Reviews (1,565)

Hello! i recently stumbled upon your stories and i must say i really really enjoyed "elf, interrupted", both books. the way you describe things just felt so right for me and i found myself being pulled into this world (which left me with reading this story from morning on until very late into the night for almost a whole week hehe). anyway, i was wondering if maybe, if you feel like it, you could write another story about glorfindels return to valinor (and the valar greeting him 👀) and about his apprenticeship with manwë. for some reason that idea came into my mind as i finished the story, and it stuck with me for a while. i feel rather bored without anything to read all day haha. i am well aware that you have not posted anything for a while now, and i fully understand and respect that. in truth, i just wished to leave this message to tell you how much i appreciate the relief your books brought me. thank you very much ^^ i hope youre well, stay healthy ~Danny

I sure wish that Fiondil was still alive, for I have a question to ask him. In this epilogue, he included the first two of the Istari, the Blue Wizards, to go to Middle-earth to battle Sauron. The Istari, however, were not sent to Middle-earth until a thousand years into the Third Age, and the epilogue is set in 1195 of the Second Age.

Ha! I finally finished it! I really enjoyed reading about Glorfindel's time in Aman after he was reborn. Once again, you did an excellent job of writing the tensions between differing groups of Eruhini. Oh, and I guessed that Sador would be the Cano before you started hinting it. I got so excited I was right that I got in trouble with my housemates for cheering. ~Eruherdiriel

Wow, Fiondil! This just moved along and suddenly it was done. I felt it was a bit fast, moving on to Elrond as quickly as it did, But! that's just me. I really felt a part of the disappointment when the story was concluded. Yes! I know there are more stories dealing with Glorfindel and Findarato! It was both fulfilling as a well-written story and sad at the separating conclusion. As much as we can see how Glorfindel wants this mission to Middle-earth, yet he has a long, long time to be away from friends and family. I know he will inevitably be feeling the loneliness. It a makes for a striking contrast between the happy-go-lucky seeming Noldo and the bound and determined to win at any costs warrior he must have been and will no doubt be again. Once again, I am in love with your HoME references. I'm up to Volume 6 and pausing to do a Silmarillion Guild read-a-long this year. *big grin* But what I really like of your work is the Medieval research. It is like reading an expanded Malory or Chaucer with all the flavours and textures. Only thing missing is the music and I just pop in the iTunes for that. I really love it when an Author not only does their research but they do it right. I thank you once more, Fiondil, for such a well-written and well-thought out opus.

This is an amazing story. Thank you for writing it and all your other stories.

Truly a masterful and compelling epic. I am awed by the Tolkien knowledge you have woven into your tale. I was weeping by the final chapter and there were many, many touching moments throughout the story. I wonder how long it must have taken for you to write such a detailed account of Glorfindel's time between death and returning to Middle Earth to fulfill his oaths to Turgon and his line. Beautifully written. I hope you have written some further accounts of Glorfindel in Middle Earth.

Ingwion was the next to awaken about an hour later. He bolted upright and then proceeded to become violently ill before any of the Maiar had time to react. There was a great deal of ‘tsking’ among them even as they helped Tirnotaurion clean him up. Ingwion merely sat there weeping in frustration and shame, but finally he was washed and dressed in a clean nightshirt and put into one of the spare beds while the Maiar dealt with the mess. Tirnotaurion kept up a soothing monologue assuring the ellon that all was well until Ingwion’s tears abated and he fell back into a fitful doze that deepened into true sleep as the Maiar sang a lullaby. This so accurately describes toddlers I think you must have had five or six of them, or managed an office. I loved this scene!

"You’re dead," he said calmly as he shook his dripping locks out of his eyes and for the first time since he began the fight, there was a faint light of emotion in his eyes and a small smile crept across his face. Then he sheathed his sword and turned to face a thoroughly shocked Lisselindë, his expression going cold once again. "We fought against your fallen brethren," he said, moving slowly towards her, "against balrogs and werewolves, against Morgoth himself and Sauron. We fought and died while you all sat behind your precious mountains wringing your hands and bewailing the loss of the Trees and did nothing!" By now he was almost screaming. "So, yes, you could do much worse than to be a thrall to Finrod for a year or three, child!" The absolute scorn in his voice left no doubt that he meant the word as an insult. That was awesome!

