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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
Mr.Namo	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 4/15/2009
Is this Haldir the same Haldir that we see in LOTR? Also, in your chapter "In the High King's Garden", you said that Indis was the sister of Ingwe. If Ingwe's brother is Finwe, then how exactly does that fit together? Author Reply: Hi. No this is not the same Haldir. 'Haldir' is the Sindarin form of the Quenya 'Halatiro'. This character is a Noldo who, when he fled to Beleriand, adopted 'Haldir' as his Sindarin name. The Haldir in LoTR is a Sinda or possibly one of the Silvan elves of Lórien. Ingwë and Finwë are not brothers, though they are brothers-in-law, at least in my story. Ingwë is of the Vanyar and Finwë is of the Noldor. In the Silmarillion it only says that Indis was a close kin of Ingwë. In other writings Tolkien went back and forth as to how close, from being a daughter, a sister and a niece. For purposes of my story I chose that she was his sister. Whichever degree of closeness one chooses though, if Ingwë and Finwë were true brothers then Finwë would be guilty of incest.

Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 8/11/2008
Haldir belonged to the House of the Tower of Snow in Gondolin... I wonder if he knew Glorfindel well, though maybe not as they were of different Houses. Then again, when you live in a walled, hidden city I suppose you'd have to know everyone at least to some degree which is why he knew he didn't know Sador. I liked how Sador used Namo's words to help him feel better. ~Kaylee!! Author Reply: While Haldir and Glorfindel probably did not know each other personally, I'm sure Haldir was aware of who belongs to the House of the Golden Flower and who did not and so did not recognize Sador as having been of Gondolin. Sador using Námo's words would have given Haldir comfort and he would have recognized that Sador at least knew what he was experiencing even if no one else did.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 2/13/2008
Time to broaden horizons for these, and Sador's the Elf to do it. Just the right combo of humility and authority.... Author Reply: Yes, Sador's humility and authority will go a long way towards educating the good Elves of Tol Eressëa.

Rhyselle	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 3/30/2007
That shipping to just one port and then having to send goods by road just doesn't make sense for a place the size of Tol Eressea. I'm rather looking forward to seeing how this whole socio-political thing works out in the end. I'm sure it's much more complex than it seems. I liked how Netimire changed the "your family" to "our family". I like Gilvagor. He's a helpful and friendly person. I like his attitude towards the Reborn... and Sador's response was great! "Perhaps if you took the time to tell that to your own Reborn, they might begin to feel differently." Good point... people tend to assume the worst when they aren't told the good. I know that my self-esteem rises considerably when someone tells me I did a nice job instead of just being silent about it... when I don't hear positive comments I tend to think that I must be doing something wrong. I find it interesting how very much this chapter revolves around the Eldar's assumptions about what the Halls of Mandos are like and what they think their loved ones must be doing there. And when one is told that the dead have no memory of their lives and loves, it would be a shock... until one has it explained, as Sador did for Netilmire, what a blessing that lack of memory is while a fea heals. I knew the moment that I saw the elves were gathered around a tree and the elleth was asking her love to come down that we were dealing with another Reborn. giggle I like the idea that when life gets too scary the Reborn tend to retreat to trees. I find it amusing how any mention of Glorfindel's name seems to grab attention. At least Haldir came down from the tree rather than fell out of it! I liked how calm Sador was throughout all of this. It was as if everyone around him were children getting all excited and upset, and he's a serene and peaceful spot in the clamour. It hadn't occured to me before that Judgment would be different for the Sindar than it was for the Exiled Noldor. But it makes sense, for all the reasons that Sador described. Although I'm sure that facing it with just Lord Namo would be in its own way as traumatic as facing all of the Valar. I thought that Sador using the same language to Haldir as Lord Namo used to him was sweet. :) I was shocked when Gwilwileth asked if Haldir had been judged in chains... who ever started such talk? I oughtn't to be surprised, as when people don't know things, they will make up all sorts of bits and pieces--sometimes based on other events--to fill the gaps. Netilmire's stepping in to tell Haldir that asking Sador to tell of his own Judgment was rude was so in character--but also points out the problem that perpetuates the lack of accurate knowledge about the process of Judgment amongst the Eldar. If it's considered rude to ask about it, most likely the Reborn are going to get the idea that it's "not done" to talk about it openly, as if it were something to be ashamed of, and so they won't volunteer the information. And that leads to the lack of morale in the Tol Eressean Reborn, and a continuation of the incorrect assumptions people have been making about these experiences. Sador's being willing to share his experience is a wonderful thing... I look forward to seeing how everyone reacts to it. :) Good chapter! Author Reply: We can all use positive reinforcement, but how often do we take the time to tell anyone, "Good job" or "Well done" or even "I love you"? The Greeks believed that one of the rives of Hades was Lethe, the River of Forgetfulness and that those sent to the Elyssium Fields (the blessed) drank from the river so that they no longer remembered the miseries of their lives on earth. I've often wondered if a type of forgetfulness is granted to us when we die to allow our souls to heal from all the hurts of our lives until we are strong enough spiritually to face those memories again and put them into perspective the way the Reborn elves do once they are re-embodied. That would indeed be a blessing for many of us whose souls have been ravaged by evil in its many forms. Sador demeanor throughout this chapter is one of someone who's 'been there, done that'. The elf who was rude to him at the beginning suddenly realized that here stood one of the Reborn, however strangely dressed he might be. That's why his attitude changes. I think the others in the courtyard slowly began to understand just who Sador was as he interacts with Haldir. The idea that asking people about their Judgment is considered rude and therefore it's not to be talked about, leads to the next question: what questions in our own society are considered rude to ask and who is being forbidden, or at least discouraged, to speak about them when they have a need to do so? Makes you kind of wonder, doesn't it?

