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Elf, Interrupted: Book Two: Glorfindel's Quest  by Fiondil 9 Review(s)
LarnerReviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/16/2009
Yes, the height of devious minds here! Heh!

Hopefully she has learned now.

Author Reply: Indeed! And hopefully she has. We'll see in the next chapter.

TariReviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/16/2009
What are those rascally Valar up to now? Nienna sending Lisselindë to Irmo sounds a bit unusual for them. I’m sure there are more Maia than her who could use an attitude adjustment.

The next chapter should be most interesting.


Author Reply: I'm sure Nienna has her reasons for having Lisselindë dance attendance to Laurendil for a day. We'll see what happens in the next chapter.

Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/16/2009
I really enjoyed this chapter (I love it when our favourite Vala makes an appearance).
+I’m more inclined to make you Glorfindel’s thrall for the next century; the two of you almost deserve each other. However, my brother considers it cruel and unusual punishment for you both, so that option is out as well."+
*snicker* that had me almost rolling on the floor with laughter.
Namo certainly loves mazes: one in the entrance hall of his mansion, one in his garden and one at the borders of Lorien

Being compared to Melkor must have hurt, but hopefully it will be enough to get her to think and abandon that superiority complex...
I wouldn´t want to be on the receiving end of one of Namo´s lectures.
So she´ll follow Laurendil around? I´m really looking forward to that!

Greetings, Thalanee

Author Reply: Hi, Thalanee. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. Any chapter where Námo makes an appearance is a good chapter, IMO, even if he is in Wrath-of-Mandos mode. *lol*

It seems Námo inclined to make Lisselindë Glorfindel's thrall for a century (and that's an elven century equal to 144 solar years!) is everyone's favorite line.

Hopefully, Námo's words will make an impression on the Maia and she will start rethinking her ideas. The next chapter will indeed show her interacting with Laurendil.

Thanks for your review, Thalanee. I really appreciate you taking the time to write one.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/15/2009
"I’m more inclined to make you Glorfindel’s thrall for the next century; the two of you almost deserve each other. However, my brother considers it cruel and unusual punishment for you both, so that option is out as well."

You did make me giggle here - even though the poor Maia was undergoing such an awful interview. I would not like to stand in front of Namo!



Author Reply: I'm sure a lot of readers found this funny, Agape, even if Lisselindë and Glorfindel wouldn't. *grin* And I wouldn't want to stand in front of Námo either!

Independence1776Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/15/2009
Meep! This is one conversation I would never like to have.

I’m more inclined to make you Glorfindel’s thrall for the next century; the two of you almost deserve each other. *snorts* I'm fairly sure Glorfindel wouldn't appreciate it.

However, my brother considers it cruel and unusual punishment for you both, Glad Irmo thinks so!

I sincerely hope that arrogance is, at the least, lessened. The Eruhini aren't lesser, just different.

I think she needed the comparision to Melkor, for she could not see it herself.

Wonderful conversation!

Author Reply: Hopefully, Lisselindë will at least leave Lord Námo with something to think about. He has certainly left her with enough food for thought. Glad you enjoyed the chapter, Indy. Thanks for letting me know.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/15/2009
Oh, your muse told you how that ‚little talk’ went? Great! :)

Interesting. Lisselindë wasn’t treated any differently than an Elf – she had to walk through the maze and was called ‚daughter’. Another way to rub it in that she is not superior to the Firstborn.

I’m more inclined to make you Glorfindel’s thrall for the next century; the two of you almost deserve each other. However, my brother considers it cruel and unusual punishment for you both, so that option is out as well." *grin* Lisselindë might deserve it, but not poor Glorfindel. He’s been through enough, and I am reasonably sure he wouldn’t appreciate the joke ;)

Ouch. Being compared to Melkor is hard! But maybe it is shocking her enough that it hits home how seriously the Valar take the case.

Hm. Lisselindë may have been observing the elves for millennia, but obviously only from above her throne of superiority, and so never really understood them. She never truly knew what the Firstborn thought, she only knew what she herself *believed* they thought, and that’s not the same. It must rankle to learn that Námo thinks Glorfindel had every right to chastise her :D

To think that there are more Maiar who think they’re something better than the Elves is a bit worrying. I hope not only Lisselindë gets the hint, but the others as well.

And now poor Laurendil has the questionable honour of her company for tomorrow? Well, I guess he’ll not take any nonsense from her. It will be interesting to see how Lisselindë reacts to these Elves who are probably not in the best shape, to put it mildly ...



Author Reply: Observing and interacting are two different actions. Maiar like Tiutalion or Olórin or those in Námo's service who have actually dealt with the Elves face-to-face have come to see them as younger siblings perhaps but certainly not inferior, merely different. Until she was assigned to watch over Lindorillë, Lisselindë had had almost no direct contact with the Elves, as her duties tended to lie in other directions. It's possible that in assigning her to watch over the elfling Irmo had more than one purpose in mind. The Valar are nothing if not devious. *grin*

We will see in the next chapter how Lisselindë fares with Laurendil.

