In An Age Before – Part 29
"Helluin Maeg-mórmenel, thou art summoned to Lindon by the authority of Ereinion son of Fingon, who doth seek thy counsel. Thou art not at liberty to refuse thy king, for his need is great. If thy companion be Beinvír of the Laiquendi, than she too is summoned, though without word of command. I am to lead thee hence."
With a groan Helluin nodded and began stamping out the fire. She and Beinvír quickly packed their bags and followed the messenger south, noting that he made directly for the road and avoided the forest. They traveled only a few miles ere finding a passage out of the downs, and they came thence to flat land. Thither awaited a company of a half-dozen Noldor on horseback bearing the livery of the High King, and with them were two horses without riders. The messenger mounted one and gestured the two friends to the other. Helluin grimaced and mounted, then reached down and hauled Beinvír up behind her. 'Tis probably 500 years since last I rode, she thought, and then but briefly. What haste has seized Gil-galad that he requires us now to ride? Art the words of Iarwain's silly staves to come crashing down upon us so soon?
Indeed it appeared just so, for the company set out at a canter and slowed their pace for 'naught but the horses. 'Twas 115 leagues to Harlond and another 45 by boat to Forlond. On 3 Narbeleth, (October 3rd), the company passed the walls of Lindon after a journey of but nine days, and they came to the court of the king.
Helluin was keeping a concerned eye on her friend as she walked for the first time in these surroundings so strange to her. The Noldo had come to easily recognize the wide-eyed looks of amazement that accompanied the deep uncertainty and wariness of cities that was characteristic of the Laiquendi. Now Beinvír was staring at everything, her eyes flitting back and forth o'er tapestries and ornaments, carvings and paintings, and the inhabitants of the court. All the rich furnishings seemed strange even to Helluin's eyes when she saw them with awareness of Beinvír's astonished gaze. She took everything in, noting what had changed and what had remained the same. At the entrance to the king's chambers a herald smote upon the carved doors. When a chamberlain opened these from within, the herald announced the guests.
"Hither come'th in answer of thy summons, is thy vassal, Helluin Maeg-mórmenel, and with her, Beinvír of the Laiquendi of Eriador." He bowed them in with a sweeping gesture so effeminate as to be comical. Helluin rolled her eyes and Beinvír stifled a giggle.
The room was not large, but 'twas richly appointed as a study, with bookcases about the walls, a finely carved desk, a meeting table, and a grouping of couches and chairs. Gil-galad was seated at his desk, whilst in chairs before him sat Galdor, Elrond, Círdan, and surprisingly, Celebrimbor. Helluin's eyes widened at the sight of him and Beinvír greeted him with a smile, for his was the only familiar face. He smiled in return, obviously happy to see them well, and rose in greeting. And then Helluin received another shock. Celebrimbor was not only slightly taller than he had been aforetime, but appeared stronger, and if possible, younger as well. Helluin compared him with her memories and confirmed her impression. He was changed; now more fair and more vigorous than she remembered.
He clasped Beinvír and Helluin in hugs of welcome, then resumed his seat, mildly embarrassed for having acted before his king had even spoken. Gil-galad seemed to understand and merely nodded to him to ease his discomfort at his display.
"Helluin, welcome again to Lindon. Beinvír, welcome at last. Please be seated," the king said informally, wasting no time. "I have summoned thee hither, for a great matter is afoot that calls for thy counsel, Helluin." Here Gil-galad looked pointedly at her and said silently, and scarce could I assure thy presence in haste without making the summons to Beinvír as well, for thou hast become inseparable, t'would seem. I apologize for thy inconvenience, yet thou hast been party to fell doings only revealed of late.
"Lord Celebrimbor shalt explain," the king said aloud, passing the topic to the craftsman and sitting back in his chair. 'Twas as if by remaining less involved in the discussion, Gil-galad sought thereby to lessen his involvement with its subject. He set an elbow on the arm of his chair and rested the side of his head in his palm.
