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Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within by Fiondil	10 Review(s)
obsidianj	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/23/2015
Glowing arrow in the sky lol The Maia are having too much fun. But Glorfindel storming out and slamming the door was a bit unexpected. It is worrisome that he is still that much on edge that the least bit of provocation elicits a reaction like that. His nightmares don't help either. I just hope they are not foreshadowing for things to come. Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. I just couldn't resist the glowing arrow, it was too good not to use. Glorfindel is on a knife's edge emotionally and we'll see why in Elf Academy 4. It's symptomatic of his mugging and his nightmares, as well as dealing with the visitors from Valinor. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/20/2015
Love the reference to Constantine there. Heh! I do hope they get to the bottom of the dreams, and I do wish the Valinor Elves would more generally be happy that there are children being born here in Endore. Glorfindel and Finrod are a wonderful pair of brothers of the heart. And seeing their kings helping prepare dinner was a good experience for their servants! Author Reply: Hi Larner. I thought it was a fun reference. Glorfindel's dreams will be addressed more fully in Elf Academy 4, which picks up directly after Elf Academy 3 ends, but we have quite a few more chapters to go before we get there. Glorfindel and Finrod are true brothers of the heart. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.

Dreamflower	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
Now everyone is relaxing with rather mundane activities. I like seeing them cooking and planning the picnic while others find restful things to occupy themselves with. My favorite bit was Olwe's fascination with television (though it's good that he found a documentary on oceans, and not something like the WWE or Real Housewives or The Bachelor). But there are some worrisome things. Tthe visiting Elves' attitude is disturbing but not surprising; Valinor is a very hierarchical society. After ages of nothing happening, any differences to the status quo may seem not only offensive, but even threatening. Getting them to lighten up won't be easy. Then there's the matter of Amroth's health. I do hope Elrond can help! Still, what's most worrisome is Glorfindel--and I can see why his friends were so upset when he stormed out. After all look what happened last time! OTOH, I was glad when Finrod and Ron found him so quickly. And the big glowing sign was a hoot. Has Fionwe been watching Looney Tunes? (BTW, I got the audio-book of the Silm for Christmas and have been listening in the car. At home I have been reading your "Wars of the Valar". Today I had just gotten to the part of your story with the destruction of the Lamps; when I got in the car to go to the store, the reader was right at that point also!) Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower. Wow! That's quite something to be reading my "Wars of the Valar" and having it coincide with where you are in the Silmarillion. Of course, most of that story is completely made up, taking place, as it were, between the space between two sentences in the published text. Anyway, I hope you are enjoying both reads. We'll see how Elrond and the others deal with Amroth and his health issues in the next chapter. And Glorfindel definitely has issues which will be addressed in Elf Academy 4. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. It's very much appreciated.

ReaderKit	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
Hehe, the image of all those prim and proper Valinor Elves at a cookout is funny. I am both amused and sympathetic to Olwe wanting to watch television - he sounds like a teenager! Although I bet he would love to scuba dive. Hmm, apathy in Valinor is not good preparation for the Armageddon. Having just finished Elf Interrupted, the thought that all the effort put into making a cohesive and all-inclusive government going to waste is sad. At least there doesn't seem to be much in-fighting anymore, which is good. I almost can't believe that the servants are more stuck-up than the royals. Just...huh? Poor Glorfi - he just has too much to deal with, doesn't he? Bwahaha! The Maiar have to find some way to amuse themselves, I suppose. Good chapter, thanks! Author Reply: Hi ReaderKit. Elves at a cookout does seem funny. Never really thought about it. It's been my experience that the "help" can be more strict about propriety than the "masters". It's how they know that all is right with the world and themselves. Glorfi does have a lot to deal with and it will show when we get into Elf Academy 4. And the Maiar do know how to amuse themselves, for sure. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

Lindelea	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
(to a famous old tune) How ya gonna keep 'em down in Aman, After they've seen tee-vee! Lovely to see the three kings helping in the kitchen, and the servants on holiday. Still quite a bit of attitude adjustment needed, it seems. Disapproving? Of a pregnancy? (Especially the way we've seen certain Elves regard children.) Things are worse than I thought. Glorfindel's dreams are disquieting. His "somebody dying" may have an unintended double meaning. Let's hope not. Sounds like some Maiar are having lots of fun... getting an early start on their time off, perhaps? (Surfing the stars was a fascinating concept, BTW.) Author Reply: Hi Lindelea. Well, I figured if you're a spiritual being not limited by physicality then surfing the stars would be a fun thing to do. grin I'm glad you find the concept fascinating. The servants, of course, won't have much if anything to do with Mortals so it doesn't really matter what their attitude is. At least they can go home and tell all their friends about meeting them and everything. The disapproval of the pregnancy is from the younger generations as Ingwë points out, those who have given up on life and hope. And hopefully Glorfindel's "somebody dying" does indeed not have a double meaning. We'll have to see. Thanks for leaving a review. It's much appreciated.

Soledad	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
Oh, I loved Olwë and his newly developed TV addiction! They'll have a hard time to drag him back to Aman, now that he's actually having fun. If Amroth doesn't listen to the healers, perhaps they should employ Alex to play the guilt card. I'm sure he is very good at it. Elrond certainly will be able to make a few useful suggestions, too. I hope they won't have to flee to Fairbanks, after all they had invested into the Wiseman operation, but a backup plan is always handy. Poor Glorfi, though. I can't blame him for being fed up to the eyeballs with all those surprises. Especially as he hates them on principle. And the Brightman boys going to college? Is made of the win. I can't wait to see what Mortal names they will choose. Author Reply: Hi Soledad. We'll see how the healers handle Amroth. He can be as stubborn as the next Elf. Having a backup plan is always a good thing and Glorfi is having a tough time keeping it all together. We'll see how well he handles things from here on out, especially when we get into Elf Academy 4. As for the Brightman boys, I suspect hey'll just use "Dar" and "Cani". Kids are given the oddest names these days so I doubt anyone will bat an eye. grin Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.

