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| In the High King's Secret Service by Fiondil | 13 Review(s) |
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| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/11/2013 |
| Wow! That was a surprise. Valandur had an auspicious audience for his speech. Two kings and family and then the appearance of Findis and Aule and the rest of the Valar. I like it that Findis and Valandur are betrothed, but I don't think Finwe will like it. His resentment will be even bigger with the Valar forcing his hand. It will take a long time for him to accept Valandur (or maybe never...). I don't quite remember how the story goes on. Author Reply: I very much doubt Finwë will be happy but Indis will be thrilled, which will just make Finwë madder, as we will see in the next chapter. As for how the story goes on, at the time of the Darkening, Valandur and Findis were residing in Vanyamar and did not have much contact with the family in Tirion. And then, of course, Finwë died and Fëanor left, so there was no reconciliation. So it goes. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated. | |
| Cairistiona | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/6/2013 |
| Wow, that was an eventful chapter to say the least! Nothing like having TWO kings attend your first convocation lecture, and nothing like being invited to dine with royalty, reunite with your love, find yourself betrothed with all the Valar as witnesses... I don't know whether Val will sleep well tonight out of sheer exhaustion or be so wired that he won't sleep for a week! Now to see what Finwe thinks of all this. Eeep. I'm glad it's a snow day today so I can simply keep reading. :) (And thank you for the explanatory note at the end about the justification for the Valar's "meddling"... I did kind of raise an eyebrow when they showed up en masse to involve themselves in the affair of the heart, but what you said makes perfect sense. They're definitely feeling their way in these early days.) Author Reply: A very eventful chapter, indded, Cairistiona, and I had fun piling one surprise on top of another. And you're welcome on the eplanatory note. I think it helped a lot of people to understand what was happening and why better. It's easy to forget just how "new" the Elves are to the Valar and Maiar and how "new" the Elves are to everything. Thanks for leaving a review. I very much appreciate it. | |
| bookworm | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/5/2013 |
| DAWWWW. Ahem. I mean. I really like seeing Valandur & Findis at this early stage in their relationship (lol slap slap kiss much?), and YAY they're betrothed! The Valar are being rather high handed here, but I'm too happy that they're betrothed to care =p Also as you say, quite early days yet. Author Reply: Hi bookworm. Yes, the Valar are rather high-handed here but I'm glad you are happy that Val and Findis are finally betrothed. So am I. LOL! Thanks for reviewing. It's very much appreciated. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/3/2013 |
| I rejoice that the speech went so well, and appears to have reflected Valandur's innate wisdom. The betrothal sounds most interesting, with the Valar basically forcing Finwe's hand. He ain't gonna like it, I'm afraid! Author Reply: Yes, that's precisely what the Valar are doing, Larner, and we'll see what Finwë's reaction to it is in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much. | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/2/2013 |
| Well it would appear that Valandur's presentation went over well, it at least woke all the snoozers up! Hm, I wonder which of the Valier persuaded Manwe to act on Valandur and Findis' behalf. I do have some questions about the wisdom of it though, while I am sure that they would have ended up together, I think Manwe's action was a little precipitate and it might have been better if he had allowed Ingwe and Olwe to work on Finwe to persuade him to allow the marriage. It seems to me that Rumil is a lot more open minded than Feanor is with regard to language and it's evolvement, I am sure they had some lively discussions about it! You are right though, both the Valar and the Elves are still feeling their way with each other and even tucked safely away in Mandos, Melkors influence is still felt. Have a good week, Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda, I imagined it was all the Valier. *grin* And you are right to question the wisdom of the actions of the Valar here, hence the author's note explaining motivation. I think in their eagerness to 'help' the Valar ultimately helped to make things worse than they could have been. But that is how it goes. And Rúmil, being a true inventor (Fëanor merely improved on his writing system), is, I think, more naturally open-minded about a lot of things, plus he's of the older generation and has achieved wisdom that Fëanor never achieved. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated. Hugs back. | |
| Laer | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/2/2013 |