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 3/30/2007
Sador is perfectly positioned to help Haldir - and his own situation provides a bridge. How have all these reborn elves / sailed Sindar / returned Exiles managed to live alongside each other for so long without speaking to each other about these things? They are making rods for their own backs! Author Reply: And it's not just these elves who are not speaking to each other, the Amaneldi either won't or can't be bothered to speak with the elves of Tol Eressëa. The Reborn feel inferior, the returned Exiles feel guilty and the sailed Sindar are beginning to regret they ever came to Valinor and the less than enthusiastic welcome by the Amaneldi has not helped the situation. Arafinwë and Olwë are somewhat at fault for not checking up on any of this until now.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 3/28/2007
Sador is a wise one, and I begin to see why Arafinwë decided to train him in diplomacy. He is right – the elves of Tol Eressëa should tell the Reborn how they think about them, it would do them a lot of good. It seems an outsider is better able to see the problem. Love the bit of conversation between Sador and Netilmirë. That she had meet her great-grandson and he is explaining all this about the Halls of Waiting is probably important for her – somehow I’m not sure she would be able to cope with it if her husband or, even more difficult, her daughter was released in her care without this knowledge. "At least I’ve some experience in dealing with stubborn Reborn ellyn who like to hide in trees." Had to grin about that. Oh yes, after Finrod and Glorfindel our dear Sador is used to the problem! And his method worked remarkably well. Of course the remark about 'judgement’ disturbed Haldir so much, and Sador could understand him so much better than the Once-born, even if he suffered not the same. But he knew enough to understand. Author Reply: Sadoris wise beyond his years or experience, but then, dying does that to people, I think. Certainly, he's growing beyond "all I wanted to be was a potter" stage. His ability to explain as gently as possible what Netilmirë's family is experiencing in the Halls of Mandos and his handling of the situation with Haldir and the other elves proves this.

vaske	Reviewed Chapter: 62 on 3/28/2007
Sador's really maturing quickly, and he seemed to know just what to say. It must be frustrating for the reborn to watch the lack of understanding shown by the once born. But at least the elves on Tol Eressëa are more understanding when everything is explained to them. I guess it helps that they see the reborn as being heroic. Author Reply: Sador has had a lot of experience dealing with Finrod and Glorfindel. grin It does help that the Tol Eressëan elves see the Reborn as heroic rather than something on the order of ex-cons.

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