Elendil looked sadly on the western horizon. His father had sailed that way
some time ago, to seek help from the Lords who dwelt there, or from the
Eldar that sailed those seas. He took precious few of his most ardent
supporters, men who would not part from the Lord of Adunie. Elendil' s two
sons as well as six captains stood behind the tall leader of the Faithful,
grave looks on their faces.
"Amandil has failed," Elendil exhaled, bowing his head. "Our beloved land will soon fail also."
"Father, what would you have us do? Many of our people have already fled for the Hither Lands and have made havens as great as ours here," Anarion the younger son spoke.
"Father , we cannot stay here any longer. Pharazon is hunting for us. Vëantur and the other captains have prepared nine ships in Romenna. Our only hope lies in finding our people in the Hither Lands and returning with great force. Tar-Palantir once said that the line of Kings would end if the White Tree died. The King has killed the Tree, and thus he may be removed, and our land saved."
Elendil shook his head, facing his sons and captains. "Nay, Isildur my son. Tar-Palantir was the uncle of your grandfather and is thus of our kin. Some of his foresight is in me also, and I can only see the Sea all around us with no hope. Leave we must, but there is no return, unless the Powers return us Nùmenor after ruin. I have looked in the Stones, my sons. The Eldar also fear what the King is doing on our old haven of Adunie. Long was it the haven of the Eldar, and now all I have seen is armament and instruments of war. The end is nigh, and a chill runs through my bones and a knife through my heart. What comfort we have is in the stones and the Tree you rescued. Only one friend we can count on, and that is Eronion Gilgalad of Lindon. To him I might seek, if all else fails."
Vëantur ,the most senior of the captains strode forward and kissed Elendil' s hand. Looking up at his lord in awe, he stood up to his full height, still one and a half feet below Elendil' s head. He was the Captain of the Venturer' s Guild, the old organization begun by King Tar- Aldarion and the greatest captain in Nùmenor. Pharazon had sought his skills for his dastardly plan to invade Valinor, but could only succeed in persuading his son Vardamir. Vëantur' s skill was unparalleled, and unknown to Pharazon his ships harried those of the King's Men in Middle Earth, returning treasure looted or unjust tribute. He was not of the royal house, yet was esteemed by them for his prowess, particularly as he was not part of the army or navy of Westernesse and carried his own banner, the sea-hawk upon blue.
" If we must leave, my lord Elendil, then I will make ready nine of our greatest ships with our people. I wish we could send for Dol Amroth or Pelargir, but they are far away, as is Gilgalad. My captains here are all faithful and loyal to your cause, and they too fear for our island. What does the Lord of Adunie command ?"
Elendil looked at the sceptre of Adunie, his father's last token of nobility. He was now the leader of all the Faithful of Nùmenor and the highest ranking member of the royal house in that faction. He remembered his father, kissing the sceptre and handing it to Anarion. He drew his sword and raised it high in front of the eight other men.
"This is Narsil, forged by Telchar long ago. He gave it to Maedhros the Tall , who in turn gave it to Fingon his friend, who gave it to Huor of Dor-lomin, passed to Tuor his son after he had left it behind in Gondolin. When he took axe in the Hidden City, the sword was given to his wife Idril Celebrindal, foremother of our Kings and indeed of my own sires. The sword passed down to Silmarien, who was given the Ring of Barahir, now on Isildur' s hand, the sceptre in Anarion' s hands , and my sword. All these are symbols of our enduring friendship with the Firstborn. And to maintain this friendship, we must seek out Eronion. As your lord, I give the solemn command- find all of those we know to be of the Faithful and bring them to our haven. We leave as soon as the ninth ship is filled or no more of our people can be found. Five of you will be given one of the Palantri to guide you, and the two master stones will be with me and Anarion. "
"What of me, father?" said Isildur.
"You will bear the growing White Tree in your ship. Sail behind your brother. Four ships I will take, three for you and two for Anarion. Vëantur, you are the leader and hindmost of the three ships behind me. For the palantir I will give you looks westward, towards its master in Avallonë. Pharazon will pursue us, and we will need your keen eyes to spot his vessels."
