In Darkness Bound by Fiondil

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Chapter 17: Findaráto Before the Valar

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17: Findaráto Before the Valar

The betrothal dinner was set for the following week, to be held on Aldúya, the traditional day for betrothals and weddings as it had originally been dedicated to Aulë and Yavanna and had been called by the Valar ‘Árë Veruo’. Before that, however, when Valanya came around again, Findaráto joined the twins, Indil and Intarion for their weekly audience with the Valar. "It’s been quite some time since I’ve done this," he told them as they made their way up the mountain, "not since my last visit to Vanyamar and that was more than two yéni ago."

"I’m sure they haven’t forgotten you," Ingalaurë said with a wicked smile.

"That’s what I’m afraid of," Findaráto quipped and they all laughed.

As usual, they were met by Eönwë, who gave them a respectful bow before leading them to the audience chamber. When they were presented to the Valar and had taken their seats, Manwë gave Findaráto a knowing smile.

"It has been some time since your last visit with us," the Elder King said. "What has brought you here now?"

"I thought to lend my support to Ingwion and Ingalaurë as well as to Intarion," Findaráto answered. "With Ingwë helping my uncle, and Ingoldo making life difficult for everyone else...." he shrugged, giving them a wry grin.

"You are very generous in giving yourself to others," Aulë said, "but I hope this does not mean you are abandoning your studies. I would be disappointed if you did."

"No, my lord," Findaráto said. "Lord Valandur is helping me to arrange with the loremasters here in Vanyamar to continue my studies in metallurgy and crystallography. I will remain here until my studies are finished."

"And as long as we feed you," Ingalaurë muttered with a sly grin.

Findaráto laughed. "That too. One should always have one’s priorities straight after all."

The Valar smiled at the byplay. Then Manwë nodded. "I believe among your other studies you have learned the art of forging weapons."

Findaráto nodded, looking slightly uneasy. "I... I did not think the Valar...."

"That we did not know what was happening?" Manwë said, his expression more amused than angry. "We have noticed how the Noldor carry shields with their house devices upon them, yet they carry no weapons abroad."

"Others have forged weapons as well?" Findaráto asked in surprise, then realized what he had just said and blushed in shame as he saw his cousins looking askance at him.

"Fëanáro and his sons are not the only ones stockpiling weapons," Aulë said gravely. "Our Maiar have reported that many forges have been set up throughout Tirion to create swords, spears and axes."

"I am not sure I approve," Manwë said, "for what enemy do you see against whom you must take up arms?"

"Yet, you have not forbidden us from making them," Findaráto countered, not willing to answer the Vala’s question.

"Admittedly, we were unaware of this until recently," Námo said gravely, "though we suspected more was going on when the Noldor began carrying shields betokening their allegiance to one House or another. Fëanáro’s accusations against us have created an atmosphere of unrest among the Noldor. We are hoping that this time of exile will calm tempers and your people will realize that their fears of being kept here in Aman in thralldom are baseless and founded on Melkor’s lies only."

"And what of the Second Children?" Findaráto asked, his expression somewhat haughty. "Was that a lie as well?"

"No, it was not," Manwë stated. "Yet, it is as we said at the trial. We spoke of them not for we have no further knowledge of them save that Ilúvatar will bring them forth in a time of His choosing. The Outer Lands will be for them to dwell in, even as you dwell here in Aman. What role Ilúvatar intends for them to play in Arda’s history is unknown to us at this time."

Findaráto frowned in thought. "Atar reminded me that we gave up our right to the lands across the Sea when we came here. Yet, in my heart there burns in me a deep desire to see those lands and to carve a new destiny for myself there." He gave them a sigh. "Here my atar is accounted as the least of the House of Finwë, for mine uncle Fëanáro is Anatar’s heir. I have no real purpose here save to fritter my time away in pursuing studies that more and more seem pointless to me."

"Do you believe Lord Melkor’s lies, then?" Ingwion asked in the silence that followed Findaráto’s statement.

