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| Elf, Interrupted: Book One: Glorfindel Redux by Fiondil | 1161 Review(s) |
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| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 10 on 12/1/2006 |
| Somehow, I can really sympathise with indignant Glorfindel, who feels he is being laughed at by the grownups! It's not easy growing up, even if it is to return to an interrupted life - and the Valar are just a touch too sure of themselves. (Understandably, I suppose.) And so Glorfindel moves on to the next stage! Author Reply: *Somehow, I can really sympathise with indignant Glorfindel, who feels he is being laughed at by the grownups!* Especially when said grownups seem to be setting you up for you to fail, not realizing that they are merely providing you with a necessary lesson. It's not enough to simply tell a child, "this is so, or that is such". They have to discover it for themselves. Sometimes, though, the grownups have to provide the 'environment' in which the child can discover these truths for himself. If the grownups seem to be laughing at the child as he flounders around looking for answers, it's only from the child's perspective that it is so. In Glorfindel's case, that 'environnment' is the Maze where he learns the inmportant lesson of Choices and the necessity of making them and accepting the consequences of doing so. Up to now, Glorfindel has not had to make any, and indeed, has not felt the need to. He may think he's not getting anywhere fast, but actually Námo and Irmo are quite proud of Glorfindel and are pleased with his progress towards maturity. | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 11/26/2006 |
| Poor Glorfindel - being reborn to an adult body must be remarkable difficult! I love his relationship with the tree. And Yavanna seems very understanding and patient with him. He is making progress - but it is going to take its own time. At least time doesn't matter much to elves (or the Valar and Maiar) so there's no need to rush his recovery. Most enjoyable. (I have a slow-progressing Finrod story where I'm about three-quarters of the way through the second chapter - he is currently in Lorien's gardens. And becoming lost in the sensation of clothing against skin. I promise it was written weeks ago! I'm sort of stalling on it now because of this and French Pony's Celebrian story.) Author Reply: Yes, being reborn in an adult body but having the emotions of a ten year old can't be easy. It's like those people who slip into a coma as children only to awaken years later to find themselves adults. And you're right: for elves and the Valar and Maiar, time isn't a major factor. As Námo points out to Glorfindel, he has taken as much time as he's needed to get where he is, no more, and certainly, no less. And while the focus at the moment is on Glorfindel, Finrod will be getting his share of the limelight. We will even see what his own judgment within the Ring of Doom was like in a later chapter. Glad you are enjoying the story. | |
| Ellie | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/24/2006 |
| I am thoroughly enjoying this story. I love your concept of the spirits being as children again learning what they will need to know in order to survive in Life again. The twins being cared for by Glorfy are so sweet. I worry baout him going back into life though. I hope he really is ready. I pity Finrod and am glad that he will have his friend back again. Wonderful story. Please keep up the good work! Author Reply: Thanks Ellie. The process of reintegration to Life, as you will see, is not easy and not done all in an instant. The elves remain in Mandos for centuries before being released and even after that the process towards spiritual and emotional maturation continues for some time. Glad you are enjoying the story so far. | |
| vampfan30 | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 11/24/2006 |
| I find this story so intresting as this is the first fanfic I have read concerning the rehousing of any one & the Halls. my favorite line was " he would burst into tears every time he had to deadhead the roses. " even though he doesn't remember being a Balrog slayer, just the thought of such a great, strong character that has done so, crying over 'hurting' a rose...pricless. this is one of those amazing stories, looking forward to more. Author Reply: Yes, our favorite Balrog slayer is something of a softy when it comes to roses *grin*. He has begun remembering his former life, but hasn't put all the pieces together yet and doesn't recognize himself in those memories. That will take a while. Certainly, the Glorfindel we meet vying against the Nazgul isn't the Glorfindel here, crying over 'hurting' a rose. He's very much still an innocent at this point and has far to go yet. Glad you are enjoying this story. More to come... lots more. | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 7 on 11/24/2006 |
| That was so very fluffy,I hope Glorfy behaves himself,I cant wait to see what he does in Lorien. Author Reply: Well, you need a bit of fluff every now and then. You can't be angsty all the time, leastwise, I can't *grin*. As for Lórien: well, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? | |
| Bodkin | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/23/2006 |
| I do like the thought of the healing fear playing in the halls as they recover - and of Glorfindel playing with and protecting Dior's little sons. This is a most interesting and enjoyable story - and I am looking forward to reading more. Author Reply: Thanks Bodkin. I'm glad you are enjoying the story so far. I hope to post a couple of chapters at a time, maybe once or twice a week as my schedule allows. | |
| Aglarendis | Reviewed Chapter: 2 on 11/21/2006 |
