The Book Of Lost Tales: Part I Part 14

'Nay, if thou wilt forgive me bursting in upon thy tale,' quoth Eriol, 'what meaneth thy saying "the dread pa.s.sage of the Qerkaringa"?'

'Know then,' said Lindo, 'that the trend of the coasts of Eldamar and those coasts that continue that strand northward beyond the wide haven of Kpas is ever to the East, so that after uncounted miles, more northward even than the Mountains of Iron and upon the confines of the Icy Realms, the Great Seas aided by a westerly bend of the sh.o.r.es of the Great Lands dwindle to a narrow sound. Now the pa.s.sage of that water is of impa.s.sable peril, for it is full of evil currents and eddies of desperate strength, and islands of floating ice swim therein, grinding and cras.h.i.+ng together with a dread noise and destroying both great fish and vessels, do any ever dare to venture there. In those days however a narrow neck, which the G.o.ds after destroyed, ran out from the western land almost to the eastern sh.o.r.es, yet it was of ice and snow [?pillared] and torn into gaps and cliffs and was all but untraversable, and that was the Helkaraks or Icefang,4 and it was a remnant of the old and terrible ices that crept throughout those regions ere Melko was chained and the North became clement for a while, and it maintained itself there by reason of the narrowness of the seas and the [?jamming] of the ice-isles floating down from the deepest North whither winter had withdrawn. Now that strip of water that flowed still between Icefang's tip and the Great Lands was called Qerkaringa or Chill Gulf.5 Had Melko indeed known of the Gnomes' wild attempt to cross it he might have overwhelmed them all in that ill place or done whatso he willed, but many months had gone since he himself had fled perchance by that very way, and he was now far afield. Say I not well, Rmil, with regard to these things?'

'Thou hast told the true tale,' said Rmil, 'yet hast thou not said how ere they came to Helkaraks the host pa.s.sed by that place where Morni is wont to be beached, for there a steep and rugged path winds down from Mandos deep in the mountains that the souls whom Fui sends to Arvalin must tread.6 There did a servant of Vefntur spy them and asking what might that wayfaring mean pled with them to return, but they answered him scornfully, so that standing upon a high rock he spoke to them aloud and his voice came even to the fleet upon the waves; and he foretold to them many of the evil adventures that after came to them, warning them against Melko, and at last he said: "Great is the fall of Gondolin", and none there understood, for Turondo son of Nlem7 was not yet upon the Earth. But the wise men stored his sayings, for Mandos and all his people have a power of prophecy, and these words were treasured long among them as the Prophecies of Amnos, for thus was the place where they were spoken called at that time, which now is Hanstovnen8 or the beaching place of Morni.

After that the Noldoli journeyed slowly, and when the awful isthmus of Helkaraks was before them some were for ferrying all the host, part at a time, across the sea, venturing rather over the perilous waters than seeking to find pa.s.sage over the gulfs and treacherous creva.s.ses of the isthmus of ice. This they tried, and a great s.h.i.+p was lost with all aboard by reason of a certain fearsome eddy that was in the bay nigh where Helkaraks jutted from the western mainland; and that eddy at times spins around like a vast top and shrieks with a loud wailing noise most terrible to hear, and such things as approach are sucked down to its monstrous deep and crushed there upon jags of ice and rock; and the name of the eddy is Wiruin. Wherefore are the Noldoli in great anguish and perplexity, for even could they find a way through the terrors of the Helkaraks, behold they cannot even so reach the inner world, for still there lies that gap at the far end, and though but narrow the screech of water rus.h.i.+ng therethrough can be heard thus far away, and the boom of ice splitting from the cape came to them, and the crash and buffet of the ice-isles that thrust down from the North through that dreadful strait.

Now the presence of those floating isles of ice no doubt was due to the presence of Melko once more in the far North, for winter had retreated to the uttermost North and South, so that almost it had no foothold in the world remaining in those days of peace that are called Melko's Chains; but nonetheless it was this very activity of Melko that in the end proved the salvation of the Noldoli, for behold they now are constrained to lead all their womenfolk and the mariners of their host out of the s.h.i.+ps, and there on those bleak sh.o.r.es they beach them and set now a miserable encampment.

Songs name that dwelling9 the Tents of Murmuring, for there arose much lamentation and regret, and many blamed Fanor bitterly, as indeed was just, yet few deserted the host for they suspected that there was no welcome ever again for them back to Valinor-and this some few who sought to return indeed found, though this entereth not into this tale.

