner would really help. Forcing someone to talk who doesn't want to is usually counterproductive. For one thing, it requires a lot of trust and that isn't something that happens overnight. So in the end, I think the Sindarin was probably the best medicine. Thank you for a fun read :) Author Reply: It was fun coming up with the sentences, though it took me a while to find two words that sounded very similar but had very opposite meanings where one would be considered an insult when used in a particular phrase. It is odd that these Elves who have such a love of language don't care to learn Sindarin, but unfortunately, the Amanians, in their distain of the Exiles and those who never reached Valinor in the first place, have decided that Sindarin is a bastardized form of Quenya and so isn't a true language in its own right, so why learn it? Maybe with Irmo having Eärnur learning it (and I suspect he'll have others learn it as well), this attitude will eventually change. You're right that talking about things like your fears really doesn't work unless you want to talk about them. I think, though, that spending the afternoon teaching Eärnur Sindarin, especially when he makes his gaffe, helps to create a bond of trust between the three so if and when Laurendil wants to talk he can do so in a natural way. Thanks for reviewing, Hawkeye. I'm glad you found this a fun read.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 8/10/2008
**** It was nearing the time for the evening meal when Manwen made her way back to her pavilion, pleased with her first day as an apprentice. She wondered how Laurendil had fared, knowing how reluctant he had been to be there. She hoped his first session with Eärnur and Finrod had not been too stressful or embarrassing. So she was quite surprised to hear laughter ringing from the pavilion as she came into the grove. When she entered it was to find Finrod sprawled over a chair, his head thrown back in laughter, while her husband was on their bed curled up around a pillow either in extreme pain or trying desperately not to laugh. Eärnur, she saw, was sitting on the floor looking between them with a bemused expression on his face. "What did I say? What did I say?" he kept demanding, but neither Finrod nor Laurendil were in a position to answer him. Manwen smiled. "Anyone want to share the joke?" Laurendil leapt off the bed and ran to his wife, hugging her and laughing all the while. "We’ve been teaching Eärnur Sindarin. He just said something very naughty." "What? What did I say?" the poor Teler jumped up from the floor, nearly screaming, but Laurendil would not answer. Manwen took pity on him and asked, "What did you say?" For a moment Eärnur hesitated, knowing that whatever he had said was obviously not what he had meant to say. Laurendil gave him a wicked grin. "Go ahead, Eärnur, tell Manwen what you said." "I... I said ‘Gerin seron-en-orch... or... er... gaim nîn’," the Telerin elf said softly, now deeply embarrassed but not knowing why. Manwen looked at the elf in disbelief then turned to Laurendil. "Did you teach him that?" Laurendil raised his hands in protest. "I swear, my love, we did not. He just sort of... stumbled upon it all by himself." Manwen looked back at the now totally confused Teler and her eyes widened and then she was laughing so hard she collapsed to the ground. "Oh, Valar! Oh, Valar! Th-that’s... to-too... funny!" "WILL SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT I SAID?" Eärnur screamed, stamping his foot in frustration. "Oh no, meldonya," Finrod got out between bouts of laughter. "You’re much too young. You’ll have to wait until you’re older before we tell you." That set Laurendil and Manwen laughing even harder, Laurendil now joining Manwen on the floor, their arms wrapped around each other in mutual support. "What do you mean, I’m too young?" Eärnur shouted. "I’m an adult, same as you." "Eärnur, Eärnur," Finrod said, rising from his chair and taking the frustrated elf into his embrace. "You’ve not reached your second yén yet. Believe me, you’re much too young." "But what did I say?" Now he was almost in tears. "Hush, meldonya," Finrod said, rubbing the younger ellon’s back to calm him. "What you should have said was ‘Gerin sereg-en-orch or chaim nîn’. That’s all you have to know." Needless to say, meldonya, THIS is one of my favorite moments in the whole story, lol, and one I remember the most (most likely because of the gaffe you mentioned making in China with your students, to another reviewer, but also because this is SO hysterically funny!!!! Poor Earnur, will he EVER find out what he said??? ~Kaylee!!! Author Reply: I'm sure that Eärnur eventually figured out what he had said once his command of Sindarin improved and well before he was considered 'old enough'. grin

