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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 4/22/2008
I wouldn't say Ingwë is devious, but rather quite wise. This should be one more step toward Glorfindel's healing, and a huge one at that. Tari Author Reply: Hopefully that will be the case, but Glorfindel has a way of throwing spanners in the works at just the wrong moment. grin We'll have to see.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 2/14/2008
It's long been noted those who seek to teach become better learners along the way, as they must open themselves to learning in order to stay ahead of their students. And one is always learning FROM ones students as well. Author Reply: As they say, the best way to learn is to teach.

Bodkin	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 5/23/2007
Looking at Glorfindel from a different angle - what do they see? Someone who is, really, remarkably impressive! Author Reply: Yes, I suppose he is all that and more, isn't he?

eiluj	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 5/22/2007
Good idea to prepare for the Mahtalë Mahtalion (and hopefully enthusiasm won’t wane as several ages pass). Were his elders deliberately avoiding telling Glorfindel that the Aman elves have been sparring (i.e., were Arafinwë & co. planning to wait until Glorfindel’d matured a bit more and was calmer, before encouraging him to play with sharp objects), or was it simply a case of your keeping the story manageable, to postpone the issue until now? I loved Valandur sending the guard to summon Ingwë. Because after all, just about anything might happen, and it’s even odds whether Ingwë wants to be there to see it, or needs to be there to stop it -- or both. “Perhaps Finrod can come and play with me sometime, or even Ingwion." -- Is anyone going to warn Ingwion of the treat in store for him? On the other hand, I suppose it won’t be long after Ingwion’s return that someone tells him about Glorfindel’s little demo with Aldarion.... So with his vision of shooting at orcs and wargs, Glorfindel nowhas some intimation that he will return to Endorë. Some few elves in the galleries were heard to snicker. Ingwë frowned and whispered something to Valandur, who nodded before getting up and leaving. -- Is Valandur telling the snickerers to shut up, or is something else going on? Have I missed the obvious for the umpteenth time, or is this part of something we’ll see in a future chapter? Author Reply: With regards to Glorfindel and sharp objects: his elders were indeed waiting until he was a bit more mature before letting him know about the training. After all he was living in Tirion for some time and Arafinwë never told him. Ingwë actually has decreed that no elf under the age of 75 would be allowed to train in sword fighting. He wants them to be a bit more mature than "just come of age" and let's face it, Glorfindel is still quite "young" emotionally. Even he recognizes it, which is why he "gives up his sword" to Lord Námo. As for the snickering elves: I think Valandur was sent to see who was doing the snickering so that Ingwë could later have a... er.... little chat with them. snicker

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 5/22/2007
Perhaps Finrod can come and play with me sometime Yes, please!!! That was what I had dreamed of for weeks – to see these two sparring with each other! Please? Maybe at the tournament at New Year? (Though probably better noncompetitive, for otherwise the winner(s) would be obvious even before it started) There are a few elves who fought in the War of Wrath who might do as sparring partners if you promise not to hurt them overmuch. Well, I fear here Ingwë isn’t far from the truth. What Glorfindel said to Aldarion about himself not fighting with full strength may sound like boasting, but I am sure for a warrior like Glorfindel at least 95% of the elves of Aman aren’t truly a match. There has to be a difference between fighting in training, more like a sport, and fighting for his life with a deadly enemy. In the former case you're probably not learning to fight dirty, so to speak, and neither with the same force as in the latter case. Now I’m very glad Glorfindel finally did find something to do. It is a relief to see him happy for a change. The only profession he ever knew was to be a warrior, after all, and he has to feel a bit needless in Aman, I think. To ask Aldarion to teach him the use of the great war bow was a masterstroke. To be able to teach Glorfindel something instead of feeling taken out boosted his self-esteem and lessened his disdain. Not to mention the chance Glorfindel got of befriending other archers. It is a great way to change the thinking of at least some people - and I suppose these would spread their new opinion further. And these are more believable than the Reborn themselves, at least for the other Amaneldi. Author Reply: I promise that Finrod and Glorfindel will give a friendly demonstration of thei fighting skills at the New Years tournamnet. Never fear! Fighting in training and fighting for real are indeed two different things and Glorfindel had years of the latter in which to hone his skills. And of course, he did fight against a balrog; that's not something the ordinary fighter is likely to do. As Valandur tells Glorfindel: think small, not big. Glorfindel is making the mistake many people make: how to convince everyone about something. Well, you can't, but you can convince one person and that person can convince another and so on. Glorifndel asking Aldarion to teach him to use the War Bow is the first step to changing the attitudes of the other Amaneldi.