When their woes are now at the blackest and scarce any look for return of any joy again, behold winter unfurls her banners again and marches slowly south clad in ice with spears of frost and lashes of hail. Yet so great is the cold that the floating ice packs and jams and piles like hills between the end of Helkaraks10 and the Eastern land, and in the end does it become so strong that the current moves it not. Then abandoning their stolen s.h.i.+ps they leave their sorrowful encampment and strive to cross the terrors of the Qerkaringa. Who shall tell of their misery in that march or of those numbers who were lost, falling into great pits of ice where far below hidden water boiled, or losing their way until cold overcame them-for evil as it was so many and desperate things befell them after in the Great Lands that it was lessened in their minds to a thing of less worth, and in sooth tales that told of the leaving of Valinor were never sweet in the ears of the Noldoli after, were they thralls or citizens of Gondolin. Yet even so such things may not slay the Gnome-kin, and of those there lost still 'tis said some wander sadly there among the icehills, unknowing of all things that have befallen their folk, and some essayed to get them back to Valinor, and Mandos has them, and some following after found in long days their unhappy kin again. Howso it be, a gaunt and lessened band indeed did in the end reach the rocky soil of the Eastern lands, and there stood looking backward over the ice of Helkaraks and of Qerkaringa at the spurs of hills beyond the sea, for far away in the gathering southward mists rose those most glorious heights of Valinor, fencing them for ever from their kindred and their homes.

Thus came the Noldoli into the world.'

And with those words of Rmil's the story of the darkening of Valinor was at an end.

'Great was the power of Melko for ill,' saith Eriol, 'if he could indeed destroy with his cunning the happiness and glory of the G.o.ds and of the Elves, darkening the light of their hearts no less than of their dwelling, and bringing all their love to naught! This must surely be the worst deed that ever he has done.'

'Of a truth never has such evil again been done in Valinor,' said Lindo, 'but Melko's hand has laboured at worse things in the world, and the seeds of his evil have waxen since those days to a great and terrible growth.'

'Nay,' said Eriol, 'yet can my heart not think of other griefs, for sorrow at the destruction of those most fair Trees and the darkness of the world.'

NOTES.

1 The ma.n.u.script seems certainly to have the form Noldor here.-It is to be remembered that in the old story the Teleri (i.e. the later Vanyar) had not departed from Kr; see p. 159.

2 At the top of the ma.n.u.script page and fairly clearly referring to Fanor's words my father wrote: 'Increase the element of the desire for Silmarils'. Another note refers to the section of the narrative that begins here and says that it 'wants a lot of revision: the [?thirst ?l.u.s.t] for jewels-especially for the sacred Silmarils wants emphasizing. And the all-important battle of Cpas Alqalunt where the Gnomes slew the Solosimpi must be inserted.' This note was then struck through and marked 'done', but only the latter direction was in fact followed: this is the rider on the Kinslaughter given on p. 1646.

3 Against this my father wrote in the margin: 'Helkaraks Icefang Qerkaringa the water' see note 5.

4 Helkaraks or Icefang: earlier reading Qerkaringa; see note 5.

5 This pa.s.sage, from '"Know then," said Lindo...', replaces an earlier version which I do not give, for it contains almost nothing that is not in the replacement; and the last sentence of the replacement is a later addition still. It is to be noted however that in the first version the neck of land is called Qerkaringa (as also in the replacement pa.s.sage at first, see note 4), with the remark that 'the name has also been given to the sound beyond'. This then was the earlier idea: Qerkaringa the name primarily of the neck of land, but extended also to the sound (presumably at that stage querka did not mean 'gulf'). My father than decided that Qerkaringa was the name of the sound and introduced the name Helkaraks for the neck of land; hence the marginal annotation given in note 3 above. At this point he added the last sentence of the replacement pa.s.sage, 'Now that strip of water that flowed still between Icefang's tip and the Great Lands was called Qerkaringa or Chill Gulf', and emended Qerkaringa in the body of the pa.s.sage (note 4) to Helkaraks or Icefang, carrying this change through the rest of the tale (on p. 169 of Qerkaringa > of Helkaraks and of Qerkaringa).

6 For the path down from Mandos, the black s.h.i.+p Morni, and its journey down the coast to Arvalin, see p. 77, 90 ff.

7 Turondo or Turgon, son of Nlem, has been named previously, p. 155.

8 The reading Hanstovnen is slightly uncertain, and another name 'or...... Mornin' follows it. See under 'Changes made to names' below.

9 After the word 'dwelling' there is a s.p.a.ce left for the insertion of an Elvish name.

10 MS Qerkaringa unemended, but clearly the western promontory (the Icefang) is referred to, and I therefore read Helkaraks in the text (see note 5).

Changes made to names in

The Flight of the Noldoli

Helkaraks < qerkaringa="" (for="" the="" details="" of,="" and="" the="" explanation="" of="" this="" change="" see="" note="" 5="">

Arvalin <>

Amnos < emnon=""><>

Hanstovnen The name of 'the beaching place of Morni' was first written Mornilta (last letters uncertain), then Vane (or Vone) Hansto; this latter was not struck out, but the form in the text (which may also be read as Hanstovnen) seems to be the final one. After Hanstovnen follows 'or......Mornin'.

