Horns of a Dilemma

First Age of the Trees, year 4632

Word reached Ossriand – Ulmo had come for them. A great island that once dwelt in the midst of the great sea was uprooted and brought to the shores of the hither lands; on this island the Eldar would be ferried across. To most of the third clan this was news of great joy, for they, as the rest of the Eldar, were of a mind to depart, but for the kinsfolk and friends of Elwë the news was not good. For Ulmo would not wait until Elwë was found, and all those who wished to cross must forsake that search and come to the shores.

So Elmo, the twin brother of Elwë, summoned the heirs of Enel – Olwë the youngest of the siblings, Thálwë the son of their father's brother and Nōwē, the heir of the second line of Enel. Several of the friends of Elwë had come, Beleg, Aegas and Lhossë were the foremost. Elmo spoke the message to them.

"It is Ulmo who has come, not Oromë?" asked Aegas.

"He too is of the Balar," said Nōwē, "Ulmo is the King of the sea and rules water in all forms, great horns he has upon which he makes music. His was a great part in the building of this world, and he is greatest among the Powers, save for Manwë and Varda alone." The others listened intently to Nōwē. He was some years older than the others and well respected among them for his wisdom and far vision. Among them he was the only who had seen the shores and the great sea and spoken to the first and second clans who resided there and his knowledge of the Powers was greater than theirs.

Aegas pursed his lip as he spoke, "Yet when Oromë taught us of the powers, did he not say that they debated long about calling us to their lands? He said it was Ulmo, I remember, who spoke most vehemently against this. I find it hard to believe that he, of all the Balar, should be the one to perform the task."

"Yet Ulmo too loves the Eldar dearly," Nōwē said, "It is said his voice lives in rivers and lakes, and in the rain and the mist, and so he touches us more deeply than any of his fellows. I do not think that Ulmo deserves any different treatment than Oromë."

Aegas still looked skeptical, "If Oromë had come, he who we have some to know and love, then I would not be hesitant."

"Yet who has brought the summons is less important than the summons themselves." Thálwë interjected, not understanding what Aegas was driving at.

"But it is important;" Aegas leaned forward, "Who brought the message also shapes what the message conveys. Ulmo will not wait, and has placed before us a terrible choice. Yet Oromë would not say so, for Oromë has shown much patience during this journey and never has he hurried us until we were ready."

"But the last we saw of Oromë was as he led our friends across the great river," Lhossë said, "He went on forward without us, although our Lord did assure him that we would follow. Yet I believe Aegas speaks true, Oromë would be grieved to hear of our loss."

"Could Oromë be summoned?" Elmo asked of Beleg, for from the very first Beleg had been foremost in company with that Bala and from him had learnt great arts. But Beleg shrugged his shoulders. "I know not. It has been long since he has been seen in these lands, and I have no means of contacting him. Mayhap Nōwē knows more for he spoke to those of the other clans who last saw him."

But Nōwē too shook his head, "Waiting by the sea he left those foremost companies, his mastery ended at the shore he had said. And also they have said that Oromë answered neither yay nor nay when asked when or if he would return. "

"Yet, if we could speak with him," Elmo continued with feeling, "then surely he could understand our plea. Oromë loved these lands, loved them so that even when the rest of the Balar forsook these lands he came still. And Oromë loved Elwë …" He gazed at each of his companions in turn, "if any could convince the Balar to wait for Elwë it is he."

"And we may have his aid in the finding of Elwë," Thálwë said in agreement, "all we know of woodcraft we have learnt from him, where we have failed he will succeed."

Murmurs of consent rose among the council, for though each wished to gaze upon the blessed land, none would abandon the search for Elwë just yet, they loved him too much for that. The council soon agreed that one among them would be go to the shores to speak with Ulmo and bade him wait and summon Oromë. Nōwē was chosen to go as he had travelled the paths before.

"It would take many days to bear the message and its reply," Nōwē said, "Do not doubt that Ingwë and Finwë are eager to depart and would chafe at the delay."

Aegas frowned at the thought. "Would they not wait until they heard our reply, or would they go on ahead of us as they are wont to do?"

Thálwë shook his head, "Finwë is a great friend of Elwë", he said, "Much aggrieved was he when Elwë could not be found. If Ingwë will not wait, then Finwë will speak in our favor."

