Just read your whole Lingering series; what a great find! I loved your characterization throughout and the vignettes you chose, and on the strength of these found that the timeline wasn’t very important to follow (I read very out of order). Sad to be finished, but thank you for writing!

THX Trollmela for your nice alternatively universe!
Until today I'm a secret admirer of your Lingering series.
So thanks again for nearly 4 years of well-wrought storys!
I know, you are still writing others, but these have always been my favourites.

My heart did a little THUMPTY THUMP when I read that the lingering series has come to an end. It's understandable for very good reasons. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading in this universe.

Thank you for the stories.

Good luck with your writers muse!

I may have mentioned it before, but this was a very creative way of allowing Maedhros to positively impact the Fourth Age, without altering any LotR canon. It also has a distinct feel of conclusion, with Maedhros seeing his work in Middle Earth come to a close and both brothers turning their thoughts to the journey Westward. I was happy/relieved to see that Maedhros has decided he will go West, even if it's not at the same time as Maglor!

Reading your comment in this chapter about Maedhros not having loved the same way that Faramir and many others have, it made me grateful that in all of Lingering you never tried to introduce a romantic interest for Maedhros. I just can't see that as a plausible direction for him in this AU, and I believe your stories are all much better for it, not to mention more true to his character. So thank you for that!

Lingering has been such a fun adventure, and I'm honored to have played a small part in it! Now we look ahead eagerly to "The Woodland King." I'm glad that name was a keeper, because I haven't thought of any other suggestions since then ;-)

A lovely conclusion!
Halo

For the record, I dont think the quality of your stories has suffered. But as an ending point,this story does make sense, Sauron is gone and Aragorn has everything reasonably under control.
Since I really like your writing, I am looking forward to reading more of "The Woodland King"!

This chapter started out on a nice, relaxing note. You really showed that lack of urgency they feel on this mission, which has to contrast heavily with the way things were during the war. I particularly liked that mention about the fish population, it was a good cancrete example of the way that war effected the land around Gondor. I bet that the first year after the war they had to rely entirely onto food storage of the other provinces. Because the way I understand the books narrative, the big battles were fought right on top of Gondors fields in late spring. Which would be after the seed has been put into the ground.

The way Faramir and Maedhros interact here is a delight. From that conversation about stories to the melacholy both feel about the loss of the elves and dwarves, it shows that there is a lot of common ground.
And now I know what you could write as an epilogue chapter: Maedhros married with children in Valinor, together with his brother(s), Elrond and Elronds family! Because the Tolkien characters deserve a happy ending after what they have been through.

The scene where Maedhros uses the palantir is great! Like his growing acceptance that his main work is finished and that it went well is making his ability to see grow. And that call he hears, are those the Valar or is it his mother? Or both?

And we get a last look at him as a commander when he orders Faramir to help him.
The ending is written really well, too: A look from the eyes of the old power onto the new one, seeing that the future is in good hands.
It seems to me like the fact that Maedhros desided to sail eventually and seeing the beginning of a great future is helping him. He comes through less weary than in some of the earlier stories in this continuity?

Altogether, a great last chapter, both for this story and as an ending to the whole series! I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for this. I will certainly look for more of your writing!

I love the way Faramir and Maedhros interact. At the beginning of the chapter Maedhros in giving him advice that sounds more like an order about fixing those maps. Which makes a lot of sense for an elf who certainly knows how important acurate maps are in warfare. And at the end of the chapter they have apparently found enough in common (lost brothers and comrades) to talk like they are beginning to be friendly. And I like that you had Maedhros sing in Osgiliath. Its such a Tolkien moment.

The way he tried to console Faramir was very nice, too. It shows that he is still capaple of compassion and of reaching out towards others. So there is a chance for him to have some pretty happy years on a relatively peaceful middle earth. From what I have read of this universe I dont expect that Maedhros will stop meddling in the worlds affairs.

Which makes me imagine him meeting an easterling ambassador in Gondors court. Because while the Dunedain might be somewhat used to having really old immortal elves around, meeting somebody in the flesh who has personally fought Morgoth would be really odd for somebody of the Eastern lands, I think. Would they have tales of those elves whi managed to stand against a god somewhat successfully foe a long time? I always kind of wondered what their histories and legends tell of the first age.

Back to the story: I really like your Faramir. He is the kind of thoughtful I always imagined and still so quietly heartbroken about the loses he suffered through the war. It makes me hope things get better for him. Getting married should help there! The way you subtly showed that he is respected well by Gondors soldiers, so they dont annoy Maedhros. I kind of interfered from the way that was written that Faramir selected that group specifically for that?
Anyway, a really well written Faramir. He is one of my favourites in the Lord of the Rings.

I like the pacing of this chapter. The way there is a sense of movement towards a goal (the palantir) at the beginning and the way the characters pest haunts their steps an that way. The fact that the past offers a connection point between the two main actors here is shown very naturally and gradually. It makes me exited for the next chapter and for how you will bring a resolution to this story line.
Great writing!

All throughout this series, you've built up lovely relationships between unlikely people, and now Faramir is perhaps the best example yet. Who would have thought that he and Maedhros would have so much in common, and yet, after reading this chapter, I feel foolish for not having seen it myself all along.

Some truly beautiful, touching moments here! Particularly the song in the ruins of Osgiliath, and the empathy over lost brothers here at the end. Enough to make a girl misty-eyed...so in other words, superbly well done!

I look forward to the rest of the story.
Good job. :)

Aww, thank you so much for those kind opening words, my friend! Brought such a big smile to my face :-)

I really admire the technical details you work into this chapter, and all quite effortlessly. Particularly the inner workings of the Palantir, which I doubt a true son of Feanor could better describe, but also something like the abandoned farmhouse waiting for new ownership. It's easy to overlook stuff like that, but it's totally realistic in light of the great war that just concluded in the area.

And there's an abundance of bittersweet nostalgia in this piece so far! Such as Maglor thinking about their mother, or Maedhros have sudden, intense bouts of homesickness. One gets the feeling that it really is time for them to decide if they will sail or stay, and it's fairly tragic to think that one might go without the other - especially after you've given them two additional ages to spend together.

Looking forward to Faramir in the next segment...
Halo

P.S. It's not often I say this, but yes - poor Legolas simply wasn't needed this time ;-)

Nice! I like the way Maedhros and Maglor interact here. He can read his brother really well. And both of them seem to be more content in this story than they were in the ones located before the Ring War. Which makes sense, since they know that Sauron is really beaten this time and their foster son is going to be reunited with his wife soon.
The Palantir science is neat. And thats such an analytical way of approaching the search for the other stones and testing if the stones still work. Its great to read as that isnt normally a focus in LotR stories. The Feanorions should be at least aquainted with scientific methods considering who their father was.
I am looking forward to reading more of this!