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In the High King's Secret Service by Fiondil	8 Review(s)
obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/27/2013
It seems like there is a lot of pettiness and joggling for rank in a packing order going on in Aman. How were they able to keep the peace for so long? The picture you paint of the music guild is not very uplifting. The more I read the more I can see how the kinslaying finally came about. It is surprising that there were no murders earlier. Someone with Feanaro's temper having been denied real master status might not take that decision and live with it... Author Reply: I suppose there is obsidianj, although it may not be as widespread as it appears. I think the situation with the bards' guild is unique and other guilds do not suffer such pettiness, but certainly, even without Morgoth about, the Elves are capable of being less thn perfect. At least Valandur and Ingwë are on to the guildmaster and can address the situation and hopefully correct it. We'll have to see. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/17/2013
I'm usually a lurker who enjoys the ten min break from work that your regular story updates provide. Mostly I can see where you are coming from with your story lines and am happy to go along with them. However, I must admit I read the developments in this story with some unease. Do you really mean to imply that we (the givers of aid) should ask the Philippinos to pay for what we and our governments are sending them? On the grounds that this would help them to maintain their dignity - which they should not need to fear will be lost by being overcome by a natural disaster. Refugees should never be thought of as beggars on whom we bestow demeaning charity. This seems to be the sub-text to your story to give credence to the motivations (to save the pride of the recipients) of your principal characters. However, you have given a realistic account of the sort of profiteering which goes on with the distribution of aid and more cynically maybe it would be better for people to pay up front rather than have their country beholden to more powerful states for generations. Author Reply: Hello. First of all, you have to understand that this chapter, indeed, the entire story, was written well over a year ago and the fact that you are reading this chapter at this time when we are dealing with the crisis in the Philippines is purely coincidental, so you are reading into it more than is meant, for I am assuming you assume that this chapter was written just last week, when it wasn't. Second, I give my characters the freedom to express their own views, which do not necessarily coincide with my personal views about such matters. Also, as I am writing about Elves and not humans, I allow that they will have a different 'take' on matters that might not coincide with how you or I would see it. How they conduct their lives is their affair. I may not agree with it but I respect it. Valandur is expressing a point-of-view about how a specific group of people, the farmers of the Southern Fiefdoms, should be treated in light of recent events. This view may or may not be correct or even agreed upon by others, but is a legitimate viewpoint and he is simply explaining to Ingwë why he felt they should take this particular route in aiding the farmers. A situation in the future might arise where such actions would be impractical or just cruel and they would not necessarily follow the same procedure. Please keep in mind also that in the context of Middle-earth history, these Elves are very new to civilization as you or I would define it and they are, in a real sense, still feeling their way, trying to figure things out. This is the first real disaster they have encountered and they are not necessarily handling it in the best way that they should. There is a learning curve here and they are bound too make mistakes of judgment and so on. I hope this clears things up for you. Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns.

Laer	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/16/2013
I like the fact that he is standing firm on them not being spys. They are more like newspaper people than spys. Gathering information and sharing it :) Author Reply: You're right, Laer, that they are more like newspaper people rather than actual spies. Good point and I'm sure Val would agree with you if the Elves had the concept of newspapers. Thanks for commenting. It's much appreciated.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/16/2013
An interesting response on the Guild Master's part, to send one possible recruit. It is sad that the minstrels who are granted Master status still are looked down upon, even though their gift is unique to themselves. Some people need a better perspective, apparently. Author Reply: We'll meet the guildmaster later, Larner, and learn her story and the reason behind the creation of the minstrels. It is sad but at least Ingwë recognizes their worth and I suspect those who employ the other minstrels to teach their children also appreciate their unique gifts. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated.

Ellie	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/15/2013
Ya know, I read this latest installment in the saga of our beloved spymaster-in- the-making after doing the beta of the stuff you sent me this morning and had to stop myself from shooting you an email with comments on this Val chapter. I already did one beta of this story, I don't need to do another one! LOL! I don't know how many times I have read this chapter of the Val story in beta, but I enjoyed it this read, too. Author Reply: LOL! You're too funny, ellie, and I'm glad you still enjoy this chapter after having read it in beta several times. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it very much, and if you had emailed me with your comments, I would've been very surprised but pleased nonetheless.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/15/2013
So the guildmistress of the Bardic Guild had palmed off her "failures" on Ingwë, had she? I'm sure that he and Val will appreciate their talents more than she does. And anyway, not everybody can be virtuoso soloists anyway - and somebody needs to invent the Symphony Orchestra in Aman, so that all the ordinary musicians can get together and weave beautiful sound tapestries together (something that the primadonnas wouldn't have patience with, anyway!) Ingwë and Val's little chat must have been quite an eye-opener for Ingwë - especially the bit where Val admitted to not trusting Finwë. I suppose it might have been easy to dismiss this as resentment at Finwë's (and Fëanáro's) trumped up charges against him and Intarion, but there is what I can only describe as a pattern of negligence, arrogance and prejudice on Finwë's (and Fëanáro's) part. Val clearly has not missed this, and I'm sure Ingwë sees it as well, and probably also something that did not just spring up just before he sent off the trade delegation. I guess Val's appointment as spymaster is something Ingwë as High King feels is necessary to counteract this problem. Author Reply: Hi Sunny. You're right about not everyone is cut out to be a virtuosos soloist and they need musical groups as much as we do so, as you say, ordinary people can make beautiful music together. I think your analysis of Ingwë here is fairly accurate. I suspect that he's more aware of what's going on with Finwë than he either lets on or that others know about. Having Val as his spymaster will go a long way toward Ingwë hopefully having a better handle on things in Aman, though we know that future events will put paid to that idea. Still.... Anyway, thanks for reviewing. I apprecisate you taking the time to do so.

Kevana	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/15/2013
This chapter pulled me up short and made me realize just how cool it is, what you're doing here. Tolkien and the spy genre. I would never in a million years have believed the two could fit together, if I hadn't seen you do it. I don't really know HOW you do it. I presume magic/some sort of highly advanced science that thus resembles magic, and a slavish dedication to writing that puts a lot of published authors to shame. This just keeps getting better and better. Bravo. I love that they're working with "the failures" as Val calls them, though I don't doubt he sees them as far more than a "failure." Perhaps his own struggles with learning have added to his understanding of what they have to offer despite their being deemed not good enough to make the cut to be bards. In any case, I love how he's going about it. It's like hiding a spy network under something as innocuous as the National Weather Service. Or in pop music. Ha! Thanks for the update and have a great weekend! -Kevana Author Reply: Hi Kevana. I'm glad you find this whole concept cool. I think historically, minstrels, jonguleurs and troubadors served as spies and intelligence gatherers, given that they traveled around and were responsible for disseminating news from one locale to another. It stands to reason that the same principal could apply here and hiding in plain sight is usually the best way to go because people won't necessarily make the connection. Anyway, thanks for taking the time to make a comment. I appreciate it very much. Have a great weekend yourself.

UTfrog	Reviewed Chapter: 38 on 11/15/2013
So the Bards are snobby and Ingwe and the King have different views. Setting up the network is fascinating work. I love where you are going. However, I am also ready to hear what Findis is doing. Thanks, as always. Author Reply: Hi UTfrog. Bards are by definition snobs, LOL! At least Val and Ingwë see the minstrels as more than 'failures'. I'm glad you are enjoying the way the story is progressing. We'll see Findis eventually, but not right away. Thanks for leaving a review. It's much appreciated.

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