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Elf, Interrupted: Book Two: Glorfindel's Quest  by Fiondil 10 Review(s)
Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/25/2009
1) The safest road is to simply be yourself — the good and the bad — and let others worry about themselves.

2) You have lost one life and those who gave you a sense of purpose and identity, but you have a new life and there are those, ... , who would gladly help you find your way to a new purpose and identity, if you will let them.

3) Doing is not important right now; being is. Concentrate on just being yourself, nothing more.


I need a t-shirt made that says - Everything I ever needed to know I learned from Elf, Interrupted....................................

Author Reply: That would be an interesting t-shirt to have, wouldn't it? And people would be going around saying "Elf what!?" *lol* If you ever have one made I take a 2XL myself. *grin*

Independence1776Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/19/2009
I feel so sorry for Glorfindel here. He obviously can't cope- he needs to relearn how to relax.

"We don’t want anything from you." Yes, actually, you do. You want Glorfindel to be happy.

"No one, and I do mean no one, is permitted in Lord Námo’s demesne without his expressed permission. I would not be so foolish as to even try." And if he wouldn't have been so explicit, I could see Glorfindel go and bugging Námo about it.

"The Maia laughed loudly at that, reminded of past times when he and his brother in the Thought of Ilúvatar used to do precisely that and still did, much to the despair of both Lady Nienna and Lord Námo." *laughs*

"People generally either choose to be themselves or they try to be what they think others want them to be, whether that is actually true of others or not. Our perceptions color our choices in all things, and sometimes our perceptions are faulty. The safest road is to simply be yourself — the good and the bad — and let others worry about themselves. What they think of you is also immaterial so long as you remain true to yourself." Very good advice, something more people in real life should follow. (Including myself at times...)

"Doing is not important right now; being is. Concentrate on just being yourself, nothing more." And that's hard enough without trying to figure out fifty other things at once like Glorfindel is.

Nice visual of the embroidery! Is that something you've done? (I noticed in your profile you do embroidery.)

"'I considered setting fire to the cottage,' he replied." *snorts* He must _really_ be bored.

Okay, what did Arafinwë do? (Though I have a feeling the incident is a spoiler.)

Yes, the paint being there is certainly suspicious.

"Paint the entire cottage turquoise? As lovely a color as turquoise is, my friend, an entire house of that color would give even me nightmares." Unfortunately, I used to live in a house that _was_ painted green. (Naval base housing- wasn't by my parents' choice.)

"'Maybe we can give him one,' Marilliën said, her expression wickedly gleeful and several Maiar nodded enthusiastically." Oh, dear. Why do I have the feeling I'm going to greatly enjoy this next part?

As for what Glorfindel painted: *laughs aloud* That ellon is impossible.

Wonderful chapter!

Author Reply: Hi Indy. It's true the Maiar and Valar want Glorfindel to be happy but they don't actually want anything *from* him on a material level.

I think being true to yourself is one of the hardest things a person can be and it often takes a great deal of effort because there are so many forces (not all of them inimical, btw) out there trying to mold you into something else instead. The expectations of others (or what we believe are those expectations) play a heavy role in shaping us and it's hard to ignore since we all want to be liked. Being true to ourselves sometimes means not being liked by others and that can be hard.

As I pointed out to my beta who raised the same objection about the paints, the interior of Nienna's house, while there is a lot of woodwork, did have many rooms with walls painted and perhaps Nienna was considering (it being Springtime) that some of those rooms needed a fresh coat. So the paint served another purpose besides giving Glorfindel ideas for mischief. *grin*

I think you're the first reviewer to even make mention of what Glorfindel painted. I'm glad you found it funny. He really is impossible, isn't he? *grin*

Thanks for your review. I really appreciate it.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/19/2009
Ah, Glorfindel--you are making a start, aren't you!

Do they have raccoons in Europe? We have more than our fair share of them, as is evident each spring and fall when so many of them wander out into traffic to get hit! Nice he's enjoying the wildlife! Heh!

Author Reply: Raccoons are actually native of the Americas, but we are talking about Valinor (not Middle-earth) where Yavanna created all the creatures we know and where the Americas arose after it was removed.

TariReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/19/2009
I agree with Tuitalion about being oneself. I have never been able to be anyone but who I am.

It looks like Glofindel's not the only one who can get into mischief. I can wait to see what the Maia come up with.

This was such fun to read.

Author Reply: Thanks, Tari. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. It took me years to realize that being myself and not what I thought others wanted me to be or what they wanted me to be was the only safe course to take in one's life. It's a lesson we all have to learn though not all of us learn it as early as one would like.