Calenlass Greenleaf	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 5/22/2007
Glorfindel gave him an innocent look and a shrug. "Why should I be? I was trying to be as gentle as I could with you. I wasn’t fighting at my full strength. This was supposed to be a friendly match, wasn’t it?" Typical Glorfindel. grin Chapter 94 was very touching. And enjoyable to read. :) ~Calenlass Author Reply: Yes, typical Glorfindel, indeed. Glad you found this chapter very touching as well as an enjoyable read. A bit of lightheartedness before things get serious again.

Rhyselle	Reviewed Chapter: 93 on 5/21/2007
I know that there's about a dozen and a half chapters I still need to review, but when I read this chapter, I just had to respond right away. :) I could just picture the expression on Glorfindel's face when Alassiel told him that she thought the fighters practicing in the training salle were preparing for the Mahtalë Mahtalion. I'm not certain just how much of the shock was for the reason and how much was for the fact that it was Alassiel who said it. It is easy to forget that although peace does reign in Aman at this time (not counting the rebels who broke the Sere Valar when they kidnapped and beat up Glorfindel); ultimately, the day will come when Morgoth will be freed from his prison beyond the circles of the world and the Children of Eru will be part of the final battle in which he will be finally defeated for good, and Arda will be renewed. It is most long-sighted of the High King and the Noldoran to order this training. One of my favorite lines in this chapter is: "If I’m stupid enough to allow you to get inside my guard, Aldarion, I’ll deserve whatever injuries I sustain, and unless you can claim to remember the Light of the Two Trees, you are indeed a child. Now, shall we get on with it?" I love the reminder of Glorfindel's true age here, and his statement of proficiency in sword work. The utter seriousness of his attitude while he was sparring with Aldarion was a wonderful contrast to the sudden lightheartedness he displayed after her disarmed the ellon. The following bit of dialogue makes an important character statement, IMO. Glorfindel gave him an innocent look and a shrug. "Why should I be? I was trying to be as gentle as I could with you. I wasn’t fighting at my full strength. This was supposed to be a friendly match, wasn’t it?" Considering that without even trying hard, Glorfindel had just about wiped the floor with Aldarion; that line alone has to remind the observers and other fighters of just how good a warrior Glorfindel is--how good he had to be in order to survive as long as he did in Middle-earth. If he's easily overcoming fighters in a "friendly match"; he must be absolutely breathtaking to watch when he's fighting for real. There are too many good lines for Glorfindel in this chapter. :) He switches between consumate warrior to elfling in a heartbeat. "Perhaps Finrod can come and play with me sometime, or even Ingwion." giggle Lovely! I really enjoyed watching Ingwe's plotting out how to change Aldarion's opinion of the Reborn. By making Glorfindel and Aldarion each other's teachers, and requiring them to work together, both are educated and both come to see that they can become friends and put aside, in Aldarion's case, his dislike for this particular Reborn. And thank you very much for the foretelling that links to 'Tad Edhel a Firion'. That was a very nice touch! I could go on and on, but I'll hold off my burbling for now. I will review Chapter 94, but I need to think of the right way to express what feelings and thoughts that chapter brought to my mind and heart. In brief, I was stunned and ... well, I should be used to that after reading 94 chapters of this fic. :) Well done! Author Reply: The thing about Glorfindel's bout with Aldarion is that he isn't really showing off, he's merely "playing", though Aldarion and anyone watching have no clue to that. So when he states that he wasn't fighting at his full strength, the implications of what he's said coupled with the demonstration of his skills in a "friendly match" must have been mind-boggling to the Vanyar. He is, after all, an ellon who fought against a balrog, not something just any warrior would have dared to do or be capable of doing even though the end result would have to be death for the elf. Of course, his "but next time I want to spar with real warriors, not with these children" must have ruffled quite a few feathers in that salle, but Glorfindel doesn't care. He's like a kid in a candy store with $5 burning a hole in his pocket. Ingwë and Valandur steering Glorfindel and Aldarion together is probably a stroke of genius on their part, for through his friendship with Aldarion, now that Ingwion is away, Glorfindel will be able to connect with the younger Vanyar more easily. It may be too late to change the attitudes of the older elves to some extent, but the younger ones are willing to learn and grow and change when necessary and it's that generation that is the obvious target for change among the Amaneldi in their attitude towards the Reborn, the Exiles and the Sindar of Tol Eressëa. I never intended to make a connection between this story and my other one about Aragorn's trip to Mirkwood, but it seemed a natural fit, especially when I recalled that Glorfindel carried a bow in that story and used it effectively against the orcs and wargs attacking their party.

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