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 3/19/2008
This chapter was such fun to read. A light in the darkness. Laughter is so healing and that is something sorely needed by all. I would love to learn Sindarin myself, but have no one to interact with. All my friends are Gondorian. Oh, well. Sometimes I want to reply to something in your responses, but find I cannot. I guess I'll just have to make notes to include with my next comment. Author Reply: This was a fun chapter to write, as well, especially searching to find two words that were similar enough in pronunciation to confuse a newbie to the language but have two very different meanings, especially for one that would be considered insulting. As for learning Sindarin... you don't need others to interact with. I, myself, don't really speak it, though I can read it and write it. All you need to do is check out the various websites that offer lessons in the language. Thorsten Renk's Sindarin course is the best, especially as he's just updated it with new information that has recently come to light about the language. His site is called Parma Tyelpelassíva or 'Book of Silver Leaves' [phy(dot)duke(dot)edu/~trenk/elvish/index(dot)html].

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 2/13/2008
Poor Earnur--having that statement to wonder about for years! Heh! And the others enjoy the laugh. But it is time they get some folk who speak Sindarin and perhaps one or more of the Silvan tongues to serve among them! Rather stupid not to, I'm thinking. Author Reply: We have to remember that only half a millennium has passed since the War of Wrath and the return of the Exiles to Aman. For people who are essentially immortal, there is little need to move quickly. I think the Valar, especially Irmo and Esté, were hoping that the elves themselves would recognize the need and do what was necessary. Unfortunately, it takes a catalyst, such as Finrod and Laurendil, to make it happen.

hanci	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 3/16/2007
No-one speaks Sindarin? Really? High time that changed! Newcomers (reborn or otherwise) have much to accustom themselves to without the added stress of a foreign language. :o) I guess everyone reacts like this after reading this chapter. :o) It's wonderful, learning a language similar to the one you already know, much easier. Unfortunately, you can't rely on that, there's always a word that sounds the same and means something else - that's not their problem now, but mine... I haven't made (knock on wood) really embarassing mistakes, but some of the ones I make just persist... I totally understand Eärnur's distress when no-one tells him what he said! I know the feeling... And Manwen's suspicion is natural, it's something friends love to do. I like Finrod's flashback, the same with every memory they share, it makes their life in Arda more real and I want to know more... Author Reply: Learning a new language can be stressful when you're afraid of making mistakes, but that's the name of the game. I don't think it's a case of nobody speaks Sindarin so much as it's a case of nobody's set up a systematic program to teach the Lóriennildi Sindarin. Some of the more open-minded have probably picked up a phrase or two, but even Eärnur has admitted that there's no incentive when everyone is supposed to learn Quenya. The flashbacks, I think, add depth to the story, and provide people with all sorts of plot-bunnies.... lol

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 3/15/2007
What better way for Earnur to earn Laurendil's trust than to learn from him? Especially if he makes a few rather entertaining mistakes! That is an intelligent and open-minded Journeyman - and I have little doubt that he will be of far greater help to Laurendil because of it. Author Reply: Yes, Eärnur is just young enough not to take offense when being teased and is willing to learn from others (not like other elves I know grin). Also, he's one of those people who just makes friends easily (not like some humans I know sigh). He'll be good for both Laurendil and Finrod, I think.

