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The Last Messenger: A Tale of Númenor  by Fiondil 127 Review(s)
Nieriel RainaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/9/2008
Well, that would explain why Earnur's name was so familiar and I felt I should know it for some reason. *headdesk* Thanks for explaining!

Nieriel RainaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/8/2008
Finally! Got my lap top back, everything put back on it, and not a moment too soon. My beast died this morning. *grin* But I'm back now full force! YAY!

Well, I'm not sure what I was expecting, but this wasn't it! I mean that in a good way, though. Wow. So much has...changed. And not changed. Kind of like life.

Love Laurendil and Manwen having kids, ESPECIALLY! Vorondil being his son in law. THAT IS SO COOL! Almost as cool as Vorondil having his own elfling to deal with. *grin* And he is so grown up and yet...still so VORONDIL! *huggles overgrown elfling* This whole family unit is so endearing already.

Well, like I said, not sure what I was expecting, but this was a great beginning, full of hints of story line to come, throughly confusing and hooking your readers in one go, which is what you want to do in a first chapter of any story. But I really loved seeing characters we already know and love, especially Finrod, who it did not escape me was called Findarato exclusively until Laurendil mentioned him in their grove where only Sindarin is spoken.

So, interesting beginning. Laurendil is going into the lion's den with a message from the Valar, and we have all these hints about someone named Earnur who he named his son after. I almost wonder if this elf was Finrod's son, but I'm not sure the emotion was there on Finrod's behalf. Of course, he knows death so maybe it wouldn't have to be there. And maybe I'm reaching too far. I'd just like to see him happily wed with a brood of his own.

Irmo grows on me everytime I see him in your work, but then, all the Valar do, as we see all the facets of their personalities shimmer in the light.

There was something I wanted to ask...what was it? Oh! Vorondil's son's name, Caladundil. Anything to do with Vorondil's Naneth? Or just coincidence. I just saw the similarity in their names and thought I'd ask. Not that you'll tell me. LOL

Nice opening. Now I want more. *grin*

NiRi




Author Reply: Glad you hear you got your laptop back. *grin*

I think it's interesting to see how things have changed (or not) over the millennia for these people. I was rather surprised to learn that Vorondil had married into Laurendil and Manwen's family, but I was also happy to see it. Eärnur was the journeyman Healer whom Finrod and Laurendil befriended. You are correct though that Finrod has a different take on death than Laurendil would have so while he truly grieves for his friend's death, he knows from personal experience how it is with Eärnur at this time.

Calaldunil's name is indeed a combination of Vorondil's parents' names and translates as "Friend/Lover of the Light of the Two Trees".

I will be posting a new chapter of this story every week. It is not be a very long story, only about a dozen or so chapters, most of which are already written.

Glad you liked the start of this and that you want more. That's music to an author's ears. *grin*

eilujReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2008
You’re addicted to juggling three stories at once, I guess (and at least two more in the wings!).

I hadn’t realized there was that much time between Isildur’s stealing the seed and the Downfall. Years and years and years of horribleness.

“I fear that the only other person capable of dealing with what you will find there is standing next to you” -- Now, that’s an interesting statement, when I think about the various skills and qualities those two have in common, especially the unusual ones: wondering exactly which abilities will be the most useful! I can think of two or three reasons why Glorfindel, for instance, probably wouldn’t have qualified (besides that I imagine he’s currently residing in Imladris and is not exactly available to be sent to Númenor!).

“Calaldundil,” hm? That’s interesting too!

"And you’re the only one in all of Aman the Valar feel is capable of giving these Edain a message they are likely to ignore?" -- Poor Laurendil. The proverbial Thankless Task. Then again, we don’t yet know what message, or to whom he’s supposed to deliver it.

“For convenience, I have adopted the Calendar of Imladris for this story” -- I note that you don’t say *whose* convenience! [If it were *my* convenience, it would be the Shire calendar! ;-)]

I hate to mention how long it took me to remember who Eärnur is....

Author Reply: We actually don't know what the timeframe for certain events were since Tolkien didn't give them. We know when certain events occurred before other events but that is all we know. I have set the time of this story 24 years before the Downfall for my own purposes. Also, in the Silmarillion it says that Isildur lay ill until the seed he stole germinated and a sapling appeared the following spring. Also when the Downfall occurred, they took a seed of THAT tree with them. Seems to me that some time would have to pass for the tree to grow enough to actually have seeds.

Yes, Glorfindel, by this time, is residing in Imladris and is unavailable.*gri8n*

The convenience of using the Calandar of Imladris (and actually it's merely the Shire Calandar from Appendix D with acknolwedgement of how the elves marked the seasons) is based on the fact that the elves of Aman and the Númenórëans did not share the same calendar. The Amanian calendar recognized only 6 days in a week, while the Númenórëans made the innovation of adding a seventh day. It's easier to pretend everyone is using the same calendar instead of trying to juggle dates.

Glad you enjoyed this first chapter. Thanks for reviewins.

NeiliaReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/7/2008
Oh, this is good! A keeper. Can't wait for the next chapter!

Author Reply: Thanks, Neilia. Glad you liked it.

TiraReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/6/2008
yay! another story!! *hugs fiondil* i love your stories, and this one starts out like it shall be as good as the others...

otherwise...how is EI Book 2 coming along? *grins*

Author Reply: Thanks Tira, I'm glad you like this one and hopefully it will not disappoint. As for EI2... if you keep nagging, you'll never see it. EI2 will be posted when it's posted and not a second sooner.

AlquawendeReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/5/2008
I'm really enjoying this story so far. I'm suprised that Vorondil became Laurendil's son-in-law, but it's good to know that Vorondil is on the right parth now. His son is such a darling. Laurendil's whole family seems so ideal.

Earnur was the elf who was a friend of Finrod in "Elf Interrupted" right? It's sad that he died.

If only Finrod didn't vow to not go further than Tol Eressea. I wonder who the Numenoreans would choose to side with. Sauron or Finrod?

Is Finrod still betrothed after all these years?

Thanks for writing and I can't wait for more!

Author Reply: Yes, Eärnur is the Journeyman Healer who befriends Laurendil and Finrod in "Elf, Interrupted". The story of how he died and why will be revealed later in this tale. I have a feeling that even if Finrod had gone, it would've been too late for most of the Númenórëans. *sgh* By this time Finrod and Amarië have been long married. *grin* Thanks for reviewing.

NikaraReviewed Chapter: 1 on 1/5/2008
Yay! Another new story. You are having fun jumping forward in the time line to see how these characters have developed. So, Vorondil ended up marrying one of Laurendil's children? That must have been interesting. I look forward to more!

Author Reply: Thanks, Nikara. It is rather fun to see where these characters have developed and what they have been up to. Don't know the full story of how Vorondil ended up marrying Laurendil and Manwen's daughter. Perhaps some day I will. I will be posting a new chapter of this story once a week so stay tuned.

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