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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil	9 Review(s)
Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 2/15/2008
Quite a fitting punishment for the girl. Now she will learn the truth of what service means, both hard and easy service. Author Reply: And hopefully along the way, she'll learn what true nobility entails.

eiluj	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/21/2007
Don’t mind me being frustrated -- I love every minute of it. After all, I have to have something to grouch and complain about (besides the garden). I just keep thinking I ought to be able to figure out where authors are going before they get there; been that way for 30-some years at least; no hope for me. Alassiel turned back to Finrod and then gave Ingil a dubious look which the Maia returned with a faint smile. "Don’t worry child," he said. "I think Lady Melian has volunteered to help you." That, however, did not reassure her. Poor Alassiel. Gotta feel sorry for her. It’s no fun being unhappy -- and I think, when all is said and done, she’s been unhappy for a long time, though perhaps not even aware of it. Also no fun being made to face your faults -- and know you aren’t going to be allowed to escape having to change (though I’m not sure she’s realized that yet). It’s an interesting punishment for Alassiel -- and certainly bears the hallmarks of Finrod’s creativity. And I’m wondering about the possibilities for Alassiel-Glorfindel interaction at the tournament, given all that has happened (especially to her).... Author Reply: Most likely that has been part of Alassiel's problem — her unhappiness. She has not realized she even is unhappy, unhappy about her father being in Mandos, unhappy about her mother fading, unhappy about her grandparents and being unable to do anything to counteract their subtle poisoning of her soul. And now, as you say, she has to face that unhappiness. It isn't easy and I have no doubt she resents being forced to do so, knowing that she's being given no choice about changing. Finrod's punishments are always unique. grin As for the possibilities for an Alassiel-Glorfindel interaction at the tournament... we'll have to wait and see, won't we?

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/20/2007
Finrod is impressive and I like the literary device of returning to the same quote over and over again to make the point. You do show the power of the elves quite well and, well, quite powerfully. They are not folks to be messed with or underestimated - especially the lords and kings as you keep showing us in the three kings of Valinor and Finrod and Glorfindel and even in Laurendil (spelling?). The punishment doled out will work its magic in time, I think, and that chick is rather arrogant to throw the stall mucking back at Finrod as a sort of "been there, done that" kind of thing. Still enjoying this story immensely as I've told you often enough. Keep up the most excellent work! Author Reply: I am glad that you think that I show the power of the elves so well. Not being one myself, I'm never sure I'm getting it right. Finrod, of course, was probably one of the most powerful elves in Aman, though that power did not come forth until he went to Middle-earth. Few of the elves could have lasted as long as he did against a Maia in a confrontation consisting of Songs of Power the way Finrod did, and he was actually winning before Sauron threw Amarië in his face. Alassiel does have a lot of arrogance to do a "been there, done that" to Finrod, but becoming his squire should disabuse her of many misconceptions about the meaning of "punishment". Thank you for your encouragement and your reviews. They mean a lot to me.

Nariel	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/20/2007
Hooooorrrrraaaaayyyyy!!!!! That evil Alassiel is finally getting what she soo deserves. Mucking out Rocco's stables and preparing and serving luncheon! Now that's a lot of work. (Fiondil, you sure are having fun with punishments aren't you?) Sorry, but Alassiel as a squire to Finrod sounds a bit strange... I was as shocked as she was when I found what Finrod's other punishment was. Finrod was so so right when he said he was not nice. The three tasks Alassiel must do just don't sound like enough to wipe out her arrogance AND her offences against poor Vorondil. Fiondil, I just feel that Alassiel NEEDS more tasks to do before she is completely forgiven. - I sure do enjoy that you are showing the readers how much Finrod has grown since his release from Mandos. The sad truth is though that he shall never be the same as he was before his death... Thank you also for giving Finrod more chapters! May you please continue for awhile on him please ! ! ! !! ! ! ! ! ! I do have another quetion though, but when you were a kid or know someone who had their horse stolen because you seem to have an affinity to writing about characters stealing a horse? Ex. 1)Glorfindel and Martandur's horse 2)Alassiel and Rocco. <-Still hard for me to believe that Rocco is Quenyan. Oh yeah! Almost forgot, is Glorfindel going to win the tournament because in many movies and books, the main character always wins the big prize? My other one is, why wasn't Finrod sent back to Middle-Earth? Was, IS he not the 'Friend of Men'? Atandil, the Faithful were but a few he had earned serving and helping mortal men in which Tolkien said, "...of whom he was their greatest friend among the Eldar." It was something along those lines though. the idea has been in my mind for awhile though... Please update soon!!! Namarie! Author Reply: Alassiel isn't so much evil as misguided and hopefully Finrod has the cure for that as we will see in later chapters. And we will see more of Finrod, never fear. I think he's as much a main character as Glorfindel now and this is as much his story as it is that of our favorite Balrgo-slayer. I never owned a horse or had one stolen. I just figured in a society where horses are the major form of transportation, stealing a horse is the equivalent of hot-wiring a car and let's face it car-jacking is way too common in our society. And "rocco" is a perfecly good word in Quenya. The word for "rider" or "knight" is "roquen", just to round out your education. grin As for who will win the tournament... you'll have to wait and see. And as for why Finrod wasn't sent back to Middle-earth... you'll have to take that up with the Professor when next you see him. Personally, I suspect it was a toss-up between Finrod and Glorfindel and in the end the Valar decided sending Glorfindel would be a safer bet. grin

