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Elf Academy 3: The Enemy Within  by Fiondil 14 Review(s)
KittyReviewed Chapter: 22 on 6/23/2014
Finrod's remark about the Valar's or Maiar's usual entrances left me laughing loudly. So true! And quite the shock for the poor priest to realise that Finrod has such a blasé attitude about his 'angels' and knows them well.

The topic of manipulation comes up a lot, and always has been. Somehow I don't get the feeling much has changed in that regard since EI 1. But it made not just Finrod think when Fionwë said that even the Valar and Maiar are just chesspieces, so to speak. Or at least that's how it sounds to me. Might help the Elves to accept it easier, who knows.

Author Reply: Finrod's remarks are pretty funny, especially in the blasé manner in which he delivers them. And Fionwë's remarks have given Finrod a better perspective on the cosmic scope of what is happening and realize that even the Valar and Maiar have particular roles to play and that it is all being orchestrated by Eru for their benefit. So what looks like manipulation to the Elves really isn't; it's just the pieces on the cosmic board moving to where they need to be.

Thanks for the review, Kitty. I greatly appreciate it.

TariReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/18/2014
This story keeps getting better with each chapter. I am totally engrossed in it and can't wait for the next chapter. This is so realistic, scarily so.

Author Reply: Hi Tari. I'm glad you are enjoying this story so much. It is scary how realistic some of the situations are, isn't it? Thanks for reading and reviewing. I very much appreciate it.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/16/2014
Hm, still not quite sure what is going on in this chapter, I think Fionwe was a little harsh with Finrod, he is still trying to come to grips with all the changes that have occurred, recover from a gunshot wound and suffer the pangs of separation from his wife and family, which he will not be seeing for a very long time! Now he has a Maia telling him off for being angry at being manipulated into attending worship services at which he was, apparently the guest of honor! Not good, not good at all.

I feel like everybody is on an express train careening down the track to Dead Mans Curve and the operator is not there! Stop the World, I want to get off!

Sorry if this is a little off, my sinuses are having a field day and my head feels like it is going to go sliding off somewhere!


Lynda

Author Reply: Hi Lynda. Sorry to hear you're under the weather. Sinuses are a pain sometimes. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Fionwë was being honest and telling it like it is, and honesty can sometimes seem harsh. Finrod and the others have to understand that more is at stake than their hurt feelings and that battles are being fought whether they're aware of them or not. Fionwë really has no time to coddle even Finrod, in spite of recent events with him.

And yes, they are on an express train without an operator, as we will shortly see.

Thanks for reviewing. Lots of hugs.

LindeleaReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/15/2014
Hmmm. Good reminder for Finrod. A little attitude adjustment can go a long way. Good reminder for the reader, too.

Author Reply: God reminder for everyone, Lindelëa. Thanks for reading and reviewing. It's appreciated.

someoneReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/15/2014
Interesting. If one looks at the last few chapters, it seems quite clear (at least to me) that the Elves have one main problem: they look only at the surface. Of course not all of them and not always, but quite often. That makes them think of mortals as clumsy, inferior creatures and the ainur as meddling troublemakers. This operation likely won't work until everyone sees each other as individuals with their own strenghts (and this goes both ways, humans/mortal variety of human beings need also to see the Elves as people, not fast, pretty and glowing aliens taking over their hometown).

I think they really need that zombie boot camp, with different teams (mixed elves and mortals) to get to know each other outside normal social situations.

Finrod really had strange day, poor dark creature without soul that he is. *grin*

Author Reply: Hi someone. You're right that at the moment the Elves are looking only at the surface of things. Finrod's vision or whatever it might be points to that assumption. More is going on than everyone realizes.

The zombie hunter boot camp with mixed mortal and elvish teams is a great idea and hopefully someone will suggest it to them when the time comes.

Strange as the day was, I'm sure Finrod is glad for the experience.

Thanks for leaving a review. It's very much appreciated.

obsidianjReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/15/2014
Wow! What a chapter. This was a wake-up call that there is more at stake than just the elves finding their way. Finrod, and his friends from Valinor mostly, needs to grow up and adjust to the situation. I got the feeling from Fionwe's attitude that they have less time then they thought. The newcomers need to speed up their adjustment. Fionwe made a good point about the "unpreparedness" of the Valinorean elves that they would not have believed the Valar/Maiar if they had told them what the Mortals and the new societies would be like. Some things you have to experience for yourself before believing them. I loved the reminder of the true powers of the Maiar and by extension the Valar by showing us Fionwe as angel in the eyes of Josiah, in the vision of Finrod, and then in his ordinary Finn disguise, not to mention the little teleport stunt. It is easy to forget how powerful they really are....

