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Elf Academy Part Deux  by Fiondil 14 Review(s)
LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 81 on 4/2/2014
Thanks for the clarification. It's pretty much what I thought -- Alex didn't sound old enough to have known Amroth for a long time, if his mentor "died" fifteen years earlier, and yet it seemed odd to me that they'd known each other less than a year, considering how deep and close their relationship "felt" on the reading. I suppose I think of a mentor as a longer term relationship than just a few months, but then, I've mentored young people in writing and speaking classes over the course of a semester... it makes sense now. Thanks again!

Author Reply: Not a problem, Lindelea. I'm glad I was able to clear this up for you. I don't think that time is a factor when dealing with relationships. Alex/Artemus felt a deep bond with Amroth/Ambrose probably from the very beginnng. Amroth was the father Alex never had and that probably helped him to form that bond, especially when Amroth admits that from the beginning he'd felt that Alex was special. It was apparently a two-way street.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 81 on 4/1/2014
Whew, am finally approaching the end of this one! Exciting story, exciting enough that I read most of it on my phone while we were out of town and had virtually no internet access. (A laptop without internet access... imagine it...)

Home now, and on the computer, and so I am able to cut and paste a quote. Woohoo. And so I ask this question, when Alex is giving his deposition. I thought his mentor had died fifteen years before? But he says in this chapter, "I am Artemus Gordon Meriwether, who is known also as Alex Grant. I am an intelligence officer for an agency with ties to Homeland Security and the CIA. I first met Ambrose Elwood fifteen years ago. He was my primary instructor and...."

Sorry to nitpick, and please feel free to delete this review. I will try to leave a better one when I reach the end of the story.

Author Reply: Hi Lindelea. Glad you've been enjoying this story. In answer to your question, 15 years is about right. Alex is in his mid-thirties, 36 actually. He joined the Agency directly after college, and that was about 15 years before, and Amroth "died" sometime in that first year that he was with the Agency, so what he says is true. Hope this clears things up for you. Looking forward to your final review of the story.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 81 on 2/3/2013
Poor Zach and Derek, it will take time for them to get over their traumatic experience. As Alex said, at least he's trained for it (though I wonder how hard it will be for him), but these two aren't. It's probably good that they aren't alone for Thanksgiving, as it seems to be a family feast and they are all alone.

Speaking of Alex's Mum ... I've been wondering. These idiots were so hell bent on using him to get at Amroth and were thwarted. Would they, if they get off somehow – or any of the wirepullers in Washington – try to get back at Alex by way of his Mum? Somehow I want her to move to Wiseman, just in case.

Things are affecting Alex more than he wants to admit even to himself, I think. But it did him some good to talk to his Mum, and I hope that were healing tears. In any case, I am glad the Elves and Derek are there for him, he needs them now.

Author Reply: Hi Kitty. Yes, it'll take some time for Zach and Derek to recover. And Alex is hurting more than he realizes. Having the Elves and Derek there for him will be a great help in his own healing. We'll see something of Anne in the next Elf Academy installment. Thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated.

someoneReviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/25/2012
I now have this weird mental image of birds singing Gregorian chants.

It's good that Alex/Artemus has "softened" enough to remember his mother on Thanksgiving, perhaps it means that he is changing back to the person he was before the Agency. I've never celebrated a Thanksgiving, but it seems to be very important to be with family then, so it's good that Alex has at least some relatives (the twins, Finrod, Findalaurë and Galadriel's girl who's name I have forgotten) with him. I feel a bit sorry for Maddy and the lawyer, they are very far from home that day... Sorry for the late reviews, life's been a bit busy.

Author Reply: LOL! It is a strange image, isn't it?

Artemus has always has a soft spot for his mother, but his life has precluded him being able to be there for her as much as he would like. Thanksgiving is more family-centered than even Christmas, at least in the States. And it is always tough when you are far away from family and friends on that day, but it does happen. I've been there, done that more times than I like to think on. Oh well...

Anyway, thanks for reviewing, someone. I'm glad you were able to find some time to leave a comment. It's greatly appreciated.

CalenlassielReviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/25/2012
I was moved when Alex teared up and called his mom. I am lucky that I have my family and friends in my life. What I enjoy about Thanksgiving is that Americans of all religions celebrate this unique holiday together. As for football, I love it. Not really to watch it but to hear it on the tv in the next room. When I was younger I used to watch the entire game. Now that I am old I usually hide after dinner and read a book. I have to escape the in-laws.


