Wow, this is so beautiful, thank you for amazing story! :)

great job

I really enjoyed this - the "Elrond as High King" question has always interested me, and I liked your low-key "the more things change" take on it. Politics diverged from canon in sometimes anticipatable (Rivendell and Arnor; the changed dynamics with the King of the Elves & the King of Men) and sometimes unanticipated ways (that entire section when Elladan and Elrohir's quest against the Orcs lead to their exile. I'm glad they reconciled!) The way you framed your conclusion - Valinor as freedom from duty and the expectations of others - was a nice link back to the question that started this story; I hope Elrond finds his peace there!

Loved your story. Always wanted to see Elrond as leader of his people. Please write Elrond's story in valinor or a 4th age story where the Noldor elves have nowhere to go and Elrond has to protect them and their lands in middle earth.

An interesting ending. Freedom from fate... I can see how it would attract.

Thanks for the wonderful story! I love the idea of Elrond accepting the kingship and how it would change his life and that of his loved ones. Good luck with your thesis! Livia

The end of all things! Well... the beginning, perhaps :) This was a very nice conclusion, with just the right tone. I could totally hear "Into the West" as I read this :) It's quite a change, for Elrond to be looking ahead and Galadriel to be leaving someone behind... but not forever, at least.

I wonder if Thranduil will really wait for Legolas? I got the impression that everyone except Legolas had sailed, at the end.

I never thought about the possibility that Gil-Galad would be in Valinor! I had forgotten about that part of the mythos. Maybe Elrond's grief can be healed in more ways than one.

I like how he seems to grow younger as the time for his sailing approaches. A very sweet and hopeful ending. Very well done! I have truly enjoyed this story and I'm sad it's over. I see you have a lot of smaller LOTR stories and I would like to check them out, as time allows... any particular order you recommend?

oh, Glorfindel... LOL :)

I like the image of Arwen being presented as the princess of the Noldor, joining herself to the newly restored king of men. I guess that's what Galadriel was going for? A stronger legacy for them to leave behind? (and her own line continued through the royal house of men?) I wonder how many of these details she had foreseen when she urged Elrond to take up the crown.

Poor Elrond... another sacrifice. But he clearly thinks of Aragorn as his son, now... so in a way, he has not lost Arwen to Aragorn, so much as to the mortality her love gives her. He certainly couldn't have picked anyone better for her (love Glorfindel's joking suggestion about matching her with Legolas) He has truly given hope to the world of men, and Arwen's bloodline will only strengthen that of Aragorn's- besides the public image of elven support that her marriage brings. Some consolation, I hope.

I can just feel Elrond's burden lifting off his shoulders now, at the end. He has lost more than he expected, but he must still feel lighter as he looks toward the West, and toward those who are waiting for him there. I'm glad he remembers at the end here that those losses were not in vain.

I never thought about how there might have been whispers about Elrond's relationship with Gilrain. I wouldn't think any elves would really believe it, but I can see Men thinking that.

I love the idea of Elrond seeing some of his own brother in Aragorn. I never really thought about the fact that Aragorn is sort of a super-grand nephew to him.

But, wait! Thranduil thinks the worst- so like him. And Elrond is wise to let him think that Estel is nothing more than a hybrid by-blow- it really is safer that way, for now. Though I guess that might be awkward later, when he and Arwen fall in love LOL! But I suppose Aragorn's full humanity would be obvious to everyone by then.

I'm glad you have Legolas staying and finding out the truth about Aragorn- it's interesting how Elrond so easily trusts him, and not his father. And I know the "growing up" days between Estel and his three best friends has been fanficced to death, but I'm glad you put a bit of it in here, even if in summary.

Poor Elrond! He had no idea that the whole time he has been raising Estel, he has been raising Arwen's doom; for how else can he view their love? Even with his foresight I don't think he really believes, right now, that Aragorn will ever be anything more than a homeless heir to a lost kingdom. I've always wondered about that moment in the appendix, when he tells Aragorn that Arwen will be wed to no lesser man than the king returned. I always wondered if that was really a challenge to take his destiny, or whether Elrond was confident that the discussion was over forever. At least in this story, he is trying half-heartedly to keep them apart, though he seems willing to let his daughter choose her own fate in the end.

Great storytelling here, with action, tragedy, and sweet moments as well.

