[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
has dwindled; and if I have wrought this, then black is my blame. But do the
large shrink in adversity? This was not the way, not even in hate or revenge!
She should have demanded that a great house be prepared for her, called for a
Queen's escort, and come back to Armenelos with her beauty adorned, royally,
with the star on her brow; then well nigh all the Isle of Nmenor she might
have bewitched to her part, and made me seem madman and churl.
The Valar be my witness, I would rather have had it so: rather a beautiful
Queen to thwart me and flout me, than freedom to rule while the Lady Elestirn
falls down dim into her own twilight."
Then with a bitter laugh he gave back the letter to the King. "Well: so it
is," he said. "But if one has a distaste to dwell on a ship among mariners,
another may be excused dislike of a sheep-farm among serving-
women. But I will not have my daughter so schooled. At least she shall choose
by knowledge." He rose, and begged leave to go.
The Further Course of the Narrative
From the point where Aldarion read the letter from Erendis, refusing to return
to Armenelos, the story can only be traced in glimpses and snatches, from
notes and jottings: and even those do not constitute the fragments of a wholly
consistent story, being composed at different times and often at odds with
themselves.
It seems that when Aldarion became King of Nmenor in the year 883 he
determined to revisit Middle-earth at once, and departed for Mithlond either
in the same year or the next. It is recorded that on the prow of Hirilond he
set no bough of oiolair
, but the image of an eagle with golden beak and jewelled eyes, which was the
gift of Crdan.
It perched there, by the craft of its maker, as if poised for flight unerring
to some far mark that it espied. "This sign shall lead us to our aim," he
Page 149
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
said. "For our return let the Valar care if our deeds do not displease
them."
It is also slated that "no records are now left of the later voyages that
Aldarion made," but that "it is known that he went much on land as well as
sea, and went up the River Gwathló as far as Tharbad, and there met
Galadriel." There is no mention elsewhere of this meeting; but at that time
Galadriel and Celeborn were dwelling in Eregion, at no great distance from
Tharbad (see p. 246).
But all Aldarion's labours were swept away. The works that he began again at
Vinyalond were never completed, and the sea gnawed them. Nevertheless he
laid the foundation for the achievement of Tar-Minastir long years
25
after, in the first war with Sauron, and but for his works the fleets of
Nmenor 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. But in Aldarion's day the Nmenóreans did not
yet desire more room, and his Venturers remained a small people, admired but
little emulated.
There is no mention of any further development of the alliance with Gil-galad,
or of the sending of the aid that he requested in his letter to Tar-Meneldur;
it is said indeed that:
Aldarion was too late, or too early. Too late: for the power that hated
Nmenor had already waked. Too early: for the time was not yet ripe for
Nmenor to show its power or to come back into the battle for the world.
There was a stir in Nmenor when Tar-Aldarion determined to return to
Middle-earth in 883 or 884, for no King had ever before left the Isle, and the
Council had no precedent. It seems that Meneldur was offered but refused the
regency, and that Hallatan of Hyarastorni became regent, either appointed by
the Council or by Tar-Aldarion himself.
Of the history of Ancalim during those years when she was growing up there is
no certain form. There is less doubt concerning her somewhat ambiguous
character, and the influence that her mother exerted on her. She was less prim
than Erendis, and natively liked display, jewels, music, admiration, and
deference; but she liked them at will and not unceasingly, and she made her
mother and the white house in Emeri an excuse for escape. She approved, as it
were, both Erendis' treatment of Aldarion on his late return, but also
Aldarion's anger, impenitence, and subsequent relentless dismissal of Erendis
from his heart and concern. She had a profound dislike of obligatory marriage,
and in marriage of any constraint on her will. Her mother had spoken
unceasingly against men, and indeed a remarkable example of Erendis' teaching
in this respect is preserved:
Men in Nmenor are half-Elves (said Erendis), especially the high men; they
are neither the one nor the other.
The long life that they were granted deceives them, and they dally in the
world, children in mind, until age finds
them and then many only forsake play out of doors for play in their houses.
They turn their play into great matters and great matters into play. They
would be craftsmen and loremasters and heroes all at once; and women to them
are but fires on the hearth for others to tend, until they are tired of play
in the evening. All things were made for their service: hills are for
quarries, river to furnish water or to turn wheels, trees for boards, women
for their body's need, or if fair to adorn their table and hearth; and
Page 150
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
children to be teased when nothing else is to do
but they would as soon play with their hounds' whelps. To all they are
gracious and kind, merry as larks in the morning (if the sun shines); for they
are never wrathful if they can avoid it. Men should be gay, they hold,
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]