Celebrimbor cleared his throat nervously and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked 'round at the gathering and blinked, then finally took a deep breath and began to speak his tidings.
"'Tis a chronicle of fell deeds I bear to ye; of gullibility exploited and trust betrayed, and of dreams twisted to the ruin of all. Ye all know of the revolt of the Gwaith-I-Mirdain, and of the o'erthrow in 1375 of Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel. And, my lord, thou warned me; indeed thou sent to me Helluin, who first discerned the truth, that amongst my people had come no less a foe than Sauron, the base Master of Lies. In her few hours in Ost-In-Edhil she even suffered speech with him, yet I denied her rede and presumed ignorance, and then did 'naught to ferret him out.
Indeed ne'er did he appear to me in any form suspicious to eyes that saw but with hope only that which they hoped to see. Ne'er did I discern him. Yet I am now convinced he walked long amongst us, and whilst oft acting through others, the better to disguise his course, o'er many years inspired the ambitions and elevated the craft of the Gwaith-I-Mirdain. Aid indeed he brought us, to our ruin. Temptations irresistible he presented, and all the more, for we deluded ourselves, deeming our own hands and minds the source of all we learnt. And so with subtle guile he taught us, and by our own hearts' desires and pride ensnared us; a fell Lord of Gifts indeed.
Much we learnt in the years following the rebellion, for secret built upon secret, and this was added to essays taken long aforetime." Here Celebrimbor cast his gaze for a moment upon the Sarchram, and seeing this, Helluin became suspicious, even of him. Someone had attacked her through it, and who knew better its nature save Celebrimbor who had helped to forge it? A glow of blue flame kindled in her eyes. He looked away and continued.
"In the year 1374 I finally succeeded in recreating the power of the Elessar of Gondolin, a jewel whose virtue lay in healing and holding at bay somewhat the decay of the Mortal Lands. But long years ere that, in 1123, with Helluin and Narvi of Khazad-dûm, I had a hand in forging the Sarchram, into which Helluin bequeathed a measure of the power of her fëa, thus binding it to her will. In these two triumphs were wrought the seeds of our people's downfall…the achievement of staving off the fading of the world, and the binding and empowerment of a work with personal power.
Thence to my mind came whispers, inspirations, and at last, after many years of discovery, the techniques for making Rings of Power were perfected. Not rings such as thou carry." Here, Celebrimbor looked sadly at Helluin, and his hand rose to clutch a gold chain that hung about his neck. Strung upon it were sixteen rings of gold and other precious metals, each with a colored stone. "Nothing so easily visible or restricted in form to the craft of slaying did we create. The Rings of Eregion were not made as weapons of war, but rather as aids to enrichment, or for staying the decay of time. In form, they art rings such as one might wear to adorn a finger.
Their forging began in 1500, and somewhere 'round that time I believe Sauron left us to perfect our craft, knowing his knowledge had been received and would bear fruit were he present or not, for his touch was upon us and his mission achieved. In light of later events, I believe he chose then to depart, the better to order his own realm, advance his own wiles, and construct thither his own devices."
He fell silent and regret etched his features. Finally he took a deep breath and continued his rede.
"With my guildsmen I crafted these," Celebrimbor declared, raising the chain of rings for all to see. They appeared well made, but unremarkable to the eye. "Seven did I make as gifts to raise the majesty of the lords of Durin's Folk, my friends and brothers in craft. Nine I made for Men, mighty gifts for those most prone to dying, as aids to the prowess of our allies of old, the Men of Westernesse. In the making of each I learned and refined my processes, e'er building on the techniques of empowerment. And then in 1590 did I begin the hallmarks and masterworks of my craft; Three Rings for the Lords of the Eldar, each cleaving to an esoteric element, fire, water, and air."