His cousin shrugged. "They are not all lies, are they?"

"Melkor is very good at weaving his lies with truths and half-truths until it is difficult to tell one from the other," Námo said. "You must decide for yourself what you will believe or not believe, keeping in mind what we have taught you."

"The Noldor learned much from Lord Melkor," Findaráto said. "Not all of what we learned from him can be bad, can it?"

"No," Aulë said. "The learning in and of itself is not the problem; it is how that knowledge is put to use. Knives and axes, for instance, have varied purposes, from the cutting of one’s meat to the chipping away of stone for building materials. Swords, however, have one purpose and one purpose only: to kill."

"Or to defend," Findaráto added, though his manner was less haughty than before and his expression more troubled.

"Yet, one must then ask: defend against what or whom?" Aulë countered.

"Who are your enemies, Findaráto?" Manwë asked, his expression grave. "The Valar? The Vanyar or the Teleri? Your own people? The Second Children who have yet to arise and whose only crime will be that they exist? Wherefore are these weapons being made if there are no enemies against whom they should be used?"

"Lord Melkor...."

"Is our concern, not yours, Arafinwion," Manwë said, his tone as cold as the snows that blanketed the mountains surrounding Ilmarin.

Findaráto cringed at that and his cousins paled.

"Your studies you say serve no purpose," Aulë then said. "Yet, metallurgy teaches you the fine art of forging, not weapons, but tools for the benefit of all. Crystallography teaches you the properties of gemstones and how best to use their powers to enhance the lives of the Eldar. You have also studied the crafting of words and the power which they exert upon the hearts of those who hear them. You have seen this done to great effect by your own uncle. Have you not thought to use that same knowledge to counteract those words of unrest and revolt which have been sown through Melkor’s lies and Fëanáro’s discontent?"

"Only if I thought they needed to be counteracted," Findaráto said, speaking softly and not looking at anyone.

There was a sigh that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere and silence ensued for many long minutes. Ingwion, Ingalaurë, Indil and Intarion exchanged worried glances, dismayed at how the audience was going. Ingwion eyed his young cousin with concern.

"Do you truly believe that the Valar wish us ill?" he asked. "Do you truly believe that we are kept in thralldom? We came here of our own free will...."

"We were born here," Findaráto countered, giving Ingwion a hard stare. "We have known no other life."

"Is your life so displeasing to you then?" Manwë asked and there was deep sorrow in his eyes as he spoke.

Findaráto shook his head. "No. I cannot say that. Yet, the more I think on these things the more I feel that I no longer belong here." He gave them an apologetic look. "I am sorry. I do not mean to offend...."

"Speaking the truth is not offensive, child," Varda said, "however much we grieve to hear this from your lips. You are a bright and inquisitive ellon and we think you can do much to heal the rift that seems to be growing between the Noldor. It cannot lead to anything but disaster otherwise."

"And not just for the Noldor," Námo added, "but for all of us. You have dwelt within our Peace for three ages now. You have grown in wisdom and degree and we have delighted to be your teachers in all things that are good for you to learn. It would do no one good for all this to be destroyed."

"When you return to Tirion," Manwë then said, "we would have you be our messenger to the Noldor. We would have you speak to Ñolofinwë and your atar and tell them of our concerns."

Findaráto gave him a puzzled look. "Why do you not simply tell them yourselves, lord? I do not know when I will return to Tirion nor can I guarantee that any will listen to me."

"We cannot simply make the Noldor see reason by decree, child," Manwë answered with great patience. "The voice of reason will be best coming from you. Do not dismiss your own powers of persuasion or the respect that others have for you. You may think yourself the least of the House of Finwë, but you are of that noble House and people will listen to you."

"But only if you are willing to be our herald," Aulë said. "We will not force you to go against your own will in this."

For a moment or two there was silence as Findaráto thought over the conversation. Then he sighed. "You have given me much to think on," he said quietly. "I cannot say either yea or nay to your request at this time."

