Course Correction by Raaf

Chapter 2

In hindsight, Míriel regretted not trying to further Númenor's reform, but the endeavor had seemed so hopeless when she ascended the throne. She could enforce old customs and push her subjects to behave as they should, but Valinor had been unimpressed by that level of repentance when her father had done that. Admittedly, she could agree with the Valar that it did not qualify as redemption when most people were insincerely going through the motions. Since it was literally impossible for her to have Númenor feel genuinely repentant on command however; if Valinor expected something else they really should have been more forthcoming about what conciliatory gesture would have satisfied them.

She hadn't let things get out of hand, at any rate. No-one had returned to persecuting the Faithful before Sauron became involved and Sauron replacing Amandil as the first counselor was not something she could have reasonably anticipated. Now she still had no concrete solution to Númenor’s problems and had Sauron sabotaging them as well.

Therein lied her fundamental problem. She needed to gather more support to oust Sauron, but any attempts to restore the policies of the Faithful would keep turning more people against her. Amandil was overly optimistic to think they could manage both, but she had no real alternative other than to attempt it.

The most important priority was naturally to stop Sauron from sacrificing people to Morgoth. Fortunately, he could not outright charge the Faithful for refusing to worship Morgoth and instead they were sentenced to the altar on trumped up charges of treason. That part, at least, she could derail for now simply by maintaining proper judicial rulings.

“Are you ready?” Míriel asked Amandil.

They were in her office. Soon would be the first meeting of the Council of the Sceptre since Pharazôn’s death and the first Amandil would attend since Sauron had taken his role. Amandil was the only member of the Faithful she could re-appoint. His high nobility and the personal prestige he had earned as a ship captain had protected his status despite Sauron’s hatred of him. Unfortunately, the other Faithful in the court did not share his advantages and there were none that were both still true to their cause and still in good standing.

“As I can be, but I’m afraid there is nothing I can argue against Sauron that I haven’t already said.”

She nodded empathetically. Amandil was an excellent orator, but so was Sauron who had an added advantage by telling people what they wanted to hear instead of being constrained by the truth. When Pharazôn had first wanted to make Sauron an advisor both Amandil and herself had raised the undeniable point that Sauron was utterly evil and the enemy of all the free world. Unfortunately, this was not very compelling to people who acknowledged that, but didn't see why it mattered.

It was ancient history when Morgoth had sent his Lieutenant on campaigns against the Edain. In the current Age Númenor itself had never felt threatened by the distant empire that Sauron founded after Morgoth’s defeat. Their only conflicts with him were their victories when they helped Gil-Galad during the War of the Elves and Sauron, and later when Pharazôn invaded Mordor. The enmity of Sauron was only a problem for the lesser Men in Middle-Earth and it had been a long time since they were viewed with sympathy in Númenor.

Shameful as it was, any moral objections to Sauron fell flat when Númenor itself was conspicuously lacking in moral superiority. That Sauron blasphemed against Eru Ilúvatar and was the enemy of the Valar was not viewed as overly problematic by a kingdom that resented them. Neither was it easy to argue against Sauron for being an oppressive and cruel tyrant when Númenor treated its subjects little better in its own dominions on Middle-Earth. Most of the Númenóreans considered Sauron purely as a political rival and were perfectly satisfied now that he was (in their opinion) safely defeated and technically their vassal.

“But there is one thing in Sauron’s history which he can’t excuse,” Míriel said. “He is treacherous and a liar. If we can find an opportunity to show his ill intent, his smooth talk will not sway the court when they find themselves the injured party.”

---

The Council of the Sceptre rose as Míriel entered the meeting room. Armenelos was known for being the fairest of cities and the palace rooms showcased all the peerless skill of the Númenórean artisans. The stone walls were smooth as glass and seamless, and the light wood furniture was exquisitely carved. She took her position at the head of the table and the councilors took their own seats again.

The Council always consisted of representatives from the five points of the Land of the Star, and variably included others by invitation. At the moment the Council was down to a single lord representing each region and Sauron. Pharazôn had rarely cared for anyone's advice and she had lacked trustworthy people to appoint. Now that the mourning period was over the councilors were back in the popular gold and silver samite robes. Sauron blended in with the Númenórean lords in appearance and dress, apart from his red hair and slightly petty choice to make himself taller than them.

Abârôn, the Lord from Forostar was the first to raise an address to her. "Ar-Zimraphel, I will say what is on everyone's minds. The Valar struck a blow at us, but we will not let our King's death go unavenged!"

"We will of course address Ar-Pharazôn’s death, but we cannot act before we know who is responsible. We won't make fools of ourselves by flailing blindly," Míriel responded.

"With all due respect, your majesty, I think the portents are completely clear,” Abârôn declared heatedly. “The observatories on Forostar have been unable to see anything but storm clouds for months! The Valar sent messengers to scold us as if we were wayward children, then they blot our sky out with signs that frighten the weak-minded, and now our King is taken from us in the seat of our strength. This cannot be borne!"

"It is not just that," added Gimilzagar, the lord from Hyarnustar. "We have been monitoring the tremors as we were asked. I regret to report that they are building in strength. We need to prepare for more serious disasters than just the tempests we have faced so far."

“That the Valar are wroth with us is nothing new. We have no real reason to assume they were responsible for this incident in particular. Small vessels may have run afoul of their storms, but that couldn’t have happened to Ar-Pharazôn,” countered Amandil.

"I agree with Ar-Zimraphel and Lord Aphanuzîr. This is a situation we should deal with carefully when we know more,” said Sauron.

Míriel glanced suspiciously at Sauron at his unexpected contribution. The worst part of having Sauron seated directly to her right - apart from the mere fact that he was there at all - was that it would be too obvious if she tried to keep an eye on what he was doing during the meetings.

“If Lord Aphanuzîr and Ar-Mêrayôn are actually agreeing with each other for a change then it must be correct,” smiled Abanuzîr, the lord from Orrostar.

“That’s settled then,” said Míriel. “Now we need to determine how we are going to manage the earthquakes.”

---

“You aren't going to take your name in Quenya now?” Amandil asked Míriel afterwards.

“No, we have enough of a struggle ahead of ourselves without burning political capital on a relatively unimportant matter.”

‘Of course Amandil was still upset about that’, she thought dryly.

“Unimportant, do you truly think so?” Amandil frowned.

“That we should use our own language in official capacities instead of treating Elvish as inherently more prestigious is the most fair stance the King’s Men have. If we are to appear reasonable we might as well grant them that one,” Míriel reasoned.

“I can’t agree with you there. If we are to turn back to our faith we shouldn’t keep dismissing associations with Valinor.”

“The root of Númenor’s bitterness was caused by envy of the gifts the Elves received. I do think it would be better for our spirits to focus more on our own worth. If we are to be successful we need to find a balance between appreciating Valinor and not despairing that we cannot reach there.”