I keep on forgetting to comment on this every time I read this chapter, and yes I am rereading this, again! My son, who was nearly two at the time did something similar to Finrod falling asleep with a peice of bread in his hand, we were flying back from England at the time, and he was sharing lunch with his sister. He was so cute, why, oh why do they have to grow up!? Huggs, Lynda

What a long and wild ride. It ends on a high note with Glorfindel meeting Elrond. I'm sorry to see this story end. But I have already the notifications for the next story in my inbox. I have grown fond of all your characters, especially Glorfindel, Sador, Finrod and Vorondil. My favorite Vala is Namo. You make the Valar seem so approachable and seemingly alien at the same time. Nobody could mistake them for elves or men. They are a race on their own.

Dear Fiondil, As I stated earlier, I waited to read Elf, Interrupted: Book Two when you finished it completely. I was not disappointed. All along the way, I tried to conjure a means for Glorfindel to rationally return to Middle Earth, other than being told by the Valar. You arrived at the most perfect of solutions - to complete a oath. Also, I truly enjoy how you keep the magic of Tolkien's mythology, but still allow for science. Aman is a place where people may never die, but it certainly is not a boring place either. Eru will keep the Elves very busy evolving and growing for the time when "they" are needed to care for Middle Earth. The banner will be passed from the Valar to the Eldar in the end. You gave us a tiny peek in Elf Academy. Once you have finished Darkness Bound, I'm sure that I'll enjoy it, too. Thank you for your creativity, sticking to canon, and sharing with the many fans of Tolkien. Sincerely, Arasinda

I have no words to describe how your story is so interesting and good You have a fertile imagination and also you put here a smart story i thank you of sharing with us wonderful your story hope you will write more stories like that just now with a woman elf hero

Hm, looks like the early pilots were following Earandils example in follwing roads to guide them! Huggs, Lynda

Reading this again, what else is there to do, I am on vacation! So much of what Ingwion is going through is much clearer, now you know just who it is he wants Namo to release, what he went through, losing the one he did can only be imagined. Both Manwe and Namo are correct, you have to let go of them, before you can remember them, how ever painful it is. In spite of being an Elf and knowing that someday they will be returned, you still have a life to live and the sooner you let them go and live your life and not just keep marking time the sooner they will be rturned to you. Hope this makes sense. Huggs Lynda

Gah... Sorry. Got to go do other things after this. :( I wish I could read more... But anyway, this was quite an enjoyable chapter, with those friends reuniting with each other... Are the titbits here told by Arafinwë about Finrod after his time in Lórien included in The Findaráto Diaries, by the way? Somehow I hoped the Tol Eressëans would choose the first out of Ingwion's two options. Dunno. Letting the Valar and the Kings of Eldamar decide for them seems... wrong, somehow. But either way, I would really like to read more about it. :) Hopefully it will all end happily! It's interesting to see many occupations told about in this story - and these three chapters alone. You have given me many ideas. :) And your Sindarin names for them were no less interesting. (By the way, I forgot to ask: To which dialect does "Ciryatan" belong to? Sindarin? "Círdan" is Quenya, then?) This chapter looked like a filler, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. (With enthusiasm, actually, I admit. :sheepish: I am not too fond of suspense of darkish scenes/events/sub-plots.) I would love to continue as soon as I can. :) Hopefully not too long like the pause before this. (Sorry...) See you later, then. - Rey

