Reviews (2,009)

Valandur seems like a good elf to have for a friend. Always wanting to learn and always keeping his eyes on you. Not in a stalker kind of way, just a "you look like you could use someone to pat you on the back" like a friend kind of way. I am glad he talked to the good Father and that he is going to talk to the others. He needed to unburden himself. And as for judging anyone, I don't think they will do that. Does he not know the history of the elves? ;) Any who great update!

Always love seeing Father Charles, he's very wise. I do wonder if a lot of that wisdom came the hard way because of his own experiences. Gareth is such a cutie! And you can tell just how used to all of this Finrod really is. I'm sure the fangirling/fanboying gets old. He's really kind to respond to it the way he does, with understanding and sympathy. I love the way several characters don't necessarily immediately make the mental jump or connections to the entire divinity issue, for instance Finlay's reactions and here, Alex's struggling with what he just experienced. It's so much more nuanced than if everybody just seamlessly incorporated into it. Pretty true to life, I think. I guess we know what is coming Friday, barring another Interlude or similar. Interesting that Alex felt like he was running out of time while he was out walking. It really is an interesting question of who might best understand what he needs to confess. Although the Elves might be high-and-mighty in a sense, several of them have some very dark things in their pasts and have been through some terrible wars. The Reborn aren't much for holding grudges, period. Derek might be upset, but he's a Navy guy, he has a sort of grasp on this sort of thing too, I guess, and he's so loyal to Alex. I know it's got to be awful for Alex, but I think he has many people who might understand more than he expects they will. I guess it often turns out that way with things we're afraid of discussing with others. Mardi Gras (And Ash Wednesday)! Wow, that takes me back to when I lived in the French Quarter. I was not brave enough to stay in town for the big day itself, since I lived two blocks from Bourbon Street and was not anxious to get caught in the chaos, but I still have my beads from the slightly less drunken parades in the Garden District. Once I ended up going to the Krewe of Muses accidentally because the streetcar shut down and stranded me, LOL. My university closed its doors for a week because there was no point in trying to hold class. Good times. Anyway! Looking forward to Friday, holding my breath on Alex's behalf. This was kind of a painful chapter, but in a good way. Thanks for the update! -Kevana

Kyle just won major points with me for how he handled that. "Should I be selling tickets?" That is not a bad idea, make some cash and cut down on the foot traffic. *grin* As often as you've been in the hospital, Alex, you could make some serious bank. I don't blame him, I get growly with folks when I'm not feeling well, too. Narnia-time! That would be very disconcerting. Aww, Alex and Felicity, sitting in a tree...with Elves in a nearby tree...but the Elves were nice enough to give them some privacy, heh. Honestly, they are the worst-kept secret in Wiseman. "rushing in where angels fear to tread" - Alex could put that on his business cards. Er, if ex-intelligence officers had business cards. Really will be interesting if we ever see Glorfindel and Alex compare notes on their experiences, it seemed to help Ingwion a lot in EI2 if I remember correctly. -Kevana

Well, it's obvious that you were blessed with some wonderful priests during your life. Good chapter. The Dude Abides.

Aw, bless, poor fellow comes around at last. Waking up in a hospital bed has got to be getting old for Alex. Buying a resort just for a zombie training camp! That's wild. Much better than trying to hold one on someone else's property, and I imagine it would be great to give them more space in general. Edhellond is still pretty crowded, if I remember correctly. I was wondering as well if in-universe orcs might be thought to be somehow a lingering memory that inspired zombies. I suppose there's a sort of nasty parallel there, orcs coming from twisted Elves (or so the theory goes, I think), and zombies coming from undead mortals. Interesting, the comment about many former military folks being recruited. Looks like they are getting sent the people they need. I wonder if they're going to have a spate of engineers show up, or some psychologists to help Ron, at some point. Watching the entire plan unwind is very entertaining! It's a sure sign of friendship when you stop talking nice and start making threats to your friends when they do dangerous things, LOL. The talk of names is very interesting, I sort of see how the brothers might be uncertain about reconnecting with a society they have never known. There are so many levels of culture shock going on here, it's really fascinating. Oh and I love the name "Winterhaven"! Very apropos! -Kevana

