The 4th age... World diminishes. Eleves leave. Dwarves dig deeper and become forgotten fable. Istari leave. Nazgul disappear. Few pools of magic good and evil remain... Tom Bombadil in a forest, barrow wights in their cairns... some Balrog in its cave... "spiderdemon" in its hidden lair... as there was in many legend places of good and evil enchantment generations after magic was gone.
Time of mortals has come.
I just loved a short story in a Finnish Tolkien enhusiasts zine some years ago. It was of 4th age. It was of orkish slaves in Gondor. Of a mutual hate between master and slave. Of a gentleness, tenderness and love that bridged this gap and of the last remaining elf witnessing it from distance. It also told of the both lovers getting stoned to death by their own kin for attempting to spread word of reconciliation and peace.
End of epic tales. Time for mortal wars...
JH
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