Vëantur and his captains bowed as each received a palantir. Isildur kneeled and kissed his father's hand, then mounted and headed for the Faithful' s refuge at Romenna, where the White Tree secretly grew again. Anarion looked at the Palantir two men pulled onto a wain behind him, the large Master Stone that would later be in Osgiliath. One of the captains followed him, and they also headed for Romenna. Two other captains were already gone, following Isildur. Elendil mounted his horse and with Vëantur moved towards the haven. All the men were weeping, for Nùmenor was in their hearts and was their first love. Their tears faded into the dark night as they rode, and ever their hearts grew heavier. Mighty men and women though they were, seeds of Elros and the Edain, the Faithful would never shed more tears. Tears of regret and pain, of losing their Elanna, the Star Haven. Everyone in the refuges and secret places wept, from the oldest graybeard reaching his two hundredth year ,to young Meneldil, son of Anarion and scarcely three years old. The Sun rose the next day over the horizon, but she shone no more in the hearts of the Faithful. Their home was doomed by their King, and eastwards was their destiny.
They dwelt in fear in their havens, hoping that the Valar would help them in their journey. The ships were laden with everything they could spare. But to make space for all the food, fuel and other essentials, more of the lore and knowledge of Nùmenor was lost, for few scrolls and books could be brought. Only the healers , due to the gravity of their task kept their full records and were in Anarion' s second ship. Then the dreaded day came, when Pharazon sounded his trumpets and the Great Armament sailed west, to defy the Valar and steal eternal life. The trumpets rang loud over all of Nùmenor, and the Faithful cowered in their ships, while birds screamed and horses ran wild. Sauron the Liar sat in his golden temple in Armenelos, laughing to himself as Nùmenor began its descent into ruin. The trumpets did not frighten the saddened Faithful, but made them stand firm in their ships. Elendil did not want to look westwards , and gave the long-awaited signal to launch. As planned, Anarion' s two ships went first, and then Isildur' s three, with Elendil' s four the last. Vëantur' s ship was last, trailing behind Elendil. Suddenly, a great roar came over the Island, and the ships were scattered, yet borne away from the cataclysm. Each group of ships did manage to stay together, but the sons of Elendil were separated from their father. Whatever idea of stealth Elendil had was destroyed by the prayer of the Valar in the west, who called upon Eru Iluvatar for aid. None of the ships were undamaged, as the water ripped their sails apart and tore at their hulls. Elendil' s men and women struggled to breathe as the changing of the world happened around them. The sea threatened to swallow them at times, but luck and their strength made the Dunedain have hope, as they sighted a coastline after endless days.
Elendil struggled to hold to his snapped mast as he held his palantir to look eastwards. He searched high and low for any sign of life, and his heart lifted when he saw the banner of Gilgalad, and the ships of Cirdan coming to their aid. The Faithful had been delivered. In the southern seas, the ships of Isildur and his brother, together with their captains were found by roving mariners of Dol Amroth and Pelargir , and welcomed by many of their kin, already numerous in that region. The people marveled at the Stones and bowed to the White Tree that the son of Elendil recovered. The exhausted sailors were even more surprised by the reception at Dol Amroth- it was indeed the Firstborn greeting them, not their kin. All five of the southern ships had survived, and Isildur was glad for the help of the great haven of Pelargir, where legions of other ships were already in dock.
Seven weeks had passed and there was no sign of Elendil. Isildur grew worried, and Anarion suggested that they use his Master stone to try communicate with Elendil' s own. To this Isildur agreed, and the leaders of the Dunedain hoped for an answer. It was to their joy that Elendil had survived, along with three of their own ships.
"But where is the ship of Vëantur, my lord?" Anarion grew worried, for Vëantur was the father of his wife.
"Alas, he was hindmost of our host. It is to my guilt and shame that I had placed him there. I saw none of my host until we had reached Gilgalad' s shores. Wait, a messenger has arrived here in Elestorion. A ship has arrived bearing his sea-hawk standard! Eru be praised, for we are all delivered!" Elendil smiled as Anarion wept tears of joy.
But this ship was not one of the Guild's ships, but a war- craft of Nùmenor, one of the Great Armament. Its captain held aloft a great seeing-stone as the giant ship loomed over the fleets of Cirdan and Elendil.
