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| Elf, Interrupted: Book Two: Glorfindel's Quest by Fiondil | 16 Review(s) |
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| 6336 | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 6/28/2009 |
| Ah, love those Valarian wildberry pies, they keep on going and going and going! Hope everyone enjoys the feast and the conversation makes it back to the right people. Yes, I did recognise your referance to Maier Games! More please, Lynda Author Reply: Hopefully the youngsters will spread the news to all their friends. I'm glad you recognized the reference. Thanks for letting me know. | |
| Kaylee Arafinwiel | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 6/28/2009 |
| *nearly falls off chair with laughter at the wild berry pie scene* Ai, atar indonyo! :) That was too, too funny. I loved the whole chapter...every bit...although I worry for the elves who still need to reconcile with the Amaneldi, I hope this Progress works. But the pie scene resonated with me especially because of a tale told to me by my grandpa. His mother baked two pies every day. After supper she'd cut one pie into fourths, and serve first my great-grandpa, then herself, then the two children (my grandpa and his sister). And then after that, my great-grandpa and my grandpa each ate a fourth of the second pie. Then, the kids would be sent to bed. The next morning, the rest of the pie was gone, because my great-grandpa ate it when no one was looking! :D Sneaky of him, wasn't it? Tye-melin, Atar Fiondil! Kaylee! Author Reply: Hi, Kaylee. Glad you liked the wild berry pie scene. Hopefully the Progress will be a success, but it's still too early to tell. I love your grandpa's story! Thank you for sharing it. And thanks for reviewing, yeldë indonyo. Tye-melin! | |
| Sitara | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 6/28/2009 |
| "...to start breaking down the barriers so that we stop thinking of ourselves as either Amaneldi or Tol Eressëans; as Noldor, Vanyar, Teleri, or Sindar; as Native, Immigrant, Returnee or even Reborn. We are all elves and once we were a single people. It’s time we were again." Yes, they were once a single people but when was that? Way too long ago, in my opinion. In the times before Orome came to summon them to live in Valinor, then the Quendi were a single nation. Is there a coincidence, Fiondil, that the same Vala popped up just when Arafinwe was saying it? However, in my view, they are too divided to be there the slightest chance for this to happen. I'm sorry for saying this, but I don't believe that the Elves could be someday a single people again. Not until Dagor Dagorath, anyway. Too much time, too many divergences, too much bad blood between them. The best Arafinwe and Olwe can hope for is, from my point of view, to achieve some degree of respect and tolerance between the Elven nations. Of course, that degree could vary. "grin" As for the problem of a government for Tol Eressea...I must confess I'm clueless, for the moment. Ought to re-read some parts of "The last messenger", methinks. For some reason, everytime I've been reading about "Sere Valaron" , I used to associate it with "Pax Romana" and I never liked very much the similarity. Moreover, I certainly wouldn't want to see a sort of a replica of the Roman Empire, less the conquering part, build in Valinor. Author Reply: There are different ways of being 'a single people', Sitara. What Arafinwë is describing is similar to what one finds in the United States, for example. There have been times (even in the recent past) when people described themselves as what was called 'hyphenated Americans', e.g. 'Italian-American', 'Afro-American', 'Euro-American' and so on. Yet, whatever their origins (national, racial, political, religious), in the final analysis, they are all Americans, period. This is what Arafinwë is trying to point out. Whatever their origins, they are all Elves, not 'hyphenated Elves' which designation merely creates false divisions between them. That is not to say that they should abandon their heritages or their histories, but rather, they should honor and respect the heritages and histories of the other groups, something that is not happening at the moment. Hopefully, they will come to this realization and this Progress is one small step towards achieving such a goal of 'unity in diversity'. With regards to the Sérë Valaron, I have this note in chapter 68 of "Elf, Interrupted: Book One": The Peace of the Valar; similar in concept to the Pax Romana. However, it is not imposed upon the people of Aman by military might but is a natural consequence of the divine nature of the Valar themselves. So, you see, the concept is similar to but by no means identical with the Pax Romana, which was imposed on the various nations under Roman rule from the outside, whereas the Sérë Valaron is intrinsic with the nature of the Valar themselves and originates from a state of grace which flows from them to the Elves living in their midst. | |
| Rhyselle | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 6/28/2009 |
| I thought I'd recognized the names of the hunters but until they actually mentioned their youthful encounter with the Maiar, I didn't recall the details. :) I love how your different tales eventually seem to link up with EI, and how the "population" keeps growing! I didn't get home until after midnight last night from a day spent in another state getting to visit with my beloved great-aunt (81 years young!) whom I hadn't seen in over 10 years, and so am very, very tired and finding it hard to put my thoughts together right now, but even as I feel ready to doze back off again, I just had to tell you that I liked this chapter very much, and that it made me smile. I'll have to remember to make an extra wild berry pie if Lord Orome comes to call on me! *grin* As always, well done! Author Reply: Hi, Rhyselle. I like to link many of my tales together as a way of creating an entire 'universe' in which the Valar play a central role (as opposed to Elves, or Men or Hobbits doing so). I'm glad your visit with your great-aunt went well and that you had a good time. Thanks for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed this chapter even though you are still tired from your trip. I appreciate it very much. | |
