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| Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within by Fiondil | 15 Review(s) |
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| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 6/23/2014 |
| *sigh* The Valinórean Elves need to be more careful where they talk about private stuff and realise how many mortals in Wiseman will understand them, not just Alex and Derek who they know to be around the Elves a lot. Or do they think the Mortals are less gossipmongers than the Elves? Vorondur is right, both Men and Elves tend to be touchy about everything. While I can understand why, it doesn't help. They need to get over that, and that's not going to be easy, I fear. Olórin's idea to help sounds good; we'll have to wait and see if it helps. Author Reply: The Valinórean Elves still don't have a clue about how much the Mortals around them are in the know and should act accordingly. Well, hopefully Olórin presence among the Mortals will help stem the tide of gossip so there's not much damage done. Thanks for reviewing, Kitty. I appreciate it. | |
| Diana | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 4/8/2014 |
| Well thank Eru Gandalf's here! I like how you modernized him, backwoodsmen/old hippie. my favorite! Be interesting to see how he intervenes and influences, and who listens. Poor Finrod! "how did everything go today, Finrod?" "you look tired, should you lie down?" "you should eat something Finrod" "Finrod, you look upset" "where are you going now Finrod?" "what are you doing with that baseball bat Finrod?" "why are you looking at us that way Fin...." Soon they're going to ask how many times he broke wind that day. He'll have to start posting a report on the kitchen fridge every night so he won't have to keep telling each individual person "I'm OK, REALLY!!" all day long. I know they all care but if they don't get outta his face he's going to have that nervous breakdown they're all expecting! I know, he should start making s**t up every time someone asks him how he's doing. "Well the furniture was acting too judgmental this afternoon so I burned it all! Then my clothes started telling me dirty jokes, but their timing was off. I also had an argument with a lemon today and would someone please tell the bananas to shut up!!" What Alex and Derek saw in the store was disturbing, esp. about the women pretending to ponder meat prices. And IMHO,Erestor and his wife were being a bit careless which denotes a certain arrogance. Alex is right about watching out for that arrogance in public, there are too many people just begging for a reason to oust or even wipe out the Elves from Wiseman. I see trouble a-brewin'. The Dude abides! Diana Author Reply: LOL! That's probably just about how it's like for Finrod right now. When people are concerned they tend to forget that they don't need to be in your face every minute of the day wondering how you are. He got enough of that when he was a newly released Reborn; he doesn't need it now. I like your solution about making outrageous stuff up. That might make him feel better if no one else. We will see how things go from here, especially with Alex and Derek involved. Thanks for reviewing. It's appreciated. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/15/2014 |
| And so the lines are being drawn. They all need to check their attitudes at the door. I understand Alex and Finrod both, but they need to work together. Valandur has a different kind of culture shock. He ran into the unspoken assumptions of the society. He just did what he would do at home and nobody would think twice about it, but this is a different culture and a different landscape. He reminded me of the Danish couple in, I think it was New York, that parked their baby in a carriage outside the store when they went shopping because that's how things are done at home. Yay, Gandalf is back. I love it when he shows up and nudges people along. Author Reply: Yes, obsidianj, unfortunately the lines are indeed being drawn. And you're right about Valandur. He is too new to these shores and too clueless about the realities of life here. He could well have been in danger. I remember that incident you mention. The couple were at a restaurant and had left the baby outside, which is what they would've done back home, but not in NYC. Everyone in America was shocked that they had left the baby outside and everyone in Denmark (and probably most of Europe) was shocked that they'd been arrested for doing so. Culture shock on both sides of the pond. And Gandalf is back, even if only temporarily. Thanks for commenting. It's always appreciated. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| Oh yay! Gandalf is back! *grin* Well, I know he's really Olorin, but I've always thought he liked being Gandalf/Mithrandir better. Well, Finrod is going to need to sort out his reactions to things. Yes, I do believe that over the millennia Morgoth's influence has waxed. But perceptions change as well--and when the reality has been gone for so long, the truth will get it's own interpretations. While I have no love for Twilight and the genre it's spawned, in this case, Finrod would probably have done better to investigate rather than dismiss. He needs to learn the current myths and legends of our culture in order to acclimate to the new world he's found himself in. And Gandalf is back! *happy sigh* Author Reply: Yes, Gandalf is back, sort of. *grin* I think you might be right about that, Dreamflower. I'm sure Olórin misses being Gandalf/Mithrandir on occasion. And you're right about Finrod, too. He does need to take a deep breath and a step back, as Ron would say, and look at it with a bit more dispassion, but his initial reaction to it all is understandable given his personal history. At any rate, we'll see how it all goes from here. Thanks for reviewing, Dreamflower. It's very much appreciated. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| An interesting decision to involve Olorin in the situation. Love it! Author Reply: Glad you approve, Larner. Olórin is the right Maia for the job, that's for sure. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much. | |