Commentary on

The Flight of the Noldoli

In this 'tale' (in reality the conclusion of the long tale of 'The Theft of Melko and the Darkening of Valinor' told by Lindo and finished by Rmil) is found the oldest account of the departure of the Gnomes out of Valinor. Here the G.o.ds continue the vain pursuit and search long after Melko has escaped, and moreover are aided in it by the Eldar (including the Solosimpi, who as the later Teleri portrayed in The Silmarillion would hardly have left their sh.o.r.es and their s.h.i.+ps). Fanor's return to Kr and his haranguing of the Noldoli (and, in this account, others) by the light of their torches is seen to be an original feature; but his sons have not yet appeared, nor indeed any of the Noldorin princes descended from Finw save Turondo (Turgon), of whom it is specifically stated (p. 167) that he was 'not yet upon the Earth'. There is no Oath of Fanor, and the later story of the divided counsels of the Noldor appears only in the attempt of Nlem (Finw) to calm the people-Nlem thus playing the later part of Finarfin (The Silmarillion p. 83). In The Silmarillion, after the Kinslaying at Alqualond and the Prophecy of the North, Finarfin and many of his people returned to Valinor and were pardoned by the Valar (p. 88); but here those few who went back found there was no welcome for them, or else 'Mandos has them' (p. 168).

In the rejected section given on p. 163, which was replaced by the account of the battle of Kpas Alqualunten, the reference to 'those deeds which afterwards the Noldoli most bitterly rued' must be simply to the theft of the s.h.i.+ps of the Solosimpi, since there is no suggestion of any worse actions (in the replacement pa.s.sage almost the same words are used of the Kinslaying). The actual emergence of the idea that the Noldoli were guilty of worse than theft at Kpas is seen in a note in the little book (see p. 23) that my father used to jot down thoughts and suggestions-many of these being no more than single sentences, or mere isolated names, serving as reminders of work to be done, stories to be told, or changes to be made. This note reads: The wrath of the G.o.ds and Elves very great-even let some Noldoli slay some Solosimpi at Kpas-and let Ulmo plead for them (? if Ulmo so fond of the Solosimpi).

This was struck through and marked 'done', and the recommendation here that Ulmo should plead for the Noldoli is found in the tale of The Hiding of Valinor (p. 209).

In the description of Kpas the 'mighty arch of living stone' survived into the 'arch of living rock sea-carved' in the much briefer description of Alqualond in The Silmarillion (p. 61); and we see here the reason for the Haven's being 'lit with many lamps' (ibid.)-because little light came there from the Two Trees on account of the rock-wall around it (though the darkness of Alqualond is implied by the statement in The Silmarillion that it 'lay upon the confines of Eldamar, north of the Calacirya, where the light of the stars was bright and clear').

The events at the Haven were differently conceived in detail from the later story, but still with much general agreement; and though the storm raised by Uinen (ibid. p. 87) does not appear in the original version, the picture of the Noldoli journeying northward some along the sh.o.r.e and some in the vessels remained.

There are interesting indications of the geography of the northern regions. There is no suggestion of a great wasteland (later Araman) between the northern Mountains of Valinor and the sea, a conclusion reached earlier (p. 83), and supported incidentally by the accounts of the steep path from Mandos in the mountains down to the beaching place of the black s.h.i.+p Morni (p. 77, 167). The name Helkaraks, 'Icefang', first appearing in emendations to the text and given to the neck or promontory running out from the western land, was afterwards re-applied to what is here called Qerkaringa, the strait filled with ice-floes that 'grind and crash together' but this was when the Helcarax, 'the Grinding Ice', had come to have a quite different geographical significance in the much more sophisticated world-picture that my father evolved during the next 'phase' of the mythology.

In The Silmarillion (p. 87) there is a suggestion that the speaker of the Prophecy of the North was Mandos himself 'and no lesser herald of Manw', and its gravity, indeed its centrality in the mythology, is far greater; here there is no suggestion of a 'doom' or 'curse', but only a foretelling. This foretelling included the dark words 'Great is the fall of Gondolin'. In the tale of The Fall of Gondolin (but in an interpolated sentence very possibly later than the present tale) Turgon, standing upon the stairs of his palace amid the destruction of the city, uttered these same words, 'and men shuddered, for such were the words of Amnon the prophet of old'. Here Amnon (rather than Amnos as in the present text, itself an emendation from Emnon) is not a place but a person (the servant of Vefntur who uttered the prophecy?). In the little notebook referred to above occurs the following jotting: Prophecy of Amnon. Great is the fall of Gondolin. Lo Turgon shall not fade till the lily of the valley fadeth.

In some other notes for the Lost Tales this takes the form: Prophecy of Amnon. 'Great is the fall of Gondolin' and 'When the lily of the valley withers then shall Turgon fade'.

In these notes Amnon might be either place or person. The 'lily of the valley' is Gondolin itself, one of whose Seven Names was Losengriol, later Lothengriol, which is translated 'flower of the vale or lily of the valley'.

There is an interesting statement in the old story (p. 166) that the Noldoli would never have pa.s.sed the ice if they had yet been subject to the 'weariness, sickness, and the many weaknesses that after became their lot dwelling far from Valinor', but 'still was the blessed food of the G.o.ds and their drink rich in their veins and they were half-divine'. This is echoed in the words of The Silmarillion (p. 90) that the Noldor were 'but new-come from the Blessed Realm, and not yet weary with the weariness of Earth'. On the other hand it was specifically said in the Prophecy of the North (ibid. p. 88) that 'though Eru appointed you to die not in E, and no sickness may a.s.sail you, yet slain ye may be, and slain ye shall be,' &c.

