THE ARGONATH

Deep are the waters of the Great River Anduin. Slow and majestic is their flow through the lands of Middle-earth, and many tributaries fill it, while it reaches the Sea at the Bay of Belfalas.

Near the ancient Northern borders of Gondor, there lies the large “Mist-cool Water” – the great lake of Nen Hithoel , surrounded on all sides by the grey rocky hills of the Emyn Muil. It is in its calm bed, where Anduin comes to rest, before its waters continue their run towards the Sea, through the roaring falls of Rauros to the south.

There, to the North, at the entrance to Nen Hithoel, rise two mighty pillars, carved into the steep high rocks of Emyn Muil, in the shape of two statutes - those of the two Great Kings from the glorious past of Gondor - Isildur and Anárion..

These are the Argonath – the Northern Gates of ancient Gondor !

They had not been always there. Long had King Anárion ruled his Southern Kingdom in peace and prosperity.
But around the year 1248 of the Third Age, Minalcar – the Regent of Gondor then, fought a great battle against the men from the East, who had turned into a great menace to Gondor, with their fierce assaults and raids, and he defeated them, and after his ancestor, he took the name of Rómendacil II – “the East-victor”.

And it was then, the sages teach, when Rómendacil II decided to fortify the west shore of Anduin. And he it was that built the pillars of the Argonath at the entrance to Nen Hithoel, and forbade any stranger to pass down the Great River beyond the EmynMuil heights.

Yet, tales are sung of how the Númenoreans, who first came to settle in these lands, in the time of Elendil and his sons, built works marvellous and strong in the days of their power. It may be that the two pillars of the Argonath are their art, too, just like the tower of Orthanc.
But it may be also that the tall men from Westernesse did not need these giant guardians in their time!
While the Númenorean blood was still strong in the veins of the men of Gondor, they had not forgotten the lore and art of their ancestors. The same blood ran in the veins of Rómendacil II - he was a direct descendant of Anárion, and in war and peace, great were the achievements of the Gondorians of those remote years under his reign – in memory of their forefathers and for the glory of their Kingdom!

Yea! It must be so! The sages must know it best! It must be that the Men of Gondor were, who hewed the two mighty statutes in the rocks of EmynMuil , to honour their great kings of old.

And it was in the old tradition of keeping the lore in languages of their ancestors – of those who could speak to the immortal Elves - that the Men of Rómendacil II named their magnificent work.
The Argonath they named them , to mean, in the tongue of the Sindar Elves “(two) noble stones”.

And noble the great pillars rise, like towers above the Great Anduin - two mighty grey figures silent but threatening, yet still they preserve through the suns and rains of forgotten years the mighty likenesses in which they had been hewn. Upon great pedestals founded in the deep waters, stand two great kings of stone, still with blurred eyes and crannied brows they frown upon the North. The left hand of each is raised palm outwards in gesture of warning, in each right hand there is an axe, upon each head there is a crumbling helm and crown. Great power and majesty they still wear, the silent wardens of a long-vanished ancient kingdom. For powerful, vast and glorious has Gondor become now, and those dark years of fear, wars and sorrow are long gone!

But the stone kings are still at guard! Awe and fear fall upon every one, who passes by their mighty feet - under the enduring shadow of the sentinels of Númenor.

Sage
17th June 2005

 

OF THE WHITE TREE OF GONDOR

 

 

Lo!
For this is how it is told among the wise.

Far to the West, by the borders of the world, beyond Belegaer - the Great Sea, where the waves whisper of the Magic Isles, and even further on, where no mortal man’s ship would dare – in the Shadowy Seas, whereon float the Twilit Isles, and yet beyond these – on the eastern shores of Aman – the Blessed Realm, stand the mighty Pelóri – the Mountains of Defence, ranging in a crescent from north to south, and raised were they to guard from evil the land where the Powers of the world, they say, still abide – the divine Valar, those who created our Earth through great magic of music and light .

It is sung that no night or cold, or misery or sickness ever fell upon that enchanted land in the beginning of days, when the world was still young, for there used to grow two magical trees – Telperion the silvery, and Laurelin the golden.

