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| Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil | 8 Review(s) |
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| Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 7/23/2014 | |
| I really like your stories and I've been wondering if you have ever read Diane Duane's wizard books. You might find her idea of wizardry and the Powers that run the universe interesting. Timeheart as well. I hope you continue to enjoy writing thought-provoking stories. And thanks for doing the research. I adore well researched stories. Author Reply: Yes, I've read all of her books and enjoyed them immensely. I'm glad you are enjoying my stories. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it. | |
| Kaylee | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 8/11/2008 |
| Ah, so Melian joins the fray! Good for her, aiding her Nephew and her subjects! "I am a healer and I love juicy apples. What about you?" *snicker* well, I like apples too, especially juicy ones, though I'm not a healer. It should be more like...hmmm... "I am obsessed with Finrod and I love juicy apples. What about you?" *grin* That makes just about as much sense, you see. *grins more* Anyway, I'm glad that Mithlas and Earnur are doing better and HA! More healers getting put in their place! Seriously, being "troublesome" because he couldn't speak Quenya? Then LEARN SINDARIN, you DOLTS!!!!!!! Excuse me, meldonya, I just have a particular issue with that annoying bit about the healers. *wry grin* Not a problem with the story of course, just with THEM. I'm apparently not the only one; Finda doesn't like it either, of course. They SHOULD learn Sindarin, seriously. LOL. ~Kaylee!! Author Reply: Well, as Finrod points out, even the Reborn are taught Quenya. The Amaneldi just never thought it necessary (until now) to learn a language most look down upon as being a debased form of the true Eldarin langauge. | |
| Rhyselle | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/25/2007 |
| Finally I have time and ability to review again. :) "Well, nothing we can do about it," Laurendil said with a diffident shrug that did not fool Finrod. "Honestly, gwador nîn, when did that ever stop us?" Finrod said, feigning surprise. This was another great exchange that points out Finrod and Laurendil's personalities. :) And I love it that it was Melian to whom Finrod went to get his "reinforcements" to go salvage the situation that poor Mithlas was experiencing. It occurs to me that being immortal, while it gives the Eldar the opportunity to learn things that mortals would simply never have time to learn in their short lives, also gives them the opportunity to become entrenched in ways of thinking that are not necessarily good. The question of whether it is insensitivity or arrogance that keeps the masters ignoring the commonsense that the Sindar need help in their own language and understanding of the traumas they experienced is a good one. I don't think it is one or the other... I think there are elements of both in it. The Amaneldi clearly look down on those who went to Middle-earth, and that will colour all of their interactions with them. Their positions as Masters in Lorien probably add to their arrogance because of how long they've been doing their jobs, and their status in their society. One would think that those working directly with the Valar would tend to remain humble, but I suppose that it is a case of familiarity breeds contempt. The battle-meld that you refer to between Finrod and Laurendil is an awesome idea that I definitely would like to see explored--perhaps in a fic of their time together fighting against Morgoth (but please finish this one first! LOL!). I was not expecting it to be Melian that he was going to get, but when I read it, I said "Of course!" and just grinned. I had just finished reading about the Fall of Doriath and so I'd had her on my mind, but you still managed to surprise me here. And I like the idea of her caring for roses. :) When she told Finrod "Tell me" after he told her "...enemies abound." I got goosebumps. Sometimes it becomes easy to forget just how powerful that the Maiar are... I loved it that Finrod went to Mithlas' pavilion in his role as King of Nargothrond. The dual hat he wears is definitely coming in handy! Eärnur was so sweet. He was trying so hard and just couldn't remember the right words. But he kept trying despite that. I'm proud of him. I wanted to swat those masters. And I felt a lot sorry for the other journeyman. It's tough to be in a position where you have to follow orders and you do it and then find out afterwards that the orders were wrong. Melian was so awesome! In both the true sense of the word and also in the slang sense that folks use today. That phrase "bearing down on them like the wrath of Mandos" made a very vivid picture in my mind as I thought about the scene in Mithlas' pavilion. I would definitely NOT want to be either of those two masters! Reading about Mithlas' history and seeing him admit outloud that he had wanted to follow his beloved into Mandos made me quite weepy. I wonder if he'd ever admitted that outloud before? I loved how Melian comforted him, and how Finrod reinforced it. It occurred to me that the master healers (at least all of the ones that we've seen so far) have lost sight of their true purpose. Which is a shame. Their talents are still there, but they aren't anywhere as effective as they should be because the masters have lost any empathy they may have had for those who have been entrusted to their care. I'm certain that Irmo will be reminding these two of that empathy and that in the end, they will be far better healers than they were when they left the pavilion in his company. I think I know how Eärnur must feel when Melian compliments him on his performance as a journeyman healer--Friday, the Dean of the university where I just started working complimented my actions when he was talking to the visiting president of another university. If I'd had earpoints, they'd certainly have gone pink from my blushing! I like Eärnur very much and I hope we see more of him in this fic in the future as one of Finrod's friends and companions. Well done! Author Reply: Being immortal, especially if your an elf, is no guarantee that you will avoid being stupid about some things and the Lóriennildi masters (at least the ones we've seen to date) have shown that to be true. They have