Of the treachery of the Fanorians, sailing away in the s.h.i.+ps and leaving the host of Fingolfin on the sh.o.r.es of Araman, there is of course in the old story no trace; but the blaming of Fanor was already present ('the Tents of Murmuring', p. 168). It is a remarkable aspect of the earliest version of the mythology that while so much of the narrative structure was firm and was to endure, the later 'genealogical' structure had scarcely emerged. Turgon existed as the son of (Finw) Nlem, but there is no suggestion that Fanor was close akin to the lord of the Noldoli, and the other princes, Fingolfin, Finarfin, Fingon, Felagund, do not appear at all, in any form, or by any name.

VIII.

THE TALE OF THE SUN AND MOON.

The Tale of the Sun and Moon is introduced by an 'Interlude' (as it is called in the ma.n.u.script) in which there appears, as a guest at Mar Vanwa Tyalieva, one Gilfanon of Tavrobel. This interlude exists also in a rejected earlier version.

The tale itself is for most of its length a ma.n.u.script in ink over an erased pencilled original, but towards its end (see note 19) it becomes a primary ma.n.u.script in ink with the pencilled draft extant in another book.

The Tale of the Sun and Moon is very long, and I have shortened it in places in brief paraphrase, without omitting any detail of interest. (A note of my father's refers to this tale as 'in need of great revision, cutting-down, and [?reshaping]'.) Gilfanon a Davrobel Now it is not to be thought that as Eriol hearkened to many tales which spake of divers sorrows of the Elves that the thirst for limp grew less within him, for it was not so, and ever as the throng sat about the Tale-fire he was an eager questioner, seeking to learn all the history of the folk even down to those days that then were, when the elfin people dwelt again together in the isle.

Knowing now therefore something of the glorious fas.h.i.+on of their ancient home and of the splendour of the G.o.ds, he pondered often on the coming of the days of Sunlight and of Moonsheen, and of the doings of the Elves in the world without, and of their adventures there with Men ere Melko compa.s.sed their estrangement; wherefore one night he said, sitting before the Tale-fire: 'Whence be the Sun and Moon, O Lindo? For as yet have I heard only of the Two Trees and their sad fading, but of the coming of Men, or of the deeds of the Elves beyond Valinor has no one told me.'

Now there happened that night to be present a guest both at their board and at their tale-telling, and his name was Gilfanon, and all named him beside Gilfanon a Davrobel,1 for he came from that region of the isle where stands cthe Tower of Tavrobel beside the rivers,2 and about it dwelt the Gnome-folk still as one people, naming the places in their own tongue. That region was Gilfanon wont to name the fairest of all the isle, and the Gnome-kin its best folk, albeit ere the coming of the folk thither long had he dwelt away from the Noldoli, faring with Ilkorins in Hisilm and Artanor,3 and thereto had he become as few Elves did a great friend and companion of the Children of Men of those days. To their legends and their memories he added his own knowledge, for he had been deep-versed in many lores and tongues once in the far days of Kr, and experience had he beside of many very ancient deeds, being indeed one of the oldest of the fairies4 and the most aged that now dwelt in the isle, albeit Meril held the t.i.tle of Lady of the Isle by reason of her blood.

Therefore said Lindo now, answering Eriol: 'Behold, Gilfanon here can tell thee much of such matters, and it were well if you fared hence away with him to sojourn awhile in Tavrobel.-Nay, look not thus,' he laughed, seeing Eriol's face, 'for we do not banish thee yet-but of a sooth he who would drink of limp were wise first to seek the guestkindliness of Gilfanon, in whose ancient house-the House of the Hundred Chimneys, that stands nigh the bridge of Tavrobel5-may many things be heard of both past and that are to come.'

'Methinks,' said Gilfanon to Eriol, 'that Lindo seeks to rid himself of two guests at once; howso he may not do so yet, for I purpose to stay in Kortirion a sennight yet, and moreover to feast at his good board meanwhile, and stretch me by the Tale-fire too-thereafter maybe thou and I will fare away and thou shalt see the full loveliness of the fairies' isle-but now let Lindo raise up his voice and tell us yet more of the splendour of the G.o.ds and their works, a theme that never wearies him!'

At that was Lindo well-pleased, for of a truth he loved to tell such tales and sought often an occasion for recalling them, and said he: 'Then will I tell the story of the Sun and Moon and of the Stars, that Eriol may hearken to his desire,' and Eriol was well pleased, but Gilfanon said: 'Speak on, my Lindo-yet lengthen not the tale for ever.'