Here again Celebrimbor paused, and though it seemed that he felt all had come to ill, still all perceived that he felt still some measure of pride in the accomplishment. And those Rings he did not show forth to the council. But now the changes in him made sense to Helluin. Of course he had tested his creations, and he had tested their virtue on himself! Whate'er power he had expended to empower all the Rings, the later use of the three had recouped it for him and more. And if the evidence was noticeable in his hroa, what effect had it wrought upon his fëa? Helluin found herself forming many questions.
"For ten years all went well," Celebrimbor continued, "and many trials of the Rings of Power did we successfully make in those days. Yet all too soon the bright dawn of our accomplishment gave way to a dark night of horror. In 1600, at dawn on the Ré Anaro, those wearing the Three Rings were assailed in spirit."
At his words, Helluin sprang to her feet. Questions aside, her impression was that somehow the power that Celebrimbor had created had contrived to attack her and well 'nigh enslave her soul. Ere anyone could move, Anguirél lay unsheathed in her right hand, the Grave Wing in her left, and the blue fire flared in her eyes.
"He is not the one!" Gil-galad cried out, leaping up from his chair and leaning 'cross the desk with hands outstretched in placation. "No harm has come to thee from him!"
Helluin froze, her eyes flicking back and forth 'twixt Gil-galad and Celebrimbor, and for many heartbeats none moved. In her eyes they saw their deaths but a moment away, and in that moment they felt the terror of her enemies of old. But slowly the king's words penetrated her blood rage; vengeance, she saw, had escaped her, for she would not exact it upon the undeserving. The fire dimmed and she relaxed, and at last replaced her weapons. All breathed more freely as she resumed her seat.
"My apologies, Celebrimbor," she said, feeling shame as she watched him unclench the whitened knuckles griping the arms of his chair. "Upon the Ré Anaro in 1600, I too was assailed, and fought then a grim internal struggle, for I perceived one would enslave my spirit, and that enemy used as a gateway to my fëa, the Sarchram, empowered as 'tis and bound to my will. Long and bitter was that fight, and at the last did I seize back the sovereignty of it and sever the connection. Yet I felt for long some malevolent eye upon me, and I was forced to barricade my spirit with Light and fire."
"And thou prevailed?" Celebrimbor asked. "Thou wrenched free thy weapon and expelled thy enemy?"
"Indeed so, and barely," she answered, casting her eyes to Beinvír seated beside her, who alone of all of them had not feared her wrath, for she had seen much of it in the last year.
"Then thou should know that thou hast, alone of all the Noldor, defeated Sauron Gorthaur in a contest of wills," the jewel-smith said, "and thence contrived to fence him out. The like has not come to pass since Lúthien wrested from him the mastery of Minas Tirith."
And Helluin, hearing his words, felt her teeth commence to chattering and a blackness rising up in her vision that for a moment took her in a swoon. 'Twas for a moment only, but Beinvír saw and grabbed her hand. Any validation the Green Elf felt at the confirmation of her suspicions was lost in her fear for her friend, and her pride in her as well. The internal battle had been harrowing to watch, for no aid could she give save her presence, and the aftermath had continued for a year and a season. The identity of the enemy had been unproven. The Werelord of Iarwain's song! 'Twas Sauron…of course! Now the mystery had been solved, and terrifying as 'twas, still it seemed better to know the enemy than to be fore'er wondering. Helluin mastered herself, took a deep breath, and tried to relax.
"Sauron, huh?" She muttered, "go thou figure."
"Celebrimbor, what became of the Ringwearers?" Beinvír nervously asked.
The guildmaster gulped and looked down, his face fraught with sorrow by the memories. It had been horrible and chilled him still, seeing his fellow jewel-smiths, his friends, fading before his eyes, the control of their own fëar¹ snatched from them as they were reduced to wraiths. They would surely have become undead servants to Sauron with no wills of their own, bound in his service 'til world's ending. Only with his own rejuvenated power had he been able to tear Narya from his own finger and wrest from the others the Rings of water and air, but to do it, he had been forced to slay them both. ¹(fëar, "spirits" = fëa(spirit, spark) + -r(pl.) Quenya)
"They waned and became as ghosts, wraiths I deemed them, no doubt 'neath the dominion of the Enemy. They began to vanish before my eyes, crying out in fear and anguish," he said, his voice raw with sorrow. "I had no time and knew no other course. I was forced to take steel to them."
