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Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux  by Fiondil 6 Review(s)
KayleeReviewed Chapter: 72 on 8/11/2008
*grin* What a shock for our poor young Balrog-Slayer, to see Yaravinyon become Lord Manwe! Well, at least he knows now he's in no trouble. And on my re-read of EI 1 I've been growing more and more suspicious of what his summons to Taniquetl might be for...*ponders*

~Kaylee!!

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 72 on 2/13/2008
Ah--so he borrowed it, did he? Am glad that Bombadil, in his way, is represented in Aman by Manwe himself! Hee!

Author Reply: It was fun reading everyone's ideas of who this person might be, so I was glad that no one figured it out. I'm sure that when Glorfindel got to Middle-earth and met Bombadil and told him about it, that Maia found it highly amusing.

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 72 on 5/28/2007
I have to admit that when Glorfindel throws a tantrum, he gives it all he's got! Although I think that some of the anger and frustration and rage is caused by more than just being told he isn't going where he wants to go. Even if Glorfindel hasn't articulated it yet, he must be angry about what happened to him, the fight and the beating and the abandonment on Taniquetil.

Yes, I'm certain that Lord Namo would not want to find Glorfindel back in his Halls! He certainly has warned his Reborn about that enough!

Oh, the transformation and revelation that Yaravinon is Manwe was incredible! But no wonder Glorfindel fainted! He'd ranted and raved at the Elder King, and, too, there was his being on the mountain when he'd been prohibited to do so (although I think that he is taking the prohibition too literally as it was not his choice to go there).

I think that it was wonderful that Manwe would choose to care for Glorfindel in the way he did. I certainly do not think it a demeaning thing nor out of character for a being who loves each of the Eldar for whom he is responsible to Iluvatar.

"Probably had Lady Vairë do the mending," *giggle* Obviously, Glorfindel is feeling a bit more like himself now--his sense of humor peeking through. His reunion with Olorin was wonderful and I liked how the Maia coped with the ellon's wailing statement of how he just doesn't understand what is going on. And again, he's told that he's reading too much into the prohibition.

His return... I can just picture Ingwe running to meet him and embrace him! The High King running through the streets to throw his arms around Glorfindel and rejoice in his safe return. :) Does Glorfindel realize just how many hearts he's touched and crawled into in the time since his rebirth?

The closing scene between Ingwe and Manwe was beautiful. The affection and love and friendship between the two of them just shone through. The exchange of the kiss of peace was the perfect touch.

Author Reply: Glorfindel does nothing by halves! *grin* The anger he is expressing is of course partly due to frustration at being snowbound but mostly it is indeed an expression (not articulated as such by him consciously) of the anger, sense of violation and even fear that his beating has evoked.

Manwë, here, exhibits the ultimate meaning of kingship for me: that of a servant. And what a servant! — putting up with Glorfindel's whining all that time. *lol* But seriously, when he appeared out of the storm to rescue Glorfindel, I wasn't sure who he was either, even when he gave his name, but the moment he said to Glorfindel "I am sure" when Glorfindel expressed doubt that Yáravinyon would know the minds of the Valar, I knew who was standing there and I was just as awed by the transformation as Glorfindel.

Glorfindel's remark about Lady Vairë is a bit juvenile and he knows it, which is why he cringes and feels guilty, expecting parental disapproval to come down on him. I suspect that both Manwë and Vairë found the remark amusing and "typcial Glorfindel".

I don't think Glorfindel at this point has any idea just how far he has crawled into other people's hearts since his re-embodiment, which is really one of his charms. I would like to think that on one level he never fully understands the effect he has and the emotions of love and caring he evokes in others.

Manwë and Ingwë's reconciliation was long in coming, and it took Glorfindel's plight to bring it about, but at least they are now reconciled, which is all that matters. I'm glad that you liked the closing scene and could feel Ingwë's regret and sorrow and Manwë's loving forgiveness and his reciprocal act of atonement. I find it one of the most beautiful scenes in the entire story.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 72 on 4/11/2007
"If I didn’t know better, I’d swear this storm exists for the sole purpose of keeping me here with you," Was that not exactly what I said before? And now that I know just *who* Yáravinyon is, I am even more convinced.

