442
It was over 400 years since the Edain had sailed to the Land of Gift. There, between the blessed land of the Valar; Aman and Middle Earth they could live forever protected from the dangers that had hunted them in the past; violence, disease and famine. Under the leadership of Elros, and with the aid of the western lords, they build their capital Armenelos at the slopes of the huge mountain Meneltarma. At the highest point of the city, and next to the path leading to the summit, they build the King House. In it stood the throne of Numenor, the seat of Elros.
The only restriction the Valar imposed were the ban that the Numenoreans should never travel farther west than they could see the island.
In Numenor, the people lived long and happy lives, and soon the stories of Middle earth became legends. There were no animals in Numenor only fish and birds. However together with the fruits and crops, there were an abundance of food.
The people named Elros Tar-Minyatur, first ruler. He lived for a long time, the longest lifespan of any human, so long that for more than half his life, he was the only person remembering a life in Middle Earth. Elros would often tell his family about Middle Earth. The only subject he avoided was that of his own origin.
Finally in the year 442 and after a lifespan of 500 years. Elros was ready to let go of his life.
In the king house he laid in his bed surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
"Do not cry!" Elros said. "It is I who want to let go of my life. I regret nothing"
"It was love that drove me to this place, to become king of humans. My only wish is that I could see my wife again."
Everybody in the room was silence. They all knew that the Kings wish, were a question, that not even the Valar knew the answer to.
Two eagles left the top of Meneltarma. One headed west and the other east. They flew a long distance over the sea. Finally, the first eagle flew over an Island and the other into a bay.
The first eagle then flew up to the top of a gigantic mountain covered in clouds. There on large thrones sat the king and queen of the Valar. The eagle landed at the arm of Manwe.
"The human king is dead!" Varda said.
"As is the faith of the second born!" Manwe replied.
"I find comfort that he perceived death as a gift not a course.
The second eagle flww to Lindon. There were three elves where the eagle landed.
The Great King of the Noldor approached the eagle. He alone in Middle Earth could speak to them.
He turned to one of the other elves there.
"Your brother is dead!" he said
Elrond stated, "I knew this day would come, "my brother's fea is beyond the Circles of the World!"
Gil-Galad commented, "His hroa is not. The Numenoreans plan to bury him in a tomb in a valley of Numenor within a month."
Elrond said, "I did not want to see my brother come of age. However I feel I need to attend his funeral."
He then turned towards the third elf.
"There is always a ship ready for you, my friend", Cirdan said.
"I knew the way there, and with my fastest ship we will reach Numenor before the next moon", he added.
So five ships left the Island of Tol Eressea whereas only a single ship left Lindon.
The ships from the west arrived at the western bay of Eldanna. Many Numenoreans had traveled there to escort then to the valley of Noirinan. They threw flowers in front of the elves.
The ship of Cirdan sailed into the eastern bay of Numenor. There were no Numenoreans present. Cirdan pointed to the shipwrecks laying at the shore.
"These ships were built by me, and steered by humans. The followed me to this place. No one wanted to return so the ships were sailed upon the shores and have been there ever since. However, this ship will not run aground. I never stepped ashore here and I never will."
He looked at Elrond "I will wait for you a week. If you do not arrive I assume you have left in another direction."
"Why will you not follow me?" Elrond asked.
Cirdan answered, "I will not be tempted to travel further west. I have promised to stay behind and build the ships for others that wants to travel west. I will sail west only on the last ship."
Elrond jumped into the water and easily waded ashore. He then started walking west against Meneltarma.
Not long after Elrond left Cirdan, he met a man carrying a basket with bread.
The man was surprised to see and elf and stated, "It is seldom that I see the blessed people here in the east."
"But I do come from the east", Elrond answered.
The man introduce himself as Aulendil son of Vardamir.
Elrond said, "It is odd that someone named after the Vala Aule carries the bread of Yavannah"
Aulendil explained that he had made bread to be shared at the funeral of Tar-Minyatur.
Elrond asked if they could travel together as he was heading in that direction.
Aulendil accepted without hesitating.
Elros were buried in the valley of Noirinan. The rocks there were not as strong as in Forostar, and the Numenoreans easily carved caves in the mountains side. Everybody was silenced as the stone coffin with Elros body was carried in the cave. The coffin was made of the light stones of Forostar, so the coffin could be carried by six of grandchildren including the three sons of Vardamir.
The elves from Tol Eressea had noticed Elrond presence there, but said nothing.
The family of Elros exited the cave. They walked towards the elves present.
One elf stepped forward towards Vardamir, the oldest son of Elros Tar-Minyatur. In her hand, she had a small sapling
She said, "To the people of Numenor I present this. Nurse it and it will grow and flower like Celeborn at our home. This tree will live on as long as Numenor will!"
Vardamir stepped forward and received the gift "this is surely a symbol of our friendship. We will nurture this and remember its origin".
He passed the sapling to his sister Tindomiel.
