Author's Note: You have come to journey's end. The last stage. You've been there, and you're almost back again. *sniff* I hope you enjoy this last little installment, and please don't forget to review!
Epilogue
The small sound of the camera being shut off brought a smile to Thalion's face. She still remained standing before the class since her teacher always discussed the content of a person's speech before they sat down, but she allowed her mind to wander as she waited for the instructor to finish with his notes.
The second Mandos had sent her home, she had organized her precious information and somehow cut it down to an eight minute speech. Not only had she enjoyed the project's topic immensely, but her attention-getting device, plunging a model of an island beneath the waves of a bucket of water, had really impressed the class. She was sure she would get a good grade.
At last, her teacher looked up from his grade sheet and smiled. "Your gestures were good, you didn't sway back and forth, and you had a decent rate of speed with your words. You held the cards correctly and you gave us some great eye-contact. Of course I think we all found your attention-getter quite . . . effective." Several students giggled, including Estel. "My only comment is a big one. This country, Númenor, is . . . not real!"
"But you said we could choose any country!" countered the Tolkien-nerd.
"Yes, but not fiction ones! I just don't see how a made up world is going to help you apply what you have learned in class."
Thalion swallowed deeply. Was all of her effort in vain, then? She wished she could give her teacher evidence of Mandos' visit and her interviews, proving that Arda was a bit more than a "made up world", but she was left embarrassed and without options. Just as her last bit of hope faded away and she began to walk to her seat, the quiet of the room was most definitely disturbed.
The door to the class, which led directly outside, suddenly flew inward as a great and powerful gust of wind thrust it open and whirled around the room. Into the class strode a robed figure, tall and terrible with a commanding presence Estel felt she knew only too well. But she couldn't stop the grin that crept up her face, for she was sure that her speech was about to be defended.
"I believe the young lady's presentation has more merit than you have granted," Mandos boomed in his most intimidating voice. His dark cloak swept dramatically around him as the wind continued to blow, making his voice resound about the room. "I would not so quickly discount her research."
The Vala's stern eyes locked onto those of the teacher, who was surprisingly able to hold his ground. They stared at each other until suddenly Mandos blinked and stepped back outside, as if he and the teacher hand come to an unspoken understanding.
When the door clanged shut and the wind abruptly ceased, the teacher turned back to his grading paper. He shrugged his shoulders, cocked his head slightly, raised his eye brows, and pulled his lips taught in his trademark expression as he wrote an A+ on Thalion's paper, handing it to her without meeting her eyes.
Estel took the paper and set it in her binder, a smile still on her face. She glanced around at her bewildered classmates and stifled a laugh. They were totally out of their league, but she was almost used to this by now. And although sometimes her ridiculous encounters were more than her brain could process, she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
After all, how many people get to interview kings, heroes, and nobles long dead in order to write a social study about Númenor for their worldview class?
And there you have it! The Social Study is complete! I ask that you please let me know what you thought of it. How was this view of the Downfall? Beneficial? Interesting? Maybe kinda cool? I may have received visits from Mandos, but I am still only a humble human. Therefore, I really like to know if people enjoyed my work! Encouragement, constructive criticism, or even just a little "good job" would go a long way for me, a poor little writer.
As one last word, I would urge all of you to take heed of Elendil's advice to us. We live in a world where the West is in decline. We are losing (or have already lost) the solid foundation that brought about the great benefits of the West, and if we continue to forsake what the Founding Fathers held so dear, I am afraid that our doom will not be unlike that of Númenor. And that Downfall, though it can still be averted, is not far away. Pray, my friends! Pray for the West! Do all you can: vote, support good policies actively, and don't be silent when what is right is at stake. Speak out; stand up; fight back. Let the Faithful of this generation make good their name and rally to the banner of Truth, the only place where mankind can really find meaning, purpose, joy, and security. Lacho calad! Drego morn! Aurë entuluva!