14
Manwë Sulimo, King of the Valar
The Silmarillion: P. 14: Valaquenta: "Manwë and Varda are seldom parted, and they remain in Valinor. Their halls are above the everlasting snow, upon Oilosse, the uttermost tower of Taniquetil, tallest of all the mountains upon Earth."
When Manwë discovered that Bilbo and Frodo had arrived on Mt. Taniquetil, he asked Olórin to bring the two hobbits to meet him. Olórin prepared them for the visit, so that they would not be too nervous upon meeting the King of the Valar. As the old wizard led them to the White Hall, Frodo asked him if it would be possible for them to walk there through the gardens that were visible through the many windows in the palace.
"My friends, we are on top of a mountain," Olórin replied. "The view from this height may frighten you and I can see that you are apprehensive enough. I think we should leave a garden tour for another time. You will soon see enough that will impress you in the White Hall."
"My curiosity will have to wait for another time to be satisfied," Frodo thought with a deep sigh, as he and Bilbo followed Olórin up the steps that led into the White Hall. The hobbits paused to absorb their surroundings, which were magnificent. The White Hall was wider than the Great Hall of Minas Tirith. Down the center flowed a sapphire-blue carpet, embroidered with gold and silver stars. The floor beneath was of pure white marble, flecked with ice-blue veins. Set into the tiles of the floor, at intervals, were gemstones of a blue-green color. Frodo recognized them as aquamarines, a favorite jewel of the Elves, and he had seen many Elves wearing jewellery made with this stone in Valinor.
Along the walls were many large statues of ancient-looking people, most of whom were god-like in appearance. The walls were made of white marble also, and on them hung many tapestries and paintings. The woven tapestries depicted vivid scenes of battles, and of majestic landscape vistas. Most of the paintings were of animals; eagles and wolves seemed to be particular favorites, Frodo noticed. Between the paintings and tapestries on the walls were sconces of gold and silver, holding torches ready to be lit.
At the end of the Hall, two magnificent sapphire-blue curtains were swept aside with great ropes studded with jewels in order that the visitors could pass through into Manwë's throne room. The King sat upon a great seat made from pure gold, and inlaid with pearls. On each side of the room were huge open windows cut out of the walls, of intricate design and patterns. Through these windows, Manwë was afforded a spectacular view of the City of Tirion below.
On each side of the throne were two great lamp bowls sitting upon two monolithic blocks of white marble. These lamps were exact replicas of the original Lamps of the Valar of old. In them burned fragrant fire. On each block of marble were carved replicas of the Trees of Light, one inlaid with gold, and the other with silver. The hobbits' eyes turned to the King of the Valar sitting on the throne. His appearance was that of an ageless wise man. His head was large, his hair white and falling in waves about his shoulders. He wore no crown, but a circlet of silver set with aquamarines was worn around his brow. His stature was tall and strong, and he was larger in size than any of the Elves. He was clothed in white robes, as was Olórin. One had a sense of well-being in his presence. He exuded a sense of caring and protectiveness, and the hobbits felt immediately safe and comfortable as they gazed up at him.
Olórin made the introductions. "My Lord Manwë, may I present my friends, Masters Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, previously of the Shire. Bilbo and Frodo, this is my Lord and Master, Manwë Sulimo, King of the Valar, and ruler of Valinor."
Manwë stood and extended his hand down to the hobbits. He was taller than Aule, but not as big in girth. Even though Bilbo and Frodo had grown in size, they were still only half as tall as Manwë. Their hands were dwarfed by his, as he shook them one by one. In a deep, resonant voice, he welcomed them. "Masters Bilbo and Frodo, please come and sit beside me. I have been told everything about you and your brave adventures. I wish to hear your opinions about the Undying Lands. Have you been able to make the adjustment to living among us happily enough?" Manwë spoke kindly. Since Bilbo and Frodo were the very first hobbits to come to the Undying Lands, he was anxious to hear that the experience had been welcoming for them.
"We are most happy here, Your Majesty," replied Bilbo. "Everyone has been exceptionally kind to us, and to be honest, this is the most beautiful and comfortable country I have ever visited. I almost feel badly saying it, however, as I used to think that of the Shire, my old home, and I do not wish to be disloyal to my old country."
Frodo added, "We are most grateful to you for granting us your permission to come here, as we do realize that if you had not, then we would be - we would be - "
"Come now, Master Frodo," said Manwë in a soothing voice. "Come up and sit with me, both of you. I know what you were going to say, that you would have died, but please do try to forget all about that. You should feel free to start enjoying the new life that you find unfolding before you."
Bilbo and Frodo climbed up the steps and sat beside Manwë on soft benches covered with blue silk cushions. Olórin had left the Hall briefly, and now returned, followed by a retinue of beautiful Elves, dressed identically in blue silk robes, carrying silver trays of food and drink. They brought pipe weed as well, for the hobbits to smoke.
The hobbits saw that there was an exquisite woman following the Elves, who was like a vision of starlight entering the Hall. This was Varda, wife of Manwë, and the creator of the stars, the sun and the moon. She was tall and slender, with smooth white hair, hanging long in front of her shoulders. She also wore a circlet of aquamarines around her forehead, and a necklace of these adorned her gown. Her dress was of a silvery fabric, sheer and shimmering, and clung to her as she walked. It was held at the shoulders by two aquamarine clasps. She walked slowly, taking long steps, with a regal gait. When she reached the hobbits, she held out a long, slender arm clasped in a silver bracelet, to each one, who could not help but gape at her splendor.
