Elendil takes the sceptre as his daughter turns her attention to love and matrimony.

Silmarien

Second Age 590, Andunie

Dear Lord Arakano Nolofinwion

I thank you for the gift of a pair of hunting falcons from your collection. Unfortunately, my atar has no intention of including them in the ceremonies for the Passing of the Sceptre as your twin cousins have suggested. My grandfather's sceptre would be too heavy for them to carry and I do not think my atar should start his reign by being conked on the head by the symbol of his office.

Thank my foster-mother for putting us in touch as I have benefited much from your knowledge on breeding and training of hawks and the like. The Lords Ambarussa have also been of great help in the practical aspects seeing you are still banned from travelling to Numenor.

I can relate to your experiences with matchmakers. It is a shame the Ambarussa saw fit to get themselves married, thus rendering you the only unattached royal ner in the House of Finwe outside of Mandos. As the eldest daughter of the soon-to-be king, I am besieged by suitors. My birds make excellent bodyguards. It is a bit difficult trying to serenade someone when her pet is trying to peck out one's eyes. I have Cousin Cemendur sending me little gifts and love notes but he is a bit too young for me. He is even younger than Irimon. I hope he will get over this phase soon.

My younger sister has already relented to the persuasion and is currently betrothed (without my father or grandfather's permission). It will take some time for my prospective law-brother to convince them of the sincerity of his suit. Isilme has been packed off to Aunt Mairen's until further notice. My brother has taken himself off north to Great-grandpa Vardamir's old tower to study the stars. He is way too young to consider marriage.

I do hope our letters will not cause any problems for you in Tirion. I definitely do not sense any special Doom heading my way in the field of Eldar-Edain unions despite all the fuss the Council is kicking up. Technically, I am your niece several generations removed and the notion is just weird. Heard from my maid that my other cousin Caliondo tried to seek the Council's support to woo me was rebuffed – us being first cousins and all.

There is a rather charming falconer from over the hill. Not much to look at but great sense of humour and a kind heart (that's what counts, right?). He is what the Council would call a commoner… I wonder if I can get permission from Atto to court him instead of waiting for him to make the first move. Will this be considered too immodest?

Lady Silmarien Elendiliel

P.S. Appreciate if we can keep the last part of my letter from my foster-mother. I am afraid she will fuss like my atto did with my sister.

Second Age 591, Armenelos

Dear Lady Mornel

I trust you and your brothers have enjoyed the festivities around my coronation despite the little commotion caused by my drunken nephew. Dunking him in the fountain was a little uncalled for and I understand to my regret that your brothers have been banned from visiting Numenor for the next 50 years. My father is well and looking forward to a few years of quiet peace before he takes his death.

My second daughter has married (much against my advice) the wastrel son of a minor lord. My young Irimon has developed what can be described as an obsession with the stars. The last time we checked on him, his room was so full of his star charts they were falling out the windows. On the upside, having nothing but stars as the topic of conversation does deter even the most ambitious of court ladies. My wife had to have the servants remove at least a dozen would-be brides after they fell asleep in the middle of a 5-hour lecture on the movement of the constellations. We hope this is just a phase. We still need an heir after him.

My eldest has volunteered to move here with me to assist in council matters despite opposition from some conservative factions. She has also made a rather daring request concerning her future happiness, which I am a bit reluctant to agree to. I will sorely miss her aid if she were to marry and become a commoner. It is a pity she is not a son and we will eventually have to lose her to her husband.

There is a certain up-and-coming young mariner Veantur who has been appealing for more funds to sponsor his maritime explorations with a mind to return to the Hither Shores. After more than 500 years since Beleriand sank, we have no reliable maps and I feel it too much a risk despite the possibility of contacting the Eldar still in Lindon. Your kin have not all sailed yet, have they? I have half a mind to send my brother and his son on that journey of exploration but Earendur has not been quite the same since that tree landed on his leg. With only one working leg left, it is that much harder for him to manage his wayward son. I am tempted to pass the sceptre onto my daughter Silmarien after a few more decades but that would not be fair to Irimon despite his apparent disinterest in council matters.

