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Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within  by Fiondil 13 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 8 on 5/24/2014
Finally, the long awaited dinner party!

Anne certainly chose a strange name for her son, but I can understand why she named him like that and that it would hurt to hear Alex wants to change it legally.

Yeah, for someone who doesn't know who and what they are, it has to be strange how many of the Elves live in this one house. It may be big, but not that big that thirty people seem normal.

Ugh, I wasn't too sure about Derek's father, but somehow I had expected Alex's mother to take the news well, not the other way around. And I had expected some disbelief, but her reaction was rather harsh. It certainly doesn't sound good. Though I have to admit, Alex has a very unique way of calming his mother down. Dancing a tango? Now that's a new one for that purpose. Let's hope it not only calms her down, but makes her more ready to listen. I don't want them to fight about it.

Author Reply: Hi Kitty. Yes, the long-awaited dinner party. People don't always react as you think they will and Anne's reaction, while harsh, is born of fear more than anything, especially since she's a historian, or at least a history teacher, so learning that what she believes is true about that history isn't is something she's not able to deal with and so she comes up with crazy theories as to why these people are like they are. And as Andy says, he's from California and everyone knows how weird they are. *grin* Thanks for the review. It's appreciated.

LaerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 2/1/2014
Interesting way of calming his mother down. Sounds like his dad was one great guy, and pretty inventive. :) Yeah, I kind of wondered how they would react, I think I would have passed out. ;)

Author Reply: Well, Alex knows his mom pretty well and his dad obviously did as well. I think Howard Meriwether was a great guy and his death came too soon. Thanks for reviewing, Laer. It's much appreciated.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/25/2014
Picking jaw up of the floor. What was that all about? Dancing to calm Annie down? Strange. Annie will be difficult to convince, even with all the evidence to the contrary. Maybe it was not such a good idea to have the whole lot showing their true colors all at once. It was probably a bit overwhelming. What she now needs is time to observe for herself. Unfortunately, she is leaving on the next day. Maybe the snowstorm can hurry up a bit and keep her for a while longer?

I have a feeling that any "proof", the elves can give her will be discussed away in her mind right now. No matter how ridiculous the argument is.

Was it on purpose that Finrod mentioned his conversation with "Manny" at a time when nobody could elaborate on it?


Author Reply: You and everyone else, obsidianj. LOL! I promise that all will be explained in the next chapter and we will see how Anne handles things now that she's calmed down a bit.

I don't know if it was on purpose that Finrod mentioned his conversation with "Manny" when he did. I think he just wanted to fill the silence and that was the first thing to come to mind. Obviously all the other Elves had to play it cool and dumb with the Mortals there, so we'll see how they deal with it once they know what it was that Manwë told Finrod.

Tanks for leaving a review. It's always appreciated.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
No, THAT is an unusual manner in which to get someone else calmed down--the Tango! Perhaps now she will be in a more receptive mood for the news she was just rejecting. And I wonder when the questions about Manny's news will begin?

Author Reply: We'll have to see how receptive Anne is in the next chapter. As for questions about Manny's news, that remains to be seen as well. Thanks for reviewing, Larner. It's much appreciated.

bookwormReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
*laughs self silly at the way in which Alex calms his mother down* Oh dear. Poor Anne, quite a shock, although Andy seems to be taking it calmly enough! Technically, I suppose the Valinorean elves born there could be considered 'alien' as in 'not born on earth'? =p

Author Reply: Hi bookworm. Well, it worked, so that's all that counts, isn't it? *grin* And yes, technically, those Elves born in Valinor and not in MIddle-earth would be 'aliens', though they probably don't see it that way. Thanks for your review. I appreciate it very much.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
Bit like Arnold Schwarznegger in True Lies, do you think it is a requirement of the 'Agency' that they learn to dance the Tango ?

O.K. I'll be good now, or as good as I can be!

