In Darkness Bound by Fiondil

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Chapter 26: Lessons for a Noldorin Prince

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26: Lessons for a Noldorin Prince

Findaráto was, of course, unaware of the plans the Valar were making for him. He continued his studies, determined to figure out what Lord Aulë had meant by ‘coherent light’. He also continued to help Valandur teach his cousins the finer points of debate, though, in truth, there was little more that he could teach them and they spent their time sitting with the loremaster and simply talking about their hopes and dreams for the future.

"What will you do when you return to Tirion?" Ingalaurë asked Findaráto at one point. "Will you take a position at the Academy?"

Findaráto shook his head. "Most unlikely," he replied, "though I intend to continue consulting with the loremasters there as I continue pursuing my own studies. With Anatar gone from Tirion, Atar is now helping my uncle with the running of the kingdom and I promised that once I returned, I would help in that regard as well."

"Doing what?" Ingwion asked.

Findaráto shrugged. "Whatever is required of me. My uncle has recruited everyone in the family to help him. Many of the government offices are bereft of leadership now so my cousins and my siblings are filling in for the time being until Uncle decides whether to appoint new heads or not."

"When the twelve years is up, I think those returning will find it difficult to resume their original posts if others have taken them over," Valandur stated. "There will be much conflict and resentment on both sides, I deem."

Findaráto nodded. "My atar has even suggested that instead of Uncle Ñolofinwë appointing new heads of departments that we just continue heading the offices ourselves until Anatar returns. I will be happy enough to relinquish my post when that day arrives and I think my siblings and my cousins are of like mind."

"That would certainly solve that particular problem," Valandur acknowledged, "yet, what of those who will be working under you? Will they not feel that they should be promoted and resent these appointments?"

"Frankly, from what I have seen, most of them are just relieved not to have to take over the positions left vacant by those who left," Findaráto replied. "They little like the idea of being promoted just so they could be demoted twelve years hence. Besides, Anatar is still Noldóran. Uncle Ñolofinwë is simply his regent and will not make any radical changes in the government’s structure just so they can be changed back again."

"Your uncle is in an unenviable position to be sure," Valandur said with a nod. Then he gave Findaráto a sly look. "So, do you know what post you will be filling when you return?"

Findaráto grinned. "With any luck, it’ll be the department in charge of keeping the butteries well stocked."

They all laughed at that.

****

Some days later, Findaráto was strolling through the streets of Vanyamar along with the twins. Ingwion and Ingalaurë had continued their habit of walking through the city and visiting with their people, asking after their families and listening to their stories. Findaráto had started to join them shortly after his arrival and the three soon became a familiar sight among the inhabitants of the city. They were traversing one of the larger market squares, idly stopping at one stall or another, chatting with the merchants and looking over their wares, though they had no real intention of buying anything. At one point they were sitting outside a tavern that was situated at one end of the square enjoying some wine and watching people go by. There were other patrons also sitting at tables nearby eating and drinking.

At one such table there were three ellyn with goblets of wine or mead before them. They were speaking somewhat loudly and Findaráto, idly glancing their way, wondered if they weren’t a little drunk, for there were several empty bottles at their table. Their conversation seemed to center around something that one of them had overheard recently. Findaráto was not paying much attention until he heard the name Ingoldo spoken and noticed that both Ingwion and Ingalaurë were taking an interest in the conversation.

"...Ingoldo says that with the division among the Noldor, there will be fewer markets for our wares and that new trade agreement is next to worthless."

The other two ellyn scowled. "I was depending on selling my wool in Tirion as usual," one of them said, "but I’ve since learned that my best buyer is now in Formenos and I will be unable to sell to him."

The third ellon nodded glumly. "With fewer people in Tirion, the markets will be scarcer, but I thought the trade agreement was approved before the Noldor went into exile."

The second ellon shook his head. "Nay, for the Noldorin delegate himself went to Formenos before the agreement could be ratified."