Peace be unto Alex. That was a powerful chapter. I was thinking that Alex needed to tell the elves and they would understand but he needed to confess to someone, a mortal, who could look at the issues without prejudice. When you had him confess to Father Waverly I thought that indeed things were looking up. And as the Father said with confession comes consequences, so it will be interesting to see where you go from here with the story. Finrod is Glorfindel's gwedyr to keep his head from getting too big from his perfection. LOL! I am sure he has had lots of teasing over the years. But it was the perfect foil for Gareth to begin to accept the elves as just being just ike, well elves. Now that you have mentioned it, I hope that Gwyn has not gotten into trouble in the meantime. Hope you have a good week. I am looking forward to the meeting of Alex with Ron, Amroth and Derek. Should be very intense.

Oh, to be pampered by elves. That would be heavenly. "Sighs"

That was deep, difficult and intense. Poor Alex! I am glad that at last he is taking steps to find healing.

Stepping forward in this way is good, and Father Waverly is certainly qualified to offer this advice, and on all levels. Good to see Alex shedding years of guilt and protections.

"As tired as he felt, though, Alex did not fall asleep immediately but lay there staring at the ceiling remembering a conversation that he should not have been able to have with Someone whom he had not really believed existed." Why not? He's on a first-name basis with archangels, why would he have trouble with God?

Outstanding chapter. I am so glad Alex went to Father Waverly. He was such a good choice, not to mention Alex seemed led there. Thanks.

I am so glad that Alex has finally found a way to "lose control" and unburden himself - and that was a perfect choice, even if the choice was not made consciously; Atar probably had a hand in it all along :) Its also good to see that he will finally open up to the Elves. He is so lucky to have them looking out for him, and its always nice when a relationship is a two-way street. For a while back there I thought the Valar had sent Alex among the Elves to pay back Glorfindel for all the headache he probably gave them (evil grin)... And I too, know and firmly believe that Glorfindel is perfect in every way - and that he knows it too.

Lovely chapter. Glad Alex and Felicity had a good kiss. Helps clear the air. Poor Alex has had a rough time. Ready to see what happens next to the poor guy. On the other hand, he needs to learn to not try to do everything by himself. Thanks.

So, Felicity was just a lure. The guys who helped Farrel played nice this time. Not like when they beat up Zach and Derek. She might think she is fine, but the reaction sometimes sets in later. But with all the offers of help she might not take the help after she said she is fine. There is this thing of pride... Good for Dave to get one over the elves. I hope they will respect him more from now on. Agent Colson met her match. You cannot convince elves with looks. They always look better ;-).

Wow! That's a rescue. Nothing better than a couple of Maia to get you back from the dead. Poor Finlay! Seeing all these supernatural beings in action must freak him out. He is holding up pretty well. Loved the wolf serving dinner.

I had forgotten, Alex has classes to take and to teach. This is going to play havoc with that. Alex just makes me smile. That first bit was very characteristic. Though, I must admit I don't have to deal with him. ~Eruherdiriel

It will be interesting to see Glorfindel and Alex comparing notes, I must say. Love that he's getting to the good part with Felicity so quickly--I suspect he's been advised that he needs to do what he can while he can in the time allotted to him.

I remember a few years ago, here in my part of the world, where we can have some pretty stiff winters, a news story. It seems that some quite small child, only a year and a half-two or so, got out of his house unnoticed in the dead of winter. Somehow, he was able to get around or over the fence to the family's pool and fall in. A short time later, maybe fifteen minutes if I remember right, he was found,face down in the pool. After some time in the hospital, little one made a full recovery, and even seemed to have no memory of the incident. His doctors speculated that since the water was so cold, his brain and vital functions were shut down instantly. No brain damage, even with little oxygen, he was in hibernation. Farrell is not as resilient as a child to be sure. But they BOTH went into the Tarn, for Atar's purposes. I DO NOT think we have seen the last of him. I DO think that he may need more time, and may be visiting with any number of people I could think of. He may need a lot of convincing that his experience is real.