They were children of Yavanna Kementári – the Goddess Giver of Fruits, second among the Valar Queens.
She is the mother of all things that grow and live on earth. Some there were who had seen her standing like a tree under heaven, crowned with the Sun; and from all its branches there spilled a golden dew upon the barren earth, and it grew green with corn. But from the time she came into the sung world, she had chosen to be in the shape of a woman. For long before that, in the Timeless Halls, had she seen this shape, which Eru Ilúvatar had envisioned for his Children, and deeply by its beauty she was moved then.

The The Two Trees of Valinorgrew at the western gates of Valmar of many bells – the holly city of the Gods, on the green mound of Ezellohar.

The one had leaves of dark green that beneath were as shining silver, and from each of his countless flowers a dew of silver light was ever falling, and the earth beneath was dappled with the shadow of his fluttering leaves. The other bore leaves of a young green like the new-opened beech; their edges were of glittering gold. Flowers swung upon her branches in clusters of yellow flame, formed each to a glowing horn that spilled a golden rain upon the ground; and from the blossom of that tree there came forth warmth and a great light. And great mirth and blessedness those two brought to the domain of the Gods, who from the bliss of Valinor came seldom to Middle-earth, but gave to the land beyond the Pelóri their care and love, for as the ages passed, the hour came when the Children of Ilúvatar were born.

Ages drew on and the world changed. And many things – good and evil, came to pass. The Valar lived no more alone in the Blessed Realm, but had taken there the Firstborn, who had woken by the lake of Cuiviénen – far in the east of Middle-earth, though not all of the Eldalië had followed the summons and many stayed still in the land of their birth.

Some who came to live in Aman, built the wonderful city of Tirion, on the green hill of Túna , and lived in the bliss of the light and warmth of the Two Trees, and others, remained in the Bay of Elvenhome on Tol-Eressëa - the Lonely Isle.

It was in the white city of Tirion, that a tall tower the Eldar built – the highest and the most beautiful of all the towers, the Tower of Ingwë, Mindon Eldaliéva, whose silver lamp shone far out into the mists of the sea. In the courts beneath this tower a tree was planted – a gift from Yavanna, a lesser image of Telperion, and its seedlings were many in Eldamar. Of these one was afterwards planted in Tol Eressëa, and it prospered there, and was named Celeborn.

The world changed on.
In dismay and grief the Valar and the Eldar saw how the monster of Ungoliant, aided by the Dark lord Melkor destroyed the Two Trees.

Then the Sun and the Moon were wrought to save what divine light was left in Arda, and with the first rays of the Sun, Men - the Secondborn Children came to the world.
Wars were fought, lands were broken and engulfed by the Great Seas, much that once was, was lost and many lived not to remember it.

At the sight of the grief and the chaos that Melkor had brought to Middle-earth, and in fear that the Children of Eru were in danger of being entirely corrupted by his malice, the Valar then decided to save at least those, who were still faithful – the Eldar and the Edain – the Elf-friends.

And after they captured Melkor and shut him beyond the World in the Void, they built for the Edain an island not too far from Tol Eressëa.

Andor they named it – the Land of Gift, and they made it as beautiful as the Elvenhome and as Valinor of old. And they gave it as an abode to the faithful Men.
And the Edain came to live on this island, and called it in their tongue Elenna, which is Starwards, but also Anadûnë, which is Westernesse, Númenórë in the High Eldarin tongue.

This was the beginning of that people that in the Grey-elven speech were called the Dúnedain, the Númenóreans, Kings among Men.

For years long the Númenóreans lived in friendship with the Elves form Tol Eressëa and worshiped the Valar Gods. It was often in those blissful days that the Firstborn would come sailing to Númenor in oarless boats, as white birds flying from the sunset. And they brought to Númenor many gifts - birds of song, and fragrant flowers, and herbs of great virtue.

And a seedling they brought of Celeborn, the White Tree that grew in the midst of Eressëa; and that was in its turn a seedling of Galathilion the Tree of Túna, the image of Telperion that Yavanna gave to the Eldar in the Blessed Realm.