The first ellon nodded. "So Lord Ingoldo informed me," he said. "He told me that his nephews appointed Lord Intarion and the Noldorin prince to resume trade talks, but I doubt if they came up with anything suitable. Neither have any knowledge of trade or the intricacies of hammering out an agreement."

"What about Alqualondë?" the third ellon asked the second. "Could you not open new markets there?"

The ellon shook his head. "That is a stable market. There will be no call among the Teleri for more than what they already require and the Southern Fiefdoms are more or less self-sufficient so there’s no use looking for new markets there."

"If we cannot sell our wares, what will happen to us and our families?" the third ellon demanded, sounding more scared than angry. "Do we starve because of the damned Noldor and their constant unrest? We Vanyar left Tirion because we sensed the growing restlessness among the Noldor and wanted nothing to do with it."

"Yet, with Finwë’s marriage to Ingwë’s sister," the first ellon pointed out, "we saw more commerce between the two cities and both have benefitted."

The second ellon sighed. "I sometimes wish the Valar had never given Finwë permission to remarry. He should have been content with the son he had instead of desiring other children. We might not be in this situation if he had remained constant."

The first ellon shook his head. "Might as well wish that we had never come to Aman in the first place but remained in the Outer Lands. It is as it is and there is nothing we can do to change it."

There was a pause and then the third ellon gave the other two a searching look. "Do you ever regret making the Journey? Do you ever think about what might have been our lives had we, too, refused the Valar’s invitation?"

Both ellyn shrugged. "Are you thinking about what Melkor is supposed to have said about these Aftercomers and how the Valar always meant for us to abide here so they could supplant us in the Outer Lands?" the second ellon asked. "Foolishness. Would you truly want to give up the Light of the Trees forever?"

The third ellon shook his head. "Nay, but still, you have to wonder, don’t you?"

"I suppose," the first ellon averred. "If only the Valar had left Melkor to rot in Mandos."

"Or if the Noldor had been intelligent enough to see through his lies and rejected his teachings," the second ellon retorted with a snort, then drained his cup, standing. "Well, I’m off. If there is not the usual market to be had in Tirion, I will have to think of other means to provide for myself and my family during the next twelve years. Why we Vanyar should suffer because of the stupidity of the Noldor I do not know, but apparently no one, not even the Valar, cares that we do."

The other two ellyn nodded. "Lord Ingoldo seems to have some ideas about that," the first ellon said. "At least, he so intimated when I spoke with him about the lack of markets. Perhaps we should go to him and find out what he thinks."

"Should we not go to Ingwë instead?" the third ellon asked. "He is, after all, the High King and it is his responsibility to see to our welfare."

"He was more interested in running off to Tirion to help Ñolofinwë than he was to see to our well being," the first ellon retorted.

"Yet, he has since returned," the second ellon pointed out. "I think it would be only fair to approach him first."

The first ellon shrugged. "Perhaps." Then he, too rose and the third ellon rose with him. "At any rate, I needs must be returning to my shop." With that the three ellyn bade one another farewell and each went his separate way.

For some time the three cousins sat in silence, digesting the conversation they had overheard. Ingwion was the first to speak. "Uncle Ingoldo is intimating that the trade agreement between Vanyamar and Tirion is invalid. Yet, Atar approved it and I have no doubt Ñolofinwë will as well."

Ingalaurë scowled and addressed Findaráto. "That trade agreement you and Intarion put together is far superior and more equable to both parties than the one our aunt and uncle were working on with Lord Herucalmo. I know because I read both agreements just to see how different they were. You and Intarion did a far better job than Uncle Ingoldo ever did."

Findaráto shrugged. "Perhaps, but the question is, will you tell Uncle Ingwë about what we’ve just overheard?"

"Do you think we should?" Ingwion asked.

"I think it behooves us to tell the High King anything that may affect the Eldar," Findaráto replied, speaking in a solemn tone. "After all, are we not his Secret Council?"