I feel the Valar are going to making an appearance. I am also guessing they put the old "you will remember nothing" spell on the people who show up for the elves court hearing... LOL


As always Fiondil Great Chapter :)




Author Reply: Hi Calenlassiel. Thanksgiving seems to be the one holiday everyone can agree on, whatever their religous and cultural background. And, as Glorfindel tells Finrod, it's always a good idea to take one day out of the year to give thanks for what we have. I don't care for watching football, myself. Like you, I prefer to hide away with a book. Luckily I don't have in-laws from which to escape. *grin*

As for the Valar and what they end up doing at the trial, we'll find out soon enough. Thanks for leaving a comment. I appreciate it ver much.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/24/2012
Now you have my mouth watering for Thanksgiving. This one will be a little different for me. I'll be in Middle-earth, New Zealand, and not with family - but with friends. I hope I don't get to maudlin. I will definitely have to 'phone home' as Alex and Derek did.

Love how you bring the points of the deposition forward without telling the whole tale again. You do it succinctly. I loved the sun room scene. The building of Derek and Alex's friendship gets better and better. Loved the scene where Alex 'lost it.' Glad he has friends who can help him heal. I know they will.

As for the dinner itself, it was tasty. *g*

Looking forward to the trial.





Author Reply: Oh, what I wouldn't give to be going with you, Agape. You're so lucky. Oh well, maybe someday.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter, especially the sun room scene and Alex losing it and calling his mom.

The trial begins with the next chapter. Thanks for commenting. It's much appreciated.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/23/2012
Spending Thanksgiving day fishing? At least better than staring at the TV watching interminable football. Loved the Thanksgiving elvish style. It is good to have your friends around you when your family is far away. Thanksgiving and Christmas both can be very lonely when you are alone. I like it that both Alex and Derek called their family.
After that "debriefing" I'm even more curious about Finrod's court.

Author Reply: As you say, obsidianj, going fishing beats sitting in front of the boob tube watching football any day of the week (and I don't like fishing myself, but I like watching football on TV even less). *grin* We'll be seeing the start of Finrod's court in the next chapter (it covers several; you know how I like to drag such things out). Anyway, thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated.

Malice2Reviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/23/2012
Nice thanksgiving. Though as we don't celebrate it at all in France I can only try to relate, but I associated it with Christmas spirit. I would miss my mum in Gordy's place.
You know, while I agree that it will be a learning experience for the mortals to see Finrod's trial, I think it woudn't be amiss for Finrod to see a modern mortal trial too.
Though I love all of your stories, and your elves, and am paricularly fond of Grofindel (who wouldn't be? lol), I think I wouldn't like them at all if I had to live with them. I can't stand people who tell me how I should live and what would make me happy (unless I asked), and that's all elves seem to be doing. Humans (at leats in your fic) are so much less judgemental... I understand that the first born feel like elders brothers helping the younger ones, but now I'm an adult (and have been for some time), my elder brother wouldn't dream of patronizing me, and I wouldn't dream of ordering around my younger sister either...

Still, I love pretty much all of your stories. Looking forward to sseing Nate too ;-) Thanks for the wonderful time you give us.

Author Reply: Hi Malice. I am sure Finrod will have the opportunity to witness a modern mortal trial, though not in this story. Perhaps in the next one, if I ever get around to writing it.

And the Elves here are so used to NOT dealing with mortals, even many of the Wiseman Elves, that they have to learn not to lord it over the mortals. I think the only one of the Elves who does not is Vorondur, the resident psychiatrist. He's dealt with mortals on a more intimate basis than the others and understands and appreciates their worth. The others, like Glorfindel, just need to be reminded of that fact. It'll take a little time, but the Elves aren't stupid and modern mortals, especially the American version, aren't impressed and will give as good as they get, as we saw in an earlier chapter where mortals and Elves clashed.

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoy my stories and are enjoying this one. I enjoy entertaining people with my stories and hope to continue doing so for the foreseeable future. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. It's greatly appreciated.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/22/2012
Hmm--combining Derek and Alex's families sounds interesting, making them brothers indeed! Heh! I like the idea! Glad they both called home and were with one another and in such company for what could have been a lonely holiday.

Author Reply: Yes, it would be interesting if they ended up being brothers indeed, wouldn't it? Who knows? Stranger things have happened. Thanks for reviewing, Larner. It's much apreciated.

TariReviewed Chapter: 81 on 10/22/2012
What a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving. Not having family or friends around can be hard. Been there.

Author Reply: Yes, it is a wonderful way to spend Thanksgiving. And not having family or friends can be very hard during the holidays. Thanks for commenting, Tari. It's appreciated.

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