A/N: My disclaimer in chapter one applies for all following chapters. Yes, Laurelothwen is also queen of the Avari. Everybody read StarKateFLG's story "The Silmarillion For Dummies!" It's an absolute riot! And if you like insanity please R/R my other story "The Bathing of Aragorn."
Aman
Nahar was faster than the fastest wind. Cuivienen was gone before we could blink. The forests sped by so fast that they were simply a blur of green. Hardly a moment had passed when a great line of mountains appeared before us. I let out a small gasp as Nahar leaped over them as if they were nothing more than a twig. More forests came before us, but were quickly passed through. There was water then. It was so unlike Cuivienen. So deep that the bottom could not be seen and so wide that there seemed to be no other side. Was Nahar to swim this water? But no this too Nahar passed over. This jump was much longer than the jump over the mountains. Elwe looked down upon the water. His eyes sparkled as the song of the sea floated up to us. Its voice was deeper and more powerful than Cuivienen and it seemed to call out to us. When I looked down all the stars seemed to have fallen from the sky and had joined the water. There seemed also to be something else in there. Many creature of the sea seemed to have joined to form an outline of another great being.
"Orome! What is that being that swims in the sea below us?" I asked.
Orome looked down for a moment and smiled.
"That is Ulmo, Lord of Waters, whom I have told you of. You probably will never see him in the form you see him now for that form is so great that it takes up all the sea."
"Then if we are so high up, perhaps we can touch the stars!" declared Ingwe.
I looked up into the sky and yea, the stars were so close that I out to try and take one in my hand. But they were still too far away. And they seemed to be getting farther again for Nahar's jump across the water was ending. We would soon be in Aman.
We saw the light pouring out of a small pass between the great mountains that surrounded Aman. They were tall beyond measurement and yet still greater than they was a mountain to the north whose peak vanished among the clouds. As we came closer to the pass the light became stronger and stronger. Anticipation built up in my heart. Was it the Trees that caused this light that blocked out the stars? For when we journeyed through the pass the stars vanished from sight. On the other side we saw them. A collective gasp of awe escaped our lips. There they were. The Trees. Tall as the surrounding mountains they were and both beautiful beyond any tree we had seen before. They were both in full splendor as we arrived. Their silver and golden lights were combined to make a light whose beauty will never be seen in any land again.
Orome's description of them seemed to fall terribly short and I guessed that all he had told us of was even greater than the words he used and the images had we believed.
Teleprion's cool light dripped from his dark leaves and his silver flowers. His light was cool and peaceful. So much like the stars was he. But Laurelin was like a fire with great fruits and radiant blooms. Each of her light green leaves stood out with the circle of gold upon each. Around the Trees were huge vats to hold the light that dripped from them and all around were flowers and fruits that had fallen from their immense boughs. Oh how I desired to become one with their light and be like them. We Quendi stared in awe at them.
"Now you know that I spoke the truth," said Orome with a smile.
"You have spoken not only the truth, but have also left room for more," replied Finwe.
"Come we must go to the Ring of Doom where the other Valar await," Orome said.
Nahar was no longer galloping, yet his strides brought us to the Ring swiftly and once again, us small Quendi were amazed at what we saw. Each of the Valar we recognized from what we had been told of them from Orome. They all sat upon thrones that were as high as the midsection of the Trees. Only Nessa had no throne, but a space between Tulkas and the empty throne of Orome for she danced unceasingly using all she was to do this. Orome dismounted and took us gently in his vast hand before taking his seat.
"Welcome Orome, what news do you bring us of the Firstborn?" a voice as strong as a storm, yet gentle as a faint breeze inquired. The owner of that voice was Manwe. His garments were of azure and were constantly moving as if the winds were trapped within them. His eyes were like sapphires only brighter and more piercing. In his right hand was a scepter of gold tipped with the largest sapphire to have ever been. This too swirled like air.
"I bring not news Manwe, but the Children themselves!" Orome answered.
With that he placed his hand upon the ground so that we may stand before the Valar. Ingwe jumped down readily, as did Finwe and Elwe. For a moment I was still too amazed with the Valar. Ingwe took my hand and helped me down. The Valar seemed almost as amazed with us as we were with them.
