Epilogue
12 SĂșlimĂ«, 1962 S.A.
Mithlond
Dear Ada,
We arrived safely in Mithlond late last night. I would have written you then, but Captain Glorfindel insisted that we sleep through the night. It would not do, I suppose, to come to the council looking like we have just finished a long and exhausting journey, though we have.
The ambassadors are in council now, including Master Erestor. Captain Glorfindel invited us to spar with a few of the other guardsmen, but I decided to write to you first. I will join them later.
Mithlond is beautiful, Ada. Captain Glorfindel did not take us near enough to the coast to hear the gulls, but here, it is easy to imagine them. Master Erestor says that it would hardly be appropriate to attend the council, gather the necessary treaties and reports, and then leave for Valinor as soon as it has ended. I agree with him, though I would have liked to hear the fabled gulls.
We will begin the return journey as soon as the council is over. Master Erestor says that it should not take too long; but then, the captain says that for Master Erestor, no council is ever too long. Councils are to Master Erestor what parties are to Elflings, according to Captain Glorfindel.
I hope to be home soon. Give Nana a kiss for me, and tell Allie that I have found something to bring her at last. I love you.
Sincerely,
Rasaras Eltatharion.
The End.
Author's Notes:
Some of you may know already that writing this story was not easy for me. I tend to be the kind of person who gets an idea for a story, writes some of it, and then gets distracted with another idea. Hardly any of my stories have ever been finished. First Impressions is the first long story that I've ever finished, and I'm so happy and proud of it that I could burst. :)
I know I say in my notes at the end of every chapter that I am grateful for all the reviews, but I want to say it again here: thank you to all of my reviewers! You all have been the driving force that kept me with this story, and you may congratulate yourselves with the fact that had it not been for all of you, this story would not have been. Thank you all so much!
And then there are the special thanks, which I would like to include here:
J.R.R. Tolkien, for creating an incredible world and allowing me to play in it. All hail the Professor!
Sixpence None the Richer, for the songs "Tension is a Passing Note" and "A Million Parachutes." Those two songs played steadily in my CD player through this project, and they have been a marvelous inspiration.
Microsoft Word, for eating various chapters and sections at various times, forcing me to rewrite them from scratch. What a lesson in perseverance I learned from this program.
My youngest sister, for being supportive and encouraging since the beginning of my writing career. She is always ready to be a sounding board for new ideas, and her suggestions have added much to First Impressions and all the other stories I've done.
My middle sister, for changing her mind about fanfiction because of First Impressions. That one bit of encouragement meant the world to me, and it came at the time that I needed it most.
And lastly, most of all, a big thank you goes out to Erestor. It has been a privilege and an honor to have her beta this story, and I am forever in her debt. Had it not been for her grammar corrections and parenthetical comments, this story would not be half of whatit is today.From the day that I asked her if she agreed with my theory that Erestor and Glorfindel weren't always friends, to the day that she sent me the corrected version of the epilogue, she has been there to encourage and inspire.My deepest, sincerest thanks will never be enough.
Yes, everyone, there will be a sequel. It's in the planning stages right now, and given my obsessive drive to plan and outline, it might remain in the planning stage for some time. But not forever. Glorfindel and Erestor are too much fun to leave alone for good. ;)
Until next time,
Ithiliel Silverquill