Kevana	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
It warms my heart to see Olwë being glued to the screen watching National Geographic. I have a huge soft spot for your Olwë in particular and Lindar in general. He should totally get after Aulë to set up inter-dimensional satellite reception, under the guise of it being good preparation for the war and working with mortals...and sneak in some PBS or Spongebob Squarepants on the side. I am so not cool with the visitors hating on Nimrodel and Amroth for having kids. Shame on them! Are Glorfindel's dreams a result of what he went through, as the timing would suggest, or are they also foreshadowing of things to come? Recurring nightmares are the worst. But they can also be useful, I think, once you figure out what they mean. I'm glad we'll get to see a bit more on this in EA4, along with a look at what's going on in Aman. Rebecca, I'm also curious about the haryon issue. It really is sad to see that they don't even hold tournaments any more, considering how important that seemed to their society. The Maiar have now invented a Batsignal for Ron. The Ronsignal. I can't...that is just... ahaha. Hmm, can trees lie? The way you write the trees as "aware" entities is one of my favorite things. So the Elves have continued with their backup plan of moving to Fairbanks, probably wise. I could imagine they might need a second base of operations eventually, anyway. A lot of things packed into this chapter, and much to come I'm sure! Thanks for the update, and hope you have a great week. Wicked was fantastic, and it nearly feels like spring this morning - visions of tomato seedlings are dancing through my head. Take care, -Kevana Author Reply: Hi Kevana. Olwë is a fun character to write. I can see him watching PBS shows like NOVA, but I doubt he would go for Spongebob Squarepants. As for the haryon issue, I suspect that's why Finrod leaped at the chance to return to Middle-earth where he used to be king in his own right. Not sure how Ingwion or Lindarion feel about it. That's the trouble with the whole immortality thing: there's no incentive for innovation or new blood taking over. As for Glorfindel's dreams, we'll see what they are all about in EA4 and what their significance is. I don't think trees can lie, but they have their own concerns and may not be as forthcoming with information as us two-footers might like. grin I couldn't resist the "Ronsignal". It was just too fun not to put it in and just shows that the Maiar are having way too much fun at the expense of the incarnates. The next chapter will highlight Amroth and their concern for his health and then we will get into the election. Thanks for leaving a comment. It's very much appreciated.

Rebecca Ashling	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
Sounds to me as if Glorfindel is suffering PTSD from his mugging. Hope he won't be too proud to accept counselling from Vorundur for that. The malaise in Aman is kind of worrying. The Elves are essentially hothouse flowers locked inside a gilded cage, forever. They have the talents and have had the time to have exceeded, or at least equalled, us Secondborn in technological acumen but simply haven't. It also occurs to me that there is little political change. Ingwë, Arafinwë, Olwë and the leaders of the other Amaneldarin realms are at the top and stay there. What's the point of say Ingwion, Finrod and Lindarion being haryoni to their atars if they don't relinquish the throne. And this must apply to every Amaneldarin institution, not just the monarchies. There is no new blood at the top , the youngest are always at the bottom of any hierarchy, subject to their elders. Why subject their children to it? Hence the lack of offspring which makes even giant pandas seem to have the philoprogenerative enthusiasm of rabbits. At least in mortal societies even the most antiquated gerontocrats don't endure forever, much as they would like to. I wonder if the Valar are planning a lot more interaction between Quendi and Atani to catalyse change amongst Elvish societies? Anyways, a great chapter with lots of food for thought :D PS: Perhaps satelite TV to Aman might be just the thing! Author Reply: Hi Rebecca. Yeah, I think Glorfindel is still trying to deal with his mugging and the consequences of it will be a major aspect of Elf Academy 4. The malaise in Aman is indeed worrying and we will see the attempts of the kings to counteract it, again in EA4. As for what the Valar are planning, that, too, remains to be seen. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter and found a lot in it to think about. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
Heh. I see it took only one ocean-related documentary for Olwë to want a TV set of his own, and access to satellite TV channels. Makes me wonder if it is Ingwë or Arafinwë who will start clamoring for a computer and an internet connection. And of course, with internet access you can also get to see nature-relted stuff - like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE1HDSipRxU I see the servants are shocked that Ingwë and Arafinwë actually know their way around the kitchen. And that the Mortal aren't showing "proper deference" to the Elves! Poor dears! ;-) Looks like Amroth is about due for a serious talking-to by the Healers. Hope he will take their admonishions to heart and start resting more - it sounds like he really needs it! That big glowing arrow in the sky was too funny! snickers Author Reply: Hi Sunny. We'll have to see who starts clamoring for internet connection, but we'll have to wait until Elf Academy 4 for that. I'm sure Ingwë and Arafinwë enjoy shocking the servants and luckily none of them will be staying behind so they won't be further offended by the Mortals' lack of manners. grin We'll see what happens when the healers confront Amroth in the next chapter. Glad you liked the big glowing arrow. As Ron says, the Maiar are having way too much fun. LOL! Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.

bookworm	Reviewed Chapter: 111 on 1/19/2015
GIANT GLOWING ARROW /crying tears of laughter But aw poor Glorfindel, too much stress huh? I know the feeling of wanting to escape. I imagine he'd get bored pretty quickly though! And lol TV-junkie Olwe. Could be worse. He could have become addicted to daytime soapies... Author Reply: Hi bookworm. I thought the glowing arrow a nice touch. grin I imagine Glorfindel would get bored pretty quickly too, but it is tempting to wanting to escape the madness at times. Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it.

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