"They are more wondrous then we could have ever imagined!" cried Vana, whose throne stood to the left of Orome's. Her voice was sweeter than a bird's song and her face younger looking than even the babes who had been born after our awakening at Cuivienen. Her hair was like golden flowers of Laurelin. Only her hair constantly bloomed and closed.
"Much more beautiful than the children Aule made," laughed Tulkas. His strength showed in his laughter as in his body. His skin was deep and ruddy while his bushy hair and beard were golden. His eyes constantly laughed even when his voice did not.
"We are not here to speak of that Tulkas, but to welcome these Children," Aule replied. His voice was strong and powerful as the mountains. Not only was his voice like stone but so was he like a great mountain of ever changing stone. His eyes were deep obsidian and he was clothed entirely in mithril. Yavanna, who sat to the left of Aule, placed a hand upon her husband's arm.
"My husband speaks true," she said. Turning her attention to us she greeted us with these words. "Children of Iluvatar, we welcome you to Aman. Do you fully believe now the words of Orome and will you try and persuade your people to answer our summons?" Of all the Valar, I believe Yavanna is the most beautiful after Varda. Her voice was soft and sweet with a bit of an accent (A/N: I'm sorry but I see Yavanna as being Irish. ^_^*). Her hair was of brilliantly curly red with a crown of golden dew. Her dress was of richest green and when it touched the ground it seemed that the two had joined to be one.
"Oh yes Lady Yavanna," replied Ingwe.
"What we have seen here will most certainly be wished to be seen by all our people," declared Elwe.
"We will all answer your summons," answered Finwe.
"And what of you little one?" This time the speaker was Varda. Oh the beauty of Varda is beyond even the beauty that was the Trees! Her hair was silver and her face emanated the light of Iluvatar. She seemed to be made of the stars in the heavens.
It took a moment for me to realize that she was addressing me. "I do not know what to say Lady. If I were acting as an ambassador of my people I would tell them of all I have seen, but Orome has said that he has another purpose for me."
"And what purpose do you propose for this one Orome?" Nienna inquired. She was dressed as one who had suffered some great sorrow and was forever in mourning. Dark was her raiment yet it was not black and in a strange way a different kind of light emanated from her. A light that can and cannot be seen at the same time. Her eyes were so deep that it seemed that there was no end to them and from these eyes rivers of tears unceasingly fell.
"This lady of the Quendi is called Laurelothwen and is beloved by them. She is also the wife of Ingwe who stands before you." He gestured to Orome who looked very proud to be my husband. "I believe that if Laurelothwen were to stay here she could act as a greeter, a familiar face, that the Quendi would most certainly believe if any of them still have doubts upon there arrival. I am certain that she will agree to this for of all the Quendi, she seemed to be the most eager to come and asked it of me when she was not chosen as ambassador."
"What do you say to this Laurelothwen, wife of Ingwe?" questioned Lorien. Lorien is probably the most difficult of the Valar to describe. It is as if he is in this world and yet in the world of dreams as well. Colors that have no name in any tongue of Arda swirled through his being forming shapes and imaged that could only vaguely be guessed at what they are and what they meant.
"If Orome believes that I am fit for this purpose, than I accept." I kept my words simple to hide the joy that made me wonder if such a feeling could be contained within me. I was to stay in Aman! To live and learn among the Valar and to greet my people when they came!
"Than your doom is sealed Daughter of Iluvatar." The voice who said these words was hard, but not cruel and said with such finality that it seemed nothing could change it. It was the voice of Mandos. He too was clothed in dark raiment and seemed like a male version of Nienna save that no tears came from his eyes that pierced whomever they gazed upon. He spoke no more to explain his words.
How can one describe the Lords and Ladies of the Valar and do them justice? I hope the words I have used do.
"Now Sons of the Quendi go forth to your people and advise them to come," stated Manwe. "We await the day when all your people come to dwell with us!"
Orome stood and came to gather Ingwe, Finwe, and Elwe.
"May I have a moment with my wife Orome?" asked Ingwe.
Orome nodded and stood aside as did Finwe and Elwe.
"Are you sure you wish to stay my love?" Ingwe whispered.
"I am certain of it my husband. If Orome believe that I am to do this task than I will do it." I replied so that only he could hear me.
"Very well. Than I will lead our people as quickly as Nahar gallops so that I may be by your side again!"
"And I will be here waiting for you."