| “Let us toast the happy couple,” I raise my can of diet mt dew to them :) 12 years is a long time for people who are in love, but I am glad that he is standing up to her "spoiled" actions. She needs the time to learn that life isn't always going to go her way, but when you have a bunch of Valar who help it go your way....siiiiggghhhhh. Ah well they know what they are doing ;) and hopefully Valandur and Findis see how blessed their union is for them to help it along. Author Reply: And it's not 12 mortal years but 12 Valian years, so nearly 115 solar years, but what is that to immortals? Findis does have some growing up to do, but it is nice that she and Valandur have the Valar on their side helping, isn't it? Thanks for reviewing, Laer. I really appreciate it. | |
| ellon | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/2/2013 |
| Fiondil, you are my favorite writer on here by far. Loving the story. Author Reply: Thank you, ellon, for letting me know. I appreciate it very much. | |
| demeter d | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/2/2013 |
| Wow! Busy chapter! Bravo to Valandur for his excellent conclusion to his presentation. It reminded me of the French and their Canadian children and their concern to keep their language free of what they consider to be lazy modern borrowings. I am sure that they prefer not to dwell too much on the motley "bouquet" which is Modern British and American "English", which owe much to borrowings from them. I quite often go back and re-read many of your pieces in "Tales from Vaire's Loom". Particularly in December, I like to re-read your "Breath of Arda". This morning I just had to go back to that one after reading your note here about how much the Valar had to LEARN over the ages. The way they all joined to aid the battle for the Pellenor is subtle and graceful. They acted only after careful planning, and the direct approval of The One. Quite a difference. Author Reply: Hi Demeter d. I'm afraid that the French, or perhaps we should say their Language Academy is fighting a losing battle and anyone else who attempt to keep their language "pure". People will speak as they please and Academy's and the like be damned. This is a lesson many of the lambengolmor, especially those among the Noldor who followed Fëanor's lead, refused to learn and which Val obviously celebrates. I am glad you enjoy "Breath of Arda" so much that you like to re-read it, especially this time of year. And you're right, there is quite a difference in the way they react to events from how they acted here in this story three ages earlier. Thank you for pointing this out and thank you for a lovely review of both this chapter and the Vairë's Loom story. I appreciate it very much. | |
| ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/2/2013 |
| This is such a fun chapter. There is so much going on and the promise of so much more to come. Their whole romance is very "Vanyarin" even with the little half-Noldo fireball in the midst of things. Most enjoyable! Author Reply: It was certainly a fun chapter to write, that's for sure, Ellie. Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Kevana | Reviewed Chapter: 43 on 12/2/2013 |
| “Just one Vala, Ammë” I'm really glad I was alone when I read this chapter because I laughed like a hyena at this point. And it just kept getting better from there! Alternate title: "Valandur Has A Really Good Day For Once"? Val's speech went swimmingly it seems! With a rousing conclusion like that, I imagine it'll have people talking for a long while. Findis! I think her escape was quite daring, even if it was one assisted by her "captor," haha. I can only imagine what she's been doing to make Aulë glad of getting her out of his hair for a bit. Interesting author's note. I'm glad Alassiel and Ellie brought it up and discussed it because it's really helpful in framing the time period here. I totally think this is sending a message to Finwë about his behavior and beliefs as well. I don't know how high the ceilings are in his palace, but I suspect they could be 100 feet and he'd still knock his head on them when he finds out about this. And her brother's just going to fly straight through the roof and launch into orbit. Do you like terrible puns? I like terrible puns. If Thranduil was riding a moose and fell off, would he be...unamoosed? Thanks for a fantastic update. Loved this chapter in particular. Have a day free from rampaging moose and other angry ungulates! -Kevana Author Reply: Terrible puns? I didn't know there was any other kind. LOL! Loved this one though. Glad you found this chapter so amusing, Kevana, and that could certainly have been the subtitle for this chapter. I had a blast having everyone make an appearance the way they did, especially Aulë. When Alassiel rasied the question, Ellie and I discussed it and we felt that it would be a question that might be on other people's minds, so I decided to circumvent any objections by simply providing the note and the explanation. I think people tend to forget how very new all this is for both Elves and Valar and they are still feeling their way, making mistakes along the way, as can happen with any relationship that is forming. We'll learn of Finwë's reaction to the news in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing. I very much appreciate it. And, trust me, I'll keep my eye out for any ungulates, angry or otherwise. LOL! | |