Disclaimer: I do not own any of Tolkien's amazing characters or settings.
Author's Note: Hey, guys: this is my twentieth story! Yippee! Anyway, I just want to make a couple notes before diving into the prologue.
First of all, I want to say that this story will probably give you a new perspective so long as you track with the main themes. I will update very often, perhaps every day or every other day, so hopefully you can follow along easily. But be conscious of the changes that occur throughout the story! These are very important, both to the purpose of this story AND TO YOUR REAL LIFE WORLD. I'm serious. This fic may give you a keener eye in your everyday experiences, and it does so through what I humbly consider a fun prompt and story.
I have included in the prologue some introductory facts about Númenor in case you are less than an expert. Feel free to ask me questions about certain things in a review, and I will try to clear it up either in a PM or, if it is a consistent problem, in the story itself.
Lastly, almost everything I have gathered comes directly from the Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. There is some speculation, but you'd be surprised how much of this wrote itself. It was very much like the characters were sitting across from me and answering my questions.
I hope you enjoy the story! Please don't forget to review!
Prologue
As her worldview class came to a close, Thalion Estel placed her papers in her binder quickly, anxious to get home with time to write before dinner. This hope, however, soon proved to be in vain, for just before they were dismissed, her teacher issued a proclamation that made everyone's heart sink.
"Oh, before you guys go, I need to give you some basic guidelines for your project due next week."
There was a collective groan as the students settled back in their seats and made ready to take notes. Thalion found it hard to believe that the class had another project after so many books to read and essays to write, but she knew complaining would not help the situation. Sighing, she began to scribble down some bullet points as her teacher spoke.
"We have studied many civilizations during the course of this class, from Greece and Rome to England and the United States. Your job is to use the observational skills you have learned to investigate why civilizations collapse. You will pick a country or empire and follow their history, giving causes of their downfall or at least their decline. You are not bound by the civilizations we have studied: you may look into China, Japan, or any other such place.
"If you have access to people who have witnessed declines or downfalls, you should take advantage of this and interview them. You will give a presentation speech on your topic next week. Let me know if you have any questions. You are dismissed."
Although her classmates still hung their heads, Thalion's eyes grew bright as a hopeful, though extremely unlikely idea popped into her head. Standing from her chair, she rounded a table and addressed her teacher.
"Did you say we could do our project on any civilization?"
"Yes; as long as you do a good job, you can pick anything. You're a diligent student, Estel: I'm sure whatever you want to pursue will be fine."
"Thank you, sir. Have a nice week!" With those words, Thalion rushed out the door and sped home, her mischievous mind already hard at work.
As soon as she pulled into her driveway, she leapt from the car and raced into the house. Her mother asked her about class, but she gave the typical answer of "fine" and hurried upstairs to her room, grinning in a way that made her poor mother concerned. Of course, Thalion's parents were used to her strange behavior, so the eccentric girl was not questioned.
As soon as she arrived in her room, she pulled out the two sources of information she wanted to use for her project: The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales. Both contained plenty of facts about Númenor, the country that Thalion desperately wanted to research for her speech. Her smile did not diminish as she flipped to the desired sections of each book, marking with sticky notes each section she deemed important.
"This is going to be great, Warg," she said enthusiastically to the small animal that many considered a dog. Warg looked at her master vacantly, wagging her tail at nothing and curling up beside the desk. "Too bad I can't interview anybody. Can you imagine that? If only I could get another audience with Mandos. I bet he could pull some strings."
The last time Thalion had been graced with Mandos' presence, a story recorded in Dishes of Doom, the Vala had been able to give the Tolkien-nerd direction so that she could solve her problem. It was unrealistic to assume such would happen again, but chance certainly can't be expected to determine matters of importance. The problem was that Thalion wasn't even sure that she hadn't dreamed up her encounter with the legendary Mandos.
The young writer had been skimming through the records of Númenor only about three minutes when she felt that something or someone was watching her. She looked up from her work and started when she saw the person she had been wishing would arrive, though she now regretted that hope. Had she thought she could simply ask the Vala for a favor? What was she supposed to do? She battled with herself, wondering how to act first, and then questioning her sanity second.
Meanwhile, Mandos stood before her, grim and terrible, waiting for her to respond. When she realized that she had done nothing but gape, she stood from her chair and dipped her head respectfully. Even if he was a figment of her imagination, she should still be polite.
"My lord," she stammered, "it is an unexpected pleasure . . . again."
Mandos did not speak at first, and Thalion wondered if she was in some sort of trouble. Getting a death stare from Mandos was certainly not a comfortable situation, and in fact Thalion could have put it at the bottom of her "Things I want a Vala to do while I'm around" list (which, sadly, really does exist). Finally, the tension was eased a little when Mandos settled himself into a chair casually and smiled.
"Unexpected? You wanted me to come, did you not?"
"Well, yeah, but—"
"No matter. I am here to help you, whether you desire it or not."
Estel gulped and sat down, briefly eyeing Warg, who did not seem to even know the Vala was in the room. Why couldn't that stupid dog be decent enough to show some sense and look alert? Warg was making Thalion look even sillier, though perhaps Estel did not need a brainless dog to look silly.
"You are about to undertake a very serious endeavor, Estel," Mandos said. "Númenor and its legacy are of great importance to the Valar."
"I understand, my lord," Thalion said, "and if you'd like me to pursue another topic—"
Mandos held up a hand and Thalion shut her mouth. "Your choice is actually quite cheering to many. However, there are several who are concerned, and I have been sent to make sure that no errors arise. I can verify that all your words are correct and that your project does not go astray."