"We understand," Manwë said gently. "In the meantime, continue your studies... all of them." He gave the ellon a measuring look and Findaráto nodded, looking somewhat nonplused at the request. Manwë smiled. "Good. Now, how do the wedding plans go?"

The sudden change of topic threw the Elves for a moment, but Intarion gathered his wits sooner than the others and gave the Elder King an answer. "I’ll be so glad when the wedding is over," he said with a heartfelt sigh. "I wish there was a way to speed the process up."

There were knowing smiles among the Valar and the coy looks that were exchanged between Lord Aulë and Lady Yavanna did not escape the Elves’ notice. "The Eldar have created some rather elaborate rituals for the joining of spouses," Varda replied. "We Valar developed a less formal ceremony."

"Only out of sheer necessity," Námo said with a straight face. "Aulë and Yavanna never gave us a chance to develop anything more complicated than ‘Do you? Good. You’re married’."

Aulë and Yavanna blushed while the other Valar laughed heartily and at the confused and curious looks of the Elves they laughed even more. It was some time before any of them could calm down long enough to tell them the story of Aulë and Yavanna’s rather precipitous courtship.

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Later, after the Elves had left, the Valar sat in silence for a time. Finally, Námo stirred, looking directly at Manwë. "If even someone like Findaráto believes the lies that Melkor has sown what hope have we of counteracting them and restoring peace in Aman?"

"None," Manwë said bluntly. "That is why I hope to persuade Arafinwion otherwise. He is not so caught up in the deceptions that are being fostered among the Noldor that he cannot be shown a different way."

"The desires of his heart of which he spoke are troubling, though," Irmo opined with a frown. "Fëanáro’s words have breached the contentment which he felt here. He will not be the only one to feel that way."

"What do we do then?" Yavanna asked pensively. "Give them leave to depart Aman? What good will that do? Will they usurp the lands now ruled by our sister Melyanna and her consort, Elwë?"

Manwë shook his head. "The lands which are held by them are not the only ones that will be imperiled. We know nothing of when or where the Second Children will arise. I have long suspected that it is Atar’s will that they will claim the Outer Lands as their inheritance. In time, even the Elves of Beleriand must cede their demesne to them."

Varda turned to Námo. "You have not seen their rising?"

Námo shook his head. "I see only that great lights will be for their awakening as I told you long ago. Nothing more have I seen. In this, I am as much in the dark as the rest of you."

"It is as Atar decrees," Manwë said with a sigh. "I would that the Eldar remained in Aman where the wearying of the ages will be slow and the danger of fading will be minimized. I fear if they return to the Outer Lands, such wearying will come swiftly to them and they will either have to return to Aman or suffer diminishment as the Second Children lay claim to their destiny."

"Then we must do what we can to persuade them not to take that road if at all possible," Oromë said. "I led them here, urging them on when their spirits faltered. I will not lead them back."

"Nor will I," Ulmo said. "If any desire to return they must find their own way back."

Manwë nodded. "We have sown seeds of doubt in young Findaráto as to the wisdom of his people’s course of action. Let us hope that such seeds will grow in the time he resides in Vanyamar. Perhaps by the time he returns to Tirion he will be willing to speak for us to his people. Reason must prevail or all is for naught."

There was agreement among the Valar and then they moved to other topics of concern as they exercised their Guardianship of Arda and all that dwelt therein.

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Árë Veruo: Day of the Spouses. The name is given in ‘The Etymologies’ as Arë Veruen. This is Qenya. I have updated it to modern Quenya [see ‘The Etymologies’, HoME V, The Lost Road, s.v. LEP/LEPEN/LEPEK].

Note: The discussion between the Valar and Findaráto is based on Chapter 7 of the Silmarillion, ‘Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor’:

‘And when Melkor saw... that pride and anger were awake among the Noldor, he spoke to them concerning weapons; and in that time the Noldor began the smithying of swords and axes and spears. Shields also they made displaying the tokens of many houses and kindreds that vied one with another; and these only they wore abroad, and of other weapons they did not speak, for each believed that he alone had received the warning.’