The twins nodded. "After dinner," Ingwion said. "We’ll tell him then."

Ingalaurë and Findaráto agreed and then they decided to resume their perambulation, but Findaráto walked beside the twins in silence, mulling over the words of the overheard conversation, wondering how far the unrest of the Noldor had truly spread to the other clans. As they were wending their way back towards the palace, they passed a stall where woven baskets were being sold. Even as Findaráto idly glanced at the wares, an argument began to break out between the stall owner and a Noldo. The Noldorin prince was surprised to see the ellon, his darker features standing out amidst all the golden tresses and fairer complexions of the Vanyar. Yet, he was aware of the fact that there were some Noldor who lived in Vanyamar and certainly there might be those visiting the city from time to time.

"What do you mean, three silver coins!" the Noldo was exclaiming to the stall owner. "It’s not worth one and you sold the exact same basket to an elleth for a half silver piece just a moment ago."

"But she is a Vanya," the stall owner said in a reasonable tone of voice, "and you are a Noldo."

"What does that have to do with anything?" the ellon demanded, looking confused.

The stall owner shrugged. "Only that you Noldor are nothing but trouble. I had a ready and inexpensive supply of wood strips for my baskets through my brother-in-law, a Noldo who married my sister, but when he went to Formenos, taking my sister with him, that supply dried up. Now I have to buy from someone else and for twice what I was paying my brother-in-law."

"But I have nothing to do with that!" the Noldo insisted. "Nor have I been involved in any of the trouble in Tirion. Indeed, I have not lived there in a very long time. I live in Eldamas."

The basketmaker shrugged. "It’s all the same to me. Three silvers and not a penny less. Take it or leave it, Noldo."

Findaráto and the twins had listened to the exchange with increasing dismay, but they did not immediately step in. By now, a sizeable crowd had gathered to listen to the argument. The Noldo looked around in frustration, hoping to see a sympathetic face, but most of the bystanders were Vanyar and seemed in agreement with the stall owner. The ellon grimaced and turned away, not willing to pay the price demanded. When Findaráto saw the smug look on the face of the stall owner, though, he became incensed at the injustice and the deliberate maliciousness on the part of the basketmaker.

"How dare you," he demanded, stepping forward, his eyes flashing with anger. "You are deliberately flouting the laws set by the High King. The ellon is correct. That basket isn’t worth more than a half silver piece, if that."

"Why do you defend him?" the stall owner asked, actually looking surprised. "We Vanyar are suffering because of the Noldor, as well you know. You shouldn’t be defending him...."

"But I am not Vanya, but Noldo," Findaráto stated.

"You have the golden hair of the Vanyar," the other ellon insisted.

"And I have Telerin blood in me as well," Findaráto said with a nod, "but I am Noldo through and through. My uncle will not be pleased to hear what is going on here and when I tell him...."

"Tell him what?" the stall owner demanded with a snarl. "And just who is your precious uncle that he would even care what price I put on my wares?"

"He is the High King," Findaráto replied coldly, "and he will care very much."

"Hah!" the ellon said in disbelief, though many of the bystanders were nodding their heads, having recognized not only Findaráto, but the twin sons of Ingwë.

"It is true," Ingwion said, stepping forward. "My atar will not allow such an injustice."

"It’s not an injustice," someone in the crowd shouted. "Ever since the Noldor went to Formenos our markets have dried up. Those who remain in Tirion are not buying from us as much as before. We need to make up the shortfall or we starve."

Ingalaurë snorted as he turned to face the elleth who had spoken. She was the owner of one of the nearby stalls selling bolts of cloth. "So, you would beggar the Noldor who remain in Tirion or elsewhere, thus forcing them to starve instead? How is that not an injustice?"

There were uneasy glances among some of the bystanders at the prince’s words, but just as many merely shrugged. "They only brought it upon themselves," the basketmaker replied, "and I deem it will only get worse."

