Mornel gives voice to the doubts of certain gifts sent to Numenor by the Teleri during the celebrations of Elros' wedding.

I am not making too much changes to the plot for the first few chapters.

Gifts of Elves

Second Age 60, Armenelos, Numenor

Under the glowing white flowers of Nimloth, scion of Celeborn which stood in Prince Earlindo's courtyard in Tol Eressea, stood the happy couple. They were the newly-wed King and Queen of Numenor. The Ring of Barahir winked on Elros' finger, a parting gift from his aunt Galadriel before he departed for his new mortal life on Elenna. It had been recovered from the ashes of Sirion after the Kinslaying and she had held on to it for so long in her reluctance to surrender this last keepsake of her brother Finrod. Dark-haired and sharp-eyed, his fair young bride clung to his arm. It was hoped by their people that they would be swiftly blessed with an heir to the throne.

The official ceremony was over and this was a late-night supper reception attended only by the couple's closest friends and family. Among which were the king's elvish kindred and friends from Valinor. Lanterns hung from the trees and candles set on the tables bathed the gardens in a soft glow. Many of the Edain were already deep in their cups or asleep at this late hour.

Prince Earlindo and his wife held a place of honour with their year-old son among the elvish guests. It was with great joy that the couple had welcomed their first child after many cycles of the sun – a clear sign to any remaining naysayers that their union was indeed blessed by the Valar.

Many years before, when Elenna was new, the prince had brought the sapling from his own Celeborn as a token of friendship from Avallone. Celeborn was an offspring of Galathilion, the White Tree of Tuna made in the image of Telperion which was lost to them before the Second-born awoke. It was a gift from his law-brother Arafinwe to his father, King Olwe, who planted it on Tol Eressea in celebration of his son's return from Mandos. Round this tree Prince Earlindo had built his house and the city of Avallone had sprung up. The newly–crowned Elros had named the sapling Nimloth in honour of his maternal grandmother.

Off the shores of Tol Eressea was the island gifted to the Edain. The Elves of Avallone and beyond readily extended their friendship to their mortal neighbours, bringing across the sea gifts of fragrant flowers and healing herbs from Yavanna's gardens, gems and precious metals from Aule's Mansions – and above all, they brought the teachings and skills of Valinor. Scores of elven craftsmen sailed on board those same ships to help build the new city of the Edain. Scholars went to teach the Secondborn the laws and customs set down by the Valar. The elves also brought palantirs from Aman to Elros' court, which was a subject of much debate back in Aman.

Even now, some elves felt this gift unwise, among them Mornel. This was the ongoing topic of conversation between her and Prince Earlindo.

"What my atto created in the seeing-stones is of great power and too risky to be used thus freely. Even my brothers dared not used them in Beleriand although they were taken from the ships ere they burned," Mornel paused. The palantirs that did survive the War were gathered at Lord Eonwe's orders and sent back to Valinor. Maglor had confided that even her brothers knew better than to use them after they had arrived. The stones were surrendered with the kingship to Fingolfin's line and many were lost when the dragon Glaurung came from the North. Arafinwe had considered gifting a palantir to his daughter in Beleriand but had been dissuaded from doing so by the war council. It was too dangerous with Morgoth's Shadow. The issue was never raised again before the Host sailed for home.

"But with the palantirs, we may contact the House of Elros… and they us…"

"But is it wise to let the Secondborn view what is forbidden to them? That is why I have chosen to cede the Master-stone to my uncle and he in turn gifted it to you." Mornel had discovered it and the notes pertaining to its usage in one of the storehouses in Formenos. She had consulted her mentor Olorin as to whether the Master-stone should be used or hidden away on Taniquetil. The Valar had no use for such trinkets and it was left to Mornel to decide whether to gift it to her uncle or another Elven king. The Master-stone now sat atop a tower on Avallone facing into the east.

Mornel took a sip from the goblet of sweet wine Earlindo had offered her. Nimloth had thrived. Her law-sister Edalote had provided the fertile soil from Yavanna's Pastures to cradle its roots as Earlindo sailed over with the sapling in a pot crafted by Nerdanel. It had been feared the journey beyond Aman's influence might prove too much when the tree did not flower for many years. Now it was in full bloom. Mornel silently toasted the Lady's bounty.

Amidst much jesting and well wishes, Elros scooped his bride up into his arms and bore her over the threshold into the private quarters of the King's House. He called out a hearty goodnight to his guests as he did so, dismissing them and the few servants still in attendance. Mornel smiled and closed her eyes, allowing the image of a scholarly youth to glide across her mind like a mirage. He would have his adar's grey eyes and his naneth's bright wit. There were many more shadowy figures following him but Mornel allowed the vision to slip away.

"So what do you see in their future?" Serelinde asked Mornel as she cradled her drowsy child to her breast. The daughter of Feanor was whispered to be a seer by some. Earlindo and his lady wife could attest to the fact that begetting gifts from Formenos several weeks away reached them well before they could officially announce their son's birth. Laughingly, Mornel put it down to gossip from the gulls of Tol Eressea reaching the sea eagles of Araman and eventually the falcons of Formenos who informed her of the new addition to their household.

"Children of course, and a long life for Elros before his time for the Gift of Men eventually comes," Mornel yawned and adjusted her circlet which had slipped down her head at an awkward angle. Formal wear could be tiresome. "Come now, it is late and young elflings need their reverie."

She had enjoyed her brief sojourn in Numenor. Prince Earlindo acted as her guide since Elros was too caught up in his wedding preparations. She had even been to the tower Elros built looking into the west in the Bay of Andunie where a small hamlet of Teleri elves had settled. It was similar to his mother Elwing's on the Shadowy Seas. It was a pity the Valar had decided that Numenor was to be considered mortal lands on which both Earendil and Elwing were not to set foot on. Earlindo had cunningly offered to help bypass this condition with Lord Ulmo's aid. There was nothing about them meeting on a ship on the westernmost extent of Numenor's waters. However, neither Elros nor his parents felt inclined to test the boundaries of the Valar's patience and settled for communication by letters. Perhaps after so long apart, they were unsure on how they would react to each other. Perhaps only time would tell.

Author's Notes:

The palantirs were crafted by Feanor in Valinor. However, they were not mentioned in the canonic timeline until the Second Age when the Numenoreans were gifted palantirs from Valinor. Seven of the seeing-stones will eventually find their way to Middle-earth with the Faithful.