The first, about the names, was somewhat confusing. Well, then again, I am still wondering why Arafinwë was not named Finarfin here, even now. LOL I enjoyed reading about the versions of the same names in one language or the other, though. Very educating. (Thanks. :)) The events afterwards were quite enjoyable, though, and illuminating. A problem seemed to be near its resolution... (But I am not going to hope much for the said resolution. After all, you can still put another twist, and I will have to wait longer. *grin*) The arrival of the three Councillors was quite surprising, but I am glad that it turned out to be a good thing for both sides. - And the reactions of the three 'living legends' were quite amusing... to say the least. It was another source of enjoyment entirely in this chapter... LOL I do not really get the thing about the heraldic devise, though. Is it life-sized? (If then, how could three trees fit in a hall?) The hall itself was beautiful, though. I love it. You did the description on it quite well; and you chose the structure well, in the first place. :) Was the Captain - Baradir? - the person Olwë had met in the shop he had visited with Beleg? - The owner, perhaps? :uncertain: The thing about raft-building still tickles me till now, by the way, and I laughed when it was brought up again, even though just in passing. (The moment of levity served to dissolve the tension, I noticed... :) At least it served to poofed away my own tension. Haha. :embarrassed:) Another thing I enjoyed in this chapter was when you brought up those people visited by the Maiar when they had just arrived in the Lonely Isle, that I had read from your collection of one-shots. They made this story truly alive, well-rounded. :) You have done a very good job of it. ;) I am curious about this, though... "Edrahil, however, was sitting between the two Lóriennildi, much to his disgust, but Finrod would not allow him to attend the meeting otherwise." - Who are the Lóriennildi? Laurendil and Manwen? And why the disgust? And why, for that matter, did Finrod not allow him to sit elsewhere? (LOL Rather pointless questions, but I am really curious about it. :sheepish:) Oh, by the way, the reactions of the townspeople to the gestures of obeisance led by Finrod in the meeting were quite amusing... quite true to reality. It lent a realistic touch to the problem and the meeting itself as well. :) Another event - from the long list - you built up quite well - quite thoroughly. You gave hints to the people's thoughts and moods by those... And now on to the next chapter, before the time is running out... *wince* - Rey

I am back... for a moment. :) This was a good cooling-down chapter after what had happened in the previous two chapters. (To think that Eärnur said he had missed the 'fun'!) The atmosphere was lighter, and the funny ending was both unexpected and lovely. (Perhaps then the residents of the town wondered why those Amaneldi were laughing... After all, some (or many?) of them thought those people were almost-fiends.) Sador's forgiveness was touching. And he did it so easily... He had a deep hurt when it came to the Kinslaying, as far as I read, but here he did it so... easily. I wonder why. Olwë did it too, and his realm had been ransacked, his people killed, by ellyn like those two. (Well, he had not known that they had not participated in the Kinslaying, had he? He said so himself.) Was it because they were in a mission to unite both sides of the Undying Lands? Because, if one would say "Time heals all wounds," there is examples such as Ingwion to consider... I am glad Edrahil returned to himself - his usual self - now. :) Well, I do not know much about him in the first place, since you have not (or do not?) delved deeper into his character. But it was really a happy scene to me when he and Finrod reconciled - physically - face to face. The surprising part of the ending of the chapter came also from this: the notion that Edrahil was not particularly cheery throughout the chapter. - He tipped a goblet of wine on Gilvagor's head... Haha. You are wicked, Fiondil. *grin* And once again, the puzzle fitted itself together. The two newcomers to the Lonely Isle got a potential job... LOL I love how those pieces slowly fitted themselves together. You have a very cohesive plot here, with varying sub-plots, and I enjoy it very much. And there was the rumor to hold my breath in, too. :) Heh... I hope I hope I will find out in the next few chapters, or I will have to wait till I have another time to read. My question, though: Why had Gilvagor not known about it? He seemed to be quite versed in the situation... Was it because the person/people spreading it avoided him, seeing that he had a good relationship with the Amaneldi? - Rey

I noticed a little typo...until the time when it is meet for me to step down and let another take my place. Valar valuvar." Shouldn't it be mete instead of meet?