Then did Lindo lift up his voice,6 and it was the most pleasant to hearken to of all tale-tellers, and he said:*

'A tale I tell of that time of the first flight of the Gnomes, and behold they are but newly fled. Now came that grievous news to the G.o.ds and the other Elves, and at first none believed. Nonetheless the tidings came still unto them, and by many different messengers. Some were of the Teleri, who had heard the speech of Fanor in the square of Kr and had seen the Noldoli depart thence with all the goods they might convey; others were of the Solosimpi, and these brought the dire tidings of the swans.h.i.+ps' rape and the dread kinslaughter of the Haven, and the blood that lay on the white sh.o.r.es of Alqalunt.

Lastly came some hotfoot from Mandos who had gazed upon that sad throng nigh the strands of Amnor, and the G.o.ds knew that the Gnomes were far abroad, and Varda and all the Elves wept, for now seemed the darkness black indeed and that more than the outward light of the fair Trees was slain.

Strange is to tell that albeit Aul had loved the Noldoli above all the Elves and had taught them all they knew and given them great stores of wealth, now was his heart most turned against them, for he deemed them ingrate in that they had bidden him no farewell, and for their ill deeds among the Solosimpi he was grieved to the heart. "Speak not," said he, "the name of the Noldoli ever again unto me," and albeit he gave still his love to those few faithful Gnomes who remained still about his halls, yet did he name them thereafter "Eldar".

But the Teleri and the Solosimpi having wept at first, when the onslaught of the Haven became known to all dried their tears and horror and anguish held their hearts, and they too spake seldom of the Noldoli, save sadly or in whispers behind closed doors; and those few of the Noldoli that remained behind were named the Aulenoss or kindred of Aul, or were taken into the other kindreds, and the Gnome-folk has no place or name remaining now in all Valinor.

Now is it to tell that after a great while it seemed to Manw that the hunt of the G.o.ds availed nothing, and that surely Melko is now escaped out of Valinor; wherefore he sent Sorontur into the world, and Sorontur came not back for long, and still Tulkas and many others ranged the land, but Manw stood beside the darkened Trees and his heart was very heavy as he pondered deep and gloomily, but at that time could he see little light of hope. Suddenly there is a sound of wings in that place, for Sorontur King of Eagles is come again on strong wings through the dusk, and behold alighting on the boughs of darkened Silpion he tells how Melko is now broken into the world and many evil spirits are gathered to him: "but," quoth he, "methinks never more will Utumna open unto him, and already is he busy making himself new dwellings in that region of the North where stand the Iron Mountains very high and terrible to see. Yet O Manw Lord of the Air, other tidings have I also for thy ear, for lo! as I winged my way homeward hither over the black seas and over the unkindly lands a sight I saw of greatest wonder and amaze: a fleet of white s.h.i.+ps that drifted empty in the gales, and some were burning with bright fires, and as I marvelled behold I saw a great concourse of folk upon the sh.o.r.es of the Great Lands, and they gazed all westward, but some were still wandering in the ice-for know, this was at that place where are the crags of Helkaraks and the murderous waters of Qerkaringa flowed of old, which now are stopped with ice. Swooping methought I heard the sound of wailing and of sad words spoken in the Eldar tongue; and this tale do I bring to thee for thy unravelling."

But Manw knew thereby that the Noldoli were gone for ever and their s.h.i.+ps burned or abandoned, and Melko too was in the world, and the hunt of no avail; and belike it is in memory of those deeds that it has ever been a saying in the mouths of Elves and Men that those burn their boats who put all hope from them of change of mind or counsel. Therefore now Manw lifted up his unmeasurable voice calling to the G.o.ds, and all those about the wide lands of Valinor hearkened and returned.

There first came Tulkas weary and dust-covered, for none had leapt about that plain as he. Seven times had he encompa.s.sed all its width and thrice had he scaled the mountain-wall, and all those measureless slopes and pastures, meads and forests, he had traversed, burnt by his desire to punish the spoiler of Valinor. There came Lrien and leaned against the withered bole of Silpion, and wept the wrack of his quiet gardens by the trampling hunt; there too was Mess and with her Makar, and his hand was red for he had come upon twain of Melko's comrades as they fled, and he slew them as they ran, and he alone had aught of joy in those ill times. Oss was there and his beard of green was torn and his eyes were dim, and he gasped leaning on a staff and was very much athirst, for mighty as he was about the seas and tireless, such desperate travail on the bosom of Earth spent his vigour utterly.

Salmar and mar stood by and their instruments of music made no sound and they were heavy of heart, yet not so bitterly as was Aul, lover of the earth and of all things made or gained by good labour therefrom, for of all the G.o.ds he had loved Valmar most wholly and Kr and all their treasures, and the smile of the fair plains without, and its ruin cut his heart. With him was Yavanna, Earth-queen, and she had hunted with the G.o.ds and was spent; but Vna and Nessa wept as maidens still beside the founts of gold Kulullin.

Ulmo alone came not to the Trees, but went down to the beach of Eldamar, and there he stood gazing into the gloom far out to sea, and he called often with his most mighty voice as though he would draw back those truants to the bosom of the G.o.ds, and whiles he played deep longing music on his magic conches, and to him alone, lest it be7 Varda lady of the stars, was the going of the Gnomes a greater grief than even the ruin of the Trees. Aforetime had Ulmo loved the Solosimpi very dearly, yet when he heard of their slaughter by the Gnomes he grieved indeed but anger hardened not his heart, for Ulmo was foreknowing more than all the G.o.ds, even than great Manw, and perchance he saw many of the things that should spring from that flight and the dread pains of the unhappy Noldoli in the world, and the anguish wherewith they would expiate the blood of Kpas, and he would that it need not be.

