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In the High King's Secret Service by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
Clouded Leopard	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 12/31/2013
I enjoy reading your stories and find I like reading them more than once. The way you describe Aqualonde, the canals, the people of Olwe's city and how they handle emergencies and how they live is remarkable. Upon reading this chapter I noticed something in one of the paragraphs that I kept reading over and over again that struck me as odd. The section is of Lindarion and Falmaron taking Valandur on a tour of the city. Here is the excerpt of that particular section: "We are showing our friend the city," he explained to her even as Falmaron was helping Lindarion into the boat, then nimbly climbing in while the two guards joined them. Lindarion was the last in. Should not the section read, ...he explained to her even as Falmaron was helping Valandur into the boat, then nimbly climbing in while the two guards joined them. Lindarion was the last in. Falmaron was helping Valandur into the boat, not his brother. Sorry, I just kept seeing something off in that little sentence in the paragraph and it drove me nuts when I kept looking at it. I thought you should know. Cannot wait to see your next story coming up: Elf Acadamy 3. Thanks for all your stories. I keep reading them over and over again. Author Reply: Great to hear from you again, Clouded Leopard. You are so correct. I can't believe we all missed that. Thanks so much. I've made the correction. I'm glad you've enjoyed this story. The description of Alqualondë is taken partly from Tolkien's description and my own experience of visiting a water village in China, once only accessible by boat. Anyway, Elf Academy 3 is up and running. Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for your review.

obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/25/2013
Love the way you work out the differences between the Lindari and the elves living closer to the light of the trees. Just the way they tell times by the stars and match that to the waxing and waning of the trees. Loved the moment when Valandur listened to the song of the stars. The city of Alqualonde must be something with the canals and the little boats used for transportation. And now Valandur will experience a sea storm. He learns a lot in just a short amount of time. Ingoldo might not approve, but Ingwe will hopefully gain the benefits of this experience. Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. I figured the Lindar would have a much different culture and way of doing things than the Noldor or the Vanyar and it was fun to imagine what those difference might be, including how they would tell time. And Valandur is getting quite the education, more than he or Ingwë bargained for, but it should be very helpful to him in the future. Thanks for commenting. It's greatly appreciated.

Laer	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/24/2013
Uinen should be happy with me, I spent all day yesterday in the hot sun cleaning the rivers here in Iowa. well, me and about 200 other people ;) I Glad he is getting so much information from them. This is going to help more than some people will ever realize. Author Reply: Congratulations! I'm sure Uinen and Ulmo are very happy with your contribution toward cleaning the rivers of Iowa. And Valandur has a ton of information about the Lindar and Alqualondë and should be a great help to him in his future activities. Thanks for commenting. I appreciate you taking the time to do so very much.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/23/2013
Uinen is said to have ever been the friend to sailors, and I rejoice that she is aiding the Lindar as she is doing. Valandur is gaining a good deal of knowledge in a short period of time, and he appears to be handling the pressure with marked grace. And seeing how life is for these people when the storm hits will help him better meet Ulmo's commission, I think. Love the canal tour--reminds me of our visit to Amsterdam. Author Reply: Valandur is certainly gaining a great deal of knowledge and we'll see how he puts some of it to use later on. I'm glad you liked the canal tour. Thanks for reviewing, Larner. It's much appreciated.

Cairistiona	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/23/2013
This is both a relaxing and a tense chapter. Relaxing during the boat tour (I wonder if I'm the only reader who wonders if the Elven gondoleers sing like the Venetian gondoleers...) but so much tension thrumming throughout with Valandur's worries over not getting back to return to his duties and the consequences that will no doubt befall him when he finally does. And then, eep, a sea-storm! Poor Valandur. Events really seem to be transpiring to prevent him ever getting back. Oh, and loved loved loved the moment when Valandur listened to the stars singing. Very touching. Author Reply: Hi Cairistiona. THe gondoleers in the water village in China that I vistied (Zhouzhuang Water Town) did not sing but I can't imagine Elves NOT singing. grin We'll see how Valandur hold up during the hurricane and just when Olwë is able to send him on his way. I'm glad you loved the momemt when Valandur listend to the stars singing. It's one of my favorite parts of the chapter. Thanks for leaving a review. I very much appreciate it.

Kevana	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/23/2013
It's official, I love Alqualondë. What a cool place! Great conversation going on here with Valandur and the other scholars. I'm glad Lindarion was just teasing. Haha! Hurricanes, man. It is going to be an education for Val if he's never seen one before. But at least it will give him some extra time among the Lindar, and to see them operating under storm conditions. The village you mentioned sounds incredible, I am so glad you used that as inspiration because it turned out fantastic. A little laugh for a Friday : Columbus did what, now? Thanks for the update and hope you have a glorious weekend, Fiondil! :) -Kevana Author Reply: Hi Kevana. LOL! That's too funny. Obviously someone who is a Tolien fan. The water village in China is called Zhouzhuang Water Town and you can google it and find photos of it. It's pretty cool. We'll see how the Lindar handle a hurricane in the next chapter and how Valandur holds up as well. Thanks for commenting. It's much appreciated.

UTfrog	Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 8/23/2013
Delightful chapter. You packed wonderful descriptions and a lot of information into this charming introduction to the Lindar and their version of Venice. Please tell me they have glassblowers! Well if anyone can find a good excuse for Valandur to stay put, Lord Ulmo's sea storm should do it. Author Reply: Hi UTfrog. I'm glad you found this introduction to the Lindar charming and enjoyed the descriptions of the city and its people. I have no doubt they have glassblowers who are even better at it than the Venetians. grin And yes, I suspect that sea storm is somewhat providential, though Valandur wouldn't think so. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated.

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