become entrenched in their thinking and the situation with the Reborn and those coming from Middle-earth is a relatively new phenomenon for them so they haven't had time to adjust to the "New World Order", so to speak. Even I wasn't expecting Finrod to go to Melian, but when he entered the grove and addressed her I knew she was the right person for him to go to. As someone who lived in Middle-earth, she would be sympathetic towards Mithlas, even if he hadn't been originally from Doriath himself. And we do tend to forget that the Maiar are powerful in their own right, even if that power does not manifest itself the same way as the power manifested by their Valar masters. They are still way above even the most powerful elf and Melian shows this in this chapter. Anyone who's studied a foreign language can sympathize with Eärnur here and however ineffectual his attempts at communication are, at least he's trying, which is more than can be said about the masters who just stand there looking on in disdain. I imagine Irmo has just about had it with the lot of them! *grin* Believe it or not, but I already have a story on the backburner about Laurendil and Finrod in Middle-earth that is patiently waiting for this story to finish (and the one about Aragorn). The first chapter is written and hopefully sometime soon I will begin writing that story in earnest. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/24/2007 |
| Oooh, Melian! What a good moment to remember that your useful relatives include a Maia! And Mithlas will have good cause to be grateful to her. Do these healers have some objection to listening? Have they failed to spot that the Valar aren't all that impressed with their attitude towards the reborn? Whatever Irmo has to say to them, they merit it! And Mithlas will be a lot better with Laurendil and Finrod to keep an eye on him. And his queen nearby. Author Reply: Yes, having a Maia for a relative would definitely help. *grin* I think the situation between the Lóriennildi and the Reborn is coming to a head. Irmo has been very patient with it all, but needed to wait until Finrod and Laurendil were ready to take on the task of "cleaning house" so to speak. | |
| hanci | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/24/2007 |
| Finrod and Laurendil were awesome, I could just see them on their way to the grove. And when you add Melian, it's better to be somewhere else. (It never occured to me that Melian would be there. Silly me.) Eärnur only remembering that one sentence, that was straight from life. When you really need to say something in foreign language, you can't remember a thing. And I liked Mithlas asking about it. :o) Author Reply: Finrod and Laurendil do make an awesome pair, don't they? *grin* Maybe someday I will write about their exploits in Middle-earth. I think it would be interesting to see them fighting together against Morgoth's minions. Until Finrod entered the grove and started speaking in Sindarin, I had no idea whom he was going to see. Melian came as much as surprise to me as to anyone, I think. Like Eärnur, I've been in situations where the only sentence in a foreign langauge that comes to mind is one that has nothing to do with the situtaion at hand. But, at least, even in the throes of nightmare, Mithlas heard Eärnur speaking to him and attempting to communicate with him. The power of sincere words, however inappropriate to the situation, should not be dismissed, otherwise, I don't think Mithlas would have even heard the words in the first place. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/21/2007 |
| Loved this chapter! Friends in high places indeed! I think the masters will be reeling for a while and won't be at all pleased and still won't fully understand what has hit them with Finrod having come to apprentice there. I love it! Author Reply: Glad you enjoyed this chapter, ellie. It was fun bringing Melian into the picture. When Finrod looks for reinforcements, he doesn't fool around, does he? *lol* | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/21/2007 |
| When reading the bit of Sindarin Eärnur used to try and calm Mithlas down I nearly spit my coffee at the screen. No wonder it didn’t work *lol* It’s about time the Loriennildi are learning a bit more Sindarin. But at least Eärnur is truly trying to learn and understand, what is so much more than most of the others do. It was so very satisfying to watch Finrod and Laurendil take action to help Mithlas! Honestly, the Loriennildi should be able to understand that these „apprentices“ have much more knowledge about certain things than they will ever have. But instead of asking them to help they prevent them from doing what is needed *rolls eyes* Anyway, enjoyed it that Finrod went to Melian and that she rubbed in that he is her great-nephew. And then Irmo’s appearance, backing up Finrod and taking the masters away with him. It may not be nice, but they seemed rather arrogant, and so I felt a bit smug about it. But this chapter yet again makes very clear that it is about time the elves who never left Aman and the ones from Middle-earth, reborn or not, are learning more about each other and to live with each other. Sometimes I think these masters should be able to relive the experiences their charges went through – maybe then they would be more sympathetic! Author Reply: I can sympathize with Eärnur, though. After eight months in China I can say simple sentences that allow me to order food at a restaurant or ask for directions, but when I walk into my favorite bakery and the lady starts jabbering away at me, being able to say "Wo xi huan guo bao rou. Ni na?" (I like sweet and sour pork. How about you?) doesn't lend itself to having any meaningful conversation with her. *lol* >> "Sometimes I think these masters should be able to relive the experiences their charges went through – maybe then they would be more sympathetic!" The last time one of the Valar decided to "show" one of the Amaneldi what it feels like to die, he got into a lot of trouble.... though the idea does have it's merits. *grin* | |
| vaske | Reviewed Chapter: 58 on 3/20/2007 |
| I guess Eärnur needs a few more Sindar lessons, lol. I love the variety of characters in this story, I never expected Melian to show up here! Author Reply: Melian was a surprise for me too. Until Finrod walked into the grove and addressed the person in Sindarin, I had no more idea where he was going than Laurendil did *lol* | |