The elves from Tol Eressea started to walk up to Vardamir and his siblings. They said nothing but bowed in front of him and then left,
Elrond stepped forward as the last elf present. He now understood Aulendil connection to Vardamir
Elrond declared, "I am the brother of your father. Many adventures I endured together with him. However, as order had to be restored in Middle Earth; my brother and I had to make a decision that would determine our destiny, and we choose differently. My brother choose love to people, but I choose love to places. I did not fully understood my brothers choice, and he my choice, but when I behold you, I understand. What a magnificent family my brother had"
Elrond looked at Vardamir, his siblings, their children and grandchildren; almost a hundred in all.
Aulendil smiled, as he understood Elronds origin.
Vardamir told that his father always was content with his life, and the only sad thing he ever mentioned was the passing of his wife.
Vardamir stated, "This is the fate of the line of Elros, to see our most loves one die before we do!"
Elrond looked at him and understood that Vardamirs wife had also passed away years before.
Elrond stated, "It is not the lifespan that tells the quality of our life, it is the beauty we surround it with while we are here, and you have the most beautiful home!"
Elrond then concluded, "I bid you all farewell and trust this place will be a haven for you for generations to come. I sense no danger your future, if you do not create one yourselves with no reason."
He started walking back east, but an elf from Tol Eressea approached him.
He opened his arms as to welcome Elrond to join him.
"No!" said Elrond without hesitating and left for the east.
Vardamir looked at Elrond leaving.
He said to his brothers and sister, "Look at his beauty! He does not seem older than out children. Yet he is wiser than any of us."
Nolondil the youngest child of Vardamir said, "I do not understand my grandfather choice! Why give up beauty and life!
Vardamir looked at his son, "You would not live was it not for this choice, and I sense your line will be important for Numenor!"
Nolondil was not the only one surprised over his grandfather's choice. Many of the Numenoreans present stood in disbelieve as Elrond left.
Cirdan looked at the shore as Elrond approved. He said nothing as Elrond waded towards the ship.
When onboard Elrond declared, "I have still much to achieve in Middle Earth!"
"So have I", said Cirdan. The ship left for the east.
After the funeral, the nobility of Numenor gathered in the Courtyard in the kings house.
In the middle stood the small sapling that the elves from Tol Eressea had with them. It was less than six feet high.
One asked, "Who is going to lead us now?"
Another replied, "It must be the wisest one of us!"
The first one dared address Vardamir again. He stated, "You are the oldest and wises among all of us. You will know who should leads us now!"
Vardamir touched the small tree gently.
"It will be a beautiful tree when it will flower, but that it will not be in my time", he stated
He then declared that he will take this task upon himself, but that when his job is finished others will have to take over. He smiled at his oldest son Amandil.
Elrond and Cirdan returned to Lindon. Gil-Galad received them.
"I see you both returned! This warns my heart, but tell me, were you not tempted to continue your journey?"
Elrond answered, "I foresee, I will have an important role to play in the history of Middle Earth to come"
Cirdan added, "Long time ago I promised to stay and guide the travelers. I will stay here until the last Eldar seeking the west has left.
In the throne room in Armenelos Vardamir and Amandil were alone.
Vardamir explained his future plans for Numenor to his son.
"My life is in its fall. My father lived a long time and I am alone and too old to rule. It should be you!"
"I have asked our friends from the west to make a scepter that can be a symbol of the kingship. This can be passed from ruler to ruler. I advise you, my son, to appoint your heir before you get old, and to pass the scepter to him before your life ends."
Vardamir continued, "I will create a council of Numenor. The population will grow and people will more to distant part our Island. Even though the Numenoreans are happy and content, decisions must be made. The council can help you with this. As with the kingship the members of the council should retain their seats as long as they wish, and pass it on to any person they desire. The council should consist of size members, five from each cape of Numenor and one from the central region."
Amandil asked , "Who should take the seats of the council then?"
Vardamir answered, "The people of Numenor origins from three houses of men that traveled west after the humans woke in the land of Hildorien: the houses of Beor, Hador and Haleth. Even though the house of Hador makes up most of the population and the House of Haleth is only a very few people; they should all have seats in the council. Most of the people from the House of Haleth live in Forostar. They should select one among themselves to represent this cape. Also, many of the people from the House of Beor have travelled to the west of Numenor so they should represent the Western Cape, Andustar. The most populous the House of Hador should represent the two southern provinces Hyarnustar and Hyarrostar.
Amandil asked, "What about Orrostar and Mittalmar?"
Vardamir answered, "They should be given to your brothers; Orrostar to Aulendil and Mittalmar to Nolondil. It is important for the line of Elros to be in the council, because I fear that if the King is the only descendant of my father in the council there is a risk that no one will remind him of our connection to the Eldar."
Vardamir walked to the great open vaults that was facing to the open courtyard below. He looked down at Nimoth and then up at Meneltarma.
"I have walked to the summit many times, but now I think the time has come where I will have to stay in Armenelos, he said.