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| Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within by Fiondil | 12 Review(s) |
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| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/23/2014 |
| It's a bit sad to see that there are still these tensions between Glorfindel and Finrod; I certainly hope that this is going to get better over time. They really can't afford to fight that much among themselves, all of them, not just these two. Ah, I had been wondering how the Elven healers are going to get any qualifications without going through the whole studies and training and if they can fake papers and all that. This explains a lot, thanks. Well said, Finrod. Aldarion has no need to be so arrogant. Besides, we Mortals don't have millennia to perfectionise our skills, we have to do with much less. Oh, that was a nice way to tie this story to 'The Journey Home'. It's good to see that some of the Elves who stayed behind knew this group who went in search of Maglor and Valinor and that they finally find out what happened to them. Author Reply: Hi Kitty. It'll take time, but eventually Glorfindel and Finrod will be friends and brothers again. The healers will be off to Anchorage later in the year to take their exams and become board-certified doctors. I wanted to tie the two stories together because some readers did wonder about those who remained behind, wondering if some of these Elves had known Denethor and the others who went to rescue Maglor. I figured it gave this story a depth of history that it might be lacking. Thanks for the comments. It's appreciated. | |
| obsidianj | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/24/2014 |
| It is nice to have a chapter where you learn more about the background of the elves. Learning their reasons for not sailing makes them more accessible and more rounded characters. I liked the tie in to your other stories. At least now I know what happened to the elves left behind when Denethor went on his search. Author Reply: I like connecting my various stories to one another in some manner. I think it adds depth of history to all of them as well as present more rounded characters because there is a history behind them that helped to form them into the people the are. Thanks for reviewing, obsidianj. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Larner | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/19/2014 |
| A good, positive conversation this time, and a good stop to the quibbling and bickering too many have been party to earlier. Eru is, after all, the greatest gamesman of us all! Author Reply: Very positive and hopefully it will help stem the quibbling and bickering a bit. And Eru is indeed the greatest gamesman of us all, but most of us don't like to remember that. Thanks for reviewing, Larner. It's much appreciated. | |
| ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| How interesting the reasons folks stayed behind. I know Finrod was looking for insight into the Wiseman elves, but instead he is learning the vast influence of the Valar. It must be humbling indeed to realise just how long this plan has been in place. Author Reply: Yes, it is interesting to know why they stayed behind. And you're right that Finrod and the others are learning the vast influence of the Valar. One has to wonder in our own lives how long God has been planning for us to do something to advance His own designs. Thanks for reviewing, Ellie. It's very much appreciated. | |
| Laer | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| Glorfindel is hitting a church where it hurts. No money in the collection plate means they are that much short of making their goals. It sounds like the elves know there is an issue, now for them to figure out how to fix it. Love the nod to your other stories in these. The "powers that be" do weave a rather unique tapestry once they start. You either take a deep breath and believe, or you keep hitting that brick wall until you do what they need you to do. Like making you go back home for something you know is done; but then see something bad that you can stop. You then have a choice, become involved or not. (We had someone fall on the ice while doing their job in a pleasant neighborhood. Woman came home stared at him laying on the side walk..went into the house. Later she came back out. stared at him still laying on the sidewalk. Got in her car and drove off. He had broken his leg and could not work. Luckily his co-worker decided to check on him (different areas, no reason for him to be there. He (the guy who was injured) had left his cell phone in the truck.) So if the co-worker wouldn't have followed his inner voice...who knows when someone would have called 911. Author Reply: Hi Laer. Your story is pretty gruesome but unfortunately very typical of the day where we've forgotten the lesson of the Good Samaritan. I'm glad you like the way I weave my other stories into this one. That gives it greater historical depth, I think. And the Valar are the master weavers for sure. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. I appreciate you doing so very much. | |
