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It was a windy morning in Armenelos. Clouds were forming at the summit of Meneltarma. It was Erukyerme, but the spring was late this year.
Tar-Meneldur stood at the top of the stairs leading to the King House. The Numenoreans had gathered on the broad road leading from the city to the King House.
Next to Meneldur stood Aldarion.
Meneldur stepped forward and raised his hands. In his hand, he held the scepter.
"People of Numenor I salute you!" Meneldur shouted.
"I present to you your new king!"
Aldarion stepped forward to his father.
"He is Tar-Aldarion!"
The people cheered and then began to repeat the name of the new king.
Meneldur turned towards his son; he handed him the scepter and looked him in the eyes.
Aldarion took the scepter. Then without speaking, he quickly went down the stairs to the people. At the bottom of the stairs his sisters were standing. Aldarion turned right and started walking up the path leading to the top of Meneltarma.
The people looked at him; then most of them started to follow their new king. Many of them started to sing as they started their journey, but it was as if the song was not as intense as when Tar-Amandil was crowned even though there were at least three times as many people now.
Meneldur stood at the top of the stairs watching his son lead the Numenoreans. Almarian approached him and took his hand. Meneldur looked at the old woman with love.
She said; "I wish the western lords will provide our son with all the fortune they can!"
Meneldur answered; "True, let us hope this follow him to the east. I can help no more."
As always, there were three eagles circling the summit, when the Numenoreans reached it. Aldarion spoke on the changing times, where the Numenoreans will help not only themselves but also others.
As the procession descended Meneltarma, Aldarion walked up to Henderch, and ask him to slow down, so the two of them could walk alone in the back of the procession. Just ahead of them his sisters and their families walked.
The new king stated; "I have an important task for my new captain! I want you to sail to Lindon and inform Gil-Galad that the Numenoreans will arrive at Tharbad next spring. However, we need more ships that can sail us there. Thus, you shall ask the Shipwright to send his ships to Romenna in return."
Henderch walked on for a while; then he asked; "How many ships do we need?"
Aldarion looked ahead and pointed to the long procession walking on the path in front of them.
"Enough to carry as many people as you see in front of you," he said.
Henderch was surprised over the vast number of people the king had plans of bringing to Middle Earth. He asked; "I will try, but please tell me if this will this task make me a member of the council, should I prevail?"
Aldarion smiled; "It is not for me to give the seats of the council to anyone; but the council should represent the finest of the Numenoreans, and I am sure, that the members will recognize such achievements!"
At the council meeting, the new king outlined his plans for the Numenorean involvement in Middle Earth.
He stated; "Your King expect that the council members and their households will support this decision, and spread the word to all capes of Numenor, that the king calls for the sons of Numenor to participate."
Aldarion stood up and took sword Aranruth in his hand. He did not pull it from the scabbard but walked pass the seats of the council and showed it to the members.
"This is Aranruth, the sword of the King. Here it is a relic. However, in Middle Earth, it will become a weapon. A weapon that will secure a victory for Numenor."
Most of the council cheered the king word, but not Valandil and Vandilme. Their hearts were filled with uncertainty about the future.
The king started felling the threes in his own garden, save for the tree he got as a present when Ancalime was born. He noticed the two birds that was Erendis gift, no longer was in the tree. The woods he send to Romenna for shipbuilding.
During the summer, Henderch arrived in Lindon on Palarran.
The elves were surprised to see that the great ship from Numenor had no people from the line of Elros on board.
Henderch address the elves very formally; "I am captain under King Aldarion of Numenor. The King have asked me to bring you the message that the Numenoreans will arrive at the place called Tharbad next spring. In return for our help, we ask of the shipwright that he send ships to Numenor, so our army can cross the ocean."
Cirdan promised to send ships, to be boarded by the Numenoreans. As Cirdan and Henderch discussed the details, Elrond talked to Gil-Galad.
"I sense, the outcome of this will benefit the people of Middle Earth, but also sense it will change the Numenoreans," he said.
In Emerie, Zamin was attending the garden outside the house of Erendis, when she saw Ulbar riding on the road that passed the house.
She shouted to him; "Why this great haste?"
Ulbar answered as he passed her, but did slow down; "we have been called to the King; to participate in his campaign against evil in Middle Earth!"
Erendis heard the shouting and came to the door.
Zamin shook her head and said to Erendis; "Imagine leaving you house and family to experience violence!"
Erendis answered; "Yes, him I once loved did that too. My father was dead and my mother dying too, but he never asked to their health."
At night, Erendis called Ancalime to her; she gave her the famous lecture:
"Thus it is, Ancalime, and we cannot alter it. For men fashioned Numenor: men, those heroes of old that they sing of; of their women we hear less, save that they wept when their men were slain. Numenor was to be a rest after war. But if they were weary of rest and the plays of peace, soon they will go back to their great play, manslaying and war. Thus it is; and we are set here among them. But we need not assent. If we love Numenor also, let us enjoy it before they ruin it. We also are daughters of the great, and we have wills and courage of our own. Therefore do not bend, Ancalime. Once bend a little, and they will bend you further until you are bowed down. Sink your roots into the rock, and face the wind, though it will blow away all your leaves."