| Suilie nildinya! I know I've been bad about reviewing your other stories, but my goal is to say at least a little something about every chapter in this one. I'm not quite sure what I think of this chapter except that I certainly would not have wanted to be in poor Glorfindel's place. To have every memory, every thought examined by anyone other than Eru himself would be unbearable to me. It was called an interrogation, yet it was more of a probing. What was its purpose meant to be? Was it so that Glorfindel could understand his own motives without the benefit of coverups? Was he supposed to be admonished as well as encouraged? If so, why was there no dialogue between him and the valar? Was this supposed to be a judgment of innocence or guilt, or was this more of a sentencing? If so, what kind of sentence was it? One other thin. It is said that only Namo makes judgments, and yet all the valar were involved in this judging. I guess what I am asking is, how does judgment work here? Again, a wonderful portrayal of Namo, and you also had Manwe behaving just as I think he would. There is one king I would love to talk with for several hundred years! Author Reply: I explore the theme of "judgment" throughout this story. I think judgment is different for the Eldar than it is for Men. Man's judgment is reserved for Eru alone because mortals do not remain within the "jurisdiction" of the Powers after death; they leave the circles of Arda. That is not the case for elves, so any judgment to be rendered is done by the Valar and it varies from elf to elf. In Glorfindel's case, he fell under the Doom of Mandos, and therefore his offense is against all of the Valar. Indeed, it is a probing, rather than an interrogation, but this is from Glorfindel's POV and he is only half-aware of what is really happening. His fëa needs to be purified before it can be re-embodied, a process that will take centuries to complete; the judgment he suffers is only the first step and it is meant to reveal to Glorfindel the truth behind all the coverups, the falsehoods and half-truths by which he has been living. Dialogue at this point is beyond Glorfindel's capacities. Dialogue will come later when his fëa is strong enough to hear the words. For now his soul has been washed clean and his innocence restored. Healing has begun. | |
| Aglarendis | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/21/2006 |
| Hello Fiondil! Alassiel has been telling me how good this story is, and now my torment is drawing to its end. That was a very good description of Glorfindel's death. I imagine he really wouldn't have had much time to think about it, a mercy to be sure. How frustrating to know there is a door but that you cannot open it. How often have I beat my head against my own past mistakes, wishing, begging, pleading with God to let me go back. How appropriate that this would be the first lesson he has to learn. Turgon gets an angry glare from me because of the fact that he would not let any of his host leave to turn back. What right did he have to decide their futures for them? I would love to know what Namo said to him when he got to Mandos! Speaking of my friend Namo, what a beautiful description of him, both physical and of his gentleness and understanding! I could feel poor Glorfindel's terror through your words, but Namo was so understanding and reassuring. I hope we will see more of him during this journey. Well begun, mellon nin! Author Reply: Wow! I don't think I've ever had such a long review before. The knobless door does indeed represent Glorfindel's past life to which he can never return. As for Turgon, you may wish to read (if you haven't already) my story "The Other Balrog-Slayer", which I posted last week, to see what happened to him when he arrived in Mandos. I'm glad you enjoyed my description of Námo. And don't worry, he plays a major role in this story, so you'll be seeing him quite often. | |
| merimas gamgee | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/20/2006 |
| Interesting story, very well written and thought out. One question: I can understand your using the twins as a healing device for Glorfindel, but wouldn't their own father (and mother for that matter) also be present in Mandos? Or, barring that, their great-Grandfather? I'd love to see more of this though. cheers, Merimas Author Reply: Yes, Dior and Nimloth and even Elu would be there (among other relatives) but not necessarily in a position to be of any help. In my story "The Other Balrog-Slayer", I speak of how Turgon still sleeps in Mandos, his fëa still too weak and damaged by guilt and grief to even stand for judgment (in this story, Glorfindel has slept for almost ten years of the Sun before he wakens again and is summoned to the Ring of Doom). It may well be that none of the twins' closest relatives are even "awake" yet. Another factor is that the fëar forget their previous lives and relations. (A necessary component of their healing, since memories would overburden the fëa when it is still too fragile to bear them. The amnesia allows the fëar to be children again for a time). Finrod, for instance, plays catch-me with his great-niece, Finduilas, and neither of them have any memory of their previous relationship while residing in Mandos. So, even if the twins' parents were present, neither would have any recognition of one another. Glad you are enjoying the story. More to come. | |
| Elflingimp | Reviewed Chapter: 5 on 11/20/2006 |
| Wow what a Monday morning treat to wake up to! You were right about the kleenex(sob) Will there be more? I certainly hope so! I liked the fact you brought the sons of Dior into the picture,no fanfiction I have read brings them up,they had such a cruel ending,its nice to think they would be happy. Author Reply: Well, as the story is listed as "in progress" I suppose there will be more *grin*. The twins were somewhat unexpected, but once they arrived, I knew they were in the right place beside Glorfindel. And as Manwë says to Námo, he does need the practice, considering whose twins he will someday meet. I suppose one reason no fanfiction has ever brought them up is that they were only 7 years old when they died, which would make them about 3 years old in human terms. In this story I have enough time pass in Mandos that their fëar have begun to mature towards adulthood in spite of their lack of progress emotionally, so that now they are about 13 years old in human terms. | |