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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	8 Review(s)
Kaylee	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 8/11/2008
hugs Ara Poor Arafinwe, having to confront his past like that. But at least he was able to let go and now he will able to judge the others more easily. hugs all around Now it's time to go back and find Glorfi! Yay! And he waits for them impatiently...oh, I can just bet! ~Kaylee!! Author Reply: We tend to forget I think that while Fëanor and Fingolfin went to Beleriand Arafinwë remained in Aman and had to deal with the aftermath of the Rebellion AND his atar's death. It just took longer for him to come to terms with all of that than one would normally think is proper. But then these are elves and they have LOTS of time for brooding and such.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 2/13/2008
Well, I blew that last one, unless their father was reborn and has become a hermit. As I said, it's been a time since I last read the Sil. Again a place of exile. Fitting. Author Reply: Maybe you should re-read the Silmarillion for real this time. grin And Formenos will always be a place of exile I think. A pity it has to be used at all.

Rhyselle	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 5/28/2007
Sador's falling into Lord Orome's gaze was awesome. What an incredible display of trust. I like how the different Valar are interacting with the individual elves in this tale, taking them into their care the way they do. At first it seemed odd to me as to why Orome would have picked out Sador the way he did--and then I changed my mind. It's not odd at all, for Lord Orome can see deeper into Sador than we can with only our mortal eyes. Arafinwe's reaction to discovering that they were going to Formenos is so sad. There are so many people who cling to the past in the way that Orome described to Sador and never turn to the future. So, as I suspected, Sador was released from Mandos far earlier than he would have been... And the Valar have high hopes for him... that is so reassuring--and a touch scary too, until one realizes that the Valar's hopes are only a pale echo of the hopes that Iluvatar has for all of his children. When they got to the inner chamber and saw the frames that had once held the silmarils I got a real chill. Lots of ghosts from the past here... Arafinwe's willingness to humble himself before Orome, begging forgiveness was so touching, as was Orome's response. It must feel so good to have a Vala express pride in what one accomplishes, particularly when it is something as difficult as the thing that Arafinwe had to do--to release his anger and pain of his father's abandonment and his half-brother's rebellion against the Valar. I think that the Eldar are frequently short sighted in their repetitive inability to remember that the Valar aren't just servants of Iluvatar, but also residents of Aman... the breaking of the Sere Valaron by the elves who await trial in Eldamar is a far more serious thing than ordinary folk want to perceive. I look forward to seeing the trial and how that is handled. Excellent chapter! Author Reply: Each of the Reborn seem to have been "adopted" by one of the Valar: Finrod by Irmo, Sador by Oromë, and Glorfindel by everyone else grin. There are reasons for this, which will be revealed eventually. Sador must have felt a bit left out with his "brothers" going off and interacting freely with the Valar, so Oromë taking an interest in him must have come both as a surprise and as a delight. Someone actually wants him. His sojourn in Mandos has taught him to trust the Valar (if you can trust Lord Námo, you can trust anyone), so he is quick to obey Oromë in all things even if he doesn't understand what is happening. Releasing Sador earlier than would have been proper is a risk the Valar were willing to take, though they must have been aware that there could have been adverse effects on the ellon, especially emotionally and spiritually, but Sador has proven to be more than he seems. In different circumstances, I think Sador would have been an excellent leader, much like Finrod or Glorfindel. Arafinwë, of course, has a lot of emotional baggage. The years and centuries he must have spent after the Rebellion attempting to regain the trust of the Valar and the other elven clans on behalf of the Noldor must have been tortuous and heartbreaking at times. There is more than one kind of Hunt and Arafinwë has to ride the wild hunt against regret, misplaced loyalty and hatred towards his father and half-brother (not to mention any self-hatred he might harbor against himself) that has been allowed to fester all these centuries. Finrod and Laurendil, of course, have 'been there, done that', but Sador's experience has not allowed him to come to such a road yet. That Arafinwë is able to "let go and let Eru" as readily as he does once he is confronted with the ghosts of the past in the shape of three golden frames, is a testament to his own character. The Amaneldi suffer from "familiaritis": familiarity breeds contempt. As Oromë rightly points out, the Valar were there first. They are, in fact, the "landlords" in the original sense of the word while the elves are their tenants (this word is ultimately from the Latin _tenere_ "to hold" and in this case "to hold in trust"). The Amaneldi want to ignore that relationship, but the Valar will not let them get away with it and so will insist on their "rights" when their laws have been violated. I look forward to reading your review of the trial.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 4/11/2007
Good thing that Finarfin has released the past. It must have been hard for him - harder, probably, than for Finrod, who had the present in Endore to deal with ... before his death, that is. And it seems as if Formenos might have its uses. With the wrong-doers brought before a rather higher court than an elven one. Perhaps they'll take that seriously! When the Valar declare peace, that's what they expect! Author Reply: Yes, the Valar are not to be trifled with, nor their expectations of good behavior on the part of the Children. Those who flaunt the Sérë Valaron are in for a rude awakening. The Valar learned from their dealings with Fëanor and are not taking any more nonsense from anyone. Releasing the past is probably one of the hardest things any of us have to do in this life (I know I have difficulty there myself so I can completely sympathize with what Arafinwë is going through). And it would be harder for the father than the son, since Finrod is one generation removed from Finwë, but Arafinwë would have all the conflicted feelings of any child when confronted with the "emotionally-absent-father" syndrome (I've had that experience as well). Hopefully, the journey to Formenos has finally allowed Arafinwë to put that part of his past behind him for good.

