In An Age Before – Part 57
The two ellith turned to watch as the elder son of Elendil drew from his travel bag a compact, shrouded object that he handled with great care despite its considerable weight. Anárion stood beside him as he drew off the cloth covering and revealed a sphere of black crystal striated with gold. Helluin sucked in her breath sharply and Beinvír caught her glance with an eyebrow raised in question.
'Tis a Palantír of Enerdhil, yet none were brought to the Hither Shores in the Exile of the Noldor, she answered. At Beinvír's questioning look she added, 'tis a seeing stone which has the virtue of gazing far and may cleave in its vision to a stone akin to itself. Yet they art to be mastered only by those with a will strong enough to direct the stone's sight with their thoughts.
To Beinvír 'twas yet another object of wonder and a reinforcement of her knowledge that in Aman the Eldar had ascended in knowledge and craft far beyond what had been achieved in Middle Earth. In particular the Noldor, Helluin's people, had created works undreamed of in the Hither Lands.
Now the brothers had bent their thought to the palantír and were staring deeply into it, and the Elves came to stand behind them to view this wonder. Within the depths of the dark glass there grew a light, and quickly that radiance filled the sphere. Then in the midst of the light there came a clearing, and a vision of someplace far off soon filled the palantír, leaving but a corona to illuminate the faces of Isildur and Anárion. The face of an older Man appeared.
'Tis the likeness of Tuor come again, Helluin silently said to Beinvír in surprise, yet I recognize behind him the furnishings of Ereinion's study.
The two brothers had bowed their heads in respect and received a nod of acknowledgement in return, coupled with a look of love and relief. Then Isildur held the sphere aloft and the Man seen in the palantír turned in a slow circle as he walked 'round the matching palantír he no doubt held. He was viewing the panorama the two ellith and the two Men saw. When Isildur lowered the sphere the older Man was smiling, seemingly well pleased with what he had seen, and he nodded in approval to the question in his elder son's eyes. After a few more moments the brothers again bowed their heads and then the palantír abruptly went dark. Isildur covered it with the cloth and returned it to his bag. He then turned to the two Elves who stood close by watching him.
"We rejoice," Isildur reported, "for Elendil, our father, is safe in Lindon with thy king. He hath seen this land and approves it, and he bids us settle hither whilst he remains in the north. It seems we art to establish ourselves in Lebennin." He shrugged.
"Thou seem quite accustomed to receiving communications thus," Helluin said, "and I am surprised to see hither such a work of craft. Whence came thy palantír, Isildur?"
"'Tis one of seven gifted to my grandfather Amandil in the days of Ar-Pharazôn, after the Eldar were banned from sailing to Númenor. The Eldar of Tol Eressëa brought them for to maintain our ties as the days darkened and we could no longer meet in person. They have been a great source of comfort to us. When we made ready for our flight, two each did my brother and I take aboard our ships, and our father three."
Helluin nodded. The other five no doubt still resided in the Blessed Realm, for originally they had numbered twelve. She had to wonder what other treasures lay in the holds of their ships. She spoke then of things to come ere they made their way again down from Mindolluin.
"My Lords, unto this land have the Valar delivered ye from the sea, and hither now art ye resolved to raise your kingdom. For 'nigh on 1,200 years did we ourselves administer this realm of Lebennin, guarding its safety and insuring within it the peace. Ye art the right lords of those Faithful to whom we long ago granted charter to settle at Pelargir, yet to rule this realm ye must appeal to all the Men of this realm, not just those of Númenórean descent. Long have they governed their own affairs and sought happiness and prosperity, and ye shalt usurp neither in your rule, for your sovereignty is a sacred trust, sanctified by your fair justice and their fealty.
More than this, it hath been from of old the special charge of those who rule this realm to keep and defend it against Sauron and the enemies yonder in Mordor. The realm ye raise shalt be the bulwark of the west. 'Tis a heavy burden, though ye have for a time a respite in which to build. Therefore make strong your realm whilst ye can, for I feel in my heart that our Enemy shalt come again, and with him, war.
Last I shalt counsel ye; this place in which we stand I deem a Hallow unto Eru like unto that which was upon the summit of the Meneltarma, for in spirit it faces Taniquétal upon which the throne of Manwë is set. Keep it sacred. Build nothing here, not even an altar. Yet come ye hither, and in their days your descendants, at proper times and with proper reverence, to give thanks and offer prayers. As we have seen, our world stands at the whim of the One, and 'neath the Blessing of the Valar shalt a people prosper or come to ruin."
When she was done Isildur and Anárion stood for a time silent with bowed heads, and then they looked about them, taking in the Hallow, ere they cast again their gazes out o'er the lands beyond. They had been given a blessing and a just charge, and as they looked out to Anduin and beyond, the love of that land grew in their hearts.