And the tree grew and blossomed in the courts of the King in Armenelos; Nimloth it was named, and flowered in the evening, and the shadows of night it filled with its fragrance.

It is thus that the White Tree first came to our people, for we are the proud descendants of the Númenóreans, in whose main city grew an offshoot of the once majestic Telperion of Valinor.

And the Kings of Númenor long believed that while the White Tree lived their line would live, too, but if it died then the line of Kings also would perish.
The memory of that age lives still strong in Gondor, and tales of many men and their deeds the ancient scrolls can reveal!

But I shall continue this one with the story of one man of all the Dúnedain – of Isildur, the elder son of Elendil and brother to Anárion.

Oh, yes!
Don’t these names kindle pride in the heart of every Gondorian!
For these were the men, who founded the great kingdoms of Arnor in the North, and Gondor in the South, our forefathers, our Kings!

But in the days, my tale is now about, they lived still in Númenor, under the reign of Ar-Pharazôn.

In those days Elendil and his sons had been banished from Armenelos and lived in Rómenna among the few remaining Elf-friends.
It was in those days that Sauron the deceiver urged the King to cut down the White Tree, Nimloth the Fair, that grew in his courts, for it was a memorial of the Eldar and of the light of Valinor. And that king had long forgotten the old traditions and loved the Elves no more, and worshiped the Valar not, but his heart and mind were enslaved by the cunning Sauron – Melkor’s most faithful follower and worse enemy to the Children of Iluvatar. Yet at first dared the King not touch the Tree, for he still remembered the prophecy of old!

But the peril was real, and when the Faithful heard of it, Isildur spoke not, but went out by night and did a deed for which he was afterwards renowned. For he passed alone in disguise to Armenelos and to the courts of the King, and he came to the place of the Tree, and the Tree was watched day and night by guards in Sauron’s service.

At that time Nimloth was dark and bore no bloom, for it was late in the autumn, and its winter was nigh; and Isildur passed through the guards and took from the Tree a fruit that hung upon it, and saved it, though he had to fight and received many wounds and his life was in danger. He delivered the fruit to the hands of Amandil, ere his strength failed him. Then the fruit was planted in secret, and it was blessed by Amandil; and a shoot arose from it and sprouted in the spring. But when its first leaf opened then Isildur, who had lain long and come near to death, arose and was troubled no more by his wounds.

Not much time had passed after that, when the King gave in his folly and let Nimloth the Fair to be cut down. On the holly ground where it once grew Sauron built a temple to the Dark Lord, and in the first fire on the altar of that temple he burnt the hewn wood of Nimloth, and it crackled and was consumed; but men marvelled at the reek that went up from it, so that the land lay under a cloud for seven days, until slowly it passed into the west.

Ah!
Who has the heart to tell the story of the downfall of mighty Númenor ?!
Maybe one day I shall find some strength to overcome the grief in my heart and shall tell you about it, but this tale has its own course and I shall now not write of how Elenna vanished from the face of the world and why. But the land of Aman and Eressëa of the Eldar were taken away and removed beyond the reach of Men for ever. And Andor, the Land of Gift, Númenor of the Kings, Elenna of the Star of Eärendil, was utterly destroyed..

* * *

end of Part I

Sage
23rd June 2005

OF THE WHITE TREE OF GONDOR

PART II

Lo!
For this is how this tale continues in the lore of the wise.

It is said that before the disastrous doom fell upon Númenor, Elendil with his sons and some others of the Faithful succeeded to escape. When the devouring waves rolled over Númenor and the island sank into the Sea, amid the havoc of the storm, and after many days, their ships were cast away upon the shores of Middle-earth.

Tall ships and tall kings, three times three
What brought they from the foundered land
over the rushing sea?
Seven stars and seven stones
and one white tree.

And so it was that Nimloth was saved and came to Middle –earth.

The proud Kings of Númenor then founded strong kingdoms in the vast lands of Middle-earth, to save what lore and glory were left from the once fair Anadûnë. And still strong with the true faith the Men of the line of Elros were, and they were well met and helped by the Elves of Elrond, their kin, and by Gil-galad, their friend of old, and of Cirdan the crafty Shipwright.
For Elf-friends the Elendili were!