"It cannot be.."
"I have returned to you, Elendil Voronwë."
"Amandil has failed," Elendil exhaled, bowing his head. "Our beloved land will soon fail also."
"Father, what would you have us do? Many of our people have already fled for the Hither Lands and have made havens as great as ours here," Anarion the younger son spoke.
"Father , we cannot stay here any longer. Pharazon is hunting for us. Vëantur and the other captains have prepared nine ships in Romenna. Our only hope lies in finding our people in the Hither Lands and returning with great force. Tar-Palantir once said that the line of Kings would end if the White Tree died. The King has killed the Tree, and thus he may be removed, and our land saved."
Elendil shook his head, facing his sons and captains. "Nay, Isildur my son. Tar-Palantir was the uncle of your grandfather and is thus of our kin. Some of his foresight is in me also, and I can only see the Sea all around us with no hope. Leave we must, but there is no return, unless the Powers return us Nùmenor after ruin. I have looked in the Stones, my sons. The Eldar also fear what the King is doing on our old haven of Adunie. Long was it the haven of the Eldar, and now all I have seen is armament and instruments of war. The end is nigh, and a chill runs through my bones and a knife through my heart. What comfort we have is in the stones and the Tree you rescued. Only one friend we can count on, and that is Eronion Gilgalad of Lindon. To him I might seek, if all else fails."
Vëantur ,the most senior of the captains strode forward and kissed Elendil' s hand. Looking up at his lord in awe, he stood up to his full height, still one and a half feet below Elendil' s head. He was the Captain of the Venturer' s Guild, the old organization begun by King Tar- Aldarion and the greatest captain in Nùmenor. Pharazon had sought his skills for his dastardly plan to invade Valinor, but could only succeed in persuading his son Vardamir. Vëantur' s skill was unparalleled, and unknown to Pharazon his ships harried those of the King's Men in Middle Earth, returning treasure looted or unjust tribute. He was not of the royal house, yet was esteemed by them for his prowess, particularly as he was not part of the army or navy of Westernesse and carried his own banner, the sea-hawk upon blue.
" If we must leave, my lord Elendil, then I will make ready nine of our greatest ships with our people. I wish we could send for Dol Amroth or Pelargir, but they are far away, as is Gilgalad. My captains here are all faithful and loyal to your cause, and they too fear for our island. What does the Lord of Adunie command ?"
Elendil looked at the sceptre of Adunie, his father's last token of nobility. He was now the leader of all the Faithful of Nùmenor and the highest ranking member of the royal house in that faction. He remembered his father, kissing the sceptre and handing it to Anarion. He drew his sword and raised it high in front of the eight other men.
"This is Narsil, forged by Telchar long ago. He gave it to Maedhros the Tall , who in turn gave it to Fingon his friend, who gave it to Huor of Dor-lomin, passed to Tuor his son after he had left it behind in Gondolin. When he took axe in the Hidden City, the sword was given to his wife Idril Celebrindal, foremother of our Kings and indeed of my own sires. The sword passed down to Silmarien, who was given the Ring of Barahir, now on Isildur' s hand, the sceptre in Anarion' s hands , and my sword. All these are symbols of our enduring friendship with the Firstborn. And to maintain this friendship, we must seek out Eronion. As your lord, I give the solemn command- find all of those we know to be of the Faithful and bring them to our haven. We leave as soon as the ninth ship is filled or no more of our people can be found. Five of you will be given one of the Palantri to guide you, and the two master stones will be with me and Anarion. "
"What of me, father?" said Isildur.
"You will bear the growing White Tree in your ship. Sail behind your brother. Four ships I will take, three for you and two for Anarion. Vëantur, you are the leader and hindmost of the three ships behind me. For the palantir I will give you looks westward, towards its master in Avallonë. Pharazon will pursue us, and we will need your keen eyes to spot his vessels."
