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Christmas at Edhellond: An Elf Academy Tale  by Fiondil 19 Review(s)
EruherdirielReviewed Chapter: 18 on 6/11/2014
I like having Finrod explore the true meaning of Christmas. You integrated two conflicting stories well. It's not easy to mix two accounts that directly contradict each other at certain points.

I'm looking forward to Sador coming to Wiseman!
~Eruherdiriel

Author Reply: Hi Eruherdiriel. Integrating two conflicting stories isn't easy but it is doable with a little care and sensitivity and it was fun to see Finrod learning something about what had only been a rumor and a theory for him all those ages past. I'm glad you enjoyed this. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it.

DianaReviewed Chapter: 18 on 4/6/2014
Sweet ending! Thanks.

Author Reply: Glad you liked it, Diana. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it very much.

Twoflower2Reviewed Chapter: 18 on 1/4/2014
This story was especially nice to reread during the Christmas season. Can't help thinking Finrod is going through a middle-age crisis! The story is very true to life in the sense that people do tend to get more depressed pre-Christmas, and tensions in relationships etc. often come forth at that time. But Christmas somehow makes everything right, eventually. Fascinating theological discourse in this story, too.

Author Reply: Hi Twoflower2. You may be right about Finrod going through a middle-age crisis, except, what's middle age to an immortal? LOL!

Anyway, I'm glad you found the situation realistic in the sense you mention. Holidays always seem to bring out the worst and the best in families, don't they?

Thanks for leaving a review. I'm glad you enjoyed re-reading this story and I appreciate you letting me know.

someoneReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/23/2013
Sorry for the really late review.

Well, that was a Christmas to remember for everyone! I'm not quite sure if Anne will approve of her son hanging around with Elves, considering her reaction to the swords. And I wouldn't blame her, they are a strange bunch of people from the humans' point of view.

Derek's speech was hilarious and straight to the point, the three amigos were really annoying at first. It told much of how they had changed that Findalaurė thought that he didn't deserve his sword.

The ending with Glorfindel's letters was touching. Perhaps he and Finrod will have again the kind of friendship they had in Elf, Interrupted.

Thank you for writing this, I'm looking forward to reading the new story you're posting now.

Author Reply: That's okay, someone. I'm just glad you got around to reviewing and letting me know how much you enjoyed the story and I hope you like the new story as well.

It is hoped that Finrod and Glorfindel will find their way back to their previous closeness and the sharing of the letters should definitely help. I hope to continue with Elf Academy 3 by the end of the year. We'll see how cooperative the Muse is about it.

Again, thanks for taking the time to leave a review. I really appreciate it.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/15/2013
So I find myself reading about a lost Elf and wondering, all the while, when the next chapter of 'Christmas' is going to be posted.

*slight embarrassed grin*

I don't know how I missed the 'final' chapter of this. I can only assume the Valar misdirected me. ROTFL

Well, be that as it may, what a glorious ending to a really delightful Christmas present. Thank you so much for sharing this. (Of course, I'll be ready as soon as you are for Elf 3).

It certainly takes a stalwart Elf with friends to survive any time with Glorfindel and Finrod. This has been another fun, though tense romp with our favorite Elves (bain of Namo *g*)

Thanks and a belated Merry Christmas.

Author Reply: No problem, Agape. Just glad that you finally got a chance to read this last chapter and enjoyed it very much and are looking forward to the next installment. Thanks for bothering to leave a review. Belated Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year.

KittyReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/6/2013
Sounds like a good plan to give Anne some time to get to know them and then tell her the truth. Though I suspect the days in between will be a bit difficult now and then when someone slips and says the wrong thing.

That was a lovely Secret Santa, and I totally loved the way the three ellyn got their swords back. As Derek said, the fact that Findalaurë thinks he doesn't deserve the sword yet is the best proof that he does.

The best gifts, however, are the ones Finrod and Glorfindel exchanged. They have such an immense value for them on a personal level!

Thank you for another wonderful story. Of course, I look forward to the next Elf Academy story, and in the meantime to the other new one you started recently; as you know it's another one I wanted to read.

Author Reply: I agree that the best gifts were the ones FInrod and Glorfindel exhanged. I'm so glad you enjoyed this story and are looking forward to the next Elf Academy story. I hope you enjoy the new story that I've just posted and are not disappointed in how I've written it. Thanks for making the effort to leave all your wonderful reviews. I've appreciated and enjoyed each and every one of them.

bookwormReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/3/2013
Oh, the Sword-returning scene was lovely! And daaawwwww Glorfindel, writing letters that never got posted but keeping them anyway. A lovely sweet ending! As always, a masterful creation. Looking forwards to your next one!

Author Reply: Hi bookworm. Sorry, I didn't get to this sooner. I'm glad you found the sword cermeony lovely and the ending sweet. Thanks for taking the time to leave reviews for this story and I hope you enjoy my next story just as much.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/2/2013
I am sad to see this story end. But it is a good place to stop. I love it that the elves decorate the Christmas tree on Christmas eve. That's the way I grew up. Around here the Christmas tree goes up the day after Thanksgiving, which to me takes a bit away from the anticipation of Christmas. But that is a cultural difference, I'm just not used to.

The sword ceremony was very appropriate and dignified. It had significance for the Three Amigos, and I think now they really understand the responsibility of carrying swords and what it stands for. Findalaure showed this when he said he is not ready. I don't know how they got the swords in Aman, but they clearly didn't understand what that meant then.

Anne seems to be quite a character. She seems to be very smart, and I bet she has tons of questions for her son when she gets back to her hotel. Alex will be hard-pressed to keep her curiosity satisfied until the 7th of January. You realize it is 2 weeks after Christmas. That is a long time for her to ponder what she has seen and heard on Christmas eve. After all she has nothing else to do...

Author Reply: Hi obsidianj. The story had to come to an end somehow. I'm glad you found where I ended it appropriate. We always put our tree up on Christmas Eve too and we would leave it up until Epiphany. I still am unused to people putting the tree (usually an artificial one) right after Thanksgiving and then taking it down the day after Christmas. Oh well...

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed the sword ceremony. I think in Aman they were given swords as a matter of course, but here they know they've earned them and that makes all the difference.

And Anne is quite a character. I'm sure Alex will keep her busy until the time of the Reveal so she's not asking too many questions he can't answer yet and it's only 12 days to Epiphany (thus the "12 Days of Christmas").

I'm so glad you enjoyed the story and I appreciate all your comments. Thank you.

LaerReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/1/2013
Loved the ceremony with the swords, also loved how they did Christmas. Very well written and makes me feel like if I went there I would find them. (If I went there and found them I would be served a restraining order. siiiiggghhh) And the letters from Glorfindel to Finrod was such a warm fuzzy. Elf Academy 3 is on its way? Fantastic!!

Author Reply: Hi Laer. I'm glad you liked the sword ceremony. And I know what you mean about being served a restraining order. *grin* Can't say just when EA3 will see the light of day but hopefully before the end of the year. Thanks for taking the time to leave reviews. I've appreciated each and every one of them.

TariReviewed Chapter: 18 on 2/1/2013
What a wonderful Christmas. Glad to hear there will be more in Elf Academy III. I have to see what happens in their battle against evil.

Author Reply: Hi Tari. I'm glad you're looking forward to the next EA installment. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it and I appreciate you taking the time to leave reviews.

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