To the North were the ships of Elendil cast, but he passed up the River Lhûn, and beyond Ered Luin he established his kingdom – Arnor, and his people dwelt in Eriador about the courses of the Lhûn and the Baranduin. His chief city was at Annúminas beside the water of Lake Nenuial, and his kingdom and people prospered in that fair land for years.

To the South his two sons, Isildur and Anárion, were borne by the waves of the raging seas, but they brought their ships up the Great River Anduin, and in the face of the dark Mordor, they built their kingdom – Gondor the mighty.
And peace there was for many years to come. And great wonders the Dunedain achieved that the world marveled at!
Fairest of all cities of Gondor was Osgiliath and Isildur and Anárion held it as the chief city of their kingdom.
But in defence against Mordor, they built Minas Ithil - the Tower of the Rising Moon ; and as a shield against the wild men of the dales they raised Minas Anor - the Tower of the Setting Sun. And Anárion lived in Minas Anor, while Minas Ithil was the house of Isildur.

Many treasures and great heirlooms of virtue and wonder the Exiles had brought from Númenor; and of these the most renowned were the Seven Stones and the White Tree. This was the descended from the Tree of Tirion of the Elves in Aman, which in its turn was the fair image of the Eldest of Trees, Telperion the White, a memorial it was of the light of Valinor.
And it was planted in Minas Ithil before the house of Isildur, who by his valiance had saved the tender offshoot from the vanished Numenor. And as he and all the Gondorians loved it, and held it in deep reverence, the White Tree of Gondor grew strong, and with it lived the might of the realm.

But then Sauron, The Enemy of the free peoples of Middle-earth returned!
And strong he was then, stronger than ever, for through dark magic, lies and rings of power he had deceived many, and countless were the armies of his minions. His chief power lay in the One Ruling Ring, which he had forged in secret in the fires of Mount Doom, deep in the lands of Mordor, and he wore this Ring on its hand, and he clothed himself in power, and the malice of the Eye of Sauron few even of the great among Elves and Men could endure, for terrible he was and immense his might had become.

With great force he then came against the new realm of Gondor, and he took Minas Ithil, and he destroyed the White Tree of Isildur that grew there. For Sauron knew what great power that Tree had, for ancient but still valid was the prophecy which held that until the White Tree lived, so would the might of the Dunedain.

But Isildur escaped, and before he fled, he took with him a seedling of the Tree and bore it safe to his ship.

Of those days of grief, destruction and sorrow many songs are sung. But also tales the sages tell of how Men and Elves stood together against the new Evil, and how they made the League called the Last Alliance; and with last hope left, they marched through the lands of Middle-earth and faced the Enemy. And the allied free peoples of Middle-earth defeated Sauron the Dark, and though many perished, still glorious was their victory, for Isildur cut the Ruling Ring off Sauron’s hand, and the Enemy vanquished, and he forsook his body, and his spirit fled far away.

Thus, with new hope, began the Third Age of the World !
And though much was lost, Gondor was rebuilt, and in the white citadel of Arnor Isildur then planted again the seedling of Nimloth, and the White Tree flowered in the courts of the Kings of Men once again!

And with it grew the power of the descendents of the Númenóreans, and the splendour of Gondor grew, until it recalled the wealth and majesty of Númenor ere it fell. High towers the people of Gondor built, and strong places, and havens of many ships; and the Winged Crown of the Kings of Men was held in awe by people of many lands and tongues.

On passed the swift years of Middle-earth and this great Age of the World was waning. Gondor waned, too, and the line of Anárion slowly failed. The heirs of the Númenóreans lost their power and their wisdom was diminished.

And so it came to pass that Evil returned, and the menace of a new war grew heavy over Middle-earth. The Úlairi – Sauron’s most terrible servants came back to the land of Mordor and in the days of Eärnil they attacked and took Minas Ithil for their stronghold. Minas Morgul then they named it, and never could Gondor thereafter recover the tall Tower of the Rising Moon, for tainted it was forever with evil! And evil was the moon rising above that tower! For Evil came to rule in those lands!