"We shalt not fail," Anárion said softly as he gazed into Helluin's eyes. "We shalt not fall."
"We accept this responsibility," Isildur added, "though for long we expected to rule 'naught save our own house, and that only upon the passing of our father."
"There shalt be many to aid ye in bearing the burden of rule," Beinvír told them, "and at need we shalt answer your call."
"Indeed we shalt," Helluin added, "for league of kinship from afar binds us in blood."
Now that which Helluin had hoped for upon that day came swiftly to pass. Isildur and Anárion named their joint realm Gondor¹, and not one city did they build there, but three. 'Neath the Hallow upon the slopes of Mindolluin rose Minas Anor, Tower of the Sun. Astride Anduin was built their capitol, Osgiliath, Citadel of the Stars, whilst upon the feet of the Ephel Dúath in a sheltered vale stood Minas Ithil, Tower of the Moon. ¹(Gondor, "Land of Stone" Sindarin)
In truth Helluin thought the placement of Minas Ithil ill advised, favoring herself the uplands of Emyn Arnen, but the brothers felt a threat upon the shoulders of the Black Land to be a gesture of faith and strength. With Mordor deserted, its peril was only a potential. In any case, their intention was good and Helluin kept her peace.
Now Minas Ithil was in the beginning the city of King Isildur, and there in the courtyard before his citadel he planted the White Tree, scion of Nimloth of Númenor that he had rescued from Armenelos. There it throve and flowered. There too was set a palantír.
Minas Anor was the city of Anárion, and with the walls of Mordor always in view, he built there the strongest fortification e'er seen in those lands. Indeed the walls were thicker and taller than those of Umbar, aforetime the primary stronghold of the Númenóreans in Middle Earth. Hither too was a palantír set.
At Osgiliath, the city of many bridges, there was concentrated the greatest population of Gondor. Thither in the Court of the Kings 'neath the Dome of Stars were their thrones set side by side. This marvel of engineering, depicting the night sky of Númenor, was inspired by the tales Beinvír and Helluin told of the Hall of Lenwë that had stood in Edhellond ere the flood. In a chamber behind the throne room was kept the third and largest palantír of the southern realm, and there most frequently did the kings hold converse with their father in the north.
T'would be some years ere the fourth palantír of the south realm was housed, but when the Men of Gondor raised the Tower of Angrenost¹, called also Orthanc², at the feet of the Hithaeglir, they created a fastness to withstand the ages. ¹(Angrenost, Iron Fortress, Sindarin Called later by the Rohirrim in their own tongue, Isengard) ²(Orthanc, Forked Height, referring to the four curved pillars that supported the tower. Sindarin)
In the early years of Gondor, Helluin and Beinvír visited oft, and they rejoiced to see the prosperity the two brothers brought to the people. Much trade came up and down the river, and Osgiliath united those folk to the north with those in the south. Likewise many benefits did the Númenóreans in exile gift to their people; improvements in tools, in planting, in fishing, and in the making of ships and buildings. Much lore did they teach to those whom they called the Men of Twilight, those not of the Houses of the Edain who were also not under the Shadow of Sauron and worshipped not Morgoth and the Darkness. Arts and crafts of many kinds flourished 'neath their tutelage and patronage, letters and music as well. But perhaps more than anything else, the factor that endeared those from 'cross the sea to the Men of Lebennin was the knowledge of healing brought out of Númenor. Great lore of herbs and surgery they had, and they valued the health of their people. Many lives were saved, whether in childbirth or from accidents, and even the ravages of disease they assuaged, for the virtue of healing lay in the hands of the kings. Old age they eased too, and for the short-lived upon the Hither Shores, 'twas a blessing dear to many families whose elders could now better enjoy their failing years. So the Men of Lebennin, in their own time and of their own free will, clove to the rule of the Kings, and indeed they swore thus their fealty to the two brothers in S.A. 3370, the 50th year of their reign.
Upon the morn of 31 Narbeleth (October 31st), in that year, when the harvest was gathered in with plenty, Helluin and Beinvír awaited the kings in the darkness of the Hallow. Ere dawn two came in silence up the path from Minas Anor, and each carried produce in token of thanksgiving for the bounty of their people. Isildur stopped when he marked the presence of others where no Man was wont to come. Anárion too looked closely at them. Helluin was surprised they had been marked at all, wrapped as they were in their Elven cloaks. She let flare a soft glow of sapphire from her eyes and the two Men relaxed.
Together the four stood in silence facing the east as Anor rose upon the morn of the Eruhantalë. The kings made their offerings of thanksgiving for the harvest and spoke their prayers in Quenya, for of old had that tongue been esteemed for ceremonial and formal uses, and though long banned in Númenor, both Men spoke and read it fluently. Soon Anor lit the landscape with brilliant light; the river a snake of living silver whose flickering scales glittered amidst the white city of Osgiliath, the fallow fields stretching wide in earth tones comforting to the spirit, whilst orchards blazed orange, yellow, and red with their autumn foliage at its peak. Helluin sighed. 'Cross all those miles, o'er the land of Mordor she sensed a Shadow returned.