"Namarie Laurelothwen, Bravest of the Quendi."
With those words Ingwe joined Orome, Finwe, and Elwe and they departed upon Nahar.
TBC
Aman
Nahar was faster than the fastest wind. Cuivienen was gone before we could blink. The forests sped by so fast that they were simply a blur of green. Hardly a moment had passed when a great line of mountains appeared before us. I let out a small gasp as Nahar leaped over them as if they were nothing more than a twig. More forests came before us, but were quickly passed through. There was water then. It was so unlike Cuivienen. So deep that the bottom could not be seen and so wide that there seemed to be no other side. Was Nahar to swim this water? But no this too Nahar passed over. This jump was much longer than the jump over the mountains. Elwe looked down upon the water. His eyes sparkled as the song of the sea floated up to us. Its voice was deeper and more powerful than Cuivienen and it seemed to call out to us. When I looked down all the stars seemed to have fallen from the sky and had joined the water. There seemed also to be something else in there. Many creature of the sea seemed to have joined to form an outline of another great being.
"Orome! What is that being that swims in the sea below us?" I asked.
Orome looked down for a moment and smiled.
"That is Ulmo, Lord of Waters, whom I have told you of. You probably will never see him in the form you see him now for that form is so great that it takes up all the sea."
"Then if we are so high up, perhaps we can touch the stars!" declared Ingwe.
I looked up into the sky and yea, the stars were so close that I out to try and take one in my hand. But they were still too far away. And they seemed to be getting farther again for Nahar's jump across the water was ending. We would soon be in Aman.
We saw the light pouring out of a small pass between the great mountains that surrounded Aman. They were tall beyond measurement and yet still greater than they was a mountain to the north whose peak vanished among the clouds. As we came closer to the pass the light became stronger and stronger. Anticipation built up in my heart. Was it the Trees that caused this light that blocked out the stars? For when we journeyed through the pass the stars vanished from sight. On the other side we saw them. A collective gasp of awe escaped our lips. There they were. The Trees. Tall as the surrounding mountains they were and both beautiful beyond any tree we had seen before. They were both in full splendor as we arrived. Their silver and golden lights were combined to make a light whose beauty will never be seen in any land again.
Orome's description of them seemed to fall terribly short and I guessed that all he had told us of was even greater than the words he used and the images had we believed.
Teleprion's cool light dripped from his dark leaves and his silver flowers. His light was cool and peaceful. So much like the stars was he. But Laurelin was like a fire with great fruits and radiant blooms. Each of her light green leaves stood out with the circle of gold upon each. Around the Trees were huge vats to hold the light that dripped from them and all around were flowers and fruits that had fallen from their immense boughs. Oh how I desired to become one with their light and be like them. We Quendi stared in awe at them.
"Now you know that I spoke the truth," said Orome with a smile.
"You have spoken not only the truth, but have also left room for more," replied Finwe.
"Come we must go to the Ring of Doom where the other Valar await," Orome said.
Nahar was no longer galloping, yet his strides brought us to the Ring swiftly and once again, us small Quendi were amazed at what we saw. Each of the Valar we recognized from what we had been told of them from Orome. They all sat upon thrones that were as high as the midsection of the Trees. Only Nessa had no throne, but a space between Tulkas and the empty throne of Orome for she danced unceasingly using all she was to do this. Orome dismounted and took us gently in his vast hand before taking his seat.
"Welcome Orome, what news do you bring us of the Firstborn?" a voice as strong as a storm, yet gentle as a faint breeze inquired. The owner of that voice was Manwe. His garments were of azure and were constantly moving as if the winds were trapped within them. His eyes were like sapphires only brighter and more piercing. In his right hand was a scepter of gold tipped with the largest sapphire to have ever been. This too swirled like air.
"I bring not news Manwe, but the Children themselves!" Orome answered.
With that he placed his hand upon the ground so that we may stand before the Valar. Ingwe jumped down readily, as did Finwe and Elwe. For a moment I was still too amazed with the Valar. Ingwe took my hand and helped me down. The Valar seemed almost as amazed with us as we were with them.
"They are more wondrous then we could have ever imagined!" cried Vana, whose throne stood to the left of Orome's. Her voice was sweeter than a bird's song and her face younger looking than even the babes who had been born after our awakening at Cuivienen. Her hair was like golden flowers of Laurelin. Only her hair constantly bloomed and closed.
