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Discretion  by Bodkin 10 Review(s)
Kitt OtterReviewed Chapter: 2 on 5/12/2008
Ha! So many knew. It took at least an age for the twins to catch on, did it not? : )
‘Wilier,’ Glorfindel contradicted him. ‘By far.’ - That is my favorite line. Wily is too fitting of a word.

-Kitt


elliskaReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/10/2005
And I love Glorfindel and Elrond in this.

I cannot remember ever being quite so young and cocksure,’ Elrond observed.

Glorfindel laughed. ‘I am not sure that everyone who survived the First Age would agree with that. I have heard some stories of the sons of Eärendil . . .’ His eyes gleamed as he glanced at his friend. ‘I had thought of passing them on to your sons,’ he added innocently.

‘I have always regretted not being acquainted with those who knew you in your youth,’ Elrond winced. ‘Mutual blackmail would, I feel, be only fair.’


That is a hilarious interchange. These two are great together.

And this:
I have clearly failed in my attempts to educate them properly,’ Elrond mused. ‘Khuzdul was among the languages they were supposed to learn.’

‘It was hard enough to get them to study Quenya,’ Glorfindel remarked. ‘They were convinced that fluent Westron was more than enough for the modern elf.’


*Snort!* That exchange just cracked me up. Great dialogue here!


Author Reply: Glorfindel is just so - Glorfindel-ish. He is very good for Elrond, who always seems to be just a bit too devoted to duty. Glorfindel makes him play.

I don't think the twins were enthusiastic students. The kind who demand to be told the point of studying algebra or literature . . . because they'll never need it.

I'm glad you enjoyed it.

perellethReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
HA! another productive day and another wonderful, funny reward!
Do you think Celeborn might have something else to add to the subject? (just guessing..:-)

The steady friendhip of these two shines through small details, and that was good to see. Glorfindel's dry sense of fairness was happy to read, too, much as Elrond's musings and their lazy bantering about blackmailing and shameful stories.... great, amusing bunny out of his hole! :-)


Author Reply: Do you know, I just think he might!

I'm glad you're enjoying these - they have been such fun to write.

Glorfindel is very good for Elrond - as Elrond is for him - and they deserved some pleasant time in the sun. I wonder if, once in the Blessed Realm, Elrond tracks down some people from Glorfindel's past - they could have some fun with that once Glorfindel sails.

This whole thing continues to expand!

Jay of LasgalenReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
I really should put more plot bunnies your way, Bodkin! They grow into such delightful stories.

Poor E2. It seems the world and his wife know what the phrases mean - but not them. Did they spend much time with Gimli, I wonder?

I'm beginning to wonder what phrases they taught the dwarves - I love the suggestion about hair like an elf's! Glorfindel was wonderful in this chapter - I loved his posturing and boasting about perfection. Surely there's someone left from Gondolin? My favourite from many wonderful lines:
‘They are fully skilled and formidable warriors,’ Glorfindel pointed out. ‘They keep reminding me that I saw to their training, so it must be so.’

Now, about that original journey with the dwarves ...


Author Reply: Thank you - this whole thing has become rather like bread dough left in a warm place.

I don't think that many know. Knowledge of Khuzdul is not that widespread. E2 just happen to be related to most of the elves who are familiar with the tongue.

Gimli, now! He might well have known, mightn't he. It could even be why he decided to teach Legolas enough of the secret language to know that he was being insulted. But E2 were mere acquaintances - they certainly didn't make it to dwarf-friend - so he probably wouldn't have felt obliged to reveal the secret . . . from which he might have taken considerable entertainment . . . No! I don't need a Gimli plot bunny.

Well - I've managed to come up with one idea for what E2 taught the dwarves! It's in Reflection 72 - which will probably come along on Saturday.

(I think that, in the end, I will add Reflections 71 and 72 as prologue and epilogue to this. To help it make more sense.)

And the original journey with the dwarves? That would be good, too. As would finding someone in the BR who reveals vast quantities of embarrassing stories about Glorfindel. (I think I need to retire, so I can spend all my time on this!)

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
"Oh, great wielder of a hammer as you are, my son!"

"Beloved treasure of my keeping!"

I've got to find the original story and find what they've been actually saying. Am having a delightful time imagining the endearments.

Author Reply: They could be saying almost anything. Although, as they were set up by young dwarves, there might be a bit of a physical element to it! Boys are rather fond of . . . bathroom humour! (Which makes it best left to the imagination, I think.)

This has turned into a much bigger undertaking than I first imagined. With more and more possibilities.

Thank you for commenting.

TithenFeredirReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
This was a delightful exchange between Elrond and Glorfindel, and the setting was vividly drawn. I could see the dander floating on the air! Favorite bits:

An airy wave of Glorfindel’s hand dismissed his protest. ‘I was perfect as an elfling,’ he protested. ‘It stood me in good stead for developing even greater perfection as an adult. I am,’ he said with fake modesty, flicking imaginary dust from his tunic with gleaming fingernails, ‘much admired for it.’

I've always imagined Glorfindel to be this imposing, magnificent specimen of an elf. He is terribly funny here in a suave, uber-cool kind of way.

‘It was hard enough to get them to study Quenya,’ Glorfindel remarked. ‘They were convinced that fluent Westron was more than enough for the modern elf.’

Something about the idea of a "modern elf" is hilarious.

‘Language of the kind they think they are using. What they are actually saying,’ he added ruefully, ‘they would not repeat in front of anyone.’

