Melgaer

 

Of the names:
Melgaer: The main character his name means Sea-Love

His Father: His father’s name is deliberately left out, so the reader identifies with Melgaer and Melelen and not the lord and Melgaer’s father

The Númenorean Lord: I left him with a title, much like “the dark lord” as it doesn’t give him a feeling of identification, we don’t see through his eyes, and he’s a character not to be identified with.

Melelen: means Star-Love, or love of stars.

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Note on the Text:

The great isle of Númenor was borne in the waters of Belegaer, and upon that isle lived the gifted men, the Dúedain, those whom aided the elves in the battle against evil. Therein upon that isle dwelt many men, women and children, of these people, blessed with long life. And though these men were more akin to elves then most, they still suffered the same qualities as their distant kin. One of these qualities is lust. Lust leads to pride, pride to blindness, and blindness oft ends in tragedy.

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Part I

Melgaer was a young man, barely twenty and five years of age. He was by no means noble in the isle of Númenor, though amongst the men of Middle Earth he would surely be considered great. Melgaer was the only son of a shipwright in the bay of Eldanna on Númenor. Even amongst the Númenoreans Melgaer was considered handsome, his eyes were grey, and portrayed a wisdom beyond his years. His brown hair was slightly wavy and shoulder length. Unlike his father he was clean-shaven. Throughout most of his life he worked aiding his father in building the grande ships the Númenoreans were so well known for. Shipbuilding wasn’t Melgaer’s favorite thing to do, but he didn’t mind it, and had quite a talent for it, especially when it came to sculpting the front piece.

Melgaer’s father was a kind man, he was older then most who had a son Melgaer’s age. Melgaer’s father had Melgaer at a much older age than what was common, and his mother died at childbirth. At this time Melgaer’s father was around 100 years of age, which is old now for men but in those times it was around middle age for a common man of Númenor. His hair was going slightly grey, and bore down to his shoulders he also had a full beard. His eyes were grey, much like his son. The only features he shared with his son were his eyes and his hair. Melgaer’s father had sharp and broad features, very rough and manly, where as Melgaer was slightly more delicate and slight, more elf like, much more akin to his mother.

It was a regular day in Númenor, slightly windy, and the cool air whipped soothingly through Melgaer’s hair as he and his father went about their daily routine. They didn’t have anything to work on at the time, but that would soon change. It was about midday when a peculiar looking man entered the shop. Melgaer’s father welcomed the man and asked him what he sought after. The man could hardly be seen under his cowl, he bore a black cloak of what seemed to be fine materiel. The man lowered his hood and threw the cloak back over his shoulders. Upon his chest, sited on his plate steel armour was the mark of a noble of the isle of Númenor. Immediately ensuing sighting the symbol, Melgaer’s father started to treat him with great respect. The man was tall, easily over six foot, he was built much larger than most men, and even Melgaer’s father, who was a big man himself, was found feeling small next to him. He had dark hair, chin length and coiled, he also boasted a solid beard of dark brown hair. His stern features were commanding and strong almost fear inducing. Melgaer’s father took the man’s cloak, hung it up, and offered him a drink. The Númenorean lord waved it away saying:

“I’m here on business, I require a ship of special care.”

“Ah then you have come to the right place m’lord, we build fantastic ships here, anything you require m’lord” Melgaer’s father responded.

A minute later a lady came in, she was about Melgaer’s age, and about twenty years younger then the Númenoreans lord. The man beckoned her over to him and put his arm on her shoulder. And turned back to Melgaer’s father,

“This is my wife, she will be coming with me on this trip, so I need this boat to be beautiful enough to hold her” Melgaer’s father was shocked that this man had such a young wife, but wanting the business he just responded, with;

“Of course my Lord, only the best for you and you’re lovely wife.”