He smiled to himself, recalling how there had always been at least a dozen Maiar and two Valar in attendance whenever those particular lessons were being taught and always in some remote corner of the continent where there was little chance of others being harmed if things went wrong. Hee-hee. I now picture the Valar and Maiar standing around the two of them in protective suits complete with gas masks, fire extinguisher in the one hand, a bucket of water in the other. Your marking some ambivalence on Glorfindels's part regarding Elrond has me intrigued considerably. Will you be exploring Glorfindel's further adventures as he arrives in Lindon and the beginning of his friendship with Elrond (who is one of my very favourite characters)? Have you perhaps already written snippets of that somewhere in your short stories? Oh, my, there is Glorfindel on his knees, solemny giving the Lord of Mandos his sword, and what is the grave oath he gets in answer? An oath that made me laugh out loud and long in the juxtaposition of the moods... Elrond is so cute in his shyness, still so awfully young. Glorfindel will do him a world of good to bring him out in the open. And that last paragraph just broke my heart. Ended on a perfect note. Thank you, Fiondil, for once again writen such a thoroughly engrossing tale and sharing it with us! And now I'm really looking forward to find (some *g*) long-awaited answers in your story about the Darkening.

Just a quick note; I had been curious about what scent Olórin would be "sporting" *g* for some time now, and asëa aranion is of course absolutely perfect! (Although I can't remember now what rosemary stands for - something with healing properties, was it?)

And so it ends. The vast saga has finally drawn to a close. Nicely done. That was an enormous number of plot threads to wrap up, but wrap them up nicely you have. Thank you for writing - I really enjoyed that.

But they were not expecting to hear Lord Manwë laughing. "It’s about time," he exclaimed merrily, and he laughed even harder at the shocked expressions on all the elves’ faces. I have to admit, if I were one of the Elves genuinely resentful of the Valar's manipulations, that smile would make me even angrier. It feels like patronising smugness. I want to wipe it off his face, I really do (she blithely says, trembling at the idea of assaulting a Valar). But I suspect, this being one of your evil cliff-hangers, that things will eventually be straightened out to everyone's satisfaction (now, how long it will take, only you know *g*...).

Eärendil as Manwë's spy? Very intriguing concept; as is his explanation of what his duties do, and don't, entail these days. I always find it interesting to hear snippets of what is happening outside of Valinor. Of course I'm mostly interested in the lands we know in Middle-earth, but it's also fascinating to hear bits of happenings elsewhere, all the more so for the dearth of our knowledge in canon. Important difference: accept what was done vs. forgive what was done. And also an acknowledgement of the advantage the dead have in leaving all that behind while the survivors have to muddle through on their own without the benefit of a fresh start. Why do I get the feeling Glorfindel downright needs an explosion of epic proportion to get it all out of the system (combined of course with a proper clear-up talk + reconciliation afterwards)? Those little mini-outbursts over minor things don't seem to help loosen the tension.

The way the Council is shaping up is very interesting and revealing. On the heels of the uproar and the (overdue, in my view - and just how come that often the most odious people are chosen as leaders?) departure of the thoroughly unpleasant Morcocáno, and after hearing much of the others before telling of their lives in beleaguered Beleriand, Brethorn's turn was the brillant high point. So incisive and unsparing, from one who before seemed the most playful; and yet with a perspective spanning all the other delegations, as death comes upon all, no matter their lands, guilds, races, families, personal actions or personal guilts. And no one is exempt from prejudices, condescension, hatred, dismissal, neglect; not any one common heckler, not a King (and that last, at least from the perspective of the Tol Eressëans, even the Valar). I'm really glad the Council of the Reborn has now chosen to come forward out of the shadows. I know how hard it has been to listen to the Reborn among you speaking of forgiveness. It's odd, isn't it? They are so angry at the Kinslayers - on behalf of their victims, most would claim. Yet when those very victims counsel forgiveness, they are ignored. Which goes to show that there is a part of selfishness in not letting go of that anger, rather than concern for others.

Oops, sent away too quickly... I meant to ask about a dialogue near the end: "I am glad my Vorondil had someone in the family here when he woke. I would hate to think he woke to find himself all alone or with some stranger." "Yet, for them both, they were strangers," Herendil pointed out. "But neither of them knew that, did they?" I'm not sure that last sentence quite makes sense as written, because the crux is that both do think they are strangers to each other, so Vorondil Jr. didn't have the comfort - as he thought - to be with family when he woke up, no matter how sympathetic the "stranger" was.