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Elf Academy Part Deux  by Fiondil 14 Review(s)
Kaylee ArafinwielReviewed Chapter: 35 on 6/5/2012
Atto,

I want to say silly Alex, but I do love his loyalty and steadfastness to his friend. For all "Alex" is meant to be an act and Artemus is his "real" self, I think he has grown genuinely attached to Derek and wants him to be safe. I love the friendship between the two, brotherhood almost it seems (or at least it's getting there). I know the Elves will take good care of Alex, especially Amroth - I grin whenever he calls Alex "son". That's so wonderful :) Alex needs a father (and Amroth needs the practice! ha! *grin*)

Stupid generators, going out like that...*pokes generators*

Oh, and I loved the conversation about what an inconvenient place it was to train for the Last Battle. I'm sure I would have preferred Tahiti myself! LOL!

Tye-melin!

Kaylee

Author Reply: Alex, of course, was running a high fever a the time so he wasn't thinking straight when he left the clinic. Still, he obviously feels some kind of friendship or brotherhood towards Derek to do what he did.

I'm sure Tahiti would be a more fun place for training for the Last Battle, except most likely everyone would be too busy lying around on the beach to care. LOL!

Thanks for commenting, Kaylee. It's much appreciated. Tye-melin.

harrowcatReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/19/2012
Just once I would like to wake up to the smell of bacon frying - but alas I live alone!

I love it when you sprinkle in things like "Those Tibetan monks with whom we spent a couple of centuries" just as an aside. Makes me wonder how they explained their longevity. The benefits of clean living and meditation perhaps? Too cold even for the Elves is very cold indeed. Brrrrr.

Hope that you are improving steadily.


Author Reply: Hi harrowcat. I know what you mean. I live alone, too.

It's fun sprinkling little hints of what these particular Elves were doing over the millennia before they ever came to Wiseman. Perhaps at the time they were visiting those particular monks, belief in other beings, such as Elves, was commonplace and no explanation really was needed. It was only as we entered the modern era that such beliefs disappeared from the general populace and the Elves were forced to hide their identities more.

And no matter how you slice it, cold is cold, especially at those temperatures, and highly dangerous even to Elves.

I'm steadily improving, though it'll be a few more weeks before I'm considered 'healed' as far as the doctors are concerned. Thanks for yor good wishes and for leaving a review. Both are greatly appreciated.

Whispy Reviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/19/2012
Hi Fiondil,
Let’s hope that this review gets through (I’ve been having difficulty doing stuff on this site, but I couldn’t tell you why---I guess it just doesn’t like me.)
I love this story. Getting an update really makes my Mondays and Fridays. One of my favorite things about it is that it shouldn’t work. But it does---very, very well. I was trying to describe it to my friends, and they gave me a look that said, Espionage? Ancestral memory? Christmas Elves? Erm…sounds…interesting.
The fact that it does work is really a great testament to your skill, and I’m duly impressed.
Ah, norovirus and ice-storms…fun times. When reading this, I can’t help but remember my own experiences with ‘em. We had a nasty ice-storm that knocked out power for about a week a few years ago…Luckily, my friend’s house had power, so her family invited me to stay a few nights while waiting for it to come back. And just year, I had a norovirus outbreak at my college. I grumbled because due to it, we were no longer allowed to serve ourselves at our dining hall (it’s usually buffet style), but reading this, I’m just glad that it wasn’t that bad.
I hope Alex is OK…and Derek! I’m really anxious for him right now. Sounds like it bodes ill for him, but I hope you won’t bang him up too bad…He’s a nice kid.
I hope you are well and your recovery goes smoothly.
Love,
Whispy


Author Reply: Hi Whispy. Well, apparently the site liked you enough this time. *grin*

I have to admit that when I first started writing this story, I wasn't sure it was going to work either, and just because my betas liked what I was writing, didn't mean others would, but based on the number of favorable reviews I've been receiving, apparently it does seem to work.

I know a lot of readers can relate to things like the Norovirus, ice storms and power outages, as well as college life. I think that helps give the story a sense of reality even if we're dealing with Elves for the most part.

As for Alex and Derek... well, Alex will recover and we'll have to see why he is so concerned for Derek's safety soon enough.

I'm so glad you are enjoying this story and have been able to leave a review letting me know. I really appreciate it. Thanks.

LyanaReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
Oh man. My fingernails are going to be down to nothing! Alex's behavior is making me very worried for Derek - I hope they start to take this seriously and really watch out for him as well! Well, as well as they can with 400 people to manage with no heat/electricity at -50...

And Alex? "Greater love hath no man than this..." so I can sort of understand why he would do what he did if he truly believed Derek to be in danger. I think he may have had a little "help" getting from clinic to college; I'm sure Fionwe's hanging around somewhere just waiting to be given permission to jump in!

