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In the High King's Secret Service by Fiondil	7 Review(s)
Cairistiona	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/29/2013
Very interesting on a number of fronts. Lirilisse, despite having her secret coaxed from her, seems to be still holding on to more secrets. Wise of Ingwe to sense that and want to speak with her twin. There's always two sides to a story, with the truth often lying somewhere between. And the secret courtyard with its mysterious bell and mysterious escape tunnel... very ominous, both! There are so many undercurrents running through this story. I do wonder how they will all come together. Author Reply: Hi Cairistiona. There are indeed always two sides of any story. We'll see what the sister has to say about it. The courtyard with its mysterious bell tower and escape tunnel made an appearance in my story "In Darkness Bound", though even there, the true purpose for the bell tower was never learned, though it was used. As for the various undercurrents running through the story, some of them will come together in the end and others will remain unresolved, simply because they foretell future events in Amanian history that we all know all too well. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It's much appreciated.

Kevana	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/27/2013
Valandur's sudden and utterly understandable fear of courtyards reminds me of that line from Jurassic Park, after one of the kids nearly gets killed when the car he's in gets tossed into a tree. Tim: I hate trees. Lex: They don't bother me. Tim: Oh yeah? Well you weren't in the last one! Poor Val. I don't believe I'd be going into any more courtyards myself. Hello, mysterious and off-limits bell that likely heralds destruction. I shall dub thee The Foreshadowing Bell of Doom. So even in the earliest days looong before the Darkening there was suspicion and a need for subterfuge, even as they built the city. Hm. That's a good test of loyalty, Ingwë. I am sad to report that I would probably fail it. What was that awesome quote from Terry Pratchett? "Some humans would do anything to see if it was possible to do it. If you put a large switch in some cave somewhere, with a sign on it saying 'End-of-the-World Switch. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH', the paint wouldn't even have time to dry.” Apparently that also applies just fine to Elves. Lirilissë...girlfriend, you've got some problems. Taking your familial struggles on an entire guild is not the nicest thing to do. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if she maintains her control because she's supported by high-ranking bards who don't particularly see value in the minstrels. But it seems like there's something a little fishy to her story, too. Kind of amusing to see somebody butting heads with Ingwë though. grin Val's good at keeping the king grounded, it would seem. Ahahaha, I was wrong, maybe that poem is getting stuffed into the Elven equivalent of a sock drawer, where no one else can see it. -Kevana Author Reply: Yeah, I suspect Val will be leary of any strange courtyards from now on. And you're right about how some humans and Elves would fail the loyalty test. Luckily, Val isn't one of them. grin And Lirilissë is a real piece of work, there's no doubt, but with Val there, Ingwë definitely has the better of her. As for the poem... I don't know. I think Atto and Ammë would probably frame it and then trot it out at Indil's wedding to embarrass here. While we see an adult Indil in "Elf, Interrupted" and "In Darkness Bound", we really don't see her to know her except she's married and has at least 2 children. I'm sure she put her talents to good use. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It's much appreciated.

obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/27/2013
And the fireworks started. Interesting confrontation between Ingwe and Lirilisse. Luckily Valandur was there to see through her manipulations, but Lirilisse showed her aptitude for master of her guild by this. Let's hope she is not making Voronwe's life miserable because of his son. Otoh, Val has the ear of the king and I think, she is too smart to take her anger out on Val's father. Now I want to hear the story of the twin sister. Lirilisse isn't by any chance the "older" of the two twins? Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. Ingwë was indeed lucky to have Valandur there during his interview with Lirillissë. I'm sure Val's father can take care of himself, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. And LIrillisë is indeed the older twin. Thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it very much.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/23/2013
Now, that was a great revelation. Lirillisse appears to have far too much anger and frustration and bitterness to her. Most interesting. Now, to hear the sister's version of the story! Author Reply: Hi Larner. Yes, Lirillissë is full of anger and frustration. We will meet the sister in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/22/2013
Fireworks indeed. And I see that Ingwë has a temper, too! It was really fortunate that Valandur was there. He may be a loremaster (and since he was NOT a bard, he was fortunately dismissed as unimportant by the guildmaster - but Val's field of study in communication, and he regards nonverbal communication as being equally important as language proper, so Val OWNS this particular battlefield!) but his father is a bard, and I guess he will have picked up many pieces of information that he cleverly slots into place to get an idea of what the picture actually is. And one central piece is the guildmaster's sister. I wonder what the REAL story here is - I bet Lirilissë's version of the tale has only a nodding acquaintance with the real story! :-O So Lirimíriel wasn't able to attain the rank of bard that Lirilissë achieved. Clearly the two of them are probably quite different from one another. But Miri created a career and a life outside the Bards' Guild, and when her twin created the rank of Minstrel for her, she did not react with the abject gratitude that her twin obviously expected. It makes me wonder what sort of other problems lie between them. Anyway, she lets the spite she feels towards her sister fall not only on her, but on all the others who do not achieve the rank of bard. Very unprofessional of her, and it did not give he results she wanted. And she had better clear up her act if she wants to continue as guildmaster! Ingwë may not overtly meddle with the Guilds, but I'm sure that if he is sufficiently displeased with their leadership, he would have ways to get his disapproval across. And the leaders of the guilds should be astute enough to replace someone who rouses the High King's ire that badly. Not that he would have problems with little things, or even medium-sized problems - but this? It's rather clear she has abused her position, and badly, too! She has had her warning - now let us see if she wil act on it! Author Reply: Hi Sunny. Yes, Ingwë was very fortunate that valandur was there during the interview. Right at the very beginning of "Bound in Darkness", when describing Ingwë's twin sons, I mention that they both inherited their father's famous temper and their mother's love of poetry, so there is precedence. We'll meet Lirilissë's twin shortly and learn from her what her story is. And, you're right that Lirilissë will need to tread carefully around Ingwë for a while now that he's on to her. Thanks for commenting. I very much appreciate it.

someone	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/22/2013
It's now clear why Valandur ended up as a spymaster. He has a brain that Ingwë can't let go and wants to work for him. grin How did Lirilissë get to be guildmaster? She seems to have a rather unpleasant personality (that, or she has grown bitter over the years). I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to make Voronwë's life uncomfortable just because Valandur saw through her manipulations. "There was no doubt that here was the High King and yet on some inchoate level, Valandur sensed that even now Ingwë was revealing only a fraction of his majesty, and that thought nearly overwhelmed him." That was a bit scary. And what is interesting in this chapter (and in others too, but not so clearly) is that Elvish culture seems to give their kings a lot of power. For example, Ingwë could shut down the guilds if he wished to. Is the (elvish) king controlled by law or has he absolute power over his realm? Author Reply: Hi someone. I think that the Elves were probably into absolute monarchism and yet they do have privy councils and we know that Finrod did not order anyone to join him and Beren on their quest, so there might be certain limits or limits evolved over time. At this stage in their history, they are still relatively new to Aman and to civilization and during the Great Journey they probably developed a system whereby orders were obeyed immediately or lives would be lost. That way of living wouldn't necessarily fade away once they reached Aman, so for now, Ingwë can be considered an absolute monarch, at least with regards to the Vanyar and the same would be true of Finwë and Olwë within their respective conclaves. I hope this clears things up for you a bit. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. It's much appreciated.

UTfrog	Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 11/22/2013
Interesting politics on several levels. Good for Val realizing more was going on than the obvious. I also like Ingwe being kingly. Thank you. Author Reply: Val is very perceptive and Ingwë is every inch a king. Glad you enjoyed this chapter, UTfrog. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

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