Lady Giminzil grew up in the court of Ar-Pharazon. But she finds that life at court is not all made of dreams, as she once thought.
Armenelos. Late Autumn. SA 3280.
LADY GIMINZIL of Mittalmar stepped onto the balcony overlooking the King's courtyard. The newly built temple to Lord Melkor cast a massive shadow over the King's House. Under the darkness of the temple, Nimloth the White Tree looked pale, even pitiful, far from what it once was.
There was a time when the bright morning sun made golden halos over the white branches of the tree. The sun's rays filled the hallway to the king and the queen's chambers with its warm glow tinting the white walls of the palace in golden splendor.
But that was before the construction of the massive dome of the temple. Once the dome was placed over the fifty-story construction, it surpassed even the height of the Tower of Elros, which had been the tallest structure in the entire Isle of Anadûnê.
"Mistress," Daira whispered in her accented Adunaic behind Giminzil's back. "Guards. They no like us see."
Instinctively, Giminzil stepped away from the stone balustrade and into the shadow of the many marble columns.
Below the balcony was the central courtyard where the White Tree had commanded attention for centuries, watched over by the two stone sentinels that stood guard over the chambers of the king and the queen.
The stone balcony where Giminzil stood was supported by one shoulder of the two statues while on their other shoulder a round structure stood which had been private balconies, one for the queen and the other for the king. But they were now shut and forgotten.
Daira pulled Giminzil further into the shadow as one of the four guards dressed in the red and black of Lord Zigur's colors looked up. These days, no one was allowed to go near the tree, or even glance at it. There was a rumor that the king planned to chop it down. But surely, the queen would not allow that.
"They must have been there all night." Giminzil stole a quick glance. "Probably too tired to care if we look at the tree or not."
"Guards just change, mistress. And their captain here soon to order guards. He no like anyone look. We go now. Yes?" Daira whispered as if she feared the guards would hear.
"Let us stop for just a moment, Daira. The Dollbeni's girl said the queen wouldn't be leaving until the third hour, after breaking the fast. We have time."
Beyond the central courtyard, another balcony stood, this one over a steep cliff. It looked down into the entire city of Armenelos. The city which would have glowed under the sun was now under the shadow of the temple. Had the King's Palace not stood on the top of the tallest hill, the temple would have dwarfed the palace completely.
Giminzil leaned into the stone column and gazed at the White Tree.
Although once prized and admired, the twenty-five years of neglect had the White Tree bent and broken. Weeds grew under her feet and bindweeds and vines clung to her slim branches. And each year, the tree bloomed less. This year it hardly bore any fruit.
It tore at her heart to see the tree so forsaken. Giminzil had fond memories of fragrant summer evenings spent under the tree.
On summer nights when the white flowers bloomed, their sweet lilac and rosemary scent perfumed the entire palace. One of Giminzil's dearest memory of her mother had been under the White Tree during the summer nights, laughing with her mother and the then Princess Miriel who had been the king's heir.
The princess had become a queen, but she was not what she once was. She neither had her name nor the scepter.
"Lady," Daira pulled her further into the corner and into the deeper shadow when the door to the king's chamber opened.
Giminzil turned to protest when she heard the voice of the king.
"Is that really necessary? I cannot just arrest all of them without a reason."
"Sire, if you let them oppose you openly, you risk others disrespecting your command. It only takes one rotten apple to spoil the barrel of them."
"But they have done nothing. Gathering by itself is not a crime."
"Had not your grandfather, the great Ar-Gimilzor, decreed that all the followers of Lord Amandil remove to Romenna? To make their removal easier, you have even provided housings for them. Quite generous, if I might add, Sire. Still, they remain. Then, have they not disobeyed your command simply by remaining in Andunie, never mind gather? Should they be allowed to disobey your command?"
"Absolutely not!" the king's words cut through the air like a blade.
"Then, Eldalondë shall be purged of these rebels. Your Majesty can rest assured that your commands will be obeyed. Perhaps these rebels could be used for the temple?"
"For the temple? How?"
"Remember what I told you, Sire? When the first fire is lit in offering to the Lord of Darkness, the offering must be something precious. The more precious the offering, the more precious the gift. The ultimate sacrifice."
The king let out a sigh.
"Fire and blood, you said. But are they really necessary?"
"Sire, you have the power and you have the wealth. But you want more than that, do you not? The price for the ultimate reward is high. If it is life you wish, then a life you must give."
"I had hoped the tree would be enough."
"Have you decided, then?"
"You know what my uncle foretold, that the tree's life is bound with that of the King's House." The king walked onto the balcony and Giminzil pressed herself further into the shadow of the column.