The thought of writing an entire speech with Mandos just sitting there, reading over her shoulder, was the most terrifying image the girl had ever conjured in her head, and no matter how much reverence the Vala's presence demanded, Thalion made her complaint known.
"I don't think that's necessary . . . " the glare Mandos shot Estel's way made her trail off. Mustering what little courage she had, she reorganized her strategy. "I just need some interviews!" she blurted out.
"Interviews?" the Vala asked, arching his eyebrow in an expression Thalion wished she could photograph.
"Yeah. Instead of inconveniencing you and causing you to have to remain here, I could just chat with a few eye-witnesses and record their statements. You could even look over my final copy if you like."
"Hmm…" Mandos pondered Thalion's request. "But there are very few eyewitness, even in Valinor. Most were men, and they have passed beyond the circles of the world."
Thalion Estel folded her arms and gave Mandos a "really?" kind of look. "Mandos, I know you better than that. I'm sure you have the power to get a hold of everyone we need. You're one of the most powerful of all created beings."
Playing flatterer was a dangerous move, but surprisingly, it was successful. Mandos gave Thalion a friendly smile, causing relief to wash over the anxious girl. He shifted his position and folded his hands in his lap.
"I will see if I can 'pull some strings', as you say."
Then he was gone. There was no flash or warning: the chair was now empty, and Thalion was left wondering what she should do. Warg was still sitting at her master's feet, lamely wagging her tail. Estel reached down and patted the dog's head before turning back to her paper. While she waited for some sort of response from Mandos, she should at least pen her introduction.
It did not take much time for her to record the most basic history of Númenor since she had memorized much of it without having to look in either of her reference sources. She tried to keep her facts as simple and small as possible, for she knew that she would be hard pressed to keep this speech under the maximum time limit. Besides, the interviews would provide the theories and conclusions about the Downfall. But writing a short introduction proved to be a hard task, for Estel loved both history and Númenor, and when the topics were put together and an ignorant class awaited the project, it was difficult to resist going into the juicy details.
Morgoth, the Dark Lord of the First Age, corrupted most men shortly after their creation. Some, however, resisted his evil ways and journeyed into the West where they met and befriended the Eldar (often called elves). These men were called the Edain, and they fought against Morgoth with both the elves and later the Valar, who were beings of immense power that Eru (God) had set over all of Arda.
After the war with Morgoth was won, the Edain were gifted an island between Middle Earth and Valinor, the Undying land of the Valar and the Eldar. They were also granted a long lifespan, though they could not live forever. These gifts came with a Ban: the men could not sail West out of sight of their island. As mortals, they were confined to moral lands. The Edain eagerly accepted the offer and began building their country, Númenor, while still keeping in friendship with both the elves who visited from Valinor and those of the Eldar still residing in Middle Earth.
The bliss of Númenor did not last. Slowly its people and culture, as opposed to its wealth and power, began to decline, and finally they dared to break the Ban. Their disobedience was not overlooked, and Eru destroyed both their fleet and the island of Númenor itself, ending its over 3000 year existence. Only a handful of those faithful to the Valar survived, washing ashore in Middle Earth.
The real question is why did this great society decline and fall? What changed in the people's thinking and actions, and how did these changes affect the Downfall? Only though eyewitness testimonies can the answer be found, and fortunately for us, answers are here for the taking.
As suddenly as he had disappeared, Mandos suddenly returned, standing silently in the room's midst while Thalion went on writing. She jumped back and shook her head when she spotted the Vala, unable to get used to the abrupt entrances and exits of so high a lord.
"The string has been pulled," Mandos said, grinning a little. "Come; we must go."
"Whoa!" Thalion protested. "I can't go anywhere! My parents will freak out, and dinner is soon anyway."
"No time will be lost," Mandos assured. "You will return here as if you had just left. Now, gather what supplies you require quickly."
Thalion wanted to argue, but how could she argue with the Doomsman of the Valar? She grabbed up a pencil, her binder, and several plank sheets of paper, standing at attention when she was ready. She glanced down at Warg, who still sat looking stupid. Suddenly the mutt was gone, as was the carpet underfoot and the desk that had been at Thalion's side. She found herself in a completely blank room, which contained absolutely nothing.
"Wait here," Mandos instructed, walking to one of the walls and turning the handle on a door that Thalion had barely noticed was there. When the door closed behind him, there was silence and stillness.
Goodness, look what you got yourself into now, Thalion thought to herself.
It is kinda weird, her other side countered, but hey: I'm going to have the coolest research project ever!
Before she could go on wondering what she should be thinking and doing, Mandos returned with a man at his side, each dragging a chair behind him. The man was very noble looking with dark hair and grey eyes. He was tall and nimble, and Thalion did not doubt that he had elven blood in him, if indeed he was not an elf himself. Since Estel had never seen one of the Firstborn before, she could not be certain.
Mandos set his chair beside Thalion and gestured for her to sit, which she did. The man placed his chair opposite hers, a couple yards away, and sat as well. Both non-Vala looked at Mandos expectantly, waiting for some sort of introduction or explanation.
"Ask him all the questions you need to," Mandos told Thalion. "When you are finished," he said, turning to the man, "come out through the door. I will send in someone else when that happens, young mortal. When you have enough interviews, exit with your guest and I will send you home."
"Yes, sir," Thalion replied, dipping her head. Satisfied, Mandos walked out through the door, leaving Estel all alone with a complete stranger from the fantasy of her dreams.
"So," Thalion began nervously, "who are you?" She poised her pencil above a page and prepared to take notes and quotes.
"I," the person said in a pleasant voice, "am Elros, or Tar-Minyatur."
What do you think? Is anyone out there excited to read Elros' interview? Please review to let me know what you think of the story's beginning!