Alas! This is how this mortal world is – no peace lasts for too long, no bliss and prosperity is everlasting, for the seeds of evil that once the Dark Vala, Melkor the accursed, had planted in the fair world of the Children of Iluvatar, had grown deep roots!

Yet in those days, the Kings of Gondor still held Minas Anor, and as it stood in guard of what was left of the once large and powerful kingdom, they named it anew – Minas Tirith they called it - the Tower of Guard. And in the citadel a white tower was built, very tall and fair, and its eye was upon many lands. Proud still and strong was that city, and in it the White Tree still flowered.
Not for long!

The dark shadow of the coming disaster was slowly but steadily growing strong, and when ready, Sauron stroke with new force!

Of how the Great War of the Ring raged in Middle-earth, other tales count. But it was in those dark days that the Star of the West shone brightly again, and Narsil – the sword of Elendil, that once had defeated Evil, was forged again. And the last King of Gondor – Aragorn, the Heir of Isildur, took it and raised it against the forces of evil. And a new hope dawned for Men!

Before the White City of Gondor a great battle was fought, and the Lord of Morgul there passed into darkness. Then Aragorn led the host of the West to the Black Gates of Mordor. In that last battle were the lords of Gondor, and Mithrandir – the White wizard from the Blessed Realm of the Gods, and the sons of Elrond, and the King of Rohan.
There at the last they looked upon death and defeat, and all their valour was in vain; for Sauron was too strong.
Yet in that hour was put to the proof that which Mithrandir had spoken, and help came from the hands of the weak when the Wise faltered. For, as many songs have since sung, it was the Periannath, the Little People, dwellers in hillsides and meadows, that brought them deliverance. Through great peril had Frodo Baggins – the Halfling from the Shire, taken the Ring of Sauron to the fires of Orodruin, and in a doomed hour he cast it in the chasm whence once it came. And so at last it was unmade and its evil consumed. With it perished Sauron and his shadow of malice; and the towers of Barad-dûr crumbled in ruin, and at the rumour of their fall many lands trembled.

Peace was once more in Middle-earth!
Then Aragorn, the Heir of Isildur, was crowned as the new King of Gondor and Arnor, and the might of the Dúnedain and their glory was renewed.

But when all hope was lost that Nimloth had survived in the turmoil of the War, Mithrandir found a seedling of it in the snows of Mount Mindolluin, that rose tall and white above the City of Gondor. Then Aragorn took it to the courts of Minas Tirith and planted it before the tall White Tower.

And there it grows in peace, even in our blissful days – fairer than ever, and the holy light of Telperion is still alive and strong in it!

For it was said in ages forgotten that while the White Tree still grows, the Elder Days shall not be forgotten in the hearts of the Kings of Men, and the proud people of Gondor shall live and prosper in peace.

So, I am telling you, keep the White Tree alive, for its light saves us from the shadows of Evil!

And on this my tale ends.

Sage
16th July 2005

 

TAR - ALDARION

Tar-Aldarion is the sixth King of Numenor. Direct descendant of Elros hence of the legendary Earendil and his renowned family line.

Anardil (Aldarion) was born in the year 700 of the Second Age.

GENEALOGY OF ALDARION

Meneldur (Aldarion’s father) is the son of Tar-Elendil, the fourth King of Númenor.

Meneldur’s wife (Aldarion’s mother) is a woman of great beauty, and her name is Almarian. She is the daughter of Vëantur - Captain of the King’s Ships under Tar-Elendil.

Meneldur has two sisters (Aladrion’s aunts)- Silmarien and Isilmë. The elder of them is married to Elatan of Andúnië, and their son is Valandil, Lord of Andúnië, from whom comes the lines of the Kings of Gondor and Arnor in Middle-earth.

Tar-Aldarion has two sisters, younger than him - Ailinel and Almiel.

 

ALDARION – THE SEA-VOYAGER

“Aldarion ... grew swiftly to a man of great stature, strong and vigorous in mind and body, golden-haired as his mother, ready to mirth and generous, but prouder than his father and ever more bent on his own will.

