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Elf, Interrupted: Book Two: Glorfindel's Quest by Fiondil	8 Review(s)
6336	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/8/2009
Ingil just dosen't understand does he, you just can't expect younglings to be on their best behavior all the time, it just isn't natural, if they don't get a chance to be themselves it can get messy, very messy, espcially if they get into the paint tent or go on a kitchen raid! I think all Maia should observe a family for a couple of years before working with them in any capacity, to give them some idea of how to interact with them. The Re-born and the Retunees are like people who go to work one day and find their job has been replaced by a machine and the skills they worked years to perfect are no longer needed. Giving Beleg and Sador a job to do will keep them out of trouble and give them meaning. Looks like Larner has been reading Surgical Steel's stuff and what are my cats doing in you reply to Tari's review, I know they get around but did not think they had made it that far! By the way, minor niggle, but didn't you feed Mithlas in the last chapter when Laurindil ordered baths for them? More please, Lynda Author Reply: I had to go back to Tari's and Larner's reviews to see what you were talking about. lol Anyway, to answer your niggle... I doubt Mithlas was in the mood to eat anything at the time and probably refused even a bite, being more concerned with seeing to his naneth and sister. That's why Laurendil questioned him about it here once Mithlas was assured that they were well on the road to recovery and can now attend to his own needs. The Maiar, for all their wisdom, don't really understand the Firstborn and the dynamics of family life among the mirroanwi. Hence, Ingil's honest confusion over Finrod's diatribe. Remember, they have been observing the elves for ages now, and they're still a bit clueless about some tings; witness Lisselindë' misguided presumptions concerning Finrod.

Thalanee	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/3/2009
Another funny chapter! I couldn´t help but imagine Irmo and Este hiding behind trees or another Vala or what/whoever would be around with Finrod in King of Nargothrond- mode looking for them... ;-) hey: brainless mortal? Right back at you, flighty elf grin I wonder where he picked up that phrase? Doriath? Glorfindel or Findarato wouldn´t use that expression... I loved those family scenes (somehow I really envy them) So when is Glorfindel finally going to drag Lisselinde into some mischief jumping up and down like an excited elfling? Author Reply: Hi Thalanee. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. Yes, I imagine Sador picked up the phrase 'brainless mortal' among the elves of Doriath, who alone of the elves of Beleriand had little or no commerce with the Edain. I'm not sure if Glorfindel will drag Lisselkindë into mischief or not. If he's planning anything, he's not told me about it. lol We'll just have to wait and see.

Tari	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/3/2009
Strong family ties are so important such as Mithlas’ care and concern for his mother and sister, to the point of not eating or sleeping, much less seeing friends. Lord Irmo and Lady Este, as other Vala, probably need a break from the feisty Elf every now and then. “Brainless mortal?” They insult me, the little rascals. Having Glorfindel there with Beleg and Sador sounds like so much fun to me. “grins” Author Reply: Families are very important in elven culture, of course, perhaps more so than among humans, so Mithlas forgetting to eat or sleep while caring for his mother and sister would not be considered unusual among elves. Sador's 'brainless mortal' remark is probably one that he heard on occasion during his youth while living in Doriath and perhaps even in the last years of his life at the Havens of Sirion. No doubt it was on par with the same mortals referring to 'flighty elves'. grin While having Glorfindel with Beleg and Sador might be a lot of fun, I doubt Tirion would survive the mayhem and mischief they would cause. grin

Larner	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/2/2009
Appropriate resolutions to the question of what to do with Beleg and Sardos; now to see if Irmo will cool it with Finrod! Author Reply: Hmm... I think you mean Sador lol We'll see what happens between Irmo and Finrod eventually, though we have to take a peek at what is going on with Ingwion, Vorondil and Adundil first and then it's back to Glorfindel.

Kitty	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/2/2009
Something wrong with the elflings always on their best behaviour? LOL Ingil has no idea how wrong that is! I am not sure how much he knows about Elves in general, but he clearly knows nothing about elflings! Considering the mischief the Reborn who are behaving like elflings get into, he should have a clue about real elflings! Good of Finrod to face down the Maia. They might mean well, but I can't imagine Finrod putting up with that being watched for too long; it's making him angry, and is certainly not of much use in keeping him calm for the sake of the elflings. And it's obvious these are intimidated, yes. "Maybe they’re hiding," Laurendil said with a smile. "They know what you’re like when you go all King of Nargothrond on them." Might be. But what a pity! Admittedly, I enjoy the fun :D Well, I can understand that the Kings were worried. But even better I can understand Sador and Beleg. They might sometimes behave like elflings, but they have been adults before they died, in Beleg's case for a very long time, and he has been a very high ranking warrior to whom others looked for guidance. It's no wonder they don't take well to being treated like they can't leave the house without babysitter. And the way Beleg is treated by the Teleri is not making things any better. He must feel terrible sometimes. Really, I wonder how long it will take these animosities between the elven tribes to die down ... Anyway, their ~~punishment~~ promotion might prove interesting. Maybe it will help them to mature when they are taken more seriously and have something useful and responsible to do. But I guess I will have to wait and see how that works out. Author Reply: Well, Reborn acting like elflings are exactly the same as elflings acting like elflings, so it's understandable that Ingil might be a little confused by Finrod's arguments. grin Beleg is a representation of all those elves who lived in Beleriand for thousands of years beneath the stars, creating their own civilization under the rule of Elu Thingol and Melian who now find themselves looked down upon by their Teleri kin and the other Amaneldi simply because they died, usually through no fault of their own. It's even worse for them than for those Sindar who sailed and now reside on Tol Eressëa. While the Teleri welcomed their own Reborn (Olwë intimated this back in EI-1), those who died in the Kinslaying, they don't know what to do with someone like Beleg and obviously Beleg is highly frustrated by this. Hopefully, teaching the Teleri archery may go a long way to resolving this dilemma.

