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"But others of the House of
Hador bear themselves otherwise, and Tuor among them. For they use courtesy,
and they listen to good counsel, holding the Lords of the West in awe. But
you, it seems, will take counsel with your own wisdom, or with your sword
only; and you speak haughtily. And I say to you, Agarwaen Mormegil, that if
you do so, other shall be your doom than one of the Houses of Hador and Bëor
might look for."
"Other it has ever been," answered Túrin. "And if, as it seems, I must bear
the hate of Morgoth because of the valour of my father shall I also endure the
taunts and ill-boding of a runagate, though he claim the kinship of kings? I
counsel you: get you back to the safe shores of the Sea."
Then Gelmir and Arminas departed, and went back to the South: but despite
Túrin's taunts they would gladly have awaited battle beside their kin, and
they went only because Círdan had bidden them under the command of Ulmo to
bring back word to him of Nargothrond and of the speeding of their errand
there. And
Orodreth was much troubled by the words of the messengers; but all the more
fell became the mood of Túrin, and he would by no means listen to their
counsels, and least of all would he suffer the great bridge to be cast down.
For so much at least of the words of Ulmo were read aright.
It is nowhere explained why Gelmir and Arminas on an urgent errand to
Nargothrond were sent by Círdan all the length of the coast to the! Firth of
Drengist. Arminas said that it was done for speed and secrecy; but greater
secrecy could surely have been achieved by journeying up Narog from the South.
It might be supposed that Círdan did this in, obedience to Ulmo's command (so
that they should meet Tuor in Dor-lómin and guide him through the Gate of the
Noldor), but this is nowhere suggested.
PART TWO:
THE SECOND AGE
I
DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND OF NÚMENOR
The account of the Island of Númenor that here follows is derived from
descriptions and simple maps that were long preserved in the archives of the
Kings of Gondor. These represent indeed but a small part of all that was once
written, for many natural histories and geographies were composed by learned
men in
Númenor; but these, like nearly all else of the arts and sciences of Númenor
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at its high tide, disappeared in the Downfall.
Even such documents as were preserved in Gondor, or in Imladris (where in the
care of Elrond were deposited the surviving treasures of the Northern
Númenórean kings) suffered from loss and destruction by neglect. For though
the survivors in Middle-earth "yearned," as they said, for Akallabêth, the
Downfallen, and never even after long ages ceased to regard themselves as in a
measure exiles, when it became clear that the Land of Gift was taken away and
that Númenor had disappeaed for ever, all but a few regarded study of what was
left of its history as vain, breeding only useless regret. The story of
Ar-Pharazôn and his impious armada was all that remained generally known in
later ages.
The land of Númenor resembled in outline a five-pointed star, or pentangle,
with a central portion some two hundred and fifty miles across, north and
south, and east and west, from which extended five large peninsular
promontories. These promontories were regarded as separate regions, and they
were named
Forostar (Northlands), Andustar (Westlands), Hyarnustar (Southwestlands),
Hyarrostar (Southeastlands), and
Orrostar (Eastlands). The central portion was called Mittalmar (Inlands), and
it had no coast, except the land about Rómenna and the head of its firth. A
small part of the Mittalmar was however, separated from the rest, and called
Arandor, the Kingsland. In Arandor were the haven of Rómenna, the Meneltarma,
and Armenelos, the City of the Kings; and it was at all times the most
populous region of Númenor.
The Mittalmar was raised above the promontories (not reckoning the height of
their mountains and hills); it was a region of grasslands and low downs, and
few trees grew there. Near to the centre of the
Mittalmar stood the tall mountain called the Meneltarma, Pillar of the
Heavens, sacred to the worship of Eru
Ilúvatar. Though the tower slopes of the mountain were gentle and
grass-covered, it grew ever steeper, and towards the summit it could not be
scaled; but a winding spiral road was made upon it, beginning at its foot upon
the south, and ending below the lip of the summit upon the north. For the
summit was somewhat flattened and depressed, and could contain a great
multitude; but it remained untouched by hands throughout the history of
Númenor. No building, no raised altar, not even a pile of undressed stones,
ever stood there;
and no other likeness of a temple did the Númenóreans possess in all the days
of their grace, until the coming of Sauron. There no tool or weapon had ever
been borne; and there none might speak any word, save the
King only. Thrice only in each year the King spoke, offering prayer for the
coming year at the
Erukyermë
in the first days of spring, praise of Eru Ilúvatar at the
Erulaitalë
in midsummeer, and thanksgiving to him at the Eruhantalë at the end of autumn.
At these times the King ascended the mountain on foot followed by a great
concourse of the people, clad in white and garlanded, but silent. At other
times the people were free to climb to the summit alone or in company, but it
is said that the silence was so great that even a stranger ignorant of Númenor
and all its history, if he were transported thither, would not have dared to
speak aloud.
No bird ever came there, save only eagles. If anyone approached the summit, at
once three eagles would appear and alight upon three rocks near to the western
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