Hildigrim	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/19/2007
Amarie may also find the chaperone arrangement reassuring. Soooo....recollecting the cause of Laurendil's remembered ascent to captaincy in Chapter 81 and Namo's question at the end of Chapter 82, and then juxtaposing them with the events of this chapter, I would raise a question. Is Alassiel's real punishment going to be feeling the flat side of Finrod's sword, or will it be her promotion to be the squire of the erstwhile Lord of Nargothrond, Friend of Men, Hewer of Caves, "Wisdom" in the eyes of Beor, and "Mighty Descendant of Finwe"? Author Reply: Alassiel is truly being punished, unlike Laurendil or Finrod. Their "punishment" by being "promoted" was a recognition of their ability to take control of a situation regardless of the consequences. They were exhibiting their "Power" to those in Authority over them — Finrod over Laurendil and Námo over Finrod. In Alassiel's case, though, she hasn't exhibited any real power over the situation, only spite. So what Finrod decides in her case is pure punishment, though perhaps by making her his squire he is hoping that she will begin to take ownership of her own innate power of command by first learning the necessity of service that is concomittant with that power. And who better to teach her than the erstwhile King of Nargothrond, Friend of Men, Hewer of Caves, Lord Wisdom, Mighty Descendant of Finwë, and... Reborn Prince of Eldamar who just happens to also be her cousin?

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/19/2007
It’s rather silly of Alassiel to object to Vorondil’s ministrations so strongly. What does she expect – that one of the Valar is doing it?? And I’m surprised she still thinks about escaping from Lórien. She should have learned her lesson by now, but obviously she has not. Vorondil thought of a very fitting punishment, I think. For Alassiel seems to believe herself better than most others, so cleaning up stables should abuse her of this idea. But if she truly thinks to muck out one stable and currying one horse is so exhausting, I’d gladly offer my own work to her for more practice. I’ve to clean up after three horses two or three times a week, and if she ever had to try to get an Iceland Pony in full winter pelt clean after rolling repeatedly in the mud, Alassiel would come to appreciate Rocco a lot more ;-) Hm, and she’s to be a squire to Finrod at the tournament? Interesting. Truly, I can’t wait for the New Year! Well, it will be interesting anyway to watch Alassiel with Finrod, considering her behaviour and her opinion she didn’t do anything wrong. She certainly has to learn a lot. And I hope she doesn’t attack someone when Finrod is allowing her to take up a sword ;-) Author Reply: Alassiel isn't thinking straight at this point, so she can be forgiven for her reaction towards Vorondil, and her thoughts of escape. Vorondil, of course, is taking a page from his Master's own book of "Creative Punishments for Thralls, Elflings and Other Recalicrant Underlings", having been on the business end of such punishments himself. grin The New Year Tournament should be an intersting time for all....

Calenlass Greenleaf	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/18/2007
Back away from Finrod He's beginning to scare me with those words of his. "Like I said before, child, I tend not to take any prisoners." Ominous and foreboding. I now look forward to the tournament with much anticipation...and a bit of anxiety. -Calenlass Author Reply: Finrod is not the angelic, cutesy ellon some people would like him to be. He is an elf-lord, one of the most powerful in all of Aman and Middle-earth, which makes sense when we remember who his sister is. Here he is showing himself in that mode and both the reader and Alassiel are beginning to see that thinking of Finrod any other way is a mistake. He is a King even if he has no kingdom. This is an elf who challenged Sauron (a Maia... fallen, true, but a Maia nonetheless) to a duel consisting of Songs of Power and he was holding his own until Sauron threw the memory of Amarië at him. Event are beginning to show that Finrod is not to be taken lightly or for granted by anyone.

Nieriel Raina	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/18/2007
Oh dear! That was the second chapter. cries It felt like only one! Ok, I'll wait patiently... NiRi

Nieriel Raina	Reviewed Chapter: 102 on 6/18/2007
laughs delightedly Oh this was a great chapter! I am so enjoying this story. I look forward to every update! It was enlightening for me to see just how soft Alassiel was to find mucking a single stall and currying a single horse hard work! Goodness! Thank God I was never a gentle woman! I used to have 15 stalls cleaned, 10 horses turned out (one by one walking a half mile both ways) and 5 horses groomed by noon, and the other grooms thought I was slow! grins I miss those days. I am liking Finrod more and more, and, my dear, I have developed this obsession with Námo! It's a good thing he's already married! I adore him! I think he's quite sexy (if a Vala CAN be sexy) snorts I'm off to the next chapter now. I should be in bed! NiRi Author Reply: I am glad you are enjoying this story and that you are liking Finrod more and more. And an obsession with Námo! Wait until he shows up for the tournament. You'll see just how "sexy" a Vala can be. At any rate, Alassiel is getting off easy with regards to her "chores", though she doesn't realize it. Finrod is really trying to be gentle with her knowing that she's not used to this sort of thing, but he is determined to rid her of her arrogance, which is tainted by Ingoldo and Tinwetariel's spite. It won't be easy but is is doable and hopefully not too late.

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