Poor twins! They seem to be the only ones who don't know what they are really saying. I am so looking forward to reading what happens next. ~TF



Author Reply: Uber-cool. That describes Glorfindel very well! I'm glad you like his conversation with Elrond - they make a good team, and Elrond needs the strength and humour of his long-term friend.

I find it quite funny when they quote Plato about how the country's gone to the dogs and kids now aren't what they were when we were young - I expect, at some stage, Methuselah was moaning about how the old folks didn't understand the modern age! (I shouldn't say that things I wrote made me laugh too, should I? It sounds stupid!)

I know. Poor twins. Still - what you don't know can't hurt you. And they have a lot of fun with all those catfight phrases. For a long time.

Thank you - I think two more parts only. Even a running joke can run too far!

NilmandraReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
I love wiley Glorfindel! Of course he knew too...I am glad he was witness to the great event where it happened. I can imagine some dwarves enjoyed listening to their young arrogrant members saying 'I wish my hair was as pretty as an elf's' with great delight too.

I can see this little family gathering, perhaps with no real young 'uns present and Elladan decides to try out the phrase in front of his parents and Glorfindel et al and Celebrian pats his shoulder and says 'You would be a very adorable lap-dog, dear, but it would hardly have been fitting for you to attempt that with the dwarf-king.'

Author Reply: Lovely ideas. 'I wish my hair was as pretty as an elf's!' I can just see some gruff barely-grown dwarfling proud of his new beard uttering that. Although I hope no-one tells him what it means or we could have an inter-species war to equal a Kinslaying!

And then the revelation - that would work so well. I was thinking there would have to be a Reflection to consider the history of this long deception, but the idea of Celebrian mentioning Elladan's suggested activities with the dwarf-king almost compels the story to be told elsewhere. Poor twins - only their maturity and general grown-upness there in Valinor will enable them to deal with the humiliation.

This has already grown to four parts. But maybe a fifth would finish it off nicely!

The KarenatorReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
Ah, ha! Adar and Glorfindel are just as willing to let the young ones learn a lesson. I'm sure Elrond needed to get out for a nice afternoon, but the amusement value went up considerably when he found out his sons were oblivious. Oh, he and Glorfindel are such fun. Fun wicked! I'm still chuckling.

Karen

Author Reply: Well, Elladan and Elrohir don't get all their mischief from their mother! Elrond and Glorfindel make a good team - and this is a joke that will afford them plenty of entertainment. Over a very long time.

And Elrond needs to spend more time outdoors. Among the trees. And remember he's an elf rather than an office wallah.

This has now grown from two parts to four. It's getting out of hand!




daw the minstrelReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
What I liked most about this part were the tiny bits about Elrond -- his dismay at realizing how much of his time he spends indoors, his friendship with Glorfindel, his dry amusement at his sons. You can see a lot of the history of these people's lives together in throw away comments like Glorfindel's about how he trained the twins.

Author Reply: Thank you! I just couldn't help throwing in the bits about Elrond - he doesn't get enough time for fun, poor elf. He's always too busy trying to save the world. It's a good thing he has Glorfindel as support - and they feed off each other - for strength, humour, understanding and so on. (I hope Elrond gets lots of chances for fun in the BR. He deserves it.)

DotReviewed Chapter: 2 on 9/7/2005
Yay! I’m glad you’re easily influenced by reviewers ;-)

I have to get to work so I’ll be brief… Loved this! Actually, I’ll admit that my favourite part was Elrond on his own, taking advantage of the peace and wistfully thinking he should do this more often.

Glorfindel, of course, is marvellous! Teasing Elrond is definitely a worthy pastime. I somehow doubt Glorfindel’s claim of elfling perfection. I really have trouble picturing him as a child. But you know, when Elrond gets to Valinor, I’m sure he’s bound to run into someone who knew Glorfindel as a child. I’m just saying. Of course, I’m still waiting for you to resurrect Oropher…

‘They spent their time with the youngest among the dwarves, while the leaders looked on at least as suspiciously as we did.’ I love that image!! Oh, and can I just point out that if the twins were supposed to have learned Khuzdul, then their tutor can probably be added to the list of people who would understand them should he overhear them. Poor Elladan and Elrohir. I’m starting to think that they’re the only ones who don’t know. It just took a friend like Legolas to tell them.

Hilarious line: ‘They were convinced that fluent Westron was more than enough for the modern elf.’ Modern elf? *choke*

Anyway, I love Elrond and Glorfindel plotting against them. Elrond needs to have some fun in his life… ;-)

I’m delighted you continued this. *sigh* Right, work…


Author Reply: Oh yes, very easily influenced. Especially when the suggestions are just so good. I love Elrond. I hope he has a lot of fun in the Blessed Realm - he deserves it. Although he will miss Glorfindel until Mr Golden Elf decides to turn up - they play off each other very well.

You think perhaps Glorfindel might have been a little difficult as an elfling? I think I've already had the twins longing to meet someone who will reveal all his childish misdemeanours - I might just have to get round to that. And Oropher. Yes. Must focus.

Now, who would have tutored the twins in Khuzdul? It can't have been Elrond - because then they would have learned Khuzdul, like it or not. Maybe it was the difficulty in finding a tutor that got them off the hook. (This has already made it to four parts - I don't think the joke can take more than that!)

I hope Elladan and Elrohir don't realise that everyone knows. They will be mortified. Perhaps Legolas should have joined those who were keeping the secret.

I'm glad you like the modern elf line. And the plotting. Thank you.

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