"Much more beautiful than the children Aule made," laughed Tulkas. His strength showed in his laughter as in his body. His skin was deep and ruddy while his bushy hair and beard were golden. His eyes constantly laughed even when his voice did not.
"We are not here to speak of that Tulkas, but to welcome these Children," Aule replied. His voice was strong and powerful as the mountains. Not only was his voice like stone but so was he like a great mountain of ever changing stone. His eyes were deep obsidian and he was clothed entirely in mithril. Yavanna, who sat to the left of Aule, placed a hand upon her husband's arm.
"My husband speaks true," she said. Turning her attention to us she greeted us with these words. "Children of Iluvatar, we welcome you to Aman. Do you fully believe now the words of Orome and will you try and persuade your people to answer our summons?" Of all the Valar, I believe Yavanna is the most beautiful after Varda. Her voice was soft and sweet with a bit of an accent (A/N: I'm sorry but I see Yavanna as being Irish. ^_^*). Her hair was of brilliantly curly red with a crown of golden dew. Her dress was of richest green and when it touched the ground it seemed that the two had joined to be one.
"Oh yes Lady Yavanna," replied Ingwe.
"What we have seen here will most certainly be wished to be seen by all our people," declared Elwe.
"We will all answer your summons," answered Finwe.
"And what of you little one?" This time the speaker was Varda. Oh the beauty of Varda is beyond even the beauty that was the Trees! Her hair was silver and her face emanated the light of Iluvatar. She seemed to be made of the stars in the heavens.
It took a moment for me to realize that she was addressing me. "I do not know what to say Lady. If I were acting as an ambassador of my people I would tell them of all I have seen, but Orome has said that he has another purpose for me."
"And what purpose do you propose for this one Orome?" Nienna inquired. She was dressed as one who had suffered some great sorrow and was forever in mourning. Dark was her raiment yet it was not black and in a strange way a different kind of light emanated from her. A light that can and cannot be seen at the same time. Her eyes were so deep that it seemed that there was no end to them and from these eyes rivers of tears unceasingly fell.
"This lady of the Quendi is called Laurelothwen and is beloved by them. She is also the wife of Ingwe who stands before you." He gestured to Orome who looked very proud to be my husband. "I believe that if Laurelothwen were to stay here she could act as a greeter, a familiar face, that the Quendi would most certainly believe if any of them still have doubts upon there arrival. I am certain that she will agree to this for of all the Quendi, she seemed to be the most eager to come and asked it of me when she was not chosen as ambassador."
"What do you say to this Laurelothwen, wife of Ingwe?" questioned Lorien. Lorien is probably the most difficult of the Valar to describe. It is as if he is in this world and yet in the world of dreams as well. Colors that have no name in any tongue of Arda swirled through his being forming shapes and imaged that could only vaguely be guessed at what they are and what they meant.
"If Orome believes that I am fit for this purpose, than I accept." I kept my words simple to hide the joy that made me wonder if such a feeling could be contained within me. I was to stay in Aman! To live and learn among the Valar and to greet my people when they came!
"Than your doom is sealed Daughter of Iluvatar." The voice who said these words was hard, but not cruel and said with such finality that it seemed nothing could change it. It was the voice of Mandos. He too was clothed in dark raiment and seemed like a male version of Nienna save that no tears came from his eyes that pierced whomever they gazed upon. He spoke no more to explain his words.
How can one describe the Lords and Ladies of the Valar and do them justice? I hope the words I have used do.
"Now Sons of the Quendi go forth to your people and advise them to come," stated Manwe. "We await the day when all your people come to dwell with us!"
Orome stood and came to gather Ingwe, Finwe, and Elwe.
"May I have a moment with my wife Orome?" asked Ingwe.
Orome nodded and stood aside as did Finwe and Elwe.
"Are you sure you wish to stay my love?" Ingwe whispered.
"I am certain of it my husband. If Orome believe that I am to do this task than I will do it." I replied so that only he could hear me.
"Very well. Than I will lead our people as quickly as Nahar gallops so that I may be by your side again!"
"And I will be here waiting for you."
"Namarie Laurelothwen, Bravest of the Quendi."
With those words Ingwe joined Orome, Finwe, and Elwe and they departed upon Nahar.
TBC