| Kevana | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| Good things abound - Finrod being a peacemaker, Glorfindel being the wonderful ellon he is, the healers hard at work, things moving along for the craft-making. And Finrod standing up for the Mortals, and even the Valar, and Glorfindel backing him up! It's evident Fionwë's talk had quite an impact, as did Manwë's visit. And now we get to see the other side of what happened with "The Journey Home," too! So that's how it all went down. I love how you connected the two stories, it makes it so much more immersive and detailed. It was so sweet how happy Gil was to finally find out what happened with the Elves that returned. Also wonderful to find out why the little crew didn't Sail. I really sympathize with the free will issue they're confronting. I'm independent to a fault and it's always hard to give up the reins and trust, even when you're willing. On the one hand you can be and do so much more when you surrender, but heaven knows it's scary and you want to fight it every step of the way. I can only imagine how much harder it would be for the Elves who (just in my view) generally seem to be less used to being at the mercy of things they can't control. Maybe that's one of those things that the Mortals could teach their Elf friends. I think that Manwë's example about the candles and the two churches' messages are brought home in this whole business about the spiritual warfare...because what happens if they lose that one candle that could make the difference, because they decided that person was an enemy and drove them away instead of trying to help them? Something they should think about. Although some people might shriek in horror at disfiguring a book, when it's to turn it into Hobbit art like this, I think I am more than okay with it. *grin* Lovely chapter, Fiondil! Thanks for the update, have a good week and take care. -Kevana Author Reply: Hi Kevana. It was fun to connect the two stories the way that I did. I'm glad that I actually had it that not everyone in the elvish colony joined Denethor on his quest and we perhaps have a better understanding of why Glóredhel appeared so wistful whenever Maglor noticed her. The free will issue is a difficult one on all fronts, even for us, and the idea of spiritual warfare is not something most of us like to think about, but you're right about the need to be careful in not rejecting someone who might well be the saving of all. After all, that's already happened once in history. I'm more than okay about the book-disfigurement for art's sake, too, especially in this case. Thanks for the link and thanks for leaving a comment. Both are much appreciated. Have a great week yourself. | |
| Sunny | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| Heh. So the Twins don't do boring, do they? Well, neither do Glorfindel, so maybe he wasn't so convincing after all when he tried to convince them to Sail. Lovet the reference to The Journey home - I bet some of the others will be pestering the Valinoreans for tales about them! Author Reply: Hi Sunny. You're probably right about Glorfindel not being too convincing. He definitely does not do boring either. I'm glad you liked the reference to Journey Home. I figured it was a good place to make it and helps to tie things together rather neatly. I'm sure there will be lots of pestering for tales about Maglor and Denethor and those who followed them. Thanks for commenting. It's greatly appreciated. | |
| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| Hm, not too sure I like the idea of being a chess piece, even with you know who as the Chess Master! As to the question of free will and predestination, perhaps it can be explained as free will within certain boundary's, i.e. the constraints of polite society. Feeling better today, off to shower and get some breakfast. Huggs, Lynda Author Reply: Hi Lynda. I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better. And I suppose the idea of being chess pieces would not please most people, but in a sense that is what we are, assuming you believe in the struggle between good and evil, which hopefully will not be eternal but will end in victory for good. At any rate, I think your suggestion about free will within certain boundaries is a good one and perhaps when we think of it in that respect, it's easier to accept. Thanks for reviewing. I very much appreciate it. Hugs back. | |
| Dreamflower | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| This was a very needed conversation; I can see that these Elves are now beginning to understand, if not their personal role, at least that they do have roles that are necessary to what is going to happen. There is a fine line between manipulation an coercion. Eru's Ainur do not coerce, yet sometimes they come perilously close. (Those who have shifted their allegiance to the Enemy, I am thinking, would have no such qualms.) But a person must allow him/her self to be manipulated: there is the element of free will still there. Still, I can understand the Elves resenting the knowledge that their decisions are being influenced. I do hope the Elves set up their Etsy shop soon! ;) (BTW, if you want to see what a mortal can do when inspired by Elven art, check out this project by Elliska, made for Back to Middle-earth Month: Three versions of the Elessar-- http://b2mem.livejournal.com/259581.html ) Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower. A very needed conversation, and there is indeed a fine line between manipulation and coercion. Eru's Ainur don't coerce, but they do manipulate or perhaps a better way to put it, they provide opportunities for others to do or not to do something, leaving it up to the person's free will. One has to ask if it's true manipulation if the person is spiritually open to hints and promptings. Finrod felt himself drawn to those two churches though he could not have said why but he could well have ignored the prompting that sent him out of Edhellond. That is the risk that Eru takes with us all. Thanks for the link. Awesome. And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. It's much appreciated. | |
| UTfrog | Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/17/2014 |
| Another great summary chapter. Thanks you for letting us know the ties between Wiseman elves and those who sailed with Maglor. I just loved those paragraphs. After dinner I suspect there were small groups talking and others thinking deeply on what they heard. Author Reply: I'm glad you liked the chapter, UTfrog. I felt it was necessary to tie the two groups together. One of my betas kept asking me if any of the Wiseman Elves would've known those who followed Denethor in search of Maglor. I'm sure there was a great deal of discussion about it all for many days to come. Thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated. | |