And I escaped a like fate by 'naught but the skin of my teeth, Helluin thought. Had she known her enemy, the horror would have well 'nigh paralyzed her. And what she heard next left her in horrified amazement.
"During the attack I perceived the Enemy," Celebrimbor said when he resumed his tale with a shaking voice, "for I myself wore the Red Ring. I saw his mind and 'twas terrible; the endless depth of cruelty, the unquenchable lust for power, and the fulminating hatred he bears us well 'nigh o'erthrew me. Ere I tore the Ring from my hand, these staves I heard in my mind. One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
He hath made a Master Ring, empowered by, and bound to him, and it shalt seek out all others, and he shalt make them subject to his will. This he did in hopes of enslaving the greatest amongst us, but perceiving him, we have removed the Three and hidden them, and ne'er shalt we use them so long as he holds the One."
After that, the group fell for some time into silence, each alone with their thoughts. In hearing the tale for the first time, Helluin and Beinvír were astonished and horrified. The effect was little less on those who had heard it told aforetime. All felt thankful for the courage and decisiveness of Celebrimbor, for alone of them all, he had come face to face with the Lord of Treachery and known him. The smith had retained the presence of mind to thwart the Enemy's plan, despite the terror that had assailed him.
But the words of the Enemy's incantation were all too familiar as well. One Ring to rule them all. One Ring to find them. One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. Sauron's staves mirrored closely those upon the Sarchram. One Ring that flies to find them. One Ring to send them all unto the Void and in its darkness bind them. In intent they were close cousins in their darkness. Helluin knew 'twas her own darkness that had inspired that of the Great Enemy, for he had read the cirth in the tavern of Ost-In-Edhil and he had certainly not forgotten. To her shame, the hatred inside herself had shown Sauron a way to advance his dominion; a weapon empowered by his own fell spirit, dedicated to bringing all others 'neath his will by binding their spirits as wraiths. He had but followed her example, differing only by retaining mastery of his vanquished. He had tried to enthrall the three, and herself as well, for though it adorned her belt rather than her hand, she too wore a Ring of Power.
Surely the others must hold me responsible at least in some degree, she thought, and they have e'er feared my darkness. Now they have good reason to fear it yet the more.
"I pity most the two who fell to such an undeserved fate," Beinvír said softly, "and to be remembered thus for all time amongst the Wise. History shalt name them as yet another pair of Sauron's victims, and then blame them for their ambition. How very sad."
"History shalt not remember them thus, for these doings art to remain secret," Gil-galad said sternly. "Our fate rests upon keeping hidden the Three, holding them beyond Sauron's grasp and hoping that someday they can be used freely after his fall. Should any know enough to ask, all three were removed when Sauron first put on the Master Ring…and they were then destroyed. Indeed, so too with the Seven and the Nine."
'Round the desk the others nodded in agreement. Helluin voiced the only dissent.
"I deem the Three should be destroyed indeed, or else sent 'cross the sea," she commented, "for they art not in accord with the Way of Arda as the Valar made it. They art made to forestall the Fading that is a part of the Will of Ilúvatar. In keeping these things, we damn ourselves with ambitions of power beyond our due. With the Seven and the Nine, we endanger too our friends."
"If they do indeed exist against the Will of Ilúvatar, then they shalt not be received in Aman," Galdor said (with certainty). "Yet from ambition have the Eldar achieved much in Arda, and all was surely foreseen in the Song.
"I believe that Sauron shalt indeed fall someday," Gil-galad said (hopefully), "and then the need of healing shalt be great. Only by the power of the Three Rings shalt we be able to undo what his malice has wrought. Surely such a desire cannot be evil."