Please find enclosed a collection of tales from Edain lore gathered by my grandfather.

Tar-Elendil Paramite

P.S. I do not know what possessed me to add that silly nickname 'Book-Handed' as part of my official title.

Second Age 620, Andunie

Dear Cousin

You must definitely be regretting your decision not to attend this wedding. We had so much fun (even if Amarie begged to differ after having to pull our son out of a drinking contest). Lady Silmarien was such a pretty bride with that mithril fillet you had made for her at Formenos at Elendil's request. The star-gem set on it was a touch of elegance. Clean lines and simplicity of design – I wonder if that style will ever catch on in Tirion. Probably never. Could I place an order for a silver fillet for Amarie as a surprise gift please? I would like something with a floral motif and sapphires.

Elendil definitely went all out for the event. You should have seen the bridal goods and dowry. Three cart-loads. To top it off, he handed her Barahir's Ring and that dwarf-forged sword Narsil to be heirlooms of her house. I do wonder if it is alright with Irimon but he seems not to be bothered too much. He was more interested charting Gil-Estel's course through the sky, which happened to be a little erratic that night. Well, I did send Earendil's crew some wine from my vineyard just last month and they might have some bottles left.

Elendil is planning to create a new title for any grandson by his daughter. The Lord of Andunie or something of that sort. I wonder if it is a bit too much and he is making up for denying her request for marriage to Elatan for so long. You must know by now that the Numenorean mariners have returned to Middle-Earth and contacted Gil-galad's court in S.A. 600. They did have some letters but Lord Osse was a bit frisky on the return trip. All the letters from Lindon were washed into the sea during a huge storm, save for the official greeting to Tar-Elendil from Gil-galad. The Numenoreans hope to send more expeditions east with a mind to settle. Feeling a bit of longing for the lands of their forefathers I presume?

My uncle Earlindo reminds me that all things have their place in the Song and everything has a time and place. Now is the time and place for me to dance with my wife.

Finrod Felagund

Second Age 620, Formenos

"It's not natural," both redheads spoke in unison. Mornel peered up from the letter she had been reading. Her brothers had beaten her to it as usual between the front gate and the dining table.

"Handing such important heirlooms to a daughter when he has a perfectly able son…" The twins were well-informed of the importance of the Ring of Barahir in Elros' family.

"Perhaps it is the daughter's line who would endure and not the son's?" Tatie suggested pointedly as she entered with a platter of salmon in wild fruit glaze. The old nis had appointed herself Mornel's personal attendant in Formenos. Isilmire and Lomire followed with a pot of potatoes and a plate of winter greens.

"Perhaps," Mornel shrugged. Her brothers' transition into Eldar society and family life had been far from smooth. Foul whispers and gossip constantly threatened their marriages. Their childlessness after so many cycles of the sun only gave rise to more unkind whispers. To escape the more judgemental citizens of Valmar and Tirion, the two couples had retreated to Formenos where they lived apart from even Mornel except during the colder months when their humble willow-weave huts gave little respite against the wind and snow. If it were only the Ambarussa, they would have stuck it out, but they had their more gently-bred wives to consider.

"Do you suppose we can ask the Numenoreans to help look for Maglor?" Telvo suggested.

"Nay, they would be busy with other things and I doubt our brother will be found unless he wishes to be," Mornel conceded. How fast the years had flown by. Amandil had gone grey and taken his death quietly in S.A. 603, shortly after hearing that his people had re-established contact with Middle-Earth. Elendil's children were now growing up and starting their own families.

"You've been to Grandma Miriel's last month. Has she said anything about our brothers? Is Moryo serious about not returning?" Pityo asked. "I hear one of the new apprentices has been sending Helwien flowers… I can't decide whether I should box his ears for Moryo's sake or not."

"It has been a long time since they were last together as husband and wife," Mornel noted. "Moreover, Grandmother has not said anything about our brothers in Mandos. There are rules binding Lady Vaire's handmaidens. As for the apprentice, our law-sister is fully capable of dealing with him without our aid."