Now when all were thus come together, then spake Manw to them and told the tidings of Sorontur and how the chase had failed, but at that time the G.o.ds were wildered in the gloom and had little counsel, and sought each one his home and places of old delight now dead, and there sat in silence and dark pondering. Yet some fared ever and anon out upon the plain and gazed wistfully at the faded Trees as though those withered boughs would one day burgeon with new light: but this came not to pa.s.s, and Valinor was full of shadows and of gloom, and the Elves wept and could not be comforted, and the Noldoli had bitter sorrow in the northern lands.

Thereafter in a great time it pierced the grief and the weariness of the G.o.ds that light is gone from Valinor for ever, and that never again will those Trees bloom again at their appointed times. Only the light of the stars remained, save where a glow lay about the fountain of Kulullin playing still or a pale gleam lingered nigh deep Telimp,8 vat of dreams. Yet even these were dimmed and tarnished, for the Trees bore dew no more for their replenishment.

Wherefore does Vna arise and seek Lrien, and with them go Urwendi and Silmo9 and many of both Vali and the Elves; and they gather much light of gold and silver in great vessels and fare sadly to the ruined Trees. There singeth Lrien most wistful songs of magic and enchantment about the stock of Silpion, and he bid water his roots with the radiance of Telimp and this was lavishly done, albeit small store thereof remained now in the dwellings of the G.o.ds. In like manner doth Vna, and she sings old golden songs of the happier days, and bids her maidens dance their bright dances even such as they were used to dance upon the sward of the rose-gardens nigh Kulullin, and as they danced she flooded the roots of Laurelin with streams from out her golden jars.

Yet all their singing and enchantment is of little worth, and though the roots of the Trees seem to drink all that they may pour yet can they see no stir of life renewed nor faintest gleam of light; nor withered leaf glows with sap nor blossom lifts its drooping stem. Indeed in the frenzy of their grief they had poured out all the last remaining stores of brightness that the G.o.ds retained, had not of a fortune Manw and Aul come upon them in that hour, being drawn thither by their singing in the gloom, and stayed them, saying: "Lo, O Vna, and thou O Lrien, what is this rashness? And wherefore did ye not first take counsel of your brethren? For know ye not that that which ye spill unthinking upon the earth is become more precious than all the things the world contains; and when it is gone perchance not all the wisdom of the G.o.ds may get us more."

Then Vna said: "Pardon, O Manw Slimo, and let my sorrow and my tears be my excuse; yet aforetime did this draught fail never to refresh the heart of Laurelin, and she bare ever in return a fruit of light more plentiful than we gave; and methought the G.o.ds sat darkly in their halls and for the weight of their grief essayed no remedy of their ills. But behold now have Lrien and I put forth our spells and nought may they avail," and Vna wept.

Now was it the thought of many that those twain Lrien and Vna might not avail to heal the wounds of Laurelin and Silpion, in that no word of the Earth-lady, mother of magics, was mingled in their spells. Therefore many said: "Let us seek Palrien, for of her magic maybe these Trees shall again know some portion of their ancient glory-and then if light be renewed Aul and his craftsmen may repair the hurts of our fair realm, and happiness will be once more twixt Erumni and the Sea"10-but of the darkness and ill days that had long been without the hills few recked or thought.

Now therefore they called for Yavanna, and she came and asked them what they would, and hearing she wept and spake before them, saying: "Know ye, O Valar, and ye sons and daughters of the Eldar, Children of Ilvatar, first offspring of the forests of the Earth, that never may these Two Trees bloom again, and others like them may not be brought to life for many many ages of the world. Many things shall be done and come to pa.s.s, and the G.o.ds grow old, and the Elves come nigh to fading, ere ye shall see the rekindling of these Trees or the Magic Sun relit," and the G.o.ds knew not what she meant, speaking of the Magic Sun, nor did for a long while after. But Tulkas hearing said: "Why speakest thou these words, O Kemi Palrien, for foretelling is not thy wont, and that of evil least of all?" And others there were who said: "Ay, and never before has Kemi the Earth-lady been hard of counsel or lacked a spell of deepest virtue," and they besought her to put forth her power. But Yavanna said: "'Tis of fate and the Music of the Ainur. Such marvels as those Trees of gold and silver may even the G.o.ds make but once, and that in the youth of the world; nor may all my spells avail to do what ye now ask."

Then said Vna: "How then sayest thou, Aul, mighty contriver, who art called iTalka Marda-Smith of the World-for the might of thy works, how are we to obtain light that is needful to our joy? For what is Valinor without light, or what art thou an thou losest thy skill, as, meseems, in this hour thy spouse has done?"