"All decisions rest with you, Sire. I am but your humble servant; here to serve you. But as one of the Maiar who could see beyond, I dare say I know more than your uncle when I say that those are the lies propagated by the Elves. The tree is a reminder to all the Edain that they are the vassals still to the Elves. Don't you think so, Lady Giminzil?"
Giminzil almost jumped when Lord Zigur, the King's chief adviser, called out to her. She hurried out from behind the shadow and stepped onto the balcony. She bowed low to the king.
The king turned to her. Giminzil could feel her face burn.
"Your Majesty. I… uh, I was just on my way to the queen's chamber."
"What do you think, lady?" Zigur's golden eyes probed.
Giminzil bent her head down, breaking the eye contact, hoping no one could hear the frantic pounding of her heart. Lord Zigur had always intimidated her, although he had been nothing but kind to her.
"Lord Zigur is wise and knows better than I," Giminzil said knowing well what was expected of her.
"How is your father?" the king asked.
Giminzil nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. He is well; thanks to Lord Zigur." Giminzil turned to the king's adviser. "Your potions have done wonders, my lord. Vigor has returned to him these days, so much so that he plans to ride to Romenna tomorrow."
Lord Zigur bent his head slightly in acknowledgment.
"Glad to hear your father is doing well," the king nodded. "So Abrazan is finally back from the ancient lands, is he? Will he come to Armenelos this time?" the King said, looking across the courtyard to the city that lay before him.
"I do not know, Your Majesty."
Giminzil knew that before he became the king, Ar-Pharazon and Abrazan fought together in the many of the campaigns at the Great Lands. But ever since Prince Pharazon wed his cousin, Princess Miriel, and took the scepter from her hands, her brother had taken commissions across the ocean. Abrazan was rarely home, and when he was, he remained in their manor house in Romenna. The last time Giminzil saw her brother was six years ago. It was also the last time Abrazan had been at the palace, just before the construction on the temple began.
"Is he still cross with me?" It was spoken so quietly, Giminzil wasn't sure she heard the king correctly.
"Your Majesty?"
But the king did not look at her. Giminzil followed the king's gaze which was fixated across the balcony over the White Tree, to the city of Armenelos, where the sun was rising above the massive dome of the temple.
The dome, overlaid with silver, caught the sunlight and it was as if the silver dome caught a fiery blaze. Giminzil stood mesmerized by the bright light. The black marbles of the massive temple stood like a torch in the center of the city. Under the blazing sunlight over the silver dome of the temple, the white buildings of Armenelos caught the blaze and glowed as if they were drenched in red.
"It is beautiful," Giminzil murmured.
"So it is," said Zigur. "Darkness makes the light shine that much brighter."
The king turned to his adviser. "Midwinter, did you say?"
"Yes, Sire. The temple should be ready by then for the first offering."
"Then we have enough time to discuss it after we return from Hyarnustar."
"As you command." Zigur lowered his chin toward the king. And with a nod to Giminzil, he left.
Just as Lord Zigur left the king, several courtiers came out of the king's chamber carrying various documents and hurried away.
The king turned to Giminzil. "I will await the queen at the courtyard."
"Now, your majesty?"
The king frowned but left without another word.
Two pages followed behind the king. Giminzil grabbed the youngest.
"Weren't the king and the queen leaving after breaking the fast?"
"No, Lady Giminzil. Both His and Her Majesties will break their fast on the road. Were you not at the meeting at Lord Batan's office before last night's dinner? Lady Dollbeni said all the attending ladies were there."
Giminzil turned away, feeling the prickle of heat. Dollbeni's servant had told her the meeting was after the dinner. But when she arrived, Lord Batan's office was closed.
With heavy steps, Giminzil entered the queen's chamber. The queen was already dressed. The other Ladies-in-waiting to the queen were all there.
"So early, Lady Giminzil," Dollbeni, the First Lady of the Bedchamber to the queen, said. "Has your slave woman forgotten to give you your messages again?" she snickered. "She should have told you 'before' the sunrise, not 'after."
Giminzil dug her hands into her skirt and schooled her features. This wasn't the first time Dollbeni, who handled the queen's schedule, gave her the wrong message. Taking a breath, she glanced at the queen whose golden hair was already braided. Dollbeni was placing a heavily bejeweled crown with many gems on the queen's head, attaching a golden silk veil over it. Dollbeni was doing Giminzil's job.
"Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Giminzil bowed to the queen. "I had been informed you were leaving after breaking the fast."
"No, Lady Giminzil. The king and the queen will be leaving within an hour," said Dollbeni.
The queen hardly glanced in her direction and Giminzil felt panic well up her throat.
"Leave us." The queen gestured the other ladies. "Lady Giminzil, a word."
The queen's attendants left the chamber, Dollbeni leading them. The young woman glanced at Giminzil as she stepped out the door. Giminzil did not miss the silent sneer on her face as Dollbeni tossed her glassy black tresses.
