In celebration of the fact i have managed to write chapter three of the sequel to TTSS. Yes, i know that isn't very far in but its the first chapter i've written in months and so i'm somewhat pleased with the apparent return of my muse.

Thank you for the reviews, they are appreciated. I didn't realise just how successful i apparently was at conveying the emotions and general horror of the fall of Numenor. It's nice to actually know that my writing had the desired effect.

TTSS 36

Elrond and Gilgalad went over stand by Oropher, Galion and Eama and the group watched the assorted maia hug each other. The Peredhil lord took his eyes off the group of maia, who all seemed as shaken as each other, to the Vala sitting against a tree at the edge of the clearing, eyes shut. The lord of dreams was being more unobtrusive than Elrond would have thought possible for a Vala. All the same, His presence explained how the maia were touching each other.

Eventually the emotionalness of the meeting died down a bit, though none of the maia would let go of the others even then. Riona then focussed in on Elrond and Gilgalad.

"My Lords King Gilgalad and My Lord Elrond, I bare a message from Manwë, Lord of the Valar." Both elf-lords stared at her in slight shock. After a brief pause, Riona went on in a neutral voice the peredhil suspected was hiding powerful emotions. "He requests that, despite ancient divides between Númenor and the Elves, due to the fall of men, the Elves should unite with these men, called the faithful for their ongoing faith to the Valar and the Elves, and form an alliance with them for only through an alliance of elves and men shall the fallen one be defeated."

Both elves nodded seriously before Elrond noticed the look on Fea's face. Though she was still pale, there was the hint of an amused smiled dancing around her mouth and eyes. He raised a single eyebrow at her, eliciting a small giggle. Everyone looked at Fea since it was the first laugh anyone had heard from the moment Eru's power had risen up against the people of Númenor. The look on the assorted people's faces made her giggle again. Eventually she decided to explain.

"The only time I have heard mother use such an involved sentence or such formal language was when she was taking the piss out of Manwë. I find it somewhat ironic that the one time I hear my mother use both seriously, it is in the situation she was originally taking the piss out of." Elrond smiled slightly, it was indeed rather ironic.

"So does that mean that Manwë is still a..." The rest of what Losmeril was going to say wasn't heard as her mother snapped a hand over her mouth. Meriliel closed her eyes in horror as she hear Irmo snort with laugher. The somewhat mystic seeming Vala opened his eyes and grinned at the little girl.

"Yes, Airatari, he is." There were several snorts of laughter as Irmo just grinned at the girl unrepentantly.

XXX

Fea would never admit that she was slightly nervous about this trip but it didn't stop the fact that she was. She was clad in the same armour that she had donned for the war of Elves and Sauron and had a decent sized contingent of soldiers with her as she travelled southwards to where the faithful had come ashore.

With the heavily armed party were several wagons of help for the men who, though they had something – the haven of Pelagir that the faithful had set up to some extent could support them – still were in desperate need. This journey was both a good will gesture and genuine help because no true elf would ever leave children to suffer if they could help it.

After a lot of long travelling, this new kingdom of Gondor being further south than Fea had ever gone; they were finally met by a patrol force of men. The leader of the patrol stopped his horse shortly out of sword distance of Fea's before bowing slightly from the saddle, not removing his helm.

"Who is this that comes to the Realm of Gondor, new home of the men of Númenor?" He asked. So they still thought of themselves in terms of Númenor, Fea thought, well she supposed it had only been a couple of months since the fall.

"We are elves of Imladris, the Elvin haven in the former realm of Eriador. Our lord is Lord Elrond Peredhil, Vice Regent of High King Ereinion Gilgalad of the Noldor of Arda and the twin of Elros Tar-Minyatur, your first king. It is in the name of this kinship that we come with aid for your people." The humans seemed by shocked by this comment.

"It has been generations since our peoples have had contact!" Fea smiled at him, a change in expression that could just about be seen under her own helm. "May I enquire as to who it is that leads this group?"

Fea took her helm of and the leader of the other group mirrored her actions, revealing a middle aged man with a prematurely lined face – actually considering how long the men of Númenor lived the lines were probably not as prematurely lined as they seemed. He seemed very surprised to see that under the helm was a female.