Thanks for your oomments, Kitty. They're much appreciated.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/15/2009
Lissalinde has to learn that, sometimes the most obvious way is not the best, Iluvatar is not the only one to draw straight with crooked lines!
I like the idea of her following Laurendil around for a day, she has not worked with the newly Reborn I take it? Maybe seeing them as they come fresh from Mandos will give her a better understanding of the Reborn.
While I am sure that Melkor would have enjoyed the company I don't think Lissalinde would and I some how doubt that the Vala would have thrust her into Melkors void, maybe her own, personal void?
More please,
Lynda

Author Reply: You're right about Ilúvatar not being the only one to draw straight with crooked lines, Lynda. The Valar, and Námo especially, have become rather adapt at doing so themselves.

Actually Lisselindë will be following Laurendil as he attends to some Returnees (Elves who have sailed) rather than with any of the Reborn. We will actually see this in the next chapter and some of Laurendil's own personal history will be revealed as well.

As for the Void... I'm not sure if there is such a thing as one's own personal Void, but no doubt the Valar could create one if they needed to. *grin* Hopefully, Lisselindë will never find out if they can.

SunnyReviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/15/2009
The maze – is that the same one Glorfindel visited, once upon a time? If so, I suppose it is a part of the Escheresque geography of Aman. And it is obviously a place that follow the usual sort of rules, since Lisselindë has to walk through it rather than simply thinking herself into the center. ;-)

So Lisselindë being Glorfindel’s thrall for a century would be a cruel and unusual punishment for them _both_, would it? I suppose I can understand that. Glorfindel would certainly not care for another Maia following him around all the time. He has certainly had enough of that, and would probably see her as another nanny. And for Lisselindë - it would certainly be an education for her trying to keep up with him. If he didn't drive her completely crazy, that is. 0:-)

The “or else” Námo presents to Lisselindë is certainly one that makes her sit up and take notice. As well it should! I am sure she is horrified when Námo starts drawing comparisons between her attitudes and Melkor’s – and what they might lead to.

It is to be hoped that a crack has been opened in her hard-headed attitute, through which she might be educated. And I am sure the Valar will be trying their _very_ “helpful” best in providing opportunities for “educational” situations. For Lisselindë, definitely, but also probably for Glorfindel. Though it wouldn’t surprise me at all if surprising events occur. They always seem to do around Glorfindel. ;-)

And the first opportunity for “educational” situations will be a day of following Laurendil about helping Returnees. And I suppose they can, in their own way, be as unpredictably “interesting” as Glorfindel. Are we going to see a bit of that?

So Lisselindë isn’t the only Maia with a superiority complex towards the Elves? I hope they will get the message. If not – well, _they_ would also be treated to Valarin educational efforts, I suppose. And another "message" would be circulated.


Author Reply: Hi, Sunny. Actually this maze is a different one. The one Glorfindel went into lies on the border of Lórien (more or less). Like me, Námo has a thing for mazes and labyrinths, so it's not surprising he has one in his own backyard. *grin*

I'm sure that the Valar will be monitoring the situation with Lisselindë and Glorfindel very closely and will not be shy about, as you say, provinding opportunities for 'educational' situations. *lol* We'll have to see how that develops.

We will indeed see Lisselindë's day with Laurendil, at least in part, in the next chapter, as a flashback. Stay tuned!

SitaraReviewed Chapter: 44 on 2/15/2009
Truth to be told, as soon as I saw the title of the new chapter, I was fully prepared to sneer a little at any words of wisdom that the Lord of Mandos might have to say. "embarrased cough" Some old grudges and a rather selective memory, you know. "wink"

But I had to wipe the sneer out of my face in the end. Lisselinde's manner of thinking was very clear: the Valar are the Maiar' superiors and the Maiar are the Eldar' superiors. No doubt about it. Yet Námo's answer is, in my opinion, meant to rend speechless even the most dense creature: No one has any superior, save Eru Himself. We, the Valar and you, the Maiar, have the same purpose: to love and care for Eru's Children. Well, this is, in my eyes, far more impressive than even the perspective of facing exile or the Void. Touché, Lord Námo.

I believe Lisselinde has finally understood. She seems to be a very determined person, (finding her path through the Lord of Mandos' maze it's a proof to that) and she could become an important asset in the Ainur's dealings with the Eldar. However, I cannot refrain myself from wondering how Lisselinde and Glorfindel would have put up with eachother. "laughing madly". But neither the somewhat short-tempered Laurendil does seem to me an ellon easier to deal with.

A very important chapter, in my opinion. Many things, that were said before, I have to admit it, needed to be remembered to some persons.

Author Reply: Hi, Sitara. Well, I'm glad I (or rather Námo) was able to wipe the sneer off your face. *lol* Given his history (as described in "Wars of the Valar"), position (as Doomsman and Judge) and ability to see further into the future of Arda than any of the Valar, I suspect Námo is probably one of the wisest of them.

Hopefully, Lisselindë has gotten the message. I'm glad you see this as an important chapter. Of course, I think *every* chapter is important, but admittedly some are more important for what they say than others. *grin*

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