"I should agree, my Lord, for in Sauron we see returned Morgoth's evils, yet upon a lesser scale," said Elrond (eruditely). "And did not the greater fall aforetime? Surely then, so too the lesser. I also have hope."
"And I," said Círdan (reasonably), "yet even should the Three be received in the Undying Lands, no surety of safekeeping would that confer. Were not the Silmarils taken from Formenelos? So I have heard tell. So too could the lesser act in the footsteps of his master. Sending the Rings thus to Aman would but remove them from our hands who made them, and make impossible the cure of whose ills they were made."
"And I too should not see such potential for good lost to us upon the Hither Shores," Celebrimbor said (determinedly). "Already they have been paid for in blood. I should not see the sacrifice of my friends made empty by sending them o'er the sea."
Helluin noted that the others were in unanimous agreement that the rings should be hidden, and in unanimous denial of the danger they created. And they were unanimously hopeful that someday the rings could be used. The problem she saw was that they had not been needed aforetime, but now by their very existence, they had precipitated a cause for war, being objects of lust for both the Eldar and the Enemy. All seek after treasure, yet one without treasure is seldom robbed, she thought. Just one incident of use for whate'er dire need, and Sauron would come charging down their throats, laying waste to all in search of what had escaped him. Yet in light of her part in things, she felt it not her place to offer comment, and so she held her peace.
What think thou? Helluin asked silently as she met Beinvír's eyes.
I think we should go somewhere far, far away, the Green Elf replied, but barring that, I think we should prepare for war. Their secrecy shalt not fool Sauron long.
I agree, but the only place I know that I suspect shalt be untouched by war is the house of Iarwain Ben-adar, and I should not go thither, for I deem him a threat no less than Sauron. I think we shalt be forced to war, though I know not when. I should like to know how things stand in Mordor.
And I should say that, save perhaps the house of Iarwain, no place would I ill-favor more than Mordor, Beinvír said silently, nor should thou go thither seeking he who sought thee, and made war already upon thee. Leave thou such errands to others.
I shalt do so. No desire have I to go thither, merely tidings do I crave. I suppose there is 'naught else for us hither. Art thou ready to go?
Indeed so. Save seeing Celebrimbor safe, I should have done well not to come at all.
"By thy grace, my Lord," Helluin said, rising to her feet, her feelings of guilt and shame making flight from their presence all the more desirable, "I cannot think of 'aught else to add in counsel and would take my leave."
Beinvír too was standing, preparing to offer her farewell, but ere she could say 'aught, the king roused himself from his thoughts and spoke.
"Indeed it seems our course is decided, but now we must prepare for war." Here he looked pointedly at Helluin with a glance she both recognized and had dearly hoped to avoid. "Helluin, I can think of no other so suitable as thyself to convey to Tar-Telperiën in Armenelos our suspicions that Sauron shalt soon offer battle. Therefore I appoint thee Embassy to Númenor, and direct thee thither forthwith. A ship is indeed docked at this moment in Mithlond, outbound for Rómenna on the morrow. Of course, Beinvír shalt share in thy office under auspice of the crown, if she should see fit to accompany thee."
Beinvír, being the only one there not a subject of the Noldorin King, groaned out loud. The idea of taking Beinvír to Númenor brought icy hands to close 'round Helluin's neck, but she merely sighed and nodded, feeling in her heart that she deserved no less.
"As thou command, my Lord," she said, dipping her head.
C'mon, Beinvír, let's get out of here ere he asks me to go 'check up on Mordor' as well.
They fled Lindon in irritation and made their way forthwith to Mithlond by horse.
And when they were gone, Gil-galad said, "neither shalt history remember the guilt of Helluin Maeg-mórmenel, nor the part she played by inspiring our Enemy's designs. E'er hath she been possessed by some darkness, and I fear what the coming years shalt bring."
Heads nodded in agreement with the king. None of them had known her ere the crossing of the Helcaraxë.
To Be Continued