The rise, flowering, and eventual fall of Numenor as seen from Mornel Feanoriel and other elves of Valinor. This is a little experiment on using letters, snippets of events and journal entries to trace the rise and fall of Numenor.

I have re-written this series to be more in-line with the series plot and correct some canonic mistakes. Also posted on AO3.

The First King

Second Age 58, Elenna

Dear Aunt Mornel

Pardon my tardiness in writing to you but we have been so busy getting things in order here in Elenna. It is a fair place but we still need to build shelters and till the earth. Lady Yavanna has been generous but not that generous seeing her husband has decided literally to pave the land with gems and gold which make for not so fertile fields. Tents worked fine in a pinch but we needed something more permanent. I would love to have a tower just like the one I grew up in as an elfling. Perhaps if I build it really tall on the western shore I might be able to see my naneth's tower on the Shadowy Sea, where Grandfather Tuor says she is living now.

There was a wee bit of unpleasantness between the three Houses of the Edain but I do hope that has been all sorted out. I never expected the tribes to have that many issues with each other. For example, the Haladin allow for a female to hold leadership over her brothers but not the other tribes. It would figure that the Haladin has a history of producing outstanding female warriors. Well, to cut a long story short, the current chieftainess felt slighted by the other chiefs at council, who did not think her suggestions worthy of consideration and an axe got thrown at someone. Personally, I consider it an honour to fight alongside the Haladin in the War and accept their pledge of loyalty. Well, I had to convince them to pledge their loyalty or watch them sail back east in a huff and disappear into the woods. I am sure there were more of them hiding out in the hills as I sense they are not keen sailors. Then there was that thorny issue about cousin-weddings, which were apparently quite common among the Edain in some parts.

I met my grandfather Tuor and grandmother Idril (both of whom I have never met before) when they sailed over from Tol Eressea. It was a big shock but a pleasant surprise when Tuor lifted me up in a bear-hug. He freaked my honour guard out when he took out that axe of his – another addition to my heirloom collection. It will fit on the wall beside the Bow of Bregor and Thingol's sword. I do not understand why I have to have a dozen guards come with me when I just want a quiet stroll along the shore. It's not as though there are orcs waiting to pounce on me here, but Lord Eonwe insisted. It is not fit for the First King of Numenor to walk about without underlings in attendance. Oh, I have named my realm Numenor, in case word has not yet reached Formenos.

There are so many things I needed to learn of kingship and stuff and Lord Eonwe can be most tiresome at times as a tutor. Is it that important to memorize the lengthy prayers and rites to honour the Valar? Can't we have a cheat-sheet up my sleeve? Trust me, you can hide an entire library up the sleeves of those formal robes. Is there an abridged version of the offering of the fruits? Thank the powers for Melleth – yes, I have found a companion in a fine young lady with the darkest hair and bluest eyes. At fifteen, she is but a child compared to me.

I have also been urged by Lord Eonwe to take a wife to secure the bloodline (whatever that means), now that I am mortal. I have had to turn down clumsy attempts for me to get better acquainted with various sisters and daughters of the Edain leaders. I wonder how Elrond is faring back east. I am a bit afraid about the entire mortality thing now - what if I fell in love, took a wife and she dies on me? Suddenly I had to consider plagues and accidents and other stuff which can seriously put a damper on life. I caught a bad cold last month and really freaked out. I never fell ill that bad as an elf (or half-elf). Starting to seriously reconsider my perhaps over-hasty decision to choose mortality and the accompanying lordship over the Edain but Lord Eonwe says it is only a passing phase and I will get over it - eventually.

Hopefully, I can convince Lord Eonwe I have taken his lessons to heart and he will sail off west or whatever. I can start by dismantling the honour guard, or having them guard a fancy citadel while I get some quiet time fishing. We can cut back on the weekly hikes up the mountain to perhaps an annual event, and make a festival of it? Excuse me, I think I will give my guards something to do by climbing out the window and spending the night up a tree.

Your nephew Elros Tar-Minyatur (because everyone insisted I have some fancy title even if it is quite a mouthful)

Second Age 58, Formenos

Dear Elros

As much as I would like to advise you on how to sort out your council problems, I have been strongly advised by Uncle Ara this is something you need to figure out on your own. Pleased to hear that that no one was seriously hurt by that axe, yet. Next time, suggest to plant the axe in the council table. Tables are more readily replaced than experienced advisors.

Second is that issue on selecting an heir. One way as put forward by Lord Eonwe is to have some offspring and hope one of them is potential leader material. Note, it need not be the first one to come along – no offense to my atto but on all accounts he was more at home in the forge than at the council table. If you have no intention of marrying or having children (no pressure there), you may find a suitable protégé among the existing Edain and adopt him or her. Finrod Felagund did so with Gildor, before his nephew came to Nargothrond. At our last reckoning, Gildor Inglorion is still gainfully employed in Gil-galad's court in Lindon. Orodreth and the majority of Nargothrond's residents are awaiting their return from the Halls of Waiting.

Just make sure that you impart the necessary skills to your heir before mortality happens. I am not sure how that works out but Lord Manwe reassured us that you and your descendants have the blessing of choosing the time of your death. That said, I do not believe you can drag it on indefinitely. From what I observed of mortals, they start going downhill both physically and mentally about sixty and few are fit by ninety. Your grandfather Tuor is an exception since he was granted honorary elfhood and immortality.

About the entire business of maintaining a settlement, I am glad that you have gotten the basics straight – water, shelter and food. Once you have those down pat, you can work out the citadel customs and protocols. Maiar do not need sustenance or shelter so their perspective tends to get a bit skewed. Remind Eonwe dead men do not offer prayers to anyone. So it's on him if anyone perishes from hunger or exposure. Have your honour guard scout out some new valleys, freshwater sources, or other usable resources. Try not to cut down too many trees – it will really rile Lady Yavanna. About those gems and metal ores appearing in your fields, have a little chat with Eonwe and the other Maiar. They can be quite open to reason and curbing Lord Aule's excesses. About your naneth, despite the Ban of the Valar, I doubt the Valar would forbid your parents from visiting you in Elenna. I could check with Master Olorin later. It may be possible for me to raise the issue of a visit to your realm the next time I drop by her place for tea if you are so inclined. Please send me a reply by letter, or with your grandmother Idril. Perhaps your grandmother would have already made plans for a visit with your naneth since there's no ban on us sailing to Numenor from Aman. Not sure if there is a ban for the elves still in Middle Earth to sail over to Numenor though. Perhaps Elrond might visit.

I look forward to visiting you on Numenor as soon as I settle my own council issues at Formenos.

Mornel Feanoriel

P.S. Do build that tower of yours, but not too high – lest the Great Eagles decide to roost on it.

Author's Notes:

Mornel would have been encouraged to adopt a hands-off approach with regards to her foster nephew but she might not be listening that much as shown by her advice.