| Sunny | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 6/28/2009 |
| Quoting Yeats, are you? ;-) I suppose this in a hint that Interesting Times are coming (Ancient Chinese Curse version). I suppose the problem of not having a King on Tol Eressëa is rather perplexing to the Amaneldi. If the locals manage to govern themselves, fine. But I think that at least the older generation is feeling rather lost without one. The younger elves, who haven’t really had the experience of living under the rule of a king might or might not want a King to rule them once the other Kings start getting Reborn. What the political fallout on Tol Eressëa will be, I don’t know – perhaps something like the government of The Republic of Venice? And I suppose some of those who grow up under such a government may want to take it with them when they migrate to the mainland. (More political fun and games...) And then there is Thingol and the Sindar. In _Lúthien’s Gift_ you indicated that he did not want to take up the crown again, but preferred to be Olwë's viceroy. Yet I suppose they also need a government – and I _also_ suppose that while some will accept the rule of other Kings. But for those who do _not_ want a Noldorin king – perhaps Dior will step into his daeradar’s shoes? You haven’t written anything with him as yet, so I suppose you can do with him whatever you want ;-) And since you dealt with his sons as Elves, I suppose you may do the same with him. Olwë and Arafinwë’s attitudes of “We are all elves and once we were a single people. It’s time we were again” is a good goal. While there _are_ cultural differences between the various tribes, it will be important for the various groups to treat each others with respect, at least. And the kings certainly don’t want the Sérë Valaron to be broken more than it already has. Hmmm. This was rather a lot of political speculation. I suppose that if I must blame it on something, the current heat wave here in Norway is an excellent excuse ;-) The ellyn certainly has a fantastic story for their parents. Imagine – having dinner with with two ruling Kings, Beleg Cúthalion, The Balrog Slayer the former King of Nargothrond and _two of the Valar_!!! Though perhaps they won’t be saying too much about how they met... ;-) Author Reply: Am I quoting Yeats? I had no idea. *grin* I haven't decided if "Lúthien's Gift" is part of the "Elf, Interrupted" universe yet, but it is something to keep in mind for the future. This entire Progress is highly political in scope so I hope that it does generate lots of speculation among my readers. We're having a nice little heat wave here in Germany, so you're not alone. *grin* We will be seeing in the next few chapters how the six ellyn introduce the various members of the Progress to their families and friends. There will be some surprises in store (or so I hope). Thanks for reviewing, Sunny. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 64 on 6/28/2009 |
| You know, it’s no wonder the Elves of Tol Eressëa didn’t believe much about this visit of the Maiar back then. Who would believe the story about moving stones and the like, after all? *grin* Though *if* the parents of the three elflings would have known their story, they might not be so bitter, that’s true. Oh well. It’s not too late to change that, I guess. The situation is quite complicated, isn’t it? The younger Elves don’t want a king, while their parents look for the kings of Beleriand for guidance – and for so many of them. I’m beginning to think the solution would have to be something like the quadrature of the circle – and that could prove difficult to achieve. Well, I’m glad to know the tournament had such an impact – and positive impact! – on the Tol Eressëans. Even if the outcome was not exactly what the Valar (and probably the kings) had hoped, it did some good, as I thought before. Oromë and Vana turning up and the banter about that famed wild berry pie was the icing on the cake *grin* I really like the easy way the kings and Reborn have with the Valar. So, Olwë doesn’t remember issuing an invitation to dinner for these two? *evil grin* Anyway, that day will be unforgettable for the six hunters, and I think it will go a long way to convince them about the good intentions of both the Amaneldi and the Valar. And I am glad to see Pelendur making a first little step towards his son. Very enjoyable chapter, Fiondil! Author Reply: Hi, Kitty. Yes, the situation is quite complicated, but hopefully a solution will be found that will satisfy most, if not all, parties involved. It may prove to be a 'temporary' solution that all can agree to live with until a more permanent one is found, but it will at least help relieve the tensions that are simmering just below the surface. The tournament, if nothing else, opened the way for the various groups of elves to begin communicating with one another, something they really haven't done as yet. Perhaps if there had been honest communication between the Amanians and the Tol Eressëans from the beginning, much of the trouble they are seeing now would not exist (and then there would be no story *grin*). I'm glad the scene with the Valar showing up was such a hit with you and everyone else. The kings and the Reborn have a 'history' with the Valar that the common people do not, so they tend to have a better rapport with them. And yes, this day will be talked about by these six ellyn for days and months and years to come. *grin* And Pelendur is at least trying and that's a positive step forward in his relationship with Haldir. Thanks for reviewing, Kitty. I'm glad you enjoyed this chapter. | |