Best beloved indeed! It was good that Namo remained to remind Alex of his talk with Atar and that lone wolf tactics were no longer needed. It is frustrating when medical professionals talk about you when you are there as if you weren't there. But the gentler Alex was a much nicer guy the next day. Even I got confused at first with the talk about the timeless halls. But I imagine it is like a revolving door, you go in one door but coming out the same door you are in a different place - or maybe not. LOL! The mathematical equations for that to exist would only be recognizable to a Valar and mathematics is definitely not my forte, so I will accept that it is. Snogging on the couch! I think the non-girlfriend has had a promotion to more. Loverly. Felicity is good for Alex and I like the way you have developed her character. She will be able to handle all the elves as she does her classes, with style and grace. Hope we learn a little more of her background as we did with the priest. I do hope that Glorfindel and Alex get to talk about talking to Atar. It would be good for Alex to see that he is there for a purpose and that all of the players are there to help each other. Have a good weekend! I will bring fruit fried pies to the Cliff House. I am having an apple fried pie for supper tonight. The old fashioned ones without all the sugar and oil that people use nowadays.

I'm rereading the Bahzellverse books again (see what you made me do, Fiondil?) and am currently about two thirds through _The War God's Own_ when I came upon a little thing that made me wonder about a thing that pops up from time to time in your own fics: Did you find the inspiration for the Life Oath in the Hradani concept of charkanahd, or Death Sworn?

O my, Alex really is a bad patient, if it takes Námo to tell him to keep quiet! He shouldn't rush himself during his recovery time, no matter how badly he wants to be in full swing again! But at least Alex is finally getting to see that other side of Námo, so I wonder what he thinks about him now. And I think both Alex as well as the Elves in the room have a lot to think about. Amroth really cares a lot aboutAlex, doesn't he? I think Alex and Glorfindel really need to sit together for a while and talk about their encounters with Atar. It will also make Alex see a whole different side of Glorfindel, I think. And it seems Alex and Felicity are really getting somewhere now. Loved it how the Elves were about to come in when things were getting started between the two lovebirds.

It's good to see everyone is returning back to Wiseman again. Gareth getting to see Wiseman is interesting and it was nice seeing a bit more of how EA is run. Poor Gareth! He's so young and insure, but I hope Glorfindel made him see how he's much more in his place in this world than all the Elves who he feels look down on him. It would be interesting to let him teach the Valinor gang some things about modern live, I think it would prove to be an eye-opener for both sides. Alex is awake again and trust Námo to be in the thick of things. And thanks for the reading recommendation, I'll see if I can find the books around here somewhere. Should not be that easy though, many good books never get translated and even although I prefer to read the English versions anyway, those are often even harder to get...And I'm very much a critic when it comes to fantasy, there are so many LOTR wannabes around that are not worth reading. And yes, sometimes it's good if the monsters just remain monsters anyway, that's another problem with some books *snickers*

I put your recommendation on my to read list. Thanks.

I see that Alex has being a bad patient in common with Glorfindel. Of course, he isn't really in Glorfy's league - I'm sure any number of healers, bot in Aman and in Middle-Earth can testify that Glorfindel is the worst patient ever. Still, I see that Alex is doing his best to give his healers grief. ;-) Heh. Of course Alex feels exhausted. Dying (or nearly so) clearly takes a toll! I see Alex is making a move here - and I hope Felicity has her hook well set, so that her catch won't escape her! :-D

sounds like Ann will be needing to come back and meet her future daughter-in-law. Which may mean more of Andy. :) Gareth is rather shy still with everyone, but then I think if I was around so many "legends" who see Namo among others; I would be a bit shy also. Perhaps Judd and the original human elfs wills have something knew to learn. I kind of like the zombie killing camp. I would die as I am not that talented, but I would still love to sign up for the camp. Yea, I know. No where did we read about this in this chapter. Just when I started talking about Gareth my mind went there. so until Monday have a great weekend :)