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| Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil | 8 Review(s) |
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| Kaylee | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 8/11/2008 |
| Well, at least everything is as it should be with Sador now, except for his missing braid. He's back with Netilmire where he belongs. *hugs him* I'm glad his captors were taken care of. *glares at them* They were mean and horrible to Sador and well...I have better words for them but this IS a family-friendly site! ~Kaylee! Author Reply: All's well that ends better as the Gaffer would say. *grin* | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 2/13/2008 |
| Warriors and Maiar to the rescue? Nicely done. Author Reply: Sador is very important to a lot of people, including the Valar. There was no way they would allow him to come to harm. | |
| Rhyselle | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 4/15/2007 |
| I wondered how long it would take for Laurendil to arrive. At least we readers knew he would be getting there, unlike poor Netilmire. It is good to see Laurendil's taking command of the situation. After the more recent chapters showing him opening up to the healer within him, it gives us a glimpse of what he was like back Middle-earth when he served Finrod there as a warrior and battle leader. Netilmire certainly won't take "no" for an answer when she wants to do something... Good for her insisting to be part of the rescue. Ah, ha! So this was why the apparent throw-away comment in the last chapter about the fabric the braid was wrapped in seeming familiar. You're darn good at seeding clues. *grin* Poor Sador... bad enough to wake up with a headache but to do so in complete darkness... Being blind is a terrifying thing whether elf or man, I think. I once said that I could learn to live with not being able to walk, as inconvenient as that would be, but to lose the use of my eyes and my hands would be devastating to me because most of the things that I do that makes me feel like a creative and contributing person come from what I see with my eyes and what I accomplish with my hands. The sense of violation at the removal of his warrior braid makes sense to me. When I joined the Navy in my young adulthood, and they cut off my waistlength hair, I felt as if a part of my identity had been removed--even to this day my mental image of myself includes very long dark hair. I had agreed to the haircut, knowing when I volunteered that it would happen but it still felt horrible. How much more horrible to have the event happen without one's consent, without one's awareness, and then the realization that they could have carved away something much more vital than hair that will eventually grow back! The violation is worsened in Sador's case because of the meaning and price paid to wear the warrior's braids. Ah, good... the Valar sent assistance; I wonder which Vala won the toss to send the Maia? Sador, like Glorfindel and Finrod, seems to have become a favorite of more than one of the Valar. :) I like it that Sador was active in his rescue, and I'm glad he remembered that piece of advice that Finrod had given him. I did find it odd to that in Valinor that doors (like the one leading down into the fourth house that Sador crossed) would be locked... one tends to think of "Blessed Realms" as places where such things would not be necessary. But then again, one would not think that in such a place that there would be hate and spite and discord between the various groups of elves and between individuals, such as we've seen either. When he recognized Laurendil, the sense of relief that I felt was amazing. Even though he'd already made the decision to jump, even if it meant breaking his neck, I just loved the trust that he put in Laurendil as he immediately obeyed the older elf's command to jump into his arms. My heart froze for a moment when he was grabbed and when that body went over the edge of the room, and then I was sooooo relieved that it was one of the bad guys! Again, Sador immediately obeyed the command to let go and drop and then it was over. I was not surprised to find Sador trying to staunch the arrow wound in his attacker's shoulder either. Sador is a lovely, complex character, despite--or, perhaps, because of his youth. Caring, sympathetic, trusting, enthusiastic, mischievous, shy, self-effacing, loving... As much as I love Glorfindel and Finrod and would like to spend time with them, I think that I'd enjoy being with Sador more on a daily basis. I think my favorite exchange of lines was this between Sador and Laurendil: "... What happened to the other?" "He’s dead." Sador nodded. "Lord Námo’s problem now." They are SOOOO matter of fact about it! LOL! But I certainly wouldn't want to be in that ellon's figurative shoes facing judgment! The mop-up was a bit anti-climactic but satisfying, none-the-less. The final scene when Sador was reunited with Netilmire and wept in her arms touched me... I wonder if he'll have nightmares about having thrown the one bad guy from the roof? It was inevitable, but I can't see him escaping the emotional backlash of having been an instrument of the guy's death--just as he had, while in Mandos, to come to terms with the fact that he'd killed Kinslayers who were threatening his family. But he's got Netilmire, and Laurendil to help him along this time. :) And I liked getting to see the reminder at the end of the chapter, that although Laurendil is still a warrior, he truly is becoming a healer too. I hope this doesn't sound too disjointed; I keep getting interrupted by my own elflings! Excellent, exciting chapter, meldonya! :) Author Reply: Laurendil may have hung up his sword, so to speak, but he will always be a warrior (he's much like Elrond in that respect), so taking charge when necessary would be natrual for him. Plus the fact that the elves on Tol Eressëa who know him would automatically accept his leadership, since the healer role is too new for them to know anything about and they would simply think him as a warrior and battle leader. Sador would indeed feel violated but the exigencies of the present moment force him to push aside any feelings about it. We will see in subsequent chapters ust how well he handles (or doesn't handle) the aftereffects of the kidnapping. Sador's attittude towards the dead ellon would probably be seen as callous by many, but it's a case of "been there, done that" for him. He, better than even Laurendil, knows precisely what is happening to the ellon at that moment and knows that how ever terrifying the ordeal might be, considering the nature of the ellon's death, ultimately, there will be healing. But you're right, *I* certainly wouldn't want to be in that ellon's figurative shoes facing Lord Námo! The mop-up was a bit anti-climatic, but sometimes that's true in real life and it shows how inept these people really are, for anyone with brains would realize that the "jig was up" and flee. Instead, we see them hovering around and even dragging an innocent person into the mix. Luckily, Laurendil is wise enough to be able to sort it all out so that the guilty are taken and the innocent are let go. I'm glad you like Sador so much. He's become one of my favorite characters, too. Pity Tolkien didn't come up with him first. *sigh* | |
| ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 4/3/2007 |
| I figured Laurendil would be among the the reinforcements, but that rescue was not what I was expecting. The intrigue in this tale is amazing! Author Reply: Well, we knew that Laurendil was on his way to Tol Eressëa under Finrod's orders, anyway, didn't we? But we certainly didn't know how a rescue would be effected. And Sador had some... er... divine intervention to move things along. *grin* | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 4/3/2007 |
| A nasty but not a very bright bunch of kidnappers. They offered far too many clues to their pursuers. Not to mention, of course, that Sador's unseen protectors aren't about to let morons lop off essential parts of him. Even if they're not supposed to take direct action. "His neck is broken," one of them said, looking up at Laurendil accusingly. Well - you can hardly blame Laurendil for the fool's end! He only turned up at the last minute - and was never on the roof. (And I don't think Lord Namo is going to be very pleased with that elf!) I wonder why Menelgith hates the Amaneldi so much ... There is so much bitterness and hatred hidden beneath the smooth and shiny exterior of Blessed Realm. I've never thought that the elves would get on in a marshmallow kind of way - they are too intelligent and forceful - so there would always be some difficulties. But this has gone way beyond normal friction. Author Reply: People who go about committing crimes (when they are not themselves professional criminals) are often stupid and overlook the obvious (which is why they are often caught for the most ridiculous reasons). I suspect that the elf who died is going to have a bit of a rough time with the Lord of Mandos before he's allowed to "sip the waters of Lethe" and join the rest of the fëar in the Halls. *grin* Then again, the poor smuck might just be young enough to have been duped into playing this most dangerous game by his elders and Lord Námo will treat him more gently (but not too gently). The end result will still be the same — the elf will pass through Mandos and someday be reborn, his innocence restored. The bitterness and hatred that is manifesting itself, I think, is a natural consequence of the "rape" that Aman underwent between Melkor and Ungoliant's depredations and Fëanor's rebellion and the Kinslaying. There is still much healing that needs to be accomplished. | |
| eiluj | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 4/1/2007 |
| Well, at least *somebody* has been rescued! So Berethiel was also one of Galadriel’s ladies-in-waiting. Now if only they’d thought to ask if *she* knows of Sador’s kin.... What’s also needed is one centralized list of missing family members. We may grouse about wanting more frequent updates, but certainly we know you're amazing to update this often. [If it were my story, there'd be *several weeks* between chapters, and certainly only one chapter at a time.] I woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, looked at my watch, said "Two-thirty! I bet Fiondil's posted!" Well, you get the idea.... Author Reply: Probably in the heat of the moment with everyone just concentrating on rescuing Sador no one, not even Netilmirë, thought to ask Berethiel about Sador's grandparents. But at least they know where she lives.... And I wake up in the middle of the night and say "I wonder if anyone's posted a review!" *lol* | |
| vaske | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 4/1/2007 |
| I hate it when elves fight elves, especially in Aman, I am curious to find out who is behind all of it though. It seems like the leaders are so out of touch with the mixed feelings in their kingdoms. Good thing Sador's trusting and willing to obey advice. Just who was it giving him the silent commands? Excellent chapter:) Author Reply: Yes, elves fighting elves is not a good thing to see and is very tragic, but Morgoth's evil has permeated even Aman, though it's not as strongly felt as in Middle-earth. Glad you liked the chapter. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 66 on 4/1/2007 |
| Laurendil reached Tol Eressëa just at the right moment. What a relief to watch the warriors take over! And I see Netilmirë has overcome the initial shock enough to think things over and found the important clue herself who led them to Sador. Was again amused about the help of the Valar or Maiar; I am glad they didn’t allow Sador to be injured. Wonder if they had something to do with Sador running straight into Laurendil and his friends? Anyway, I can’t say I am very sorry the one of the kidnappers broke his neck. He did bring it about himself. And the other deserved the broken nose, no doubt. Honestly – to kidnap someone and to maim him is not much better than the kinslaying, if you ask me, and I’d not be too surprised if Sador is right about at least the one belonging to the kinslayers. "Well enough now that you are here. What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn’t you be in Lórien giving Lord Irmo grief?" Laurendil laughed. "He decided he needed a respite from my presence and sent me to check up on you." *LOL* I see I’m not the only one to see it this way! I’m very pleased to know at least these bad guys have all been caught and Sador is safe with his great-grandmother again and surrounded by warriors, so he is well guarded against more attacks now. Author Reply: For all that Laurendil is now an apprentice to Lord Irmo and learning the healing arts, he is still a warrior and that is what is needed at the moment to ensure that Sador is rescued. And I'm sure Lord Irmo is enjoying the peace and quiet now that Finrod and Laurendil are both out of his domain for a time. *lol* | |