Huggs,
Lynda

Author Reply: Hi Lynda. I don't know if the Agency requires its agents to know how to dance the tango or any other dance but I'm sure Amroth decided Artemus should learn it along with everything else he had to teach him.

Hugs back.

TariReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
Poor Anne. Being confronted by all those lovely Elves was a bit too much. Personally, I love the idea of being in a room with them. Hopefully she'll calm down and realize what they say is true. How they will accomplish that remains to be seen. What a fun ride.

Author Reply: It can be overwhelming, though, so it's not surprising that she doesn't react well to the Elves. We'll see how she does in the next chapter. Glad you are enjoying this, Tari. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it very much.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
Oh my goodness! That was unexpected!

I mean, I figured at least one of the parents would have trouble being convinced of the truth, but I'm not quite certain of what happened near the end, with Alex and his mom dancing--it shut her up for a few minutes, but I can't understand what else it would accomplish!

I do hope that she does come around, though. It would hurt Alex dreadfully if she doesn't.

Author Reply: Why do the expected, huh, Dreamflower? Keeps the readers guessing what you'll come up with next. *grin*

We'll learn the reason why Alex began dancing the tango with his mom in the next chapter, and what it accomplishes other than shutting her up for a bit.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I greatly appreciate it.

demeter dReviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
Wow! That dance with his mother reminds me of Farrell trying to use Artemis's immobilization word on him, only to find out it did not work. Indeed, did Amroth, er, Ryan, teach him to dance? Or, was the Tango something that Anne did with Artemis's father, back in happier times, which would mean that Anne likely taught her son. Interesting that he "just happened to have" that CD with him. With Artemis/Alex there is no such thing as "just happened". I think that he expected just such a response from her, and cane prepared! In which case, if I were her, at this point I would be accusing my darling son of trying to brainwash me! I agree with the other reviewer. The two of them have been "you and me against the world" for a long time. Which would make changes of this magnitude even harder on Anne. First she lost Artemis's father. Then she had to share her only son with a shadowy, dangerous profession. And now, it feels as though she will lose him entirely to some crazy cult! I understand her reaction completely! Apocalyptic cult, indeed! Anyone here remember Guyana, and that bunch in Texas? She says she is a skeptic. Yet the four of them went to a Christmas Eve church service. Out of tradition, or some real belief? If a Vala or Maia does come, the "Guardian Angel and Archangel" angle might be more useful for her right now, and NOOOOOT SO MUCH about an Apocalypse, not just yet!
I found it very interesting from word one that "Artemis Gordon Meriwhether" grew up to be a modern day U.S. Government agent, with a specialty in disguises and plots against the security of the the free world. Now, to find out that the show was MR. Meriwhether's favorite is even more telling. For "Alex" to be rejecting the name SHE chose for him, a name with ties to happier times with his father, well, to her it may feel like he is now rejecting HER! This may take some finesse.
I agree, Fionwe is likely still under house arrest somewhere. Perhaps Manwe and Varda, accompanied by their mortal expert, Olorin, would be good. Or something more subtle, Namo and Este, only in a dream. Either way, she is still not likely to believe the evidence of her own senses. After the attempted reveal, she is likely to chalk an in person appearance up to special effects or mass hypnosis. A dream she might write off as a result of mental suggestion. She will be a hard sell.

Author Reply: Oh Demeter, you have no idea just how close to the truth you are with your analysis of this chapter. I promise, most (if not all your) questions will be answered in the next chapter.

I will comment on your observation about Alex's name, though. You're right that Anne perhaps feels a sense of rejection because Alex has rejected his name. I think that's why she continues calling him Artemus even while everyone else calls him Alex.

At any rate, we'll see what happens next. The excitement isn't over yet.

Thanks for your lovely and very insightful comments. I really appreciate them.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 8 on 1/24/2014
Well they do say music soothes the savage beast!

Huggs,
Lynda



Author Reply: Actually, Lynda, the correct phrase is "music soothes the savage breast" but however you slice it, it's true. Of course it also depends on the kind of music. Hugs back.

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