We should see in the next chapter what happens with Glorfindel and the Maiar.

rickReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2009
Yay! another good chapter. I'm wondering what Nienna's Maiar will come up with, now they have leave to do something. Although I do have a hard time picturing an introspective Glorfindel, it might do him some good to do a little bit of thinking. Can't wait to see what's next, & if I forgot to say so, the previous chapter was really good too!

Author Reply: We'll probably see in the next chapter what the Maiar come up with. Glorfindel really hasn't had the time since leaving Lórien to be introspective but it's something we all have to be once in a while, even the mighty balrog-slayer. *grin* And there is lots of time before he leaves for Middle-earth for introspection. Glad you liked the previous chapter as well as this one. Thanks for letting me know.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2009
Glorfindel is no longer in any danger to be bored to death, I think. Tiutalion got him on a good start for getting into mischief. The paint job might have been inspired by the events in Lórien, but he gave it his very own amusing twist. And it was much better than copying Arafinwë and trying to burn the cottage down.

The table runner embroidery for Nienna sounds lovely. I am sure she will be delighted to get it. I'd love to have something embroidered by Glorfindel, too!

Now I really look forward so see if the Maiar manage to get Glorfindel to enjoy his time there and the mischief so much that he wants to stay longer!

Author Reply: No. I think Glorfindel is past being bored to death. Tiutalion has him on the right road. As to how the Maiar continue to get Glorfindel to enjoy his time and perhaps even stay a little longer remains to be seen.

ellieReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2009
this is such fun! I really like Tiutalion. Can't wait to see what happens next!

Author Reply: Thanks, Ellie. Neither can I! *lol*

6336Reviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2009
Well you can't just keep on calling it The Cottage can you?
Wonder what Marillien and Tiutalion come up with!
Darn I had forgotten about the ribbon work, hope Nienna likes the runner and it makes up for the paint job!
What is it with elves and paint and the need to 'decorate' things?
More please,
Lynda

Author Reply: The paint job is rather harmless and can always be removed once Glorfindel leaves. *grin* And Elves are the artists of the world... they always need to 'decorate' things. *lol*

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2009
What is with those Elves and painting things? After adorning Irmo's pavilion from Lorien, they have begun to do some work with Nienna's property? "smilig lightly" But the best joke of all would be painting or writing something above the gate of the Halls of Mandos, I believe. THAT should be a sight to behold.

Glorfindel doing embroidery? I personally wouldn't have ever believed it. "wide eyes" But only because I'm of little good with a needle in my hands, it doesn't mean that anyone should be as useless as me. Shame on me!

More than ever, I'll notice the care and love the Valar and Maiar alike are showing for those wounded Children. This is truly heartening and, to tell you the truth, I barely can wait for more interaction between the Powers and the Firstborn. I just love the way you do this, Fiondil.

May Gos bless you forever. Sitara.

Author Reply: If you read the first book of "Elf, Interrupted" you would know that one of the things Glorfindel was taught while in Lórien was ribbon embroidery from Vairë's handmaidens. This goes back to a story written by Nilmandra and I borrowed the idea from her. Having done ribbon embroidery (spider-web roses are my favorites), I thought it would be fun to give *my* Glorfindel the same ability.

I'm glad you enjoy how I have the Powers interact with the Firstborn. I admit, I enjoy writing about it myself. Thanks for reviewing, Sitara. I appreciate it.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 40 on 1/18/2009
Hmmm. A bit of decoration on the cottage can hardly be described as a prank. Methinks there was a bit of inspiration here from certain elflings and Reborn and Irmo’s favorite, previously white, pavilion?
At least he did not burn down the cottage. Perhaps he felt it would have been copycattish, since Arafinwë made such a good start on it did it before him?
Oh well. Tiutalion’s little nudge was a start. And evidently subtle enough that Glorfindel’s suspicions have not been raised. As for the main event – it shall be interesting to see if he is able to give even Nienna a surprise.

And as for embroidered thank-you gifts: Wonder if Nienna won’t end up with an embroidered tablecloth of a size suitable for a banquet table in addition to that little table runner? That is, if Tuitalion is sufficiently successful in getting Glorfindel into trouble?

Typo alert: Arafinwë would have been an arsonist, not an arson.


Author Reply: Well, it think it's the name of the cottage that is the prank rather than the actually painting of the lintel, which, admittedly, could have been inspired by the Lórien incident. It is at least a start, and sometimes it's best to start small and work your way up. *grin*

Thanks for the typo alert. It's been corrected.

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