Author Reply: Hi Lyana. You're probably right about Alex getting a little help from Fionwë or one of the other Maiar. It's the only way to explain how he didn't die from exposure along the way.

We'll see whether Alex's concern for Derek is real or not soon enough. Thanks for taking the time to read and review. I appreciate it very much.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
What in the world has Alex so freaked out about Derek's safety? If this is a premonition, it must be really bad. This storm takes a nasty turn with the generators freezing up. I don't want to be there.

Can we have Farell in a dark and cold hotel room, please?

Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. We'll learn soon enough just why Alex seems so focused on the idea that Derek is in danger (mainly because he is). It isn't a good situation they are all in, that's for sure. Unfortunately, Farrell is at the Goldmine Inn and seems to be faring quite nicely. Such is life. Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
Walking from the hospital over to the Academy would have been bad for Alex even in normal weather, considering this state. But in that ice storm? What on earth drove him to do that? He can really be glad that the Elves are there; normally there would be only normal teachers and staff, if any at all, I suspect, and no one with medical knowledge. And in this weather, it's very unlikely they could get a doctor over to the Academy for him.

It really looks like Amroth was closer to Alex than I at first thought; this has to be hard for him to see him in this state. I wonder if Alex got the virus stronger than the others because his experience with the Tarn already took such a toll on him? In any case, 40 fever doesn't sound good, on the contrary, that's getting into the really critical height.

Brrr, after reading Daeron's report on the weather I feel like having a hot tea, it makes me cold just thinking about these temperatures! Can't really imagine these, the worst we had around here was about -20. And that was bad enough *shudder*

As you know, I agree with Daeron about the crazy weather, too. Temperatures here are still going up and down 15 to 20 degrees in a day or two every few days, that's really not normal any more. Tahiti really begins to sound more appealing ...

Glad to know that at least the families we know from the first part of this story are safe, considering the overall problem with generators all over Wiseman. Hm ... any hope that Farrell is sitting somewhere in the cold and freezing to death? But that would be too easy, I guess ...

Was wondering about that insistence that Derek must be protected all the time, too, and it's true, considering who Alex is descendant from, he might be able to have some premonitions. Not that it is doing much to calm me down, even though this would at least give them some warning.

Author Reply: Hi Kitty. You're right about Amroth. Something about Alex (or rather, Artemus) touched him in a way he didn't expect and he thinks of Alex as the son he's never had.

In the Northeast US where I live, it's not unusual to have wind-chills almost as bad as those mentioned here during the winter. We refer to it as the Arctic (or sometimes, the Siberian) Express.

If lots of generators are freezing up then you know it's bad outside. Hopefully such conditions won't last for long and the temperatures will moderate somewhat so they can get at least the one generator going again until power is fully restored.

And Alex's premonition has a basis in fact as we will soon see.

Thanks for reviewing. I appreciate it very much.

FantasiaReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
Can the poor men and elves get better news and luck? everything that can go bad , is going bad. Note to myself: do not move to Alaska.
Again, POOR ALEX!!!!!

Author Reply: Hi Fantasia. I'll see what I can do, but I cant' promise anything. Things will get somewhat worse before they get better, as they always do. And poor Alex, indeed. Thanks for commenting. It's greatly appreciated.

TariReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
BRRRRRRR!! I thought Ohio was cold. Think I'll stay right where I am.

How did Alex survive the walk to the cafteria? If the elves coul handle the cold, it's hard to imagine how he did it. These are the times when a gas stove comes in handy. I'd be in deep troube under these circumstances as I switched to an electric stove.

Author Reply: Hi Tari. I have no idea how he managed to survive or even how he managed to reach the Academy at all. Someone was obviously looking out for him. Gas or wood stoves are very handy, indeed. Unfortunately, most places are all electric so when the power goes out you're in trouble. Been there, done that. Anyway, thanks for leaving a review. I appreciate it very much.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
At least they have the kitchens there and are able to cook. As for Farrel seeking to use Derek to control Alex--I'd not put it past that individual of ill repute. Now--everyone get better and dig in for the duration!

Author Reply: Yes, Farrell's not above using innocents to control Alex. Hopefully, the sickies will improve and there won't be too many new cases. Thanks for commenting, Larner. It's much appreciated.

someoneReviewed Chapter: 35 on 5/18/2012
Alex, Alex, Alex... just what was he thinking! He really must have had an excellent reason to suspect that Derek is in danger.

Daeron is right, they can survive one storm without help from outside. Glorfindel may have got too used to interfering Maiar and Valar. I'm wonderin now how much worse you are going to make this situation!

Author Reply: Hi someone. Alex obviously thinks he has a good reason to do what he did even if it was dangerous to his health. Obviously his fever eroded his good sense. As for how much worse the situation may become... that remains to be seen. *grin* Thanks for leaving a review. I very much appreciate it.

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