Independence1776	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/1/2009
Laurendil sighed, looking resigned; Mithlas simply looked curious. He had yet to see Finrod in what Laurendil termed his ‘King of Nargothrond’ mood and seeing Finrod facing off a Maia was... interesting, to say the least. Interesting is a good word… Finally Finrod takes a stand. Took him long enough! Also glad Beleg stood up to the kings. I think they needed to be reminded of that. Well, you’re about to be disappointed, because instead we intend to give you the responsibilities you crave and demand. Good! Beleg snorted and Arafinwë smiled, having gotten the gist of what had been said. Olwë’s own expression was unreadable. He would wait until the ellyn left before he asked Arafinwë for a translation. snickers Well, now we know what's been happening with everyone else! Author Reply: Hi, Indy. Yes, Finrod was feeling a little intimidated himself for a while but I think he's gotten over it. grin I think if Beleg were living on Tol Eressëa he wouldn't be feeling so lost. The Elves there would recognize him and his worth and treat him accordingly, even if he does act young at times as he rematures. And we only know what has happened to some of the others. Next chapter will focus on Ingwion, Vorondil and Adundil.

Sunny	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/1/2009
Seeing Finrod in a ”King of Nargothrond” mood with a Maia must be … interesting. But Finrod is right. When kids are on their best behaviour for more than a short while, something is definitely not as it should be. Finrod – being an Elf – knows this. But it is equally obvious that Ingil – being a Maia – doesn’t. “Findaráto never makes threats, Ingil, only promises.” That little comment just says everything about Finrod, doesn’t it? So Sador and Beleg are tired of being treated as elflings – even though they _behave_ like that sometimes. And it seems they had reasons for their frustrations – especially Beleg. For all that Olwë is kin, the Teleri are obviously quite alien to Beleg – and the Teleri were equally obviously quite unaccepting of him. Good thing Arafinwë had an idea of what to do with the excess energy of the two miscreants. ;-) “Correct me if I am wrong, gwador, but I think we both have just been promoted.” snorts along with Beleg Author Reply: “Findaráto never makes threats, Ingil, only promises.” That little comment just says everything about Finrod, doesn’t it? Yes, it does. grin Beleg, more so than Sador, feels the slights against him. He was a respected warrior of Elu Thingol's realm, one of the best, if not the best, archers and marchwardens in all of Arda and he is snubbed and shunned as if he were some sort of freak by the Teleri, not because he is a Reborn (Olwë mentioned waaay back in EI-1 that they were already receiving Reborn but these were his own people, the victims of the Kinslaying), but because he is a Sinda with no love for the sea. We'll see just how much Sador and Beleg enjoy their new-found responsibilities. Promotions aren't always a good thing, you know. grin

Sitara	Reviewed Chapter: 46 on 3/1/2009
As interesting as Glorfindel is, especially since he has a Maia to teach about the Firstborn's ways, it's nice to find out what the rest of the people have been doing in the meantime. However, I do look forward to see again everyone's favorite elfling and he being reunited with his Master. "smile" I believe, as Ingil proved us just now, there is more than just one Maia that still doesn't understand how the Elves' minds and souls are working. Well, you warned us about this, didn't you? "grin" Even without having Lisselinde's arrogance, Ingil does not understand many things about the Eldar but I suppose having Findarato around (and in his kingly moods, if I may add) would help him a little in this matter. Little surprise regarding Arafinwe' and Olwe's irritation and bitterness towards Beleg and Sador. Somehow, all the things are turning back to the past, it seems. Especially for Beleg. After being Thingol's best warrior and the most famous archer on Arda (I'm counting Aman too), it's not pleasant (to say it mildly) to find yourself a Reborn with the emotional reaction of an elfling of ten. On top of that, he is a Sinda, close kin to the Teleri, and has no affinity with the sea. In some manner, his dilemma seems to be the same one as Glorfindel's. He has lost his king, his friends and his purpose. And for a reason, the Teleri are looking at him as if he just has come and serenely asked them for a ship. "laughing bitterly" Or perhaps they were mistaking him for a Noldo? "grinning bitterly" As for a particular statement of Olwe...I'm not forgetting about it, you know. Not in a million years. "evil grin" Author Reply: Even the wisest of the Maiar have little insight into the hearts and souls of the Firstborn simply because they observe them from the outside and not from the inside, as it were. As Ingil points out, the few instances where the Maiar in Lórien have any contact with elflings (not the Reborn acting like them), they have not been in a position to do much running around (most likely because they broken a limb) so they have no choice but to behave. Yet, in reality, that is not the way elflings act, at least not all the time, as Finrod and Laurendil point out. So, even those Maiar, like Ingil, who are accepting of the Firstborn on their own merits, loving them and treating them with respect, are learning some things about the Elves they did not know. Beleg is a 'microcosm' of what is ailing many of the Reborn and Returnees. They had a life, one that had value to them and those whom they loved. Now, however, that life is seen as aberrant by the Amaneldi, especially those who never left Aman even for the War of Wrath. For Beleg it's even worse because he is beginning to remember how he was before and is full of frustration knowing that he is no longer that person, but someone else. He will be a long time (at least by human standards) coming to terms with his new self and will need to find a new purpose and way of living along the way. That's true also of Sador, but to a lesser degree since he has returned to his first love of becoming a potter. Hopefully Arafinwë's solution will go a long way towards diffusing some of that anger and frustration into more productive venues.

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