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The Last Messenger: A Tale of Númenor  by Fiondil 8 Review(s)
CelethReviewed Chapter: 23 on 3/22/2013
This story was masterfully written and I enjoyed it immensely. Action, suspense, with just the right amount of humor to spice it up. It seems that Laurendil and Earnur have become almost as powerful as the Maiar in their healing techniques and countering Sauron's spell to open Fiondil's prison cell, but then I suppose that is not to be wondered at in the apprentices of Lord Irmo?

And naming a cat after Lord Namo! hahaha!

You know, sometimes I wonder if Glorfindel was indeed the only one that the Valar sent back to Middle-Earth? Sometimes I think the Valar decided that there was still too much left for Tolkien to write, and so they sent him back too, but knowing the superstitious nature of mortals, instructed him to use another name and identity instead. This suspicion has been growing larger and larger in my mind as I read more of your stories.

A rather roundabout way of saying it. But I love all your stories, and the way you flesh out the characters and provide more behind-the-scene details to Tolkien's masterpiece, enhancing and never detracting from the theme and scheme of things. Thank you so much for that.

Author Reply: Hi Celeth. I'm glad you enjoyed this story. Thanks for letting me know. I appreciate it. It was a fun story to write with its D&D flavor at times. And believe me, I'm no more an Elf than I'm the tooth fairy, just a regular guy who likes to play in Tolkien's universe.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 9/18/2010
Rereading, again, and wondering about all those sailors and soldiers who really did not want to go with Ar-Pharazon but went anyway. Seems a bit unfair that they had to spend eternity in suspended animation just because their king had delusions of grandure.I am sure the vast majority were with Ar-Pharazon but there must have been a few who did not agree but were afraid not to go for fear of reprisal. Deserting was not looked upon faverably!
It is always the innocents who suffer in war.
Still reading, keep posting,
Huggs,
Lynda


Author Reply: Hard indeed, Lynda, but that's the price they've paid for not remaining faithful to the Valar whatever their personal feelings towards their king and his policies might be.

ellieReviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/24/2008
I've not read a fanfic telling of the hiding of Valinor. Very intersting! I like your sending Valinor to the 10th dimension. IMO, the sinking of Numenor and the upheaval in Valinor would have been a consequence of ripping an entire continent out of one dimension and placing it in another. The order of events as you and Tolkien describe them would be accurate, but I see it as being like the disturbance of the soil around a plant as it was being uprooted and then transplanted elsewhere. Does that make sense?

I had wondered what the 10th dimension copy of Valinor was for, and now we know! I love the way your Tolkien universe builds upon itself across stories. I am sorry to see this story end.

Now go write something else intriguing and cool so I have soemthing to read in between postings of your other stories!

Author Reply: I thought it was time to get the Hiding of Valinor and the Drowning of Númenor from the POV of the Valar themselves. I'm glad you found it believable in sequence, although I don't see it as ripping the continent itself out of one dimension and into the other, merely the inhabitants and their buildings, etc. The continent itself would have remained intact.

And don't worry... I'm writing other things but you'll just have to wait until I finish them before you can read them. *grin* Thanks for reviewing.

Agape4GondorReviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/14/2008
That was an incredible chapter and a most fitting end to the tale, Fiondil.

Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

I really had to giggle about the 10th dimension 'cause I just made a joke about it in my review of the last chapter! And I loved the Valar here....

Very, very well written account of those last moments. I don't think I've ever read of those hours before.

Thank you for sharing this delightful tale... Blessings!

Author Reply: Thanks, Agape. I'm glad you found this an incredible chapter. To the best of my knowledge no one has ever written about the Downfall from the POV of the Valar and I always thought it would be interesting to see it through their eyes, hence this chapter. And, of course, now we know what the 10th dimension is all about. *grin* Thanks for all your reviews and support. I really appreciate them. Blessings!

6336Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/11/2008
Been thinking about this some more.
I can see the Valar being a little upset with Ar-pharazon and company, they have given the Edain an island to recompense them for the rearrangment of Beleriand at the end of the War of Wrath, one of their own has given up his immortality to be their first King, they have been given a longer life than other men and now they want more! Yep I would be a little pissed!
Finrod and Laurendil going into Warrior Mode is quite understandable I hope Namo is was not too hard on them.
Did the Elves in the Hither Lands know Valinor had been moved to the 10th dimension or were the informed by Manwe's Eagles?
Elrond must have been totally mortified to realise just what his great nephew had tried, had he been mortal he would have gone grey!
Did Margileth bring the original Bannon(sp), or did she just keep getting black cats and giving them the same name? I know cats can live to around 20, my Cleopatra was a week shy of her 20th birthday when she slipped through the Veil at the end of January this year!
Sorry to ramble on so,
Lynda

Author Reply: I think the Valar through Ulmo would at least let Círdan know what the score was so he could adapt his ships to make the transition, but I doubt anyone tried to explain about the 10th dimension. It was enough to know that "all roads are bent".

Not sure if this is the same cat or not, but I know cats can live a long time if treated well and perhaps along with the Edain, maybe the Valar extended the lifespans of certain animals as well. *grin*

Thanks for reviewing. I really appreciate it.

CesReviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/11/2008
It must have been heartbreaking for the Valar to watch what their children were doing. You wrote it wonderfully as usual.

The ending was great! Loved the old woman and her cat! There is hope for the future.

Thank you for this beautiful story. I enjoyed reading it very much and look forward to a new one.

Ces

Author Reply: Thanks, Ces. I'm glad you liked the way I wrote this. I always thought writing about it from the POV of the Valar would be interesting.

And thanks for enjoying this story and reviewing. I really appresciate you taking the time.

6336Reviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/10/2008
Oh Wow! The down fall of Numenor from the other side as it were. I have just been reading(struggling) through the Silmarillion, for the second time and read it from Ar-Pharazon's point of view. I wonder why he did not bring Sauron with him? Tolkien seems to have had a thing for close relatives desiring one of their own!
I know this is done, but more please,
Lynda
(It's undertow, not toe:<()

Author Reply: Oops! I'll make the correction. Thanks.

I thought it would be interesting to see what the downfall would be like from the point of view of the Valar. We only get a glimpse of what they experience because of it.

And don't worry. This tale may be over but there are more tales coming. Thanks for reviewing.

Nieriel RainaReviewed Chapter: 23 on 6/10/2008
Oh, Fiondil, what a Brilliant ending! I think this was my favorite part: They were accompanied by their young son, Boromir, as well as an elderly Woman carrying a black cat. (though I liked so many parts, it would be hard to say for sure.)

This is a wonderful tale! I"m so glad you shared it with us! Thanks!

NiRi

Author Reply: Thanks, BiRi. I'm glad you liked the ending especially the reference to Valandil and Ercassë and their son, Boromir, and Margileth with Bannoth. *grin* Thanks for reading and reviewing.

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