Author Reply: Definitely a wake-up call, obsidianj. As to whether time is short or not, remains to be seen, but certainly, the Elves from Valinor need to speed up their adjustment to reality. There's too much at stake for them to be floundering about as they have been. I'm glad you loved the reminder of the true powers of the Maiar, and by extension the Valar. I thought it necessary, not just for Finrod, but for the readers, who can easily forget just how powerful these beings really are when they're laughing at their so-called antics, like Fionwë in his Finn disguise or Námo as Nate. The very least of the Maiar has the power to destroy worlds with a single thought. Something that one should always keep in mind.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. I very much appreciate it.

LaerReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/14/2014
Very nice update sir. Loved the interaction with Finrod and the members of the Congregation. The elves and the mortals need to become as one just as the elves need to be all one group. Hopefully this will start to happen now. I hope that the powers that be bring him his wife. She seems to be his rock. :)

Author Reply: Hi Laer. I'm glad you enjoyed the interaction between Finrod and Josiah's congregation. The two groups do need to become more consolidated and hopefully this will be the first step. I hope they allow Amarië to join him, too. He's getting annoying with his sighs. *grin* Thanks for leaving a review. It's very much appreciated.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/14/2014
Quite an interesting set of interventions, and I see that Fionwe is doing his Gabriel act. I almost hope that Finrod gets a bit of sleep now, as I suspect he does need it, particularly after a Maia-focused teleportation of that magnitude.

And what a description to give of the Maiar! Not a kind one, either. Heh!

Author Reply: Yes, they are, Larner, and it shows that more is going on behind the scenes than even the Elves suspect. I'm sure Finrod will get some sleep as we will see in the next chapter. And the description of Fionwë in full battle-mode merely shows that they are very dangerous creatures indeed and they hold more power than they let on before the Children, which is only right. No sense scaring them all into Mandos, now, is there? *grin* Thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated.

DreamflowerReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/14/2014
The lines are being drawn, and it's clear the Powers have been instructed to take a more obvious and active part in Wiseman than they have for a very long time. Of course, that's been so since the start of this series, but I sense that in this story the pace is picking up.

And I see I was just a little "off" in my guesses about the sermon. I was envisioning Gandalf/Olorin invisibly whispering in the two pastor's ears, not a full-blown visitation from Fionwe! Still that leaves me wondering about what Olorin is up to, since I am sure he did not hesitate to take up his new mission.

Also, I am now very curious about Charles' backstory, due to the hints from Josiah.

And I am quite glad to see that Finrod can once more take comfort in his gwador's presence...

Author Reply: Hi Dreamflower. Yes, the pace is picking up and we will see why when we eventually get to Elf Academy 4, which I am already plotting out even as I finish up writing Elf Academy 3. I am sure Olórin is very busy in his own way, as are others. We will learn something about Charles' backstory soon, I promise. And it is indeed good that Finrod can once more find comfort in his gwador's presence. Thanks for reviewing. It's always appreciated.

EllieReviewed Chapter: 22 on 3/14/2014
Wow! That was powerful on some interesting fronts! Finrod got a very interesting dose of reality there. Poor Fionwe on probabtion again. He is dramatic adn cool though and tends to give a very intersting "talking to" when the situation calls for it. It is fascinating to get reminders of the powers of the different levels of the hierarchy. We get so caught up in elves versus mortals and forget the Maiar abilites. WOW!

Author Reply: Hi Ellie. Yes, very powerful on a number of fronts. I think Fionwë will survive probation, and he is definitely dramatic and cool and his chats are almost as interesting as those given by Námo, and considering he was once under Námo's jurisdiction (according to my story "War of the Valar") he probably picked up one or two tips from the Lord of Mandos along the way. *grin* And I think the Ainur as a group tend to underplay their true powers to the Incarnates for obvious reasons. It's good to be reminded every once in a while just how powerful they truly, truly are.

Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule (and I do know how busy that schedule is) to leave a review. It's very much appreciated.

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