Giminzil faced the queen. She had practically grown up in the court as her mother had been the queen's closest friend and confidant when they were young. Giminzil always had her mother beside her. But now she was alone. And the King's Court which Giminzil had once thought was magical was far from it.
When the chamber door closed, the queen turned to her. Her silver eyes which were steely and emotionless turned into warm gray.
"Giminzil, come sit by me." The queen touched the seat next to her.
She took Giminzil's hand as the young woman sat down.
"I know it is hard for you. The loss of your mother, and the sickness of your father. I wish things were different. I wish my father was here, too. I wish…" the queen's eyes wavered. "I wish things were different, too. The way they used to be… with your mother here and Abrazan…" her voice trembled, but only a moment. The queen took in a breath, then held up her head high. She was the queen once again, her eyes calm and steely. "But it is not. And no matter what we do, that is not going to change. You must carry on, Giminzil, and you cannot let yourself slip. Do you understand?"
"But I…" Giminzil bit her lips, then nodded instead. "I am sorry, Your Majesty." Whatever she said now, it would only be an excuse.
The queen smiled warmly. "How is your father? Will he be well enough to travel with you to Romenna tomorrow?"
"Yes, Lord Zigur's potions have been doing wonders. He is feeling so much better. That is good news, except…" Giminzil sighed.
"Is he still insisting you ride in a carriage?" The queen laughed, subdued and stifled, very different from the way she used to laugh when Giminzil's mother had been at court. The queen smiled less these days and was guarded.
"I am probably the only maiden in the entire Anadûnê who is not allowed to ride."
Giminzil had not wanted to complain, but the queen's warm concern reminded her of her mother and the old times. A hot lump lodged in her throat.
"Your father is worried for you, especially with what happened at Romenna six years ago. Be glad, Giminzil. The wind is rather harsh this time of the year, and it is bad for your skin. Besides, more people ride in the carriages these days." The queen squeezed Giminzil's hand. "I just wish you were coming with us. Or that I was going with you. It has been a long time since I last have been to Romenna." The queen sighed and gazed out the window. "Although I don't know if anyone there would want to see me."
"Of course, they would want to see you, Your Majesty. You are the most beautiful woman in Anadûnê. Who would not want to see you?" Giminzil squeezed the queen's hand and smiled.
"When your mother was with me, she would make elaborate braids for me. She was so good at making anything look beautiful." The queen's silver eyes misted. "I miss her. I miss her laughter."
Giminzil's eyes stung. She dropped her face. Her mother passed away six years ago, too suddenly and too young. And her father had never been the same. After her mother's unexpected death, he had aged suddenly.
"Giminzil, I need to leave soon. The king waits for me." The queen sat up straight as if she woke from a dream. She pushed a small glass bottle speckled with gold dust. "Before I leave, I need this refilled. Tell Lord Zigur I need something stronger."
"My lady, you are beautiful and young. You do not need this." Giminzil took the bottle reluctantly.
The queen looked at her reflection in the mirror. "There are lines that weren't there before. I cannot have them, Giminzil. You are the only one I trust. Understand?" The queen folded her hand over Giminzil's hand holding the bottle. "Now, hurry. And Giminzil," the queen turned away. "Your hair is showing."
Giminzil flushed and pulled at the corner of her red headscarf made to match the red outer robe worn by the queen's attendants.
"I don't mind it, but the people…." The queen stopped and faced the mirror again. In the queen's eyes, Giminzil saw a reflection of gray clouds.
Giminzil did not need to hear. She knew well enough. She hastily adjusted her headscarf before leaving the queen's chamber.
Armenelos—Capital city of Numenor (Numenor is 'Anadûnê' in Adunaic, Numenorean tongue. As Elvish was forbidden at this time period, to be spoken or taught, people in this story will refer to Numenor as Anadûnê except for Sauron).
Ar-Pharazon—25th and the last king of Numenor. He was the first cousin to Princess Miriel, daughter and heir to Tar-Palantir, the 24th king. Although Numenoreans did not marry close kin like the Elves, he wed Miriel and took the scepter from her, changing her name to Ar-Zimraphel
Zigur—is the name Sauron was known in Numenor. It means 'Wizard' in Adunaic.
Nimloth the White Tree—gift of the Elves. The white tree in the courtyard of Minas Tirith in LOTR is a seedling of Nimloth from Numenor.
Romenna- One of two largest havens in Numenor. It is the eastern haven and the ships that traveled to Middle Earth left Numenor from here. The other was Eldalondë, the western haven, where Elves of Eressea used to visit when they were allowed to come.
A/N: Middle-earth is referred to as the Great Lands or the Dark Lands by the Numenoreans.