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| Christmas at Edhellond: An Elf Academy Tale by Fiondil | 220 Review(s) |
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| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/3/2014 |
| Oops, forgot to mention, found this ironic, considering what I'm reading in Part 3: The Valar assured me that those who once dealt with Mortals and respected them would be allowed to return. They will not allow those who had no dealings with Mortals or who are not very sympathetic toward them. Author Reply: Very ironic, but, hey, the honeymoon had to end sometime and I'm afraid reality did not meet the expectations some of the Elves probably had about Mortals, basing them on what they remembered from before and most of the time they had little to do with the Mortals anyway. As the late Andrew Greeley's character Father Blackie would say, "There are many ironies in the fire". | |
| Lindelea | Reviewed Chapter: 9 on 4/3/2014 |
| Finrod as mayor! What a thought! Ron's story is heart-breaking, and goes a long way to explain his depth, and capacity for empathy with Mortals as well as Elves. So that's how Finrod came to work at the bookstore. I must admit, such a bookstore sounds a little like heaven on earth to me. Sticky buns, yum. They are off my list, unfortunately, except for very rare and special occasions. I smiled at the special star pins, and realized, once more (as I make my way through this story) that a main theme seems to be Finrod's faith journey. So many great (and little) seeds of encouragement... And I'm reminded that "courage" is part of the word "encouragement" -- and so his faith and courage are cultivated and nurtured and encouraged to grow... Author Reply: Hi Lindelea. Yes, Ron's story is heart-breaking and it does explain his depth of compassion for others which makes him such a great psychiatrist. Sticky buns are off my list too except on special occasions, like Thanksgiving or Easter. And this story, at least, has the main theme of Finrod's faith journey and you're right about "courage" being a part of "encouragement. Never really thought of that. Thanks for pointing it out and thanks for reviewing. It's much appreciated. | |
| Twoflower2 | Reviewed 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. | |
| Sarah | Reviewed Chapter: 1 on 11/30/2013 |
| Greetings! I know this story is approaching its first "anniversary" (and I have read much of your work many, many times) but while deck-ing my own halls with my family today I suddenly remembered this gem and decided to finally come out of hiding. I love your characterizations so much that I have a hard time mentally keeping your fic-canon (even modern day ones like this) separate from the 'purist' canon of Tolkien's work. it is clear to me that you put a great deal of love and effort in to each of your stories, and I wanted you to know how very much I appreciate and admire that. You have done the impossible and made me look forward to Monday mornings :-) I hope this finds you well, and have a lovely holiday season! Author Reply: Hello, Sarah! What a wonderful surprise to see this review. I appreciate you letting me know how much you have enjoyed reading and re-reading this and my other stories. Your kind comments really lifted my spirits, and I like to think this review as an early Christmas present. Appropriate since this is the first Sunday in Advent as I write this. Anyway, here's a little gift back: I will begin posting Elf Academy 3 after Christmas, so you have plenty of time to finish re-reading this fic, as EA3 begins where this story ends. Thank you so much for this. It really made my day. May you have a lovely holiday season as well. | |
| someone | Reviewed 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. | |
| Agape4Gondor | Reviewed 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. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed 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. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 17 on 2/6/2013 |
| I'm glad Alex and Derek got back in time and without problems with their visitors. These feelings urging them to leave earlier are a bit unsettling, but maybe it's actually just the weather. All these Elves wondering about more sinister reasons are making me nervous, though. Is it naive to hope they're wrong? Wow, that was certainly an unexpected way to get their tree out of the frozen ground without having to fell it! I like the idea that the tree gets replanted after Christmas. Nice story about Celeborn in Aman. Yeah, the kings are good with that sort of thing. Author Reply: I don't think it's naive to hope that the Elves are wrong about their suspicions, Kitty. The implications if they are right are rater frightening, so it's easy to want to think otherwise. At any rate, I thought the way Glorfindel chose their Christmas Tree rather cool and very elvish. It's a pity we can't do it as well. I'm glad you like the story about Celeborn in Aman and the kings are very good at putting certain people in their places without seeming to do so. That's what makes them such good kings. *grin* THanks for reading and reviewing. I really appreciate it. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 16 on 2/6/2013 |
| Seeing that Glorfindel himself told the wedding story after Aragorn and Arwen's wedding, Finrod has every right to do the same. Besides, it's way too funny to not regale the others with it. The Valar keep saying they don't use the Elves as pawns, but sometimes one easily gets the feeling they are trying to manipulate things to their liking a bit too much. Personally, I am not always wholly comfortable with it, and it seems even Finrod is still feeling the same, even after all these millennia. Oh well, so far it usually turned out well. Author Reply: Well, as Varda says to Finrod, while they set things up so that Finrod might discover the 'help wanted' sign, he was still free to choose not to enquire about the job or even decide not to take it after all. The Valar set up the situation in hope of a certain outcome, but everyone else is left free to choose as they wish. Finrod taking the bookstore job was a hope on the part of the Valar but they left him free to decide for himself if he would take the job or not. That is an important distinction from outright manipulation and making sure the person does what you want. It's a fine distinction and from the POV of Elves and Mortals, it sometimes seem as if what the Valar are doing is manipulative when it actually isn't. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this, Kitty. It's much appreciated. | |
| Kitty | Reviewed Chapter: 15 on 2/6/2013 |
| At that rate I'm tempted to ask what poor Finrod did to you. First he was shot, then Glorfindel attacked him, and now that? Poor guy. At least he seems to have been lucky and was found in time. Good to see that the three Amigos have made new friends. They have really come a long way since their arrival more so than any other Elves. The more I hear about that storm, the more suspicious it certainly becomes. Hopefully, Daeron is only a bit paranoid after everything that happened, but knowing you, that might be a vain hope. There's too much going on we don't know anything about. Author Reply: It does seem like this is a "Poor Finrod" type of story, doesn't it? *grin* But what happens to him is a natural consequence of all that went before, including his choosing to return to Middle-earth when the Valar aksed him if he would go. And there may be more to the storm than meets the eye or not. Such is the ambiguity of life. It may be made clearer in a later inatallment of the story as certain pieces are played. We'll have to see. At any rate, thanks for commenting. It's much appreciated. | |