"Nay," said Aul, "light may not be fas.h.i.+oned by smithcraft, O Vna-Laisi, nor can any even of the G.o.ds devise it, if the sap of the Trees of wonder be dried for ever." But Palrien answering also said: "Lo, O Tuivna, and ye beside of the Vali and of the Elves, think ye only and always of Valinor, forgetting the world without?-for my heart saith to me that already were it time for the G.o.ds to take up once more the battle for the world and expel therefrom the powers of Melko ere they be waxen to o'erwhelming strength." But Vna comprehended not Palrien's mind, thinking only of her Tree of gold, and she abode ill-content; but Manw and Varda, and with them Aul and Yavanna, fared thence, and in secret conclave they took deep and searching counsel one of another, and at the last they bethought them of a rede of hope. Then did Manw call together all the folk of Valinor once more; and that great throng was gathered even in Vna's bower amidst her roses, where Kulullin's fountains were, for the plain without lay now all cold and dark. There came even the leaders of the Elves and sat at the feet of the G.o.ds, nor had that before been done; but when all were come together Aul arose and said: "Hearken ye all. A rede has Manw Slimo Valatru* to declare, and the mind of the Earth-lady and of the Queen of the Stars is therein, nor yet is my counsel absent."

Then was there a great silence that Manw might speak, and he said: "Behold O my people, a time of darkness has come upon us, and yet I have it in mind that this is not without the desire of Ilvatar. For the G.o.ds had well-nigh forgot the world that lies without expectant of better days, and of Men, Ilvatar's younger Sons that soon must come. Now therefore are the Trees withered that so filled our land with loveliness and our hearts with mirth that wider desires came not into them, and so behold, we must turn now our thoughts to new devices whereby light may be shed upon both the world without and Valinor within."

Then told he them concerning those stores of radiance they still possessed; for of silver light they had no great store save only that that yet lay in Telimp, and a lesser measure that Aul had in basons in his smithy. Some indeed had the Eldar lovingly saved in tiny vessels as it flowed and wasted in the soils about the stricken bole, but it was little enough.

Now the smallness of their store of white light was due to many causes, in that Varda had used greatly of it when she kindled mighty stars about the heavens, both at the coming of the Eldar and at other times. Moreover that Tree Silpion bore dew of light less richly far than Laurelin had been wont to do, and nonetheless, for it was less hot and fiery-subtle, did the G.o.ds and Elves have need of it always in their magic crafts, and had mingled it with all manner of things that they devised, and in this were the Noldoli the chief.

Now golden light not even the G.o.ds could tame much to their uses, and had suffered it to gather in the great vat Kulullin to the great increase of its fountains, or in other bright basons and wide pools about their courts, for the health and glory of its radiance was very great. 'Tis said indeed that those first makers of jewels, of whom Fanor has the greatest fame, alone of the Eldar knew the secret of subtly taming golden light to their uses, and they dared use their knowledge but very sparingly, and now is that perished with them out of the Earth. Yet even of this golden radiance was there no unfailing source, now that Laurelin dripped her sweet dew no more. Of this necessity did Manw shape his plan, and it was caught from that very sowing of the stars that Varda did of yore; for to each of the stars had she given a heart of silver flame set in vessels of crystals and pale gla.s.s and unimagined substances of faintest colours: and these vessels were some made like to boats, and buoyed by their hearts of light they fared ever about Ilw, yet could they not soar into the dark and tenuous realm of Vaitya that is outside all. Now winged spirits of the utmost purity and beauty-even the most ethereal of those bright choirs of the Mnir and the Sruli who fare about the halls of Manw on Taniquetil or traverse all the airs that move upon the world-sate in those starry boats and guided them on mazy courses high above the Earth, and Varda gave them names, but few of these are known.

Others there were whose vessels were like translucent lamps set quivering above the world, in Ilw or on the very confines of Vilna and the airs we breathe, and they flickered and waned for the stirring of the upper winds, yet abode where they hung and moved not; and of these some were very great and beautiful and the G.o.ds and Elves among all their riches loved them; and thence indeed the jewel-makers catch their inspiration. Not least did they love Morwinyon of the west, whose name meaneth the glint at dusk, and of his setting in the heavens much has been told; and of Nielluin too, who is the Bee of Azure, Nielluin whom still may all men see in autumn or in winter burning nigh the foot of Telimektar son of Tulkas whose tale is yet to tell.

But lo! (said Lindo) the beauty of the stars hath drawn me far afield, and yet I doubt not in that great speech, the mightiest Manw ever spake before the G.o.ds, mention he made of them yet more loving than was mine. For behold, he desired in this manner to bring the hearts of the G.o.ds to consider his design, and having spoken of the stars he shaped thus his final words: "Behold," said Manw, "this is now the third essay of the G.o.ds to bring light into dark places, and both the Lamps of the North and South, and the Trees of the plain, Melko hath brought to ruin. Now in the air only hath Melko no power for ill, wherefore it is my rede that we build a great vessel br.i.m.m.i.n.g with golden light and the h.o.a.rded dews of Laurelin, and this do set afloat like a mighty s.h.i.+p high above the dark realms of the Earth. There shall it thread far courses through the airs and pour its light on all the world twixt Valinr and the Eastern sh.o.r.es."