Calenlass	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 4/9/2007
So justice has been served. Good. And now I hope to find out what's up with Glorfindel. grin ~Calenlass Author Reply: Justice hasn't been served yet. There is still a trial to get through.

Beruthiels Cat	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 4/8/2007
I'm re-reading this story from the beginning, and don't mind admitting I feel very inadequate as to leaving a quality review for such an amazing tale! I'm SO glad you update as quickly as you do, you've kept me on the edge of my seat, and it's been a heck of a ride. I'm going to miss this one when it's over,(but since you've said that Glorfindel won't be totally mature for at least another century) I'm hoping it lasts a good long while! I'll also throw my hat in with my best guess for the "mysterious elf"- Finwë? BC Author Reply: Hi Cat, I'm glad you are enjoying the story so much. I'm not sure how long this tale will eventually be but it is already longer than I originally anticipated, so who knows? I'm sure it will last for a while longer. As for your guess for the mysterious elf: good guess. You'll have to wait until Wednesday to find out, though. grin Anytime you feel like leaving a review, please feel free.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 4/8/2007
I had nearly forgotten whose son Arafinwë is, for in connection with the whole thing, I am more used to his Sindarin name. It can not be easy to be the half-brother of Fëanor and to get to terms with what his family did. No wonder this day was so difficult for him. But he did well in the end. The miscreants will be exiled in Formenos? Hmmm ... that’s probably truly the only sensible solution to the problem. And I see the Valar will not allow the King to be too merciful. Well, it’s probably right – if they get away with that, then sooner or later someone other will do something similar, I fear, so they have to make an example of it and make it deadly serious that they will not allow any attempts at disrupting the peace of Valinor. Hm ...may I hope Tinwetariel will have to accompany her husband to Formenos? I still don't have forgiven her for her behaviour against Glorfindel, and she was as much involved as Ingoldo and Vorondil. And it was amazing just who readied Formenos for this purpose. I can't imagine one of the modern day Kings doing something like that! Is it my imagination or has Oromë a soft spot for Sador? I’d be happy with it, as Sador deserves to be honoured by the Valar. Now I look forward to the reunion; our elves will be so glad to be together again! And I am sure Glorfindel will be glad to have his ring back - but a bit upset to know how he lost it. Author Reply: I think many people tend to forget whose son Arafinwë is and whose brother. I purposely use his Quenya name simply because the Sindarin version is a product of the Exiled Noldor writing in Sindarin, but of course, in Aman, he would not be called "Finarfin" anyway. >>And it was amazing just who readied Formenos for this purpose. I can't imagine one of the modern day Kings doing something like that! Not to mention his firstborn son, but Arafinwë and Finrod are cut from a different cloth than most modern-day rulers anyway. sigh And no, it's not your imagination: Oromë does indeed have a soft spot for Sador, though it's full implications won't be revealed for a while.

eiluj	Reviewed Chapter: 71 on 4/8/2007
I really didn’t expect Glorfindel to arrive in Vanyamar before the rest, much less so many days before them. Formenos ... I’d forgotten the precedent of Féanor’s exile. Yeah, that’s a good place to put them. Re. the Mysterious Elf’s name being the Quenya equivalent of a Sindarin name from LotR -- yes, I’d thought of that. I’ve now got another translation for the Elf’s name. The first translation seemed silly -- as I guess it does to Glorfindel also -- and didn’t quite fit the person I thought it was. Unlike everyone else, I was never thinking of Radagast. [To my mind, neither name works well for Radagast.] After a bit more research, I decided the name does fit the person I’m thinking of. I won’t say who I’m thinking of, so as not to spoil anyone’s surprise in case I’m correct. Also because though it makes perfect sense at the moment, I’m generally wrong about these things.... On the other hand, if you’re going to explain the meaning of the name after this is all over, the meaning must have some significance. Wondering if the Valar have prohibited the entire population of Valinor from discussing Eärendil (and family) with Glorfindel. That letter Olórin brought Ingwë the day Glorfindel arrived in Vanyamar: was it a prohibition against telling Glorfindel about Eärendil? Or advice on dealing with adolescent Reborn? Or warning Ingwë that there were about to be Problems, and he should keep Manwë informed of developments? Or all of the above? Author Reply: Re. the Mysterious Elf's name: "Unlike everyone else, I was never thinking of Radagast". Neither was I. grin The identity of this particular elf will be revealed at the next posting. Your last paragraph broke me up. I'd forgotten all about that letter. I think it was just a piece of "ordinary business of the kingdom" between Ingwë and Manwë and Ingwë sent Glorfindel out into the gardens because whatever was in the letter had nothing to do with him and simply was not for his ears anyway. On the other hand, it could very well have said: "His name is Glorfindel and he whines alot. Plays well with balrogs. Should not be left alone with sharp pointy things or allowed to work in gardens. Námo". lol

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