Use well the days and value your peace, she thought, for I feel that soon shalt come again a trial.
By the tightening of her beloved's hand in her own she knew that Beinvír saw it too ere her eyes were drawn south to the sea. In the high airs above the undulating curves that led down to Pelargir a dark speck was approaching. At first foreboding seized them, but soon the sharp eyes of the two ellith discerned that 'twas a bird, but one of great size.
Then as they watched, up from the sea came a great Eagle flying, and the span of his wings was 'nigh a dozen fathoms, for he was of the kindred of Thorondor of old. Swiftly he flew inland from Belegaer, for he had tarried not upon the coast, but came directly to where they stood. Thither he alighted facing them and gravely did he gaze upon the four as they bowed before him.
"Áye¹, O Aireráma²," Helluin said to the once familiar Eagle ere she raised her head. E'er had he been one of Manwë's messengers in the Blessed Realm. ¹(Áye, Hail! Quenya) ²(Aireráma, Holy Wing = aire(holy) + ráma(wing) Quenya)
"Áye, O Heldalúne Maica i móremenel. Long hath it been since we spoke together upon the Pelori 'neath the Light of the Trees. I bring thee words of doom from He who is most exalted upon Arda, and though perhaps difficult to bear, still 'tis for a purpose high and was declared in the Song. Think it not a punishment, for 'twas not intended thus by the One, but fulfills a purpose in the unfolding of Eä that shalt bear fruit ere the ending of days."
Then the great Eagle preened his feathers and settled as to roost, and when he spoke again, his eyes glowed with a ril of sapphire and the great voice that came forth from his beak was not his own. Isildur and Anárion flung themselves down upon their faces in reverence for this manifestation of the Elder King. Helluin and Beinvír knelt upon both knees with their heads bowed.
"Long shalt be thy abiding upon these Hither Shores, for thy doom was wrought 'neath the undying stars ere the sun and moon. Yet one day Men shalt see those holy vessels halt their paths 'cross the heavens. When that time draws 'nigh, then shalt thou find thy blood reborn, and thy beloved's as well. In that time, when those of the Younger Children shalt first see the stars in their glory undimmed, as did thy kindred aforetime in Cuiviénen, then only shalt thou find thy way to thy people's long home beyond the Curved World, and thence upon the Straight Road, come thither unto the Ancient West at last."
At the declaration of her fate, a numbness spread like the frost of Morgoth's breath within Helluin's heart. All whom she knew, all her kin and friends would have long ago taken ship into the West. All the Noldor, all the Sindar, and all the Nandor would be gone from Middle Earth. The words held no hope that she could discern. Ne'er would a Man see the stars as they had been, bright and unblinking, for already they were faded. And when Tilion and Arien ceased their journeys 'cross the heavens, then the end of the world would be 'nigh.
"Then indeed I am forsaken upon these Hither Shores," Helluin replied, "for ne'er shalt the Fading be set aside, nor the stars again shine undimmed. Ere a thousand years of the Second Age had passed did I mark their diminished fires, and since then it hath but proceeded apace."
"Ne'ertheless, despair not, Heldalúne Maica i móremenel, keep thy hope."
If thou say so, she thought, though the conditions were all but impossible. With 'naught else to do she bowed again to the Eagle in acknowledgement that she had indeed received his errand. Beside her Beinvír was just progressing from shock to heartbreak.
Aireráma blinked and his eyes lost their unnatural glow. He ruffled his feathers.
"Namárie¹," Aireráma said ere he flapped and launched himself from the Hallow. Helluin noted that for the first hundred feet he fell like a stone. ¹(Namárie, Farewell Quenya)
"Namárie," Helluin whispered to his disappearing form, wondering for a moment if this apparition had not been Sauron come in yet another fantastical guise. She shrugged. Either 'twas or 'twasn't and either way there was 'naught that she could do about it. She resolved to put it from her mind. For the present she would concentrate on comforting Beinvír, who was now sobbing uncontrollably. She wrapped her arms 'round the Green Elf and held her tight.
Later, when she thought positively about the words of Aireráma/Manwë, she took it as a promise that if 'naught else, she would ne'er die in battle. That thought led briefly to a brooding mood. Finally though, Helluin decided on a course of action, and as she traveled thereafter she would at times work to craft a set of fine arrows for her bow. These she shafted of white birch, light and straight, and fletched with white feathers from the wings of snow geese. And upon their fore-ends she mounted the nine mithril arrowheads gifted to her aforetime by Gotli of Khazad-dûm. 'T'would be many a year ere they would fly.
To Be Continued