2035
The guards at Oromet were the first to notice.
They usually spend the entire day relaxing or maybe catching birds with nets or finding berries, so their meals would be enhanced. Since the death of Tar-Minastir, the tower was hardly ever visited by his son Ciryatan. It was only the local who brought food to the guards, who would come on a regular basis.
There were at the most three guards, sometime only one. They were unarmed as it was custom in Numenor.
The western sea seemed empty, a few fisher boats would sail here, but less at this time during the starting winter, and none of the great ships from Romenna would ever come here.
"Ships!" one of the guards shouted and pointed to the sea.*
It took only a short while then the other guard confirmed; "three white ships sailing fast against the wind."
The two guards forgot their assignment and gathered their belongings and travelled to Eldalonde.- and they were right; it was in fact the blessed people from Valinor that had returned after so many years.
The blessed people landed at Eldalonde and wasted no time; the ones embarking started to walk towards Armenelos.
Several Numenoreans rode ahead. The first to reach Armenelos left the horses below the King House and ran up the stair. They entered the courtyard and shouted for the King.
Ciryatan was sitting beside Nimloth. He asked what the commotion was about.
"The blessed people has returned!" One of the men said. Ciryatan stood up immediately.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yes!" said one of the men. They have embarked in Eldalonde and are walking towards Armenelos.
The rest of the royal family came into the courtyard; they were all exited about the news. The last to come to the courtyard was the King.
"Could you all be quiet!" He commanded; apparently less excited.
When the King was sure that he had everyone's attention, he continued.
"Remember you are all Numenoreans! Be proud and stand tall;" he said.
Atanamir looked around; he noticed his father, who seemed to be very nervous.
Atanamir walked to him and said; "You of all should not be nervous. After all, you have met the Eldar in Lindon. You know who they are."
Ciryatan said; "The elves from the west are without names for us, so I do not know who they are except that they are elves. However, this is not my concern son. I speculate in why they are here."
Atanamir said; "Well we will find out soon."
The elves from Tol Eressea arrived Armenelos. There were twenty of them. The inhabitants threw flowers at their feet as they walked through the city.
The King and his family received the elves at the top of the stairs.
The King welcomed the travelers as they walked up the stairs.
In the courtyard one of the Eldar spoke.
"We have come to remind you that the ban of the Valar is still valid. It cannot be changed. It will not change your fate, should you attempt to sail to Aman. Because it is not Manwe or Varda who have created this, it is only the one that created Arda that can change this."
The many people in the courtyard listen to the words, but did not speak. Finally the King said; "But does my forefather Earendil not live there? –or maybe he is not in the land of Aman?"
The elf from Tol Eressea spoke again. He voice was now less soft; "you already know his destiny is different from yours and that he belongs to the firstborn, who does not die. However, he is bound to Aman and cannot return to the mortal lands. However, Elros and his children count among mortal men, and bound to whatever fate Iluvatar intended. It seems like you now want the best of both fates. To have the immortal life of the Eldar, yet to live in the mortal world, where everything eventually dies. This cannot be done. It is also beyond the powers of the Valar to take away the gift of Iluvatar from you."
"You say, The Eldar are unpunished, and even those who rebelled do not die. Yet that is to them neither reward nor punishment, but the fulfilment of their being. They cannot escape, and are bound to this world, never to leave it so long as it lasts, for its life is theirs. And you say, that you are punished for the rebellion of Men. in which you had small part, and so it is that you die. But it was mintended as a punishment. Thus you escape, and leave the world, and are not bound to it, in hope or in weariness. Which of us therefore should envy the others?""
Again the courtyard was silence for a while.
One of the Numenoreans finally said; "Why should we not envy the Valar, or even the least of the Deathless? For of us is required a blind trust, and a hope without assurance, knowing not what lies before us in a little while. And yet we also love the Earth and would not lose it."
Atanamir looked back; it was the words of Murazor.
The Elf became angry; "The intension of Iluvatar concerning you is not known to the Valar. However we know this: your home is not here, neither in Aman nor anywhere within the Circles of the World. And the Doom of Men, that they should depart, was at first a gift of Iluvatar. It became a grief to them only because the humans came under the shadow of Morgoth, it seemed to them that they were surrounded by darkness, of which they were afraid; and some grew wilful and proud and would not yield, until life was reft from them."
"We do not clearly understand this; but if that grief has returned to trouble you we fear that the Shadow arises once more and grows in your hearts. Therefore, though you are the Numenoreans, who escaped from the Shadow and fought valiantly against it, we say to you: Beware! The will of Eru may not be questioned; and the Valar ask you not to withhold the trust they have in you, The love of Arda was set in your hearts by Iluvatar, and he would not do that without a purpose."
The elves returned immediately to Eldalonde. They said not more, gave no advices and offered no help for the Numenoreans.
Atanamir gathered his family in the Kings Room.
The children of Ciryatan eagerly discussed the words of the elves.
Ancalimon said; "The elves of Tol Eressea seems to know the mind of Iluvatar. However, this must be through the Valar. I wonder if the words could be mingled with words from their own mind."
Anaire the youngest child of Atanamir said; "Do not say that brother, the Eldar do not lie."
Tar-Atanamir said; "Nor do they know the entire truth!"
The family started a heated discussion. Ciryatan walked to the open vault and looked down at Nimloth. It had lost all its flowers now.
"I wonder what is ahead for Numenor;" he said with a low voice, that no one heard.
The family continued the discussion until Anaire suddenly screamed, and then everybody was silence. She ran to Ciryatan who had fallen where he stood. She took his hand and cried. The rest of the family came.
Ciryatan died while Anaire held his hand. His family stood around him and they all started to cry.
No one notice Murazor standing in the doorway leading to the room. He showed no reaction, but slowly turned around and left the Kings House.