Vëantur and his captains bowed as each received a palantir. Isildur kneeled and kissed his father's hand, then mounted and headed for the Faithful' s refuge at Romenna, where the White Tree secretly grew again. Anarion looked at the Palantir two men pulled onto a wain behind him, the large Master Stone that would later be in Osgiliath. One of the captains followed him, and they also headed for Romenna. Two other captains were already gone, following Isildur. Elendil mounted his horse and with Vëantur moved towards the haven. All the men were weeping, for Nùmenor was in their hearts and was their first love. Their tears faded into the dark night as they rode, and ever their hearts grew heavier. Mighty men and women though they were, seeds of Elros and the Edain, the Faithful would never shed more tears. Tears of regret and pain, of losing their Elanna, the Star Haven. Everyone in the refuges and secret places wept, from the oldest graybeard reaching his two hundredth year ,to young Meneldil, son of Anarion and scarcely three years old. The Sun rose the next day over the horizon, but she shone no more in the hearts of the Faithful. Their home was doomed by their King, and eastwards was their destiny.
They dwelt in fear in their havens, hoping that the Valar would help them in their journey. The ships were laden with everything they could spare. But to make space for all the food, fuel and other essentials, more of the lore and knowledge of Nùmenor was lost, for few scrolls and books could be brought. Only the healers , due to the gravity of their task kept their full records and were in Anarion' s second ship. Then the dreaded day came, when Pharazon sounded his trumpets and the Great Armament sailed west, to defy the Valar and steal eternal life. The trumpets rang loud over all of Nùmenor, and the Faithful cowered in their ships, while birds screamed and horses ran wild. Sauron the Liar sat in his golden temple in Armenelos, laughing to himself as Nùmenor began its descent into ruin. The trumpets did not frighten the saddened Faithful, but made them stand firm in their ships. Elendil did not want to look westwards , and gave the long-awaited signal to launch. As planned, Anarion' s two ships went first, and then Isildur' s three, with Elendil' s four the last. Vëantur' s ship was last, trailing behind Elendil. Suddenly, a great roar came over the Island, and the ships were scattered, yet borne away from the cataclysm. Each group of ships did manage to stay together, but the sons of Elendil were separated from their father. Whatever idea of stealth Elendil had was destroyed by the prayer of the Valar in the west, who called upon Eru Iluvatar for aid. None of the ships were undamaged, as the water ripped their sails apart and tore at their hulls. Elendil' s men and women struggled to breathe as the changing of the world happened around them. The sea threatened to swallow them at times, but luck and their strength made the Dunedain have hope, as they sighted a coastline after endless days.
Elendil struggled to hold to his snapped mast as he held his palantir to look eastwards. He searched high and low for any sign of life, and his heart lifted when he saw the banner of Gilgalad, and the ships of Cirdan coming to their aid. The Faithful had been delivered. In the southern seas, the ships of Isildur and his brother, together with their captains were found by roving mariners of Dol Amroth and Pelargir , and welcomed by many of their kin, already numerous in that region. The people marveled at the Stones and bowed to the White Tree that the son of Elendil recovered. The exhausted sailors were even more surprised by the reception at Dol Amroth- it was indeed the Firstborn greeting them, not their kin. All five of the southern ships had survived, and Isildur was glad for the help of the great haven of Pelargir, where legions of other ships were already in dock.
Seven weeks had passed and there was no sign of Elendil. Isildur grew worried, and Anarion suggested that they use his Master stone to try communicate with Elendil' s own. To this Isildur agreed, and the leaders of the Dunedain hoped for an answer. It was to their joy that Elendil had survived, along with three of their own ships.
"But where is the ship of Vëantur, my lord?" Anarion grew worried, for Vëantur was the father of his wife.
"Alas, he was hindmost of our host. It is to my guilt and shame that I had placed him there. I saw none of my host until we had reached Gilgalad' s shores. Wait, a messenger has arrived here in Elestorion. A ship has arrived bearing his sea-hawk standard! Eru be praised, for we are all delivered!" Elendil smiled as Anarion wept tears of joy.
But this ship was not one of the Guild's ships, but a war- craft of Nùmenor, one of the Great Armament. Its captain held aloft a great seeing-stone as the giant ship loomed over the fleets of Cirdan and Elendil.
"It cannot be.."
"I have returned to you, Elendil Voronwë."
