A great story. Very well written.

Ah...how I wish that this was what happened! Marvelous story.

Amazing!

Absolutely awesome!

Whoa! What the heck was that? That is such a COOL AU that I'm still in shock! Boy, things would have been WAY different if that happened. I'd thought about it, but I never really read anything that had it happen. Very well-written and descriptive. And, VERY, VERY interesting.

Avie

WHOAH! Now THAT'S an eye-opener and no mistake! So well-written I felt like I was watching a continuation of the movie-and then BAM you hit the last line and you just sit there and blink as you're blindsided. AWESOME story! Wow! That was simply incredible.

Yes! I always thought Elrond had some strange priorities in letting Isildur live. I'm glad someone agrees!

All I can say is - Wow. This story hits you, almost literally, with a sledgehammer at the end. It is excellent how you subtly avoid saying what happened to Isildur until the end.

This story brings one to thinking, "What would have happened in the Third Age, had this happened?"

Yet Tolkien, though he may not have considered this scenario, and did not write about it, gave the answer:

"Other evils are there that may be, for Sauron himself is but a servant or emissary."

-Gandalf, LOTR

and

"Yet the lies that Melkor, the mighty and accursed, Morgoth Bauglir, the power of terror and of hate, sowed in the hearts of Elves and Men are a seed that does not die and cannot be destroyed, and sprouts ever and anon, and will bear dark fruit even unto the latest days."

-Silmarillion

In conclusion, now that I've rambled off the topic, congratulations again on an excellent story.

AlsoA? You are simply stunning. A well written dark fic, with genuine characterisation, and a sting. I love it. Elrond came across as a real warrior, sacrificing his own honour and soul for the greater good. *Sniffle*

The thing I love about this story is that it feels real. Elrond has always struck me as a remote figure but here he's hurting and angry and *there*, doing what has to be done. All this without sacrificing the lovely language reminiscent of Tolkien. A lovely piece of work.

You know, I went around for a LONG time after I saw the movie wondering why the heck Elrond didn't just dump Isildur in the cracks of doom. Maybe his wife wouldn't have been attacked, if the ring had been destroyed. Maybe Arwen would have staid with Elrond instead of marrying Aragorn if he had. This is very well-written, both in a what-if and a "sinister" kind of way. Though I personally can never see an elf commiting murder (except perhaps some back in the First Age) I do really love this story.

WOW. I'M KIND OF IN SHOCK. THAT WAS REALLY WELL WRITTEN. IF THAT HAD HAPPENED, THINK OF HOW SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE WOULDN'T HAVE TO SUFFER. SOMETIMES IT'S SO HARD TO KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT. I MEAN, ELROND SAVED MIDDLE-EARTH, BUT BY COMMITING MURDER. VERY WELL WRITTEN.

I NEVER LIKED ISILDUR ANYWAY THOUGH.

Hey, atleast the ring was destroyed _ Wonderful twist, though this defeats the whole foundation for LotR. Great story!

Oh. . . opps, I read AFTER before this. . . geez, that's really sad. . . but very good, also. . .

Nice twist - I liked it! (In a dark sort of way ...!)

Eeep!

I didn't realise what happened until the last sentence, and personally, I think that's how the real story should go. But I suppose that would destroy all need for the books, huh?