"However," Elmo said, "We cannot say for sure what they will or will not do. Nōwē's wisdom speaks true. Nōwē will wait by the shores and persuade those there to wait until we decide."

"I would accompany him," young Olwë volunteered, "And will bear messages between."

Nōwē and Olwë had departed soon after the council, taking a few hunters with them. It took many days of journeying to cover the vast leagues between. From Ossiriand they followed the Gelion until the Thalos met it, and then leaving the land of rivers they set out westward, passing the Ramdal and crossing the plains until they reached the woods of Nan Tathren. The woods were empty and this troubled Nōwē as in previous journeys he had encountered the folk of Ingwë wandering the woods. He said nothing to his companions, and after a brief rest he hurried the group southwards down the Sirion.

At the mouths of the Sirion they were greeted by silence where there should have been the laughter and chatter of the Tatyar and soon the whole group grew concerned. As they neared the edge of the world, amid the heady sound of waves breaking on the shore, they heard faint music on the winds and while this should have comforted them, the rushing tune tore at their hearts, and seized by an overwhelming sense of urgency, they well-nigh ran to the shore.

Reaching the beach the weary hunters collapsed on the white sand, eyes moistened with unexplainable dread. Olwë and Nōwē moved ahead until the gloomy waters licked their feet and here Olwë fell to his knees and wept, for over the sound of the crashing waves, faintly he heard still the music, rapidly fading into the turbulent dark waters. And they knew then that they were alone.

Then Nōwē let out a cry and he pointed to something on the dark horizon. "That land was not there before," he cried, "They must be there…" and before any could react he ran into the inky waters until he was chest deep and then swimming towards the dark mass. The others pulled themselves to their feet and called out to him, for the water was not gentle, waves crashed hard on the rocks nearby. Then Nōwē disappeared under the water and they could see him no more, and their tears turned to those of despair, for the dark waters frightened them, and none, not even Olwë would dare to enter them.

Several minutes passed as none moved, then suddenly the waters parted before them and foam began to churn in the space that it created. To their utter awe and terror, from the white foam a face took shape, eyes brighter than any other they had seen, hair the green of leaves that were left in water too long and skin of a strange hue with the sheen of frog skin. More of the unearthly creature emerged and they saw that Nōwē hung limp in his arms.

The being stepped onto the shores, dripping water off robes that appeared to be wrought of silver and blue fish skin, and with each step he took, the elves stepped back in terror. Giving them a ghost of a smile, the creature walked towards them no more and knelt down, laying Nōwē onto his stomach on the dry sand. Gently he massaged and patted the ellon's back and before long Nōwē sputtered and coughed. Olwë broke free of his horror and rushed to his kinsman, stopping just far enough to be out of reach. Nōwē raised himself slightly on one elbow and chocked out sea water as the being continued to stroke his back.

When the coughing fit had subsided, he turned to look at his savior and rasped out "Lord Ul…Ulmo."

"Nay." He said, and at once the elves thought his voice as the sound of waves breaking and churning, beautiful, powerful, enchanting, and they were afraid no more. "Ossë I am, servant of Ulmo, I am the guardian of the dark waters around these lands."

"Are they here, Lord?" Olwë softly asked and knelt by Nōwē's side, "Are they here still?"

With infinite tenderness Ossë laid a hand on Olwë's cheek. The hand was wet, cool, soft and smooth and Olwë did not flinch, "Nay child, they are gone, my Lord took them across the sea. That empty shard of land is all that remains." He looked down at Nōwē, "You cannot swim far enough to reach them, they are gone far ahead."

With a keening cry Nōwē buried his face in the sand, and Olwë wept as though his heart would break.

Author Notes:

The first, second and third clans mentioned here are the Vanyar, Noldor and Teleri/Sindar; however these names would not have developed yet. At the awakening of the elves they were called the Minyar, Tatyar and Nelyar, and these are the clans I reference here.

That Elwë and Elmo are twins is my assumption, I like to think that twins have run in the family for quite some time now.

Nōwē is the original name of Cirdan the shipwright.

This story is set during the Age of the Trees - however, Middle Earth still lay under starlight, and the stars are the primary source of time-keeping.