"And you giving one price for the Vanyar and another for the Noldor will make it all better, will it?" Findaráto could not help asking, his sarcasm and disgust not lost on anyone.

"It’s only what you Melkornossë deserve," one of the bystanders sneered.

There was a gasp from most of crowd surrounding them at the insult and Findaráto felt the blood drain from his face as fury overtook him. Before he could act, though, the Noldo who had tried to buy a basket launched himself at the person who had issued the insult, grabbing him by the placket of his tunic and shaking him. "How dare you!" he fairly screamed. "I was never a follower of Melkor. I am an Aulendur and have ever been loyal to the Valar."

Several people tried to pull the Noldo off the Vanya and someone turned on Findaráto. "Why don’t you damned Noldor go back to Tirion where you belong? We don’t want you here."

Ingwion and Ingalaurë now tried to push the irate Vanya away from their cousin and then somewhere someone threw a punch and a melee broke out as several Vanyar tried to attack the poor Noldorin ellon. Findaráto pushed himself away from the person who had heckled him and launched himself into the crowd now beating on the Noldo who had fallen to the ground, trying to protect himself as best he could. Now, the incensed crowd began attacking him as well, their anger and frustration making them reckless and unheeding. Before he knew it he, too, was on the ground.

"Findaráto! Findaráto!" he heard Ingwion scream but he was too busy defending himself to answer. His nose was bleeding where someone had punched him and then someone kicked him and he felt something snap. The pain was excruciating and he cried out. At that very moment there was a flashing of light above them and then Eönwë was among them, his sword of light drawn. The crowd hastily drew back, brought to sober silence in an instant.

"Sérë! Á lely’ ayanen," the Maia Herald of Manwë said in a voice that was cold and unforgiving, his eyes flashing with preternatural light and no one could look upon him directly.

Findaráto, still gasping from the pain of broken ribs, stared up into the implacable mien of the Maia, who looked upon him with dispassionate regard. The crowd quickly dispersed, shame on most of their faces as they realized what they had done. Ingwion and Ingalaurë, the latter sporting a black eye, came to kneel beside him. When Ingwion attempted to lift him up, though, the pain became overwhelming and he blacked out.

****

Manwë’s expression remained unreadable to the other Valar as they listened to Eönwë’s report. When the Maia was finished, the Elder King thanked him and then turned to Aulë with a wry look. "It seems the Eldar have done our work for us," he said. "I doubt we need put your plan for our Noldorin prince into action now."

"And it is probably for the best," Námo interjected, "that the lesson came from among the Eldar rather than from us."

The Valar all nodded. Then Aulë gave them a sly look. "And I was so looking forward to giving the elfling the lesson, too."

They burst out laughing but eventually sobered as they began to discuss the incident in the market square and how seriously the Sérë Valaron had been breached and what they should do about it. In the end, Manwë declared, "For the time being we will see how Ingwë handles the situation. It is best that we let the Children work this out for themselves rather than dictating to them, else they will begin to believe our Fallen Brother’s lies about being our thralls."

To that the other Valar agreed, though none were entirely happy with the decision, fearing that what happened in the market square was but a precursor of things to come.

****

Melkornossë: Kindred of Melkor. Cf. Aulenossë ‘Kindred of Aulë, which was what the Noldor who remained behind in Tirion after the Flight of the Noldor were called. [See Book of Lost Tales I, HoME I, ‘The Tale of the Sun and Moon’].

Aulendur: "‘Servant of Aulë’, sc. one who was devoted to that Vala. It was applied especially to those persons, or families, among the Noldor who actually entered Aulë’s service and in return received instruction from him" [See ‘The Shibboleth of Fëanor’, Note 61, Peoples of Middle-earth, HoME XII].

Sérë! Á lely’ ayanen: ‘Peace! Go with reverence’ [aya ‘awe, reverence’ + -nen ‘singular instrumental case ending’].