"How do you do, Master Hobbits?" she asked, in a soft, sparkling voice. Her eyes shone with a silver light, and there was a silvery radiance all about her. She possessed an ageless beauty, not young, yet not old either, but wise beyond all knowledge, and the hobbits felt a magical presence about her.
Bilbo and Frodo stood up and bowed to this radiant lady. "It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty," they said. They each kissed her extended hand. "It is, indeed, an honor to be here," said Bilbo.
Varda smiled upon them. "Thank you, and please do enjoy your meal. I had it prepared especially for you with your favorite foods." She took a seat beside Olórin, who was sitting on the other side of Manwë's throne.
During the meal, which the hobbits enjoyed thoroughly, and of which Manwë, Varda and Olórin did not partake, the hobbits told the King and Queen about their journey so far.
"Our map-making is going very well," said Bilbo. "I have found it exceedingly easy to do in these lands, and everyone we have met has been very helpful. I could not have imagined having a more enjoyable occupation."
Manwë and Varda seemed very pleased at this. "That is good to hear," said Varda, and laughed enchantingly, "Although I would have been surprised if you had told us otherwise."
Frodo sat comfortably, enjoying his meal, and marveled at how approachable the King and Queen of the Valar were, despite the power and the presence that they held. He realized that what Este had told him was true, that the people of Valinor, all the way up to their leader, were every one of them possessed of the same courtesy and kindness.
After the meal was finished, Olórin took the hobbits to their bedrooms, which were spacious and luxurious. Their walls were covered in beautiful tapestries, depicting scenes of such pastoral beauty, that they could lull a person to sleep after looking at them for only a few minutes. Their beds were of the softest down mattresses, and covered with soft silk sheets. On the white marble floors were rugs woven of silk, and embroidered with intricate patterns.
The hobbits slept peacefully that night, and when they awoke the next morning they saw that their bedrooms had huge floor to ceiling windows, which opened onto wide balconies, filled with many plants and flowers. They both rushed out to enjoy the view at the same time, and ran into each other. Their rooms were adjoining, and the balconies were open all around the perimeter of the palace. Bilbo and Frodo laughed delightedly, and as they were enjoying the view, Olórin entered Frodo's room, followed by some Elves bearing trays of breakfast food.
"Good morning, my friends," the wizard called out, his voice and manner jovial. "I have brought you some breakfast! Please enjoy it, and then I will take you for a walk about the gardens, as you had wished to do yesterday, Frodo!"
The hobbits were delighted, and tucked into their meal with gusto.
"What are the gardens like here, Olórin?" asked Frodo.
"They are terraced," Olórin replied. "This palace sits on top of a mountain and many terraces have been built all the way up the side, and gardens have been planted on each one. It is rather like Minas Tirith, with its many levels, although here in Manwë's palace, the terraces go up only one side of the mountain."
"I never had the chance to see Minas Tirith," sighed Bilbo wistfully.
"I do think about Aragorn and our other friends quite a lot," said Frodo. "I often wonder how they are all doing. I do miss them, Olórin."
"Of course you do, Frodo," said Olórin sympathetically. "Fortunately, you may be able to see some of them again."
"Oh, who, Olórin? Please tell me!" Frodo pleaded.
"Well, you do know that Samwise will be coming later on. He will enjoy a good life on Middle-earth, and have a large family, and when it is time, he will sail here, just as you did. Besides him, Legolas and Gimli will also come, when the time finally arrives for Legolas to sail away from Middle-earth. Galadriel has managed to get permission for Gimli to come here also, and he will be the first and only dwarf to journey to Tol Eressëa."
"What will happen to the others?" Frodo asked.
"I am sorry, Frodo, but they will pass away, as all mortals do. They have not been granted immortality, as you, Bilbo, Sam, Legolas and Gimli have. Do not grieve for them, however. Mortality is not such a bad thing, and they know it, and they are not saddened by the thought that one day they will go to the Halls of Mandos. To live forever is much more of a challenge than it is to die. I am sure that you will eventually find this to be so."
Later, as Frodo and Bilbo were walking about the terraced gardens with Olórin, Frodo remembered to ask him about the dark cloud that they had seen.
"Ah, yes, the cloud," said Olórin, suddenly looking serious.
"Do you know what it is, Olórin?" asked Frodo.
Olórin paused, and then looked down at Frodo. "The cloud is an important matter," he said. "There has been a council called for tomorrow, in order to discuss what is to be done about it. Would you like to attend this meeting, both of you? It will take place in the White Hall."
"A meeting about a cloud?" asked Frodo, incredulously.
"You should not dismiss the matter as unimportant," said Olórin. "If you attend the meeting, you will understand better than if I were to try to explain it to you afterward. There is still much that we do not know of the cloud's significance, and once everyone has given of their information and ideas, a clearer picture may emerge of what this thing might be."
"But we are only hobbits," said Frodo. "Why would Manwë want us at this meeting? We have no information to impart."
"You are not only hobbits," replied Olórin sternly. "You are representatives of your people. All of the peoples of these lands should have a representative at this council, as it concerns them all."
"In that case, we will come," said Frodo, taken aback by Olórin's vehemence.
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