A World Reborn Without Them by Himring

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Fanwork Notes

Written in an Insta-drabbling challenge on the SWG Discord for the following Musicals prompt:

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

From Les Miserables

Warning for refence to canonical character deaths and themes of mourning.

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Valandil, Isildur's fourth son and successor, re-enters Annuminas, some years after the victory of the Last Alliance.

Major Characters: Valandil

Major Relationships:

Genre: Fixed-Length Ficlet

Challenges: Musicals

Rating: Teens

Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings

This fanwork belongs to the series

Instadrabbling
Chapters: 1 Word Count: 101
Posted on 4 May 2025 Updated on 4 May 2025

This fanwork is complete.

A World Reborn Without Them

Read A World Reborn Without Them

Valandil enters Annuminas with a small escort and is struck by how deserted the place feels, still. In Rivendell, he realizes, over the years, growing up among elves, he had got used somehow to the people missing: all the ones that left to go and fight on the borders of Mordor and never came back.

Here the loss still feels raw. Despite his regent’s best efforts, buildings are falling into ruin for lack of inhabitants. Entering the palace, he sees empty tables, empty chairs. And he should not be king, but Grandfather, Father, his three elder brothers—are not there.

Chapter End Notes

The title also alludes to the lyrics of the prompt.

I also was inspired by an image prompt supplied during the Insta-drabbling session, by Idle Leaves, although more indirectly.I am copying in the accompanying image ID (for which also thanks to Elleth):

[Image description: The view out of an old window made from many crystal glass panes in many smaller, hexagonal metal frames. To the right of the window is an old stone wall in yellowish brown patterned in sunlight. The view from the window shows a light grey-blue sky, dark deciduous trees in the background and the upper part of an old castle or manor house in grey stone.]

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I also can't imagine what life would have been like for the people of the Northern Kingdom with their High King and King both dead, and only a baby being brought up in Imladris left to rule Arnor. Valandil returning "home" would have to fill those empty chairs.