| MJ | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| I was beginning to wonder if all those years that have gone by since the Third Age have made the Valar forget that they have a unique "resource," if you will, in Olórin, as he has a perspective about Mortals and mortality not shared by any other still-extant Maia (that we know of, anyway. And okay, everyone knows that he happens to be my favorite character, so I will never complain about seeing him pop up in stories I happen to be enjoying, anyway). I can well imagine that he's been trying to nudge a few memories and not meeting with much success, lol. (”Ah, Lord Manwë...?" "Not now, Olórin, we're busy trying to solve this problem with Elf/Mortal relations in Wiseman....") But kidding aside, it's good to see him back in business. Excellent job, as always. Author Reply: Olórin is everyone's favorite Maia, I think, especially in his Gandalf persona, so having him "infiltrate" the mortal community just makes good sense. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, MJ. Thanks for letting me know. I really appreciate it. | |
| Kevana | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| Quite a nice tangle you've woven Our Heroes, Fiondil. Can't wait to see where threads start fraying. *evil cackle* Lots of interesting things in this chapter! Alex..you know, his reaction does not read solely like ego to me, but fear of rejection. It's hurt followed by anger and not the other way around. Hehe, Derek, I see you trying to clean up your language, sailor. I prefer seeing them deal with their own problems, but in this case a little divine intervention might be welcome. Hoping Fionwë's got a few cards up his sleeve for dealing with the Intelligence Agency the way Olórin has for the Mortals of Wiseman, as it doesn't sound like he's quite done with them here. Also, it sounds like Olórin looks like somebody's grandfather and I want to hug him. *grin* Speaking of hugs, that awkward moment between Finrod and Nick was just a tad heartbreaking. For Finrod because he wants to help so badly but is just realizing he has to relearn everything he thought he knew about Mortals; and Nick because frankly wouldn't that startle reaction be how anybody, male or female, would react to getting randomly hugged, even though an Elf would probably accept comfort? It's very realistically portraying how jumpy people, Americans at least, are about protecting themselves. That said, Nick's wonderful and I love seeing more of him here. Valandur! Oh, sweetie, take a phone with you. Heaven help them all if he gets hurt and Findis finds out. She'd steal Vingilot to come get him and her arrival would make the Dagor Dagorath look tame. And on to the main event, Glorfindel vs. Finrod, ring the bell for the start of the round. Hoo, boy. The Valinor Elves backing Finrod, the Wiseman Elves and probably the Academy Mortals backing Glorfindel, and Finrod and Glorfindel trying to get them all to simmer down! Someone ought to handcuff those two together and toss them into the woods for a few months, far, far away from Wiseman, for their own good as well as the good of the others. (Hey, it worked for Eru in EI/EI2. *grin*) No really, what Glorfindel needs is a good second in command and Finrod needs someone who'll listen to him nonjudgmentally, just my two cents. Sounds like Linda and Eric are in for it. I had a thought that there's an entirely different perspective to the whole vampire/werewolf fiction thing. In a way you might say that it's typical of Men to take something that was once feared, reclaim it, put their own spin on it, and thus destroy any power or fear it once had. It's a metamorphosis, a taking control of sorts. In that respect, Finrod might actually have it backwards here. That it's not a sign of submission to evil, but a triumph over fear. (Still not a fan of Twilight, LOL.) Anyway, great chapter as we get deeper into the story, can't wait for Monday and what comes next. Thanks and stay warm, and Happy Valentine's Day to you and everyone! -Kevana Author Reply: Hi Kevana. If you think this chapter is a doozy, just wait until Monday's chapter. LOL! You're right about Alex and how he's operating. He is hurt and the hurt fuels the anger and not the other way around. We'll see this even more in the mext chapter. I like your analysis of the moment between Finrod and Nick. In our homophobic society it's difficult for men to simply express honest emotion without being suspect. And that suspicion cripples us men from being able offer appropriate responses to emotional situations. As for Finrod and Glorfindel... what can I say? You'll just have to wait and see how they handle this entire mess. And your analysis of the whole vampire/werewolf thing is certainly intriguing and I can see where you're going with it. You may well be right. We tend to combat our fears by attempting to trivialize them. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter so much. Happy Valentine's Day to you as well and thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated. | |
| Soledad | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| Yay! Gandalf is in business again (and not a moment too soon, I'd say. Loved his "updated" look. Still the Grey, eh? It's good to see Alex again. Hét doesn't take any crap from the Elves, and they definitely need someone who tells them the hard truth. Especially the Valinórean ones. Author Reply: Yep. Gandalf's back in a new, updated look for the 21st century. I think he will always think of himself as the Grey, he was that for so long compared to the time he was the White. And Alex is not impressed by the Elves and isn't afraid to call them on the carpet when they do something stupid as Val was doing walking alone in the wilderness on the way to Nolan. Whether they know it or not, the Elves, especially the Valinórean Elves, need someone like Alex to give it to them straight. Thanks for your review, Soledad. They're always welcomed. | |
| Lyana | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| Yay - Olórin! Hmmm... now for a name for this time and place; I think Mr. Oliver Grey would work nicely. :-) Ai - they're all in such a tough place, and Ron is exactly right that it's not just the Elves who need to check attitudes at the door. Glorfi needs to get talking, or he's going to explode in a spectacular way. Here's hoping their anger management class doesn't end up with them Finrod and Glorfindel in another dimension... Author Reply: Hey, I like that. Oliver Grey. It suits him. LOL! They are indeed in a tough place, but hopefully they will find their way out of it without leveling half the town. We'll have to see. Thanks for your comment, Lyana. It's much appreciated. | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 14 on 2/14/2014 |
| Hm, I think things are about to get a little messy! Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: You're right, Lynda, they are. We'll see how messy in the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing. Hugs back. | |