Unfinished Tales - Part Three - I - The Disaster of the Gladden Fields

[Saurondil]

Originally Posted by Estelyn Telcontar

The actual text of this chapter is fairly brief - the notes are just as long! It is the account of the fate of Isildur after Sauron's fall, in more detail than was given in LotR. There are various details that give insights into more or less important facts concerning Middle-earth.

I'll start the discussion by tossing a few words into the ring: the Elendilmir - an interesting jewel with an interesting history, especially including its rediscovery much later. Thangail and dírnaith - two battle formations in a context that is of interest to those who like military tactics.

Names of characters about whom I would like to have heard more: Elendur ("strength and wisdom... majesty without pride, one of the greatest, the fairest of the seed of Elendil..."); Ohtar (Isildur's esquire, who risked a reputation as a coward to obey his lord and bring the shards of Narsil to safety); Estelmo (the sole survivor, Elendur's esquire).

I would like to have more information about the Dúnedain's emergency rations: not miruvor or lembas, but like them.

And finally I would like to mention a fascinating bit of information that climaxes in this sentence:

After the notes there is an appendix: "Númenórean Linear Measures". Practical application is found in the origin of the word "Halfling" for Hobbits. How interesting and/or helpful is this information to you?

Has this chapter influenced or changed your opinon of Isildur? Is there a character (or several) that interests you? I look forward to hearing your thoughts!


Due to the briefness of this chapter, we will move on to the next one soon, unless discussion reaches such a feverish pitch that we need more time...

## If it's not to late to comment.....

The info about Meneldil is very helpful. There is one major puzzle - the chronology. In the notes we are given the following dates of birth:

Amandil 3029
Elendil 3119
Isildur 3209
Elendur 3299

So far, so good - within TDotGF, the dates raise no problems. But read the Akallabeth, and it looks very much as though 3119 was meant to be the birthdate of Amandil - not of Elendil. Otherwise, the dating in the "Annals of the Kings & Rulers" is difficult (not quite impossible) to reconcile with the statement in Akallabeth that Amandil had been a "playmate" of Ar-Pharazon. According to the AK&R, Pharazon was born in 3118 - a year before Elendil, son of Amandil.

As the difficulty arises from the notes to TDotGF, & would not exist if we did not these dates, to mention it is (I think) O-T (if barely). (There are further problems, but that is quite enough to be going on with )

I would like to have known the name of the third survivor of the disaster.