From the first he loved the Sea, and his mind was turned to the craft of ship-building. He had little liking for the north country, and spent all the time that his father would grant by the shores of the sea, especially near Rómenna, where was the chief haven of Númenor, the greatest shipyards, and the most skilled shipwrights.”

Aldarion is very much loved by his grandfather - Vëantur, and he dwells often in Vëantur’s house in Rómenna, where, since very young age, he learns to row, and later to manage sail. "Soon he could captain a ship of many men, sailing from haven to haven."

Aldarion is 25 years old when he is to undertake his first voyage to the Middle-earth with Vëantur.
He seeks permission from his father, but Meneldur does not approve. However, the King eventually lets Aldarion sail off with Vëantur, and ...

“Thus it came to pass that on a morning of fair sun and white wind, in the bright spring of the seven hundred and twenty-fifth year of the Second Age, the son of the King’s Heir of Númenor sailed from the land; and ere day was over he saw it sink shimmering into the sea, and last of all the peak of the Meneltarma as a dark finger against the sunset.”

Of this first journey little is known, except that obviously it is the time when Aldarion establishes his friendship with Círdan and Gil-galad, and journeys far in Lindon and the west of Eriador, "and marvelled at all that he saw.”

Aldarion is absent from Númenor for two years. When he returns, his father understands that his son "had become enamoured of the Great Sea, and of a ship riding there alone without sight of land, borne by the winds with foam at its throat to coasts and havens unguessed; and that love and desire never left him until his life’s end.”

From that day on, Aldarion makes numerous voyages.

He begins exploring the southern coasts of Middle-earth, past the mouths of Baranduin and Gwathló and Angren, and he sails round the dark cape of Ras Morthil and finds the great Bay of Belfalas, and the mountains of the country of Amroth.

Aldarion is 40 years of age when his father, Tar-Meneldur, becomes the King of Numenor.
For some time Aldarion does not undertake any new sea-voyages.

"And in those days he put to use the knowledge he had gained of Círdan concerning the making of ships, devising much anew of his own thought, and he began also to set men to the improvement of the havens and the quays, for he was ever eager to build greater vessels.”

But this does not last long and soon the sea-longing comes upon him anew, and Aldarion sails off again.

TAR-ALDARION – THE GUILD MASTER OF THE GUILD OF VENTURERS, EXPLORER, SHIP-BUILDER, MASTER OF THE FORESTS

“…To that brotherhood [The Guild of Sea Venturers] were joined all the hardiest and most eager mariners, and young men sought admission to it even from the inland regions of Númenor, and Aldarion they called the Great Captain.”

Aldarion builds his ship, Eämbar, that serves him as his dwelling-place, but he also sails in it, undertaking a few voyages, mainly around the isle of Numenor, although “for the most part it lay at anchor off Tol Uinen ... a little isle in the bay of Rómenna that was set there by Uinen the Lady of the Seas”.

And it is that “upon Eämbar was the Guildhouse of the Venturers, and there were kept the records of their great voyages.”

As Meneldur does not share his son’s passion for the sea, they become estranged, although Aldarion’s mother Almarian the Queen supports her son in all that he does.

Over the years the Guild of Venturers grows in number, strength and importance, "and their Captain became the less easy to rebuke or restrain. The ships of the Númenóreans became ever larger and of greater draught in those days, until they could make far voyages, carrying many men and great cargoes” .

As more timber is needed for ship-building, Aldarion takes decision to sail to Middle-earth and seek there for a haven for the repair of his ships. And it is then when “at the mouth of the river that the Númenóreans called Gwathir, River of Shadow, he established Vinyalondë, the New Haven.”

Near the year 800 of the Second Age Tar-Meneldur “commanded his son to remain now in Númenor and to cease for a time his eastward voyaging; for he desired to proclaim Aldarion the King’s Heir, as had been done at that age of the Heir by the Kings before him.”

This act reconciles father and son.

