10
Herukano stood in Ciryahers room in Angrenost looking out to the south. He saw men approaching the great tower.
"Finally, he comes, we have been waiting here for more than three weeks;" he said to the few men around him.
One of them asked; "Why do they carry a banner displaying a tree?"
Herukano said; "it is the white tree of Gondor in Osgiliath. I have never seen it as I have never been to the south."
Another man said; "they say it is the most beautiful thing in Middle Earth, a child of Nimloth the fair."
Herukano said; "anyone is free to travel south. I will however return north as this is now my home. The men from the south may worship the tree of Javannah, but I worship the star of Varda."
Meneldil ordered his men to camp outside Angrenost. He alone entered the tower.
When he entered Ciryahers room, Herucano said; "Greetings to the son of Anarion. I am happy that we finally meet after last year's postponing."
Meneldil said; "greeting to you Herukano. My father and uncle always spoke highly of you. I had expected my cousin to be here though."
Herukano said; "Vorondome did not want him to leave the north, so she asked me to attend this meeting on behalf of her and Valandil instead. She sends her best wishes to you."
He continued; "are you alone? Do you not want you men to be present?"
"No," Meneldil answered; "and I would prefer only to speak to you."
Herukano did not hesitate, he said to his men; "leave us, but fill our glasses with wine before."
The two sat alone and enjoyed the wine for a while.
Then Meneldil said; "when will Valandil come to the south?"
Herukano answered; "he will not for a long time. As you are building Gonror; he will build the kingdom of the north."
Meneldil said; "if he wants to lead us he should be present. No one in the south wants to rebuild Numenor without a ruler.
Herukano said; "you can rule in his place."
However, Meneldil said; "I will not accept that. My father was never inferior to Isildur. They considered themselves equal. I will not accept a sovereign half a year's travel away. I consider my young cousin equal to me. If Valandil cannot come to the south, he will have to move the population north."
Herukano did not comment, so Meneldil left the room and walked to the balcony and watched the sun set.
After a while, Herukano called Meneldil back.
"there is another option;" he said.
Meneldil did not speak but waited for the continuation.
"you rule the south and Valandil rule the north;" Herukano said.
Meneldil said; "will the people of the north accept this?"
Herukano said; "our queen has already accepted this, if you could not accept Valandil as you sovereign. She only request that friendship between you and Valandil shall continue even until generations to come."
Meneldil said; "then I suggest that this tower shall be under our common ruling. The south and the north shall meet here validate this agreement for the future. In this tower, we will hide the Palantir, which will be of common ownership. The remaining six is already divided between us.
Herukano commented; "the kingdom of Gondor will then keep most of what was brought from Numenor to Middle Earth."
Meneldil answered; "but the scepter of Andunie is in the north, and I do also believe the ring of Barahir to be on the finger of your queen."
Herukano did not react. The two men walked to their followers and they all celebrated the two new nations. They agreed to both leave a few men in the tower, but then headed back after only a few days at the tower.
When they said goodbye, Meneldil said; "you should come to Gondor. We will build it, as it will be as beautiful as Numenor."
Herukano said; "I remember Numenor well, I was born in Armenelos two hundred years ago. I honor your effort but do not believe, we will ever accomplish that. You on the other hand should come to the north, to meet your cousin and our queen who took care of you from you were born."
But Meneldil did not commit to that and left Angrenost.
When he arrived back in Osgiliath. He proclaimed himself king of Gondor and Cemendur his successor. He used the helmet of Isildur for the coronation as his fathers' helmet had been destroyed, when he was killed.
Also, Valandil was crowned. He called his kingdom Arnor and named Annuminas its capital.