Rhyselle	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 3/14/2007
Laurendil is growing on me. grin I like his sense of humor. The conversation between the three that leads to Laurendil and Finrod giving Eärnur the lessons in Sindarin was fun and interesting and disturbing all at the same time. One of the biggest problems that allows prejudice to continue is lack of communication. It's also why so many people fail in their mental health therapies, when communication fails between them and their caregivers--on one part or the other. The requirement for the Sindar to learn Quenya when their counselors aren't required to learn Sindarin is very likely a reason why the former exiles probably take so long to work their way through their treatment in Lorien... Being able to talk about your traumas is difficult enough when you are discussing them in a common language but to try to talk through your problems when you don't have the level of vocabulary you need to express yourself accurately can only lead to failed treatment. It is probably because Eärnur is young that he is willing to try it and not insist that using Quenya is the only thing to do. Laurendil's description of Sindarin was lovely... particularly the description of its subtlety. "... We considered them uncouth and barbaric." Here, he flashed a grin and ran his fingers through his front braids. "Naturally, some of us took to their ways like ducks to water." MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I love it. :) I was reading about Finrod in the Silmarillion today and I find that my perception of his actions are now quite coloured by the expansion of his character from this story! As I read I began to consider that they were supposed to be discussing Laurendil's fears, but in a way, by doing the language lesson, I think they were. Laurendil obviously feels like he doesn't belong in Aman for the various personal reasons he has, and he misses Middle-earth, and he definitely doesn't like being treated as a lesser being by those who did not defy the Valar way back when. If your therapist isn't willing to learn from you what and who you are, they aren't going to be able to help you at all. Manwen's return to the pavilion was great! I can just picture the look on Eärnur's face. I was in that position in Spanish class once... thankfully the other kids in the class were as clueless about what I'd said as I was... and the teacher managed to stop laughing in a few minutes. But it was three years later that I finally found out what I'd said! LOL! "Oh no, meldonya," Finrod got out between bouts of laughter. "You’re much too young. You’ll have to wait until you’re older before we tell you." Well, that gives him a LOT of incentive to learn as fast as he can. grin This was a fun chapter! I keep meaning to thank you for the translations at the end of the chapter. I'm starting to recognize some of the Sindarin and Quenya words now. :) It will be a long time before I am even a quarter as fluent as you are, but it's a beginning. Author Reply: I did have a lot of fun with this chapter and the play on words that evoke such mirth from the three older elves at Eärnur's expense. grin The lack of meaningful communication is a very real problem, but the Valar will not force the elves towards a solution, hoping that they will find it themselves as part of the healing process they must all go through. Finrod, I think, is in a better posiiton to ensure such a solution comes about, being a former king and a prince of Eldamar and this is what the Valar have been waiting for. Laurendil's input, of course, helps.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 3/14/2007
Oh, that was so funny!! wipes eyes Poor Eärnur, how embarassing for him! But Finrod is right, of course - it is difficult to understand why nobody ever cared to learn at least a bit Sindarin. In Lórien it would be truly useful. And I am glad Eärnur was willing to learn. It seems he will have some fun with it, too, at least as long as these two are his teachers grin Author Reply: Well, I teach English as a Foreign Language in China and this chapter is based partly on my own experience of walking into my class of 12-13-year-olds, who are high intermediate students, and blithely begin reading a passage from our book: "Are you having donuts for breakfast?" "No, today I'm going to have muffins." And wondered why the kids broke up and turned all different shades of red. It took them awhile to explain to me (in English and with much consulting of dictionaries) that the English word "muffin" sounds very similar to the Chinese word "ma fen" which means "horsesht". Definitely not on anyone's menu today! grin* I think Irmo was hoping the Lóriennildi would come up with the solution on their own of having at least some of them learn Sindarin, rather than from him. No such luck.

vaske	Reviewed Chapter: 54 on 3/14/2007
This chapter was so much fun. It's amazing how a simple language lesson quickly becomes a time to teach insults, lol:) It does seem kind of strange that the Lóriennildi haven't learned Sindar over the years, but I guess that's about to change. Author Reply: Yes, I had loads of fun with this chapter, especially trying to find an appropriate insult that sounded similar to something that wasn't insulting. Not as easy as it looks. lol I'm sure some of the Lóriennildi have picked up a phrase or two of Sindarin but no one seems to have systematically tried to learn the language itself.

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