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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	4 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 2/14/2008
Courage it took to stand up for Vorondil, but even more so discernment. And his abilities as King return, while Vorondil learns what must be learned. Author Reply: The past events have brought the King out of Finrod more and more and he is reclaiming that part of himself. Vorondil doesn't realize it yet, but he couldn't be in better hands than the King of Nargothrond.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 5/1/2007
Promotion ... yes, it often is as much a penalty as a privilege. And Vorondil is still living on the outside of his skin - poor brat. The whole service aspect is very all-encompassing! Even the masters have masters. It reminds me of the old 'great fleas have lesser fleas upon their backs to bite'em. And lesser fleas have smaller fleas and so ad infinitum.' Author Reply: The Amanian social structure (as I've envisioned here) is very hierarchical with ascending and descending duties and obligations, as well as rights and privleges. It is very much "Catholic" in it's worldview, and this is something that Tolkien himself would have recognized (and approved) as being the "natural order of things". So, yes, even the masters have masters, with Eru Ilúvatar the Master of All.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 4/26/2007
Vorondil attacking Eärnur for the way he adressed Finrod was rather ironic, wasn’t it? Though it is somehow touching – he is obviously coming to appreciate Finrod more than he ever thought possible. "I suppose it would be too much to hope that you would be able to keep the Valar out as well?" That left me snickering. It’s rather unnerving at times to have the Valar pop up as they please, if you want them or not, isn’t it? Poor Eärnur. No wonder he is so disturbed after this talking-to by Irmo. He is one of these who truly do their best, unlike certain others. But I am pleased to know the Valar are acting at last – it was about time. Now the word „promote“ has a entirely new meaning for me lol What a way to „punish“ someone by saddling him with more responsibility! But I’m pleased – Vorondil seems to want to be a true apprentice, and I think it will do him some good to truly do something useful. And the expression seems to become something like a running gag grin Author Reply: Vorondil is (in human terms) about 18 years old but his "Judgment" put him back emotionally to that of an early teen (part of the cleansing process that Judgment entails) so his reactions are now like someone who has a "crush" on an older person and will not hear anything bad said about them or to them. Rather amusing and he doesn't even realize what has happened to him. Poor Eänur, indeed. It's hard trying to do your best and still be labeled along with those who are not doing their best, but as Finrod points out Lord Irmo wants to make sure ALL the Lóriennildi understand the facts of life and that it won't be business as usual anymore. When the Valar act, they act decisively, but never preciptiously, so if it seems as if they are taking their sweet time about things, that's only from our (limited) perspective. The Valar make their moves when they know it is right for them to do so and not before. Punishment-by-promotion seems to be a novel way of going about things, I agree, but it probably works better than the alternative. grin Vorondil, like many young people, is status-conscious (think of all the teens weeping in despair because mom and dad won't let them buy that pair of jeans with the label on it that costs $150 when they can wear the same jeans without the label for $20), so being able to wear an apprentice's tabard, even though he ends up doing the same menial tasks as before, makes doing those tasks more palatable simply because he is wearing an apprentice's tabard. Convoluted thinking and not at all logical, but no one ever said that teens were logical anyway. grin At least Finrod is wise enough to recognize this and give Vorondil the affirmation he so desperately craves by allowing him to be a "true" apprentice. >>And the expression seems to become something like a running gag. Right up there with "I never whine!" lol

MithLuin	Reviewed Chapter: 82 on 4/23/2007
I love the punishment-by-promotion motif :) I was wondering what would happen to Finrod for defying his Masters. When are the elves going to learn that maybe, just maybe, the Valar know more than they let on? Though poor Vorondil is certainly going to regret being the center of so much attention, he seems alright for now. I am also glad to see that he loves his father. I wasn't sure if his 'rebellion' was against his dad, as much as he thought it was for him. Judgement-without-death is an interesting idea. What did happen to the poor elf to get him so twisted so young? Melkor wasn't around to spread his lies, but his taint must have lived on in Valinor....and that is Finrod's job to eradicate, isn't it? Hmmm.... I was sad to see Ingwion go, but I suppose we can't follow around too many characters.... Author Reply: Punishment-by-promotion seems the best way to deal with some people. Finrod is in a difficult situation because he thinks of himself less the Valar's apprentice and more their equals (at least in some respects) so that he feels free to take them to task if he thinks it is warranted. Whatever may have happened to Vorondil, it is certainly Finrod's job to eradicate it's effects, because if it has happened to one elf, it's likely that others are also effected by whatever taint has remained of Melkor's lies and hate. I don't think that Vorondil's case is necessarily unique, only the first one to manifest itself to the point where others are aware of it. As for Ingwion... we'll be seeing more of him, never fear.

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