Aldarion is officially proclaimed Heir of the King at the age of 100, and receivs from his father the title and power of Lord of the Ships and Havens of Númenor.

At the feast for the occasion, from the west of the isle, comes Beregar – [“of the House of Bëor by ancient descent, though not of the royal line of Elros” and with him – his daughter Erendis, who is to soon become Tar-Aldarion’s wife.
Aldarion’s mother, impressed by the beauty of Erendis, takes her to her royal court.

That day Erendis falls in love with Aldarion, “for his beauty and splendour of bearing" and "she had eyes for little else.”

Aldarion is kept busy with the matters of his Guild and six years after he has been proclaimed the King’s Heir, he sets sail to Middle-earth again. This is not well met by his father, who wishes Aldarion would spend more time on the isle and would chose a wife.

At the time Aldarion goes to Armenelos to bid farewell to his mother, he sees Erendis and he is impressed by her beauty, and although he enjoys her company, he admits:

"But mariners are men of two minds, at war with themselves, and the desire of the Sea still holds me."

Seven years pass before Aldarion comes back, bringing with him ore of silver and gold”

At his return Aldarion has another discussion with his father upon his role as the future King of Numenor and about his future marriage. Aldarion feels however not ready for commitment. "One day! ... but not before I must... Other things I have to do more urgent to me, for my mind is bent on them. ’Cold is the life of a mariner’s wife’; and the mariner who is single of purpose and not tied to the shore goes further, and learns better how to deal with the sea."

Aldarion builds “a vessel greater than any made before: that ship he named Palarran, the Far-Wanderer, and he undertakes a new voyage on it.

His father becomes wrathful for his son’s decision, having had hopes that Aldarion’s frequent meetings with Erendis will keep him away from the sea and that he might perhaps finally marry her and settle.

Aldarion however feels still not ready to leave his sea-endeavours, and continues his life as a mariner and explorer which strongly displeases the Royal family.

During one of Aldarion’s voyages “The King [Tar-Meneldur] rescinded his authority as Lord of the Ships and Havens of Númenor; and he caused the Guildhouse of the Venturers on Eämbar to be shut, and the shipyards of Rómenna to be closed, and forbade the felling of all trees for shipbuilding.”

This Aldarion meets with indignation.
Only years later, in the eight hundred and fifty-eighth of the Second Age, father and son eventually reach reconciliation and the Guild is restored.

This same year " “…..Aldarion presented Erendis to Tar-Meneldur as the betrothed of the King’s Heir; and the King was rejoiced, and there was merrymaking in the city and in all the Isle.”

Aldarion has a difficult relationship with Erendis and their betrothal is unstable and often put to danger, for the numerous voyages that Aldarion never cease undertaking.

Yet, “in the eight hundred and seventieth year of the Second Age Aldarion and Erendis were wedded in Armenelos, and in every house there was music, and in all the streets men and women sang.”.

Two years later Erendis gives birth to a daughter and they call her Ancalimë.

ALDARION – THE ELF-FRIEND AND THE FIRST NUMENOREAN TO WITNESS THE RISE OF THE “NEW SHADOW IN MIDDLE-EARTH; TAR-ALDARION – THE KING OF NUMENOR”

On one of his later voyages to Middle-earth, Aldarion finds the “haven of Vinyalondë (built by him) now wholly ruined, and great seas had brought to nothing all his labours to restore it. Men near the coasts were growing afraid of the Númenóreans, for were become openly hostile; and Aldarion heard rumours of some lord in Middle-earth who hated the men of the ships.”

He seeks counsel and assistance from his father. Unfortunately, the King shows more concern about Aldarion’s personal family matters, which in fact are not going too well. Eerndis has left the family house at Armenelos and has taken Ancalime back to the inland.

Meanwhile, in Armenelos, King Meneldur reads the letter that Aldarion has brought to him from Gil-Galad. In that letter the High Elven King speaks of Aldarion’s great achievements. But he also brings troublesome news.

“A new shadow arises in the East. It is no tyranny of evil Men, as your son believes; but a servant of Morgoth is stirring, and evil things wake again. Each year it gains in strength, for most Men are ripe to its purpose. Not far off is the day, I judge, when it will become too great for the Eldar unaided to withstand.”