"I am Russëfea, daughter of Eönwë, leader of the Army of the Valar and Riona of the Maia, ward of Lord Elrond Peredhil." If anything, the surprise on the man's face became more pronounced. "I am sure that some of your earlier kings mentioned me though with the more recent culture issues that might have been forgotten."

Fea wasn't sure if she could shock him more if she tried.

XXX

There were several men in the chamber that Fea was led into with her personal guard (after so long distrusting the race of men, Elrond was not going to let her have no guard) and all of them looked up when she entered. The one apparently in charge was a man who appeared in early middle age, though with the men of Númenor that could indicate an age anywhere in about a hundred year span. When He looked up he was wearing a welcoming smile that dropped slightly as his face paled when he saw Fea.

"My Lord King Elendil, well met." Fea greeted him politely, with a nod of her head as her rather exalted station dictated. The man attempted to answer, still rather shocked. The rest of the men round him seemed rather confused by his reaction. "I see you have met my mother." Fea commented with a grin.

"Your mother?" Fea laughed lightly.

"Yes, the red haired lady that occasionally seems to intrude on your dreams, giving helpful tips and such like. Manwë 'suggested' she do so since she has experience of playing with people's dreams in order to guide them and even my mother doesn't disobey direct orders from the lord of the Valar." Fea didn't mention exactly who was dumb enough to go up against the gods directly, it was not tactful in the circumstances.

"Why would Manwë want to guide us as such? I did not think we were exactly his favourite people right now." Fea shrugged expressively.

"How should I know why he does anything? Manwë's motives tend to be terribly obscure; though he does seem to have a vested interest in making sure the Kingdom of Gondor does well." Elendil blinked in surprise.

"That is good I suppose." He replied slowly. Fea laughed and removed her gauntlets.

"Shall we get to work then?"

XXX

Once the council was sat down, Oropher looked to his wife and brother in law, two of his more useful sources of information. He nearly smiled at the irony when it occurred to him that he had once wanted to train them as spies. Meriliel, apparently knowing what her was thinking, grinned slightly at him before speaking.

"It should be known that my cousin has reached this new human kingdom which has formed after the fall of Númenor. It seems correct to assume that at some point this new association with Elros's descendants will eventually result in an alliance of Elves and men." There was a general rumbling around the table. Oropher seemed to agree with the generally conservative views expressed by the assorted elves.

"There may indeed be a union of elves and men but not the elves of the Greenwood I think, we have no reason to either help or trust these men and any alliance will no doubt involve Noldorin control of sindars. I don't know what Amdir thinks but as long as I live, only I shall command the elves on Greenwood the great!" Meriliel looked at her brother and resisted the temptation to role her eyes as the assorted older elves agreed with their king quite enthusiastically.

If her husband kept that attitude up, they were so doomed.

XXX

Elrond, Gilgalad and Fea stood at the top of the steps of Imladris as the party of men rode closer to the city gates, watching the first Numenoreans to come to treat with the elves in more than a thousand years.

Fea sent out a gentle, soothing mind touch to Elrond as, though his face was impassive, she could feel his tenseness at this first meeting with his brothers descendants for such a long time – a long time even by elfin standards.

The noble man at the head of the party who bore the typical colouring of Númenor, the one passed down by Elros himself, dismounted when he reached the main courtyard. The rest followed suit as the man walked forward and bowed to the assembled elves, greeting them in heavily accented Sindarin.

Gilgalad and then Elrond stepped forward to greet their guests before Elrond introduced Fea. The eyes of both men widened significantly as they looked at her. Fea just smiled enigmatically.

"Well met my lord Isildur. It has been to long since your household have graced the halls of the elves. As lady of this house, I welcome you and offer hospitality." The man, who she was only slightly acquainted with, was still gaping at her as she spoke the ceremonial words and Fea couldn't resist a slight grin. With some effort she managed to keep it enigmatic as she led them into the halls of the last homely house.

Elves 1 : 0 to the Humans.