"Perhaps Morifinwe just needed more time to think it through. I know I did," Tatie interjected. "I don't know much about the Aftercomers and their ways but I say we don't go about sticking our noses in their matters. Who cares who's the king or queen on that island of theirs? Well, I am happy where I am."

"Their flame burn both fierce and fast, even the lives of the Numenoreans are but a blink of an eye to the Eldar," Mornel added.

"One more season, two more seasons… will they not grow envious of the unending years of the Eldar despite us being bound to Arda?" Isilmire mused.

"Tar-Elendil is wise but what of those who would follow him?" Lomire added, voicing Mornel's unspoken thoughts. The twins had made a brief sojourn in Numenor with their husbands back in S.A. 590 for Tar-Elendil's coronation, much against the advice of their grandfather. They had been well-received by Lady Silmarien in Andunie but their experience in the capital was less pleasant thanks to a certain upstart prince. Both couples were in no hurry for a return visit.

"Hey, an invite to another wedding! Prince Earlindo was a charming host the last time we visited Amme on Tol Eressea but his servants kept looking at us as if we were going to steal their ships and burn them," Telvo said as he waved an invitation from the Teleri prince to attend his daughter's wedding in Avallone.

"I got sick just sailing out of the harbour…" Pityo complained. "Lord Olorin said it is the lingering trauma from my past life…"

"You went white as a sheet as soon as you saw that ship. Lomire had to drag you up the gangplank. After that, you were below decks with your wife until we came to port. Amme was so worried…"

Mornel took another letter from the stack now ignored by her squabbling brothers. Nerdenal had written again regarding her decision not to move to Formenos. Instead, she indicated that she was content living in Avallone after moving away from Alqualonde. Mornel suspected her amil had a restless streak in her. She would often close her workshop and go on long journeys alone, perhaps seeking inspiration for her art. Perhaps by being so close to Numenor, she sought to gain inspiration from it.

"Amme says she might go visit Numenor for a bit," Mornel read out part of the letter. "It seems the court would like some new statues of their former kings. The old ones were a bit worn, so they say. They seek the services of Lady Russa."

"Amme's still using that name for her work?" Telvo spluttered. "It's really lame… She ought to change it…"

"But she already has a reputation under that name as an artist, since the First Age when it was difficult for Nerdanel to find a decent commission for all her skill," Mornel pointed out. "Most of the Eldar know who Russa is by now."

I do not wish for Amme to linger too long in Numenor. Mornel picked at her fruit. She had not been to the island for a while even though she still exchanged letters with Elendil and his daughter Silmarien. It seemed her foster-daughter had grown apart from her as she grew into womanhood. Instead of confiding her growing affections for a certain falconer in her foster-parent, Silmarien had chosen instead to confide in Arakano in between discussions on falconry. Her cousin Finrod had brought the relationship to her attention only at Elendil's coronation. Finrod always was a hopeless romantic but his instincts were rarely wrong.

She would have liked to attend the wedding in person but she had promised two Avari clans to mediate in a long-running quarrel over overlapping hunting grounds. The resolution of the conflict had taken far longer than she had expected when a carelessly-placed snare almost cost a chieftain's young son his foot. At least her smiths managed to get Silmarien's fillet ready and packed off to Finrod's before he left Alqualonde.

She knew little of Prince Irimon save for his passion for celestial observations. Perhaps it was time for her to return her attention to matters in Aman. Earlindo and the elves of Tol Eressea would continue their friendship with Numenor.

"Oh, Arakano writes asking if we would like new hunting falcons in Formenos. He has some new chicks he will need a home for soon. Twenty birds of prey under her roof is more than enough for Aunt Anaire," Pityo read from another letter.

"We can present them to some of Avari chieftains when they come for Yule," Mornel agreed.

Author's Notes:

Mornel is taking a backseat now where Numenor is concerned now Silmarien has grown up.

Her twin brothers are back in Formenos and there is possibility of another one returning from Mandos. At least Arakano has found a suitable hobby in falconry to take up his time.