Now Manw designed the course of the s.h.i.+p of light to be between the East and West, for Melko held the North and Ungweliant the South, whereas in the West was Valinor and the blessed realms, and in the East great regions of dark lands that craved for light.

Now it is said (quoth Lindo) that, whereas certain of the G.o.ds of their divine being might, an they wished, fare with a great suddenness of speed through Vilna and the low airs, yet might none even of the Valar, not Melko himself, nor any other save Manw and Varda and their folk alone avail to pa.s.s beyond: for this was the word of Ilvatar when he sped them to the world at their desire, that they should dwell for ever within the world if once they entered it, nor should leave it, until its Great End came, being woven about it in the threads of its fate and becoming part thereof. Yet more, to Manw alone, knowing the purity and glory of his heart, did Ilvatar grant the power of visiting the uttermost heights; and breathing the great clear Serene which lies so far above the world that no finest dust of it, nor thinnest odour of its lives, nor faintest echo of its song or sorrow comes there; but far below it gleams palely beneath the stars and the shadows of the Sun and Moon faring back and forth from Valinor flutter upon its face. There walks Manw Slimo often far out beyond the stars and watches it with love, and he is very near the heart of Ilvatar.

But this has ever been and is yet the greatest bitterness to Melko, for in no wise of himself could he now forsake the bosom of the Earth, and belike ye shall yet hear how mightily his envy was increased when the great vessels of radiance set sail; but now is it to tell that so moving were the words and so great their wisdom that11 the most part of the G.o.ds thought his purpose good, and they said: "Let Aul busy himself then with all his folk in the fas.h.i.+oning of this s.h.i.+p of light", and few said otherwise, though 'tis told that Lrien was little pleased, fearing lest shadow and quiet and secret places ceased to be, and of a surety Vna might think of little else for the greatness of her vain desire to see the rekindling of the Trees.

Then said Aul: "The task ye set me is of the utmost difficulty, yet will I do all that I may therein," and he begged the aid of Varda the starfas.h.i.+oner, and those twain departed and were lost in the gloom a great while.

The narrative continues with an account of the failure of Aul and Varda to devise any substance that was not 'too gross to swim the airs or too frail to bear the radiance of Kulullin' and when this was made known Vna and Lrien asked that, since Manw's design had failed, he should command Yavanna to attempt the healing of the Trees.

At length therefore did Manw bid Yavanna to put forth her power, and she was loath, but the clamour of the folk constrained her, and she begged for some of the radiance of white and gold; but of this would Manw and Aul spare only two small phials, saying that if the draught of old had power to heal the Trees already had they been blooming, for Vna and Lrien had poured it unstintingly upon their roots. Then sorrowfully Yavanna stood upon the plain and her form trembled and her face was very pale for the greatness of the effort that her being put forth, striving against fate. The phial of gold she held in her right hand and the silver in her left, and standing between the Trees she lifted them on high, and flames of red and of white arose from each like flowers, and the ground shook, and the earth opened, and a growth of flowers and plants leapt up therefrom about her feet, white and blue about her left side and red and gold about her right, and the G.o.ds sat still and in amaze. Then going she cast each phial upon its proper Tree and sang the songs of unfading growth and a song of resurrection after death and withering; and suddenly she sang no more. Midway she stood between the Trees and utter silence fell, then there was a great noise heard and none knew what pa.s.sed, but Palrien lay swooning on the Earth; but many leapt beside her and raised her from the ground, and she trembled and was afraid.

"Vain, O children of the G.o.ds," she cried, "is all my strength. Lo, at your desire I have poured my power upon the Earth like water, and like water the Earth has sucked it from me-it is gone and I can do no more." And the Trees stood still gaunt and stark, and all the companies wept beholding her, but Manw said: "Weep not, O children of the G.o.ds, the irreparable harm, for many fair deeds may be yet to do, and beauty hath not perished on the earth nor all the counsels of the G.o.ds been turned to nought" but nonetheless folk left that place in sorrow, save Vna only, and she clung to the bole of Laurelin and wept.

Now was the time of faintest hope and darkness most profound fallen on Valinor that was ever yet; and still did Vna weep, and she twined her golden hair about the bole of Laurelin and her tears dropped softly at its roots; and even as the dew of her gentle love touched that tree, behold, a sudden pale gleam was born in those dark places. Then gazed Vna in wonder, and even where her first tears fell a shoot sprang from Laurelin, and it budded, and the buds were all of gold, and there came light therefrom like a ray of sunlight beneath a cloud.

Then sped Vna a little way out upon the plain, and she lifted up her sweet voice with all her power and it came trembling faintly to the gates of Valmar, and all the Valar heard. Then said mar: "'Tis the voice of Vna's lamentation," but Salmar said: "Nay, listen more, for rather is there joy in that sound," and all that stood by hearkened, and the words they heard were I kal' antlien, Light hath returned.