A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
This story falls more or less at the beginning of my story The Fairest Vessels That Ever Sailed. Prompts: alone, elements, rule, room.
By the standards of her father's houses, the cosy lodgings given to Alatáriel barely counted as a room to herself. But this small suite -- a room apiece for sleeping, working, receiving visitors, and bathing -- in the House of Círdan seemed palatial after her years living aboard Canyalqua. She could be alone whenever she wished, and she was fed and protected from the elements. Best of all, she knew she was a valued guest (being vital to Círdan's future plans) and under no one's rule.
If only her rooms were next door to Teleporno's, they would be perfect.