As for Yáravinyon, here you fooled me completely. Even if I suspected Radagast to be a bit to obvious to be true, I’d *never* guessed it was Manwë himself. No wonder poor Glorfindel fainted!

It was equally amusing and touching that first Ingwë came running down to greet Glorfindel. Very unkingly and undignified, but sweet – it shows so well how much even this King loves Glorfindel already.

And I am glad Ingwë made his peace with Manwë.

Author Reply: Well, of course the storm was for Glorfindel's benefit, especially with Manwë doing elfling-minding duty. It was probably the only thing he could think of to keep his favorite balrog-slayer in one place. *lol*

I'm glad you liked my little surprise. And yes, it's nice to see Ingwë and Manwë reconcile, isn't it?

eilujReviewed Chapter: 72 on 4/11/2007
Yup! Manwë. Thought so when he first appeared in the blizzard. My translation was (inevitably) a bit lacking.

Interesting about the change in meaning of Tom B.’s name. That I didn’t know about (I was looking at the Encyclopedia of Arda, to see if they had more than LotR, and the E of A isn’t as complete as it might be).

Looking at various Quenya word lists, I found “yára” as ancient and “vinya” as young/new; I figured it became vinyon through esoteric grammatical processes which I won’t even try to explain (and probably misunderstood); had another possible reason for that “-on” also. So that gave me “Oldest of the young,” which was why I figured Glorfindel raised that eyebrow. -- but potentially appropriate for the Elder King one way or the other (younger than Ilúvatar, anyway).

Looked a bit farther later, and found that “vinya” has a secondary meaning, which is “light blue,” which I took to be a reference to the sky blue which is Manwë’s color, so I was happier about the name. But it looks like you weren’t thinking of that after all.



“You are not ready for what will be demanded of you when at last you are permitted to come before the Elder King on Taniquetil” -- Sigh. Want to see it now ... want the story to go on forever ... want to see it now....

I’m glad Glorfindel wasn’t upset to learn he was the Bait. Elflings get upset so easily.

Got 3 or 4 of my formal predictions correct this time, Ingwë at the end of the chapter being one of them.


Author Reply: The _-on_ suffix is one of the common name suffices to indicate "maleness" rather than "femaleness" of the person whose name it is, since many names among the elves are shared between the genders, differentiated by various gender-idicative suffices. I was aware that vinya means "light blue" but "sky blue" is actually _menelluin_, which word is what *I* associate with Manwë. Sorry.

Originally, because of the way Elrond "translated" Tom's Sindarin name at the Council, many people assumed that _iarwain_ was the superlative form of _iar_ meaning "oldest", but recent linguistic studies have convinced most people that it actually means "ancient-new" and that seemingly contradictory meaning is what raised Glorfindel's eyebrow.

>>“You are not ready for what will be demanded of you when at last you are permitted to come before the Elder King on Taniquetil” -- Sigh. Want to see it now ... want the story to go on forever ... want to see it now....

You're probably not the only one to feel this way. *lol*

RhyselleReviewed Chapter: 72 on 4/11/2007
I really need to make time to study Quenya and Sindarin! You really surprised me with it being Manwe who was caring for Glorfindel!

I'm getting ready to start my workday so can't leave an exhaustive review of this chapter, but I really liked it. It's left a warm feeling in my heart and I'm sure I'll be smiling all day because of it.

I did like Ingwe admitting that he wouldn't let the rest of Glorfindel's friends meet him because he wanted to be the first! :) If Glorfindel ever felt as if he were alone and family-less, he's certainly having it proved wrong by the family he has been building through friendship and love since his Rebirth. I'll do a more thorough review of this and Reunion later, when I don't have a ton of work to get done.

Thank you for updating so frequently, I really look forward to weekends and mid-week when the new chapters pop up.

Author Reply: I imagine (or at least hope) that I surprise lots of people with it being Manwë caring for Glorfindel. *grin* I look forward to a more detailed review whenever you get around to it.

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