Meanwhile Melgaer had entered right as the lady had, and his eyes immediatly snapped to her. She was a truly stunning sight. Her golden hair flowed half way down her back, and curved gloriously. Her fair features were delicate and striking. She had incredible green eyes, and Melgaer couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Whilst Melgaer was admiring her, she turned her head and saw Melgaer staring. Her face was sad, no smile did she bear only a sullen gloom that surrounded her. Melgaer was almost drawn to rage that someone of such beauty was so cheerless.

Melgaer didn’t even notice that his father was calling him over, that is, until the lady nodded her head towards Melgaer’s father. Melgaer shook himself out of the trance and went over to his father. He clapped his hand on Melgaer’s shoulder and smiled,

“This is me boy, he’s a good lad, he’ll take care of this shop and make sure yer wife is comfortable whist you and I go and discuss the specifics of this vessel you want” The Númenorean lord nodded and Melgaer’s father whispered into Melgaer’s ear.

“You take good care of her, you hear me? This ship could mean a lot of business for us lad” He said with a smile as he took the lord into a back room.

When they left Melgaer tried to busy himself with cleaning up the counter, but after a short time doing that he realised he couldn’t just leave her standing there. He came out from out of the counter and offered her a seat in the side of the room. There was a small coffee table, and some books and a small book of paintings to look at. She nodded and Melgaer lead her over to the seat and she sat down. Melgaer asked f she’d care for something to drink. She didn’t respond.

“We have well, t-t-tea, w-wine, ummm water I err guess” he said nervously. Listening to him talk, she giggled slightly and Melgaer blushed.

“Tea would be lovely,” She said. Melgaer nodded and swiftly went off to get her some tea. In the kitchen he breathed deeply. Her voice was like angels singing he thought to himself. He then remembered the man she was with, and clenched his fist. He mumbled a few things about him, but quickly stopped as the teakettle boiled. Scurrying over he made her some tea and placed it on a silver platter with some sugar and milk. He carried the platter out to her and placed it on the table. She was looking at the book of paintings and smiled when he came over. That was the first time he had seen her smile, and Melgaer thought he had been blessed with the sight of the valar. He couldn’t help but smile. He just looked at her. She was saying something but Melgaer didn’t notice. Then she coughed and Melgaer shook himself out of it.

“Sorry” he said blushing and she giggled again.

“Who painted these, they’re lovely,” She repeated.

Melgaer paused for a moment trying to think. He knew obviously who did them but he couldn’t think straight when she was around. “Oh err those are mine” he said realising it had taken him a couple of minutes to own up to his own paintings,

She chuckled, “They’re wonderful”

“Thank you, “ he replied earnestly

“Sugar” She said. Melgaer was rather taken aback by her calling him sugar. She giggled and looked at his hand. Melgaer turned his attention to what he was doing and he found himself scooping sugar onto a plate. Melgaer blushed violently and murmured an apology,

“It’s alright” she said smiling “you’re cute” She continued. Melgaer didn’t think he could go any redder if he tired. “What’s you’re name” she asked.

“M-m-Melgaer” He stammered out. Smiling again, she replied.

“Lovely name, elvish isn’t it?”

“Yes… yes it is” he replied cautiously.

By this time Melgaer was done with her drink and cleaning up his mess. She was content drinking and reading and Melgaer went back to cleaning up around the shop. Occasionally he would turn his attention to her and just watch as she looked at his painting, delicately drank, or when a smile occasionally passed her lips.

Melgaer found himself watching her as he cleaned when his father and the Númenorean Lord came strolling out from the room they were in. His father had a rolled up large piece of parchment under his arm, a sac full of coins in his hand, and a broad smile upon his face. He was showing him to the door when the Lord called over to his wife,

“Come Melelen, “ the lord said and she got up and followed him to the door. Melgaer found himself repeating her name in his head, what a lovely name he thought to himself. As they left she turned and smiled to Melgaer. Melgaer attempted a smile back but she was whisked away…

 

Scholar (Scribe)
14th July 2005.

 

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