I'm glad the twins were able to be reinstated- but also glad that they are given their freedom to continue their service with the rangers. They are men of action- so unlike Elrond- and always being detained in the Valley would have just driven them away again. At least they have found some balance, and put their anger to better use.

So exciting to finally meet little Aragorn! His new father has accepted him with open arms, though perhaps even Elrond, with his foresight on higher matters, cannot yet see how dear his Estel will become to him. It is enough for now that he has been given this new duty to fill his time.

Very well done!

This was a fascinating chapter, and very moving. I never really gave much thought to the twin's oath to seek endless revenge for their mother's hurt. I guess I always thought they really had nothing better to do anyway. But this is one thing that's very different with the kingship- they truly are renouncing their birthrights (ah! the title!) and defying their father's wishes. Still, you gotta admire them for it, in a way.

I love how Elrond doesn't even pretend to hesitate. he just up and runs to the aid of his sons- very sweet :) I wonder what Glorfindel is thinking as he rides with Elrond (does anybody listen to the king? apparently not!) Is he wanting to bring them back home, or is he too angry for even that?

Whew I really thought Elrohir was going to die for a minute there! Tough conversation coming, it looks like. Though Elladan, at least, may be doing something no other Noldor has ever done: renouncing a stupid oath he made. Good for you, Elladan! Now we'll see if you're allowed back!

Love overprotective Glorfindel :)

oh.. this was so sad to read :( Poor Elrond, living through the torment with her even though he couldn't tell the exact nature of her injuries. But it was very sweet that he chose to continue the bond, though it nearly killed him, as well.

I especially loved the moment when Elrohir came home, and gave his mother into his father's arms. SO SAD. :( And the touch-and-go healing was just heartbreaking. Sadly, it will never be enough. I could just feel her fading away as I read all this. A new grief for Elrond to bear- one he never expected to face.

So lovely and sad... Very well done.

great summary of the Watchful Peace. Will there still be white council?

ooh we're definitely getting closer to Aragorn, with the Dunedain bringing their sons for fostering again.

It was kind of cheeky for Galadriel to start using Nenya without the High King's permission! But then, when has she ever pretended to be subservient LOL? I love the moment when Elrond choked on his drink when Cirdan told him about giving Narya to Gandalf. I can totally picture that hahaha! Seriously, though, I have always been surprised that Elrond - or any of them- chose to risk using the elven rings, when they knew good and well the danger of the One taking dominion, were it to be reunited with Sauron. This is a pretty good explanation here of why Elrond might have made the choice to dust off Vilya. Especially the moment where Elrond wondering if his over-caution would lead to ruin. I wonder if he is already regretting his "over-gentleness" in not demanding that Isildur destroy the One Ring. If so, I can see how he doesn't want to make the mistake of being too passive again.

Great chapter! I like how the story is slowing down again and having some dialogue again, as the War of the Ring approaches. And even though we have the AU component of the kingship, I like how you're not straying too far from canon history. But we'll see how the events of the books are affected...

Now that Elrond finally leaves the valley for a moment, it seems he feels even more of a stranger among Men. I'm glad Celebrian was able to enjoy herself, at least, and bring Elrond a little smile.

*sigh* RIP Arnor.

I really liked the mention of the El's helping rebuild barns, homesteads etc. I got the impression from canon that they really enjoyed helping Men out of their blunders, more so than Elrond. I love them :)

And we have the birth of the rangers, as it were! Sound like we're getting closer to Arathorn and co.

I like how this one ended on a hopeful note. There is still much darkness to come but Elrond can see the peace that will eventually come... though he himself will not reap much more than satisfaction in the renewed future of his brother's people. I hope, for his sake, he doesn't see already how much he is going to lose, personally. (if Celebrian is still going to be hurt... even if not, he's still going to lose Arwen and more elves in the days to come)

Great chapter!

Wow, this chapter covered quite a lot! The writing here had just the right "epic" feel to it, as you skimmed over the centuries. The style is similar to Silmarillion, but a bit more personal as it considered through Elrond's perspective. We see him- and all the elves- fading slowly out of the lives of men, and Elrond personally feels the growing futility of putting forth much effort to aid them, though he does occasionally. It seems like the gulf is widening between the two races, not just in terms of contact, but in how Elrond is identifying more and more with his choice, and less and less with his brother's world.

I like how you snuck Arwen and the hobbits in there, just a bit!