Also Gil-Galad seeks the King’s help.

Tar-Meneldur is deeply worried. And he decides that it is high time that Aldarion is proclaimed the new King of Numenor.

Aldarion returns to Romena after an unpleasant meeting and quarrel with his wife and the next day he goes to Armenelos and in his rage he orders all the trees in the garden of his house to be cut and used for shipbuilding, and he leaves all in desolation, save the white elven tree. It he gives the name of his beloved daughter Ancalime.

On the third day after he has returned to Armenelos, Aldarion meets his father and bitterly disappointed with the breaking of his marriage to Erendis, he announces that he will leave Numenor taking with him only his rightful heir – his daughter.

The King however seeks reconciliation with his son and he announces his decision to make him the King of Numenor.
“Therefore: first for the honour of his well-beloved son; and second for the better direction of the realm in courses which his son more clearly understands, the King has resolved: that he will forthwith resign the Sceptre to his son, who shall now become Tar-Aldarion, the King.”

Aldarion accepts the Sceptre and becomes King of Númenor in the year 883.

This, however, does not constrain him from further sea-faring. Aldarion’s mind is strongly attracted towards the vast territories of Middle-earth and the opportunities they offer to Numenor.

However, "all Aldarion’s labours were swept away. The works that he began again at Vinyalondë were never completed, and the sea gnawed them. Nevertheless he laid the foundation for the achievement of Tar-Minastir long years after, in the first war with Sauron, and but for his works the fleets of Númenor could not have brought their power in time to the right place – as he foresaw. Already the hostility was growing and dark men out of the mountains were thrusting into Enedwaith."

There is not much told of any further development of the alliance with Gil-galad.

From all, it seems that Tar-Aldarion was a man who lived either too early, or too late for his time!

"Too late: for the power that hated Númenor had already waked. Too early: for the time was not yet ripe for Númenor to show its power or to come back into the battle for the world".

There is a stir in Númenor when Tar-Aldarion decides to return to Middle-earth in 883 or 884, for no King has ever before left the Isle, and the Council has had no precedent. It seems that Meneldur has been re-offered the regency, but refused. In the long-term abcense of Aldarion, Hallatan of Hyarastorni becomes regent, either appointed by the Council or by Tar-Aldarion himself.

In the year 892, when Ancalimë is nineteen years old, she is proclaimed the King’s heir, and at that time Tar-Aldarion causes the law of succession in Númenor to be changed - that the eldest child of the King, whether man or woman, should receive the sceptre.
Based on this law, later Ancalimë becomes the first Queen [i.e. Ruling Queen] of Numenor.

Of the later years of Tar-Aldarion nothing much is recorded, except that he seems to have continued his voyages to Middle-earth, and to have more than once left Ancalimë as his regent.

Aldarion’s last voyage takes place about the end of the first millennium of the Second Age.

******
CHRONOLOGY of events:

>> Anardil (Aldarion) is born in the year 700 of the Second Age,
>> Aldarion’s first voyage to Middle-earth takes place in year 725.
>> Meneldur becomes King of Númenor in 740.
>> The Guild of Venturers is founded in 750,
>> Aldarion is proclaimed King’s Heir in 800.
>> Erendis is born in 771.
>> Aldarion’s seven year voyage covers the years 806-13, the first voyage of Palarran 816-20, the voyage of seven ships in defiance of Tar-Meneldur 824-9, and the voyage of fourteen years that follows immediately on the last 829.
>> Aldarion and Erendis are betrothed in 858;
>> the years of the voyage undertaken by Aldarion after his betrothal - 863-9,
>> Aldarion and Erendis are married in 870.
>> Ancalimë (Aldarion’s only daughter and heir) is born in the Spring of 873.
>> The Hirilondë sails in the spring of 877.
>> Aldarion’s return, followed by the breach of his marriage to Erendis, in 882; >> Aldarion receives the Sceptre of Númenor in 883.
>> Tar-Aldairon dies in 1075.
*********

Sage
5th August 2005

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